JWP PURE HEARTS FESTIVAL- PART TWO:
(Aug. 17th, 1997)
* So a couple years ago, Rico Kasai uploaded a ton of JWP stuff to a YouTube channel, and I spent HOURS finding all of them (since dates weren’t included), searching Quebrada.net for who had wrestled whom and when… but some eluded me. But I decided to look up the “extras” at last… and sure enough, they’re mostly from the same freakin’ show! One I already kinda reviewed! It was a two-day show at the JWP Pure Hearts Festival. It would’ve been better to just include the “Day Show” and the “Night Show” separately, but for some reason I never realized the matches I hadn’t placed belonged there- I obviously didn’t cross-reference my lists, or missed when I searched last time (I swear I checked YouTube in two languages, lol). ANYWAYS I BLAME RICO KASAI FOR NOT DATING THEIR SHIT.
This is mostly a collection of random stuff that isn’t super-great, except for ONE match- Tomoko Kuzumi vs. Tomoko Miyaguchi in maybe the best match you’ll EVER see featuring 2-year veterans! The two kids have one of their best matches for the JWP Junior Title!
DAY SHOW:
TOMOKO KUZUMI & SARI OSUMI (JWP) vs. COMMAND BOLSHOI (JWP) & EMI MOTOKAWA (IWA):
* It’s lowercard madness, with the best of JWP’s rookies (Kuzumi) teaming up with brand-new rookie Sari Osumi against Bolshoi (a midcarder at this point) and the future Emi Sakura, who wrestles for IWA in its tiny women’s division at this point. I imagine Bolshoi’s team is taking this rather easily. Kuzumi’s in neon splatterpaint in an “Idol” outfit (all the cut-outs & fringe is a dead giveaway), Osumi’s in the most hideous black singlet with green leaf designs ever, Bolshoi’s in the same gear as last match & Emi’s in orange/black.
They both abuse Osumi for a while with basic stuff, and she reverses a whip to escape only for Kuzumi to now eat a beating. They work her over then Bolshoi misses a moonsault but lands on her feet, then slingshots onto both rookies, only for Kuzumi to do the same to HER team. Bolshoi quickly gets a German, and we’re clipped to Osumi eating more punishment. She gets a pop for kicking out of a rock bottom and escapes after a while, then Kuzumi hits four backbreaker variations on Bolshoi for two. Bolshoi counters up top and moonsaults Kuzumi for two, then Osumi stops a double-team and Kuzumi gets a butterfly superplex- Emi has to save. Kuzumi charges herself up, but is horrified when Osumi tags herself in and is too far away for a top-rope move so just runs up for a shitty splash pin that Emi half-heartedly breaks up. Emi runs into Bolshoi by accident and the kids set up a Doomsday Device, but Bolshoi & Osumi fuck up what was supposed to be a rana reversal and Bolshoi just punches her for the pin at (9:29 of 13:38 shown). Oh come on- at least improvise a better finish!
Boring filler match with Osumi just being abused and even Tomoko not getting to do anything. Bolshoi just kind of ate both of them alive, possibly in anticipation of their attempt to make her a bigger star (she challenges for the JWP Title after this). Kuzumi got a good run with her backbreakers and top-rope suplex, which means there’s a lot of hope for her. Osumi was sucky but that’s expected in her first year- her size was an issue for Bolshoi (Osumi is only 5’4″ but way taller and bulkier than Bolshoi), who should really be better than this at this point. The finisher is also on Bolshoi- she didn’t get enough elevation to spin herself around Osumi, getting her leg caught on the shoulder and then falling on her ass. Also, who does that spot with a rookie?
Rating: 1/2* (some okay stuff from Kuzumi but awful otherwise- like ten minutes of rookie beatings)
MARTIAL ARTS MATCH:
KUMIKO MAEKAWA (AJW) vs. RIEKO AMANO (JWP):
* Pretty sure that’s when this was. Amano is Ozaki’s JWP-affiliated goon, and Kumiko is coming from AJW as a former Tag Champion and finally has been elevated. She’s in green & yellow spackled athletic gear. Amano’s in similar gear, but plain black, and I’m finally spelling her name right. This is apparently a martial arts match judging by the “Round One!” at the start.
