All Japan Women 30th Anniversary Show 11/29/98

Running Time: 4 hours 15 minutes

Back in 1993, All Japan Women played host to the two all-time greatest wrestling shows ever, showcasing the very best talent from all the joshi puroresu groups. For the first of these two shows the Yokohama Arena was sold out to the tune of 16,500 fans, still the second largest joshi puroresu crowd ever. Five and a half years later, they returned to the Yokohama Arena to celebrate the 30th anniversary of joshi puroresu, and once again invited the other women�s groups to participate. But this time All Japan Women was on the receiving end of a three-punch reality check. Not only was its own talent pool depleted and sorely lacking, but the delegations sent by the other groups either showed their own lackluster rosters or an unwillingness to send All Japan Women its best talent. Secondly, the political situations had reversed as of late, and it was All Japan Women who was in debt to the other groups. In return for their participation, AJW had to job in most of the interpromotional matches on the show. Not only did it lose it�s second biggest singles title to a rival federation, but GAEA�s singles title was on the line in the main event, not the WWWA (AJW) world title. Finally, reality set in at the box office. While as many as 7,750 people were there depending on which source you ask, truth is barely 5,000 people paid money to see this show live. And those who were there sounded more like they were at a funeral than they were at a wrestling spectacular, with dead reactions to most of the in-ring action and only some modest pockets of heat with few if any huge reactions to the in-ring work. Perhaps an appropriate title for the show would be �My, How the Mighty Have Fallen�.

1. Zap Isozaki (AJW) & Chikako Shiratori (JWP) vs Sachie Nishibori (IWA-J) & Yuki Lee (JWP)

Lee and Nishibori attacked their opponents before the bell. Lee lifted Nishibori into a dropkick on Shiratori. Lee dropkicked Nishibori onto Shiratori. Shiratori hairmared Nishibori, rammed her face into the mat and rubbed her eyes across the top rope. Shiratori slammed Nishibori for a near fall. Isozaki armdragged Nishibori and applied a sleeper on the mat. Isozaki applied a bodyscissors but Nishibori countered, turned Isozaki over and gave her a sitdown splash. Isozaki no-sold a legdrop and bit Nishibori�s leg. Shiratori no-sold a couple dropkicks from Nishibori and sidestepped a third. Shiratori DDTd Nishibori twice for a near fall. Nishibori gave Shiratori a sloppy tornado DDT out of the corner for a near fall. Shiratori superplexed Nishibori for a near fall. Nishibori blocked a German suplex and Lee gave Shiratori a roundhouse kick. Nishibori rolled up Shiratori for a near fall. Shiratori gave both opponents a double clothesline and repeatedly hit Lee with Isozaki�s stick. Shiratori hit Isozaki with the stick when Lee moved. Lee kicked Shiratori but Shiratori dropkicked her. Lee gave Shiratori a roundhouse kick to the head for a near fall. Shiratori German suplexed Lee for a near fall. Isozaki jumped off the top rope but Lee met her with a roundhouse kick. Lee whipped Isozaki into the corner but missed a clothesline and Isozaki dropkicked her twice as Shiratori held her back with the stick. Isozaki gained a near fall on Lee but Lee kicked her. Lee missed a roundhouse kick but superkicked Isozaki for a near fall. Lee cradle suplexed Isozaki for a near fall. Lee back suplexed Isozaki and Nishibori gave her a flying bodypress for a near fall. Nishibori gave Isozaki a huracanrana of sorts out of the corner for a near fall but Isozaki turned her over for her own near fall. Shiratori top rope dropkicked Nishibori and Isozaki superkicked her for the pin at 7:27. Pretty flat match with only a few nice moves. Lee seemed to be the best worker of the four with her solid kicks. Better than a rookie style match, but still opening match material. *1/4

