[1996-06-16-GAEA-Gold Rush] Yasha Kurenai & Carol Midori & Mikiko Futagami vs Bomber Hikari & Sugar Sato & Chikayo Nagashima

[PeteF3]

Talk about it here.

[PeteF3]

Most of these matches are JIP for TV, so you don't get any feeling out process and a full view of the match--just a really fun closing stretch. That stretch is marred by some truly ridiculously cooperative-looking and awkward spots, but I'll chalk some of that up to what I presume is a relative lack of experience. But it's all-action and there are some really well-done moves here, even though they're basic by joshi standards. They manage to make swinging neckbreakers and elbow drops look like key transition moves. The hosses--Kurenai, Futagami, and Hikari are actually a lot better off working scientifically than in trying to use stiffness or power moves. I don't know what that says about them or the match, but I found it interesting. I also liked Nagashima a lot more here than the first time I saw her, as she works like a spunky babyface rather than a poor-woman's Ozaki. Midori puts Sato away with an absolutely gorgeous German suplex. If this were out in full and the first chunk was as good as this, this would definitely be the best GAEA match I've seen in '96.