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L-1 Ultimate Challenge '98 Taped 10/10/98 Tokyo Ryogoku Kokugikan (7,824/5,000) Undercard |
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The problem with these shows is that the pro wrestlers don't have time to do that much training for them. They may have a legit background, but when it comes to shoots this results in them going into the show knowing a little more than the basics. The promoters obviously want the wrestlers to win, so they have to come up with weak opposition. Unfortunately, there aren't exactly many places that give women the opportunity to shoot, so it's not like there are a lot of great women that don't get booked onto these shows. It's more like they find some women that are good at one of the basic elements of shooting, but really haven't fought under Vale Tudo rules before. That kind of evens things out, but it results in a very amateurish show that consists of a bunch of basic matches that don't look pretty. It's something different though, and basically the only chance for the wrestlers to prove that they are the real deal. Becky Levy (America) vs. Terry Leposki (America). Levy is a monster, who looked to weigh as her training partner Don Frye. Her huge weight advantage alone made her too much for Leposki. 5:06 (0:41 aired). Yoko Takahashi (Jd') vs. Aya Mitsui. This was something of an interpromotional match because Mitsui is a professional kickboxer who fought in ARSION a few times, while Takahashi is a martial artist that mainly referees matches for Jd'. Mitsui seemed to have no experience on the mat, which meant you knew really quickly that she had no chance. I thought this was a quick stoppage due to Takahashi's punches from the mount, but it was probably just as well because Mitsui didn't have the skills to get off her. 1:54 (1:25 aired). Junko Yagi (LLPW) vs. Flor Holman (Holland). Yagi's technique on her take down was terrible, and by all means she should have been choked out. Luckily for her, almost everyone from Holland that does shootfighting in in Japan sucks on the mat, so she escaped the weak guillotine and wound up winning with what looked like a forearm choke (but was listed as guillotine choke). 8:28 (2:48 aired). Sayori Okino (LLPW) vs. Chi Eun Joo. Okino has lost all her excess weight this year, and she came into this match in the best shape of her career. She mounted Eun Joo, throwing punches until the inexperienced Eun Joo gave away her back. Okino seized that opportunity, locking a doushime sleeper, which resulted in Eun Joo's corner throwing the towel in. 2:00 (1:54 aired). Yumiko Hotta (AJW) vs. Angel Amoroso (America). Angel, the ex-ECW valet, was so incredible inexperienced that even Taz could have beaten her. She's probably rather have him tie her up though. Anyway, this fight was a joke. Hotta immediately took Angel down and mounted her. Knowing she was in with such a chump, Hotta paused at one point and raised her fist until the crowd popped, then lowered the boom on Angel. Hotta locked in a V1 armlock, but didn't have the leverage and released it when Angel was punching her. She threw punches and Angel covered her head with both arms, so Hotta pulled one arm into an udehishigigyakujujigatame for the win. 1:09 Lioness Asuka (Free) vs. Irma Verhoeff (Holland). This was the only match that looked like what you get when you have two skilled fighters. Actually, neither were all that good, but Lioness was very calm in the mount working for a submission. Eventually, she was able to apply her favorite V1 armlock for the win. 9:26 (5:59). |
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