I haven't done a review in a very long time, and with my recent displeasure of the current WWF product, I felt like watching some wrestling that I knew was guaranteed to make me feel better.  Since I was watching this anyway, I figured....why not give this a review?  I'll probably be the only person who has ever done a review on this show.  WWF shows, past and present, have been reviewed to death by everyone, everywhere, on every site.  Guys like Justin Baisden and others take care of the regular Japan stuff.  So that leaves Joshi for me.  But that's ok.  This isn't fuckin GLOW or any of the other shit they try to pass off as women's wrestling here in North America.....these women are very good workers.  Alright, enough of this boring shit, let's get to the review, and YOUR matchlist.
 

Rie Tamada vs. Kumiko Maekawa
Candy Okutsu vs. Chaparita ASARI
Kaoru Ito vs. Noriko Tsunoda       "Kickboxing" Match  (and I use kickboxing very loosely here)
Jaguar Yokota/Lady Apache  vs.    Mariko Yoshida/Felina
Etsuko Mita/Mima Shimoda  vs.   Suzuka Minami/Tomoko Watanabe       UWA Tag Title Match
Sakie Hasegawa vs. Bison Kimura
Toshiyo Yamada vs. Takako Inoue vs. Reggie Bennett     All Pacific Women's Title Triangular Match
Yumiko Hotta vs. Lioness Asuka      UFC Fight Rules
Bull Nakano  vs.  Kyoko Inoue       WWF Women's Title Match
Aja Kong  vs.   Manami Toyota       WWWA Championship Title Match
 

--We are on tape from 3/26/1995 from....somewhere, because the exact site still eludes me....it DOES NOT look like the Egg Dome though, and I'm pretty sure I would recognize that.  But then again, maybe not....I've been known to make a mistake every few years or so, you know?
 

--We get the All Japan Women obligatory intro of all the wrestlers for tonight, which always takes at least 15 minutes.  This is fast forward territory.  Manami talks, and then Kong talks.  W e get to see the announcers for the night.  I don't speak Japanese so I have no clue what they are saying.  The color guy, with his hat, looks like a Japanese Paul Heyman lol.
 

--Just some other notes on the tape....this tape is about 5 hours long, but not all that is wrestling.  There's about 5 minutes before each match that's taken up by interviews with the girls about to wrestle, and then post-match we get comments.  There's ALOT of wrestling on here, it's just that the whole tape is not wrestling and you'll fast forward quite a bit if you don't speak Japanese.
 
 
 

Rie Tamada vs. Kumiko Maekawa

--Obligatory WWF-influenced attractiveness evaluation first.  These ratings are inspired by Molly Holly, who if I had my choice of any woman in the WWF I'd choose her first, but who SOMEHOW is the heel because she's a virgin and isn't surgically enhanced???  FUCK THAT!!!!  Most Japanese women are not really my type, just way too small, but what the hell, right?   One man's goddess is another man's garbage.  Tamada is attractive but not my type. Kumiko looks more like a guy than a woman, and I don't swing that way, so she's definately out.  A VERY IMPORTANT thing to keep in mind is that physical attractiveness has nothing to do with whether I like a female wrestler or not.  So no ratings I give will be tainted by physical attractiveness factor.
 

--Maekawa comes out first, then Tamada.  I feel obliged to point out that entrance music REALLY sucks in AJW.    Maekawa opens up working on the leg, but Tamada comes back with a dropkick.  Tamada floats over a corner whip and hits another dropkick.  Tamada tries some hair tosses and gets a butterfly suplex.    Some weak kicks by Maekawa go nowhere, but a running back elbow and back body drop gets 2.   Some mat stuff which is basically hair pulling gets a couple 1 counts for each.   Three dropkicks by Tamada gets 2, but Maekawa bridges out.  At least we know that Tamada can throw a dropkick.  She must have a Best of Bob Holly tape in her collection.  I would have made a joke about Jim Brunzell, but I question how many people would get it.  Tamada goes into a Boston crab next, then turns it into a single crab.  I love AJW, but that particular move annoys me....a Boston crab is a good move, but it's used ALOT in AJW.  Just a warning.   Maekawa fights for the ropes and Tamada pulls her back a couple times before Maekawa finally makes it.  Tamada gets something that could very loosely be described as an indian deathlock.   Tamada tries some kicks, but Maekawa gets a rollup out of nowhere for 2.   They struggle through a Flair pinfall reversal sequence before Maekawa just says "fuck it" and goes to a Fujiwara armbar.  A few nasty hairtosses get 2 for Maekawa.  Maekawa goes for the Boston crab now, fails, but gets it on the 2nd attempt.  Tamada slips out, and hits...yes, you guessed it...another dropkick.    Tamada tries a whip, but Maekawa counters into a Canadian backbreaker.  Crowd doesn't care.  Tamada doesn't tap unfortunately, and it eventually gets 2.  Suplex by Kumiko gets 2.  Maekawa tries a back suplex, but Tamada flips out and hits the Trish bulldog off the ropes for 2.  Maekawa reverses a whip attempt, but Tamada hits another Trish bulldog.  Ok, that's a move that should not be used twice in the same match, unless it's a finisher, which it is not.  Yet, annoying the piss outta me, Tamada goes for it AGAIN, but thank God Maekawa blocks..  Both women get a couple roll ups for soft 2 counts.  Something vaguely resembling a superkick gets 2 for Maekawa.  Rollup by Rie gets 2.  Tamada ducks a Maekawa clothesline, and hits a crossbody, which gets the 3.  Huh?   Eh...I'll be generous and go *1/2.   I don't really keep good track of match times, but this was about 12-15 minutes, which was 7-8 minutes too long.
 
