Dream Star Fighting Marigold: Dream Star Grand Prix 08.22 and 08.30

So we’re back with more Marigold and we got almost 600 people in Tokyo’s Sunpearl Arakawa and it is dark here, but we have a stage setup with the ring on the stage, some people beside them, and more folks in the actual stands. It is not…overly full.

Kouki Amarei [2] vs. Victoria Yuzuki [6] – Dream League

Background: Kouki and Victoria are both rising babyfaces, Kouki is taller, more glamorous, and more successful (GHC Woman’s Champion in the past!) but Victoria definitely has more wrestler cred and is presented as the big rising star of the future and is undefeated so far.

The Match: Hot start as Victoria dropkicks Kouki while music is playing. Kouki sells while Victoria heels and removes her entrance gear and Yuzuki even biel tosses Amarei around and leans on her in the corner. Huh, well that’s a dramatic shift into heeling. The Amethyst Butterfly fires back with rights and staggers Yuzuki, who comes back with one to drop Kouki. Rope-running sequence lets Kouki get the advantage with speed and high-flying (?!). Kouki then gets a cutter for 2 and transitions into a submission attempt which is like…a double-arm scissors with the legs? Neat idea but it looks weird. Anyway Victoria makes the ropes. Victoria tries to get something going but Kouki boots her down and shrugs off the brawling as Yuzuki does sell the arm here. More boots from Kouki but she runs into Victoria’s O goshi and that sets up the…heel comeback? Northern Lights suplex for 2 and then Yuzuki goes for a quick crossface but Kouki gets a tilt-a-whirl slam into her falling slam and then a standing dominator as they are just SPRINTING here. Kouki for the 180 splash that whiffs and back to the crossface by Yuzuki. Kouki makes the ropes and then eats a missile dropkick from Victoria, and then a backdrop suplex as Yuzuki is just dominating everything here. Kouki dropkick gets a double-down as both are taking a breather. Victoria is up first (of course) and then superkicks Kouki for 2.8. Amarei gets her backdrop suplex, and Kouki gets her high-crotch back suplex for 1 (!?), but then runs into Victoria’s cradle side slam for 2.7. Back to the crossface, Kouki tries to roll through but Yuzuki rolls through on that and they’re in the middle of the ring. Pretty great finger wag of denial from Amarei as she refuses to quit and finally gets a foot on the ropes. Another back suplex by Victoria is attempted but Kouki goes for a rollup and they trade reversals for nearfalls. Yuzuki goes for her super special Rolling Arrow rollup but Kouki sits on top for a VERY near fall. Another big Kouki boot drops Yuzuki, and a spinebuster by the Butterfly gets 2, and Amarei fires up with a full-nelson slam for 2.8 and she FINALLY goes up and lands the 180 splash and that’s 3.

*¾

Oh man this was a mess. Yuzuki was I guess the heel vet trying to bully the less experienced Kouki, but the smaller Yuzuki physically controlling the larger Amarei was silly, and she went WAY too into the heeldom to start with the ambush to later on do fiery babyface comebacks against big boots. Kouki’s offense doesn’t really make sense as a cohesive thing either. Also, I’m not sure if this was how it was called or what, but my goodness Yuzuki just ate Kouki alive for most of the match. I will say that the final sequence was okay as far as Kouki’s babyface fire, but a messy, messy match that made no sense.

Utami Hayashishita [6] vs. Maria [2] – Dream League

Background: Utami is the top dog in Marigold, the big champion, their most credible and famous roster member, the Red Queen, a stoic, mostly-serious prodigy with a strong judo background. Maria is of course from Marvelous and is dressed like a chola and works like a devious sneaky tweener, not quite a heel as her tricks have the vibe of somebody with spunk against more dominant opponents, but she’s definitely the heel on paper here.