2. Momoe Nakanishi & Miyuki Fuji (AJW) vs Mika Akino & Rie Tamada (Arsion)

Nakanishi dropkicked Akino and gave her a great running top rope inverted flying bodypress for a near fall. They did a criss cross and Akino dropkicked Nakanishi. Akino then did her own awesome springboard inverted flying bodypress and applied a cross armbreaker but Fuji intervened. Tamada gave Nakanishi a few dropkicks/ Akino gave Nakanishi a drop toehold and Tamada legdropped her for a near fall. Tamada struggled but applied a Boston crab on Nakanishi. Nakanishi rolled up Tamada for a near fall. Tamada elbowed Fuji but Fuji gave her a headlock takedown. Tamada no-sold three dropkicks and gave Fuji a dropkick of her own. Akino gave Fuji a bunch of dropkicks but Fuji caught her on the second rope and dumped her to the mat. Fuji gave Akino a second rope dropkick for a near fall but Akino caught her in an armbar/headscissors combo. Akino ran into a boot and Fuji bulldogged her 3 times for a near fall. Nakanishi and Fuji booted Akino and bulldogged her. Fuji gained a near fall. Akino did a roll-through into a legbar but Nakanishi quickly reached the ropes. Akino missed a dropkick and slid out of the ring. Nakanishi elbowed Tamada off the apron. Nakanishi took out Fuji with a top rope Orihara moonsault when their opponents moved. Akino then took out Nakanishi and Fuji with a tope con hilo. Akino went for a huracanrana but Nakanishi powerbombed her for a near fall. Akino caught Nakanishi in an armbar but Fuji intervened. Akino missed a clothesline and Nakanishi German suplexed her for a near fall. Akino countered a dragon suplex and applied a Fujiwara armbar but Nakanishi quickly reached the ropes. Nakanishi missed a moonsault bodyblock but Fuji caught Tamada on the top rope and Nakanishi top rope superplexed her for a near fall. Tamada blocked a dragon suplex and elbowed Nakanishi for a near fall. Tamada went for a dragon suplex but Fuji gave her a top rope dropkick. Nakanishi dragon suplexed Tamada for a near fall. Tamada German suplexed Nakanishi but Fuji top rope dropkicked her for a near fall. Fuji suplexed Tamada for a near fall. Tamada blocked a superplex but missed a top rope dropkick. Tamada elbowed Fuji and German suplexed her for a near fall. Fuji rolled up Tamada for a near fall. Tamada gave Fuji a roaring elbow for a near fall. Tamada gave Fuji a top rope dropkick and then a brutal top rope missile dropkick for the pin at 8:52. Really good match. Tamada looked sharper than she did in AJW. Akino and Nakanishi looked impressive with their athleticism. Nakanishi at age 18 was already a livewire of energy and the best worker of the match. Fuji wasn�t bad but was clearly the weak link of the overall match. **3/4

3. Emi Motokawa (IWA-J), Tomezo Tsunokake, Yuki Ishikawa (Battlearts) & Gran Naniwa (Michinoku Pro) vs Kanoko Motoya (JWP), Little Frankie, Alexander Otsuka (Battlearts) & Yone Genjin (Michinoku Pro)

Ishikawa got the better of Genjin on the mat but Frankie dropkicked him twice. Genjin whipped Tsunokake out of the ring and they fought into the VIP area on the floor. Motoya dropkicked Motokawa and they did a criss cross. Motokawa dropkicked Motoya and gave her a huracanrana for a near fall. Motokawa gave Moyota a hairmare and suplexed her. Motokawa hit a power elbow but missed a second one and Motoya kicked her. Motoya gave Motokawa an overhead suplex for a near fall. Motoya gave Motokawa two sentons and a second rope corkscrew senton for a near fall. Otsuka tagged in and went after Motokawa, who reacted like she was traumatized. Otsuka gave Motokawa a sloppy slam. Naniwa called out Motoya but Otsuka dropkicked him and Naniwa ran out of the ring. Motoya and then Frankie stomped Naniwa in the corner. Motokawa attacked Genjin�s leg and gave him the world�s slowest dragon screw. Motokawa needed held getting Genjin over for a Romero special so her partners pushed him over and hit him. Ishikawa kinda jokingly went after Motoya. Naniwa gave Motoya a drop toehold and held her in a camel clutch while Ishikawa taunted her. Ishikawa teased a slam but set Motoya down gently. Naniwa did his rope walk but Otsuka then mocked him with his own rope walk. Motoya DDTd Naniwa off the second rope with Otsuka�s help. Motoya stomped Naniwa and gave him a sloppy tornado DDT. Funny spot saw Motoya go for a top rope splash but Ishikawa pulled Naniwa away and laid down in her path. Tsunokake then volunteered and took the splash from Motoya for a near fall. Motokawa was scared by Genjin. Genjin kicked Motoya but missed a clothesline and Motokawa gave him a tilt-a-whirl headscissors. Everyone took these phantom flip bumps for Frankie, including his teammates, in a really lame spot. Tsunokake kicked Frankie and gave him a giant swing, then collapsed himself. Otsuka then gave Tsunokake a giant swing. Genjin slammed Tsunokake and top rope legdropped him. His partners dropped Frankie onto Tsunokake and Frankie scored the pin at 11:49. Back in 1996, there was an awesome 8-person intergender tag with JWP and Michinoku workers that showed a match like this could work if done properly. But this funky crew of workers couldn�t measure up, producing a weak match with too many lame spots. Motoya was the best worker, and Motokawa worked well with her, but this was a waste of time for everyone involved. *

