Sumie Sakai

[Grimmas]

My nominee

Sumie Sakai may be more well known as a veteran indie wrestler especially in ROH, but that was way past her prime. Her early 2000s work in JD Star is the real shit. Her feud with The Bloody was outrageous, and she was the perfect underdog babyface with many classics. Don't discount her for seeing her post prime.

Match Recs:

vs Momoe Nakanishi, JD Star, August 1999

vs Megumi Yabashita, JD Star, March 18, 2001

w/ Hiroyo Muto vs The Bloody & Fang Suzuki, " LSD 2001 Match: No Rules Falls Count Anywhere Weapons Death Match", JD Star, July 22, 2001

 

[Ma Stump Puller]

Early JWP/Judo work was cool, but her stint in the West after is for the most part honestly just awful for the most part, idk if she just checked out after a couple of years or if it was the quality of opponents but she like downgraded significantly quality wise. Sad because you have a good couple of years where she seemed really promising with the Judoka gimmick

 

[Jetlag]

It's a short peak due to her leaving for the states really cutting down her output, though I'd say she was still fun in the US from what I've seen. That said, I'd rather watch a Sumie Sakai match over many other wrestlers. The Yabushita series is great.