Joshi Spotlight: AJW Odaiba Explosion (The Shows in the Rain!)

AJW ODAIBA EXPLOSION:
(July 10th & 11th, 1999)
* Hey look! Even more Zenjo stuff from the summer of 1999! I’ll never be able to escape this month! This one, however, features the famous “Match in the Rain”- though it rained a LOT on these rooftop shows at the Fuji TV building, this crazed 6-woman tag really takes the cake. I’ve reviewed it before, so I’ll slap that one in here as well. And there’s also MULTIPLE Title matches featuring invaders from other promotions, including Yumiko Hotta’s WWWA World Title being defended against Neo’s top dog Kyoko Inoue! Kumiko Maekawa defends the White Belt against the giant Misae Genki! There’s also the WWWA Super Lightweight Championship being fought for once again!

Note that almost all of these are massively clipped. And some of them happen the same day as matches I’ve already reviewed- these came undated so I wasn’t aware of when they happened until I watched them and checked my notes (ps YouTube uploaders who don’t post match dates should be drawn & quartered). And rain hits on both days of this show, resulting in an iconic mess of a match and then a disappointing World Title match.

ALL PACIFIC TITLE:
KUMIKO MAEKAWA (AJW) vs. MISAE GENKI (Neo):
* It’s Interpromotional mayhem, as White Belt holder Kumiko takes on Misae, who was three years behind her in Zenjo training classes (1991 vs. 1994). As Genki is getting a big push in Kyoko Inoue’s Neo Ladies as a rising powerhouse, she’ll probably do well but lose a “hard fought match”. Kumiko’s in white & Genki’s in her black shirt & shorts.

Genki uses her “10 to 2” big club-chops to start, but we’re clipped to Maekawa getting kicks, but Genki no-sells and puts her in Kyoko’s “rock the cradle” submission hold. She’s being slow & steady, but Kumiko lands a BIG running boot to the face, then the Pump Kick- Genki makes the ropes. Kumiko hits a running corner boot and then drives Genki’s face to the mat out of the corner using her knee, but misses her kick and Genki clumsily chokeslams her for two. She misses a “ton of bricks” flying elbow and Kumiko misses with a rolling kick, but wipes Genki out with a spinkick. Genki manages a running boot and chokeslams her from the second rope for two. But trying to follow up sees her eating Kumiko’s Ax Kick right to the forehead, but manages to fight up with big elbows and lands her G-Driver (over-the-shoulder powerslam) for two- the fans love the kickout! It’s started to rain and won’t stop- Genki tries another G-Driver but Kumiko gets out, Rolling Kicks her, then lands another one for a big kickout. Ax Kick finishes at (5:17 of 15:49 shown) for Kumiko.

A spirited match, though more hesitant- Genki is big but also kinda clumsy and the two aren’t used to working with each other I think, so there’s a lot of “stall-out before the big strike” things as they hesitate and try to get into position. Genki, like a lot of big wrestlers, looks better the more stable she is and the more she no-sells, but it’s not really her “place” to be doing that yet against the All Pacific Title holder, so she’s in that awkward zone where she’s ENORMOUS but bouncing around for kicks. Kumiko’s kick-based offense is always tricky, too, as it’s sometimes unclear if it’s a whiff that won’t be sold, a whiff that WILL be sold, or a potato, and the person eating the move has to make the decision every time on how “legit” this is and the fans thus don’t know how to react until the selling is done. She apparently improves at this a lot eventually.

Rating: ** (solid but a bit hesitant)

WWWA SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT TITLE:
CHAPARRITA ASARI (Freelance) vs. MOMOE NAKANISHI (AJW):
* !!!! So the 3WA Super Lightweight Title still exists! Well it was mothballed ages ago, particularly when ASARI left Zenjo in 1997, but had only ever really existed as a trophy belt for her (since she was too small to believably fight for any other belts). But since up & coming superstar Momoe is rapidly improving and is also super smol, she is thus qualifying for it. Double-checking the belt (which I deleted from my yearly “list of belts” once it was dropped), it returned in May and was won by ASARI again. ASARI’s in a pretty slick golden outfit with red & black, and Momoe’s in white & blue.

