Grimmas

Larry Zbyszko is up today at 12 eastern! Including matches against legends like Bockwinkel, Dusty, Bruno, and Kid Kash! https://sync-tube.de/rooms/4MkZvYWtW

I was kind of discouraged from writing, and threw out some notes, but I was persuaded to return to discussing my joshi writing. Now how do you I get you all caught up with one month of viewing? Luckily I keep a google sheet active, so that helps, but expect future updates to have more details. Let's start in 2021. GAEA returned! Well, for one night at least. Meiko Satomura's Sendai Girls and Chigusa Nagayo's Marvelous got together and produced something really cool. Leading up to that show there was a pretty fun tag match from 2021-03-11 featuring Chichiro Hashimoto & Canon against Mio Monomo & Ai Takarayama. Hashimoto is an awesome power wrestler and Mimono is super fast, but not in a bad way. This was pretty damn fun. The big GAEA show was on 2021-06-13. There was some rookie matches, a Great Sasuke comedy match, a wild hardcore match, a legend's match, and then the main event. Chihiro Hashimoto & DASH Chisako & Mika Iwata (Sendai Girls) vs Mei Hoshizuki & Mio Momono & Rin Kadokura (Marvelous) The match was under elimination rules, but the winning team got control of both the GAEA titles and the Sendai Girls titles. Sadly Takuma Iroha was inured and couldn't be here to bring this to the next level. It was a pretty awesome match, that I ranked at 7.75, coming down to drama with Hashimoto going 2 on 1. People should really find it and watch it! Iroha came out after and made some kind of challenge to Hashimoto which is a match I am dying to see! After that show, the feud between Marvelous and Sendai Girls continued and produced another great match with Mio Monomo and Chichiro Hashimoto going one on one. When you have power vs speed, these two match up so well. 7.25 from me. Of course, I am also watching all of Stardom and there is a LOT of it. I highly suggest Stardom World, because it subtitles the promos which makes it really easy to follow. There is a lot of nothing house shows, but there is always some fun on those shows, and the stories have been really good. Let's catch you all up on Stardom. June 19th to 27th. The big intrige was Starlight Kid and how she would fit in with Oedi Tai. What we got as a very dejected and reluctant SLK forced to wrestle against her former STARS friends. After many shows of this, Natsuko Tora offered SLK a new mask and told her that her former friends never supported her and she should embrace her evil. In a great moment SLK took the mask, and said she would be evil in her own way. Awesome stuff. Lots of decent wrestling. Unagai Sayaka had a time limit match with Momo Watanabe which felt like Unagai maybe might be good happened on June 23rd. There was alos a really good draw between Konami and Utami Hayashishita which I ranked at 7.0. The next big Stardom show was on July 4th "Yokohama Dream Cinderella in Summer" which also had English Commentary. Another solid show by Stardom, but a little step down from the previous PPVs of the year. The tournament finals to determine the winner of the vacant Future of Stardom Title took place between the Cosmic Angels of Unagi Sayaka and Mini Shirakawa, and this was one of the first times I thought Mina was actually good. A real stand out here and very unexpected. Mina is now the champ! The Goddesses of Stardom, Giulia and Syuri, successfully defended their titles against Mayu Iwatani and Koguma of STARS. Giulia went from a top miss superstar with me, until she lost her chair, and now is really not hitting with me. I think she'll get it back, but right now... Syuri as a bad ass on her own rules, her teaming and doing silly stuff with Giuluia doesn't hit. The match of the night was Tam Nakano successfully defended her Wonder of Stardom Title against Saya Kamitani (the Cinderalla winner). I gave it 7.5. Tam is my current favourite wrestler and I can't help but root for her. Saya has really come on this year, and this was excellent stuff. The main event with Utami Hayashishita and Natsuko Tora ended early with Tora getting a serious injury. I've also seen the Korakuen Hall show from July 6th. Maika and Momo Watanabe had a fun draw, and the story of Maika trying to recruit Momo for Donna del Mondo is nice stuff. Another story coming out of this show was Mayu issuing a challenge for a rematch to win back SLK and Fukigen Death from Oedi Tai. Konami, now the spokeperson of Oedi Tai, instead demanded Mayu take on Oedi Tai 5 on 1 with over the top rope eliminations where if Mayu wins, SLK can make her own choice about leaving or staying in Oedi Tai, which Kogumi convinced her to take the challenge because she'll win. In the main event Cosmic Angels retained their Trios Titles over Queen's Quest. Another good match. We had a Jackie Sato Watch Party and it fucking ruled! Everybody watch more Jackie Sato! Back to the 1990s, which is the biggest of my focus for GWE, at least. This section, will be more lists than comments. The next update will have more thoughts. 