Sukeban has the wrestling world buzzing about women’s wrestling
I reported about a fresh Joshi promotion with a U.S. base a few months back. Although there were little specifics, we were aware that the renowned Bull Nakano was involved.
Sukeban shared a video to their social media on September 1 that mixed anime with female wrestlers. Loud music always draws attention, so that is for sure. The first event would take place on September 21 in New York City, according to the video. Within two hours, all of the tickets were gone.
What is Sukeban?
Sukeban means “girl boss” or “delinquent girl” in English. In response to the American and British occupation of Japan during World War II, the counterculture developed. The women screamed against conforming and being sexualized. They also engaged in minor offenses.
Sukeban has been posting videos about the four groups on their roster over the past few weeks: The Cherry Bombs, The Vandals, Harajuku Stars, and Dangerous Liaisons. There is also Stray Cat. She is the roster’s youngest woman and the rogue without a group. Sukeban published movies that included some background information about each woman.
The first episode was only broadcast on TikTok. That was a little puzzling, but it also makes sense if they are aiming for a particular demographic. On TikTok alone, the entrance video received 2 million views. There is a desktop version of the TikTok app, which makes it simpler to watch videos. Sukeban posted the show to their YouTube page two days later.
Before their first performance, Sukeban generated a lot of hype and attracted fans like Emi Sakura. The complete roster was featured in five matches on the card. The stream experienced some issues at the start of the program and during the second match. The venue or TikTok might have been the problem. The analysis by Veda Scott and Sam Leterna was one of the biggest attractions. Later, it was revealed that the show’s agent was “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
Sukeban is presented in a manner reminiscent to a rock performance. The lighting is dim around the ring and the music is loud (theme songs included Joan Jett and The Doors). Some of the women had vibrant cosmetics, strong hair colors, and brightly colored clothing. Some women, however, chose to wear in complete black and use heavier makeup to create visual contrasts and an in-ring look. The games were hard-hitting and quick.
A video showcasing highlights of Nakano was played prior to the main event, and it was made known that she is the Sukeban commissioner. She arrived at the ring wearing a large, eye-catching title. The winner of the title eliminator bout in the main event would be eligible to defend their title at a later show. The next performance is rumored to take place in Miami in December.
Sukeban is a thrilling promotion with an entertaining opening show. It is a wise idea to have Nakano involved onscreen since it instantly legitimizes them. Although the women wrestle in different companies and only take on these costumes for Sukeban, they are introducing new women to many fans.
Making infrequent appearances contributes to the excitement and is a secure method to explore a new market. The West has long been a fan of Japanese wrestling, and today more than ever, it’s simple to watch a number of promotions online.
It will be interesting to watch how the promotion expands and changes.