Momoe starts fast, but gets backdropped to the floor and takes a NASTY flying press to the floor, just getting smoked upside the head. She eats the Cartwheel Handspring Mule Kick (great selling by lurching back and collapsing inwards), but manages her own flying plancha, works the leg, then hits some missile kicks. Holy buckets- moonsault to the floor! ASARI keeps stuffing the Dragon Suplex so Momoe lands a SWEET bridging German for two, but ASARI dodges another dropkick and hits a Norther Lights suplex, and a somersault missile dropkick to the FLOOR (!), then a Super Rana, but Momoe counters the pin, and gets countered for a CLOSE two! ASARI goes up to finish, but Momoe flings her off with a German and finally gets that Dragon Suplex for two, but another gets her rolled up. Momoe sits on her from a powerbomb for two, ASARI flings her with a release German, but Momoe pops up and hits another Dragon Suplex… for the three at (5:04 of 11:43 shown)! NEW SUPER LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION!

Another very spirited little (clipped) match, featuring the Greatest Hits from ASARI, Momoe fighting for her Dragon Suplex, then a series of flash-pins to establish the stakes and the “any move might win it”. Momoe’s selling was really good, and ASARI’s stuff has become much more precise with age and experience. Momoe wasn’t champion for long, but I assume this was kind of a deal with ASARI (a Freelancer at this point, with more ability to accept bookings)- come in and “win back” her belt, then drop it to a rising star for a few months to help establish her. As Momoe gets more and more focus with time, this is a good deal for both (though doesn’t exactly make the experienced ASARI look good for jobbing to a kid, lol).

Rating: **1/2 (good little match from what we’ve seen- callback spots, big moves and quick counters)

SPECIAL SIX EXPLOSION:
LIONESS ASUKA & LAS CACHORRAS ORIENTALES (Mima Shimoda & Etsuko Mita) (Free Agents) vs. MANAMI TOYOTA, KAORU ITO & NANAE TAKAHASHI (AJW):
* On these rooftop shows, Zenjo had to deal with inclement weather at times, and never more inclement than THIS- this becomes one of very few matches by a prominent company that features a massive downpour hitting the ring during a match. One featuring many of the top stars of the day, too- Asuka teams up with her Super Star Unit stable-mates and top tag team freelancers (and current WWWA Tag Team Champions) LCO against two of Zenjo’s top solo acts and rising star Nanae. Grumpy-ass Asuka carries a table to the ring with her, while LCO are in their best outlandish regalia. The freelancers are all in black & silver variants of their regular gear (Asuka’s shirt & pants, Shimoda’s two-piece tasseled bit, etc.). Nanae is a stocky girl in a white & purple thing with triangular fabric across the front. Manami’s in red & Ito’s in a black & blue MVP-style singlet.

The chaos begins before the bell, as Team AJW attacks and everyone’s already sliding around (it seems like they’re doing it deliberately to sell the “slipperiness” of the mat, though) and it turns into a big brawl outside. Mita gets clobbered by something Manami’s holding and takes a powder while Ito hits her stomp on Shimoda on the ramp, “slipping” as soon as she hits the wet ramp in a good bit of controlled chaos. Some random guy pulls a chair away from Shimoda when she wants to use it, so she boots him in the shin. It’s hilarious watching everyone gingerly “run” around the studio when they’re trying not to slip on the mats. Asuka kills the rookie in front of everyone on the ramp in a pro move while everyone else just fights, soaking wet already. Manami trips her up and Ito climbs the stage lighting rig and does her Flying Stomp off of there onto Shimoda (a routine spot in retrospect, lol). MONSTER ovation for Manami hitting the Octopus Stretch on Asuka on the ramp, but Mita comes in and hits the Death Valley Driver right there!

