Posted March 17, 200817 yr comment_5429527 All Japan Women Classics 13 + 14 Classics 13 Dump Matsumoto vs. Devil Masami for the vacant WWWA Title (12/12/85) - This entire episode is dedicated to this one match. Early on, Dump gains control and punishes Devil with chokes, eye rakes and using the trusty fork. I like how Devil plays up the eye rakes and acts as if she is blinded far longer than you normally see. Early on, the match was just plodding along until Dump takes it to the outside. Once she grabs the microphone, things pick up. She just thumps Devil in the head, stops to talk shit to the crowd and just pops here in the head again. Great stuff. This is basically a chance to see Dump use every weapon imaginable (a soda can, chain, trash can) and how much punishment can Masami stand. It also gives Masami a chance to grab weapons and use them against Dump. Later on, the match borders on silly as the two just start exchanging moves without worrying about who is supposed to be in control or where they should hurt. The ending was about as convoluted and depressing as I have ever see nand the last 5 minutes really left a bad taste in my mouth for this match. After the first ten minutes, I was ready to nominate it and put it in the match folder. However, the last stretch run just killed it for me. No vote which is a shame because it seemed like such an epic event. Classics 14 Jumping Bomb Angels (Noriyo Tateno & Itzuki Yamazaki) vs. Lioness Asuka & Mika Komatsu (12/12/1985) - They don’t waste any time establishing roles in this match. When Asuka is in, things are much more even. When Komatsu is in, the Angels waste no time bringing the pain, doing all kinds of hurty things. When Asuka comes back in, she takes control, brings the double teams and gives Komatsu her courage back. However, once she is alone, she goes back to being the punching bag. It seems the best she can hope for are flash pins and takedowns. However, Lioness is there to dish out pain and set her up for success. The end came off a little awkward as the Angels try a dropkick with one on the others’ shoulders and pin Komatsu in the process. This was a sprint of a match but it was entertaining throughout and I enjoyed the story. I’ll give it a mild nomination. Mika Takahashi vs. ? (4/27/89) - Nothing much here. Mika Komatsu vs. Yumi Ogura (4/27/89) - This was Komatsu's retirement match. This match was pretty short but it came at the wrong point on the disc. This would have been a great way to open the disc, getting me into the joshi mood. Instead it felt a bit anti-climactic as it felt like an opening match. Fun match but not a nomination. I may include this as an extra for the retirement.
May 6, 200817 yr comment_5431113 Classics 13 Dump Matsumoto vs. Devil Masami for the vacant WWWA Title (12/12/85) - This entire episode is dedicated to this one match. Early on, Dump gains control and punishes Devil with chokes, eye rakes and using the trusty fork. I like how Devil plays up the eye rakes and acts as if she is blinded far longer than you normally see. Early on, the match was just plodding along until Dump takes it to the outside. Once she grabs the microphone, things pick up. She just thumps Devil in the head, stops to talk shit to the crowd and just pops here in the head again. Great stuff. This is basically a chance to see Dump use every weapon imaginable (a soda can, chain, trash can) and how much punishment can Masami stand. It also gives Masami a chance to grab weapons and use them against Dump. Later on, the match borders on silly as the two just start exchanging moves without worrying about who is supposed to be in control or where they should hurt. The ending was about as convoluted and depressing as I have ever see nand the last 5 minutes really left a bad taste in my mouth for this match. After the first ten minutes, I was ready to nominate it and put it in the match folder. However, the last stretch run just killed it for me. No vote which is a shame because it seemed like such an epic event. I'm with you on not nominating this. Devil NOT being an ass-stomper in this is a total disappointment. It seemed that this should be a natural opening for Devil to dominate early and then have the army swarm over her- as opposed to the Ode To A Sullivan Lights Out Match that this is. Guh.