 

Candy Okutsu vs. Chapparita Asari

--Obligatory WWF influenced attractiveness rating-- I don't like Okutsu as a wrestler, but I'd do her.  Asari, on the other hand, looks okay although I wouldn't do her, but everytime I've seen her it's been a decent match.

--Asari back handsprings halfway to the ring....and the aisleway is LONG...very impressive.  I mean think Wrestlemania X-7 aisle for length.  Candy has a belt of some sort but I can't make out what belt it is.  I believe it's the AJW Jr. Title, but it's difficult to be sure.   We start off VERY quick as Asari runs over at the first sound of the bell and hits a foldover German suplex while Candy has her back turned.  LOOK EYE!!! ALWAYS LOOK EYE!!!! Karate Kid reference.  Candy isn't impressed by the German and no sells and hits a running forearm for 1.  Back suplex by Candy, and she moves into a rear naked choke with a bodyscissors.  Where are you ref, that's a clear choke?  Asari makes the ropes.  Running high kick gets 2 for Candy.   Slingshot attempt by Candy, but Asari flips out and lands on her feet, then hits a crossbody for 2.   Dropkick and Boston crab by Asari.  Hopefully that gets them out of the system for the rest of the match.   They trade submission stuff for a few minutes with lots of hairpulling.   Whip by Asari, but Candy leaps to the top and hits Asari with a nasty missile DK, followed by a DDT.  Another DDT gets 2.  Walls of Jericho's, into the Liontamer.  Notice the differentiation there.  NASTY single crab now by Candy.  That's more like it.  Candy segues into a camel clutch.  Asari slips out and gets a couple high knees for 2.  Choke sleeper, but Candy makes the ropes.  Candy quickly leaps to the top after a whip attempt and hits another missile dropkick.  Sequel gets 2.

--Candy tries a german next, but Asari blocks, so Candy just kicks her in the face for 2.   German attempt again blocked and Asari gets a rollup for 2.  Whip reverse, Candy again leaps to the top, and a flying crossbody gets 2.  Candy up top again, but Asari raises the knees on a big splash, and some kicks send Candy outside.  Candy looks like she got the wind knocked out of her as some of the ladies on the outside help her out and stall for a minute.  Corner whip, and Asari hits a double back handspring that ends with her planting both feet right in Candy's midsection.  I marked out there, that was just cool.  She does a sequel....that moves just rocks it.  Has to be seen to be appreciated.  Butterfly suplex gets 2½.  Asari up top but Candy cuts her off.  Clothesline by Candy gets 2.  Nice sequence next as Asari flips out of a back suplex, Candy tries a German, but Asari reverses for two, reversed by Candy for 2.  Bridging German gets 2  for Candy.  Corner whip by Candy, but Asari counters with a rana out of of the corner.  Slam, Asari goes up, but Candy kicks her off and Asari falls outside.  Candy runs up the turnbuckle and hits a nice flying splash to the outside.  Back inside, Candy tries a german, but Asari blocks and tosses Candy outside.  Asari tries a quick run of her own up the turnbuckle, but almost nearly kills herself as she falls off, so she leaps forward and hits a somersault splash....more to protect herself because her momentum was taking her forward than any real attempt to hit it. Asari hits a missile dropkick back inside.  She goes up for another and Candy tries to do the Angle Run up the Turnbuckle suplex, but Asari just tosses her off and hits another missile DK for 2½.  Asari follows up quickly with a slam, then heads upstairs, and hits the Sky Twister Press for the 3.  **3/4    Probably should have been a couple minutes shorter, but still a good match.  Lots of awkward spots, but what hit worked well enough.
 

Kaoru Ito vs. Noriko Tsunoda
 

--Obligatory WWF influenced attractiveness rating-- I wouldn't do either of them.  If there was such a thing as a Japanese redneck, I think Tsunoda might be it.  The teeth...ugh!!!   This is a worked shoot style kickboxing match.  At least, I have to assume it was a worked shoot, because if this was a REAL kickboxing match, these two girls are the WORST KICKBOXERS I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!  As it is, they still suck.  On the other hand, they do land some stiff shots.  It goes 5 rounds and lasts about 25 minutes of so, but I only watched the first 2 rounds and didn't see anything terribly impressive.  Fast forwarding through the last 3 rounds doesn't yield anything that looks interesting enough to stop for.  Although I don't know Japanese, it looked like it ended in a draw since the ref raised both of their hands at the end.  I don't rate kickboxing matches, but it didn't look overly offensive or anything.
 

Jaguar Yokota/Lady Apache  vs.    Mariko Yoshida/El Felina

--Obligatory WWF influenced attractiveness rating---I'd definately do Lady Apache and El Felina.  Felina is under a mask, but her body looks hot, so hopefully the face will follow suit.  I'd do Yokota too, but only if she smiles.  When she doesn't smile she looks way too serious.  Yoshida has the most toned body of just about any woman wrestler I've ever seen...not a female bodybuilder type or anything, just skinny, pretty normal looking, but there's not a single ounce of fat anywhere to be found.  I mean, Torrie Wilson or Trish are toned too, but it's a fitness thing, not to actually do anything with it.  You can just tell that Yoshida's is more than a look.  As I've said, I don't speak Japanese, but in the pre-match interview with Jaguar and Apache, I think the interviewer tried to make a sexual joke or something, cause Jaguar gives him a weird look.  Kinda funny actually.  Apache and El Felina are lucha libre.  And also, I swear I have seen Apache before somewhere but I can't place her at the moment.  She's hot though.

