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Zen Nihon Tag Senshuken: Yuko Kosugi & Sumie Sakai (Jd' team) vs. Miho Wakizawa & Kayo Noumi |
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Sakai was the best in this match and Kosugi was the second best. The AJW team just isn't on their level. Miho was sloppy, blowing "easy" things like running up the ropes ala Mariko Yoshida. Kayo's technique isn't clean. Still, it was a pretty good fast-paced match that had a lot of action, but didn't really build. Both teams tried to get under each other's skin and get the crowd involved early. From there it was basically spots back and forth. Sakai, Noumi, and Wakizawa did consecutive planchas. The match actually had a lot of flying, but Sakai is the only one that has any hot flying moves. In AJW's "big win" of the night, MihoKayo regained the titles when Noumi pinned Sakai with a new inverted version of the doublewrist armsault. MihoKayo became the 27th AJ Tag champs, making Kosugi & Sakai's reign defenseless. Michael: Good, albeit unspectacular match. This match again showed that none of these girls can carry a match. They weren't exposed badly though because the match wasn't very long. The work was pretty good, but the finish was really weak. I can't blame Sakai for rolling her shoulder before the 3 count because Kayo barely had her pinned. Miko: A decent match. Both Miho and Kayo lacked a little spring, with Miho in particular having a few problems. Sakai and Kosugi both hit their high spots really nicely. I like Kosugi's diving footstomp. She doesn't just come off the top rope and stomp her opponent. Instead, she brings her legs up as she jumps then seems to kick down as she lands, which gives me the impression that it does more damage. James: It makes sense for AJW to push MihoKayo as the junior cute team, but their wrestling is overrated. This was a good match because they weren't out there for too long, but the AJW girls need to show some serious improvement if they are to be elevated above AJ tag level, particularly Noumi, who at 22 should be much better than this. I agree with what you are saying. The thing about Noumi is that she really hadn't been wrestling two years at this point, being that she disappeared in early 1996 and didn't come back until late 1997 when they were desperate for warm bodies. This means she has less experience than Miho, Takahashi, and Momoe even though she is older and debuted in 1995 along with the flash in the pan Mari Mogami, rather than 1996 like the other three. On the other hand, she hasn't done anything to make you think she'll ever be good, and her age just means there is less time for her. Special thanks to: Michael Smith, Miko Kubota - Michiku Pro, & James Phillips- Japanese Women's Wrestling11:45
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