Tokyo Joshi Pro (2014)

On June 4, 2012, Tokyo Joshi Pro was announced by DDT Pro Wrestling. Set to be run by former Ice Ribbon and NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling promoter and booker Tetsuya Kodo and wrestler Nozomi, the promotion was established in late 2012 and thus a recruitment process began for wrestlers. 4 of the first wrestlers recruited were Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima, Kanna and Chikage Kiba. The training of the wrestlers was mostly handled by Nozomi herself, with help from DDT wrestler Kyohei Mikami. Nozomi left DDT on November 30, 2012, but on the same day the trainees were introduced to the public in a press conference and it was announced they would debut in 2013. The trainees were required to follow three rules - no drinking, no smoking, and no boyfriends. Early years (2013-2015) Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling's debut show took place on January 30, 2013 at Akihabara Twin Box in Tokyo. The show featured just two matches, a sambo exhibition between trainee Chikage Kiba and DDT referee and former sambo competitor Daisuke Kiso, and a singles match between trainees Miyu Yamashita and Kanna. The show did not use a wrestling ring, and instead all matches took place on training mats, similar to the Ice Ribbon promotion in its early years. Along with wrestling matches, the debut show featured live music from idol units. As TJP's roster was very small at the start, most of their early shows followed this same formula and only ran small venues. Entry to their first few shows was free as a way of introducing themselves to a bigger audience, and their first paid show was held on April 26. As their roster of trainees expanded in 2014, TJP began including more matches on their cards, and began using a ring. They also ran a show with an appearance from voice actress/wrestler Ai Shimizu in November 2014. TJP held its first full show without an idol performance on February 28, 2015 at Shinjuku Face. At the show, Ai Shimizu and Saki Akai confirmed they would be competing with the promotion regularly, and more trainees debuted at the show. Rise in popularity (2016-present) On January 4, 2016, TJP held its first ever show in Korakuen Hall, a famed wrestling venue in puroresu. Main evented by Miyu Yamashita defeating Shoko Nakajima to become the first ever Tokyo Princess of Princess Champion, it also featured the debut of Yuu and an appearance from American wrestler Candice LeRae. In the spring of 2016, Ai Shimizu and Erin announced their departure from the promotion, however, the summer was a success for the promotion, and TJP earned a broadcasting deal to be shown on idol-centric channel Pigoo. On January 4, 2017, TJP held its second annual Korakuen show, main evented by Yuu retaining the Tokyo Princess of Princess title over Shoko Nakajima. On May 29, an audition was held for four young wrestlers to form a wrestling/idol group to be known as the "Up-Up Girls". On July 20, four women were picked and began training to wrestle shortly after. On December 4, the Up-Up Girls debuted with an idol performance, but didn't appear in ring until January 4, 2018. On January 4, 2018, TJP's third annual Korakuen show proved to be a success, drawing over 1000 fans for the first time ever. The show was also broadcast on AbemaTV for the first time, as well as DDT's streaming service. The show was main evented by TJP ace Miyu Yamashita defeating Reika Saiki to win back the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship. On February 28, the TJP show from Shinjuku Face was once again broadcast on AbemaTV, and it was announced Abema had picked up TJP to broadcast it regularly. This also marked the end of TJP being broadcast on Pigoo. On November 1, 2018, the three trainee rules were officially bought to an end, allowing wrestlers to drink, smoke and have relationships on their own accord. The 2019 January 4 show was once again a success, drawing 1300 fans to Korakuen Hall. On July 16, 2019, TJP announced, via their Twitter account, a new title called the International Princess Championship. They also announced that the Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship and the Tokyo Princess Tag Team Championship would be dropping "Tokyo" from their names.