1992-09-11: Bull Nakano vs Yumikot Hotta [7.0] 1992-09-15: Akira Hokuto vs Suzuka Minami [7.75] 1992-09-19: Akira Hokuto & Bull Nakano vs Combat Toyota & Megumi Kudo [8.75] This was a FMW match and the first real interpromotional match in that upcoming war! Someone took a highlight video and handheld and mixed it together to give the full match. The atmosphere is SO great and this match rules. 1992-10-17: Suzuka Minimai & Yumiko Hotta vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada [7.75] Debbie Malenko & Sakie Hasegawa vs Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue [7.5] Akira Hokuto & Etsuko Mita vs Bull Nakano & Cynthia Moreno [7.0] 1992-11-02: Aja Kong & Kyoko Inoue vs Bull Nakano & Akira Hokuto [7.75] 1994-11-04: Double Inoue vs Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada [7.0] The most awesome thing I watched during this period was the November 26th Dream Rush! Kadaveri was able to get the prommos subtitled which made the whole experience one of the best shows in history! Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda vs Chikako Hasegawa & Miori Kamiya was a fun tag opener! Suzuka Minami & Yumiko Hotta vs Takako Inoue & Terri Powers was the best Terri Powers match I have seen yet and I rated it at 7.0. Inoue is really growing on me, the more I see her. I'll forever be a fan of Minami from her Marine Wolves time and I think she rules whenever she gets a chance to shine, like here. Debbie Malenko & Sakie Hasegawa vs Eriko Tsuchiya & Yoshika Maedomari was a smaller interpromotional match. Shark was pretty injured, so it was mostly Maedomari working her. They got some of their FMW stuff in and it was fun with a HOT crowd. Bat Yoshinaga vs Kyoko Kamikaze where Bat defended her WWWA Martial Arts Title. People shouldn't sleep on Bat and this title! It was a fucking stiff war! Kaoru Ito won the AJW Title from Tomoko Watanabe in another good match, sadly I missed part of it, but Ito's foot stomps are awesome! I think this is where the Bison Kimura retirement ceremony was (if not it was on the show) and it was so awesome to see with subtitles. Aja Kong says she will win the title tonight and wants Bison in her corner. What an awesome moment between those two! Akira Hokuto lets us know that titles mean shit, it's all about interpromotional wars! She then goes on to win the All Pacific Title in a classic. [9.5] Afterwards Hokuto sees the Kandori at ringside, insults her and it's fucking on! After over two years Bull Nakano's WWWA Title reign comes to an end at the hands of Aja Kong in a 9.75 classic! Kong wins with the flying legdrop in sweet poetic justice. Kong says she couldn't had done it without Nakano making her better, and Nakano demands she raise the prestige of the belt. They hug, all time classic moment! The main event is an all time classic, everybody knows about. I went 10.0, not surprisingly. Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota defeated the invaders of Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki in an insane match. Moving on from Dream Rush, there was a few more matches I watched. Also, I kind of kept notes! Akira Hokuto vs Takako Inoue (AJW 1992-12-13) One thing I love about Hokuto is she never stays in a submission for too long, she always finds ways to make the submission more vicious. Everything is vicious, even before turning her over for the Sharpshooter she gives a mean kick. Outside Hokuto tosses her into the guardrail. Inoue is pissed and is ready to fight, but when she gets in the ring Hokuto just goes back onto destroying her with one of the most vicious half Boston crabs ever! A knit spot was Hokuto getting tied up on the top turnbuckle and then Takako kicks out her knee and hits the plancha. Drops her knee on the table and then goes to work on her knee! Great leg work, and selling by Hokuto. But, Hokuto guts through and hits a Northen Lights Bomb for the win. [7.25] Kyoko Inoue & Aja Kong vs Toshiyo Yamada & Manami Toyota (AJW 1992-12-13) Yamada and Kong are the two work horses in this one. A great moment with Inoue has Yamada in a surfboard and Kong gets in the ring and challenges Toyota to come in and break it up. Basically calling Toyota a fucking loser, and Toyota does not even try to challenge her. Yamada and Kong battle all over the arena for a nice segment, and eventually Toyota gets in and does a million drop kicks. The finish ruled as Kong held up Toyota up in the Doomsday Device position, and Inoue comes off the top with her backwards elbow for the win. Kong is super happy for Inoue to get the win. [7.0] Finally, Yumiko Hotta & Takako Inoue vs Mayumi Ozaki & Hikari Fukuoka (JWp 1992-12-01) No real comments here, because the production was so shit garbage I was too annoyed to take notes, but the match was awesome. Interpromotional wars just hit a different level. [7.25] I'll try to get these up weekly, so I can be more thorough and have these cover less.

