Joshi stuff

[Guest DragonflyKid]

Reply, make up your own questions, critcize me, etc.

 

 

1. FAVORITE WRESTLERS?

 

-Akira Hokuto –Hokuto had an aura no other wrestler I’ve seen has, her presence stood out in an era of great wrestlers. I was often mesmerized by her in many ways. Her mic work conveyed what it needed even to someone who doesn’t speak Japanese, her ring work was great in every aspect, she had a great moveset and her character and charisma was unparalleled. Her peak was as good as anybody’s even though it was cut short, but what cut short her peak also defined her and cemented her legend. Few wrestlers if any have displayed as much heart and determination as she did.

 

-Manami Toyota –She was my favorite for a while; her’s, Hokuto’s and Kong’s spots are almost interchangeable depending on who’s great performance I’ve witnessed last. She defines excitement, her matches are virtually non-stop action. Her ability to take bumps and submissions were world-class, her interaction with the audience further enhances her style. Her selling flaws annoy me at times but are almost always forgotten to a degree once she goes into overdrive. She's had countless great performances and memorable matches and is incredibly still going strong today.

 

-Aja Kong -Once she perfected her role she became the greatest monster ever. She was able to dish out punishment but also able to walk the fine line of looking invincible at times but also giving her opponent offense while bumping great for a woman her size. She worked smart, was able to sell great and worked well with a wide variety of opponents.

 

-Mayumi Ozaki –Despite her diminutive size she carried herself like bully. She had the facial expressions and body language to engage the audience and the smart work to put on great performances. She had the heart and the sadistic quality you can’t help but like. I don’t like D-Fix but that doesn’t deter me from loving her prior work.

 

-Momoe Nakanishi – Momo has a place in my heart, she’s an amazing athlete and a natural at conveying a range of emotion. Similar to Ozaki regarding their size, tenacity and the ability to deliver depth with their charisma. Ozaki may have been the smarter worker but Momo is an awe-inspiring body of energy. A phenomenal bumper who makes her opponents look great and she is able to convey her underdog role through emotion which sets her apart from others who just get thrown around. Her moveset isn’t as credible as other greats but she does well with what she has, she’s small and doesn’t have an array of strikes or power moves but the moves she does have work within her role. Her singles matches with Ito have been great but aside from that it’s a shame she doesn’t have the opportunity to wrestle more great wrestlers. The Golden Age produced great match-ups which usually delivered great matches. Momoe doesn’t have the wide array of talented opponents to continuously put on great matches which she’s capable of doing.

 

-Dynamite Kansai –I still have to get more JWP but I have loved what Kansai has done outside of her more recent work. Along with Yamada and to a lesser extent Hotta I love kickers, especially when they make Kawada’s kicks look tame in comparison.

 

Meiko Satomura –Like Momoe a natural both physically and emotionally. Able to pull off complex moves crisply and with intensity.

 

2. FAVORITE MATCHES?

 

-11/26/92 Toyota/Yamada VS Ozaki/Kansai –Had the workrate and intensity that sets it apart from any other match.

 

-3/27/94 Hokuto/Kandori VS Kong/Nakano –The first time I watched this was probably my greatest match-watching experience. I got it off a comp and didn’t research it so I didn’t know how it ended or that it was even considered to be great. I remember being enthralled from the offset by the Hokuto/Kandori hatred, the work that follwed was great but the story within that was even better.

 

-4/2/93 Hokuto VS Kandori –I don’t have to say much about this match because it’s all been said before. I don’t like it as much as others but still consider it a classic. The first tape I ever got was Dreamslam and this match was probably my third favorite on the card after my initial viewing. I thought it was over-hyped when talked about being the greatest match ever, after going back and watching the rest of the feud and getting familiar with the back story I was able to understand and appreciate the psychology. After rewatching it numerous times now I can say it is one of my favorites.

 

3. FAVORITE CAGE MATCH?

 

Three matches come into consideration that I have seen:

 

-11/14/90 Kong VS Nakano –I only brought this up as others seem to think this was great, I didn’t like this match all that much and enjoyed some of their other singles matches more. There was too much weapon use for my tastes use which I rarely enjoy.

 

-9/21/97 Watanabe/Ito VS LCO–This told a great story and I’d put it as my second favorite cage match slightly behind 11/00. Watanabe pulled off a great performance as did the others as well in a match that played off LCO reign of terror which I have to see more of.

 

-11/23/00 Nakanishi/Takahashi/Ito VS LCO/Maekawa –A Brutal, heated match where everyone again played their roles flawlessly. Takahashi had to get out first because she would have gotten killed otherwise, sacrifices were made so teammates could be saved from getting beat up further. A lot of action and drama sustained throughout and of course multiple diving Footstomps from the top of the cage courtesy of Ito.

