Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 (9/9/2018)

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 Block B: Natsuko Tora vs. Tam Nakano

Great slugfest, these two brought the fire and raw emotion. The opening was ugly, in a good way, they're tussling, covered in streamers, beating the hell out of each other. Tam has been having captivating singles performances lately, I wouldn't mind seeing her get a run with one of the belts.

***3/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 Block B: Jungle Kyona vs. Utami Hayashishita

This was basically an upgraded version of Utami's debut match. Great layout, pacing and some excruciating submission struggles. Kyona's been having such a great run in this tournament.

****

8. 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 Block A: Hazuki vs. Momo Watanabe

Another great timeout draw on this show, it hardly felt like they were killing time, and the soldout Shinkiba crowd gave it good atmosphere. I liked the intense urgency from Hazuki, she was unrelenting with her rabid offense. Momotaro holds up her end of the bargain with punishing reprisals.

****

ASUKA vs. Hana Kimura (WRESTLE-1, 9/2/2018)

WRESTLE-1 - Wrestling LOVE in Yokohama 2018 (9/2/2018)

ASUKA vs. Hana Kimura

Outside of WAVE is where ASUKA is at her most interesting since she shows personality, her heel work and the way she played to the crowd at the start gave the match depth. Hana returns from an excursion in Mexico with a couple of new techniques, including a very wacky submission hold.

***3/4

Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) vs. Hiroe Nagahama & Miyuki Takase (WAVE, 6/30/2018)

WAVE - Osaka Rhapsody vol. 41 (6/30/2018)

Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) vs. Hiroe Nagahama & Miyuki Takase

Avid Rival can do no wrong, they're so good at creating exciting tag matches with just about anyone. Hiroe & Miyuki are developing better chemistry and growing as a team, showing off some new double teams maneuvers. 

***1/2

Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 (9/1/2018)

1. AZM vs. Sumire Natsu

***1/4

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 Block B: Kagetsu vs. Utami Hayashishita

A 10-year veteran vs. an undefeated super rookie, the story writes itself. Utami's kill moves have been so well established that the crowd was sold on her possibly making the Red Belt champion submit. I liked how Utami got desperate with that illegal chokehold as she felt victory slipping from her grasp.

***3/4

7. Goddesses of Stardom Championship: STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Saki Kashima) (c) vs. STARS (Starlight Kid & Tam Nakano)

This is one of the best Goddesses matches in recent history, some very exciting tag team action and a great emotional segment between Mayu and Tam as the action began to slow down. I would like to see more StarTam as they have promising chemistry and are both very cute.

***3/4

WAVE - Sapporo Wave NA.MA.RA ~Zen~ (6/3/2018)

3. ASUKA vs. Rina Yamashita

***

4. Avid Rival (Misaki Ohata & Ryo Mizunami) vs. NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura)

I liked this a lot, great pacing and rhythm and chemistry between the two teams. Ohata was particularly good here, loved her interactions with Rin-chan.

****

5. WAVE Tag Team Championship: KUSO ONNA NIGHT (Nagisa Nozaki & Yuki Miyazaki) (c) vs. BOSS to Mammy (Mio Momono & Yumi Ohka)

Momono is the mastermind of the BOSS to Mammy team, Ohka is more or less an instrument in Momono's game. KUSO ONNA have developed into one of my favorite tag teams in the scene, Miyazaki still has one of the sweetest moonsaults.

****

Ice Ribbon - 906 ~Hamuko Hoshi, Miyako Matsumoto & Tsukasa Fujimoto 10th Anniversary Show~ (8/26/2018)

6. Hikaru Shida vs. Risa Sera

This delivered about on the level that I expected it to, very solid match between teacher and student. There's little down time and a couple of nice, stiff attacks.

***3/4

9. ICE×∞ Championship: Tsukasa Fujimoto (c) vs. Maya Yukihi

Great main event, there's some heated slaps to the face and they threw hellish kicks to the head (Maya-obachan shared her facial bruises on twitter after the event - the kicks she took to the face towards the end were vicious).

***1/2

Takumi Iroha vs. Mayu Iwatani (Marvelous, 8/8/2018)

Marvelous (8/8/2018)

Takumi Iroha vs. Mayu Iwatani

Solid match for Marvelous' first Korakuen main event. The swanton from the stairwell was cool, and there's some exciting offense traded between the two, and the limb-targeting kept the action fresh towards the time limit draw.

***1/2