Ice Ribbon #962 ~ Osaka Ribbon 2019 II (5/25/2019)

5. Kizuna Tournament Semi Finals: Maika Ozaki & Tequila Saya vs. Risa Sera & Suzu Suzuki

This was a very strong tag match. Suzu shined in an impressive performance. Sera had some moments where she showed off her amazing power and speed, and Maika continues to be one of my favorites in the promotion.

****1/4

6. ICExInfinity Championship: Maya Yukihi (c) vs. Giulia

Yukihi is Ice Ribbon's absolute ace. She is beautiful, strong and has a keen sense of how to pace and compose an epic match. Giulia has cultivated a unique character and style in her 18 months as a pro, using unorthodox submissions and hammer lock techniques. There's a progression of violence here that leads to a brutal finish. The whole match is one of the most harrowing displays of violence to take place in the Ice Ribbon ring.

****1/2

Ice Ribbon - #974 ~ Osaka Ribbon 2019 III (8/3/2019)

5. International Ribbon Tag Team Championship: BURNING RAW (Giulia & Tequila Saya) (c) vs. Maika Ozaki & Saori Anou

A stupendous spot-fest; fast and furious action with great teamwork and little down time. There were a bunch of high-speed sequences that were fun to watch, and they do a wonderful job building heat for the near-falls.

****1/4

6. ICExInfinity Championship: Maya Yukihi (c) vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto

This was a gift to Osaka from Maya and Tsukasa. An excellently paced 30-minute epic. I found myself so absorbed in the action that I was invested in almost every sequence. There was an attention to detail and a number of exciting segments, including callbacks to previous bouts in the feud. The kickouts towards the end were excessive, but the flow and excitement of the match never slowed down.

****1/2

Tokyo Joshi Pro - My life; let's enjoy!! (10/19/2019)

2. Hikari Noa vs. Raku

Like the Hikari-Miu match in Ryogoku KFC, this showed the individual growth of the Up Up Girls. Raku showed a strong desire to win, with an array of new moves, including an improved sleeper hold with body scissors.

***1/2

4. magical sugar rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki) vs. Miyu Yamashita & Shoko Nakajima

This match served as a prelude to Shoko Nakajima vs. Yuka Sakazaki, but was also a symbol of Tokyo Joshi's 2019. An epic tag match among arguably the four pillars of the promotion. Great chemistry and consistently hot action.

****1/4

5. International Princess Championship: Yuna Manase (c) vs. Maki Itoh

Ito and Yuna are such opposites that I didn't know what to expect from them, but they ended up working a very good match. Itoh is small, but she has so much charisma and confidence that her dominating Yuna during certain portions worked. The match was well laid out and had a hot finishing stretch with a shocking finish.

***3/4

6. Princess Tag Team Championship: NEO Biishiki-gun (Misao & Saki-sama) (c) vs. PINK READY (Mina Shirakawa & Yuki Kamifuku)

The pairing of Mina & Kamiyu have been having great performances since February, and their performance in this title match was appropriately the best yet. This match had a frenetic pacing, and lots of exciting double teams and momentum shifts.

****

Stardom - World Champion Wars 2019 (10/14/2019)

5. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Arisa Hoshiki (c) vs. Kagetsu

Ogawa-san called this the most anticipated match of the second half. And it did feel like there was a special energy shrouding the match, but the wrestlers were unable to harness it. This was a letdown. The pacing wasn’t there, and I’m not an execution mark, but there were notable flubs. I’m not one to complain about long matches either (I generally enjoy New Japan and NOAH’s longform epics), but this felt really long.

6. World of Stardom Championship: Bea Priestley (c) vs. Hana Kimura

This was a match filled with violence, charisma, and dramatic tension. Some strikes were brutal and there were several dangerous techniques that targeted the head or neck. Hana’s showmanship exploded as she met the dominant champion’s brutality and disrespect with her own. I didn’t know what to expect from this matchup, but these two felt like natural opponents and created something special in Korakuen Hall.

****1/4

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Fall Tour '19 ~ Best Regards! ~ (10/5/2019)

3. Mizuki vs. Raku

Raku’s most impressive performance to date. She showed good offense, reflexes, workrate, and determination. Her sleeper technique seems solid and has the potential to be a useful tool when she develops it. Mizuki does a good leading. Her subtle heel work coupled with wacky mannerisms and facials has made her stand out this year. They created exciting moments towards the end with counters and finisher teases.

***1/4

5. Misao vs. Miu Watanabe

Misao has been shining with her aggression and heel work. Also her European style transitions are smooth and feel appropriate for the character. Miu worked another good performance underneath - great selling and timing, explosive power in her comebacks. The giant swing turned into a boston crab was a nice combination. They worked a great match that elevated the younger Miu and put over Misao as a killer.

***1/2

Hikari Noa vs. Maki Ito (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 9/28/2019)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Fall Tour '19 ~ Best Regards! ~ (9/28/2019)

Hikari Noa vs. Maki Ito

This was the blow-off match of a feud that's been brewing for months through interactions in tag matches. Ito worked a brawler style, getting in strikes between transitions and using her headbutt effectively (most of her offense focused on the back to set up her cover leaf finisher). Hikari created exciting moments and a sense of urgency with her cobra twist and its variations. This was paced well and had a feeling of being a big match. Ito is starting to become more than a "character-first" wrestler and is showing a real ability to craft compelling and comprehensive matches.

***1/2

Masahiro Takanashi, Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga vs. Riho, Baliyan Akki & Anchamu (Gatoh Move, 6/1/2019)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour #431 (6/1/2019)

Masahiro Takanashi, Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga vs. Riho, Baliyan Akki & Anchamu

The classic Ichigaya spotfest. High speed action, timely cut-offs, tandem attacks, bits of humor, an amazing finish. The final segment between Riho and Mei was intense.

****1/2