Kairi Hojo vs. KAORU (Stardom, 9/6/2015)

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2015 (9/6/2015)

5★STAR Grand Prix Blue Stars Block: Kairi Hojo vs. KAORU

This is the match that Hojo needs to win to make it to the finals and KAORU plays a wonderful spoiler with old school heel work. A gruesome spot in the match sees KAORU counter Hojo's diving forearm by batting her out of the air with the wood. Hojo rolls to the outside writhing and screaming in agony. Some great mature woman heel work that makes Hojo's victory a satisfying one.

***1/2

Kimura Kyoko Retirement Memorial Festival ~ LAST AFRO ~ (1/22/2017)

4. Toshimen Pool Ticket Contest Battle Royal: Aoi Kizuki vs. Bambi vs. Cherry vs. Chon Shiryu vs. Gabai Ji-chan vs. Hercules Senga vs. Kagetsu vs. KAORU vs. Lingerie Muto vs. Mayu Iwatani vs. Mayumi Ozaki vs. Mitsuhisa Sunabe vs. Moeka Haruhi vs. Natsumi Maki vs. Onryo vs. Takashi Sasaki vs. Tsubo Genjin vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto vs. Yuki Miyazaki vs. Yuko Miyamoto vs. Yuu Yamagata

Gabai Ji-chan is the best thing going today. Easily the MVP of this match. The Mayu/Fujimoto/Kagetsu HIGH SPEED segment was loads of fun too. Mayu and Kagetsu should never stop being rivals.

**3/4

5. AKINO & Io Shirai vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Misaki Ohata

Io's involvement makes this very special, but it's a rather by the numbers tag match. Somewhat of a letdown. Maybe my expectations were too high for a random tag on a retirement show.

**1/2

6. Aja Kong, Meiko Satomura & Minoru Suzuki vs. Hana Kimura, ISAO & Kyoko Kimura

Suzuki being an evil bastard is where this shined and the crowd was really into the sentimental family stuff.

***1/2

7. Hana Kimura vs. Kyoko Kimura

Great impromptu match, mother and daughter slugging it out, big boots and genuine emotion. Hana has a legitimate wrist injury which only made her comeback more hard-fought. She's a trooper, and she gives a strong performance. God bless, Hana! I hope she returns stronger than ever!

****

Stardom - Stardom X Stardom 2014 (8/10/2014) (Io Shirai/Yoshiko)

Stardom X Stardom 2014 (8/10/2014)

World of Stardom Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs. Yoshiko

This match was all about Yoshiko and her growth as a wrestler. She was on a different level than when she challenged Io for the belt back in 2013; bigger, stronger, wilder. Io had to breakout new tricks and go back to the drawing board to keep the monster guessing because Yoshiko had the champion well-scouted. It was sheer dominance from Yoshiko through brute force.

***1/2

Arisa Nakajima vs. Hanako Nakamori (JWP, 12/28/2016)

JWP - Climax 2016 (12/28/2016)

JWP Openweight Championship: Arisa Nakajima (c) vs. Hanako Nakamori

Hanako has been thrust into the position of JWP's top star now that Arisa is leaving, but she can't call herself the ace until she brings back the belt. This match never reached a high level, but it did its job in putting over Hanako, I suppose.

**3/4

Ayumi Kurihara vs. Yuzuki Aikawa (Yuzupon Matsuri 3, 5/15/2011)

Yuzupon Matsuri 3 ~ Birthday Eve (5/15/2011)

Ayumi Kurihara vs. Yuzuki Aikawa

The chemistry here is shocking, these two have never faced each other and yet they worked together so well. It never felt like they were killing time for the draw, the pacing felt natural and there were great cut-offs and counters.

****

Kairi Hojo vs. Konami (GPS, 11/5/2016)

GPS - WILD HERO 2 (11/5/2016)

Kairi Hojo vs. Konami

This match was long, but they paced it really well. I like how Hojo spread her signatures out, building to them and making them feel meaningful instead of burning through them like she sometimes does. When the Marine Spike hits in the third act, it feels earned. Konami does her thing too, with those Kana-style low kicks and knee bars and ankle locks.

****

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Osaka LOVE Rin (10/16/2016)

1. Akane Miura vs. Marika Kobashi

Good showcase of what absolute tank Akane Miura can do.

**

2. Azusa Takigawa vs. Maho Kurone vs. Shoko Nakajima

Azusa's commentator gimmick is fascinating. Nakajima has interesting ideas, but isn't quite at the level where she can execute them smoothly.

**

5. Nodoka-oneesan & Yuu vs. Miyu Yamashita & Rika Tatsumi

I love how Rika focuses on the neck with sleepers in preparation for her finisher. Yamashita is on a different level than the roster. I can only hope that the rest of them stick around long enough to catch up to her. This match was to build heat for Yuu/Tatsumi and I think it did its job.

***1/4