Akane Fujita & Risa Sera vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto vs. Maika Ozaki & Maya Yukihi (Ice Ribbon, 7/24/2021)

Ice Ribbon - #1135 ~ Summer Jumbo Ribbon 2021 (7/24/2021)

International Ribbon Tag Team Championship (vacant): Akane Fujita & Risa Sera vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto vs. Maika Ozaki & Maya Yukihi

Even in these strange times of Ice Ribbon, where there seems to be a deathmatch or hardcore match every other show, you can still count on the tag belts to put on a great spotfest like this one. This match was a demolition derby filled with big moves, innovative multi-man sequences and bodies bouncing around the ring.

****1/2

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 (8/1/2021)

 1. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: AZM vs. Unagi Sayaka

Good, fast paced opening match. AZM was sharp and technical, while Unagi picked her spots and chained together crushing offense.

***1/2

2. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Saki Kashima vs. Starlight Kid

An 8 minute match that was paced and built tremendously. The double 619 and standing moonsault counters from Kashima were so well-timed and unexpected. Tense finishing stretch that led to a brutal finish.

***3/4

3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Natsupoi

A great battle of power and speed, with Natsupoi targetting the injured, taped back to take away Momo's power and inflict lingering damage. The Tanahashi-esque moonsault to the back into a submission by Natsupoi was sweet. Natsupoi's shock response to getting the fall conveyed the story of her performance well.

***1/2

4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Konami vs. Tam Nakano

There was some good grappling and striking here. Nakano's striking in particular has improved and has a good sense of weight to it. Konami has neat and detailed little moves. I think she needs a "nage-waza" finisher to feel like a proper threat, as submissions sometimes can be harder to buy into. Nakano's use of insect-like movements to escape Konami's crossface chicken wing was amazing.

***3/4

5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Saya Kamitani

A rematch of their phenomenal Budokan Hall title match. Although this match lacked the ingredients to reach that level, it was still a very good match between two of the promotion's youngest and most exciting stars. Hot back and forth with some great cut-offs and big moves.

****

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Maika vs. Syuri

NEVER Openweight-style dick measuring contest with both wrestlers showing stubbornness and incredible tenacity as they went blitzkrieg on one another. Ground fighting, struggling over vertical suplexes and clobbering each other with headbutts during a double knuckle lock, they never stopped going at it. The finish was overkill from Syuri with a brutal punt kick followed by an Emerald Flowsion that dropped Maika like a lawn dart into the canvas.

****1/2

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani

 A vast improvement over their GP match last year. They've grown more comfortable working together and this felt like the first time they produced a match that blended the best of their styles into a cohesive whole. Giulia deliberately worked the neck and displayed dominance on the ground, while Mayu relied on her zombie-like durability and kicking power.

****1/4

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 (7/31/2021)

 2. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Natsupoi vs. Koguma

Could have easily been wrestled for the High Speed title. There were fun pin-scrambles and a good amount of struggle in the finishing stretch.

***1/2

3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Giulia vs. Starlight Kid

The roles were reversed from their match earlier in the year with SLK being the aggressor this time around, having joined the heel unit Oedo Tai. This was a good, energetic back and forth, with SLK showing her aggressive side, especially during the strike exchange. It didn't come close to their title match, but there's potential with this new dynamic.

***1/2

4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Unagi Sayaka

A slow and steady match that built to a big finish, which is Nakano's forte. Nakano's work on top was excellent, she was dominating Unagi with heavy strikes. And Unagi did a swell job working underneath, with lush selling and smart, well-timed counterattacks. Unagi's new finisher has a complicated started up so her performing it as fast as she did was impressive and I was convinced by her victory. Great champion vs. champion intra-unit match.

****

5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Syuri

An amazing match, especially when you consider that this was the first time they've met in singles. There was a special chemical reaction between these two and they felt like a natural pairing. Those slap exchanges were wicked. I've always thought Syuri was a narrow, one-pattern type of wrestler, but she has opened up lately and has become a diverse performer. Kamitani upped the ante in the striking department and firmly stood against a monster in Syuri.

****1/4

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe

Another excellent match from this time-tested duo. They exchanged many hard kicks, with Momo being a particularly surly aggressor and Mayu doing her usual impeccable sell job. The build to Momo's devastating new finishing move, which resembled Naruki Doi's Muscular Bomb, was well done.

****1/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika

Maika has grown since her last match against Utami and she showed some qualities that were not present in their past matches. This was another amazing match between these two, possibly the best one they've had against each other yet. Suplex and lariat battles, and a dominant finish from Maika.

****1/4