The Match: Maria with the handshake of respect, Utami takes it…and Maria goes for an armbar takedown, ha! Utami easily rolls out of it though and her attempts at clobbering Maria are ducked and then we get the Naito pose from the Marvelous wrestler who transitions into a prone head in hands sorta coquettish pose, and Utami decides to match! This actually isn’t the first time Hayashishita has done this as she would mock the poses of (the more traditionally feminine) Tam Nakano when they feuded in Stardom. Bringing it back! So we have the best staredown since Warrior and Hogan as they sorta pose in the ring with crossed legs and the crowd is actually super hot for this. The ref meanwhile is telling them to y’know, wrestle, and both competitors do. Lockup teaser…and Maria goes for a flash rollup for 2, flying headscissors into an octopus next as Maria is doing everything possible to not actually match up with Utami. They fall into the ropes and Maria gets some facewashes and a boot against the ropes as she has controlled with cunning and intellect so far. Slingshot stomp by the outsider! Slugfest and Maria backs off until she uses speed to get a dropkick and a flying armbar…but Utami turns that into a powerbomb and a sliding lariat to set up the rack, but Maria slips out. The Marvelous worker kicks the arm of Utami but the champ lands the second rack and gets a slam out of it. Missile dropkick by Utami follows for 2 and Maria is shaken. Utami goes for a German but Maria slips out gets a boot to the arm and then a half-nelson suplex. Maria sets up a flying boot and then poses as Utami pops up in the background, but the Marvelous representative gets another flying armbar that Utami has to break on the ropes. Utami gets a desperate lariat for a breath as she’s cradling her own arm and then goes for a German, but her arm can’t hold and Maria kicks out at 1. A rack attempt next but Maria turns that into a crucifix for 2.8. Dropkick by Maria is rebounded into a discus lariat but the ref doesn’t count the cover since the shoulders aren’t down (weird spot), a short-arm lariat gets 2.8 and then a Rack Bomb gets 3.

***¼

Maria just being continually devious and sneaky but faltering whenever she had to be straight up was pretty grand, and Utami refusing to be psyched out shows that she’s not just a blockhead of a champion. Great selling from Utami, fun cheating/trickery from Maria. Very, very good.

Well that’s all for the show on the 22nd! Onto the August 30th show and we’re in Korakuen and this is a big one, 1k people in the crowd makes it decently full.

CHIAKI [2] vs. Rea Seto [0] – Dream League

Background: Darkness Revolution explodes!!! So this was bound to happen based on the distribution, but Darkness Revolution, the mean, cheating, gothy heel squad, are facing each other. CHIAKI is the Dark Wolf and is a short-haired, punky, brawling, chair-slinging semi-credible tag-level person, while the winless Rea is a rookie and more in the evil Victorian doll presentation, who also rocks a Death Note where she sketches her opponents before she fights (okay jobs to) them. She’s had some success just grabbing peoples legs and trying to take out the ankle, and while she hasn’t WON she’s been feisty. Both are hungry for a win and this will not be an honorable duel.

The Match: So we have English comms here and an interesting thing they bring up is that the little Death Note gimmick Rea does before the match has her actually call out what bodypart she’s going to try to target, with this time it being CHIAKI’s neck. Intriguing! We get a handshake offer from Seto, CHIAKI accepts (?!) and Rea goes for a full-nelson but CHIAKI slips out and we get some grappling on the mat but the bigger CHIAKI cranks in a headlock. International attempt but Rea tries an armdrag but CHIAKI sniffs it out (see cause she’s a wolf?) and stuffs it. CHIAKI keeps it slow and chokes Seto in the corner, tosses her to the other corner, and keeps the choking going. Shotgun dropkick and facewashes, but CHIAKI can’t complete the running boot as Rea gets the drop toehold on the ropes and we get a slugfest before CHIAKI goes to the hair again and drops a leg for 2. CHIAKI goes for the claw slam but Rea slips out and turns into a RNC but CHIAKI flips her over, Seto tries a dropkick, CHIAKI just shrugs it off and continues to maul Rea, and now Seto has had enough and goes to the hair and gets a flipping neckbreaker before cranking in a facelock that CHIAKI throws off. CHIAKI goes for a spear but Rea rolls with it and sets up a Guillotine with bodyscissors. CHIAKI breaks with an exploder attempt, but Seto turns that into a small package for 2. The Dark Wolf has decided enough is enough and pulls the ref into the way of a Seto charge, CHIAKI grabs her chair goes for a swing, Seto ducks and dropkicks it into her stablemates face, Rea gets a chairshot of her own to follow up and chokes CHIAKI on the ropes and just stomps her down. Rea sets up something and charges into CHIAKI’s scoop powerslam for 2. Corner cannonball set up a torture rack facebuster but isn’t satisfied and goes for something else and Rea gets a flash rollup for 2. They trade a few more until Rea gets a double-chickenwing bridge for 3 (!!!)

