KUDO vs. Tetsuya Endo (DDT, 1/8/2017)

DDT - Road To Super Arena in Nagoya ~ Dramatic Dream Tenusu ~ (1/8/2017)

KO-D Openweight Championship #1 Contender Tournament - Semi Final: KUDO vs. Tetsuya Endo

It feels like KUDO has been coasting since he returned from his ACL injury, but here, it felt like he returned to form. Endo looks like a blend between Jim Reid and a Greek god. I really like his Tanahashi-style leg work that was sold well by KUDO. The counters are smooth and the high spots fit well into the pacing.

****

Ai Shimizu vs. Cassandra Miyagi (GANBARE☆PRO-WRESTLING, 2/11/2017)

GANBARE☆PRO-WRESTLING - GET DOWN 2017 (2/11/2017)

Ai Shimizu Ganbare☆Wrestling Trial - 3rd Round: Ai Shimizu vs. Cassandra Miyagi

This is what I love to see from Cassandra Miyagi; terrorizing patrons and cameramen, rampaging through BASEMENT MON☆STAR. Shimizu worked underneath and she delivers quite a sympathetic ‘anime moan’. I thought she did well, nothing overtly impressive. This was mostly a Miyagi show.

***

OZ Academy - The Wizard Of OZ 2017 - Kessen Wa Suiyobi (1/25/2017)

4. Aja Kong, Rina Yamashita & Saki Akai vs. Sekigun (Maya Yukihi, Mayumi Ozaki & Yumi Ohka)

I always love a good Sekigun FIP segment, mature women in black living out their sadistic fantasties and POLICE taking liberties with folding chairs.

***

5. Chihiro Hashimoto, Meiko Satomura & Mika Shirahime vs. MK4 (AKINO, Kaho Kobayashi & Sonoko Kato)

Meiko and Sonoko are career revivals, so it warms my heart seeing them in the ring together again (the last time they met was 2013). I hope this leads to big things down the line. As for the match itself, it was fun, not a whole lot to say about it. Great feuding between Meiko and AKINO.

**3/4

6. OZ Academy Tag Team Championship: Hikaru Shida & Syuri (c) vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Kagetsu

There has been a slowbuild to a Hiroyo/Shida blowoff, with twists and turns rather than linearity, and the heat between them was felt whenever they interacted. Good work from everyone involved, really. The action builds to bigger, more exciting sequences as the match progresses.

****1/2

Yuzuki Aikawa: Wonder of Stardom Championship (Stardom, 7/24/2011~2/26/2012)

Stardom - Stardom X Stardom 2011 ~ Nanae Takahashi 15th Anniversary (7/24/2011)

Wonder of Stardom Championship (decision): Yuzuki Aikawa vs. Yoshiko

A match of high-end boob punishment. Something about women getting their boob abused gets Korakuen Hall fired up. The heat and the sheer disrespect on display was wonderful. Awesome stuff.

****

Stardom - Wonderful Stars 2011 (9/25/2011)

Wonder of Stardom Championship: Yuzuki Aikawa (c) vs. Io Shirai

A clash between ace and future ace. Io was such a nasty bully during her control segments, stomping and belittling Yuzuki, and how she shrugged off Yuzupon's initial offense. Ponpon's comeback segments were just as great; smoothly executed kicks to violent results.

***3/4

Stardom - Year End Stars 2011 (12/23/2011)

Wonder of Stardom Championship: Yuzuki Aikawa (c) vs.  Arisa Hoshiki

This was a bit on the lighthearted side for a championship match. I would have liked to have seen something more violent, but nonetheless fun.

**

Stardom - New Year Stars 2012 (2/26/2012)

Wonder of Stardom Championship: Yuzuki Aikawa (c) vs. Miho Wakizawa

The Shining Wizard Wakizawa takes in this match, good lord! There's not a whole lot here to be honest, but that finishing sequence was sheer brutality.

**1/2

Hikaru Shida vs.「Kotori」(Gatoh Move, 9/10/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・246 (9/10/2016)

Hikaru Shida vs.「Kotori」

Great match that reminded me of a IW19 defense, neat offense and counters crammed into 10 minutes. I loved the moment where「Kotori」uses Shida's own shinai against her and ends up paying for it.「Kotori」's execution was a rough at times, but she was mostly fluid in her high flying offense.

***1/4

BASARA - Vajra 26 ~ Tettotetsubi ~ (1/6/2017)

1. IRON PRIEST (Madoka & Yusuke Kubo) vs. Fuminori Abe & Shinya Ishida

IRON PRIEST schooling literal whos on the art of metal.

***

3. Cavalry (Ryota Nakatsu & Ryuichi Sekine) vs. Hi69 & Takumi Tsukamoto

Cavalry bores me to tears. So many interesting gimmicks in BASARA and then you have these dudes dancing around with stick horses. That said, they are solid as wrestlers. Really great match.

***1/2

4. Daichi Kazato, Masamune & Tatsuhiko Yoshino vs. SAGAT, Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi & Trans-Am ★ Ryuichi

SAGAT is a stickler for abuse. Here he gets his nipples twisted (!), has his hair shampooed (?) and then gets humped Paradise Lock-style (!?).

***

5. Union Pro MAX Championship: Isami Kodaka (c) vs. FUMA

These two have had matches in the past, but not like this. Not while FUMA had a heart of heavy metal. Good, despite some flaws such as inconsistent leg selling. Lots of creative offense on display. FUMA's chops opening up the old scars on Kodaka's chest was wicked.

***1/2

Hikaru Shida & Syuri vs. Kaori Yoneyama & Tsubasa Kuragaki (OZ Academy, 1/8/2017)

OZ Academy - The Wizard Of OZ 2017 (1/8/2017)

Hikaru Shida & Syuri vs. Kaori Yoneyama & Tsubasa Kuragaki

Amazing action compressed into 10-mins. This was a well put together tag where the double team sequences seemingly materialize out of thin air. Yoneyama & BEAVER showed off new devastating additions to their arsenal, and the finishing sequence was silky smooth.

***3/4