Things devolve into a scrappy brawl on the ramp, with Manami nearly trying a GIANT SWING on it until everyone realizes how bad an idea that would be (she more just slides Asuka around in a circle). Mita beats on Ito in the ring while Asuka sharpshooters Manami on the ramp, and Shimoda adds a flying chairshot but gets caught in Ito’s snap-armbar. Nanae tries to get all “defiant rookie” but gets eaten alive by the heels. Everyone keeps running in, sliding around as they do so- Manami flies in with her missile kicks, and Mita actually slip ‘n’ slides across the mat from it! Mita gets caught in the figure-four and takes a flying splash from Nanae & Ito’s Flying Stomp. Mita’s bawling face as she sells is tremendous, as is Ito hitting stomps to her injured leg, slipping on the landings. Mita gets her leg worked, but finally escapes- Ito no-sells Shimoda and Germans her, but Nanae gets caught in a Tiger Suplex- the bridge is wrecked because of her sliding, lol. And then Asuka brilliantly goes for her signature Giant Swing, “slipping” and looking annoyed- now THAT’S how you sell wrestling in the rain!

So Asuka settles for a backdrop & piledriver on the rookie, but Nanae avoids Mita’s electric chair drop, only to slip hitting the ropes and eating a Blazing Chop for two. Some careful running sees the heels on the floor, so Nanae hits a dive to set up Manami’s insane missile dropkick suicida! Meanwhile, Ito hits her Flying Stomp to Asuka off of something to the floor in the background- everyone brawls in the crowd for a while, and back in Nanae hits a Vader Bomb for two on Mita. Shimoda tosses a chair, but Manami uses Mita as a human shield… but charges straight into the Death Valley Driver! Ito saves, and Manami dodges a chair and hits the Rolling Cradle, barely gaining traction on it for two. Manami goes for the Moonsault, but Mita tries for the Super Electric Chair- Manami leaps back in an insanely dangerous bit (she catches her leg on Mita’s and falls), hitting the Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex from the elevated position! Asuka breaks it up at two, and they reverse stuff until Manami hits a German for two. Moonsault misses! Okay trying a moonsault in the rain is pretty crazy. Asuka & Manami slip & struggle until Asuka hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for two.

Shimoda brings in a table and badly misses her ax kick, but Manami avoids going into the table… and Ito just LAUNCHES it into Asuka’s back to prevent a powerbomb- ha! Missile kick gets caught, but Manami slaps her way out of a Giant Swing & hits a straightjacket backdrop hold for two. Ito misses the Flying Stomp but dodges Shimoda’s missile kick so Asuka takes it, and they reverse stuff until Ito hits a release uranage. Flying Stomp to the floor! Toyota takes an absolutely insane leap off of another lighting rig, but only hits her teammates after a 12-foot jump. Everyone brawls as Asuka pays back that Flying Stomp to the floor to Ito, draping a table across her first! Another one in the ring and Asuka wipes out HARD on the landing, literally sliding down the full length of the table over Ito’s body! Ligerbomb gets two- Nanae saves. Asuka taunts the fans and takes an All Japan bump off a German, but recovers with a wheel kick. Shimoda misses a cannonball but avoids a powerbomb, catches Mita’s chair and blasts Ito, and hits a release Tiger Driver for two. She puts Ito on the top, but takes a Doomsday Device Missile Kick from Nanae & Manami, into Ito’s Flying Stomp for two! TRIPLE FLYING HEADBUTTS! Again Shimoda kicks out!

Ito hits two MORE Flying Stomps, but Mita saves with a kick. Powerbomb sets up Nanae’s Coffin Drop (yes, really) for two. Nanae’s Falcon Arrow and Shimoda’s Tiger Suplex get reversed (Shimoda falling on her ass off a whip) until Shimoda lands an ax kick into Mita’s Blazing Chop into Asuka’s running lariat. AJW dogpiles to prevent a pin, but LCO hits a Double Superbomb (sounds better than it looked- it’s SLIPPERY up there) for two- big reaction for the kickout, there. Manami flies in to break up a DVD, Ito hits another Flying Stomp, and Nanae’s Falcon Arrow hits Shimoda… Asuka saves! Shimoda hits a German to reverse, and Asuka adds a rolling kick to prevent Nanae stopping the next one while Mita brains Manami with a chair- Flying Somersault Ax Kick from Shimoda to Nanae! Team AJW saves the pin again! So Asuka & Mita finally hold them back as Shimoda hauls Nanae up and finishes her off with the Death Lake Driver (Tiger superplex) at (23:19), flipping everyone off in the process. SSU wins!