They roll around a bit, and Amano ends up in a front facelock that isn’t treated like anything despite being a pretty good lock. She fights for a cross-armbreaker until the round ends. Amano keeps diving into facelocks, but gets a rear mount into the ropes. Kumiko gets a top mount and throws some shots until Amano spins around her and nearly chokes her out until the round ends. Amano starts off R3 by charging in with a DROPKICK (!!), missing and Kumiko splatters the back of her head with a kick for a “9” count. But she gets up with her arms in a boxing guard and a second enzuigiri knocks her out at (0:27)- the ref just calling it.
Rating: *1/2 (an interesting style at points, though this was largely spamming the same two mounts because neither was really into “Shoot-Style” and then Kumiko just kills her with signature kicks for the easy win)
HIKARI FUKUOKA & KANAKO MOTOYA vs. AJA KONG & CUTIE SUZUKI:
* This is as weirdo mish-mash of characters, with Hikari & Cutie on opposite teams, Hikari teaming up with a rookie and Cutie teaming up with AJA KONG, perhaps her least-likely partner ever. In fact, the match is 3 idols… and Aja. Aja is at this point not yet gone from AJW but going to be, and is still a big star there, while Hikari is a champ in need of some credibility. Aja’s in pink & black, Cutie’s in white, Hikari’s in her blue/Tarzan gear and Motoya’s in white with blue. It’s fun & games to start, as Aja won’t shake eager young Motoya’s hand, but finally does so, Hikari pulls hers away, and Cutie forces Aja into the ring, where she’s jumped by the other team.
Aja refuses to sell for Kanako’s dropkicks, even missile ones, but HIKARI blasts her in the back of the head with one- Aja just flattens them both with a double-clothesline. Cutie quickly whups on Kanako with solid veteran/rookie stuff, and it’s funny to see her in this role. Hikari figure-fours Cutie but Aja flips them over to reverse it, then kicks Hikari’s ass with her trademark methodical dismantling. Both partners get involved for some cute spots (quadruple sleeper!), and Aja tosses everyone around in the stands and uses the dreaded GIANT METAL BOARD. Hikari dies off an oil can shot, and Kanako gets thumped by Cutie again, but manages to hook a leg and goes to work on it. Cutie tries to bite the foot to break free (what are joshi teeth MADE OF?)- her selling is actually really good here, whimpering and screaming. She gets a desperate DDT & northern lights on Hikari, but planchas onto Aja by mistake and Kanako flies onto them, then Hikari moonsaults them. Back in after a delay, Aja cans Hikari, but also Cutie by mistake- she sits on Kanako, but misses a splash and takes Senton Spam as a result. The momentum doesn’t last long as Kanako tries a suplex, aided by Hikari, but Aja suplexes both of them.
Cutie flying stomps Kanako but thankfully Aja’s misses, but cross-bodies both opponents. Kanako keeps rolling up Cutie, but Cutie evades Hikari’s moves, even kicking her in the ass on her cartwheel handspring elbow so Aja can lariat her. Man, Hikari is getting NOTHING in this match- she’s gotta be saving her finishing series for the end victory. She headscissors Aja but Cutie Germans her and… they appear to mess up some corner stuff (a super powerslam maybe had ’em slip and Cutie landed on her? Then she slipped trying a flying kneedrop?), but Aja FLYING FOOTSTOMPS Hikari and Kanako saves. Hikari is dead weight as Aja prepares to finish her off- she flips out of a backdrop but Cutie missile kicks her in the back and the second rope splash… gets the “Fuck YOU!” bridge! Aja (mostly) misses her flying back elbow but Hikari moonsaults onto her feet and is Backdrop Drivered for two. But Hikari sunset-powerbombs her out of the Avalanche Waterwheel Drop and then Kanako draws an ovation for a Flying Senton, then a flying stomp. MOONSAULT STOMP by Hikari with pinpoint precision! But Cutie saves! Kanako misses another Flying Senton and Cutie Germans her for two. Backdrop superplex gets two, but she misses the Flying Knee and Hikari moonsaults in and an assisted powerbomb gets two. They miss a double missilekick and Cutie gets her Dragon Suplex for two on Kanako, but Aja grabs Hikari so Cutie can finish with a Flying Knee at (23:41)- Aja & Cutie win!