--Apache and Felina start, to complete silence from the Japanese crowd.  Armbars by Felina, but Apache counters quickly into an STF.  They trade armbars, then Felina busts a Torture Rack out of nowhere.  Then a  Gory Special!!!  Woah.  Cool, but a little early in the match for those.  Apache agrees apparently, cause she counters the Gory Special into a rollup for 2.  Test of strength leads to flippy floppy.  Odd sequence leads to Apache getting a cross armbreaker.  Sloppy reversal sequence lead to 2 for Apache, and both tag out.  Crowd IMMEDIATELY picks up for Yokota and Yoshida.  Reversals ensue until Jaguar takes control and brings in Apache, and you can almost hear the groan from the crowd.  For whatever reason, they just DO NOT want to see the lucha chicks in there right now.   Apache/Yokota work on Yoshida's left leg.  Yoshida fires back and brings in Felina.  Some lucha stuff bores the crowd again.  Apache charges and does a (poor) imitation of the Ultimo Dragon corner handstand headscissor.  Felina comes back with a tilt a whirl backbreaker.  Both tag out, delighting the crowd.   Suplex by Yoshida, but Jaguar comes back with a rollup and sunset flip, both for 2.    Crossbody by Jaguar misses, and Yoshida gets La Majistril for 2.  Butterfly suplex gets 2¼.  Felina in, but she hits Yoshida to let Jaguar take control.  Jaguar gets caught in a double team though, but counters the double by hitting a rana on Yoshido and armdragging Felina at the same time.  That was kinda cool.  And then, out of nowhere, Tiger Driver '91 by Jaguar on Felina gets 2!!!  What?!?!!?   I mean, I love the move, but it's just TOTALLY out of place right here.

--Apache comes in with a rollup for 2.  Some slaps, another rollup by Apache.  Both tag out again, and Yoshida gets an ab stretch.  Jaguar says "Fuck you, there's no way you're gonna rock more than me" and gets an octopus stretch which Felina breaks up.  Apache comes in for some more flippy floppy with Felina.  They do some brawling outside, and our heroes come back in.  Nice handspring elbow by Yoshida.  Jaguar comes back with a rana, with Felina missing a senton while Jaguar wasn't looking.  All four girls are in and they try stereo flippy floppy rollup spots, but just to show where the real talent is, the Japanese chicks get it right while the lucha girls fuck up.   Apache gets a quick dropkick after some heel miscommunication.  Apache charges Felina, but Felina just back body drops her outside right into Yoshida.  Back inside, Jaguar gets 2 off a crossbody on Felina.  This isn't as exciting as it reads...even if you think this is boring.  Whip by Jaguar, but Felina just goes with the momentum and hits a tope suicida, taking out both Apache and Yoshido, and then she pulls Jaguar outside.  Yoshida recovers first and hits a flying crossbody from the top to the outside, taking out all of them.  Back in, Felina floats over a corner whip and goes upstairs, but Apache runs up Angle style and arm drags her from the top for the 3.  Match continues.  Hmmm, I guess it's elimination style. Yoshida quickly comes in and applies a surfboard to take control.  Apache eventually slips out, hits a nice rana, but Yoshida reverses for 3.  We're down to Jaguar and Yoshida now, so of course the crowd is into it.  Jaguar quickly comes in, but runs right into a rollup for a very hot 2¾ count.  First hot count all match.  Jaguar counters with a hot 2¾ count of her own.  Yoshida hits a flying crossbody for 2, but Jaguar fires right back with a straightjacket suplex(!) for the 3.  *3/4  You know, I proofread this to make sure there weren't any massive spelling errors or anything, and as I was reading it, I thought "You know, this reads as a good match, maybe I rated it too low."  So, I went back and watched it again.  Crowd was bored to tears, which meant no energy for the wrestlers or for me, and the lucha chicks blew a bunch of stuff.  The match just didn't flow, you know?  Crowd was just not into the lucha chicks.  Maybe that made them press a little, cause they missed a bunch of stuff that I'm sure they could pull off in their sleep.
 
 

Etsuko Mita/Mima Shimoda  vs.   Suzuka Minami/Tomoko Watanabe  UWA Tag

--Obligatory WWF-influenced attractiveness rating--I don't think I'd do any of them.  They're not ugly, actually fairly decent, just not for me.  Mita and Shimoda are color coordinated in pink tonight....don't see that kind of fashion coordination too often in joshi.  Tomoko and Shimoda start and do alot of yelling and shit that doesn't go anywhere, before Suzuka comes in with a double underhook backbreaker (think Jericho, although he hasn't done it in a long time now).  The Pinks bail, but Suzuka hits a tope suicida on both.  The faces follow up with a double clothesline on Shimoda.  Tomoko hits a double axe from the top, but the Pinks take control with lots of hairpulling.  Owendriver by Etsuko, followed up with some choking.  Tomoko fights out and hits a bulldog before tagging out to Suzuka..  Suzuka works over Etsuko with a camel clutch and a cross armbreaker before Etsuko slips out and wisely tags.  Crossbody by Suzuka gets 2, but Shimoda fights back with a pair of clotheslines and flying clothesline, but only for 1.  Fisherman suplex gets 2½. for Shimoda, and the Pinks go to work with the Boston crab by Shimoda, then a single crab by Etsuko.  Wow, there's a shocker.  Choke sleeper with a bodyscissors by Etsuko wastes some time, tag out, but Suzuka counters a whip with a tilt a whirl backbreaker.  Sequel gets 2½.  She finally gets the hot tag out to Tomoko, who immediately comes in and puts on a Boston crab.  FUCK, that is just fucking annoying.  I love joshi and AJW in particular but this annoys the piss out of me sometimes, especially when it's out of the context of the match.  A Boston crab is a face in peril move, not a hot tag move.  The Pinks are fresh and Boston crab is not gonna help anything.
 

