Sendai Girls (6/29/2021)
Mika Iwata vs. Ryo Mizunami
This was a good back and forth match with a wide array of moves being used. There were some great strike exchanges and counters. I don't have any complaints about the outcome of the match, but Mika Iwata is still doing the plucky rookie gimmick even though she is now a six-year veteran. I'd like to see her make some tweaks to her persona and get some tangible results.
***1/4
2. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Suzume
Sakazaki always does a great job carrying her juniors and this match was no exception. Not to say that Suzume didn't pull her own weight. She kept up and showed new moves. But this was the Yuka Sakazaki show. Just great timing, execution and rhythm from her throughout the match. These two paired well stylistically and I would like to see a longer match between them someday.
***1/2
3. UWF Rules: Miyu Yamashita vs. Mirai Maiumi
One of the issues with UWF matches between wrestlers who have no real martial arts experience is that they make decisions that no trained fighter would make (like giving up dominant positions for no discernable reason), and that was certainly on display here. I am by no means a martial arts expert, but I have watched enough of it from a diverse number of sources (UFC, RIZIN, K-1, PRIDE FC, DREAM, etc. ) to know what a real fight looks like, and this did not even remotely look like a real fight. The Ryogoku KFC match, which was held under traditional pro wrestling rules, felt more realistic than this one. I think Miyu was actually exposed here because she just doesn't attack well against a moving target. Her strikes looked slow and soft and Mirai was having to sell for it. On the ground they were fine, but their stand-up looked like amateur hour. I didn't like this at all.
N/R
Sendai Girls - SENJO Chronicle (7/11/2021)
Sendai Girls World Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto (c) vs. Mio Momono
Chihiro's first defense in almost a year and a half. It started slow with some rudimentary back and forth, but the second half was frenetic and dynamic, beginning with a nasty German suplex that saw Momono land on top of her head. They did a good job of pacing and building the match. I really liked how Momono stuck to her game plan. And Chihiro is a monster with freakish speed and strength. Despite having a barebones roster, Sendai Girls have managed to match Chihiro with mostly strong opponents. I don't think Momono is a strong opponent, but Chihiro was doing her best to make Momono feel like one.
***1/2
Stardom - Golden Week Fight Tour 2021 (5/2/2021)
Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Donna del Mondo (Giulia & Syuri) (c) vs. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & AZM)
People focus on the bigger shows in Stardom, and rightfully so, but the smaller shows also have quality matches like this one. There were some strong segments in this match and some great tag team chemistry between the two teams. And just when things were getting a little repetitive, it ended at the right time.
***3/4
4. SEAdLINNNG Beyond The Sea Championship: ASUKA vs. Ryo Mizunami
This was a great match. It turned into a total firefight where they were exchanging heavy blows. The striking was diverse and dynamic so it never felt repetitive. ASUKA shined on offense, using her natural athletic ability to attack from various angles. Mizunami, a veteran of more than 10 years, seems to have gained a new vigor after returning from AEW. The armwork was just a way to build the match and get the crowd into it and I think it worked. Even though ASUKA's reign ended without a successful defense, she went out with a bang.
****
5. Nanae Takahashi vs. Arisa Nakajima
I don't know if it's because of her age or if her body is in shambles, but Nanae has slowed down and her physical condition doesn't look good. I thought Arisa's offense was amazing, especially the downward elbows to the head, but I would like to see her break away from this repetitive pattern of wrestling. If you've seen the previous matches between these two, it's more of the same. This is easily my least favorite type of Japanese women's wrestling. Directionless move exhibition with little buildup between moves, little regard for selling, and of course, a million finisher kick-outs.
**
2. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & AZM) vs. Oedo Tai (Starlight Kid & Ruaka)
This was good tag team action, with timely momentum shifts and a well-executed finishing sequence. Starlight Kid adds an interesting variable to Oedo Tai, who have been gaining momentum with expanding membership. Her entrance and mannerisms were cool. And again, Ruaka has been showing such great improvement and feels so much more motivated than she was prior to joining Oedo Tai.
***1/2
3. Future of Stardom Championship Tournament, Finals: Mina Shirakawa vs. Unagi Sayaka
This was a solid match, but I felt it was lacking in terms of tension and drama for a tournament final. They performed some cool looking moves with nothing in between to create meaning. Although I was impressed by Mina's performance. Her grounding wrestling and strikes were impressive.
***
4. Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Donna del Mondo (Giulia & Syuri) (c) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Koguma)
This was a great tag title defense. The action was very well-paced and the dramatic sequences were well constructed. Despite a six-year absence, Koguma has been doing excellent work since her return. She was given the spotlight and her genius really shined. Her German suplex from below the waist was Gary Albert level. Giulia's striking ability and steep head drops were as brutal as always. Also, Mayu and Syuri, who have a history at Yokohama Budokan, had a sweet callback to their feud.
****
5. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Tam Nakano (c) vs. Saya Kamitani
A confrontation between master and disciple. The strike battles weren't high level, but what they lacked in technique they made up for in unbridled emotion, and that is the kind of storytelling that is typical of the white belt. The pace felt a little off in the beginning, but they developed a good rhythm as the match progressed. Tam's body work and kicks were great. And Kamitani, who took a lot of damage head-on and yet refused to back down, was super compelling to watch. There was something reminiscent of Mayu Iwatani in her performance.
****
Ice Ribbon - #1123 ~ Nagoya Ribbon 2021 (5/30/2021)
ICExInfinity Championship: Tsukasa Fujimoto (c) vs. Tae Honma
This was Fujimoto's third defense in three weeks so I didn't expect her to go all out. And I think it's fine that she didn't. This was a good technical wrestling match, with positional battles on the mat, smooth transitions and timely counters. Honma gave the match a proper title match feel through her dramatic selling.
***1/2