4. Rieko Amano & Tomoko Miyaguchi (JWP) vs Tomoko Kuzumi (JWP) & Nanae Takahashi (AJW)

Takahashi elbowed Kuzumi when Amano moved. Miyaguchi dropkicked Takahashi. Amano went for a tope suicida but stopped when her opponents attacked Miyaguchi. Takahashi overpowered Amano and bieled her by her hands. Takahashi tackled Amano three times for a near fall. Kuzumi kicked Amano and gave her a cross bodyblock. Amano missed a kick but countered a DDT and gave Kuzumi a DDT of her own. Miyaguchi and Amano tackled Kuzumi and Miyaguchi gained a near fall. Miyaguchi rammed Kuzumi into the corner but Kuzumi rebounded with a top rope dropkick. Kuzumi back suplexed Miyaguchi for a near fall. Takahashi applied a Boston crab on Miyaguchi and crossed her legs while maintaining the hold. Miyaguchi reached the ropes after a struggle. Miyaguchi fought back with an overhead slam of Takahashi. She and Amano choked Takahashi and stomped her. Amano came off the second rope but Takahashi caught her and dumped her to the mat. Kuzumi dropkicked Amano and Takahashi tackled her in the corner. Amano ducked a double boot and she and Miyaguchi clotheslined their opponents. Takahashi cross bodyblocked both opponents and Kuzumi gave Amano a springboard dropkick. They traded German suplex counters, Takahashi elbowed Amano and Kuzumi German suplexed her. Amano rolled through and German suplexed Kuzumi but Kuzumi rolled through and German suplexed Amano. Kuzumi went for a top rope splash but crashed onto Amano�s boots. Amano applied a cross armbreaker on Kuzumi but Kuzumi quickly reached the ropes. Amano clotheslined Kuzumi twice but Takahashi knocked her off the top rope to the floor. Kuzumi botched a springboard plancha barely grazing her opponents. Takahashi took out Kuzumi with a tope suicida when their opponents moved. Amano top rope dropkicked Kuzumi as did Miyaguchi. Amano top rope dropkicked Kuzumi for a near fall. Miyaguchi gave Kuzumi an airplane spin for a near fall. Kuzumi blocked a superplex but Miyaguchi knocked her off the top rope to the mat. Miyaguchi gave Kuzumi a second rope enzuguiri for a near fall. Miyaguchi gave Kuzumi a second rope Samoan drop for a near fall. Kuzumi blocked a rolling armbar by Amano but Amano gave her a roaring elbow. Amano mounted Kuzumi but Takahashi caught her and German suplexed her. Takahashi slammed Amano but missed a Vader bomb. Amano gave Takahashi a drop toehold and rolled through into a cross armbreaker but Takahashi quickly reached the ropes. Amano pumphandled Takahashi�s arm and countered a tilt-a-whirl slam with a cross armbreaker. Takahashi picked up Amano and slammed her for a near fall but Amano maintained the armbar. Takahashi elevated Amano but Amano knocked Kuzumi off the top rope. Miyaguchi then elevated Takahashi and Amano gave her a top rope cross armbreaker slam into the hold. Kuzumi stomped Amano to break the hold. Miyaguchi gave Takahashi a top rope splash for a near fall. Kuzumi caught Miyaguchi on the top rope and Takahashi top rope superplexed her for a near fall. Takahashi slammed Miyaguchi and gave her a reverse (jump backwards) top rope senton for a near fall. Kuzumi gave Miyaguchi two German suplexes and Amano tried to intervene but missed a clothesline. Kuzumi then gave Miyaguchi SEVEN CONSECUTIVE German suplexes (take that Chris Benoit!) for a near fall. Miyaguchi caught Kuzumi on the top rope but Kuzumi gave her a top rope frankentoyota for a near fall. Kuzumi and Miyaguchi traded counters, then Amano hit Kuzumi with an uraken. Miyaguchi gave Kuzumi a couple elbows and a roaring elbow for a near fall. Kuzumi blocked a suplex but Miyaguchi superkicked her. Kuzumi kicked Miyaguchi but Miyaguchi rolled her up for a near fall. Takahashi gave Miyaguchi a top rope missile dropkick and Kuzumi German suplexed her for a near fall. Kuzumi gave Miyaguchi a Death Valley driver for the pin at 15:54. A slightly disappointing match, not so much in failure to meet expectations, but because of the number of sloppy spots and exchanges. Everyone worked hard and everyone, including Takahashi, contributed a fair amount of nice work and spots. However, everyone was off at least a few times and there were times when even the JWP workers didn�t seem on the same page with each other. Kuzumi was perhaps the best overall worker while Amano did several cool submissions. I actually liked Takahashi here better than most others did. She wasn�t anything special, but I thought her work was solid and clearly improved from 6 months earlier. Solid match that could have been damn good. **1/2

