Ice Ribbon
Founded2006
StyleJoshi puroresu
HeadquartersWarabi, Saitama, Japan
Founder(s)Emi Sakura
Owner(s)Neoplus (a Yūgen gaisha)[1]
SisterCorazon Joshi Puroresu[1]
Shinshu Girls Pro Wrestling

Ice Ribbon (アイスリボン, Aisuribon) is a joshi puroresu (women's professional wrestling) promotion established in 2006 by Emi Sakura, after her split with Gatokunyan.

History

Emi Sakura
Emi Sakura
Former logo of the promotion (2006–2022).
Former logo of the promotion (2006–2022).

Ice Ribbon was founded by Emi Sakura, a professional wrestler who was active with IWA Japan and FMW in the 1990s as Emi Motokawa. Ice Ribbon split off from Gatokunyan, Sakura's previous promotion, and held their first card on June 20, 2006 in Tokyo.

The promotion built their own dojo in Warabi, Saitama. Ice Ribbon's early shows mainly took place at the Saitama dojo, referred to by the promotion as the "Isami Wrestle Arena",[2] while several larger annual events, like Golden Ribbon and RibbonMania, began being held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.[3]

The early roster of Ice Ribbon was made up of wrestlers who transferred from Gatokunyan. The promotion's roster began to expand through collaborations with a TV program called "Muscle Venus"[4] and the 2009 film, "Three Count".[5] As part of these collaborations, Ice Ribbon recruited and trained several actresses as wrestlers. Among the actresses trained by Ice Ribbon, Hikaru Shida, Miyako Matsumoto, and Tsukasa Fujimoto remained active as wrestlers. Ice Ribbon additionally gained attention for training and debuting children as wrestlers. For example, Ice Ribbon wrestlers Riho and Hiragi Kurumi made their debuts at the age of nine, while Hikari Minami and Tsukushi were eleven and twelve, respectively, when they made their debuts.[3][6] Some of the children who made their professional wrestling debuts as part of Ice Ribbon, such as Aoi Kizuki, Makoto, Moeka Haruhi, Kurumi, and Riho, are still active as wrestlers.

In 2009, Ice Ribbon was sold to Neoplus. On May 28, 2010, Ice Ribbon announced a new project called 19 O'Clock Girls ProWrestling (19時女子プロレス, Jūkyū-ji Joshi Puroresu), an internet streaming program on Ustream.[7] The show aired Fridays at 19:00 Japan time (10:00 UTC). The original concept of the show saw Ice Ribbon rookie Sayaka Obihiro being assigned full-time to the project and facing Ice Ribbon wrestlers in weekly matches. The concept was abandoned on August 26, 2011, when the project was officially brought under the Ice Ribbon banner, with Obihiro again becoming a regular member of the Ice Ribbon roster and the 19 O'Clock Girls ProWrestling turning into a regular professional wrestling program with no distinct concept.[8]

From its inception, Ice Ribbon had a close relationship with NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling, which saw Ice Ribbon wrestlers Emi Sakura, Aoi Kizuki and Makoto make regular appearances for the promotion, while NEO wrestlers like Etsuko Mita, Tanny Mouse and Yoshiko Tamura also made several appearances for Ice Ribbon.[9] The relationship lasted until NEO folded on December 31, 2010, with Emi Sakura, Hikaru Shida, Makoto and Tsukasa Fujimoto appearing at the promotion's final event.[10] Starting in late 2010, Ice Ribbon was involved in a year-long interpromotional storyline rivalry with the Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling promotion, which saw Ice Ribbon and Sendai Girls' wrestlers make regular appearances for the opposing promotion.[11][12] Through its relationships with American promotion Chikara and the British Pro-Wrestling: EVE, Ice Ribbon's wrestlers have also made appearances in the United States and the United Kingdom.[13][14] Ice Ribbon has additionally had close relationships with the DDT Pro-Wrestling (DDT), Big Japan Pro Wrestling (BJW), JWP Joshi Puroresu, Pro Wrestling Wave, and Reina Joshi Puroresu promotions.

On December 14, 2011, Ice Ribbon's founder Emi Sakura announced that she was leaving the promotion for "personal reasons" following the January 7, 2012, event in Sendai.[15] Following Sakura's departure, Hikaru Shida and Tsukasa Fujimoto took over the training duties at the Ice Ribbon dojo.[16] In 2012, Ray, Sayaka Obihiro, and Ice Ribbon dojo graduates Hikari Minami and Riho also left Ice Ribbon,[17][18][19][20] while Dorami Nagano took a sabbatical to concentrate on her studies.[21] To combat the decreasing number of wrestlers on its active roster, Ice Ribbon introduced the first six wrestlers trained by Hikaru Shida and Tsukasa Fujimoto: Eri Wakamatsu, Fumiko Sato, Risa Okuda, Rutsuko Yamaguchi, Oshima Kujira and Shoko Hotta.[16] Wakamatsu and Hotta, along with Ayano Takeda and Hiroko Terada, two other Shida and Fujimoto trainees who debuted before the end of 2012, all ended their professional wrestling careers by April 2013.[22] Trainee Risa Sera (previously known as Risa Okuda) is still active in wrestling.

