Shinobu Kandori

[donsem43]

A playlist of pretty much every LLPW commercial release from 1992 through 1995. Not a lot of Kandori singles matches but a good sample size of her lower profile work.

 

[club]

Ended up with Kandori at #38. There's a certain no fucks given attitude she projects better than anyone. Slightly unhinged like things could go west at any moment. Her stuff's so compelling for it.

[Ma Stump Puller]

I had Shinobu Kandori #26 on my ballot and I'm pretty good with that selection. She's a breath of fresh air in a 90's scene that can get overindulgent to a fault by for the most part just focusing on super uncooperative scraps, but not going overboard to the point where the match quality is compromised. Great grappler with a keen sense to give and take when it matters, also has shockingly good longevity past the 90's with her carrying Dump to her best match post-retirement and holding her own against Meiko in 2007. Her ability to make simple moves like a choke or armbar feel like "you're fucked" insta-death moves that everyone fears and no one wants to be stuck in is pretty unmatched.

My mind boggles at the idea that she was considered a lump at some point in time, probably the same brain-trust that considered Hotta bad for being "too stiff" lmao