 

 

4. FAVORITE 60 MINUTE MATCH?

 

-7/31/93 Thunderqueen –This slightly wins over Toyota/K. Inoue 5/95 but both were great. The first rollup pin made all subsequent pinning combinations credible so even the seemingly non-threatening pinning situations were heated. The wrestlers who I wouldn’t normally consider great did a great job and the great wrestlers didn’t disappoint. Both teams fought to preserve the honor of their respective promotions and in the process delivered drama throughout a match that would not end for an hour.

 

-I usually have trouble getting into draws when I know how they end but Toyota/K. Inoue 5/6/95 provided so much action that it didn’t matter. Not a deep story but the kind of action I'm fond of with lots of great work and spots that were worked towards. Toyota’s selling bugged me a bit, Kyoko sold her back throughout but all her early work trying to clip Toyota’s wings and target her(Toyota’s) back was negated by a lack of long term selling. If Toyota could find more of a middle ground concerning her selling and big runs then it would get over a story of her taking risks despite being hurt because she’s hoping the damage she inflicts is greater than the damage she incurs. Just completely ignoring prior work takes away from a story that could easily have been told without compromising what makes her so great and her matches so exciting.

 

-Nakanishi/Maekawa 10/24/01 had some great work but they also had that great work without going a lot longer than they should have in previous matches. About half way through all the drama went out of the match for me. The match got much too repetitive which the Toyota/Inoue match didn’t suffer from at all because of their expansive movesets and creativity.

 

5. GREATEST EXPERIENCE?

 

Getting to watch Hokuto develop into the Dangerous Queen was and continues to be a great experience. I was able to appreciate her talent from the matches I was viewing but after watching Akira Hokuto: Dangerous Queen Story and more of her ‘91/’92 work I was able to see her on another level. When rewatching certain Hokuto matches I am able to see deeper stories than I did previously. From seeing her as a soft spoken wrestler who had talent but was rather non-descript in appearance to a menacing wrestler who made all take notice with her attitude and superiority yet captivated all with her vulnerability. I think it was the 1/4/91 Hokuto/Minami VS Toyota/Mita w/Yamada that her new attitude was apparent, I want to get more of her development in the future as I still feel I'm missing out.

 

6. DREAM MATCHES?

 

(All-time)Kandori vs. Kong around ’93, their interaction in the 4/11/93 Hokuto/Kong VS Sawai/Kandori match was a blast and I would loved to have seen a singles match around that time period between the two.

 

(Current)Nakanishi vs. either Nagashima or Satomura. Satomura and Nakanishi both have that natural greatness and luckily they have followed up on their potential so far but I think Nagashima and Nakanishi would have more chemistry.

 

7. GUILTY PLEASURE?

 

I admit to liking rookie matches, they may be basic and repetitive but I like the exhibition feel to them as long as they’re not filled with blown spots.

 

8. MOST APPEALING?

 

-Toyota -I've always though of her as the most beautiful wrestler, even though she's aged and gained weight she still looks great.

 

-(Older)Shimoda -The sexiest wrestler ever.

 

-Bison Kimura -After watching some more '92 stuff I'm convinced she had one of the most alluring looks ever.

 

-Momo -Has one of those personalities that is contagious, I remember watching her and Takahashi embrace after defeating LCO and they both had the most genuine smiles on their faces which was wonderful to see after a grueling match.

 

Fukawa -Haven't seen much of her but she looked fantastic in ARSION's Carnival '99.

 

 

1. FAVORITE WRESTLERS?

2. FAVORITE MATCHES?

3. FAVORITE CAGE MATCH?

4. FAVORITE 60 MINUTE MATCH?

5. GREATEST EXPERIENCE?

6. DREAM MATCHES? (All-time) (Current)

7. GUILTY PLEASURE?

8. MOST APPEALING?

 

 

 

While I'm C&Ping I might as well include my what I'd call a good intro to Joshi puroresu although not entirely adequate as I still have stuff to get.

 

I'd start with Akira Hokuto: Dangerous Queen Story. It chronicles her early years, you get a great sense of what she's about and get to see part of her development into the Dangerous Queen which is a great experience.

 

6/21/92 AJW Grand Prix/92 part 1 -This features a great Yamada/Toyota match. Some good undercard stuff but getting just the Toyota/Yamada match on a custom comp wouldn't be a bad idea.

