WAVE - Catch the WAVE 2018 ~ Opening Battle (3/11/2018)

6. Catch the WAVE 2018 Violence Block: Arisa Nakajima vs. Ayako Hamada

Man, Arisa's arm drags are a thing of beauty. Hamada hasn't been this good in a while - she brought it in this match. Swell stuff.

****

7. Catch the WAVE 2018 Crazy Block: Nagisa Nozaki vs. Ryo Mizunami

Another great match between these two, they have a dynamic that works well. Right when Mizunami thinks she has Nozaki figured out, countering her sleeper into the Hot Limit, Nozaki unveils a new Dragon Sleeper finisher! Amazing finish.

***3/4

8. Catch the WAVE 2018 Violence Block: Hiroe Nagahama vs. Misaki Ohata

I'm not fond of Nagahama's dropkick-centric offense. She wrestles like a rookie even though she's 3 years into her career, which is basically veteran status in joshi puroresu years. Ohata's workovers were nice, but there was too much move repetition in this match for it to rate any higher.

***

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Yokodai Station Pro Wrestling (3/31/2018)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Yokodai Station Pro Wrestling (Day) (3/31/2018)

1. Miyu Yamashita vs. Nodoka-oneesan

Nothing special here, except for Miyu's use of spanks during her figure-four necklock. That was some intriguing offense being employed...

*1/2

2. Maho Kurone vs. Marika Kobashi

Woah, this took me totally off guard. This was not what I expected it would be, an out-and-out brawl that you would see from Rush, Pagano or LA Park on the lucha indies - the outside portion, that is. Once they return to the ring, it's pretty rudimentary and unremarkable wrestling.

**

5. MiraClians (Shoko Nakajima & Yuka Sakazaki) vs. Hikari & Yuu

This was an enjoyable main event. MiraClians are a bundle of energy, Yuu did a double brainbuster, and the blue Apuga performed well (could've sold the leg work better). Shoko's execution is getting better and better. Solid work.

**1/2

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Yokodai Station Pro Wrestling (Night) (3/31/2018)

6. Marika Kobashi & Miyu Yamashita vs. Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima

This was a good main event. Shoko's growth was on display once again, and she did a cool European Clutch transition into an ankle lock. Misao was good here as well with her character work. Everyone did good, really. Good match.

**3/4

Ice Ribbon - #874 ~ Ice Ribbon March 2018 (3/25/2018)

5. Triangle Ribbon Championship - #1 Contendership: Kyuuri vs. Maruko Nagasaki vs. Tsukushi

Fun match with exciting sequences. I feel like this could have been a lot better, but it was good for what it was. Tsukushi's new attire looks nice.

**3/4

6. International Ribbon Tag Team Championship: Azure Revolution (Maya Yukihi & Risa Sera) (c) vs. Hamuko Hoshi & Tsukasa Fujimoto

Good match. Tsukasa & Hoshi made for an interesting team, and as usual with International Ribbon matches, there were all sorts of neat spots and counters.

***1/4

7. ICE×∞ Championship: Hiiragi Kurumi (c) vs. Miyako Matsumoto

Miyako's a comedy worker, but she wrestled an epic main event with drama and tension. Her performance was unreal. I love how they played off of Miyako's previous ICE×∞ win during the finishing stretch, that was superb storytelling. The submission struggles here were fantastic as well. Excellent match.

****1/2

Hana Kimura vs. Mika Iwata (Sendai Girls, 3/11/2018)

Sendai Girls (3/11/2018)

Hana Kimura vs. Mika Iwata

Great, well-structured timeout draw, where the action stayed fresh so it never felt tedious. Early portion was nice and focused, then from there they're going back and forth, laying in their stuff, selling the toll. Mika's kicks were beautiful, and Hana's selling of them was awesome. Dug the submission work from Hana, the way she transitions from Octopus Hold to arm bar to another arm bar (!).

***3/4

DDT - April Fool 2018 (1/4/2018)

6. DDT Extreme Championship - Ladder Match: Yuko Miyamoto (c) vs. Mike Bailey

This was a filler title defense with no heat or story connected to it, but that didn't stop Bailey from going the extra mile and trying to kill himself to leave an impression. He was covered in scars and bleeding from his arm and head (while the death match wrestler went unscathed!). Yuko wasn't at the top of his game here, but that didn't matter because Bailey was so good.  Good stuff.

***1/2

7. Akito vs. Shigehiro Irie

That was it?! He lost to that?! The crowd was not into the story being told here, only popping every now and then when someone would deliver a stiff hit. Akito lost fairly easily too, with barely any crowd support and looked like a total chump. This was not a good main event.

*

Masa Takanashi vs. Shuji Kondo (DDT, 1/3/2013)

DDT - New Years Special 2013 (1/3/2013)

5 vs. 6 Tug of War - 5th match: Masa Takanashi vs. Shuji Kondo

Korakuen Hall loves an underdog and Masa is the perfect man for the role. The action was nothing special, but the character work and crowd reaction brought it to new heights. Plus, I always enjoy watching Shuji wipe heads off with his lariats.

***1/4

El Generico vs. MIKAMI (DDT, 11/25/2012)

DDT - Snake World Reincarnation Final ~ Poison Sawada JULIE Forever (11/25/2012)

KO-D Openweight Championship: El Generico (c) vs. MIKAMI

Ladder War: DDT Edition. Yes, this match involved a ladder, because with MIKAMI ladders are a necessity, irrespective of match type. Thought this was an interesting match-up, with the story of the old guard trying to get the title back from the outsider. Solid building, crowd got hot as things unfolded. MIKAMI scored some dangerous near-falls with his signature school boy!