In February 2012, Ice Ribbon formed a partnership with Japanese pop group hy4_4yh (Hyper Yo-yo). The partnership led to the group making musical appearances at Ice Ribbon events, performing Maki Narumiya's new entrance theme and, on March 7, the two promoting the first "Hyper Ribbon" event, which featured both matches and musical performances.[23][24] On December 12, 2012, Neoplus officially announced the creation of Corazon Joshi Puroresu, Ice Ribbon's sister promotion, which features a more theatrical take on professional wrestling.[1] Following Sayaka Obihiro's December 2012 departure from Ice Ribbon, the promotion put 19 O'Clock Girls ProWrestling on hiatus as it considered the future of the program.[25] On January 4, 2014, Ice Ribbon was dealt another blow, when Hikaru Shida announced she was also leaving the promotion the following March.[26] On January 22, longtime freelancer Mio Shirai signed a contract with Ice Ribbon.[27] Following her September 2015 retirement, she became a referee and trainer for Ice Ribbon.[28] On January 3, 2016, Ice Ribbon Aoi Kizuki announced her departure from the promotion.[29]

In March 2017, Hana Date, Karen Date, Nao Date and Nori Date, four mixed martial artists representing Team Date, signed with Ice Ribbon.[30] In 2018, Team Date's contracts with Ice Ribbon expired.

In February 2021, the Ice Ribbon dojo hosted the Warabi Regional bracket for United States-based All Elite Wrestling (AEW)'s Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament. The tournament was broken into two separate brackets, with eight women competing in matches in the Jacksonville Regional bracket and eight women competing in Ice Ribbon's Warabi Regional bracket. The winner of each bracket will then face each other in the tournament final on AEW Dynamite to determine the overall winner, with the overall tournament winner facing Ice Ribbon alumni Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's World Championship at Revolution.[31] The tournament was won by Ryo Mizunami.

In September 2021, president of Ice Ribbon Hajime Sato appeared alongside Kounosuke Izui, promoter of Lady's Ring, on an episode of CMLL Informa to announce the establishment of a working relationship between the two promotions and the Mexican-based Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL).[32]

Roster

Wrestlers

Ring name Real name Notes
Aiki Unknown
Akane Fujita[33] Unknown FantastICE Champion
Freelancer
Amu Yumesaki Unknown
Arisa Shinose Unknown
Asahi Unknown
Banny Oikawa[34] Unknown
Hamuko Hoshi[35] Unknown International Ribbon Tag Team Champion
Ibuki Hoshi Unknown
Kaho Matsushita Unknown
Kiku Unknown
Kyuri Unknown
Saran Unknown
Totoro Satsuki[36] Unknown ICE×∞ Champion
Tsukasa Fujimoto[37] Tsukasa Fujimoto
Tsukina Umino Unknown
Yappy[38] Yapi Santiago

Alumni/notable guests

Female

Male

Referees

See also: Referee (professional wrestling)
Ring name Real name
Mio Shirai[39] Unknown

Broadcast team

Ring name Real name Notes
Ai Hara[40] Unknown Ring announcer
Chiharu[41] Chiharu Ono[42] Ring announcer

Backstage personnel

Ring name Real name Notes
Manami Toyota[43] Manami Toyota Managing Supervisor

Championships

As of May 7, 2023

Active

Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days held Location Notes
ICE×∞ Championship
トトロさつき20200613.jpg
Satsuki Totoro 1 March 19, 2023 49+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Saori Anou at New Ice Ribbon #1267.
International Ribbon Tag Team Championship
Hamuko Hoshi 2015 05 25.JPG

Makoto 2013.JPG
Hamuko Hoshi and Makoto 2
(8, 4) 		March 19, 2023 49+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Hikaru Shida and Ibuki Hoshi at New Ice Ribbon #1267.
Triangle Ribbon Championship – Vacant – December 29, 2022 – Tokyo, Japan Yuki Mashiro vacated the title at Ribbonmania 2022 due to her retiement from professional wrestling.
FantastICE Championship
藤田あかね20200113.jpg
Akane Fujita 1 December 31, 2021 492+ Tokyo, Japan Defeated Rina Yamashita at New Ice Ribbon #1168 ~ Ribbonmania 2021.

