Stardom (10/30/2021)
Hazuki vs. Unagi Sayaka
A great back and forth. The result was as expected, but it was a very intriguing match between the red and white belt challengers before Kawasaki. Unagi has established a great structure and flow to the way she carries out her unique offense, and Hazuki showed her signature intensity. ***1/2
Ice Ribbon - #1117 in SKIP City (5/9/2021)
FantastICE Championship #1 Contendership: Akane Fujita vs. Maya Yukihi
Sendai Girls (11/23/2021)
Jaja Uma Tournament - Quarter Finals: Ami Miura vs. Ai Houzan
Good lively back and forth. Although it was short, it was high energy, with both showcasing their unique skills and seeming eager to leave an impression on the audience. Miura's dropkick was like a shotgun blast. And Ai showed great movement and fundamentals. ***1/2
Ice Ribbon - #1122 (5/29/2021)
Ibuki Hoshi vs. Maya Yukihi
Ice Ribbon - #1157 ~ Ota Ward General Gymnasium (11/13/2021)
ICExInfinity Championship: Tsukasa Fujimoto (c) vs. Tsukushi Haruka
This was almost the perfect "Fujimoto-Tsukushi" match. Everything that makes them great wrestlers was on display and they used all of their best moves. There was intense brawling, great technique and speed, and many great counters. Tsukushi dominated most of the match and seemed to be better than the champion in every way, countering or withstanding Fujimoto's big offense, including kicking out of the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex. ****1/4
Tokyo Joshi Pro - TOKYO JOSHI 2021 AUTUMN (11/6/2021)
Hikari Noa & Arisu Endo vs. Miu Watanabe & Suzume
It was a pleasant surprise that this match was given the main event slot. This was a good showcase of young veterans and rookies. Miu really took the initiative and was the MVP of the match. Hikari's presence was subtle, even though it was an IP prelude. Suzume and Endo, who have been showing steady growth, were quite good. ***1/4
4. STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Koguma) vs. Donna del Mondo (Himeka & Natsupoi)
Amazing high-octane tag action in the lower card. All four competitors were firing on all cylinders over the course of the match, and there were some creative sequences. ***3/4
5. High Speed Championship: Starlight Kid (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
This was one of the most interesting matches on the card. I think they put on a really unique and entertaining performance. In addition to crisp high speed action, there was heated brawling, mask ripping, and a Showa-style finish. Certainly one of the most unique entries in the history of the High Speed championship. ***3/4
6. SWA World Championship & 5STAR Grand Prix Challenge Certificate: Syuri (c) vs. AZM
I'm still partial to the February match out of their trilogy this year, but this was another good match, the two have great chemistry and complement each other's attacks well. Impressive effort by AZM, who hit some hard kicks and performed a triangle plancha for the first time. ***1/2
7. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Tam Nakano (c) vs. Unagi Sayaka
Unagi built her gameplan around her dangerous new technique and the unpredictable situations she could hit it from. Nakano’s selling and comeback story were convincing as always. This was an emotional and well-structured match that was surprisingly brutal, with violent kicks to the head, dull headbutts, and a tribute to Misawa-Kawada that suited the physicality of the action. ****1/4
8. World of Championship: Utami Hayashishita (c) vs. Hazuki
I am happy Hazuki is back, but I never thought of her as a top-tier worker in big matches, and her weaknesses were apparent in this match. She's a workrate monster, but she doesn't express herself well and her moveset is lacking. I didn't find her performance very engaging. There were times when it seemed like they were just throwing moves at each other without any real excitement or drama. There were some jaw dropping moments, such as the apron Air Raid Crash and Utami's explosive missile dropkick, and a couple of well-timed counters and near-falls, but this was Utami's weakest defense so far. ***1/2