 

8/15/92 AJW Mid Sumer Night Typhoon -The Nakano/Kong VS Hokuto/Yamada match is very good and plays into the Yamada/Toyota match that follows. The Toyota/Yamada hair vs. hair match is a classic when it comes to workrate and emotion.

 

11/26/92 AJW Dream Rush part 1 -Has a great Hokuto/K. Inoue match, this could be a good comp choice as long as the postmatch is included as it has relevance concerning the AJW and LLPW feud.

 

11/26/92 AJW Dream Rush part 2 -The Nakano/Kong match is good but the main event is one of the greatest matches ever. Toyota/Yamada(AJW) VS Ozaki/Kansai(JWP) should be an essential match in one's collection.

 

1/24/93 AJW: Zenjo VS LLPW part 2 -Only two matches but both are great and the LLPW/AJW six-woman match/postmatch is important concening the Hokuto/Kandori feud.

 

4/2/93 AJW Dreamslam part 2 and part 3 -Apart from the tag match involving Power and the kickboxing match everything is at least good. The Hokuto/Kandori match is of course classic but knowing their backstories helps you fully appreciate the psychology of the match.

 

4/1/93 AJW Dreamslam part 2 -Has a great Sawai/Kandori(LLPW) VS Hokuto/Kong(AJW) match thats's another vital part in the Kandori/Hokuto feud. The Yamada/Toyota VS Kansai/Ozaki is below their 11/92 match but not by much.

 

7/31/93 JWP Thunderqueen part 2 -The Hotta/Mariko match is hard to watch but the main event is a must see. Both teams try to defend the honor of their promotions and put on a classic.

 

11/20/94 AJW BEWU part 2 & 3 -I only have part three but have a few of the matches from part 4 off a comp. Great card with the V-Top tournament being the highlight.

 

12/6/93 AJW St. Batle Final part 2-The Hokuto/Kandori rematch is great and again tells a great story playing off their previous matches. Also had the third Toyota/Yamada VS Ozaki/Kansai match which although great was below their first two meetings.

 

4/27/94 AJW Queendom 2 -The Nakano/Kong VS Hokuto/Kandori match is my second favorite match is is the secondary climax in the Kandori/Hokuo feud.

 

6/27/95 AJW Best*One -The Kong/Toyota match is awesome, not far below their BEUW classic. Probably best gotten of a comp.

 

4/4/99 GAEA: Kong/Ozaki VS Satomura/Kato -Really good match that sets up the Kong/Satomura 9/15/99 singles match. The two have also had other very good matches but none as great as the Double Destiny '99 match.

 

There's so much more to pimp but going in chronological order starting with the great cards of the golden interpromotional era would be the best way to start.

[Guest wolverine]

1. FAVORITE WRESTLERS?

 

I wrote this about Hokuto elsewhere, but I may as well post it here too:

 

Akira Hokuto

 

Hokuto was the personification of somebody who loved their sport so much that they were willing to sacrifice their body at the expense of entertaining the fans. As a young wrestler in AJW under her real name of Hisako Uno, she broke her neck after taking a piledriver off the ropes in a tag match. For many, this would've been the end of a career. But in this case, we saw someone with an extraordinary amount of guts not only continue the match, but do so all while holding her neck in place with her hands. It is nearly impossible to fathom the kind of pain that she must have gone through, and it was evident from the stories that were told at the time, that being relegated to a hospital bed - away from the place that she most wanted to be - hurt perhaps just as much. But when she returned, under the new character of Akira Hokuto - taking the first name of the most popular wrestler in Japan at the time, Akira Maeda - Japanese women's wrestling would be in for an awakening the likes of which few could have ever imagined. She would go on to become the greatest female wrestler who ever lived, but the defining moment of her career took place on April 2, 1993 against LLPW's Shinobu Kandori. In many ways, this match exemplifies several themes of that career, and brings them all together for us to see at once. From the struggles against adversity; to the quest of being the absolute best that you can be. Her story is clear, and you can look no further than in the middle of that blood-soaked canvas to see what kind of legacy she left on that night.

 

Mariko Yoshida

 

It was about this time last year when I began to get interested in checking out Yoshida's work, because I had heard so much about what a technical marvel she was. I had already gone through the highspot style Joshi that you'd commonly see in Toyota's matches, so this was a pretty different experience to check out a promotion (ARSION) that had main events worked with many shootstyle elements. But once I saw the Yoshida/AKINO match from Stardom '99, I was hooked, largely because the work was so fluid in its attempt to mix credible matwork and submissions with the highspots. I love the spot where Yoshida slaps AKINO on the ground hard, then applies this killer cross armbreaker, with AKINO screaming like mad, while Yoshida has this sinister type grin on her face. And aside from her style, I totally dig her Spider Woman garb. Just badass.

