[2002-02-24-AJW] Kumiko Maekawa vs Momoe Nakanishi

[ohtani's jacket]

This was over 40 minutes long. Is that too long? Probably. But it was scrappy and hard fought, and that's all I can ask for from a Japanese match in '02. There were some breathtaking exchanges worked at lightning pace, and some new counters and sequences added to the mix. Momoe added a few new offensive tricks, but more importantly she stood up for herself against Maekawa's bully-boy tactics. She copped one in the mouth and bled hard way, which you've got to salute. The finishing stretch was as close to flawless as you're gonna see from these two, and as usual, Momoe's grit and determination shone through. Definitely in the upper tier of matches so far, if you don't mind long, drawn-out contests. 

[Calvin]

There's nothing here that couldn't have been accomplished in half the time. It got to the point where they're hitting the same beats over again with depreciating effect, and the match devolves into a repetitive mess instead of a compelling war of attrition. 

**3/4