--Anyway.....Tomoko works the back before Shimoda comes in and gets 1 off a crucifix rollup.   Tomoko fires back with some stuff, then gets a flying sitdown from the top for 2.  Yes, you read correctly, I did just type "flying sitdown."  Suzuka comes in with a crossbody from the top that gets 2.  Shimoda quickly gets the tag to Etsuko.  Airplane spin, then into a rear choke, but Shimoda makes the ropes.  The Pinks work Suzuka over in the corner, before Suzuka gets a quick rollup for 2.  Tomoko in, but Etsuko just puts her right back out.  Etsuko assists Shimoda with a flying crossbody to the outside, then Etsuko follows with Tope suicida.  Nice sequence there.  Electric chair drop by Etsuko is immediately followed with a flying crossbody by Shimoda.  Simple stuff like the last couple minutes is where you can tell how long Estuko and Shimoda have been working as a team.  Shimoda tries a tiger suplex on Tomoko, but Suzuka jumps in and wisely breaks it up, allowing Tomoko to SOMEHOW rana Shimoda for 2.  This crowd is definately warming up here.  Tomoko tries to follow up with a moonsault but misses, and Shimoda is right there to capitalize with bridged tiger suplex that gets a very hot 2¾ before Suzuka breaks it up.  Tomoko buys enough time with a clothesline to tag out to Suzuka.  She tries a powerbomb right away, but Etsuko reverses for 2.  Suzuka up top, but Shimoda comes in fresh and meets her up there.  SUPER BUTTERFLY SUPLEX gets 2¾ before Tomoko breaks it.  Suzuka recovers and hits a nice foldover German that gets 2.  Suzuka goes upstairs, but a missile dropkick misses and Shimoda quickly scrambles up top and crushes Suzuka with a missile dropkick of her own and tags out to Etsuko.  Suzuka tries the powerbomb again, but once again Etsuko reverses, this time for a hot 2½.   Suzuka tries the powerbomb AGAIN, and finally hits it, only to have Shimoda break it up at 2.  Another powerbomb by Suzuka is blocked, but she stays with it and manages to maneuver around until she gets what sorta looked like a tomikaze.  Etsuko is in real trouble.  Foldover powerbomb gets a super hot 2 count before Shimoda breaks it up.  This crowd is HOT.  Suzuka goes upstairs, but a guillotine leg drop misses.  Etsuko tries to capitalize with a DVD but she stumbles with it.  Try again, and this time she hits the DVD for the 3.  I was looking for Tomoko and Suzuka to go over, but it was still a good match.  ***1/2.
 
 

Sakie Hasegawa vs. Bison Kimura

--Obligatory WWF influenced attractiveness rating---Sakie is good to go.  Bison is a definite no.

--I haven't seen a bad Hasegawa match yet, so I'm expecting good things.  On the other hand, I can't remember a Bison Kimura match that I've ever liked.

--We don't even get intros cause Bison throws Sakie into the railing and beats her ass as soon as Sakie walks out.  I'm in shock.  That kind of attack is VERY rare in my experience with AJW.  Sakie fires back with a spinning heel kick.  Some wild punchy kicky establishes some clear hatred between the two.  I have no problem with that.   We get the JCAFS (abbreviation Brandon and I created cause it happens alot in Japan....it stands for Japanese Cross Armbreaker Fight Sequence), then they get tired of that and just bitchslap each other.  BTW, not only have I never seen a good Bison match, it's just uncomfortable to watch her wrestle.  She just looks like one of those weirdos that like severe pain and bondage when they have sex.  And for anybody who reads this and is into that shit....I don't give a flying fuck, so don't email me about it.  Call me boring, but I would rather be untied during sex.   Trading chops now.  Sakie tries a dropkick, but Bison just shrugs it off and gets an STF.  I couldn't really tell from the beginning of the match or anything, but I think this is a no-DQ match.  Bison works the right knee, but Sakie fires back with a couple more dropkicks.  Sakie goes to work on the arm, but gets bored with it and tosses Bison outside and starts working her over with a nightstick.  Yep, this is no DQ.  She tosses Bison hard into the rail, but Bison goes all crazy bitch on Sakie and just beats the shit out of her outside.  AJW HARDCORE!!!!   Back inside, Sakie gets that weird Jeff Hardy enziguiri reversal.  I hate that reversal, FYI.  Top rope springboard to the outside by Sakie misses, and Bison takes advantage with a slam and flying headbutt by for 2.  Wow, that was the first cover in the match.  Sakie comes back with rights, then out of nowhere hits an EXPLODER(!), but no cover.  Sakie is feeling a little vicious tonight, I think.  She picks Bison back up and hits two more Exploders....for only a soft 2 count!?!?  What the fuck is that?  Bison gets a chest slap for 2½....yeah, cause a chest slap to the tit is more devastating than 3 FUCKIN EXPLODERS!!!!  Another Exploder attempt fails, but Sakie still gets a spinning heel kick.  Another spinning heel kick misses, Bison misses a chest slap, and Sakie hits the spinning heel kick for 2.   Exploder attempt again, but Bison slaps out.  Spinning heel kick gets 3 for Sakie.  What the fuck was that ending?   **1/2   Match had alot of intensity and was moving along well until the last couple minutes, when it just went straight to hell.
 