**½

Nice story as Rea is more tactical than people expect but CHIAKI is a force of nature. Overall the whole “Rea calls for the neck and works it” didn’t end up being sold by CHIAKI all that much, but the arrogant stable boss getting increasing cruel only for it to cost her is nice. Seto needs more stuff to do in a ring, CHIAKI needs to sell more, but I like both of their upside here.

Misa Matsui [6] vs. Kizuna Tanaka [0] – Star League

Background: So Misa is another member of Darkness Revolution and the speedster of the group, she’s technically in the lead in Star League. Kizuna is a rookie doing a pretty generic princess rookie deal and is winless.

The Match: Both dance around a little bit, before they trade headlocks and armdrags. Finally Kizuna gets sent into the corner and then Misa gets a stomp across it, low crossbody against the ropes. Neck-wrench with Misa’s feet and then a chinlock. Tanaka breaks but is pretty worn out. Matsui just stomps and uses the ropes as she’s very methodical and heelish here. Kizuna gets a flying clothesline and a twisting fisherman’s suplex for 2 before going up…and Misa just tossing her off the top and kicking her down. They brawl but Kizuna evades a Misa brainbuster attempt and goes to the arm with a Fujiwara before Matsui breaks. Kizuna up again with a missile dropkick. Misa gets a really awkward reversal out of a whip into a trip (but Kizuna is like 5 feet from the apron so Misa just drags her outside). Once ringside Matsui tosses Tanaka into the chairs and then she builds a pile. Misa tries a brainbuster but Kizuna reverses into a Fisherman’s onto the pile. Back inside and another Fisherman’s gets 2.7, but Kizuna keeps at it. Misa gets a flying knee, a superkick, and another flying knee though. MIsa goes for a diving stomp but misses, Kizuna cradle for 2, Misa with her own for 2, they trade kicks and then Kizuna gets a flying armbar into a cradle for 3.

**

Well Kizuna at least looked a bit more competent here. Misa seemed a bit less energetic as she just did heel vet stuff and stomped on her. Also, two upset losses back to back? Pace your stuff better Rossy.

Nagisa Nozaki [6] vs. Chika Goto [2] – Star League

Background: Another Darkness Revolution match as the kicking veteran Nagias faces tall and not-as-strong as she’s supposed to be Chika Goto. Chika has the short hair and scant gear while Nagisa has the dark braids and multi-coloured gear.

The Match: Hot start as Chika jumps Nagisa before the bell but Nagisa shrugs it off (shocking…) and just boots Chika town and chops her in the corner. Goto with a defiant roar but Nozaki just chops…well okay smacks, at her. Brainbuster for 2 and a sleeper attempt but Goto tries to sleep out so Nagisa STOs her and goes back to the sleeper. Goto breaks on the ropes so Nagisa facewashes her and then does the whacky windup kick on the apron for 2. Nagisa just toys with her and slaps her around and Goto fires some forearms…and then Nagisa drops Goto with a punch. Goto with a shoulder and then a hip check on the ropes, a boot on the apron, and then a lariat for 2 as Chika is exploding. Goto calls for the swing but Nagisa gets a victory roll for 2 and then a figure-four necklock. Goto breaks, but Nozaki gets another windup kick and a missile dropkick. Nagisa goes up again and Goto finally manages to boot her off to the outside. Chika tries something but CHIAKI runs in to attack Goto and whip her into the chairs. Goto finally shrugs off CHIAKI and stops Nagisa from going back to the ring, so Darkness Revolution set up a double-team but it ends with Nagisa accidentally booting CHIAKI. And Goto gets a giant swing on the outside and it’s a double count-out.

