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on WOWOW 12/5/97 SURE Plum Mariko Memorial taped 10/30 Tokyo Ota-ku Taiikukan (2,500) Mayumi Ozaki & The Spirit of Plum Mariko vs. Dynamite Kansai & Cuty Suzuki |
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This was the main event of the first Plum Mariko Memorial. This match wasn't all that good, but it wasn't about being good or bad, and I think I was wrong to give this match a rating. This match was about paying tribute to a person that these women weren't just close to, but someone they have spent their entire career, and for that matter their entire adult lives, with. This match had and evoked genuine emotion. I'm not one to get emotional about what I watch on TV, but this was real life, or as close to real life as anything in that takes place in the wrestling business can be. I can't see how any Plum fan could watch this match without at least almost being brought to tears. I'm trying to hold them back now so I can find the words to describe this, but try as I might, I'm not capable of putting this kind of emotion to words. "Too much time on my hands, I got you on my mind Adrian Smith, Iron Maiden " I still tear up every time I see this match, and I've seen it at least 6 times. No matter how hard we try, there is no real way to explain the emotion you feel while watching this match to someone who isn't familiar with the situation, or even to someone that is. Some things are just not able to be put into words, and watching this match is one of them," wrote Michael. "This was a difficult match for me to write about. The process of viewing this match and trying to put it into words had me going through a lot of Kleenex. It was a wrestling match that was not about wrestling or any kind of angle. It may be interpreted in a number of ways, but for me this match was about loss. Every passing minute where Ozaki was pounded by the team of Kansai and Suzuki put more focus on just how alone Ozaki was out there. Everytime she looked to her corner and saw no one there was a reminder of what has been lost," wrote Miko. Plum's parents were sitting in the front row holding a picture of her.
Ozaki came out to Plum's music, carrying the outfit of her late best
friend. The ring announcer introduced Plum Mariko as Ozaki's partner,
and Ozaki held Plum's outfit up for a big pop. Kansai got booker and
TV announcer Kotetsu Yamamoto, who was one of the people who trained
the first class of JWP wrestlers (1986) which Plum and the women in
this match were a member of, to come out and referee the match (one
of the many things he did in New Japan was referee). There was only
one thing missing, but unfortunately it always would be. "Ozaki's heart didn't seem to be in this match as it usually is. Yet, she kept fighting because that's how her friend would have wanted it. Mari-chan would have wanted everyone in JWP to continue for her. They cut to all the other federations' girls in attendance to show the importance of the show and of Mariko to her friends. Most fans sat demure, with the occasional shouts of 'Cuty' or 'Ozaki' radiating from the crowd. Plum's parents sat in solemnity, respectfully watching the girls wrestle while holding the portrait of their daughter. The end of the match was anti-climatic, the audience's sulleness overriding what normally would be a hot finish. Afterwards, the crowd politely clapped not simply for the match, but the spirit that was represented in the hearts of the girls performing and especially in the soul of the lost Mariko. The three competitors abdicated themselves of long held back tears, especially Ozaki whom Devil came to comfort with a smile. Finally, all the JWP girls came in to take a bow and the audience recognized all of their efforts by giving a final pop," wrote Keith. What was somewhat scary about the match was just how much guilt Oz seemed to feel for delivering the Liger bomb that Plum never woke up from. You felt like she talked to a priest before the match and he said for your penance take stiff kicks instead of saying Hail Mary's and destiny hammers instead of saying Our Father's. It was as if Ozaki felt she deserved this beating, and by some way her taking it would give her absolution. She was eventually "forgiven" when Kansai and Cuty did a combination splash mountain and destiny hammer to put her away. "I though the match was a way for Ozaki to absolve herself in some way from the guilt of inadvertently triggering her friend's death. She didn't have much offense, since 'realistically' the match was two-on-one, even if Plum was there in spirit. Maybe she felt she could purge her guilt by getting more or less a public beating. I mean, I can't really find any other way to explain how 'her team' lost aside from the basic two-on-one aspect. Kansai standing in front of Plum's costume to prevent 'interference' seemed to be a symbolic gesture of how they remembered Plum's soul in the match. As far as the feeling of the entire show, I'd say it was really eerie and solemn, especially the last match. The Japanese have close ties with ghost that date back to their religious beliefs imported from Buddhism and Shintoism. In a way, the match reminded me of some Noh or even Kabuki dramas that I saw in my Japanese Ghosts class; the actors re-playing their deaths until finding enlightenment by a Buddha priest. In the ancient days, festivals would serve as a way of appeasing the ghost or Shinto spirits by attempting to have the folks forget the deaths of their loved ones. I wouldn't doubt that in some way this show was linked to those type of ceremonies, even though the specifics are obscure to me," wrote Keith. "It was, in a way, comforting to see Plum Mariko in Ozaki's corner in spirit because it goes against the common theme in both Kabuki and Noh dramas of a female ghost returning for revenge. Due to this, it was more comforting than seeing everyone stand together in the ring after the match. There is no blame, just grief, loss, and for Ozaki absolution," wrote Miko. Kansai & Ozaki both cried after the match. They all joined hands and held Plum's outfit up. Kansai got the picture from Plum's mom, so they could hold that in the air too. What more can you do when no matter how hard you try to do something fitting, what you really want to happen isn't humanly possible? I guess the only thing they could do was what Plum did for all her career, try her best, persevere, and strive to achieve her goals no matter how adverse the circumstances. I'm sure some people will take "we have to keep fighting for Mari-chan" as a b.s. line used to say something when there was really nothing you could say, but if Mariko didn't believe in it then she's probably still be alive because she would have quit pursuing her dreams a long time ago and rightfully ended her wrestling career early due to her health. If any of us see her on the other side I guess the question to ask is what would you have changed, if anything? 13:09 (8:15 aired) "At the post-match interview, Kansai, trying to remain hopeful
for the future, shared her feelings and what she believed Mari-chan
wanted, 'I guess Mari-chan would have liked it...you've got to keep
going on and continue to preserve (for) JWP." Cuty Suzuki added
her view in that, 'This was for Mari-chan, and I think she would've
been pleased." Ozaki seemed to be in the best spirits between the
three in this segment, trying to get over the entire ordeal, commenting
that, 'When I look at (Mari's) picture, and if I see her costume, not
before long I feel that I have to keep on persevering.' Jokingly, Ozaki
said, 'I guess it must get lonely on the other side.' Kansai summed
up their feelings saying that she hopes the event will be remembered
by the fans and everyone for Mari-chan," wrote Keith. For those interested in seeing Plum Mariko, Keith has some cool video footage of her available on his web site Special Thanks to: Keith Watanabe - Manami Toyota Rules! , Miko Kubota - Michiku Pro & Michael Smith |
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