Great little match here, as they had a TON of time, and only sorta wasted time in parts of it- Kanako was good in her “fired up rookie” spots, Cutie actually works as a bullying veteran, and Hikari took a huge shit-kicking and pulled off her comebacks. I loved the flying stomps, Aja teasing, then ACTUALLY DOING IT, and Hikari sold her ass off on that. The Hikari/Kanako team was great with interference, as they’d often score a comeback and immediately the other’d fly in off the top rope to capitalize- Kanako’s senton was a great moment from the rookie and Hikari followed with a moonsault to Cutie. The finish kind of lost the plot a tad at the end, and Hikari didn’t actually pull off the mega-comeback I was expecting, either.
Rating: ***1/2 (very solid match that makes good use of the time)
DEVIL MASAMI & CANDY OKUTSU vs. COMMAND BOLSHOI & TOMOKO MIYAGUCHI:
* It’s veterans vs. lower-card wrestlers, as Devil leads Candy against middle-ranked Bolshoi (who has already wrestled today?) and rookie Tomoko. Devil’s in black/purple, Candy’s in black, Bolshoi’s in a greenblue//pink/black monstrosity, and Miyaguchi’s in yellow & white sporty athletic wear. Now this is obviously before mid-97, when Candy retired. This is Joined In Progress.
Bolshoi does a ropewalk armdrag to Candy, even going BACKWARDS, but Devil easily dodges her flying move. Devil with an overthrow powerbomb, but she gets cocky and eats a rana for two. Miyaguchi tries to demand some respect, but is flattened by a powerbomb- clipped to Candy with two missile kicks & a bridging German for two, but Miyaguchi fires back on Devil and keeps catching her with fired-up rookie-fu, but Devil finally measures her with a lariat. Miyaguchi actually reverses another powerbomb and hits Candy with a Super Samoan Drop for two! Bolshoi moonsaults onto Candy’s feet and eats a bunch of lariats and Rolling Germans for two, but she ranas Devil and Miyaguchi hits a flying enzuigiri of all things and Bolshoi Germans her for two. Devil tricks Miyaguchi into running into Bolshoi and hits a Ligerbomb for two- Miyaguchi saves- and then Bolshoi kicks out after an Assisted Powerbomb! Devil climbs, but Miyaguchi hits her Super Samoan Drop to HER in a great spot, but Devil quickly undoes Bolshoi and hits a high-angle Tiger Driver for the win at (6:50 of 13:14 shown). Looks like she actually did the “push them over before 3” thing but it counted anyways.
Decent Veterans/Kids stuff, with Devil being her usual clever, arrogant self, occasionally getting caught to put the kids over but in the end just having too much power and know-how to overcome. Candy was in the mood to show off, and MIYAGUCHI definitely had her working boots on, firing off the rookie-fu and even hitting a signature finisher of sorts on the veteran.
Rating: **1/2 (solid 1/2 in a classic joshi-style contest of midcarders vs. stars)
MAYUMI OZAKI vs. SARI OSUMI:
(May 10th, 1997)- yes this is a random one I just now found and it’s the only one that doesn’t fit so I’m shoving it here
* It occurs to me a lot of these “lost matches” feature Osumi, again in her leaf gear. I think the JWP President messes up her name to start, resulting in Ozaki walking up and slapping him. Sari plays up the “nervous rookie” thing, refusing to let go of Ozaki’s hand during the pre-match handshake and getting startled off when she’s yelled at.
