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.

***

Mitsuru Konno vs. Riho (Gatoh Move, 6/11/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・295 (6/11/2017)

Mitsuru Konno vs. Riho

Good! Riho playing the bully was highly entertaining (and cute!), she was teaching poor Konno a lesson. Konno had a couple of neat counters; her comebacks could have been stronger, but they were decent enough. The matwork was enjoyable, and I thought the submission struggle finish was great.

***

Mitsuru Konno vs. Riho (Gatoh Move, 4/15/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・284 (4/15/2017)

Mitsuru Konno vs. Riho

Konno is obviously still green, but I thought her performance was generally acceptable. Riho kept things under control. They start throwing some nasty fucking strikes towards the finish that I was really into. Not a high-end match like Konno/'Kotori', but good nonetheless. 

**3/4

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

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

「Kotori」vs. Mitsuru Konno (Gatoh Move, 2/19/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・274 (2/19/2017)

「Kotori」vs. Mitsuru Konno

I wish I could name the hold Konno applies in the closing segment... some kind of surfboard turned into a modified straightjacket crossface. This was good; the rough body-on-body contact gave it that 'dogfight' vibe. All of the near-falls are effective, and it feels like a match that can end at any second.

****1/2

Gatoh Move - High School Graduation (3/28/2017)

1. Aoi Kizuki vs. Mitsuru Konno

This was a decent showing for Konno. She's new, so errors are to be expected. Aoi Kizuki is obviously a joshi puroresu artisan so there is a lot to be learned from grappling with her.

**1/4

2. Emi Sakura W vs. Yako Fujigasaki

***

3. Hikaru Shida vs. SAKI

This was a match built up on who has the better brainbuster between these two via social media, so they're going back and forth with them.

***1/4

4. Cho-un Shiryu & Antonio Honda vs. Rocky Kawamura & Sayaka Obihiro

***1/2

5. Aasa Maika vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

***

6. Asia Dream Tag Team Championship:「Kotori」& Riho (c) vs. Masahiro Takanashi & Emi Sakura

This is Chinese variety art in the form of a wrestling match, such a mesmerizing display of balance and timing, coupled with great storytelling.

****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