*½

Well, that finish is exceedingly stupid, but Goto getting so irate she got obsessed with the swing and not winning the match is…whatever. Overall I think Nozaki is absurdly, ridiculously selfish in the ring and Chika has some charisma but can’t actually do anything.

Maria [2] vs. Victoria Yuzuki [6] – Dream League

Background: Maria is from Marvelous and has a sort of chola look with dyed hair and baggy pants, she’s a heel and cheats but is a bit more of a stalling, calculating mind-screwy heel than Darkness Revolution. Yuzuki is the big prospect with the feathery jacket and blonde hair and the high-flying athletic moves, homegrown babyface Yuzuki versus clever heel Maria.

The Match: Victoria immediately goes for a superkick but Maria catches it for almost an anklelock before Yuzuki slips through and gets a headlock. International into a cruiser-sequence with armdrags and evasions and Maria finally gets a dropkick. Maria misses a kick though and gets tossed down and eats a low dropkick against the ropes. Very go-go-go so far. We’re outside and Maria reverses a whip to send Yuzuki into the chairs and we get some chairs dropped on Victoria. Maria with a bodyslam but Victoria counters into her own and then gets a plancha. Back inside for the both of them and Yuzuki busts something over Maria’s head and keeps it aggressive with more stomps to the outsider. Yuzuki goes for something but Maria gets an Octopus hold. Yuzuki tries walking to the ropes but she collapses but twists to get a foot on the rope. Now Maria gets some facewashes and a running boot, slingshot stomp, and then another kick but Yuzuki catches it and tries to get something going with speed but Maria snatches her and gets a fireman’s carry dropped into a punt to the gut that sounded better on paper than in reality. Anyway, 2 count and Maria goes for another scoop slam but Yuzuki slips out and tries her bridging back suplex, Maria elbows free and they trade rollups and Maria sits on the Rolling Arrow for 2.9. Maria runs into a superkick though and then the back suplex by Victoria gets 1. Maria running kick but they trade rollups for a stalemate. Yuzuki turns a charge into a really sloppy blue thunder bomb and then gets an even sloppier running corkscrew SSP for 3.

**½

Ooof that ending sequence was rough. Maria ALMOST being savvy enough to throw the more talented Yuzuki off her game was a good angle, but then it just became time to end and Yuzuki hit all her stuff (super sloppily) and won. I still have yet to fully get Victoria, she’s certainly athletic and talented, but it feels like tell not show with her with the push. Meanwhile Maria is a delight, even with all the Darkness Revolution cheating feeling generic and stale, she finds ways to be a dirtbag entertaining and unique. Yuzuki needs to tighten up her work if she’s gonna be a movez worker though.

Kouki Amarei [4] vs. Seri Yamaoka [4] – Dream League

Background: Two opposites in many ways with a lot in common. Both are sorta presented as rising babyfaces stars that have a lot of glamor and sparkle to their presentation. Kouki is the vet in terms of wrestling, but was a model before wrestling and doesn’t have the same athletic background as amateur wrestler standout Seri Yamaoka. Kouki also is more of a hybrid wrestler with some high-flying, power, and acrobatic moves between her traditional height based boots, while Seri wrestles like a singlet-clad menace, staying on the mat and focusing on holds, suplexes, and pinning combos. Seri has the raver cowgirl look she inherited from Nanae while Kouki has the purple and white getup.

