These are my top 25 favorite joshi puroresu bouts of 2020.
(Please note that text may be borrowed or paraphrased from previous reviews)
25 - AZM vs. Starlight Kid (Stardom, 10.3 Yokohama Budokan)
This was an incredible way to open Yokohama Cinderella and one of the best matches ever fought for the High Speed title. When you think the match has peaked, there’s another counter or sudden twist and turn. Each of AZM and Starlight Kid's best moves couldn’t put the other away so something new was needed.
24 - Mei Suruga vs. Ryo Mizunami - Falls Count Anywhere (ChocoPro, 10.3 Ichigaya)
The danger of being pinned was everywhere, with the falls count anywhere stipulation applying to any surface, including walls and objects. They used various items in the environment as weapons in comical and violent ways. They fought all over Ichigaya, from the kitchen to the outside. It was like watching a choreographed martial arts fight scene.
23 - Yuka Sakazaki & Shoko Nakajima vs. Mizuki & Maki Itoh (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 9.21 Shinagawa)
This was a unique prelude match to Yuka and Mizuki's title match at TDC Hall, with the Magical Sugar Rabbits tag partners reforming their past tag teams to fight against each other. All four competitors were just going at it for 20 minutes.
22 - Kagetsu & Mayu Iwatani vs. Jungle Kyona & Momo Watanabe (Stardom, 1.26 EDION Arena #2)
A tremendous main event for Kagetsu's Stardom farewell, with the four pillars of Stardom's previous era engaging in dynamic tag action. Mayu and Momo had awesome exchanges, and Kyona pinning Kagetsu made for a strong finish.
21 - Yuna Mizumori vs. Mei Suruga (ChocoPro, 9.20 Ichigaya)
This was a "heavyweight vs. junior" style match with both wrestlers working perfectly according to their weight. It was a great match, full of drama and full of the charm and innovation that only Gatoh Move (ChocoPro) in Ichigaya can provide.
20 - Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani vs. Himeka & Maika (Stardom, 10.3 Yokohama Budokan)
This was a spectacular tag team match made even more impressive by the inexperience of the wrestlers. They've built chemistry from their individual feuds and it was on display in this match. It was a long match, but everything was well-paced and arranged, and the finish, where Kamitani revealed a Phoenix Splash, was amazing.
19 - Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri (Stardom, 10.3 Yokohama Budokan)
Syuri's had her signature big matches during her heyday, but she'd never performed on this scale before and against an opponent like Mayu Iwatani. Syuri's technical prowess allowed her to outclass Mayu in almost every aspect, except for that intangible thing called "heart". Mayu would come back from near-death like a zombie every time.
18 - Yuka Sakazaki vs. Yuki Aino (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 7.23 Korakuen Hall)
Yuka wrestled a perfect main event that brought out the best in the challenger. Aino showed herself to be a convincing title contender, hitting bigger moves and scoring believable near-falls. There were intense counters during the final stages, and the springboard 450 finish from Yuka was superb.
17 - Mei Suruga vs. SAKI (ChocoPro, 8.21 Ichigaya)
My personal favorite ChocoPro singles match to date. A high-paced technical wrestling match where both competitors showed a strong desire to win. The transitions and counter-work here were so creative. SAKI is an underrated performer, but Mei's character work and distinct charm carried the match.
16 - Tsukasa Fujimoto & Tsukushi vs. Hiiragi Kurumi & Mochi Miyagi (Ice Ribbon, 8.9 Yokohama Buntai)
The story of the match was that Fujimoto wanted Tsukushi and Kurumi to solve their personal issues in the ring, but you don't need to know the story to enjoy it. It was an exciting tag team match that was easy to watch, with everyone doing their part well. Tsukushi and Kurumi were the focus, with Fujimoto and Mochi acting as support.
15 - Momo Watanabe vs. Bea Priestley (Stardom, 10.3 Yokohama Budokan)
The fact that a match of this level was in the mid-card illustrated just how stacked Yokohama Cinderella was. This was a world-title level bout, between two of the most reliable big match performances on the roster, that could have easily closed a less stacked event. A grudge match with outside brawling, strike battles and big bombs.
14 - Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita & AZM vs. Takumi Iroha, Rin Kadokura & Mei Hoshizuki (Stardom, 9.28 Korakuen Hall)
Stardom crossover matches don't happen often so they always feel special when they do. This was a loaded match, featuring young stars of Stardom and Marvelous. It was rather long for a trios match, but they kept the excitement going by skillfully weaving in subplots and building anticipation for the key encounters.
13 - Mayu Iwatani vs. Utami Hayashishita (Stardom, 11.15 Sendai Sun Plaza)
Mayu was on an "iron man" run, defending her belt against Takumi Iroha, Syuri and finally Utami in tight succession. This was a great final defense for her, that hardly felt like its near 30-minute duration. Utami showed a new level of viciousness with her attacks to the head and neck, but it was Mayu who elevated the match with her bumping and her tenacity as she tried to withstand Utami's onslaught.