 

2. FAVORITE MATCHES?

 

I've pimped my favorites enough on this board. The Usual Suspects from me (Aja/Toyota 11/94, Yoshida/AKINO 1/99, Ito/Momoe 9/01) as well as my two favorite Hokuto matches - which would be the Kandori 4/93 & the 3/94 tag with Kandori against Bull/Aja.

 

3. FAVORITE CAGE MATCH?

 

I still haven't seen Rage in the Cage. So the 11/00 match wins by default. I think it's a great match, with some awe inspiring spots, but it is a clusterfuck at times. The brawling style just isn't my cup of tea, I guess.

 

4. FAVORITE 60 MINUTE MATCH?

 

Thunderqueen in a walk. Nothing comes close.

 

5. GREATEST EXPERIENCE?

 

Watching Manami Toyota get her ass handed to her by Aja at BEU. I had never witnessed that type of brutality in a wrestling match before.

 

6. DREAM MATCHES? (All-time) (Current)

 

1993 Hokuto vs. 1999 Yoshida.

 

Currently, I wouldn't mind something with Momoe against the better gals in GAEA.

 

7. GUILTY PLEASURE?

 

I found KISS No Sekai entertaining when I first got into modern AJW stuff last year. But hearing that song over and over does get old fast.

 

8. MOST APPEALING?

 

Takako Inoue and Yoshida.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

1. FAVORITE WRESTLERS?

 

Aja Kong, Akira Hokuto. Enough has been said about these two already.

 

Toshiyo Yamada:

 

As far as longevity goes, she seems to have had a pretty short career peak, but what a peak. She was the perfect foil for Toyota, both in their world class tags together and their matches with each other, playing the older sister perfectly. She brought the intensity and offensive depth to make her a really engaging wrestler. On 8/15/92, she teamed with Hokuto vs. Aja/Bull in a sweet tag match with a great story (the "tag team partners who hate each other" angle actually added to the match and was done well) and then she went twenty minutes with Toyota to one of the best singles matches I've seen her in, with both of them throwing everything they had at each other to save their hair.

 

2. FAVORITE MATCHES?

 

Aside from the Toyota/Yamada 8/15/92 Hair vs. Hair, I'd have to point to Aja/Toyota from BEU, and Hokuto/Shimoda from 8/30/95. The latter may not have been the best match on the card that night (that would be Double Inoues vs. Hasegawa/Toyota) but it's certainly one of my favorites, if only because Hokuto and Shimoda are perfect as Grumpy Vet and Yong Punk, respectively. For being supposedly past her prime, Hokuto is still able to use her attitude to prove she belongs. Being able to look this dominant in semi-retirement tells me that she would have made a fantastic champion for AJW had she been given the chance.

 

3. FAVORITE CAGE MATCH?

 

Having never seen Bull/Hokuto or Bull/Aja in the cage, I've got to chose between the LCO cage matches, and my favorite is LCO vs. Ito/Watanabe 9/21/97, without a doubt. The outstanding performances by Watanabe and Shimoda put this above any garbage match I'll ever see, most likely. The way they put over the brutal punishment is just surreal, using great fascial expresions that stick with you after the match is over.

 

The "rematch" from 11/23/00 is a great progresion, but Nabe isn't in it, and Shimoda isn't on the major receiving end of the revenge, with Maekawa in that role instead. Nanae Takahashi had to replace Nabe as the "nice girl in over her head," and while she worked pretty well in the role, like Maekawa, she wasn't about to approach the level of greatness in the first encounter. They're both great matches, though.

 

4. FAVORITE 60 MINUTE MATCH?

 

Haven't seen any of the matches in question.

 

5. GREATEST EXPERIENCE?

 

The post-match stuff with Toyota/Yamada 8/92 (on top of the match itself) was really great to see. There was so much emotion, between Toyota crying her eyes out and Yamada trying to contain herself as her hair was cut. Quite a moving experience.

 

6. DREAM MATCHES? (All-time) (Current)

 

Mayumi Ozaki vs. Akira Hokuto, anytime durring the early to mid ninties. It's entirely possible that this match did happen, but if so, I've never heard of it.

 

7. GUILTY PLEASURE?

 

Kind of hinted at it earlier, but Toyota's cry baby routine works all too well on me. I can also attest to loving the hell out of Hokuto's "Oro de Ley" theme.

 

8. MOST APPEALING?

 

Takako Inoue, Manami Toyota, Mima Shimoda, and Mayumi Ozaki. There are others, too, but, er....

