Mariko Yoshida held her latest Ibuki show on Dec. 17 at Shinjuku FACE. The most interesting match had Yoshida teaming up with the soon to retire Yuka Shiina against a schoolgirl tag team. Don't laugh. It got them media coverage in Japan. Also, Yoshida's amateur wrestler pal facing her top rookie. Unfortunately, the main event tag team match featured a couple of idol wrestlers who shouldn't be anywhere near main events. But this is what we're getting in the joshi business today. The show began with the announcement of a big Korakuen Hall show on May 5, 2007. That's a big deal for Yoshida. They're going to have to work hard to fill that place up.
The opener was Yoshida's pal Akiko Nacni against top rookie Hiroyo Matsumoto. Nacni is a champion amateur wrestler who now trains kids at Gold's Gym. Yoshida brings her in as a role model for her rookies and she seems to play heel very well. Matsumoto is already very good and she controls the early part of the match. She knocks Nacni down with a shoulder tackle and yells for her to get up. This pisses Nacni off and she proceeds to beat up Matsumoto and finishes her off with a tackle at 8:48. A wrestling lesson for Matsumoto. This is followed by grizzled veteran Toshie Uematsu against Mai Ichii. Ichii is a Gktn trainee now working for Kaoru Ito. She seems to be improving. Uematsu has always been a great heel and lets Ichii have her way at the start of the match. But the tide turns and after a guillotine leg drop, Uematsu gives her a face wash in the corner. A Dragon Suplex and Uematsu wins at 9:03.
Mariko Yoshida teamed with Yuka Shiina (pictured) against Ibuki trainee Nao Watanabe and Gktn trainee Blue. Both are 15 years old so they made a big deal about the schoolgirl tag team. Obviously they're in over their heads with the boss and Shiina. The end was never in doubt as Shiina used a jumping lariat and an STS to beat Blue at 9:55. I'm not crazy about the schoolgirl gimmick but it got them media coverage that Ibuki wouldn't have normally received. I guess that justifies it. Yoshida presented Shiina with a bouquet of flowers after the match as a salute. Shiina retires on New Year's Eve.
So with three matches under ten minutes, they need the other matches to go a little longer. Leon faced Rei. I guess Rei is Caribbean MOOM only in JD Star. Rei seems to be improving as she busted out a moonsault to the floor. But Leon is more experienced and won with a splash and Leon Stone at 13:52. The main event had Kyoko Kimura & Atsuko Emoto against Shuu Shibutani & Cherry. Believe it or not, it went to a thirty minute time limit draw. Kimura & Emoto controlled the match but couldn't close the deal. Even Kimura's Big Boots couldn't finish off Shibutani. I'm sure Cherry & Shibutani are very nice girls but they shouldn't be in half hour main events. They're not good enough. Kimura was very upset after the match. Shibutani told her to knock off the sour grapes and be quiet. Cherry knew they were lucky to get a draw and wasn't upset with Kimura. Of course she's not protected by JD Star management. Cheery tried to make nice but the other three refused the customary post match photo. I'm sure they'll meet again but not in a main event please.
No comments:
Post a Comment