The Match: Both start by trading wristlocks to a stalemate. Seri ducks a boot and gets an ankle pick and cranks in with a cross kneebar before Kouki crawls to the ropes for the break and Seri uses that to snap Kouki’s leg on the rope. Amarei fires up and boots Yamaoka around a number of times (seriously it’s just three big boots in a row) and then gets a bodyslam and another before going for a crab that has Seri quickly reaching the ropes and Kouki gets another boot against the ropes. Camel clutch by Kouki as Seri stretches for the ropes and finally crawls free. Seri throws some forearms to initiate a slugfest before Kouki gets a charge…into Seri’s dropkick, double-leg slam by Seri into a few turnbuckles but Kouki kicks free and then gets a scoop powerslam out of a charging Yamaoka and then a standing crab. Seri finally makes the ropes but Kouki drags her to the middle to set up a dominator…but we get an Air Raid Crash for multiple covers! Seri climbs (gingerly) to the top and Kouki cuts her off as they duke it out on the top rope. Seri gets space with a double axehandle, but can’t take advantage so Kouki gets a running boot to knock her off the top. They fight on the outside with Kouki booting Yamaoka down, but a second charge has Seri hotshotting her on the apron and then going back inside for a 2 count. Seri charges…and guess what, Kouki gets a boot! Kouki tries her high-crotch back suplex, Seri slips out and tries a German, bout Kouki gets the cutter…before Seri pops up with the German, and then Kouki pops up with a dropkick and then a Dominator. Amarei now goes up with the Amethyst Butterfly but it whiffs and that sets up Seri’s spear and then a Karelin lift suplex for 2. Northern Light’s suples for 2 follows and Seri keeps at it with another German before Kouki elbows free and gets a boot and then a spinebuster for 2. Kouki now lands her high-crotch back-drop suplex for 2.8 and goes up AGAIN for the Butterfly (with her knee almost landing on Seri’s face, yeesh) and that gets 3.

**¾

So I don’t hate the “Kouki just kicks people with a big boot” thing as much as I thought I would cause well, it kept working. I like the idea that a person having an advantage, repeatedly using it, and the opponent couldn’t counter it so they just kept using it. Seri was her usual very good self, she was feisty on offense, sympathetic on defense, and the match made sense as a smaller wrestler kept on getting stymied by somebody taller and more comfortable on the top rope. That said, Kouki does need to tighten up her offense.

Miku Aono [1] vs. Chanyota [4] – Star League

Background: Miku is the solid hand steady versatile vet of Marigold, she does some kicks, has a bit complicated finish, can do some submissions, she has a regular, conservative red and white getup and straight black hair, she’s had some title success and is just a metronome of steady consistency. Chanyota has a lot of pre-wrestling fame but is now committed as a big, jacked up ex-fitness model that is going to clobber people with her strength and size and also she was a cop! She’s in a shockingly plain shiny purple deal. Despite the difference in points, Miku has just had only two matches, so she’s on catchup time. Anyway, match is gonna be Miku’s technique versus Chanyota’s power.

The Match: Big lockup to start that Chanyota loses (???) and Miku gets a headlock out of and then we get an international with them…stalemating on the shoulderblocks (okay is Chanyota supposed to be strong?) and as I say that Chanyota win a rebound shoulder battle. Miku fires off a kick to the legs and then a corner dropkick before landing a hesitation dropkick into the corner and more kicks. Chanyota dodges a kick though and gets a flying shoulder and then snatches a charge into a double-leg into the corner and then some shoulder thrusts. Chanyota tries for a torture rack but Miku slips out and we get them trading clotheslines before Chanyota slips out and gets a running lariat. Now we get a Chanyota torture rack into a drop for 2.5. Now Chanyota tries a charge that Miku twists into a short-arm lariat for 2 and then a missile dropkick and a sliding lariat and then a double-arm suplex. Buzzsaw kick gets caught into Chanyota’s kneecrusher and then her own sliding lariat and then a reverse figure-four (paying tribute to Nagata in the process). Aono makes the ropes but eats a pair of lariats from Chanyota for 2.9. MIku slips out of a brainbuster and gets a Saito suplex…but runs into Chanyota’s lariat, shrugs it off and gets a buzzsaw kick. Miku then gets a Styles Clash and that’s 3.

