Emi Sakura, Mei Suruga & Riho vs. NEO Biishiki-gun (Martha, Saki-sama & Yoshiko-sama) (DDT, 8/1/2018)

DDT - Beer Garden Fight 2018 ~ Shuten Doji & HARASHIMA DAY ~ (8/1/2018)

Emi Sakura, Mei Suruga & Riho vs. NEO Biishiki-gun (Martha, Sakisama & Yoshiko-sama)

Supremely fun match with a mixture of action and comedy. Martha was working hard, displaying great technique and bumping ability. Suruga is GM's newest rookie and she delivered an impressive performance. The reaction of the crowd whenever Yoshiko-sama landed a senton was gold.

****

Jungle Kyona vs. Yuna Mizumori (Gatoh Move, 7/28/2018)

Gatoh Move - Good Work Summer! Itabashi Tournament ~ Swimming this Summer ~ (7/28/2018)

Jungle Kyona vs. Yuna Mizumori

This was great, it was a battle of charismatic power fighters with lots of emotion and energy. Yuna showed a lot of heart, and I really liked the running spinebuster into the turnbuckle. Kyona has a strong presence for someone with only 2 years of experience, she really came across as a star in the Gatoh Move ring.

***1/2

Stardom - Bright Summer ~ RISE vs. Stardom (Night) (7/14/2018)

3. STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima, Shiki Shibusawa & Starlight Kid) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Konami, Momo Watanabe & Viper)

This was another fun multi-man tag match, nice action, nice comedy, some fun pairings like Shiki and Konami. Kid and AZM have one of their best sequences yet, they're building really strong chemistry together.

***

4. Dream Come True Tournament - Finals: Britt Baker vs. Tam Nakano

This was... passable. There were minor timing issues, but no botches or blown spots, and the crowd was receptive. Tam had been unproven as someone who could hold a match together against a worker of lesser experience, but here she showed that she could do that. 

**

Riho vs. Yuna Mizumori (Gatoh Move, 3/13/2018)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・345 (3/13/2018)

Riho vs. Yuna Mizumori

This was my first time watching Yuna, she's charismatic like you would expect from an idol wrestler. Riho gave the usual veteran-versus-rookie performance, winning with a Boston crab. Solid match.

***1/4

Isami Kodaka vs. Masahiro Takanashi (DDT, 7/8/2018)

DDT - Masahiro Takanashi 15th Anniversary Show ~ In The World There Is No Storehouse ~ (7/8/2018)

Isami Kodaka vs. Masahiro Takanashi

Solid, doesn't measure up to their 2016 outing, but still good. Sometimes I feel Masahiro tries too hard to be innovative with his unorthodox holds and their meticulous set ups. Sometimes a simple approach is best. But you have to appreciate how he gets the crowd to rally behind him.

***1/2

Stardom - Bright Summer ~ RISE vs. Stardom (Day) (7/14/2018)

3. STARS (Hanan, Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima & Starlight Kid) vs. JAN (Jungle Kyona, Kaori Yoneyama, Leo Onozaki & Ruaka)

This is the first time Hanan has been in a match of this magnitude and I thought she looked good. This was a fun match with charming moments such as Kyona taking out the enemy corner with shouting.

***1/4

4. Dream Come True Tournament - First Round: Britt Baker vs. Natsuko Tora

Britt has an fascinating moveset, but she is poor at pacing and her strikes look like utter crap. The good points of this match were Tora's comeback sequence and the strong crowd support for her.

bad

5. Oedo Tai (Hazuki, Kagetsu & Natsu Sumire) vs. Queen's Quest (Konami, Momo Watanabe & Viper)

Great trios match with compelling previews of Kagetsu/Viper and Momo/Hazuki. Konami's heated flurry on Hazuki was my favorite moment of the match.

***3/4

Keisuke Ishii vs. Tetsuya Endo (DDT, 8/31/2014)

DDT - Memories of Summer Vacation 2014 (8/31/2014)

KO-D Openweight Title #1 Contendership Tournament - Finals: Keisuke Ishii vs. Tetsuya Endo

Fantastic clash with Tetsuya giving a strong effort against the veteran Ishii. They gradually build into an exciting finishing stretch that had the crowd invested, Endo's graceful high-flying and Ishii's rapid kicks and knee strikes.

****3/4