Sari tries repeated shots to start fast, but Ozaki just laughs her off and tortures her with glee. Sari manages a crab when she cleverly asks the ref to count Oz’s shoulders down, turning her over when she lifts one. But the kid starts bawling during the hold, overcome by emotions, but gets fired up again and throws on restholds and her silly body hip-thrust attacks (oh, now I remember her). Oz finally gets out and ties Sari up in knots, then draws a pop for throwing her into the guardrails. Sari laughs when sitting out on Oz’s chest, so Oz mimics it after another beating. Sari gets beaten on for like five minutes but throws out a bunch of ass attacks, then latches onto the corner to Ozaki can’t pull her off. She finally does but misses a cannonball and eats some feather-light forearms, but takes a comically long time whimpering and climbing and Ozaki handily dodges her flying attack. But Sari ducks the backfist and ACTUALLY DOES THE “LOOK OVER THERE!” TRICK and backslides Ozaki for two. But Sari tries to run Ozaki into her ass and Oz just walks beside it and slaps her, hooking a leg for the three at (9:09).
Rating: 1/4* (Typical puro comedy match: funny in parts, but HOLY SHIT like 9 minutes of that? It’s not like it was gonna be a great match otherwise with the rookie in there, but jesus)
NIGHT SHOW:
DYNAMITE KANSAI & KANAKO MOTOYA vs. CUTIE SUZUKI & COMMAND BOLSHOI:
* A basic tag match with elite stars and younger ones, with Motoya being a 2nd-year or so. Kansai’s in yellow & orange (yeesh), Motoya’s in green & pink idol-ish gear, Cutie’s in white & Bolshoi’s in white & green. This is Kansai’s first match back from her collagen illness.
Motoya gets her arm worked a lot to start, despite having more size on her opponents. But Kansai gets tagged in and boots Cutie around and hits her backdrop driver, then throws both girls into abdominal stretches- Cutie uses the opportunity to use her own, revealing why she, uh, doesn’t do a lot of submission wrestling. My god, Monsoon would have had her ass for that on commentary. Thankfully Bolshoi helps her, but Kansai just deadlifts her out of a DDT and tags out. Motoya with jobber-fu and a straightjacket German for two. Bolshoi comes back with speed and her DDT, but misses a slingshot and eats five running sentons for two. Kansai comes in for more shots but Cutie sets up a palm-thrust & German for two. Cutie eats a lariat & backdrop, but another palm sets up her Dragon Suplex for two. Double-lariat from Kansai sets up Motoya’s sentons to both, and then KANSAI does two, and then BOTH girls land a crushing one. Motoya hits a flying senton on Bolshoi for two, but goes to the well one too many times and eats shit- Cutie Germans her to set up Bolshoi’s German off the 2nd rope… for two! Good reaction for kicking out on her own. Kansai’s kick sets up La Majistral for two, but that’s it- Motoya tries to climb and Cutie stops her, allowing Bolshoi to hit the Super Rock Bottom for the three at (9:21 of 12:36 shown).
Motoya is not someone I’m that familiar with- she’s missing from a lot of JWP material online despite being one of their “Fab Four” (Amano/Kuzumi/Miyaguchi/Motoya), but she seems fine. Better than most 2nd-years. A bit lanky and over-dependent on just sentons for her offense but she’s okay. The rest is your everyday match the others can do in their sleep, Cutie with trademark sloppy application, Bolshoi being pretty tight but ineffective-looking, and Kansai being awesome but slower and simpler at this point. Motoya got the mandatory “kick out of a surefire pin second-degree move” spot, then got killed by the real finisher- the girls were just too good at knocking the slower Kansai off the apron.
Rating: ** (mostly fine, inoffensive stuff)
JWP JUNIOR TITLE:
TOMOKO KUZUMI vs. TOMOKO MIYAGUCHI:
* Two of JWP’s best rookies go at it- it’s the Tomoko War! Kuzumi’s in black & Miyaguchi’s in red & white athletic gear. This is for Kuzumi’s rookie title.
