Yuka Sakazaki moving on from TJPW, to be based in USA in 2024

[Chris]

Yuka Sakazaki plans to be based out of the United States beginning in 2024.

Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW) held a press conference on Monday where it was announced that Sakazaki would graduate from the promotion at the end of the year. Her final match with TJPW will be the company's 10th Anniversary show from Korakuen Hall on December 1, 2023. After that, Sakazaki plans to continue her wrestling career while being based in the United States.



Sakazaki debuted with TJPW in late 2013, less than a year after the promotion held its first show. She is a three-time Princess of Princess Champion, won the Tokyo Princess Cup in 2022, and has held the Princess Tag Team Championships four times, once with Shoko Nakajima and three times with Mizuki, including their current run with the titles.

Sakazaki has regularly performed for AEW over the last four years, even wrestling on its inaugural pay-per-view, Double or Nothing 2019. She has a career record of 14-7 in the promotion. Sakazaki has also been active with Ring of Honor in 2023. She unsuccessfully challenged Athena for the ROH Women's title at Supercard of Honor in March.

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/yuka-sakazaki-graduating-from-tjpw-will-be-based-in-usa-in-2024

 

[Death By Looch]

OH BOY! YUKA EVERYWHERE!

 

[Comrade Khan]

tony please

 

[Alexa]

Well, i got great news and now sad news.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Well, i got great news and now sad news.

if you read the article, she is still wrestling for TJPW until December 2023 so it's not imminent news. Also always a chance she goes to Impact (though they dont seem to ever sign joshis full time there)

 

[Alexa]

if you read the article, she is still wrestling for TJPW until December 2023 so it's not imminent news. Also always a chance she goes to Impact (though they dont seem to ever sign joshis full time there)

I did read the article, but still sad since she was one of their two aces in TJPW. And she will more than likely go to AEW, which I wont say a word on

 

[Comrade Khan]

I did read the article, but still sad since she was one of their two aces in TJPW. And she will more than likely go to AEW, which I wont say a word on

I wont comment on the latter, but while its a bit sad, is there really anything for her to do or grow more in TJPW? She kind of hit her ceiling and has been there for what, a decade?

 

[Alexa]

I wont comment on the latter, but while its a bit sad, is there really anything for her to do or grow more in TJPW? She kind of hit her ceiling and has been there for what, a decade?

I am just going to say okay.

 

[Comrade Khan]

It was a question so thats an interesting answer. I wouldnt look at maki's twitter if thats the case

 

[Alexa]

Nah, it is just me not wanting into a argument/debate

 

[Chris]

I think it might be money more than anything for both her and Maki but thats 100% me speculating with no real basis. There's just a demand for those two in America that they can probably make more even on indies than what TJPW can pay them. They're exceptions though, it's not like every joshi could do that and she's probably still taking a pretty big risk without a guaranteed contact but even then, I think she'll make a lot working indies on weekends worst case scenario

I actually think some of the top Stardom girls if they aren't paid well could do the same but a little less sure there bc most don't have the American exposure since they never do shows here unl Ike TJPW

 

[Comrade Khan]

the positive is that it will lead to new women to take the ball and run with it, too. Sucks Maki sounds like she gonna bounce too soon

 

[Comrade Khan]

I think it might be money more than anything for both her and Maki but thats 100% me speculating with no real basis. There's just a demand for those two in America that they can probably make more even on indies than what TJPW can pay them. They're exceptions though, it's not like every joshi could do that and she's probably still taking a pretty big risk without a guaranteed contact but even then, I think she'll make a lot working indies on weekends worst case scenario

I actually think some of the top Stardom girls if they aren't paid well could do the same but a little less sure there bc most don't have the American exposure since they never do shows here unl Ike TJPW

Maki especially commands some $. from what I read about Yuka though it's prob more than $, she's p much won all the top belts afaik in TJPW and TJPW is not the top of the mountain even in Japan. That's not meant as a slight, but like after 10 years its pretty reasonable imo to want to maybe try new challenges

 

[Alexa]

Should have noted this, but in Joshi, especially in TJPW, if a wrestler has "graduated" it just means they left on good terms and they are welcomed back anytime. It is a term barrowed and used from idol culture.