SEAdLINNNG - Shin-Kiba NIGHT (2/10/2021)
Arisa Nakajima & Nanae Takahashi vs. Momo Watanabe & Saya Iida
Even though this was a prelude to Momo vs. Nanae, I found the interactions between Momo & Iida and Arisa to be the most interesting and successful. There was some spottiness from Nanae, and while I wouldn't say she struggled to keep up with the energy of the match, her interactions with Momo didn't create much excitement for their upcoming match.
***1/2
1. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Yuka Sakazaki vs. Mei Suruga
It seems there was some unfamiliarity in the execution, but overall this was a great way to open the tournament. The action was easy to follow and the performers showed their individual charm. Mei put pressure on the taped-up neck of Yuka with a variety of attacks, and Yuka picked her spots with powerful slams.
***1/2
2. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Emi Sakura vs. VENY
This was a great clash of styles, for two wrestlers who had only wrestled each other once prior to this match they seemed to have natural chemistry and rhythm in the ring. They worked an exhilarating pace with fierce strike exchanges and sharp counter work.
****
3. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Ryo Mizunami vs. Maki Itoh
The opening sequence was ideal in introducing first-time viewers to the personalities of these two. The actual body of the match wasn't so compelling until the very end when Itoh started going toe-to-toe with the powerhouse Mizunami in a strike exchange and landed some big moves.
***
4. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Aja Kong vs. Rin Kadokura
This was pretty much a uniform Aja Kong squash, but Aja looked like a true professional in the way she carried a lively match with an opponent who doesn't have much physical charisma.
**3/4
5. SWA World Championship: Syuri (c) vs. AZM
AZM was not only technically impressive in this match, but the intangible aspects of her performance were good as well. I don't think I've seen her display such a range of emotions previously. Syuri's sense of stability was amazing and it just seemed like her strikes had more power behind them than usual. They kept up quite a high pace and went back and forth with exciting offense; the whole match felt like a burst of action.
****1/4
6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Starlight Kid
This was an excellent match that showcased Starlight Kid's growth and Giulia's ability to bring out a different dimension in her opponents. They were already doing such a great job of building tension and drama, but the mask tearing elevated the match to another level. You could feel the audience's discomfort at first, like they were witnessing an offensive act of desecration, but as SLK continued to fight, they reignited. It was like watching a climactic battle at the end of tokusatsu series when the hero's helmet gets broken. This was an emotional roller coaster of a main event.
1. Starlight Kid vs. Ruaka
Good opening match. This was the first time these two had faced in singles in over a year. Ruaka has been in good form lately and showing progress after a period of stagnation, and Starlight Kid’s work was also great and I liked that she mixed things up with a new finisher.
***1/4
2. Saya Iida vs. Lady C
Lady C made her debut against Iida and had a solid match underscored by her awesome chokeslam. This was essentially an upgraded version of that match, also including an awesome chokeslam that Iida did an impeccable sell job for. Even within the short time since the first match, both have noticeably improved since their first meeting.
***1/2
4. Queen's Quest (Utami Hayashishita & AZM) vs. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & Saya Kamitani)
A spectacular prelude tag match to Utami/Kamitani. Queen's Quest has historically had some of the best intra-matches in Stardom and they seem to keep pushing the envelope. This was an all-action affair, with lots of great sequences and counters, and some smooth, dynamic segues.
****
5. Unagi Sayaka Trial Series - Match #1: Giulia vs. Unagi Sayaka
This was a visceral, story-driven match. The difference in power level here was significant, so Giulia was absorbing most of Unagi's attacks in the beginning and taking it easy, but gradually Unagi started landing significant moves. It lacked high spots and dynamic sequences, but it was good for what it was. Giulia did a great job putting Unagi over during and after the match, and I'm looking forward to the rest of Unagi's series.
***1/2
Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #1095 ~ Winter Story (1/23/2021)
ICExInfinity Championship: Suzu Suzuki vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto
This match had a lot of spectacular moves with very little cohesion or range. There wasn't much in the way of storytelling at all, not much diversity in the action, just aimless moves upon moves. And the finishing sequence, where Suzu fixed her hair while carefully holding the rope and waiting for Fujimoto to kick her in the head, lacked the excitement and urgency of a title-changing finish.
***
3. magical sugar rabbits (Yuka Sakazaki & Mizuki) vs. Suzume & Arisu Endo
This was really fun. The junior speedster team of Endo & Suzume was enjoyable, and the Sugar Rabbits were of course great as the veteran rookie-punishers. Felt like the match ran inexplicably longer than it needed to, but the work was generally good.
***1/2
4. Miyu Yamashita & Maki Itoh vs. NEO Biishiki-gun (Saki-sama & Mei Saint-Michel)
This had a slow start and meandered a bit in the middle, but towards the end it started to heat up, largely thanks to the teamwork and chemistry of Miyu & Itoh. I have to say, I’m not a fan of Mei Saint-Michel and how much she leans into the cutesy slapstick comedy. I thought she actively took away from the match most of the time she was involved.
***1/4
5. Tokyo International Princess Championship: Yuki Kamifuku (c) vs. Mirai Maiumi
This was high paced from the beginning. Kamiyu's opening heel work added a nice wrinkle to the match, making it interesting from the start, and Mirai had so much fire on offense. There were some surprisingly hard-hitting exchanges too. Brilliant performance from the champion, who livened up the match with her character work and brought the best out of her challenger.
***3/4
7. Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship: Rika Tatsumi (c) vs. Miu Watanabe
The Daydream intra-unit showdown. Miu delivered big time in her first ever singles title challenge with her youthful power moves and fighting spirit, and Tatsumi employed her usual leg-destroying strategy. The match was wonderfully paced and executed, and the finishing run was full of tension. Notable highlights include Tatsumi's reverse triangle counter and Miu's avalanche Canadian backbreaker.
****1/4
ChocoPro - #87 (2/6/2021)
Mei Suruga vs. SAKI
This was another great match from this pairing. These two have unorthodox styles that just seem like a natural fit together. The transitions and counters were innovative, and the size and power disparity also played a role in an interesting way.
****