***

WAVE - Valentine WAVE (2/12/2018)

1. Konami & Rin Kadokura vs. Mika Iida & Miyuki Takase

Good match, which should come as no surprise given the talent involved. Kadokura probably got too much, though. She's still doing the basics for the most part. Stuff with Iida-Konami was quality, and Miyuki hits a gnarly lariat.

**3/4

4. WAVE Tag Team Championship (vacant): Hiroe Nagahama & Moeka Haruhi vs. KUSO ONNA NIGHT (Yuki Miyazaki & Nagisa Nozaki) 

Solid carry-job from Miyazaki & Nozaki. This crowd was hot for the finishing stretch so I have to give this match extra points for getting a WAVE crowd to react. Went way too long, still.

***

5. Hardcore: DASH Chisako & Rina Yamashita vs. Ryo Mizunami & Yumi Ohka

This had me engaged from start to finish - another fun-filled hardcore match from WAVE. Mizunami rules.

***3/4

6. Regina di WAVE Championship: Misaki Ohata (c) vs. Arisa Nakajima

Incredible main event. It has the same parity as their SEAdLINNNG match, but the action was more intense and diverse. The chaotic outside brawl, the heated flurries, the little cheap shots being thrown - all of the best Big Match Arisa tropes are here. Excellent work from these two.

****1/2

WAVE - Saturday Night Fever January 2018 (1/20/2018)

1. Hiroe Nagahama & Miyuki Takase vs. NEW-TRA (Rin Kadokura & Takumi Iroha)

Even though NEW-TRA have interesting ideas, their matches tend to feel way too long and of low energy. I thought this was better than what I usually see from them - it got exciting during the second half. Miyuki has an interesting set of moves, and intense facial expressions and mannerisms, she was good!

***

6. Regina di WAVE Championship: Yumi Ohka (c) vs. Misaki Ohata

One of the most boring matches I've seen this year. There is a lot happening, but what does it even matter when there is no crowd participation, sense of progression, or drama? It just feels like an aimless showcase of movez, and there are much more impressive movez matches out there.

DUD

Yumi Ohka vs. Mika Iida (WAVE, 1/7/2018)

WAVE - Happy New Year WAVE 2018 (1/7/2018)

Regina di WAVE Championship: Yumi Ohka (c) vs. Mika Iida

Iida is retiring in May and this is likely to be her last chance at the WAVE Championship, so she was putting forth a strong effort. It was interesting to see Ohka fight using Iida's submission style, using her height advantage to apply torturous holds on the smaller opponent; I think it might suit her more than how she normally wrestles. She was displaying some real nastiness.

****

Stardom - Grows Up Stars 2018 (3/25/2018)

1. Momo Watanabe vs. Nao Yamaguchi

Decent veteran-rookie match with the highlight being Nao's Axe Bomber. Again, I'm impressed by Nao's charisma, from her pre-match promo to how she carried herself in the ring.

**

2. Leo Onozaki vs. Natsuko Tora

Quite enjoyed this. Natsuko was working as the aggressor, she was great in the role, and Leo performed well in her debut.

***

3. Future of Stardom Championship Tournament - Semi-Finals: AZM vs. Shiki Shibusawa

This doesn't even close to the level of the previous matches in this tournament, but it was solid enough. They both fought with urgency. 

**1/4

4. Jungle Kyona, Konami & Ruaka vs. Tam Nakano, Starlight Kid & Keneisha Moon

Keneisha Moon looks cool, but man, she was abhorrent. First half of this was awful thanks to her. Poor Konami. Ruaka did great, and the interactions between her and SLK were the highlight.

**

5. Mayu Iwatani & The Apache Sisters (Mary Apache & Faby Apache) vs. Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Sumire Natsu & Hana Kimura)

Another spectacular performance from the Apache Sisters, and a great segment between Mayu and Hana.

***

6. Artist of Stardom Championship: Queen's Quest (Io Shirai, Viper & HZK) (c) vs. Toni Storm, Bea Priestley & Xia Brookside

A fine semi-main, nothing special, but I had fun watching it. Good action and flow, and Io's exchanges with Toni and Bea were top notch.

**3/4

7. Gauntlet Match: Hiromi Mimura vs. Hanan, Shiki Shibusawa, Starlight Kid, AZM, Natsuko Tora, Tam Nakano, HZK, Kagetsu, Viper, Io Shirai, Mayu Iwatani & Kris Wolf

Wow, this turned to be a surprisingly amazing match and one of my favorites of the year so far. Every segment was enjoyable and had something special to offer.

****

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・328 ~「Kotori」Graduation Produce: Last Stop in 2017 (12/21/2017)

4. Asia Dream Tag Team Championship: Emi Sakura & Masahiro Takanashi (c) vs. Baliyan Akki & Cho-un Shiryu

This was an OK match. The first half was nothing special, but it gets exciting during the closer.

**3/4

5. Aasa Maika vs. Mitsuru Konno

Good match with unique offense and counters, rough around the edges at times, but that is to be expected from rookies.

**3/4

6.「Kotori」Graduation Match: SAKI &「Kotori」vs. Riho & Mizuki

Solid sendoff for "Kotori", the crowd participation was strong and the performers brought high energy to the ring. SAKI had something of a standout performance here, I thought. This match also contains one of the most organic tree of woe double stomp set-ups I've ever seen.

***1/4