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Post by AndrewGB79 on Jan 15, 2023 19:03:44 GMT -5
This slowly builds as if we are going to be getting something special. And then, out of nowhere, they just take it home. And with a rather odd finish. It ends a bit abruptly because this was a match with no predetermined outcome and the pin attempts are shoots. That's a stipulation AJW did at the time. That's interesting. Thanks for the explanation.
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Jan 22, 2023 2:12:16 GMT -5
Continuing with my journey through 80s AJW.
Devil Masami & Tarantula vs. Jumbo Hori & Yukari Ohmori (AJW, WWWA World Tag Titles, ⅔ Falls, 04/83)
Felt a bit like a pale retread of the Mimi Hagiwara & Jaguar Yokota vs. Devil Masami & Tarantula match.
***
Chigusa Nagayo vs. Mimi Hagiwara (AJW, All Pacific Title, 09/23/83)
This felt like less a match and more an angle.
As the girls mirror each other pretty much move for move.
And it wasn’t all that interesting.
Though maybe it would’ve been if you were watching the TV and familiar with the events leading up to it. **½
Jaguar Yokota & Lioness Asuka vs. Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (AJW, 06/84)
A really fun tag match.
Yokota and Asuka bring the workrate.
Dump and Crane bring the non-stop cheating.
And the contrast between the two works really well.
***½
Crush Gals vs. Devil Masami & Jaguar Yokota (AJW, 06/28/84)
Bit of a disappointment as it’s one of the more hyped matches of the era.
But it came off as just a bunch of stuff. And not all that high-end stuff either.
**½
Jaguar Yokota vs. Leilani Kai (AJW, 07/84) Didn’t expect much from this, but was pleasantly surprised.
It was a good match. And though Yokota delivered as expected, Kai more than upheld her end of things too.
As the heel who spent most of the match on top her offense was basic but varied. And she did a good job of keeping things interesting.
Though it’s hurt by a rather flat finish.
***¼
Crush Gals vs. Jumbo Hori & Yukari Ohmori (AJW, WWWA World Tag Titles, ⅔ Falls, 08/25/84)
The first match where I can clearly hear the Chi-Gu-Sa chants (to be fair Lioness also gets A-Su-Ka chants).
And while this was nothing special, it was loaded with good quality action and made for an entertaining watch.
***½
Crush Gals vs. Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (AJW, Tag League, 9/17/84) The versions I watched of this and the next match were hampered by American commentary dubbed over the original broadcast.
And while the commentators try, they don’t know anything, and I think they fail to call a single move in either match.
Plus the camera work for both matches was poor. It’s not been great for any of the AJW I’ve seen so far, but it was really bad here.
The wrestling is solid, but it ends up descending into chaos. With the highlight being Asuka beating the heel ref in the head first with a table and then a row of chairs.
***
Jaguar Yokota vs La Galactica (AJW, WWWA & UWA Title Unification Match, 9/17/84)
Again, this is hurt by the camera work and commentary.
Which is a pity as it’s a good match.
Galactica dominates, the action’s solid throughout, and then Yokota comes back with some good offense.
***½
Crush Gals vs. Jaguar Yokota & Devil Masami (AJW, Tag League Final, ⅔ Falls, 09/26/84)
This is a much better version of their June match.
It’s better structured with higher-end action.
Masami shows off a vertical suplex into a gorilla press. Yokota uses a jackhammer. And Chigusa delivers some great-looking bridging suplexes.
A lot of action, a lot of fun.
***¾
Crush Gals vs. Lola Gonzalez & La Galactica (AJW, 10/06/84)
I’ve only seen this match listed in a couple of places and both of those state La Tarantula’s tagging with Gonzalez. But she’s not, it’s La Galactica.
Which is a pity as this match deserves to be much better known.
It’s an epic, chaotic spectacle. And it’s the first AJW match I’ve seen which feels like a genuinely big match (for my journey through their 80s work).
