Prepare to face among the most critical ages in expert fumbling history, now lastly getting the Netflix treatment in The Queen of VillainsThe Japanese semi-biographical drama, which initially struck screens in 2023, fixates none besides Dump Matsumoto– the baddest heel wrestler you've most likely never ever become aware of, however absolutely need to have. She was the supreme foil to the cherished Crush Gals, the unstoppable idol-pop duo of Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagoya, who integrated wholesome beauty with severe in-ring skill and some respectable J-Pop.
These 3 icons, in addition to Matsumoto's gang of misfits referred to as The Atrocious Alliance, assisted catapult All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling into the major leagues and transformed the sport for both males and females. Before The Queen of Villains drops stateside, we're providing you a refresher course on the legends, the competitions, and the impressive matches that took these females to the top in Japan.
What are AJW and Joshi Proresu?
For some context, The Queen of Villains takes us back to the disorderly, high-stakes world of 1980s professional fumbling, concentrating on Joshi Proresu– the Japanese term for females's battling that cuts through gender divides in a manner you will not discover in WWE or All Elite Wrestling. Unlike its Western equivalents, Joshi fumbling didn't deal with females's matches as an afterthought. Rather, it put them front and center, requiring the very same level of busy, compelling, and mentally charged storytelling that male-dominated promos like New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Japan were understood for. It's a sports fulfills phenomenon, with a strength that equaled anything the guys were doing.
Established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga, All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) was the location for joshi fumbling in Japan– and for a very long time, the just one. This is the business that scheduled the famous clashes in between Matsumoto and the Crush Gals throughout the mid-80s, mesmerizing the whole nation. AJW initially discovered success in the early '80s thanks to stars like Jaguar Yokota and Devil Masami, however it was the extraordinary mainstream popularity of the Crush Gals– and their explosive competition with Matsumoto– that truly took things to the next level, even topping television rankings throughout Japan.
AJW controlled the Joshi scene up until the 1990s when the forced retirement of the Crush Gals began a sluggish decrease. A series of bad financial investments resulted in personal bankruptcy in 1997, and the business lost media offers till it ultimately folded in 2005.
AJW was an outright breeding place for development, offering us a few of the most renowned relocations in fumbling, thanks to its stars like Manami Toyota, Bull Nakano, and Kyoko Inoue. Ever become aware of the Jackhammer? The Air Raid Crash? How about the Vertebreaker or Death Valley Driver? Yeah, those were all developed by Joshi females, and they've ended up being staples of the fumbling world.