[Guest DragonflyKid]

6. DREAM MATCHES? (All-time) (Current)

 

Mayumi Ozaki vs. Akira Hokuto, anytime durring the early to mid ninties. It's entirely possible that this match did happen, but if so, I've never heard of it.

 

Their 11/18/93(JWP 11/27/93 airdate) match is on my wantlist as I hear it's really good. I read somewhere it's a real battle of bitchiness which should really compliment the great work they were capable of.

 

I still haven't seen Rage in the Cage. So the 11/00 match wins by default. I think it's a great match, with some awe inspiring spots, but it is a clusterfuck at times. The brawling style just isn't my cup of tea, I guess.

 

Rage in the Cage is definitely worth getting, the two matches prior to the main even are solid but the ME is a must-see. It was the first garbage match I really got into as I had been disappointed by acclaimed streetfights and cage matches before that.

 

The 11/00 match is a clusterfuck at first with the cameramen not being able to keep up with the action but it settles down once Momo and Nana escape. Once the work becomes focused it becomes really dramatic with some great work and Momo having to constantly climb back up the cage to keep her opponents from escaping.

[Guest RickyChosyu]

6. DREAM MATCHES? (All-time) (Current)

 

Mayumi Ozaki vs. Akira Hokuto, anytime durring the early to mid ninties. It's entirely possible that this match did happen, but if so, I've never heard of it.

 

Their 11/18/93(JWP 11/27/93 airdate) match is on my wantlist as I hear it's really good. I read somewhere it's a real battle of bitchiness which should really compliment the great work they were capable of.

 

I'll definitely add it to my want list, then. I haven't gotten around to any JWP stuff yet, but when I do, that's probably where I'm starting.

 

I still haven't seen Rage in the Cage. So the 11/00 match wins by default. I think it's a great match, with some awe inspiring spots, but it is a clusterfuck at times. The brawling style just isn't my cup of tea, I guess.

 

Rage in the Cage is definitely worth getting, the two matches prior to the main even are solid but the ME is a must-see.

 

I enjoyed Nakanishi/Maekawa vs. KAORU/Yamada, but I really didn't care for the Toyota/Hotta match all that much. That's the type of stuff from Toyota that really does remind me of Sabu, sadly enough.

 

It was the first garbage match I really got into as I had been disappointed by acclaimed streetfights and cage matches before that.

 

I rarely care for garbage matches, but Good LCO is about as high end as garbage gets.

 

The 11/00 match is a clusterfuck at first with the cameramen not being able to keep up with the action but it settles down once Momo and Nana escape. Once the work becomes focused it becomes really dramatic with some great work and Momo having to constantly climb back up the cage to keep her opponents from escaping.

 

Like I posted above, I thought it was the lesser match between the two, but still quite good.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

I enjoyed Nakanishi/Maekawa vs. KAORU/Yamada, but I really didn't care for the Toyota/Hotta match all that much. That's the type of stuff from Toyota that really does remind me of Sabu, sadly enough.

 

Both matches can be done without but as I said I think they were both solid(Around ***), the ME would probably be a good choice for a custom comp with the matches that lead up to it also being on the tape. Rage in the Cage wasn't a bad event as a whole but the ME is the only match that must be in one's collection.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

1

Edited May 23, 2003 by DragonflyKid

[Guest wolverine]

Ran YuYu vs. Misae Genki from 12/9/01 rocked hard. I was sitting there not really knowing what to expect, since I hadn't seen any modern JWP, well, at all (unless you consider that little tag on last year's Zenjo PPV). The atmosphere and production values blew, but it didn't really matter, because right off the bat Ran hit Genki with the STIFFEST fucking elbow I've seen in years, followed by a deke that almost had me falling off my chair because it was so awesome. Her moves and submissions are so crisply executed, plus she has this asskicking aura that it's just a blast to watch her work. Genki has improved a hell of a lot since I last saw her as well. Her chops are fantastic, with Ran's facial expressions after taking them being priceless. I would probably go ***3/4 on this - definitely worth tracking down.

 

I also recently saw the 12/13/92 Toyota/Yamada vs. Aja/Kyoko TLTB '92 Finals. Fantastic match and would certainly rank among the most underrated Joshi matches ever. I checked out Chris' review a while back, as well as read the praise he gave it elsewhere, and it most certainly didn't disappoint. Just a ton of fun, fast-paced, hard-hitting action, with Aja in particular working at the levels that we'd come to expect in the future. Probably ****1/4, and until I see RitC, my #5 Joshi tag. So there ya go. Just some random pimping....

