[2000-09-17-AJW] Manami Toyota vs Kaoru Ito

[soup23]

Ito had a gameplan going in of grinding Toyota. That worked well and good for a while but we know how that goes. Like a train that can only sit at the station for so long, eventually Toyota revs up and starts uncorking all of her big stuff including the dropkick to the outside and the moonsault. Using her strength to muster up Ito into the straightjacket German was impressive. Ito realizes she needs to use her stature to her advantage and she starts clobbering Toyota with big blows and powerbombs. Manami misses a charge and Ito goes for a big risk with a double stomp onto the outside. She misses and then gets suplexed onto the floor for her troubles. Huge dive from the balcony and another onslaught of bombs inside have Ito just trying to hang on. Ito is able to get the knees up and now she attacks. Huge elbow suicida on the outside and she keeps the pressure on back inside culminating in a super brainbuster from the middle rope. The finish gets botched a bit as it looks like Ito is going for a super powerbomb but either Toyota slips or she doesn't throw her far enough where she lands on the ropes. A double stomp gives Ito the title. Ito's mom is clapping in approval in a feel good visual. Another really good match on this show that just had a few things preventing it from reaching the great level. ***1/2 (7.1)

[ohtani's jacket]

This was an excellent title match and one of the best Joshi matches of the year. In fact, it may be the best Joshi match of the year given the history behind it with Ito's rise through the ranks after the talent exodus and her growth from her Peter Pan days to this her third title shot. Aja and Meiko had amazing chemistry but this felt like a changing of the guard considering Toyota was Ito's senior. At least it should have been a changing of the guard if the company hadn't been in such a perilous state. Ito's main weapon is her double foot stomp and it's a move she uses a lot. If it were any other move it might get irritating but thanks to her build it looks brutal every time she makes contact. It's such a simple and direct move but so painful looking and debilitating for her opponent that it may be one of the most perfect moves in all of wrestling. Without that diving foot stomp, it's questionable how interesting she would be as she doesn't have the star quality of other Joshi aces. Toyota puts in a really solid performance. She really has to fight through the pain and she goes down swinging trying to give herself one last puncher's chance. This match isn't as poetic as Misawa beating Jumbo or matches of that caliber, but it is very similar. It's a great match if you know the history and you love foot stomps, that's for sure.

[Tim Evans]

So many streamers and double stomps. Ito's stomps look more painful than Perro Jr.'s.  I enjoyed this with Ito doing everything she can to take Toyota down and Toyota fighting back in submissions.  Not sure of the story behind this but it was easy to get into and cool to see Ito's mom cheering her on.