**

Okay, so the work wasn’t bad…but they felt like they were wrestling past each other. Chanyota eventually hit her sorta bouncy power-brawler stuff, but none of the early beats set that up at all. They just traded offense and then eventually Miku won. Both of their offense was fine, but it wasn’t really a match, still, they worked hard, it was fine.

MIRAI [3] vs. Mai Sakurai [6] – Star League

Background: Very different workers with a ton of history together. MIRAI started in TJPW and is a technically sound power-brawler that has innovative offense and broke into prominence as a member of Stardom’s DDM (during their biggest moment). Mai Sakurai was a model turned wrestler who floated around before breaking into prominence as a member of Stardom’s DDM. Both were members at the same time for a month before MIRAI broke free to follow a path of dorky babyface-dom, a hardworking, technically proficient contender whose gimmick is mostly based around how she dresses, she is the trainer for Marigold and has the future in her hands. Mai on the other hand has as much athleticism you can hold in a thimble, stayed with DDM until the end and then jumped to Marigold to follow Giulia, she is a loyal agent of a wrestler who no longer works for the company, who has managed to turn her meagre physical talent into a solid midcard presence as Her Ladyship, or The Lady of the Ring, a wrestler who puts on an exaggerated old-time accent and insults the locals for their poverty and talks up her own lavish existence. MIRAI makes it look easy, Mai makes it look hard, and the people love her all the more for it. Mai is the National champion, and MIRAI definitely wants the belt she’s yet to have. Commentary helpfully adds that they are former tag-champs together and also that Mai has never beaten MIRAI 1v1.

The Match: We get the main-event staredown and some standing grappling as they stand still. More counters and stare downs, but Mai goes for a boot that MIRAI blocks and then gets an ankle lock. Sakurai gets to the ropes and that leads to a brawl on the apron and MIRAI sets up a superplex, Mai tries to counter, MIRAI stuffs in and we get a missile dropkick from MIRAI. The Soul Child then starts working Mai’s knee with some fancy stuff and some basic stuff as commentary shouts out Yoshinari Ogawa of all people. MIRAI then gets a shoulder to establish the power dominance but Mai throws some desperate forearms…but MIRAI kicks Mai’s leg out of her leg and goes for a charge and the National champ gets her jump kick (ugly but her leg is busted) and then gets some running kicks and a pumphandle suplex for 2. Mai fights for, and lands, a brainbuster to follow but settles for 2. Skillsaw kick (cause it’s not a full buzzsaw!) and then a shining boot gets 2.7 for Sakurai and then the Lady of the Ring gets a snap suplex and her diving elbow drop…and Mai just wraps her up with a submission upon the landing. The Soul Child gets an ankle lock though and Sakurai gets the ropes, back to standing offense as they trade counters until MIRAI gets her Fireman’s carry drop…but she goes for a wheelbarrow throw and Mai rolls that into her STF. MIRAI finally makes the ropes but Mai sets up a suplex, MIRAI breaks free and Sakurai gets an elbow to the neck and then her STK, but MIRAI kicks out at 1 and gets her whacky roll-up (Happy Ride apparently?) for 2.8 and a flying lariat. Miramare Shock for 2.9 as it’s been all MIRAI now, a Rainmaker of all things gets 2.8. MIRAI goes up, Mai cuts her off, and uses a headbutt of all things and an Avalanche Glorious driver but can’t make the cover. To their knees as they duke it out until Mai gets a kick from her knees and unleashes a bunch of forearms as they call for 3 minutes left. MIRAI blocks another kick, unleashes a ferocious short-range lariat, but Sakurai pops up, German suplex, and a STF. MIRAI tries to roll but Mai keeps with her and gets a full over-rotated toehold sleeper and MIRAI fades, ref calls it.

