With high-flying kicks, somersaults and bone crushing body slams these Japanese ladies aren’t to be messed with.
They are the girls of the World Wonder Ring Stardom pro-wrestling company who certainly know how to put on a show.
The Stardom group is known as the ‘little sister’ of the men’s New Japan Pro Wrestling company who compete in ‘puroresu’ – a variation of American wrestling but with more mixed martial arts.
The word ‘puroresu’ – or joshi puroresu for the women’s version – comes from the Japanese pronunciation of pro-wrestling.
The female wrestlers pictured here were competing today at Korakuen Hall, in Tokyo, known in Japan as the Madison Square Garden of puroresu.
Not only do they have the moves, they’ve also got the looks and elaborate costumes to go with it and the company have released several books of modelling photos and calenders of the fighters.
Japanese wrestler Saya Kamitani, 23, performs a flying kick on her rival Starlight Kid at Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today. She has a history of dancing and gymnastics and specialises in acrobatic moves. Starlight Kid’s identity is not known as she wears a mask in all her fights
Starlight Kid flies high in the air as she prepares to take out her prone opponent with a body slam. The mysterious masked fighter was the first female wrestler in Japan to hide her real identity
Three fighters enter the ring in masks before they battle at Korakuen Hall, known as the Madison Square Garden of wrestling
Maika Ozaki, 28 (left), Giulia, 25 (centre) and Shuri Okuda, 30 – ring name Tyrannosaurus Okuda (right) pose for photos after winning their fights in Tokyo today. Giulia, who doesn’t reveal her last name, was born in London to Italian and Japanese parents and managed and Italian restaurant before turning pro in 2017
Arisa Hoshiki, 30, is also a talented basketball player and a singer who has her own theme song ‘Shining Star’. She specialises in knees and kicks. She’s pictured here celebrating victory at the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ event at Korakuen Hall
Whack! Takumi Iroha, 27, gives rival Mayu Iwatani, 26, a good kicking. Takumi decided to drop out of college to pursue a career in pro wrestling. Mayu trained in judo and spent three years as a virtual recluse before becoming a wrestler
Revenge: Mayu Iwatani prepares to body slam Takumi Irohaduring their bout in Tokyo’s Korakuen Hall today
English wrestler Bea Priestley – real name Beatrice St Clere Priestley – delivers a flying kick. She was born in York and had a brain tumour removed when she was 14 but survived and trained as a wrestler
English fighter Bea Priestley, left, moved to Japan with her boyfriend and fellow English wrestler Will Ospreay last year. She is pictured here after her fight with Arisa Hoshiki at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo today
Wrestler AZM gives rival Giulia a body slam. She is just 17 years old and only 4ft 10in tall and is also known as Mini Iotica
Former italian restaurant manager Giulia, who was born in London, towers above AZM who is only 4ft 10in tall
AZM and Giulia compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo today
Winners and losers: The joshi puroresu wrestlers pose for photographs after their bouts today at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo
Arisa Hoshiki – a singer who has her own wrestling theme song – knees English girl Bea Priestley, 23, in the face
Mayu Iwatani about to be dropped on her head by Takumi Iroha at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo during a hard-fought contest
English wrestler Bea Priestley, who moved to Japan last year to become a full-time joshi puroresu, throws Arisa Hoshiki during a fierce battle in Tokyo today
Arisa Hoshiki, 30, pictured in the ring today in Tokyo. She is also a talented basketball player and a singer who has her own theme song ‘Shining Star’
Mayu Iwatani and Takumi Iroha compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Mayu Iwatani enters the ring in a fanfare during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo today
Arisa Hoshiki and Bea Priestley compete in the bout during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Takumi Iroha and Mayu Iwatani compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Mayu Iwatani and Takumi Iroha compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Takumi Iroha and Mayu Iwatani compete during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Bea Priestley enters the ring during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Arisa Hoshiki and Bea Priestley compete in the bout during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Arisa Hoshiki enters the ring during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall
Arisa Hoshiki celebrates the victory during the Women’s Pro-Wrestling ‘Stardom’ at Korakuen Hall