Join for the Waltman Watch Party! Such opponents as: Bryan Danielson, Bret Hart, Sami Zayn, Gedo, The Rock, and Sabu! 10 huge matches! 12 EST! https://sync-tube.de/rooms/4D7igPwY4

I do think anyone who did a diving headbutt after 2007 loses points with me, that's just plain stupid.

How did Nanae kill the joshi scene? Seems like an odd claim. Whether you like her in ring here is a different topic. I'm not ready to make a big case for her, I've liked what I've seen. There is a LOT of great female workers, so not top 100 is really not a dig.

Oh there is so many people I want to know about from your watching! Please share who you've liked major or not major! Some more minor ones I've loved are Kyoko Inoue from the past. If you go more modern there is a lot! Someone like Command Bolshoi has a really strong case for me.

You might not have enough thoughts for a match thread, a nominee thread, or a microscope, but you watched something and you want to say something! Also what are you excited about watching?

Having the promos subtitled is SOOO great. Especially so for Aja's promo during Bison's retirement, Hokuto's pre and post match promos, and the whole post match of the Aja-Bull. That is must watch!!!

Today in a little over an hour (3 EST), it's DREAM RUSH! All promos subtitled into English. https://sync-tube.de/rooms/V0wurGPHX

Here was the watch list, another great week Tune in for Sean Waltman next week, and tomorrow (Sunday) at 3 EST for Dream Rush, but with the promos subtitled! December 8, 1976 – WWWA Tag Team title match – Beauty Pair(c ) Vs Black Pair February 27, 1979 – WWWA Singles Champion Jackie Sato Vs All-Pacific Champion Maki Ueda. September 13, 1979 – WWWA Singles title match – Monster Ripper Vs Jackie Sato November 27, 1980 – Jackie Sato Vs Devil Masami December 16, 1980 – Jackie Sato Vs Rimi Yokota January 4, 1981 – Jackie Sato, Rimi Yokota & Mimi Hagiwara Vs Black Pair & Leilani Kai February 25, 1981 – WWWA Singles title match – Jackie Sato Vs Rimi Yokota May 21, 1981 – Jackie Sato Vs Mami Kumano – Jackie Sato’s AJW retirement match

Jackie Sato Watch Party coming up at 12 EST today!

I will watch this later, but Hokuto house show footage. Make that 27 matches.

Bull followed Dump, Kong followed Bull. In 2016 Kong finished higher, but is that really how people feel? Bull Nakano vs Aja Kong, who is better?

Are you serious? I should shut up about Hokuto because I have nothing to add now? Are you really implying that watching 26 matches from one person in one year is not enough to really understand them? You also need the 4 minute Pro matches too or random house show matches? You are the same person who are going on about rating people after only watching TV matches of them from the 50s that survived, or they only having 17 matches from them in their 20 year career, or go on and on about how this person looked so great, based on a 7 minute highlight video. GWE is supposed to be a fun time to talk about great wrestlers and have deep discussions, not to be weird ass gate keepers based on points they made up decades ago and wont' let ago, even if they don't correlate to reality.

First I reject her prime is that short, but whatever. In 1993 we have at minimum 26 matches. That's over two a month. That ratio is on par with most wrestlers in history, including Eddie. Eddie probably has more in his prime, but then you are including a million nothing TV matches. I really have no idea what point you are trying to make, yes I would love more footage of Hokuto, she's the best, but 26 matches in a year is quite a bit.

I wouldn't limit her prime to 92-94, but if you wanted to do that there is, at minimum 47 matches on tape form those three years. It's probably higher than that, that's just the footage I have. I find it weird saying we don't have a lot. That doesn't feel like a low number to me.

Queing my all women's GWE list in 3.. 2... 1

I LOVE BOTH SO MUCH! Meiko is better than Mayu though. Sasha on big nights, Mayu day to day. Sasha as a heel, Mayu as a babyface. Don't make me choose.

and Hokuto from 86.

I meant Kobashi... sorry was watching Andre and my mind slipped!!! So Kobashi had 7 years (93-2000), Hokuto had 7 years (88-95) and they both had great stuff after that. It's not that far apart. 90 being when Hokuto gets great I disagree with, she was atleast great by 88 and I would argue earlier. Sorry my least favourite narrative is that Hokuto had a tiny prime.

What is the range of Andre being great, because Hokuto's is like 87-95, then great matches speckled in until 2001.

35 minutes away from the Andre #GWE26 Watch Party! https://sync-tube.de/rooms/3-MyR11ms

I have Hokuto #1 and Kobashi not in the top 10, so this is an easy vote for me. There is a thing people say that Hokuto had a really short prime, but the prime was great. She was freaking awesome from the day she appears on tape until her semi retirement in 94. Even saying that, she produced awesome stuff and even one of the top matches of the 2000s. She has better offense than Kobashi, better selling, better character work, better match structure, better pretty much everything. Kobashi is great, but Hokuto is the greatest.

I just never thought about it before. Part of the issue I have is that humans are pattern seekers and we can attribute influence when it's really not there. Like it's easy to see Dynamite Kid influenced Chris Benoit, but if you see someone who works similarly how do you know they watched someone who watched that person or whatever. Could just be that two people developed the same stuff without influence, wrestling can only be done in so many ways.

Are you taking influence into account? I see in threads people bring that up all the time, I hadn't thought to consider that, but maybe it's something worth pursuing?