12 - Tam Nakano vs. Giulia (Stardom, 9.13 Fukuoka)
Even though this took place in a small venue, it had a big venue atmosphere and both delivered giant-sized performances. Their chemistry has gotten stronger since the previous encounter, with the execution being almost spotless this time around. Some of the hits were so brutal that the crowd couldn't help reacting despite the no-chants rule.
11 - Natsumi Maki vs. Sareee (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 1.4 Korakuen Hall)
Natsumi's return from injury was a reunion with her best friend Sareee. Sareee had a real superstar presence in this match and her strikes and slams had tremendous power behind them. Natsumi gave a gutsy performance, getting some close near-falls. A great match with brilliant technique shown by both wrestlers.
10 - Mei Suruga & Baliyan Akki vs. Emi Sakura & Kaori Yoneyama (ChocoPro, 12.5 Ichigaya)
This was a tremendous match of dazzling offense and defense. It was mostly based on speedy movements, but there was also an attention to detail, such as the targeting of Emi's bad back. Mei found ways to interject her charming personality as usual, and Akki's physical ability allowed him to perform some remarkable moves.
9 - Riho vs. Nyla Rose (AEW, 2.12 Cedar Park, Texas)
Riho and Nyla feel like natural opponents, the face-heel dynamic is defined and easy to understand and they always get the crowd excited. There were many great sequences involving Nyla being a giant monster and Riho being the undersized underdog using her speed and technical advantage. Riho showed a rare intensity; her running dropkick across the table and snap dragon suplexes were awesome.
8 - Tam Nakano vs. Giulia (Stardom, 7.26 Korakuen Hall)
Giulia and Tam's emotionally-charged first encounter. Their chemistry would improve in later matches, this one was a little sloppy in spots, but the rawness of the wrestling gave the match a certain desperation. And the deliberate pacing allowed them to touch on several themes, from brawling to strike and suplex exchanges to mat wrestling, and cohesively build up to a great climax.
7 - Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe (Stardom, 1.19 Korakuen Hall)
This match felt like a return to form for Mayu from an individual performance standpoint. Her movements were smooth and her execution was spotless. The reverse frankensteiner from the turnbuckle looked as amazing as it did when she used it against Io some years ago. Momo's performance was on par with the best of her White Belt era. The dull sounds from her kicks were as vicious as ever.
6 - Giulia vs. Tam Nakano (Stardom, 10.3 Yokohama Budokan)
Giulia vs. Tam has become a Shitteno pro-wrestling-style feud where the danger escalates with each match. The first half of the match was devoted to dangerous techniques, with a couple of scary steep-angle drops, and the rest of the match was just them emptying their remaining reserves and laying bare their fighting spirit.
5 - Emi Sakura & Riho vs. Mei Suruga & Yuna Mizumori (ChocoPro, 9.26 Ichigaya)
This match was a 30-minute marathon of creative offense and defense, and the tension of the finale was tremendous. Emi was amazing in the role of the heel, and some of her attacks were truly brutal. Even though there were no fans, it had the kinetic atmosphere of a match with a live crowd.
4 - Mayu Iwatani vs. Takumi Iroha (Stardom, 2.8 Korakuen Hall)
This was originally supposed to be Mayu Iwatani vs. Sareee, but Takumi Iroha was called in as a last minute replacement of the latter. Iroha controlled the pace with power and precision striking, while Mayu fought from underneath with slick counters and aerial maneuvers. Iroha's attacks on the bandaged shoulder of Mayu were brutal, and Mayu's ragdoll selling really put over the explosive power of Iroha.
3 - Giulia vs. Himeka (Stardom, 10.29 Korakuen Hall)
A violent match with dangerous techniques and big bumps, but also coherent storytelling and emotional depth. This was a spectacular accumulation of violence and emotion. There was cruelty, but you could also feel the friendship and trust they share. Giulia and Himeka, who are usually cool and stoic, showed their sympathetic side. In my opinion, this match contained all of the best aspects of wrestling.
2 - Giulia vs. Syuri (Stardom, 12.20 EDION Arena #1)
A meticulously paced, intense and violent brawl. High-level strikes and dangerous techniques. They built this epic match brilliantly, from the early back work coming into play at the end to the deep character work. Giulia brought the best fight out of the rugged veteran Syuri. It was made even more dramatic that such a performance would come just a week after Giulia was awarded the Tokyo Sports Women's Grand Prize.
1 - Best Bout // Mayu Iwatani vs. Takumi Iroha (Stardom, 10.18 Korakuen Hall)
The first Mayu-Iroh match was almost one-sided, with Iroha in control for most of it, but this time they were on an even footing. It was like watching shounen protagonists from different stories, at the height of their strength, pushing each other to the limit. The perfect combination of Mayu's zombie-like endurance and Iroha's destructive power.
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