[Guest Rob Edwards]

Nice review of the St Final match Dragonfly, I've finally got around to seeing the show and thought it ruled, I'd go ****1/2 - ****3/4 for the Hok/Kan match and I also thought the Ozaki/Kansai Vs Toyota/Yamada match rocked (although it was a step below the 2/3 falls efforts) those girls amaze me by being able to pull out a totally different storyline to each match whilst being able to fit nods to the DR and DS2 matches in there

[Guest DragonflyKid]

The 12/13/92 tag match is on my wish list although I'm in the process of relocating and won't be able to get tapes any time soon.

 

 

9. Momoe or Meiko?(Favorite, best, career impact)

 

Having seen a decent amount of both I can't really pick a favorite because both have so many qualities I love. Whereas Momoe is more exciting and unique Satomura is more complete which will enable her to wrestle matches with more variety. Meiko also has a better supporting cast which will further help her in the years to come. If they stay healthy I think both have the potential to be legends but when it's all said and done I think Meiko will leave a bigger impression and a greater body of work.

 

 

 

MY Top ten Joshi list since I never got around to putting it in the the pinned thread since it's so erratic due to the rewatching of certain matches:

 

1. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai Dreamrush

2. Hokuto/Kandori VS Kong/Nakano 3/27/94

3. Hokuto VS Kandori DS

4. Yamada VS Toyota 8/15/92

5. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai DS II

6. Thunder Queen 4 on 4 7/31/93

7. Toyota VS Kong BEWU

8. Toyota VS Kyoko Inoue 5/7/95

9. Hasegawa/Toyota VS Inoues 8/30/95

10. Kong VS Satomura 9/15/99

[Guest Coffin Surfer]

I really need to see more Joshi when I get some more money, but I am relieved that I have seen most of your top ten.

 

 

1. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai Dreamrush

-Probably my second fav. Joshi match that I've seen. Watching Oz and Kansai torture Toyota is always fun, the early Dragon Sleeper/Camel Clutch spot where Kansai punts Toyota's exposed throat comes to mind as one of the more disturbing things I've ever seen. Overall a very fun match with alot going on. I tend to find something new everytime I watch it.

 

2. Hokuto/Kandori VS Kong/Nakano 3/27/94

-Never seen it, though the thought of Hokuto and Kandori teaming together is very intriguing.

 

3. Hokuto VS Kandori DS

-From the first time I saw this match, it became my fav. of all time from any style. Than I read Chris' brilliant review, which only furthed my love for it. But the story is so excellently told in the ring, you don't even really need that much back story to apprecitate it. Hokuto did one of the best jobs I've ever seen of making her opponent look so dangerous and threatening, while Kandori was no slouch either that night. Unparralled story telling with great selling and wild action to match.

 

4. Yamada VS Toyota 8/15/92

-I don't care much for the filler stuff at the beginning, but it's defiently never boring. The post match stuff is pretty intense and dramatic which is what I think the match is most famous for. It's still damn good, though I actually prefer Hokuto/Toyota 8/21/93 over this.

 

5. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai DS II

-Yeah its obviously not as good as the first match. Still Kansai's punts are more vicious here than in the first match.

 

6. Thunder Queen 4 on 4 7/31/93

-yet to see it.

 

7. Toyota VS Kong BEWU

-Probably the best underdog/monster match of all time. From what I've seen, I actually feel this is Toyota's best performance. Aja of course is awesome as always, perfectly putting over Toyota's offense, while still making herself look strong. The 95 match is also pretty sweet, I particullarly like the smart use of the Sleeperhold in that one.

 

8. Toyota VS Kyoko Inoue 5/7/95

-haven't seen it.

 

9. Hasegawa/Toyota VS Inoues 8/30/95

-This match probably has the most near falls I've ever seen. One hell of a mararthon stretch run. Work rate intense to say the least.

 

10. Kong VS Satomura 9/15/99

-need to see as well.

[Guest wolverine]

"9. Momoe or Meiko?(Favorite, best, career impact)"

 

My favorite is Momoe (shocking, I know) but I'd agree that Satomura is a more well rounded worker. Momoe is so accessible because she's got charisma coming out of every pore, but she's still limited in a number of areas, including selling, pacing, and the relatively small moveset. These problems are somewhat covered up when she's in there with a fantastic worker like Kaoru Ito, who manages to reign her in like no other. The result was two awesome matches in 2001, but until Momoe improves these aspects of her game, it's hard for me to imagine her reaching those levels with anyone else. The Joshi landscape looks really bleak at this point, so as far as impact (if we're talking drawing money over the long haul) I see neither doing much of anything. The potential for success is definitely there, but they still need a strong batch of opponents to work with, and unfortunately, the talent pool has just about dried up.

