Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 (Night) (8/25/2019)

3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: AZM vs. Tam Nakano

A dense 5-minutes of exciting action. Tam working high-speed style. Impressive balance and agility shown by AZM. The dodging sequence was fun.

***1/2

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Konami vs. Utami Hayashishita

A good and easy to understand match, but the work was nothing spectacular. A takeaway from this match is that Konami has been showing more emotion lately which has made her a better underneath worker.

***1/4

8. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Bea Priestley vs. Jungle Kyona

An epic struggle for Kyona against Bea in the main event. Pacing and drama was on point. Always enjoy Bea's work on top, and in this match it was especially violent in the early goings as she used an exposed turnbuckle to target the back.

***1/2

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 (Day) (8/25/2019)

4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: AZM vs. Hazuki

This was a very good high speed match. Speedy exchanges, rope running, quick-pin reversals. Best bout of the Osaka day card.

***1/2

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Andras Miyagi vs. Jungle Kyona

This was a fresh chapter in the story of the Miyagi-Kyona feud. Underneath the comedy there's some hard-hitting; I also liked the visuals of Megane Kyona

***1/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Arisa Hoshiki vs. Natsuko Tora

Natsuko has been fleshing out her new style recently, with foreign object usage and off-field brawling. Her Raiden Drop was cool. Arisa's takedown sleeper and crisp striking were highlights of her performance. This match didn't come together as a whole, but there were things I enjoyed.

***

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 (8/18/2019)

4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Natsu Sumire

This was a lot better than you might expect from a "no-frills" Hana-Sumire match. They get a good amount of mileage out of the submission struggles.

***1/4

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Natsuko Tora

Natsuko rampaging and pummelling Kagetsu around Shinkiba was brilliant. I want to see more of this from Natsuko. Thought the finish was done well, especially as someone who loves the visual of Kagetsu's poison mist.

***3/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: AZM vs. Mayu Iwatani

This was a fun HS match, lots of rope running and pin reversals. Heated near-falls.

***1/2

8. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: Hazuki vs. Tam Nakano

Well executed sprint with a lot of energy from the crowd. Tam was great on defense, taking big bumps and making strong counterattacks. 

***3/4

9. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Bea Priestley vs. Konami

Beato and Konami have an unexpected chemistry. Loved their match in Sapporo and I loved this rematch as well. Great performances from both.

***3/4

10. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Arisa Hoshiki vs. Utami Hayashishita

Another really good big match performance from Arisa. Pacing, details and big spots were on point, a compact epic in Shinkiba.

***3/4

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 (8/17/2019)

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Arisa Hoshiki vs. Jamie Hayter

This was a good back and forth, with some fun character work and strong offense exchanged between them.

***1/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Andras Miyagi vs. Bea Priestley

A concise and well arranged sprint. Some hard hits and bombs.

***1/4

8. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Utami Hayashishita

A dominant performance from Utami, who had a strategy and executed it. Kyona started strong, but waned fairly quick. I wonder if there's a greater story being set up there.

***1/2

9. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Red Stars Block: Hazuki vs. Momo Watanabe

This didn't feel like the special encounter that was last year's match. The build and finishing stretch felt lacking.

10. 5STAR Grand Prix 2019 Blue Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Konami

Started strong, with some nice grappling and trades, but this was another match that didn't deliver on the expectations I had for it on paper.

***

Tokyo Joshi Pro - KFC 2Days '19 ~ Temple Of The Sun ~ (9/15/2019)

4. Miyu Yamashita vs. Mirai Maiumi

The ground skills shown by these two in the first half were amazing. The guard pass and submission transitions were exciting to watch. Miyu's Germans from the ground were so good. I want to see more. I look forward to future matches between these two.

***3/4

6. Hikari Noa vs. Miu Watanabe

The Tokyo Princess Cup ended 2 months ago. Hikari-Miu is a singles match that matches up with the best of that tournament. Even though there's nothing on the line, there's a sense that this match means something to Hikari and Miu. Both were able to show what they've cultivated over the 20 months leading to this point.

****

8. Princess of Princess Championship: Shoko Nakajima (c) vs. Misao

V3 is the best defense in Shoko’s reign so far. Misao was a menacing presence, looking to inflict grievous bodily harm. Misao put to use the Pentagon Jr. arm crank in an assault on Shoko’s arm, in addition to other brutal methods of attack. Shoko’s fighting spirit, and bumping and timing, was excellent.

****1/4

Gatoh Move - gtmv-1 ~ Gatoh Fruit Juice 100% ~ (8/28/2019)

1. Emi Sakura vs. Rin Rin

Rin Rin's range of moves and technique was unexpected from a debutant. Her counters and transitions were good. Emi was the glue that held this together.

***1/2

2. Mitsuru Konno vs. Sayuri

 Konno adjusted her style to work within Sayuri's shortcomings. Sayuri seems solid (she executed an impressive jumping knee), but she didn't bump. I wonder if she's ready to compete at a professional level if she's unable to bump. Her debut may have been rushed.

3. Mei Suruga vs. Tokiko Kirihara

Tokiko's debut was slower than the others, but she was the most impressive rookie other than Rin Rin. She showed good basics and was able to show her martial arts.

4. Lulu Pencil vs. Yuna Mizumori

Lulu reminds me of DJ Nira with her unorthodox movement and pacing. The crowd was really into her. Yuna gave an enthusiastic performance, bumping the stiff Lulu around.

5. Chie Koishikawa vs. Sayaka Obihiro

Chie's debut was an average rookie debut match. The way that she applied her fencing skills was creative.

6. Emi Sakura, Mei Suruga & Yuna Mizumori vs. Mitsuru Konno, Sayaka & Sayaka Obihiro

Sayaka gave a competent performance in her debut. Her wrestling wasn't all smooth but it was effective. The overall match felt like an Ichigaya trios in a traditional ring, lots of movement and creative spots.

***1/2

Tokyo Joshi Pro - The Mountain Top 2019 ~ I Will Not Lose To Anyone ~ (9/1/2019)

1. Mirai Maiumi vs. Suzume

Opener was one of the better rookie singles matches I've seen from Tokyo Joshi. This new class is off to a good start. Solid showcase of fundamentals.

2. Himawari Unagi & YUMI vs. Mahiro Kiryu & Pom Harajuku

The Pomu-Unagi sessions in the second match were enjoyable, and it was generally a better showcase of the previous generation than the Korakuen Hall match (for what it's worth).

3. Gisele Shaw & Yuki Kamifuku vs. Miu Watanabe & Miyu Yamashita

This was a good action match, with some explosiveness from Gisele. Good Miyu segments. Kamiyu continues her run of impressive performances.

***1/2

5. Maki Ito vs. Su Yung

Another fun Su Yung matchup. Good mesh of character work and wrestling.

***1/2

7. Princess of Princess Championship: Shoko Nakajima (c) vs. Mizuki

This felt like a retread (of their TPC match), sans the drama, tension, atmosphere (Shinkiba) and freshness of the original. Shoko's ground work was fun, and I liked Mizuki's back-targeting offense and counters, but they didn't cover new ground here.

***1/2