Riho &「Kotori」vs. Aasa Maika & Mitsuru Konno (Gatoh Move, 7/16/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・300 (7/16/2017)

Riho &「Kotori」vs. Aasa Maika & Mitsuru Konno

Enjoyable clash between Emi Sakura's veteran and rookie students. The intensity from Konno as she was locking in those submission holds was great, she looked like a real killer. I wonder where she learned these lucha libre llaves. Aasa's sessions with Riho and「Kotori」were full energy and a lot of fun, some of the stuff looked contrived, but I respect the creativity.

***

「Kotori」vs. Aasa Maika (Gatoh Move, 8/26/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・308 (8/26/2017)

「Kotori」vs. Aasa Maika

This was great, lots of action and movement -- these two put a lot of energy into their performances. 'Kotori' Ryu throws Aasa into the wall, and it looked fucking wicked; and Aasa's counterwork was super awesome and compelling as always.

***3/4

Sendai Girls - Big Show in Sendai 2017 (9/24/2017)

5. Aasa Maika, Emi Sakura & Hana Kimura vs. Aja Kong, Cassandra Miyagi & Hikaru Shida

***1/2

7. Sendai Girls World Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto (c) vs. Meiko Satomura

***3/4

Riho vs. Aasa Maika (Gatoh Move, 2/4/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・272 (2/4/2017)

Riho vs. Aasa Maika

This was compact/minimalist, but they still managed to create exciting moments. Aasa countering Riho mid-cartwheel was especially great. Her counterwork is always a joy to watch. I thought Riho's approach to the match was interesting, she was adjusting to Aasa's style and trying new things. The ending was neat too.

***1/2

Aasa Maika vs. Emi Sakura (Gatoh Move, 4/9/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・283 (4/9/2017)

Aasa Maika vs. Emi Sakura

Always thrilled to watch an Aasa singles. This was another good one. The way Emi was punishing Aasa, oh man, just excellent work. Great match.

***1/4

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・294 ~ Riho 20th Birthday Produce: I Am 20 Years Old! (6/5/2017)

3. Cho-un Shiryu, Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. Sayaka Obihiro, Rocky Kawamura & Hikaru Shida

This was an M-Pro style roller coaster ride; it had comedy and great wrestling. Wow, Shida looked too cute in this.

***3/4

4. Aasa Maika vs. Ryo Mizunami

Mizunami's a wrecking ball of an aggressor; Aasa's all fighting spirit, and her counterwork and rallies were top notch. These two are both charismatic and know how to put on a compelling performance. Crowd reaction said it all.

****

Aasa Maika & Mitsuru Konno vs. Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi (Gatoh Move, 5/15/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・291 (5/15/2017)

Aasa Maika & Mitsuru Konno vs. Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi

This was grueling rookie punishment from the veterans, with Konno being the FIP for much of her time in the match. Masa is always an amazing prick in these types of matches, and him being able to effortlessly toss these girls around helps. Aasa's charisma was on full display here, she brought the match to the next level.

***1/2

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.

**

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.

****

Riho &「Kotori」vs. Mitsuru Konno & Aasa Maika (Gatoh Move, 5/3/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・287 (5/3/2017)

Riho &「Kotori」vs. Mitsuru Konno & Aasa Maika

I loved everything Aasa was doing here, the segment with「Kotori」where she gets a somersault throw into the wall, and her overconfidence when she's taking on both Riho & 「Kotori」. Konno was not having a good match; her transitions and execution was sloppy, but fortunately she didn't get much. An OK match. 

**1/2

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・302 (7/29/2017)

1.「Kotori」vs. Hirori

**1/4

3. Riho & Aasa Maika vs. Hikaru Shida & Mitsuru Konno

The opening segment between Riho and Shida was awesome. Konno was chaining together painful-looking lucha holds. She's the Negro Navarro of joshi puroresu. Shida and Maika have heat and that led to fun moments.

***3/4

Sendai Girls - Big Show in Niigata (7/15/2017)

4. Aja Kong, Meiko Satomura & Nanae Takahashi vs. Mika Shirahime, Mio Momono & Rin Kadokura

The segments between Satomura and Hime were fantastic. All of the rookie desperation spots and the veteran punishes were great. Kong DEVASTATES Mio with this backdrop.

