Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) & Miyuki Takase vs. BORDERLESS (Yoshiko & Rina Yamashita) & Makoto (SEAdLINNNG, 10/17/2018)

SEAdLINNNG - Shinkiba 7th Night (10/17/2018) 

Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) & Miyuki Takase vs. BORDERLESS (Yoshiko & Rina Yamashita) & Makoto

As amazing as you would hope for from this all-star ensemble. Endlessly exciting action with plenty of lariats to go around.

****

Yuna Mizumori vs. Mei Suruga (Gatoh Move, 6/18/2018)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・362 (6/18/2018)

Yuna Mizumori vs. Mei Suruga

Mizumori is a big powerhouse, so the much smaller Suruga uses the speed and technical advantage to put on the pressure. Yuna's comeback is brief, one dropkick and a splash is all it takes.

***3/4

magical sugar rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki) & Hinano vs. Miyu Yamashita, Hikari & Miu (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 11/4/2018)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - 5th Anniversary Shinkiba Tour (11/4/2018)

magical sugar rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki) & Hinano vs. Miyu Yamashita, Hikari & Miu 

Hinano plays a major role despite being the least skilled worker, but she does well enough, save some awkward moments. The Miyu segments with Mizuki and Yuka are the highlights. Miyu and Mizuki must have a singles match some time.

***1/2

Risa Sera vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto (Ice Ribbon, 10/28/2018)

Ice Ribbon - #916 ~Ryogoku KFC Ribbon~ (10/28/2018)

ICE×∞ Championship: Risa Sera vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto

Great clash of power and technique. I thought Sera looked great on offense with her power maneuvers and targeting the lower back. That running Burning Hammer from Sera had a nice impact. Tsukasa's counter work was nice. The Venus Shot while Sera was on the apron was a very cool moment.

***3/4

Stardom - True Fight 2018 (10/23/2018)

2. Hazuki vs. Mary Apache

Hazuki going blitzkrieg on her opponents is always fun to watch.

***1/2

3. Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2018 Red Goddess: Oedo Tai (Session Moth Martina & Sumire Natsu) vs. JAN (Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora)

Thought this developed quite strongly with JAN making their comeback with powerhouse moves. There's some great humor thrown in along the way.

***1/2

5. World of Stardom Championship - No DQ, No Countout & No Rope Escape Rules: Kagetsu (c) vs. Hana Kimura

This was a tense and visceral match. Loving Hana's metamorphosis since returning from Mexico. She's like a garish Bruiser Brody with some lucha libre spliced in. This was mega-violence that was so far removed from traditional World of Stardom matches.

****

6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Momo Watanabe (c) vs. Mayu Iwatani

I didn't think there was much here in the way of depth, but Mayu can be pretty fun when she's in control and there are plenty of great counterattacks and sequences, and some gnarly kick exchanges. The finishing stretch captured Mayu's desperation to win a belt really well.

***3/4

Stardom - Goddesses of Stardom 2018 (Day) (10/20/2018)

3. Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2018 Blue Goddess: Hana Kimura & Mary Apache vs. Hanan & Leo Onozaki

Hana's trip to Mexico awakened something that lied dormant inside of her. She's become a cold-blooded killer. Mesmerizing performance from her in this match, which was basically a torture session.

***1/2

6. Artist of Stardom Championship: STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima & Tam Nakano) (c) vs. JAN (Jungle Kyona, Kaori Yoneyama & Natsuko Tora)

Stardom has been delivering some really great trios matches this year; this was another great one. High tempo action with cooperative attacks and big cutoffs. Tam and Natsuko have one of the best chapters of their feud yet.

***3/4

Sendai Girls - BIG SHOW in Sendai (10/14/2018)

3. DASH Chisako & Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. Millie McKenzie & Rhia O’Reilly

Great tag team action and introduction to Millie & Rhia. Doubt I'll ever watch either of them again, unless they return to Japan, but they made an impression.

***1/2

6. Sendai Girls World Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto (c) vs. Cassandra Miyagi

The pacing was a little clunky and Cassandra was all over the place on offense, but maybe that unpredictability suits her character. The work becomes more focused towards the end and the finishing run with Chihiro making her strong return was good stuff. Both talents came off like stars in this big arena.

***3/4