Formerly promoted

Championship Last champions Reign Date won Location
IW19 Championship Tsukushi Haruka 4 September 18, 2021 Tokyo, Japan
Reina World Tag Team Championship Muscle Venus
(Hikaru Shida and Tsukasa Fujimoto) 		2 May 25, 2013 Yokohama, Japan
Young Ribbon Mixed Tag Team Championship Yuko Miyamoto and Risa Sera 1 March 24, 2013 Warabi, Japan

References

  1. ^ a b c "ｱｲｽﾘﾎﾞﾝxｺﾗｿﾝｼﾞｬﾊﾟﾝの共同事業について". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). December 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2012.
  2. ^ Isami Wrestle Arena official site in Japanese
  3. ^ a b 411mania.com: Into the Indies 10.06.09: Ice Ribbon in English
  4. ^ Muscle Venus official site in Japanese
  5. ^ Three Count official site in Japanese
  6. ^ Byers, Ryan (June 15, 2010). "Into the Indies 06.15.10: Golden Ribbon". 411Mania. Retrieved February 8, 2012.
  7. ^ The Japan Times Online 2010.11.26: Women's wrestling seeks to regain its mojo in English
  8. ^ 【記者会見】都宮ちい退団・19時女子プロレスについて. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). August 26, 2011. Archived from the original on September 19, 2011. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  9. ^ "『第1回NEOﾘﾎﾞﾝ』". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  10. ^ 2010年12月31日(金). NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 29, 2010. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  11. ^ 後楽園大会 ﾘﾎﾞﾝの騎士たち. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  12. ^ "RibbonMania2011". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  13. ^ Radican, Sean (August 20, 2011). "Radican's Chikara DVD Review Series: Chikarasaurus Rex Night 2 - Claudio vs. Del Rey, Kidd/Cabana vs. Saint/Quack, Kingston, Generico, FIST". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  14. ^ "EVE V Ice Ribbon - This Weekend!". Pro Wrestling EVE. October 6, 2011. Archived from the original on April 26, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2012.
  15. ^ 【選手情報】1.7でさくらえみが退団. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). December 14, 2011. Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  16. ^ a b 新人デビュープロジェクトを発表／アイスリボン記者会見. Ringstars (in Japanese). Ameba. October 19, 2012. Retrieved October 20, 2012.
  17. ^ "【選手情報】所属選手『Ray』退団". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on July 11, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  18. ^ 後楽園ﾎｰﾙ｢ﾘﾎﾞﾝの騎士たち2012｣12時試合開始. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on September 29, 2012. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  19. ^ "帯広さやかが12・31後楽園大会を最後にアイスリボン退団を発表！12・28『19時女子』でIW19王座への挑戦が決定！". Battle News (in Japanese). December 1, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
  20. ^ みなみ飛香がアイスリボンを退団. Ringstars (in Japanese). Ameba. January 2, 2013. Retrieved January 2, 2013.
  21. ^ 【おはようニュース!（`・ω・´）6/18】. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). June 18, 2012. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved September 24, 2012.
  22. ^ 【選手情報】ﾃﾞﾋﾞｭｰﾌﾟﾛｼﾞｪｸﾄﾒﾝﾊﾞｰの進退について. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). March 29, 2013. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013. Retrieved April 1, 2013.
  23. ^ ｱｲｽﾘﾎﾞﾝ368 18時00分開始. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  24. ^ "hyR_Byh (ﾊｲﾊﾟｰ☆ﾘﾎﾞﾝ)に密航せよ!vol.1". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). Archived from the original on June 21, 2013. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  25. ^ 【お知らせ】19時女子ﾌﾟﾛﾚｽについて. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved January 7, 2013.
  26. ^ 【結果】アイスリボン１・４横浜. Ringstars (in Japanese). Ameba. January 5, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  27. ^ "【選手情報】1/22(水)紫雷美央がアイスリボン、Ozアカデミー、Wave、ユニオン、史上初の4団体所属選手に!!". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). January 22, 2014. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  28. ^ 【8/16記者会見】9月よりMioがアイスリボンにスタッフとして入団！雪妃真矢CDデビュー！ 11/19第3回世羅りさプロデュースデスマッチ興行！. Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). August 17, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2017.
  29. ^ "【【お知らせ】希月あおい1月9日横浜リボンで退団". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese). January 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2016.
  30. ^ 【試合結果】3･26 アイスリボン後楽園ホール大会 【ICE×∞】世羅りさvs山下りな 【リボンタッグ】水波綾＆大畠美咲vsつくし＆柊くるみ 葛西純＆松本都vsジャガー横田＆藤田あかね. Battle News (in Japanese). March 26, 2017. Retrieved April 1, 2017.
  31. ^ Upton, Felix. "Where AEW Is Taping Japanese Side Of Women's Eliminator Tournament". Ringside News. Gannett. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
  32. ^ "CMLL makes its alliance with Ice Ribbon official". Súper Luchas. September 29, 2021. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  33. ^ "AKANE FUJITA". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  34. ^ "BANNY OIKAWA". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  35. ^ "HAMUKO HOSHI". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  36. ^ "SATSUKI TOTORO". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  37. ^ "TSUKASA FUJIMOTO". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  38. ^ "YAPPY". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  39. ^ "MIO/MIO SHIRAI". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  40. ^ "AI HARA". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  41. ^ "CHIHARU". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).
  42. ^ "Chiharu". Joshiresu.
  43. ^ "MANAMI TOYOTA". Ice Ribbon (in Japanese).

External links

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