The Crush Gals come to the ring in military gear and it lets you know they’re in for a war. As they’re not wrestling just their Mexican opponents. They also have to contend with Dump and co. looking to insert themselves into the match at every opportunity.
And it’s also helped by them taking things a little slower than usual. This gives everything more impact and makes it feel more important.
The in-ring action’s good, but what takes it to another level is Dump Matsumoto. She prowls ringside like a shark. The instant one of the Crush Gals gets too close she pounces. And she repeatedly stabs them in the head with a screwdriver.
By the end of the match, Chigusa’s bleeding, Asukau’s bandaged, and it makes for a great visual. On top of that, Gonzalez takes a variation of the Hamrick bump, the Mexicans show off a two-woman submission I can’t recall seeing before, and the “reserved” Japanese fans throw stuff into the ring.
I’m not sure this was a 5 star wrestling match. But it felt like a 5 star spectacle.
It was incredibly compelling from start to finish.
*****
Crush Gals vs Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (AJW, ⅔ Falls, 12/84)
I seem to have deleted my notes for this match. All I’ve got is a 4 star rating.
But I do remember the first fall was pretty crazy with the heels trying to use chains to attack the Crush Gals. Only to end up disarmed and on the receiving end of the violence.
And this was a great match. I’m warming up to the chaos Dump brings to wrestling.
****
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Post by lemming on Jan 22, 2023 6:39:26 GMT -5
Crush Gals vs. Lola Gonzalez & La Galactica (AJW, 10/06/84)
Is this online anywhere? I'm struggling to find it, but it sounds great.
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Post by kas on Jan 22, 2023 9:10:26 GMT -5
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Post by [Darren] on Jan 22, 2023 9:26:38 GMT -5
I had no 80s Joshi on my last ballot and now after watching this one I’m gonna have 7 that rank quite high.
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Post by kas on Jan 22, 2023 11:46:26 GMT -5
Same, I think I only had Dump/Omori on my ballot last time.
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Jan 23, 2023 2:29:54 GMT -5
I had no 80s Joshi on my last ballot and now after watching this one I’m gonna have 7 that rank quite high. I'm interested in how many I end up with. The match quality went up a step in the second half of 1984 and I'm expecting 1985 to be a great year.
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Post by [Darren] on Jan 23, 2023 8:16:27 GMT -5
I have only just kinda cherry picked. 85 and 86 is unbelievable.
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Post by lemming on Jan 23, 2023 13:41:05 GMT -5
I had no 80s Joshi on my last ballot and now after watching this one I’m gonna have 7 that rank quite high. Thank you very much! Match is great. Edit: meant to thank Kas for the link! But, err, thanks Darren too I guess.
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Post by mvz on Jan 24, 2023 4:38:14 GMT -5
I am thrilled that this match is getting so much love. Looking forward to seeing out the rest of this joshi journey.
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Jan 25, 2023 12:06:29 GMT -5
Took a quick break from AJW to have a look at the Briscoes.
Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (NWA Wildside, 06/29/02)
This is from early on in their careers and you can tell.
As while it’s loaded with impressively slick and fast technical work, it’s a bit too slick, a bit too fast. There’s not enough struggle or time spent working the holds. And the transitions are far too easy.
This gives it the feel of an exhibition more than a real match.
That said, considering they’re teenagers a year into their career, their promise is undeniable.
***
Samoa Joe vs. Jay Briscoe (ROH, ROH World Title, Steel Cage Match, 03/13/04)
I’m not a huge fan of cage matches, I’ve always thought they get in the way of the action.
But this uses the cage perfectly.
Essentially it becomes a prison for Jay where he can’t escape from Joe. And Joe takes full advantage.
It’s a simple match taken to the next level by Jay’s bumping and bleeding and Joe’s relentless violence.
And it made for a compelling watch.
****¼
Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (HCW, 07/26/05)
They hit each other with chairs.
Harder than can possibly be safe.
That’s pretty much the match.
***½
The Briscoes vs. Naruki Doi & SHINGO (ROH, ROH World Tag Team Titles, 03/03/07)
This started off a little bland.