Miyaguchi jumps Kuzumi at the bell and they toss each other into the guardrails and pull each other by the hair into the ring in a great spot, leading to a stalemate and they’re back where they started. Much more hair-pulling ensues, the girls reversing on each other and not giving any ground, Miyaguchi getting something going with a double-arm into Fujiwara armbars- she’s already good at stuff like “tie up their limbs so they can’t make the ropes the same way twice”. Kuzumi finally comes back with a springboard dropkick out of the corner as they shift and parry stuff. Miyaguchi puts on a NASTY Liontamer- Kuzumi tries to come back but gets drilled repeatedly in a mount, but finally counters with a straight boot to the head and just DIVES onto her with boots for revenge, but Miyaguchi is too technically-gifted and rolls out of a Fujiwara and hiptosses from a double-arm… but Kuzumi locks on a sleeper! Great reaction for that one. Miyaguchi makes the ropes so Kuzumi reapplies as the fight is finally out of Ms. Reversal, and they hang in that for a while, but when Kuzumi senses weakness and aims for her butterfly backbreaker, Miyaguchi just rushes her into the corner and then clocks her out of the other one- she’s not done yet!
Kuzumi counters her backdrop suplex and nails that backbreaker- and again for two. They do multiple go-behinds until Kuzumi just boots her in the ass and dives onto her on the floor, as speed is once again her friend, and she slowly works her over with missile kicks for two. Big ovation for Miyaguchi’s kickout, and she pops up and enzuigiris Kuzumi out of another, taking her to the floor but missing her own dive! See, ya can’t beat her at her own game. Kuzumi plants her with a German on the floor, and a bridging one in the ring gets two. They fight for position on the top until Miyaguchi Germans her off the middle rope and hits a Flying Enzuigiri for two. Straightjacket Northern Lights suplex gets two and they’re both fading.
An exhausted Miyaguchi fires herself up and goes for her Super Samoan Drop but Kuzumi rolls her backwards in a clutch for two! Frustrated, Kuzumi just smashes the shit out of her back, but gets goaded into a slapfight and it’s reversed to a German! But she does the ALL JAPAN NO-SELL, screaming and German-ing Miyaguchi in turn and they’re both down! Kuzumi’s up first but they triple-reverse whips and Kuzumi lands in a fireman’s carry position- Miyaguchi drops her but cleverly rolls forward for two before hitting an airplane spin Samoan drop… and Kuzumi grabs the rope! Great timing. Miyaguchi’s at a loss for what to do so she just throws kicks, getting reversed to a Straightjacket German for two. Kuzumi seeks the end and climbs, but that’s when Miyaguchi springs to life- Super Samoan Drop! Kuzumi splats on the mat! And that’s the three at (17:49)- Miyaguchi wins the Junior Title!
One of the best matches between second-years you’ll ever see, if not THE best- an amazing match of perseverance. So initially the first part of the story is Miyaguchi controlling with all her technical stuff- nothing flashy but it was well-applied and there was enough movement that it wasn’t “just” resting. And it was tactical, too- Miyaguchi was too good at reversals, flustering Kuzumi, who had to use speed to counter- and when MIYAGUCHI tried that, it failed. Kuzumi would thus draw a pop for finally getting a good counter (the sleeper spot), and Miyaguchi would have to use fighting spirit instead of technique. But if she got goaded into trying to match Kuzumi’s flying around, she’d pay for it.
They were throwing out some remarkably intricate sequences for rookies, too, like double-reversals off of whips and smoothly threading one move into a counter. Miyaguchi will dominate with stuff, then counter the double-arm into a move, but Kuzumi later lands on her feet from the suplex attempt and lands it, and it’s all smooth and not at all awkward or “Wait- where was I?” like you often get from rookies. They sold well the idea that Miyaguchi had more technical acumen and is better at reversing, so Kuzumi had to pick her shots and use athleticism to control. And once she takes the lead, she presses it carefully and without rushing, peppering Miyaguchi with everything she has. But Miyaguchi had one last reversal up her sleeve, and it was her finisher.
Rating: **** (absolute top-tier rookie match- better than many veterans ever get. They had lots of time and built to their spots and earned their big selling and kickouts)