[1999-01-08-GAEA] Chikayo Nagashima vs Meiko Satomura

[Loss]

Talk about it here.

[Loss]

This was really, really awesome. They stayed on the mat for pretty much all of this, but cut a crazy pace anyway, really bringing the intensity and focus. They were almost ten minutes into this before they went vertical for any length of time, and when they do, this is still a really aggressive match without any of the Toyota-style go-go-go excess. Nagashima is incredible, wrapping her leg around Satomura’s neck and catching her in some insane submission when she charges for her at the turnbuckle. She then takes her to the mat immediately. There is a hot finishing stretch, but it’s something very different than what anyone would expect it to be. I’m not quite sure how to describe it. Nagashima does a series of Germans on the floor which I wasn’t crazy about since Satomura didn’t really sell them long term, but that’s really the only blemish on an otherwise amazing match, and I don’t want to write off 17 minutes of outstanding work because they got a little carried away for three spots. They quickly got back into the groove and the setup to Nagashima’s cross armbreaker was tremendous. Satomura pulls a comeback out of who knows where and really comes across like she earned the win.

[soup23]

Nagashima was relentless in this match. I was shocked to see at the finish that this went 17 minutes as it felt a lot longer and more draining and I mean that in a good way in regards to this match. Satomura was able to weather the storm of everything that Nagashima threw at her and picked up the win. Really good start to the GAEA year. (***3/4)

[Tim Evans]

I like how Satomura was trying to hit the Death Valley driver out of anywhere. Like Randy Orton with the RKO. This was really fast paced but not sloppy. Fun match.

[Zenjo]

An action packed encounter that involved changes of pace and plenty of variety. I like how the GAEA girls are trained in both the submissions and the high flying. They were very well drilled and highly familiar with facing one another. Some nice move sequences that looked competitive rather than choreographed. The DVD being countered into a standing scissored armbar would've been an instant 5* had it been the finish. Not everything that they went for came off quite as beautifully as that. Nagashima's strikes are weak due to her thin frame. Also it wasn't long enough to merit the exhaustion selling. Areas for improvement, but plenty to admire in this one.

[PeteF3]

Second-best match of the week, for sure. Really, really intense matwork that was fast-paced but never overwhelming, with both women staying true to their strengths and "wrestling within themselves" to borrow a sports cliche. And only a few 2.9s, with the finish coming precisely when it should. Yes, that armbar as Nagashima is in the fireman's carry is fantastic, probably a sleeper pick for 1999's Best Wrestling Maneuver Award.

[Jetlag]

This match was totally rad, stylistically. It reminded me a bit of the late 70s/early 80s AJW matwork and lucha-borrowed moves, mixed with modern spots, so that was of course awesome. I really liked the simple Johnny Valentine-ish spots here especially Satomura's vicious neck crank where she drags Chikayo across the ropes or the legbar and headlock that forced a rope break. People forget how innovative the 90s GAEA crew could be and the counters like DVB into the crucifix armhold along with general stylistic experimenting mixed with the selling were a reminder of that. Pretty boss match between the greenhorns.