Tokyo Joshi Pro - Let's Go to Kitazawa in the Spring, Bring Your Friends Together (5/19/2018)

2. Rika Tatsumi vs. Yuki Aino

Solid stuff. Aino seems like a fun rookie to work a singles match. She's a living sandbag of a wrestler, fun to see how the veterans craft matches with her.

***

6. TOKYO Princess Tag Team Championship: JK Muscle (Reika Saiki & Marika Kobashi) (c) vs. Ito Respect Army (Maki Ito & Mizuki)

Reika and Mizuki have a wonderful segment that hearkened back to their fantastic main event last year. The headbutt trade between Marika and Ito was the dramatic high point. Reika impressed throughout.

***3/4

DASH Chisako vs. Chihiro Hashimoto (Sendai Girls, 5/13/2018)

Sendai Girls (5/13/2018)

DASH Chisako vs. Chihiro Hashimoto

This was originally supposed to be Hamada-DASH for the belt, but Hamada had to miss the show for "reasons". I thought they put together an enjoyable styles clash. DASH took gnarly bumps for Chihiro's power moves.

***3/4

Stardom - Queen's Quest Produce: Golden Week Stars 2018 (5/5/2018)

2. STARS (Mary Apache, Natsumi & Ruaka) vs. Oedo Tai (Martina, Nao Yamaguchi & Natsu Sumire)

This turned out a lot better than I expected - fun little match.

***

3. STARS (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora & Shiki Shibusawa) vs. Oedo Tai (Brandi Rhodes, Hana Kimura & Hazuki)

Great match. Brandi is hurt so Hana and Hazuki had to work extra hard to carry the team. It's terrible when someone is injured in pro-wrestling, but I think this turned out better due to the injury. Loved Hana's dominance during that Natsuko peril segment, she was hitting nasty boots.

***1/4

4. STARS (Candy Floss, Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid & Tam Nakano) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Bea Priestley, Chardonnay, Konami & Momo Watanabe)

Another fun multi-man, filled with colorful characters.

***

6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs. Kagetsu

Korakuen main event taking place in 1stRING. This was the Kagetsu Stardom performance I've been waiting for, her best main event singles work since the OZ Openweight match against Tsubasa Kuragaki (OZ Academy, 1/11/2015). There were some stunning sequences here.

****

Arisa Nakajima vs. Ayako Hamada vs. Misaki Ohata (WAVE, 4/22/2018)

WAVE - Sunday WAVE Vol. 35 (4/22/2018)

Catch the WAVE 2018 Violence Block Decision Tomoe-sen: Arisa Nakajima vs. Ayako Hamada vs. Misaki Ohata

The rules here are whoever wins 2 singles matches in a row is declared the winner of Violence Block. This was a sweaty war of attrition that took place across six matches. That last one was bloated, but I thought each of them was distinct enough to keep things fresh and interesting.

***3/4

Rina Yamashita vs. Ryo Mizunami (WAVE, 4/7/2018)

WAVE - Osaka Rhapsody Vol. 39 (4/7/2018)

Catch the WAVE 2018 - Crazy Block: Rina Yamashita vs. Ryo Mizunami

This was good, nice physicality on display, and lariat battles. The finish was kind of weak compared to what led up to it, Yamashita could learn how to build to her Smash Mountain in a way that's more compelling.

***

NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura) vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto & Ibuki Hoshi (Marvelous, 5/5/2018)

Marvelous (5/5/2018)

NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura) vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto & Ibuki Hoshi

Good match. I don't think I've seen Iroha and Fujimoto face before so that was a fresh pairing to see, great power vs. speed exchanges.

***1/2