Mariko Yoshida vs. Momoe Nakanishi (AtoZ, 11/9/2003)

AtoZ (11/9/2003)

AtoZ World Championship Tournament - Finals: Mariko Yoshida vs. Momoe Nakanishi

This was a solid match. Momoe brought a lot of energy and she has an interesting set of moves. The German suplex on the pile of chairs was cool. Those jumping screw kicks looked awesome, and the way she executed them was so fluid. Mariko's facial expression were on point - I don't recall much else of note from her performance. This was all Momoe Nakanishi.

***

Mariko Yoshida vs. Yumiko Hotta (AtoZ, 11/9/2003)

AtoZ (11/9/2003)

AtoZ World Championship Tournament - Semi-Finals: Mariko Yoshida vs. Yumiko Hotta

Solid stuff. Hotta was hitting some nasty kicks to the head of Yoshida, and the back and forth bare knuckle punches were vicious. This wasn't the most flashy or 'exciting' match per se, but I thought the focus on closed-fist punching was interesting. Yoshida removes a glove and clobbers Hotta before the the finish.

***

AKINO & Momoe Nakanishi vs. Mariko Yoshida & Yumiko Hotta (AtoZ, 9/13/2003)

AtoZ (9/13/2003)

AKINO & Momoe Nakanishi vs. Mariko Yoshida & Yumiko Hotta

This started off exciting, great high flying from Momoe, nice exchanges between Yoshida and AKINO, but after a while it started to lose me. I enjoy a good spotfest, but the action in this didn't grab me, and Hotta was struggling to keep up.

**

DDT - D-Ou Grand Prix 2018 The Final!! (1/28/2018)

6. ALL OUT (Akito & Konosuke Takeshita) & Mike Bailey vs. DAMNATION (Daisuke Sasaki, Mad Paulie & Tetsuya Endo)

What's up with Takeshita and Endo's young lion hair cuts? This was an amazing trios match - action-packed, Takeshita making an awesome hot tag, double teams, great pacing; great work from everyone.

***1/2

7. D-Ou Grand Prix 2018 - Finals: HARASHIMA vs. Shuji Ishikawa

Incredible way to close the tournament. HARASHIMA! He gave one of his strongest performances in a while, he was hitting those somatos whenever he had the chance. Shuji was an absolute beast, taking rough, stiff offense and giving it back. This was two established veterans doing what they do best.

****1/4

Ice Ribbon - #860 ~ Yokohama Ribbon 2018 (1/6/2018)

1. Giulia, Hamuko Hoshi & Ibuki Hoshi vs. Karen DATE, Mio Momono & Tsukushi

**1/2

3. Kyuuri vs. Tae Honma

This was a good and well-paced time out draw match. Tae was showing a lack of respect for Kyuuri and the official, and her submissions were great. Amazing performance from her. Good stuff.

***

5. Hana DATE vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto

This was no good. Hana DATE's obviously still learning, but there's no excuse for this type of bad wrestling from Fujimoto. Everything here looked sloppy and those strikes, my goodness..

*

6. Maya Yukihi & Mika Iida vs. Mochi Miyagi & Risa Sera

Good fast-paced tag match. Yukihi hit some really great kicks. Mika Iida was amazing, and she looks cool in Sera's Azure Revolution gear.

***

7. ICE×∞ Championship: Hiiragi Kurumi (c) vs. Nao DATE

This was fine, pacing was good, the moves were executed well, but I expect more out of a main event title match. They're doing moves and kicking out, and doing more moves and kicking out - and that's it. There's nothing else going on here.

**1/2

Kaoru Ito vs. Sareee (Diana, 2/10/2018)

Diana (2/10/2018)

Kaoru Ito vs. Sareee

Damn, this was unexpectedly intense. Sareee wasn't holding anything back against her senpai, she was getting hits in whenever she could. Her diving stomps looked great, and I like how she grinds an elbow into Ito's head when trying to apply an armbar. Kaoru Ito's like the Akebono of joshi puroresu, she's not the most mobile wrestler, but she hits like a freight train and knows how to use her weight to her advantage. Dug the mat struggles, and the finish was well executed.

***3/4