Kenny Omega vs. Yoshihiko (DDT, 5/5/2010)

DDT (5/5/2010)

Kenny Omega vs. Yoshihiko 

Yoshihiko was a wonderful underdog here, getting wrecked by violent brainbusters and having their face punted off. Kenny hits this running powerbomb that bounces Yoshihiko's head off of the canvas, and I was honestly stunned the match continued after that. The finishing stretch is wild; they go overkill with high spots and it's glorious superman wrestling.

****

Queen's Quest (AZM & HZK) vs. NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura) (Marvelous, 8/8/2017)

Marvelous (8/8/2017)

Queen's Quest (AZM & HZK) vs. NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura)

Takumi rarely makes tape so I was anticipating her every move, seeing what interesting techniques she would use, and I dig this NEW-TRA team. Kadokura showed off some new moves in her new attire. I thought Queen's Quest did great as well; AZM gave a strong effort. Very solid tag match.

***1/4

Aasa Maika, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Jaguar Yokota,「Kotori」& Riho (HEAT-UP, 10/31/2016)

HEAT-UP - The Light Of Hope That Illuminates Kawasaki ~ Make A Miracle Happen 2016 (10/31/2016)

Aasa Maika, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Jaguar Yokota,「Kotori」& Riho

「Kotori」drops Aaasa straight on her head with a tai otoshi. I always enjoy seeing Riho's Palo Special. This is a standard joshi tag, with the usual joshi tag tropes of stereo submission holds, etc, etc. Obihiro should have gotten more. Not much else to say other than that Jaguar,「Kotori」& Riho are a very cute team.

**

HARASHIMA vs. Kenny Omega (1/29/2012)

DDT - Sweet Dreams! 2012 (1/29/2012)

HARASHIMA vs. Kenny Omega

Big HARASHIMA matches tend to have a slow build into a heated climax, and the third act was very well done, but the build just didn't grab me, and they didn't seem to have a good flow going early on. They've had better matches.

**1/2

Hikaru Sato & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Kenny Omega & Michael Nakazawa (DDT, 7/31/2012)

DDT - Beer Garden Fight 2012 ~ KENNY OMEGA PRODUCE DAY (7/31/2012)

Hikaru Sato & Hiroshi Yamato vs. Kenny Omega & Michael Nakazawa

Michael Nakazawa is the one DDT guy I have never understood. I know he's well-respected, but he's not a good wrestler, he has a boring look and he's not funny. Anyway, this was a fun match... ? Lots of homoerotic stuff involving oily muscular bodies, and oil being spit-balled, and decent wrestling somewhere in between.

***

HERO! & HERO! vs. Kenny Ohka & Kenny Omega (DDT, 8/4/2008)

DDT - HARASHIMA Produce: Beer Garden Pro Wrestling (8/4/2008)

HERO! & HERO! vs. Kenny Ohka & Kenny Omega

This crowd was very impressed with Kenny's technical wrestling 101 routine, heh. He got in his signature spots, and got over quickly in just his debut match! The HERO team wrestled like sloths. One of them is Minoru Fujita so I shouldn't be surprised. A solid introduction for Omega in DDT.

**

Sayaka Obihiro vs. Antonio Honda (Gatoh Move, 9/2/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・245 (9/2/2016)

Sayaka Obihiro vs. Antonio Honda

I didn't care for Honda cutting a 1-minute promo during the match, but this had great strike exchanges. I would have liked to have seen more of Honda being an imposing asshole, and hammering away at Obihiro's ribs with body blows, but he just has to shoehorn in his comedy bits. Ah well..

**1/2

NEO Biishiki-gun (Saki-sama & Masa) vs. Aasa Maika & Riho (DDT, 8/4/2017)

DDT - Fighting Beer Garden 2017 ~Shuten-doji Day~ (8/4/2017)

NEO Biishiki-gun (Saki-sama & Masa) vs. Aasa Maika & Riho

I was excited when this was announced, but with it taking place at a Beer Garden show I was worried there would be too much comedy, or even drinking, and luckily none of that was here. Just a straight up wrestling match. Aasa takes a good beating and Paradise Lock (!!); she is just a wonderful FIP. Riho was the workhorse, and brought this match to the next level with her high-flying offense and set-ups. Biishiki-gun were compelling characters as always. Great match.

****

Golden Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie (DDT, 1/20/2011)

DDT - Dotonbori Story 8 (1/20/2011)

Golden☆Lovers (Kenny Omega & Kota Ibushi) vs. Keisuke Ishii & Shigehiro Irie

Back when Irie and Ishii were still young boys, and Irie had a buzzcut! Omega and Irie had a great segment, and Ibushi did magical stuff in the final sequence, and I dug the combos Ishii and Irie were doing. Solid little tag match.

***