 

Toshiyo Yamada vs. Takako Inoue vs. Reggie Bennett     All Pacific Women's Title Triangular Match

This is NOT a triple threat match, but rather two of the wrestlers go until one gets the pin, then the one sitting out comes in for the next fall.  What is confusing is that I don't know Japanese, so at the end of the match I know who the winner is, but I don't know WHY they won.  In essence, this is basically three singles matches.....Yamada vs. Inoue, Bennett vs. Inoue, and Yamada vs. Bennett.  Takako and Yamada can both turn out good matches, but I really want to emphasize that Reggie is not just some big girl tub of ass out there.  Yeah, she's big, but she's very quick for her size and she meshes well with the smaller wrestlers.

--Takako and Yamada start while Reggie sits first.   Crowd is already pretty jazzed up for this one.  Obviously they know that the 2nd half kick ass portion of the show is about to begin.  They trade forearms to start, Yamada tries a running high kick and misses, letting Takako hit a back suplex.  Takako goes upstairs, Yamada cuts her off, but Takako holds her off and gets what LOOKS to be a top rope Rock Bottom.   That gets 2.  Takako tries a back suplex, but Yamada flips out and hits a release German.  Yamada then hits what looks to be a double arm DDT.  I couldn't really tell....it could have been just a really bad butterfly suplex, but I'll give her the benefit of the doubt.  Schiavone slam, and Yamada goes to work on the leg.  Takako tries to come back, but Yamada hits a Northern lights suplex to stay in control.  Double arm DDT (I'm sure on this one) by Yamada.  A VERY  sweet over the shoulder half crab by Yamada puts Takako in serious trouble.  I believe this is the first time I've ever seen anybody but Bull Nakano use that.  Takako gets her first offense in quite awhile with a quick bridged German.  That gets 2.  Yamada doesn't really care for that though, hitting three running high kicks and a bridged German of her own for 2½.  As a sidenote here, I haven't been paying much attention to the commentary because I can't understand a word they are saying, but I THINK that Akira Hokuto came on as a guest commentator starting right here.  Or it just might be Reggie while she's waiting.  Anyway, Takako reverses a whip attempt and gets a back suplex, but she's tired and can't capitalize right away.  Spinning front kick gets 2 for Yamada as she recovers first.  She misses with a jumping high kick though, which allows Takako to quickly counter into a jujigatame, making Yamada scramble for the ropes.  This crowd is seriously heating up here.  Nice belly to back cradle suplex gets 2 for Takako.  Takako heads upstairs, but she misses something unidentifiable.  Yamada fires off a couple kicks, but Takako just tosses her outside.  Takako tries to follow up with a chairshot, but Yamada blocks it and crawls away and Takako gives chase.  Takako hits what could loosely be described as a chokeslam on the outside, although Yamada didn't get off the ground.  Back inside, Takako misses something from the top again, but still recovers enough to hit a bridged belly to back suplex for 2.  Takako goes up once again and finally gets the 3 with a diving knee from the top.  All that took about 10 minutes.

--Reggie replaces Yamada, and anybody who knows anything about joshi can see what's coming here.  It's just like a big neon sigh that says "Please don't blink, because a severe ass beating is about to commence and if you blink you might miss it."  Reggie immediately gets a torture rack and turns it right into a DVD...oh fuck, that was cool.  Big splash, and Takako, by some miracle, kicks out at a very hot 2¾.  Reggie up top(!), but Takako musters up the strength to cut her off and hit a belly to back from the top for 2.  Takako tries to go upstairs, but Reggie is right there.  Takako surprises me though and hits that top rope Rock Bottom.  It only gets 2.  Now you KNOW Takako is getting fucked up here.  Takako goes upstairs but misses, and Reggie just clotheslines the ever living piss out of her.  Ouch.  Another big clothesline by Reggie.  I should point out that the Japanese are extremely impressed with larger women beating the hell out of a smaller opponent.  Although, now that I think about it, it's the same in AJPW as well, considering how the fans treat Vader, Hansen, Dr. Death, and other big powerful gaijin.  Reggie picks up Takako and slams her, setting up a big splash from the middle rope for 2¾. Tilt a whirl right into the Rack and Takako has to give it up.  This fall only went about three minutes, excellent booking there.

--Now Yamada replaces Takako.  Yamada tries to stand toe to toe and trade rights in the middle with Reggie, but that obviously goes nowhere.   She smartly abandons that strategy and a spinning front kick manages to knock Reggie down.  Yamada goes up top, and she tries that same spinning front kick from the top but it misses.   Reggie rewards her with a big avalanche in the corner.  Whip attempt, but Yamada counters with the spinning front kick again for 2.  Yamada tries for a Vertibreaker(!), but Reggie is just too big.  Reggie tries to return the favor, but Yamada blocks it and hits a spinning heel kick for 2.  Yamada tries a Vertibreaker again but still can't hit it.  DVD by Reggie gets 2.  Slam and middle rope big splash only gets 2 on Yamada.  See, in the last fall, Takako was tired and it almost got a three count, but Yamada is rested and it barely gets 2 here.  I like that booking.  Reggie tries the tilt a whirl into the Rack again but can't get it.  Yamada tries to fire back but Reggie just swats her away and goes upstairs.  Big splash from the top hits knees.  Okay, ouch!  Yamada tries a running high kick but Reggie blocks it and gets the Rack for real this time.  Yamada punches out.  Reggie tries the Rack one more time, but Yamada counters this one into a sunset flip for 3.  This was about 8 minutes of so, I'd say.

