[2000-07-15-AJW] Etsuko MIta & Mima Shimoda vs Tomoko Watanabe & Kumiko Maekawa

[soup23]

These four women really give the vibe of not caring for each other at all. The work isn't always the smoothest but the intensity and viciousness is there. This has LCO really dominating the young pairing and taking the fight to them with a big crowd brawl to start. They isolate on Watanabe throughout the match and she is in danger for most of the match. Maekawa is able to come in and sweep back the advantage with her vicious kicks. I thought Maekawa and Shimoda in particular had some excellent strike exchanges against each other that were hate filled. Eventually, Watanbe is able to grow confidence throughout the match and at the end is actually the stronger of the two members of her team which told a nice story throughout the match. The finish is brutal with Shimoda throwing a straight punch to Maekawa and then pinning her down for the count as she is squirming with all her might to kick out. I really enjoyed this. **** (7.9)

[ohtani's jacket]

These teams don't like each other in case you needed a reminder but this was strangely flat and couldn't break out of the LCO mold. The only part I really liked was when Maekawa tried to rip off Shimoda's head. The rest of the bout failed to live up to that intensity.