Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・264 ~ Christmas Eve (12/24/2016)

1. Kaori Yoneyama & Hikaru Sato vs. Hikaru Shida & Madoka

Very fun match, ultimate battle of Hikarus; Sato was perving it up and Shida tried to avoid hip attacking him. Also, Shida did a very unique submission hold that involved hip attacks. Even with the comedy stuff, the work was great.

***1/2

3. Gatoh Move vs. REINA - 3 out of 5 Falls Match: Emi Sakura, Aasa Maika & Mitsuru Konno vs. Makoto, Hirori & Mari Sakamoto

This was a great inter-promotional skirmish. They kept the action exciting and moving, everyone looked good and had their moment to shine (except for Hirori maybe, but she was a cute face-in-peril).

***3/4

5. Asia Dream Tag Team Championship: Happy Makers 2 (Aoi Kizuki & Sayaka Obihiro) (c) vs. Riho &「Kotori」

Spectacular match. The action moved fast and momentum shifts happened in an instant. Obihiro was doing a hell of a sell job, and Riho's counterwork was excellent -- loved everything about their closing segment together.「Kotori」's execution was rough, but she's got an energy that makes up for it. Aoi-chan's in-ring genius shined as always. Brilliant stuff all around.

****1/2

Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Sayaka Obihiro (Gatoh Move, 4/2/2014)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・97 ~ Sawasdee Car Tour in Osaka of Spring ~ (4/2/2014)

Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Sayaka Obihiro

There wasn't much to this match. Obihiro brought her high energy as usual and she got squashed by Hiroyo.

**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.

**

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

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

「Kotori」, Riho & Paksa vs. Sayaka Obihiro, Golem Thai & P-Nutz (Gatoh Move, 6/18/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・231 (6/18/2016)

「Kotori」, Riho & Paksa vs. Sayaka Obihiro, Golem Thai & P-Nutz

A bunch of wrestlers from GM's Thailand branch are here and one of them is named P-Nutz. I mostly watched this because Sayaka was dressed up like a cool brawler outfit, but it was a great trios. Golem Thai is ace material, IMO.

****

SAKI vs. Sayaka Obihiro (Gatoh Move, 6/4/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・230 (6/4/2016)

SAKI vs. Sayaka Obihiro

Obihiro uses tactical espionage to gain an early advantage, emerging from the window with a surprise attack. There's some sloppiness here, but I always enjoy Obihiro's dramatic performance and SAKI did interesting moves.

**3/4

Maki Narumiya & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto & Tsukushi (Ice Ribbon, 2/3/2013)

Ice Ribbon - 19'O Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #103 (2/3/2012)

Maki Narumiya & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto & Tsukushi

This was a sweet match, lots of interesting offense on display. Narumiya is always one of my favorites to watch, I like how she pays attention to detail.

***1/2

Ice Ribbon - 19'O Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #84 (8/26/2011)

1. Heisei YTR (Chii Tomiya & Hikari Minami) vs. Kaori Yoneyama & Sayaka Obihiro

This was another fun 19'O Clock tag, high speed and comedic. Hikari & Chii are an insanely cute team. I loved the "technical difficulties" spot that they did.

***3/4

Ice Ribbon - 19 O'Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #108 ~ 19 O'Clock Girl's Tournament (3/10/2012)

1. Tsukushi & Aoi Kizuki vs. Hikaru Shida & Sayaka Obihiro

Sayaka Obihiro has come a long way for sure. This was a fun match; the finish between Shida and Kizuki was exciting with Kizuki pulling off the upset.

***

2. 19 O'Clock Girls Tournament Final: Dorami Nagano vs. Kurumi

I'm not familiar with Dorami's moveset, but this match lets you know which move of hers Kurumi needs to look out for. Right out the gate, Dorami rushes Kurumi into an electric chair, but Kurumi is able to counter out of it. This is a 6-minute match wrestled with a sense of urgency, the action is flashy and flows well.

****

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・210 (1/31/2016)

2. DJ Nira vs. MIZUKI

There's clever limbwork and submissions with comedy bits spliced in. Nira employing the use of an electric fan to work over MIZUKI's hand was great.

***3/4

3. Antonio Honda, Riho & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Emi Sakura, 「Kotori」& Masa Takanashi

Another really fun GM trios. Not much to say about this one except that it was thoroughly enjoyable.

****

Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Makoto & Riho (Gatoh Move, 2/7/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・211 (2/7/2016)

Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Makoto & Riho

Riho having to lead a tentative Makoto during double team maneuvers was cute. Obihiro is one of the most enthusiastic performers in modern joshi. Super fun and unpredictable, I'm always looking forward to what interesting things she'll do next. Her energy takes these tag matches to the next level.

***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

「Kotori」, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 12/31/2015)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・206 (12/31/2015)

「Kotori」, Emi Sakura & Sayaka Obihiro vs. Riho & Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

This was a very kinetic trios match, the action accelerates towards a very exciting peak, moves and sequences are seamlessly strung together in an incredible way. It was so simple and yet delivered so much, amazing match.

*****

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

Kurumi vs. Tsukushi (Ice Ribbon, 9/16/2011)

Ice Ribbon - 19'O Clock Girls Pro Wrestling #87 (9/16/2011)

IW19 Championship (vacant): Kurumi vs. Tsukushi

Little Tsukushi powering out of Kurumi's Cattle Mutilation, sending her flipping out of the hold was so ridiculous it was great. This was a sprint that was built around Kurumi's German suplex, which Tsukushi tries to avoid at all costs. These two are very young and very tiny so you don't want them taking too many bumps so they instead focused on nifty submission work.

***1/4