***½

Well they didn’t really sell very much at all, but they had a ton of hot exchanges, fantastic energy and even though Mai is far from a clean or skilled worker, she has energy and fire and desperation. I’m waiting for her to turn back into a pumpkin but she’s been quite good for them. MIRAI remains a metronome performer, but as she lost commentary did put over how she’s missing something and that feels like a note from the office.

Mayu Iwatani [4] vs. Utami Hayashishita [8] – Dream League

Background: Mayu was the icon of Stardom and now the belt-hunter of Marigold. Utami was the super rookie of Stardom and now the ace of Marigold. Both faces, Mayu is more inclined to cheat and use the ropes and play the underdog, Utami is more honest, but more inclined to be a bully, physically dominant heel. Theyv’e wrestled plenty of times in the past, but this is the first time here.

The Match: We get the staredown into the main-event lockup, Utami wins and gives a reluctant break and we get an international with Utami wiping her out with a shoulder and then snatches a Mayu charge into a bodyslam. Utami gets a single-leg crab and keeps it on while Mayu squirms around and finally gets the ropes. Hayashishita keeps the bully stuff up with some walk and stomp but Iwatani gets a flash thrust kick to stagger Utami but she stays in control with a low dropkick. Utami with a corner charge that Mayu dodges, but when Iwatani goes to capitalize, the Red Queen gets another dropkick and lands her corner charge as commentary talks about how she is the Machine. Mayu finally gets a flying headscissors and a dropkick to get some momentum and she just boots Utami on the ground who is turtling. Running dropkick across the ropes and Utami spills outside. Mayu follows, but Utami was playing possum and slams Iwatani’s head on the apron and then gets a massive belly to belly onto the padding. Back inside and they slug it out but Utami drops Mayu with a sliding lariat for 2. German attempt that Mayu tries to victory roll out of it, but Utami is just too strong she holds firm, and then deadlifts Mayu for a massive German (that Iwatani sells wonderfully with her facial expressions). Mayu rope-a-dopes Utami into a rebound German, Hayashishita pops up, but Mayu drops her again with a Dragon suplex. Iwatani goes for a kick but the Red Queen snatches her up for a massive powerbomb and we have a double-down. Both reach their feet and Utami unleases a brutal elbow smash and a running lariat that we get a full Jannetty bump off of. Utami with the choke sleeper and then a hiptoss to send Iwatani to the ground…but Mayu gets a foot on the ropes. Rack bomb by Utami gets 2.8. Utami with a BT Bomb but Mayu slips out and goes for her springboard reverse poison rana…and Hayashishita cuts it off and lands a top-rope Air Raid Crash, BT Bomb attempted again but Mayu gets a rana for 2 and then a crucifix driver for 2.7. Buzzsaw kick, low thrust kick, and another buzzsaw kick sets up a moonsault by Mayu for 2.99. Iwatani goes for the diving Posion Rana again but Utami catches her and gets Mayu’s wheelbarrow dragon suplex for 2.9999, insanely close nearfall there. Utami just javelins Mayu face-first into the turnbuckle with snake eyes as they call for 30 seconds left. Utami can’t get a powerbomb, headbutt and now the BT Bomb lands as time expires.

****

ROSSY!!!!! Okay, well-earned time limit draw as I get not wanting either of these to win yet. They mostly played the hits but kept a lot in their back pocket to use in the future. Feels almost like a compilation tape of their work but still, very, very fun and these two ladies are quite excellent.

We get some jabbering from both of them post-match and then they do the big singalong catchphrase with the crowd.

Well, sorry that took me so long but I was sick as a dog for a bit, but I’m on the mend and will be pumping this out!