Mei Suruga vs. Suzume (Gatoh Move, 5/26/2022)

Gatoh Move - Mei Suruga Debut 4th Anniversary ~ Apple and Crew (5/26/2022)

Mei Suruga vs. Suzume

This was an amazing match. It reminded me of the Super Asia title bouts during the Riho era of Gatoh Move. The match started off lightheartedly but heated up when Mei began to incorporate heel elements, forming a " face-heel" composition. Suzume played her part well as the face, with sharp technical wrestling and lively counterattacks, and performed at a level I haven't seen from her yet in her home promotion. Mei gave the truest performance of an ace, bringing out the best in her opponent and winning in a dignified manner. ****

Yuuki Mashiro vs. Kaho Matsushita (Ice Ribbon, 5/28/2022)

Ice Ribbon - New Ice Ribbon #1204 ~ Yokohama Ribbon 2022 May (Evening Show) (5/28/2022)

ICExInfinity Championship Tournament - First Round: Yuuki Mashiro vs. Kaho Matsushita

An incredible main event that carried on the original spirit of Ice Ribbon as an organization where raw, young wrestlers shine. Matsushita may not have the visuals and personality of the previous generation (Mashiro, Ishikawa), but she is certainly the most talented and dependable of the recent batch of rookies. Mashiro, who prodded her opponent with an old school heel fighting style, showed a level of performance I hadn't seen from her before, including the use of a powerbomb for the first time. Mashiro wrestles like Ric Flair or Harley Race in their heyday. A desperate wrestler who will cheat and take any advantage they can, but also shows unexpected flashes of strength. It's interesting to see a cute girl fighting this way. Both wrestlers were determined not to lose and fought fiercely until the very end. ****1/4

Prestige Wrestling (5/28/2022)

6. Miyu Yamashita vs. Masha Slamovich

Miyu usually plays the cool and stoic ace in Tokyo Joshi, but here she was engaging with the audience and wrestled with a more free-flowing feel, which I found refreshing. This was my first time seeing Masha Slamovich wrestle. She seemed competent enough and showed some interesting moves. Even if the execution wasn't always perfect, their performances were full of energy and the hot crowd reaction elevated everything. ****

9. Tokyo International Championship: Maki Itoh (c) vs. Mia Yim

The first International Princess defense in a long time and the first-ever on foreign soil. It was one of Maki Itoh's finest performances yet. It was a match full of Itoh's charm. The audience knew her signature moves and their reactions to them were amazing. Mia Yim, who readily adapted to Itoh's cartoonish wrestling without bargaining, gave a great performance with a sense of stability and professionalism. ***3/4

Natsupoi, Maika & Himeka vs. Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka (Stardom, 4/23/2022)

Stardom (4/23/2022)

Artist of Stardom Championship: Natsupoi, Maika & Himeka (c) vs. Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka

This was an excellent trios match between arguably the two strongest teams in the division's history. A win for Maihimepoi here means they tie Kouzen's record for most defenses so more than just the titles were at stake. There was so much amazing content packed into 30 minutes, all so impeccably paced and arranged that it hardly felt like its runtime. The moment where Unagi and Mina prepared the launch pad for Tam but Tam was too damaged to complete the move so they quickly improvised was so great. The teamwork and split-second coordination by both teams was outstanding. Closing moments between Tam and Natsupoi, who went back and forth with heavy bombs, with occasional assists from their partners, were spectacular. ****1/4

Rika Tatsumi & Suzume vs. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 6/19/2022)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Additional Attack '22 (6/19/2022)

Rika Tatsumi &  Suzume vs. Maki Itoh & Hikari Noa

This match with no particular theme ended up being the best of the event. The animosity between Hikari and Itoh is unknown in origin (to my knowledge) but it always leads to great moments when they are in the ring together. It is a unique relationship in Tokyo Joshi, which doesn't really have rivalries. I think Itoh might be the one who can bring out Hikari's true nature. I quite enjoyed their pairing. Suzume had multiple highlights in the match. Her front dropkick and pop-up bulldog were awesome. And Tatsumi as always has the ability to build tension even in matches such as this with no story. ***1/2

Ruaka vs. Saya Iida (Stardom, 6/5/2022)

Stardom (6/5/2022)

5STAR Grand Prix 2022 Qualifying League Block B: Ruaka vs. Saya Iida

This match was better than expected. Looking at the result alone, a "Ruaka timeout draw" may not sound appealing, but it was a heated battle between monsters large and small. The heaviness and power of Ruaka's offense and Iida's signature bumps and hot-blooded counterattacks were amazing. ***1/2

Prominence - Kuen Ranbu (5/29/2022)

3. Hardcore Match: DASH Chisako vs. Akane Fujita

Akane is a passive M-type wrestler. She is not a strong personality, but she is a glutton for punishment, and an aggressive competitor like DASH Chisako was the perfect opponent to highlight her strength. Chisako is scary under normal circumstances, but even scarier with weapons at her disposal. The bumps and weapon attacks were brutal on both sides, with Akane taking the harsher punishment. ***1/2

4. Corner Free Weapon Valkyrie Death Match: Risa Sera vs. Suzu Suzuki

Suzu's performance was excellent. Showing a dynamic and emotional fight and bringing the human touch that wrestlers like Jun Kasai and Masashi Takeda impart to deathmatch wrestling. Sera wasn't quite able to match Suzu's energy but did well enough delivering a beat down. The skin-tearing blood festival that one would expect from a death match was delivered, but there were also some top-notch traditional wrestling exchanges beneath the rubble. It was a fairly long match, lasting 30 minutes, but every time it seemed to drag on, Suzu would reignite the excitement with a burst of offense. ***1/2