OZ Academy - Disorder (5/28/2017)

1. AKINO vs. Aoi Kizuki

***

2. Hikaru Shida vs. Kaho Kobayashi

***3/4

3. Aja Kong & Yoshiko vs. Akane Fujita & Hamuko Hoshi

***

4. Kaori Yoneyama vs. Sonoko Kato

***1/2

5. Hiroyo Matsumoto, Rina Yamashita & Tsubasa Kuragaki vs. Sekigun (Alex Lee, Maya Yukihi & Mayumi Ozaki)

***1/4

「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

Stardom - Gold May 2017 (5/14/2017)

3. Hana Kimura vs. HZK vs. Rebel

**

4. Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Hiroyo Matsumoto & Jungle Kyona (c) vs. The Craft (Jessicka Havok & Tessa Blanchard)

**3/4

5. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Kairi Hojo (c) vs. Mayu Iwatani

**3/4

6. World of Stardom Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs. Toni Storm

This was excellent; an intense high drama main event. Io puts a beating on the challenger in the first act, with a dropkick while Toni's neck is trapped in a chair, followed by stomps, and a double knee smash into the ring post. This is the most vulnerable Toni Storm has ever looked in Stardom. Storm has Io down for the count after she hits her deadly piledriver, the culmination of neck-work, but her pride won't allow her to win that way. Io sells the damage amazingly, lunging around on the mat with a stiff upper body as she fights to make the comeback; easily the best selling I have ever seen from her. Great match!

****

Stardom - Grows Up Stars 2017 (5/7/2017)

3. Hana Kimura vs. Hetzza vs. Rebel

**

4. The Craft (Jessicka Havok & Tessa Blanchard) vs. Natsuko Tora & Toni Storm

***

5. Threedom Final Tag: Threedom (Io Shirai, Kairi Hojo & Mayu Iwatani) vs. Hiromi Mimura, HZK & Jungle Kyona

***1/4

Stardom - Golden Week Stars 2017 (5/6/2017)

3. The Craft (Jessicka Havok & Tessa Blanchard) vs. Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora

***1/4

4. Mayu Iwatani & Toni Storm vs. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura & Kris Wolf)

***

5. Artist of Stardom Championship: Queen's Quest (AZM, HZK & Io Shirai) (c) vs. Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo & Konami

***3/4

Aasa Maika vs. Jungle Kyona (Gatoh Move, 5/5/2017)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・288 ~ Golden Gatoh Move 2017 (5/5/2017)

Aasa Maika vs. Jungle Kyona

This caught me by surprise as someone who isn't the biggest fan of Jungle Kyona's work. The idea of her working on top was a no-go for me, but she put on a great show here; one of the most exuberant performances I have seen from her. It probably helps that she has a charisma-spark plug to work with. Aasa Maika is like a miniature Sayaka Obihiro with her tokusatsu poses and unorthdox offense.

****

Io Shirai vs. Sumie Sakai (ALIYA' the Final, 4/7/2017)

ALIYA' the Final ~ With countless appreciation and plenty of love ~ (4/7/2017)

Io Shirai vs. Sumie Sakai 

This was a simple and fun little match. Sumie puts the heat on Io with her Oedo Tai sidekick liberally interfering, building for the Queen Quest leader's valiant comeback. The highlights here are Io's bumping, and the spot where La Rosa Negra and Sakai spank a helpless Io as she's trapped under the ring apron.

***