--Takako comes in for Reggie, and Yamada wastes no time and fires off a bridged German suplex for  2½.  Yamada goes for a Vertibreaker on the much smaller Takako, but Takako counters it to a beautiful victory roll for a very hot 2 count.  That was cool.  Back suplex by Yamada, she goes up top, but Takako cuts her off and we go outside.  Takako slams her into some seats and puts on a crucifix kneebar that has Yamada screaming for mercy.  We move back inside and Takako goes right back to the crucifix kneebar like she owns Yamada's leg and wants it back now.  Yamada makes the ropes to a big pop.  Back cradle suplex from Takako gets 2, but Yamada gets a rollup for 2.  Takako comes off the top but Yamada gives her a high kick to the face for her trouble.  Yamada tries to follow up and AGAIN goes for the Vertibreaker, but Takako goes right back to the crucifix kneebar.  Yamada shouldnt even be able to stand by now.  Whip attempt by Takako, but Yamada counters that with a high kick (with a nice leg sell, even though she's on offense...that's always nice to see).  Yamada ignores the leg enough to work up the willpower, and FINALLY hits the Vertibreaker she's been going for all night.  You know that's 3 right there.  ****1/4 for the whole thing, and I'd say for a total this went about 25-27 minutes of so.  There must be some kind of weird stipulation that I don't know about here, cause Yamada and Takako were in there for 3 falls each and Reggie was only in there for 2 falls.  Yamada did win 2 falls while Reggie and Takako only won one, though.  Oh well, good match even if I don't understand it all.  In the postmatch interview room, Takako says some stuff.  Reggie, since she's the only English speaking person in the video, of course gives me nothing to work with... just to spite me.  I'm honored, blah blah blah...she's no Rock, that's for sure.  But still.....COME ON, YOU"RE THE ONLY PERSON I CAN UNDERSTAND ON THE WHOLE TAPE!!!! SAY SOMETHING!!!!
 
 

Yumiko Hotta vs. Lioness Asuka    UFC Fight Rules

--I fucking love Asuka.  She brings the goods every fucking time she goes to the ring.  I have never seen an Asuka match that even comes close to approaching bad.  Hotta is more hit and miss....she can be great or really suck.  It depends on if the person working with her is willing to take her offense.  No real review for this match.  I just want to emphasize the sheer brutality of this match....it's worked, but they seriously fuck each other up.  And they picked the right ladies for this match.  Of course, nobody can rival LORD BITCHMASTER OHTANI for sheer dickheadedness, but these two have the reputations for being assholes in their ring style, especially Hotta.  There's not really a whole lot to describe in wrestling terms.  They spend most of the match in the mount position pounding the everliving hell out of each other, although unlike UFC it isn't boring.  They only go to the guard rarely here, which is a definite treat from UFC.  Crowd just oohs and aahs alot at the stiffness.  Towards the middle of the match Asuka starts working the leg alot in between mount position punches.  Hotta doesn't go for any real specific strategy, she just wants to knock Asuka's fucking head off.  I'm sure they weren't putting everything into every punch, but it's still extremely stiff.  Both women bleed hardway from the mouth the whole match, and sport legitimate bruises in the face at the end.  This isn't the first time I've seen this match, but my respect quotient goes up for both women every time I watch this match.   THIS SHIT is what I want to see those stupid Best of Backyard Wrestling motherfuckers try, or those motherfuckers who say wrestling is just all fake.....let your best friend punch you at 75% power in the face for 20 fuckin minutes or so.  It's one thing when you get hit in the face and you're not ready for it....but when you know it's coming, and you don't even cover up and you let someone hit you in the face pretty much as hard they can....now that's fucking balls of steel right there.  The ending comes when Asuka shoots the leg and Hotta grabs her in a waistlock, lifts her up, and hits a VICIOUS VICIOUS SICKENING powerbomb that looked like it should have broken Asuka's neck.  Somehow Asuka just shakes it off though and delivers a series of hard rights, but makes a mistake and tries for a spinning round house kick.  Hotta blocks that, then kicks a fuckin field goal on Asuka's face that puts her down for the ten count.  I know there's some people who don't like the worked shoot style that much, and on some points I agree with them......but this is MUST SEE.  Very stiff, very brutal.  ****3/4
 

Bull Nakano   vs.   Kyoko Inoue       WWF Women's Title

--Obligatory WWF-influenced attractiveness rating--I'd do them both.  Bull always has a little weight in the thighs just because of her build, but she's proportionally built and she's looking good here.  So everyone else can kiss my ass if they don't agree.   BTW, Bull is currently trying to get her pro golfer's card, and she's dropped ALOT of weight in the last few years.  Try to track down a picture, she looks DAMN good.  Just some notes on this match---Bull easily has the coolest music out of all the AJW women.  These are, without a doubt, definately the two most distinctive wrestlers as well, Bull with the blue hair and Kyoko with the totally outrageous loud yellow and red with tassels.  I will admit straight up that Bull has always been my favorite female wrestler.  She has tons of cool offense and TRANSITIONS, she's as quick as any other woman, and she can work a ground style, pure power, and she can hold her own in the air.  Transitions are the most important though.  I  love AJW, but alot of the women don't know alot of transition moves.  When in trouble, they'll go to Boston crabs or half crabs without a second thought.  As for Kyoko, she's also one of my favorites.  She has a nice style that's a mix between traditional Japanese with some lucha in there as well.  Also for Kyoko, although they often tag together and did win the tag titles a couple times, she and Takako are NOT related.   Bull is wearing her totally rocking black road uniform tonight.  Kyoko has on her bright ass tights.  She reminds me of a cross between Hogan, Savage, and Warrior.  She has Hogan colors, Savage style tights, and Warrior face paint and tassels.  Thank God she doesn't wrestle like them.  Crowd is white-hot, BTW.  Just so I don't have to type it after every move, crowds tend to go OOOHHH alot in Bull's matches just because of her kick-ass offense.  You talk about an innovator of offense....Bull pulls out a bunch of cool shit that I've never seen ANYBODY else use, before or since  (Standing Sharpshooter, parallel DDT, etc.).  Not to mention the stuff that she used first and were made more famous by other people (the Crown's Gate).
 