But it soon picked up into an exciting, fast-paced, all-action match. The type of match that PWG would specialise in over the next decade.
If anything it goes a little too far and you’re left wondering what it’s going to take to put one of them away.
****¼
Jay Briscoe vs. Mark Briscoe (ROH, 03/04/07)
It’s great to see how much the brothers have grown since their 2002 match.
They take everything a little slower, work the holds more, and give the spots room to breathe. And it makes everything they do feel more important.
The match is a never-ending escalation of violence against each other. Only coming to an end when neither man can stand.
It’s a simple story, but it’s well told and benefits from plenty of hard-hitting action.
****¼
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Jan 31, 2023 15:02:18 GMT -5
Getting started with AJW's 1985.
Jaguar Yokota vs. La Galactica (AJW, 01/05/85)
This was similar to their previous match I saw.
Galactica dominates and does a good job on top.
But the transitions to Yokota’s offense were non-existent. She just goes on the attack regardless of what’s happening. And it didn’t really feel intense enough.
Though it still made for a fun watch.
***½
Jaguar Yokota vs. La Galactica (AJW, 02/27/1985)
A more intense version of the above match.
Yokota blades her arm and Galactica works it over, leading to some great visuals of the blood around her mouth.
But it felt a little repetitive. And once again, the transitions to Yokota’s offense were non-existent.
So on balance I rate it the same.
***½
Crush Gals vs. Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (AJW, WWWA Tag Team Titles, ⅔ Falls, 04/02/85)
This had a much bigger match feel than their previous encounters.
And it’s also a much more wrestling-focused match than you might expect from Dump and Crane. Of course, they still cheat and things still break down into chaos.
But it felt toned down here and the heels impress with their in-ring work.
And it tells a good story of the Crush Gals trying to overcome the odds that are stacked against them. When they win a fall it feels like a real victory for them as they’re not just fighting Dump and Crane, they’ve got the whole of the Atrocious Alliance (or is it the Super Bads?) to deal with. Which gives the match a tense feeling.
The only big negative here is the lack of a proper finish.
A pity, but everything else was great.
****½
Jumbo Hori vs. Yukari Ohmori (AJW, Fuji Cup League, 04/02/85 )
The battle of the Dynamite Girls!
For tag team partners these go hard at each.
Hori in particular. She viciously and relentlessly targets Ohmori’s injured knee.
And it makes for a very good little match.
***¾
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Feb 2, 2023 15:04:26 GMT -5
More Briscoes.
The Briscoes vs. Motor City Machine Guns (ROH, ROH World Tag Team Titles, 04/28/07)
The opening promises a classic.
It starts with the typical junior technical work, but it’s grittier and far less cooperative than usual.
Though the body of the match lets it down as it’s almost the complete opposite. The action’s great, but it felt too clinical and sterile to be a classic. And thankfully it picks up for a big finish.
All-action match that just needed to be a little rougher.
****
The Briscoes vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (ROH, Non-Sanctioned Boston Street Fight, 08/10/07)
I’m not a fan of brawls. They tend to lack the intensity I want from them.
But not here.
This is intense, violent, non-stop action. It feels like a real fight. And it made for incredibly compelling viewing. You can’t take your eyes off the screen or you’ll miss the next crazy thing they’re going to do to each other.
I enjoyed every second of this. Now I need to seek out more high-end brawls.
*****
The Briscoes vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (ROH, ROH World Tag Team Titles, ⅔ Falls, 08/25/07)
More excellent action.
Doesn’t match the intensity of the street fight, but the work’s great and the structure’s surprising.
These two teams just seem to gel.
****½
The Briscoes vs. El Generico & Kevin Steen (ROH, ROH World Tag Team Titles, Ladder War, 09/15/07)
Again, there’s plenty of quality action here.
But I think the ladders detract rather than add to the match. As, especially in the second half, they become the focus. And they’re not used all that interestingly and the setting up of some of the spots slows things down.
Still a great match, but I don’t think they made the most of the gimmick.