***3/4

5. Sendai Girls Tag Team Championship: Hikaru Shida & Syuri (c) vs. Cassandra Miyagi & DASH Chisako

Felt like it went longer than it needed to be, but the action never slowed down. This mini Shida-Miyagi rivalry is great. Chisako spent most of the match getting bumped around and worked over, but she makes a surly comeback.

***1/2

6. Sendai Girls World Championship: Hiroyo Matsumoto (c) vs. Chihiro Hashimoto

Chihiro is a sturdy wall of meat. Definitely the weaker of the Chihiro matches from this year. It didn't have the sense of danger that her previous big matches did, and boiled down to an exchange of moves and the two using one another's finisher, and while all of this looked great, there wasn't much else going on here.

***1/4

Aasa Maika vs. Jungle Kyona (Gatoh Move, 5/5/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・288 ~ Golden Gatoh Move 2017 (5/5/2017)

Aasa Maika vs. Jungle Kyona

This caught me by surprise as someone who isn't the biggest fan of Jungle Kyona's work. The idea of her working on top was a no-go for me, but she put on a great show here; one of the most exuberant performances I have seen from her. It probably helps that she has a charisma-spark plug to work with. Aasa Maika is like a miniature Sayaka Obihiro with her tokusatsu poses and unorthdox offense.

****

Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. Aasa Maika & Kuishinbo Kamen (Gatoh Move, 12/29/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour · 265 (12/29/2016)

Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. Aasa Maika & Kuishinbo Kamen

Aasa's bumping and selling is super compelling, and Sakura heeling it up is always great. I felt like Kamen's role in this match could have been bigger.

**1/2

Kazuhiro Tamura vs. Aasa Maika (Gatoh Move, 9/11/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour · 247 (9/11/2016)

Kazuhiro Tamura vs. Aasa Maika 

This was a fun little match. Kazuhiro gives Aasa shine and makes her look credible before her destroys her with martial arts strike combinations.

***

「Kotori」& Aasa Maika vs. Cho-un Shiryu & Masahiro Takanashi (Gatoh Move, 8/21/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・243 (8/21/2016)

「Kotori」& Aasa Maika vs. Cho-un Shiryu & Masahiro Takanashi

This felt like one of those fast and furious lucha libre matches where the action is just going and going. The finish is glorious violence, Shiryu squashes Aasa against the wall with a Gory special and then drops her face-first into the canvas.

****3/4

Gatoh Move - From the Prince Games (2/11/2017)

1. Mitsuru Konno vs. Riho

Mitsuru is Gatoh Move's newest trainee. She's tall. Decent opener where they trade cool submission holds.

**1/4

3. Aasa Maika vs. Kaori Yoneyama

Fun match with heat and rookie fire. I dig Aasa's body attacks. I really liked Yoneyama working on top, bullying Aasa with hair pulling and knee strikes.

***

4. Antonio Honda & Trans-Am ★ Hiroshi vs. Happy Makers 2 (Aoi Kizuki & Sayaka Obihiro)

This was a very good match. The overselling of Hiroshi & Honda was funny. Obihiro was exploding with energy as usual, her tag team with Kizuki is a fun.

***1/2

5. IWA Triple Crown Championship: Makoto (c) vs.「Kotori」

「Kotori」did a lot of neat things here. The size dynamic was well played and this builds to a heated climax. Makoto's Death Valley Bomb is beautiful.

***1/2

Gatoh Move - One Night in Prince Basement (11/19/2016)

1.「Kotori」& Aasa Maika vs. Madoka & Mitsuru Konno

There's a great heated moment where Aasa and Konno are trading kicks while applying kneebars on each other. Aasa knows how to bring the drama in the ring. Madoka held nothing back against these girls. This match ruled.

****

2. DJ Nira vs. Hikaru Shida

The Ass God goes on a shinai-swinging rampage.

**1/2

3. IWA Triple Crown Championship: Riho (c) vs. Makoto

I like Makoto as this overconfident heel who is holding GM's top singles belt captive and fighting against the roster. Riho shows great fire, and I dig how she makes use of the somato as both an offensive and defensive maneuver.

***3/4

4. Asia Dream Tag Team Championship: Happy Makers 2 (Aoi Kizuki & Sayaka Obihiro) (c) vs. Heart Move Kei Reform (Emi Sakura & Kaori Yoneyama)

A whirlwind of innovative tag maneuvers and counters with plenty of character from the performers. The workrate was mesmerizing; a near-perfect tag match.

****3/4