SEAdLINNNG - Shin-Kiba NIGHT (2/10/2021)
Arisa Nakajima & Nanae Takahashi vs. Momo Watanabe & Saya Iida
Even though this was a prelude to Momo vs. Nanae, I found the interactions between Momo & Iida and Arisa to be the most interesting and successful. There was some spottiness from Nanae, and while I wouldn't say she struggled to keep up with the energy of the match, her interactions with Momo didn't create much excitement for their upcoming match.
***1/2
1. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Yuka Sakazaki vs. Mei Suruga
It seems there was some unfamiliarity in the execution, but overall this was a great way to open the tournament. The action was easy to follow and the performers showed their individual charm. Mei put pressure on the taped-up neck of Yuka with a variety of attacks, and Yuka picked her spots with powerful slams.
***1/2
2. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Emi Sakura vs. VENY
This was a great clash of styles, for two wrestlers who had only wrestled each other once prior to this match they seemed to have natural chemistry and rhythm in the ring. They worked an exhilarating pace with fierce strike exchanges and sharp counter work.
****
3. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Ryo Mizunami vs. Maki Itoh
The opening sequence was ideal in introducing first-time viewers to the personalities of these two. The actual body of the match wasn't so compelling until the very end when Itoh started going toe-to-toe with the powerhouse Mizunami in a strike exchange and landed some big moves.
***
4. AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japan Bracket - First Round: Aja Kong vs. Rin Kadokura
This was pretty much a uniform Aja Kong squash, but Aja looked like a true professional in the way she carried a lively match with an opponent who doesn't have much physical charisma.
**3/4
5. SWA World Championship: Syuri (c) vs. AZM
AZM was not only technically impressive in this match, but the intangible aspects of her performance were good as well. I don't think I've seen her display such a range of emotions previously. Syuri's sense of stability was amazing and it just seemed like her strikes had more power behind them than usual. They kept up quite a high pace and went back and forth with exciting offense; the whole match felt like a burst of action.
****1/4
6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Starlight Kid
This was an excellent match that showcased Starlight Kid's growth and Giulia's ability to bring out a different dimension in her opponents. They were already doing such a great job of building tension and drama, but the mask tearing elevated the match to another level. You could feel the audience's discomfort at first, like they were witnessing an offensive act of desecration, but as SLK continued to fight, they reignited. It was like watching a climactic battle at the end of tokusatsu series when the hero's helmet gets broken. This was an emotional roller coaster of a main event.