Holy shit, what a wild, crazy match- the rain was just PERFECT here, adding to the chaos. I can’t even imagine what they’d have been planning WITHOUT the rain, because so many things got added because of it- it made the match not only look even more of a mess, but it played a major factor in moves, because people would hit something and then slide around. And several times I noticed deliberate “slips”- Asuka trying her Giant Swing and then suddenly her leg bends and she does a controlled fall- putting over how the rain is affecting their moves. Other moves seemed done just to ensure someone can slide across the ring on them. I’m sure a few slips were legit (wrestlers are so good at falling that they can probably just made do and it only looked controlled), particularly when Manami tries her “going too fast for her own good” stuff, but you’d never know sometimes, and even the accidents just added to how much of a clusterfuck it was.

Parts of the match were a tad plodding as they brawl into the crowd to kill time or delay things heavily to get into position safely, but then the MOVEZ start ramping up and things get completely nuts- Doomsday Device Dropkick into Flying Stomp into Triple Flying Headbutts? For TWO? Zenjo’s typical tag psychology benefits in cases like spotfests where insane moves don’t need to lead to pins, but also aren’t hurt by kickouts- often somebody breaks it up or the person who ate the move barely kicks out but is dead and the others can wrestle around them.

Rating: ****1/2 (completely wild mess of a match, in the best way- with the rain you’ll always remember it)

WWWA WORLD TITLE:
YUMIKO HOTTA (AJW) vs. KYOKO INOUE (Neo):
* Kyoko returns to Zenjo! And she’s taking on the WORLD CHAMPION, Yumiko Hotta! Hotta defeated Kyoko for the Red Belt in 1997 after Kyoko announced she was leaving the company, so there’s history here. Kyoko’s best buddy Takako Inoue is at ringside. The ring is absolutely SOAKED here, likely making it impossible to wrestle.

Kyoko immediately puts Hotta in a surfboard and clutch, then we’re clipped to both wrestlers being SOAKED and Kyoko risking it all with her headscissors on a slippery mat. Clipped to Hotta bringing her off the top into a jujigatame, which is completed but is just… sold like a normal submission so Kyoko’s just fighting instead of having her arm torn apart- then Takako CHEATS by dragging her to the ropes! Takako is super proud of herself as Hotta talks shit and Germans Kyoko, but Kyoko recovers first and Ligerbombs her for two. She goes for the Victoria Driver but gets dumped and Hotta rolling kicks her off the apron and we’re clipped to the Pyramid Driver (cross-armed ligerbomb) getting two. Hotta scores a big kick to work a KO (flipping off Takako, who sells it with this perfect about of “I’m OFFENDED!”), but when Kyoko recovers, Hotta sits on the top and gets shocked by Takako’s TASER. Well she would have, except she didn’t notice Takako do it the first time and mistook the clacking of it for the move and thus fell off BETWEEN Takako’s shots of it, but she collapses off the top rope, and Kyoko wins with two Ligerbombs in a row at (4:55 of 20:55 shown), winning the Red Belt! Manami Toyota hits ringside and is AGHAST at this shit, screaming at Takako as she bails from ringside- the offense at the Red Belt changing hands over something like THAT. Kyoko is belted to tremendous jeers as the invader takes away Zenjo’s top belt. Kyoko’s reaction to suddenly getting heel heat for maybe the first time in her life is pretty funny, like she’s actually shocked and worried, haha.

The match clearly had a lot working against it- the rain was preventing them from running around (both of them have signature running strikes) and they had to be super-careful, so all their movements were clunky. And unlike the last match it wasn’t supposed to be “chaotic” so instead just looked careful and boring. Then you had MIS-TIMED CHEATING as Takako is supposed to zap Hotta, who doesn’t register it, then registers too late (before Takako can try again), and thus it looks super-weird and then Hotta loses to some regular Kyoko stuff. Also it was massively clipped. Only a quarter of it was shown! And my god I don’t wanna watch 20 minutes of two women trying not to die in the rain.

Rating: *1/2 (really impossible to get a fair rating out of a match being cut to barely 5 minutes, and the rain was killing them)