 

"1. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai Dreamrush"

 

This match just completely blew me away the first time I saw it back in 2001. For sheer intensity, I don't think I've ever seen anything top it. Two magnificent performances, including one of the best I've ever seen by Mayumi Ozaki in her surly bitch role, opposite Toshiyo Yamada, whose pride would not take a back seat on this night. If this isn't the greatest match ever, it's about as close as you can get.

 

"2. Hokuto/Kandori VS Kong/Nakano 3/27/94"

 

I can't believe I waited so long to get this. In terms of storytelling, this is probably the best Joshi match I've seen. We have Partners Divided (Hokuto & Kandori) but they come together in a common quest for supremacy, which makes for such a rich theme. I thought Aja's work was just awesome here, as the brutality that she would normally unleash on her foes seemed to be turned up a few thousand notches. Hokuto's selling was world class as well. Bull's work left something to be desired, though, but it doesn't really have that much of an effect on me because of how brilliantly this match was played out. An absolute must-see.

 

"3. Hokuto VS Kandori DS"

 

The best Joshi singles match ever, as well as the greatest individual performance in history by Akira Hokuto. In a year filled with a myriad of great matches and transcendent performances, this one burns brightest, almost exactly 10 years later.

 

"4. Yamada VS Toyota 8/15/92"

 

This was the first Toyota singles match I ever saw. The execution problems were apparent, but what sets this apart from most everything is the blistering speed they work the match at, including one of the most awe inspiring stretch runs I've ever seen. They bust through their entire movesets, with one great suplex after another, mixed in with a few wild moonsaults by Toyota, amidst a frenzied Korakuen Hall crowd. The fact that their hair was at stake added to the drama, as the suspension of disbelief was ever apparent with the fans based on their reactions to what they saw.

 

"5. Toyota/Yamada VS Oz/Kansai DS II"

 

Never lived up to the hype for me, which isn't necessarily a huge knock, since their first match set new standards for the industry. Plenty of solid work from two great teams, but the magic simply wasn't there like it was the first time.

 

"6. Thunder Queen 4 on 4 7/31/93"

 

Best gimmick match I've ever seen, and maybe the best 60 minute match, too. You're kind of left breathless after all of that great work you see in this match over such a long stretch of time. Terrific booking.

 

"7. Toyota VS Kong BEWU"

 

Was my favorite Joshi singles match for a long time. But I've already talked about this plenty.

 

"8. Toyota VS Kyoko Inoue 5/7/95"

 

Wouldn't make my Top 20, much less Top 10. Too much goofing off and lack of selling by Toyota - very similar to a lot of Kobashi's crap that year. Showcasing your athleticism is fine and well, but wrestling is a performance and you've got to also be able to work smart, or it's all meaningless in the long run.

 

"9. Hasegawa/Toyota VS Inoues 8/30/95"

 

An awesome sprint, but a match that's fallen quite a bit since I first watched. That's probably because of my preference for matches that have something to latch onto easily, which I couldn't really get in this match. Aside from the workrate and spots (which lose their luster far quicker than matches that feature tons of depth) it doesn't draw me in as much as I'd like.

 

"10. Kong VS Satomura 9/15/99"

 

I love this match. Satomura takes such a frickin huge beating, but her comeback is so dynamic with her array of submissions and big moves such as the Death Valley Bomb, that the crowd just comes alive, pulling for an upset that wasn't to be.

[Guest DragonflyKid]

2. Hokuto/Kandori VS Kong/Nakano 3/27/94

-Never seen it, though the thought of Hokuto and Kandori teaming together is very intriguing.

 

Definitelya a match worth getting especially if familiar with the Hokuto/Kandori rivalry. Like their matches against one another this too told an incredible story.

 

 

4. Yamada VS Toyota 8/15/92

-I don't care much for the filler stuff at the beginning, but it's defiently never boring. The post match stuff is pretty intense and dramatic which is what I think the match is most famous for. It's still damn good, though I actually prefer Hokuto/Toyota 8/21/93 over this.

 

 

The sense of urgency in this match along with the great work makes it one of my favorites. The post match is memorable but the match itself was incredible on it's own. The outcome was a given which hurt the drama somewhat but Yamada's exhaustion from the previous tag match playing into Toyota being able to hit Suplex hold after Suplex hold for near-falls really added to the amount of drama that was still possible.

 

 

6. Thunder Queen 4 on 4 7/31/93

-yet to see it.

 

Definitely a match every Joshi fan must see.

