Saturday, February 2, 2019

Hikari Noa & Natsumi Maki vs. Muscle JK (Marika Kobashi & Reika Saiki) (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 1/26/2019)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Tokyo Joshi 2019 Winter ~ High Score ~ (1/26/2019)

TOKYO Princess Tag Team Title #1 Contendership: Hikari Noa & Natsumi Maki vs. Muscle JK (Marika Kobashi & Reika Saiki)

Great showings from these four, the stakes gave it perhaps a stronger response than it would have gotten otherwise. Cool exchanges and well timed momentum shifts. That Shining Wizard from Reika was set up in a neat way.

***1/2

Wednesday, January 30, 2019

RevPro - New Year's Resolution (1/11/2019)

4. NEVER Openweight Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Chris Brookes

I guess I missed the part where it was announced that the NEVER Championship was on the line because I had no idea. It didn't really feel like a title match, but still, it was good fun. Chris targeted the leg and had assistance from his furry partner, and Opsreay delivered some great looking offense.

***1/4

8. RevPro Undisputed British Heavyweight Championship: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shigehiro Irie

There's counters of Irie's signature moves that I liked, and Irie biting Sabre's foot was a neat character moment, but this doesn't add up to much. Irie doesn't seem to be doing well in Europe from what I have seen of his work there so far.

**1/2

Monday, January 28, 2019

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Tokyo Joshi 2019 Winter ~ High Score ~ (1/13/2019)

4. Mina Shirakawa & Yuki Kamifuku vs. magical sugar rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki)

This was a very fun tag match, with Mina & Kamiyu looking like a solid threat to the reigning tag champions.

***1/2

5. Hikari Noa vs. Natsumi Maki

This was a standard back and forth affair, two wrestlers deploying moves. Maki's probably the most fundamentally sound on the roster, her movements are very smooth, dug the finishing combination. Decent showcase of both talents.

**1/4

Friday, January 25, 2019

Stardom - 8th Anniversary (1/14/2019)

1. Natsuko Tora vs. Saya Iida

This was a good debut for Saya, she showed solid fundamentals. Tora sinks in a nice, deep Boston crab.

***

4. STARS (Arisa Hoshiki, Mayu Iwatani & Saki Kashima) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Bea Priestley & Konami)

Great 8th anniversary match for Mayu who was also returning from injury. I thought everyone put in a strong performance, with Mayu and Bea showing off new offensive techniques.

***3/4

5. EVE International Championship / SWA World Championship: Viper (c) vs. Utami Hayashishita

Simple, effective story of Utami fighting to overcome the much larger opponent in Viper. This was feeling a little off pacing wise, but it got better as it progressed and the finish was a satisfying payoff.

***1/4

6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Momo Watanabe (c) vs. Tam Nakano

Some variation in Momo's formula would have made this more exciting for me, but it was still a good bout. I liked the cruelness displayed by the champion and Tam gave an emotional performance, showing lots of fighting spirit.

***1/2

7. World of Stardom Championship: Kagetsu (c) vs. Jungle Kyona

Kyona was so amazing here, from the little details to dramatic moments like when she defiantly removes the tape from her injured arm. I really enjoyed the encounter between these two in the GP last year so it was great to see them build off of that in the main event of Korakuen Hall. 

****

Hazuki vs. Starlight Kid (Stardom, 1/6/2019)

Stardom - New Years Stars 2019 (1/6/2019)

High Speed Championship: Hazuki (c) vs. Starlight Kid

Great High Speed bout, there were some cool sequences and an intensity from both wrestlers that elevated the action. Starlight Kid has been showing edge lately with those open hand slaps and growls.

***3/4

Soma Takao vs. Yuki Ueno (DDT, 1/14/2019)

DDT - Dramatic Rokumonsen! 2019 (1/14/2019)

Soma Takao vs. Yuki Ueno

An engaging Soma Takao match, these are hard to come by. Soma plays a solid enough bully in this, and Yuki is just exploding with energy when on offense. Some heated exchanges gave this a bit of depth.

***3/4

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Stardom - New Years Stars 2019 (1/3/2019)

2. Bobbi Tyler & Hana Kimura vs. Queen's Quest (Bea Priestley & Viper)

Bit rough around the edges at moments, but it was a solid, hard-hitting bout that got over with the crowd.

***

3. STARS (Alex Gracia, Saki Kashima & Tam Nakano) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Konami & Momo Watanabe)

Gracia performed well alongside Saki & Tam, and this had a promising preview of the upcoming Tam-Momo bout.

***1/4

5. Future of Stardom Championship: Starlight Kid (c) vs. Utami Hayashishita

Great heavy vs. junior battle, even though Starlight Kid was on the offensive for much of the match, you could sense her desperation as she tried to keep Utami from mounting offense. A condensed epic that evokes Liger-Hashimoto.

***3/4