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

Stardom - Oedo Tai Produce: Golden Week Stars 2018 (5/3/2018)

3. STARS (Kaori Yoneyama & Ruaka) vs. Shiki☆d (Shiki Shibusawa & Starlight Kid)

Great tag match where things get heated between SLK and Ruaka leading into their FoS match.

***1/2

4. STARS (Jungle Kyona, Mary Apache & Natsuko Tora) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima & Tam Nakano)

Kyona & Tora are pissed about being snubbed during the draft so they are exploding with emotion. STARS trio had cool tandem attacks, and Team Jungle sold the defeat well in the post-match. Kyona has been on a roll lately.

***1/2

5. European Rounds Match: Chardonnay vs. Session Moth Martina

This is the most comfortable these two have looked in a Stardom ring, I was surprised to see they haven't had any prior matches together elsewhere. Highly entertaining. Martina showed what her character is all about.

***1/4

6. Elimination: Oedo Tai (Brandi Rhodes, Hana Kimura, Hazuki, Kagetsu & Sumire Natsu) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Bea Priestley, Io Shirai, Konami & Momo Watanabe)

You can't go wrong with these multi-man scrambles in front of a hot 1stRING crowd. The avalanche powerbomb that Kagetsu hits on Io was breathtaking!

***3/4

SEAdLINNNG - Shinkiba 3rd Night (4/18/2018)

1. Catch The WAVE 2018 Violence Block: Arisa Nakajima vs. Mio Momono

This was Arisa's return match after a short time away and she's having a hard time putting the sneaky little shit Momono away - these two match up so well. 

****

4. Best Friends (Arisa Nakajima & Tsukasa Fujimoto) vs. Command Bolshoi & Yoshiko

Good match. Arisa and Bolshoi are colliding for the first time since the former left JWP, and Yoshiko also wants a piece of the action. This was splendid.

****

LEVEL 5 (Yuu Yamagata, Tomoko Watanabe & Natsumi Maki vs. W-FIX (KAORU, Chikayo Nagashima & Megumi Yabushita) (Marvelous, 5/3/2018)

Marvelous (5/3/2018)

LEVEL 5 (Yuu Yamagata, Tomoko Watanabe & Natsumi Maki vs. W-FIX (KAORU, Chikayo Nagashima & Megumi Yabushita)

W-FIX for control segment of the year with their torture session on Natsumi. KAORU scored some gnarly hits with her block of wood. Maybe went longer than it needed to be, but they were going all out in this main event.

***1/4