Hana Kimura vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto (WRESTLE-1, 5/1/2017)

WRESTLE-1 - ACE Vol. 5 (5/1/2017)

Hana Kimura vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto

Hiroyo's opening control segment here wasn't engaging, and I thought Hana's elbow strikes looked weak, but she does bring the fire eventually, and the action starts to pick up. The exchanges towards the end were good.

***

Ice Ribbon - #798 ~ Ribbon Fiesta 2017 (4/24/2017)

1. Akane Fujita & Nori DATE vs. Nao DATE & Satsuki Totoro

Great opener. Team DATE are such a breath of fresh air and a welcomed addition to the roster.

***

4. Best Friends (Arisa Nakajima & Tsukasa Fujimoto) vs. Lovely Butchers (Hamuko Hoshi & Mochi Miyagi)

Nakajima was beating hell out of Hamuko Hoshi. Kicking her in the head, stomping her nose, slapping her across the face, KNEE STRIKES. I loved it. A fun and fast-paced tag.

***1/2

5. Kyuuri vs. Mayumi Ozaki

Kyuuri unfortunately doesn't bring the fire in her comeback sequences, but she does hit a crazy Cutie Special. Not exactly a semi-main event quality performance.

**1/2

6. International Ribbon Tag Team Championship: This is Ice Ribbon (Hiiragi Kurumi & Tsukushi) (c) vs. Azure Revolution (Maya Yukihi & Risa Sera)

Maya and Tsukushi had a fun dynamic going here, I liked what they were doing together. Sera and Kurumi were here too!

***3/4

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI) (Gatoh Move, 6/26/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・235 ~ Butaman! Takoyaki! Kushikatsu! Gatoh Move! (6/26/2016)

「Kotori」& Riho vs. Buribato♡ (SAKI & MIZUKI)

The lighting makes the performers look like white silhouettes when they're in the middle of the ring, but still, an enjoyable tag. The double team moves from Buribato are always fun to watch. MIZUKI and Riho exchange heated elbows, and SAKI was hitting some awesome power moves. 

***1/2

Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. Aasa Maika & Kuishinbo Kamen (Gatoh Move, 12/29/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour · 265 (12/29/2016)

Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi vs. Aasa Maika & Kuishinbo Kamen

Aasa's bumping and selling is super compelling, and Sakura heeling it up is always great. I felt like Kamen's role in this match could have been bigger.

**1/2

Ice Ribbon - Yokohama Ribbon 2017 GW I (5/4/2017)

1. Hamuko Hoshi & Team DATE (Karen DATE & Nao DATE) vs. Team DATE (Hana DATE & Nori DATE) & Tsukasa Fujimoto

This was loads of fun, TeamDATE looked right at home.

****

2. Maya Yukihi & Rin Kadokura vs. Matsuya Uno & Miyako Matsumoto

***1/2

3. 235 vs. Risa Sera

***

4. Hardcore Match: Akane Fujita & Minoru Fujita vs. Mochi Miyagi & Takashi Sasaki

***1/2

5. Maruko Nagasaki & Satsuki Totoro vs. Rina Yamashita & Tequila Saya

***

6. GEKOKUJyou (Kyuuri & Maika Ozaki) vs. Mio Momono & Tsukushi

The Kyuuri/Tsukushi heat building  was great with awesome exchanges.

***3/4

Kazuhiro Tamura vs. Aasa Maika (Gatoh Move, 9/11/2016)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour · 247 (9/11/2016)

Kazuhiro Tamura vs. Aasa Maika 

This was a fun little match. Kazuhiro gives Aasa shine and makes her look credible before her destroys her with martial arts strike combinations.

***

WAVE - Weekday WAVE Vol. 105 (1/18/2017)

1. Hiroe Nagahama vs. ASUKA

***1/2

2. Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) vs. Sumire Natsu & Yako Fujigasaki

***3/4

3. WAVE Tag Team Championship #1 Contendership: Over Sun (Yuki Miyazaki & Yumi Ohka) vs. Kaori Yoneyama & Mika Iida

There's a lot of crazy stuff happening here. Loved Iida's matwork and those European uppercuts, and I liked the NEO nostalgia with the closer against Miyazaki.

****1/2

4. Five on One Gauntlet: Kyoko Kimura vs. Kagetsu, Moeka Haruhi, Rina Yamashita, Rin Kadokura & Yukio Sakaguchi

A 40+ minute Kyoko match probably doesn't sound attractive to many people, but I thought this was a great gauntlet where each opponent brought something fresh.

****1/4

Misaki Ohata vs. Rina Yamashita (WAVE, 5/3/2017)

WAVE - CATCH THE WAVE 2017 ~ Scramble (5/3/2017) 

Catch THE WAVE 2017 ZABUN Block: Misaki Ohata vs. Rina Yamashita

Yamashita looked really great here, I like how she's been adding more knee strikes into her moveset. The payoff to this narrative of Rina trying to hit the Splash Mountain in tribute to Dynamite Kansai and failing every time will be amazing.

***1/2