 

7. Toyota VS Kong BEWU

-Probably the best underdog/monster match of all time. From what I've seen, I actually feel this is Toyota's best performance. Aja of course is awesome as always, perfectly putting over Toyota's offense, while still making herself look strong. The 95 match is also pretty sweet, I particullarly like the smart use of the Sleeperhold in that one.

 

Also great from the perspective of the physically dominant Kong knowing if she can keep Toyota from going on one of her runs she'll be successful. The battering and contorting of Toyota was effective for a while but Toyota did gain the momentum eventually putting Kong in a precarious position with a series of highspots. It didn't last long though before some exciting action that went back and forth with Aja reasserting herself.

 

8. Toyota VS Kyoko Inoue 5/7/95

-haven't seen it.

 

I love this match although other's didn't. The creativity and stamina they displayed was awe-inspiring. Don't know if it's the type of match that holds up after repeated viewings.

 

  9. Hasegawa/Toyota VS Inoues 8/30/95

-This match probably has the most near falls I've ever seen. One hell of a mararthon stretch run. Work rate intense to say the least.

 

I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys slow, methodical work with a low frequency of highspots and near-falls but a high concentration of rest holds and stalling.

 

10. Kong VS Satomura 9/15/99

-need to see as well.

 

It's a great stand alone match with the monster veteran VS the small, fiery youngster formula pulled off great. I'd recommend getting some GAEA TV especiially the 4/4/99 show which had a **** Satomura/Kato VS Kong/Oz match that set this up well. Gaea does do a good job anyway on the pre-match recapping but that particular match is worth getting on it's own merits.

 

 

Just some oher matches that missed my top 10 but are among my favorites:

 

Satomura VS Hokuto 4/29/01 -Again getting some GAEA TV before the match is recommended but not neccessry since they show a nice recap before the match which does an adequate job. Hokuto passes a torch, she wasn't in the position to pass the torch but the finish got over Satomura's heart and the fact Hokuto was indeed in the twilight of her career.

 

Hokuto/Toyota VS K. Inoue/Yamada 12/10/93- Both matches were great with the 2nd one being better. Hokuto was established as the woman even though this was nearly her retirement match. In the 2nd match Toyota the weak link of the team had to step it up when Inoue/Yamada targeted Hokuto's knee. The post-match was emotional as Toyota conveyed as much emotion here as she did after the hair vs. hair match w/Yamada.

 

Toyota VS Kong Best*One- Not far below their BEWU match, the work wasn't far off and it went 5 minutes or so longer.

 

Nakanishi VS Ito 7/8/01, 9/16/01 -Great companion matches with the latter being a bit better.

 

Yamada/Toyota VS LCO 1/24/94 -Great best 2 of 3 falls match with tons of action. If not in my top 20 then not far off.

 

Kong VS Kansai 11/20/94, 8/30/95 -I liked the second one slightly more although the BEWU is more acclaimed. The kick Kansai gave Aja in the 2nd match after the Scorpion Deathlock, STO and Camel Clutch series was as stiff a kick as I've seen in a wrestling match. Both matches were brutally stiff with an effective use of the standing 10 count that added to the drama.

[Guest wolverine]

"Satomura VS Hokuto 4/29/01"

 

Hokuto's last great performance. The opening exchange with Satomura's rapid fire kicks, followed by the slap of the millennium by Hokuto is something I'll never forget. Meiko's goofiness did bug me to a degree, but Hokuto was so on that night, it was overwhelming.

 

"Hokuto/Toyota VS K. Inoue/Yamada 12/10/93"

 

Haven't seen these yet, but I've been meaning to for quite some time. Hokuto and Toyota teaming is intriguing, as the match-up yields so many great interactions, including another installment of Toyota/Yamada.

 

"Toyota VS Kong Best*One"

 

Awesome match, which I got shortly after seeing their BEU classic. The build was on the deliberate side, but it worked because it was a great contrast to the breakneck paced stuff they did down the stretch. Easily Toyota's best singles match of 1995.

 

"Nakanishi VS Ito 7/8/01, 9/16/01"

 

Now you're cookin! The second is quite possibly my favorite Joshi match EVER. I just love the way these two work with each other, as I've documented in the past. Amazing stuff.

 

"Yamada/Toyota VS LCO 1/24/94"

 

I have this, but only watched it once, so I don't remember much about it. Kinda longish, but lots of fast paced action. Should rewatch it.

 

"Kong VS Kansai 11/20/94, 8/30/95"

 

I like the second quite a bit more. Better selling from both workers (especially Aja, whose selling of her arm - while lasting only a couple minutes - was brilliant and some of the best work of her career).

[Guest DragonflyKid]

n.

Edited May 23, 2003 by DragonflyKid