 

--Bell rings and Kyoko wastes no time and charges but Bull clocks her with a clothesline.  Bull surprises me by going up top (never seen her climb to the top so early in a match) but Kyoko cuts her off.  Kyoko sets up for a superplex, but they both fall outside in a very scary moment.  It's funny how you can be legitamitely scared for someone even though you're watching a tape that's now 7 years old and you KNOW they are just fine.  Bull looked like she fell right on her head.   They both pause and stall for a bit to catch their breath.  They finally get back up, and Bull whips Kyoko into the rail, but Kyoko jumps off the rail with a back elbow.  Nice.  Bull is stunned a little, so Kyoko takes the time to walk all the way back up the aisle (again we're talking WM X-7 length aisle here) and charges down full speed and nails Bull with a clothesline.  Okay, that's just excessive violence.  Not that I'm complaining.  Back in, Kyoko slaps on a surfboard, then segues it into a chinlock while  still holding the surfboard.  Ouch.  I love that move.  Bull escapes and fires back with a big clothesline.  Bull goes right for the Standing Sharpshooter, but she can't hold it for long though.  Bull hits the chinlock, but then just turns it into an octopus variation.  Stuff like that is why she totally rules it.  She drops a leg, then picks Kyoko up for piledriver that gets 2.  Kyoko tries to hulk up, but Bull puts her back in her place with a clothesline.  Dragon sleeper by Bull, but she lets go for a leg drop that gets only 1.  Whip by Bull, but Kyoko springboards off the middle rope with a nice back elbow.  She tries again, but Bull counters with a rear naked choke with a body scissors, then a dragon sleeper with a body scissors (think Steve Blackman), but Kyoko counters THAT into a inverted standing Boston crab.  I would explain the last move there but it's just one of those moves you have to see to understand.  Anyway, that was a tough sequence there, but they pulled it off pretty easily.  Kyoko follows up with a DDT.  Bull reverses a whip, but Kyoko messes up a sunset flip, landing too far off to the side of Bull.  Although she could have been working, Bull looks legitately pissed at that.

--Bull sits Kyoko on top and clotheslines the shit out of her, knocking her over the top, but Kyoko's leg gets caught under the turnbuckle.  She's basically in a Tree of Woe position, and totally fucked.  Bull takes advantage of that and beats the hell out of her.  Kyoko finally gets out, but walks right into a powerbomb for a soft 2.  "Bull-dog" get 2.  Haha, I kill me sometimes.  Bull's weird (but cool) half crab variation where she is looking in the same direction as her opponent and bars one leg instead of facing away from them (I don't know the proper name for it) has Kyoko is in serious trouble.  Kyoko fights for the ropes, but Bull pulls her back to the middle a few times until Kyoko makes the ropes.  Crowd is super-hot now.  Kyoko fights back with a clothesline, but Bull ducks a 2nd and hits her own.  Parallel DDT gets 2½ (Bull puts the opponent's feet on the top rope and holds a front facelock, holding the opponent's body parallel to the mat, hence the name, then drops them in a DDT....a nasty NASTY maneuver, and I love it).  Parallel DDT is just a name I made up for lack of anything better to call it...I've searched everywhere for an official name but I can't find anything.  So, until I get info otherwise, I've invented a new move name.  YEAH ME!!!
 

--Slam lets Bull go up top, and she hits her guillotine leg drop...for only 1?  Huh?    Bull up again, but Kyoko hits the Angle Run Up The Turnbuckle belly to belly for 2.  Slam and Kyoko hits an elbow off the top.  Kyoko dodges a Bull right hand and fires off a quick bridged German for 2.  Thunderfire powerbomb by Kyoko gets 2¾.  She tries another one, Bull counters, but Kyoko counters that with headscissors right into a pinning combo for 2.  Nice.  Kyoko tries another powerbomb, but Bull just stands up in perfect position for a Crown's Gate Piledriver (although Sonoko Kato wouldn't even DEBUT until a month after this show...gotta go with who made the move famous though).  Ouch times couple thousand.  Ouch.  Anyway....Kyoko IMMEDIATELY bails (and rightly so), but Bull follows up with tope suicida (Bull can fuckin do anything!!!) and throws Kyoko back inside.  Inverted DDT sets up the top rope leg drop...for only 2½.  Holy shit, I thought that was it.  Powerbomb, and Bull signals for the somersault leg drop, but Kyoko cuts her off.  Bull throws her off, but Kyoko keeps fighting her.  Bull finally says "FUCK YOU, BITCH!!!" and clocks Kyoko with a right and nails the somersault leg drop for the 3 count.  ****1/2  Great match.  Postmatch, Bull and Kyoko do a respect promo thing, big cheer for that.
 

--Akira Hokuto comes out and her and Bull talk amiably for like 5 minutes.  Nothing major happens.  Although they could have been cussing each other out and I wouldn't have been able to tell.  They WERE smiling so it was probably something nice.
 
 

Aja Kong   vs.  Manami Toyota  WWWA Championship Match

--WWF influenced attractiveness rating----Kong is the most definite NO on this tape.  She's not named Kong for nothing.  But she's still a great wrestler.  But Manami Toyota is fucking SUPER HOT.  Wow.