****¼
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Feb 13, 2023 19:14:48 GMT -5
Continuing with the 80s AJW:
Crush Gals vs. Dump Matsumoto & Crane Yu (AJW, WWWA Tag Team Titles, ⅔ Falls, 02/25/85)
I messed up and watched this after their April rematch.
And sadly it’s not on the same level. It didn’t feel as epic or intense.
But there’s still plenty of good stuff here. From surprisingly solid matwork to Dump going crazy with a pair of scissors.
***½
Chigusa Nagayo vs. Dump Matsumoto (AJW, 04/03/85)
Watching this I really got the feeling it was a battle of good against evil. A cartoonish battle, but a battle nonetheless.
And this wasn’t as violent or chaotic as I was expecting. But the work was better than I was expecting. And interestingly the only person who bleeds in this one is the ref.
I assume they deliberately turned things down a notch here to build for their bigger matches later in the year.
Though it still made for a great watch.
****
Chigusa Nagayo & Noriyo Tateno vs. Dump Matsumoto & Bull Nakano (AJW, ⅔ Falls, 04/06/85)
Crane’s out, Bull’s in.
And Chigusa’s also got a different partner for this match with Noriyo Tateno from the Jumping Bomb Angels replacing Lioness. Though the crowd is still firmly behind them, with the No-Ri-Yo chants every bit as loud as the Chi-Gu-Sa chants.
This isn’t as chaotic as Dump’s wars with the Crush Gals, but it’s still plenty of fun. The work between Noriyo and Dump is great as Dump comes off looking like a monster as she shrugs off Noriyo’s offense. And, shockingly, every fall has a clean finish!
Fun match that benefits from Noriyo giving it a different dynamic. ***½
Chigusa Nagayo vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW, 04/07/85)
It’s joshi meets UWF!
The Crush Gals take it to the mat, mixing it up with the occasional flurry of strikes.
They don’t hold anything back, repeatedly and viciously kicking each other when they’re down. And it has a real sense of struggle to it, similar to the Inoki vs. Fujinami bouts. Though not quite at that level.
Not what I was expecting. But I still had a great time with it.
****¼
Jaguar Yokota vs. Pantera Surena (UWA, WWWA World Title, ⅔ Falls, 05/12/85)
This seemed like it was going to be a classic.
It’s at a packed arena in Mexico. The Crush Gals are in the front row (with Chigusa’s face looking freshly marked up). Yokota comes out with Gran Hamada. Surena (the unmasked La Galactica) comes out with a luchador I don’t recognise but who has some amazing purple and pink gear.
And they start with some back-and-forth matwork, like they’re feeling each other out.
But the match doesn’t move on from there.
It’s technically sound, but comes off as far too casual with no sense of urgency or desire to win. And by the third fall my interest is waning. Though they do pick things up a bit for the finish.
Good work, but felt flat.
***
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Post by AndrewGB79 on Feb 15, 2023 2:37:46 GMT -5
Just a quick update today:
Dump Matsumoto vs. Chigusa Nagayo (AJW, Grand Prix Semi-Final, 6/25/1985)
Pretty much what you expect from these two.
Dump cheats almost non-stop. And Condor Saito and Bull Nakano interfere on her behalf whenever possible. Chigusa tries to valiantly fight back. But the odds are stacked against her. And her seconds are worse than useless. It makes for compelling viewing to see if Chigusa can overcome the stacked deck.
Though I’m not sure what the finish was. It seemed like a time-limit draw, but then Dump advanced to the Grand Prix final.
****
Dump Matsumoto vs. Lioness Asuka (AJW, Grand Prix Final, 6/25/1985)
This carries straight on from the above match.
Chigusa’s head is bandaged, but Dump doesn’t even wipe the blood from her face.
And again, it’s what you expect. The wrestling, especially the finishing stretch, is a little better than the previous bout. But this matchup doesn’t have the same feel. Chigusa’s far more effective as a sympathetic babyface than Lioness.
***½
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