Tokyo Joshi Pro - 8th Tokyo Princess Cup (8/15/2021)
Maki Itoh vs. Shoko Nakajima
I was a little worried when I saw the match length, but these two carried out a performance that was engaging from start to finish. The consistent game plan from Itoh. Shoko showing why she's been entrusted with the role of reliable gatekeeper. A finishing stretch with a sense of drama and urgency and a satisfying result. This was a fantastic tournament final.
****1/4
6. Tokyo Princess Cup 2021 Semi Finals: Shoko Nakajima vs. Miu Watanabe
A great blend of power and speed. Shoko showed off her strong ground game as she worked over the neck. Miu's performance was fantastic and just watching her perform power moves was the highlight of the match. I wish the match had gotten as much time as the main event, because it felt like it ended just as it was getting really good. There's something special with this pairing and hopefully they meet in a big match setting again some day.
***3/4
7. Tokyo Princess Cup 20211 Semi Finals: Mizuki vs. Maki Itoh
Another match in this TPC that reminded me of the goodness of Mizuki. Stellar performance from her, with many cool roll-through transitions to set up offense. There's obviously a backstory between these two, and they've clashed several times before, so the storytelling was solid. The second half of the match wasn't as good as the first half. They went for a methodical finishing stretch, which I don't think landed strongly. A great match still.
***3/4
5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Saki Kashima vs. Mina Shirakawa
Good match and another good showing from Saki Kashima during this Osaka double-shot. Really enjoyed her work on top, especially the way she made strategic use of the ropes to inflict damage. Mina was quite good as well.
***1/4
6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Natsupoi vs. Starlight Kid
Great work by these two. I loved their high speed match earlier in the year and their chemistry has improved a lot since then. I'm enjoying Starlight Kid's new edge and the brutal additions to her moveset. Natsupoi, fresh from injury, is in better shape than ever and continues to add to her arsenal.
***3/4
7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Saya Kamitani
Despite being almost half the length of their white belt match, it was just as engaging; a very fast-paced 13-minute match with plenty of depth.
****
4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Ruaka
Enjoyed this quite a bit, sudden finish aside. It had a simple structure that was executed well for the most part. Ruaka continues to show growth. Her arm work wasn't boring, with the variety of ways she found to attack the limb, including using her large body. Tam gave the match stability and her selling put Ruaka's monster power over.
***1/4
5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Saki Kashima vs. Giulia
I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This was awesome, both of them seemed to connect together so naturally and had a compelling character dynamic. Some rather hard hits were thrown as well, which is always a plus. Giulia showed her range as a performer, with spectacular moves I hadn't seen from her before, such as a Baldo Bomb. Kashima's dirty fighting was met with energetic counterattacks from Giulia, and the tension built nicely. Finest Kashima singles performance I can think of.
***3/4
6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Unagi Sayaka
Solid match. Rudimentary back and forth, with Utami having a slight advantage. The closing stretch is where it really started to pick up, with Unagi getting a close near fall and surviving big offense.
***
7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Syuri vs. AZM
This wasn't quite as good as the SWA match earlier in the year, which was a fast-paced, lively affair. This match had a more deliberate pace and some parts were middling. Still, there was much to be enjoyed. AZM's double foot stomps were piercing, and she hit a surprising Canadian destroyer in the lead up to a convincing win.
***1/2
Ice Ribbon - #1135 ~ Summer Jumbo Ribbon 2021 (7/24/2021)
International Ribbon Tag Team Championship (vacant): Akane Fujita & Risa Sera vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto vs. Maika Ozaki & Maya Yukihi
1. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: AZM vs. Unagi Sayaka
Good, fast paced opening match. AZM was sharp and technical, while Unagi picked her spots and chained together crushing offense.
***1/2
2. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Saki Kashima vs. Starlight Kid
An 8 minute match that was paced and built tremendously. The double 619 and standing moonsault counters from Kashima were so well-timed and unexpected. Tense finishing stretch that led to a brutal finish.
***3/4
3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Natsupoi
A great battle of power and speed, with Natsupoi targetting the injured, taped back to take away Momo's power and inflict lingering damage. The Tanahashi-esque moonsault to the back into a submission by Natsupoi was sweet. Natsupoi's shock response to getting the fall conveyed the story of her performance well.
***1/2
4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Konami vs. Tam Nakano
There was some good grappling and striking here. Nakano's striking in particular has improved and has a good sense of weight to it. Konami has neat and detailed little moves. I think she needs a "nage-waza" finisher to feel like a proper threat, as submissions sometimes can be harder to buy into. Nakano's use of insect-like movements to escape Konami's crossface chicken wing was amazing.
***3/4
5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Saya Kamitani
A rematch of their phenomenal Budokan Hall title match. Although this match lacked the ingredients to reach that level, it was still a very good match between two of the promotion's youngest and most exciting stars. Hot back and forth with some great cut-offs and big moves.
****
6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Maika vs. Syuri
NEVER Openweight-style dick measuring contest with both wrestlers showing stubbornness and incredible tenacity as they went blitzkrieg on one another. Ground fighting, struggling over vertical suplexes and clobbering each other with headbutts during a double knuckle lock, they never stopped going at it. The finish was overkill from Syuri with a brutal punt kick followed by an Emerald Flowsion that dropped Maika like a lawn dart into the canvas.
****1/2
7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani
A vast improvement over their GP match last year. They've grown more comfortable working together and this felt like the first time they produced a match that blended the best of their styles into a cohesive whole. Giulia deliberately worked the neck and displayed dominance on the ground, while Mayu relied on her zombie-like durability and kicking power.
****1/4
2. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Natsupoi vs. Koguma
Could have easily been wrestled for the High Speed title. There were fun pin-scrambles and a good amount of struggle in the finishing stretch.
***1/2
3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Giulia vs. Starlight Kid
The roles were reversed from their match earlier in the year with SLK being the aggressor this time around, having joined the heel unit Oedo Tai. This was a good, energetic back and forth, with SLK showing her aggressive side, especially during the strike exchange. It didn't come close to their title match, but there's potential with this new dynamic.
***1/2
4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Unagi Sayaka
A slow and steady match that built to a big finish, which is Nakano's forte. Nakano's work on top was excellent, she was dominating Unagi with heavy strikes. And Unagi did a swell job working underneath, with lush selling and smart, well-timed counterattacks. Unagi's new finisher has a complicated started up so her performing it as fast as she did was impressive and I was convinced by her victory. Great champion vs. champion intra-unit match.
****
5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Syuri
An amazing match, especially when you consider that this was the first time they've met in singles. There was a special chemical reaction between these two and they felt like a natural pairing. Those slap exchanges were wicked. I've always thought Syuri was a narrow, one-pattern type of wrestler, but she has opened up lately and has become a diverse performer. Kamitani upped the ante in the striking department and firmly stood against a monster in Syuri.
****1/4
6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe
Another excellent match from this time-tested duo. They exchanged many hard kicks, with Momo being a particularly surly aggressor and Mayu doing her usual impeccable sell job. The build to Momo's devastating new finishing move, which resembled Naruki Doi's Muscular Bomb, was well done.
****1/4
7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika
Maika has grown since her last match against Utami and she showed some qualities that were not present in their past matches. This was another amazing match between these two, possibly the best one they've had against each other yet. Suplex and lariat battles, and a dominant finish from Maika.
****1/4