--Kong has a severe size advantage here.  Kong opens up quick with a back suplex and then puts Toyota on top, but Toyota throws her off and hits a missile dropkick to a huge pop.  And that, my friends, is Toyota's last offense for about 15 minutes, as Kong just methodically take Toyota apart, with the crowd basically going "Oh shit, that must hurt" every once in awhile.  Avalanche while Toyota is in the Tree of Woe and a suplex get 2 for Kong.  Kong goes to some serious work, firing off kicks and twisting Toyota around every which way possible.  I should note that Toyota is as flexible as someone can possibly be, which makes every submission move look even more devastating, because Kong can just bend her back as far as she wants.  And Toyota screams alot too....if you want a good reputation as a lover, Manami Toyota is the woman you wanna fuck.  She'd scream loud enough so that the whole damn country could hear.

--Anyway, back to wrestling.  Kicks, chops, choking, it's all Kong.  As I said, Toyota screams alot.  Stalling brainbuster gets 2 before Toyota bridges out.  That's probably something I didn't emphasize enough.  Since a lot of the women are so smallish, they bridge out of alot of pins instead of kicking out.  Slingshot into the bottom rope, and Kong holds it there in a choke.  Toyota weakly fights back but Kong just swats her away, and an Owendriver gets 2.  Severe Liontamer by Kong.  Suplex gets 2 and Toyota bridges out again.  Kong works the back some more.  Nasty half crab by Kong.  Toyota screams out some actual words, and I think they must have been swear words or something because everyone starts going Oooh and Kong just lets go of the hold, looking pissed.  Butterfly suplex for 2.  Liontamer again.  Powerbomb by Kong.  Nastier powerbomb, no cover.  Toyota is getting no offense here.  Another Owendriver gets 2.  Double leg hook piledriver gets 2½.  Whip, Toyota gets a sunset flip, but it barely gets a 1 count.  Front suplex and Kong splashes her from the middle before Toyota bridges out at 2.  Whip, Toyota tries reversing into an octopus stretch, but Kong hip tosses her off like a child.  Toyota up top, but Kong catches her into a slam for 2.  Kong is in complete control here, but then stops the ass-kicking just long enough to point right at Hokuto at ringside, and talks some shit.  A rolling stretch cradle (I hate that move) by Toyota gets 2.  Kong tries for a German, but Toyota flips out and gets one of her own for 2.  Moonsault hits knees....goddamn.  She didn't protect herself at all there.  I think Toyota is trying to kill herself.  Slam by Kong, she goes upstairs, but Toyota pops up and just CRUSHES her with a high kick that knocks Kong off, sending her to the floor.  Holy shit!  Toyota follows up with a missile DK to the outside!  It's official, Toyota is crazy.  Toyota sets up a table on the outside and rolls Kong on it.  She climbs up top, but a splash hits knees.  Fuck.  Kong takes advantage and piledrives Toyota through the table....again, this is March 1995 in WOMEN'S WRESTLING!!!!  Back inside, a Kong Exploder gets...2.999!!  Another for 2.99999!!!!   Kong goes upstairs, but a splash hits knees.  Toyota tries a German suplex, Kong tries to counter with her spinning backhand (she often uses it as her finisher, so it's not just a regular move for her), but Toyota blocks that and hits a double hammerlock suplex for 2.99999!!!   Holy fuck.  Again.  Kong just no-sells that though and fires back with an over the shoulder powerbomb for 2½.  Whip, Toyota tries a springboard kick, but Kong just swats it away.  Kong puts Toyota up top, but Toyota blocks and tries a sunset flip powerbomb, but misses and Kong hits a banzai drop for 2.  Slam, Kong up top for a moonsault, but Toyota stops her and hits....something awesome that I have no clue whether it would have a name or not.  Kong is sitting on the top facing the corner...Toyota comes behind her and stands on the middle, like she's in position for a super belly to back suplex.  But then Toyota puts her legs under Kong's arms and backflips, essentially bringing her down in a powerbomb using her legs.  I'm trying to describe the move but words can't do it justice.  Luckily Kong is in the corner and can get her foot on the ropes to break the count.

--Toyota tries to follow up on that, but Kong hits her spinning backhand for a super-hot 2¾  This crowd is pumped.  Exploder attempt is countered by Toyota for 2.  Toyota goes up, but Kong cuts her off and hits a super bodyslam for 2½.  Kong tries a slam and Toyota tries to float over it, but she can't so Kong just hits an electric chair drop for 2.  Kong puts Toyota up top and NAILS the spinning backhand.  Toyota should be dead after that.  Kong wants to hit a superplex to finish it, but Toyota leaps over Kong and counters with a SUPER OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX!!!!!  Holy shit, this has to be over.  NO COVER!!! Toyota, you stupid bitch!  What are you doing?!?!  But wait, Toyota has Kong again, back up top, and....ANOTHER SUPER OCEAN CYCLONE SUPLEX....this time with a bridge....Kong has to be dead by now. 1, 2...3!!!  Holy fuck what a match.  *****   Words can't really do this match justice.....Toyota takes the biggest shitkicking I've probably ever seen in the first half of the match, but the match is basically even in the last 10 minutes of so.  Easily one of the best matches I've ever seen, in any fed, male or female.
 
 

Official Grade--  A.  As if you had to ask.  Numerous ****+ matches all over the tape, and a few more matches over ***.  This is just an incredible show.  The whole show, and especially Tape 2, gets my highest recommendation.  Give joshi a chance, you'll love it.