5. AJW Tag Team Title: Yuko Kosugi & Sumie Sakai (c) (Jd) vs Miho Wakizawa & Kayo Noumi (AJW)

They fought before the bell and the challengers clotheslined Sakai. Kosugi held Noumi and Sakai dropkicked her. Sakai and Kosugi clotheslined Noumi and taunted her. Sakai gave Noumi an armringer and armbar on the mat but Noumi reached the ropes. Kosugi hit Noumi�s arm with a top rope axhandle and gave her an armdrag. Kosugi bounced Noumi off the ropes and kicked her. Kosugi suplexed Noumi for a near fall and applied a sleeper. Kosugi then applied a bodyscissors on Noumi while maintaining the sleeper. Noumi rolled up Kosugi for a near fall and dropkicked her twice for another near fall. Wakizawa dropkicked Kosugi, snapmared her and applied a headscissors. Kosugi turned Wakizawa over and tied up her legs. Kosugi bent Wakizawa back in a camel clutch position by pulling on her nostrils with her fingers. Kosugi held Wakizawa as Sakai gave her two dropkicks but Noumi came in and dropkicked Kosugi. Kosugi snapmared Wakizawa and Sakai stomped her. Sakai gave Wakizawa an armringer but Wakizawa rolled her up for a near fall. Sakai missed a flying bodypress and Wakizawa gave her two flying forearms for a near fall. Sakai countered a cradle suplex but missed a clothesline. Sakai armdragged Wakizawa but Wakizawa countered a second armdrag and cradle suplexed Sakai for a near fall. They traded German suplex counters and Sakai rolled up Wakizawa for a near fall. Kosugi gave Wakizawa two bodyblocks for a near fall. Kosugi missed a second rope spot and Wakizawa missed a top rope splash. Kosugi missed a top rope foot stomp and Noumi dropkicked her. Wakizawa German suplexed Kosugi for a near fall and knocked Sakai off the apron with an elbow. Noumi and Wakizawa gave Kosugi a double top rope splash and Wakizawa gained a near fall. Wakizawa slammed Kosugi but Noumi missed a flip senton off the top rope. Sakai dropkicked Wakizawa but took out Kosugi with a plancha when their opponents moved. Noumi then hit both opponents with a plancha. Wakizawa then hit both champs with a plancha of her own. Wakizawa slammed Kosugi and launched Noumi into a flip senton onto her for a near fall. Sakai caught Noumi on the top rope but Noumi still gave Kosugi a top rope dropkick. Wakizawa and Noumi top rope dropkicked Kosugi and Noumi gained a near fall. Sakai caught Noumi on the top rope and Kosugi gave her a northern lights superplex for a near fall. Kosugi slammed Noumi and Sakai moonsaulted her. Kosugi gave Noumi a top rope foot stomp for a near fall. Sakai northern lights suplexed Noumi for a near fall. Sakai elevated Noumi but Noumi sunset flipped her for a near fall. Sakai gave Noumi a top rope flip dropkick for a near fall. Wakizawa German suplexed Kosugi. Wakizawa caught Sakai on the top rope and German suplexed her out of the corner. Wakizawa gave Sakai two fisherman busters. Noumi German suplexed Sakai for a near fall. Noumi gave Sakai a modified double arm suplex for the pin at 11:45 to win the title. Plenty of action, a good deal of sloppiness but also some nice work. Wakizawa was pretty solid while the Jd women showed some nice athleticism. They did a few nice near falls late that would have normally generated decent heat, but this crowd was dead. Too bad. **1/4

6. AJW All-Pacific Title: Kumiko Maekawa (c) (AJW) vs Yasha Kurenai (LLPW)

They had a test of strength and Maekawa kicked Kurenai away. Maekawa gave Kurenai a sweeping kick to the head. She snapmared Kurenai and gave her a couple kicks. Kurenai gave Maekawa a drop toehold and applied a reverse bow and arrow. Kurenai stomped Maekawa�s back and gave her a hairmare. Kurenai tossed Maekawa by her ears and elbowed her twice. Kurenai legdropped Maekawa and applied a front chancery on the mat. Maekawa turned Kurenai over and applied a leglock but Kurenai quickly reached the ropes. Maekawa kicked Kurenai, took her down and applied a legbar. Kurenai reached the ropes after a struggle. Maekawa gave Kurenai three bicycle kicks and applied a legbar. Maekawa applied a figure 4 leglock and Kurenai failed to turn her over. Kurenai reached the ropes after a lengthy struggle but Maekawa kicked her. Maekawa dumped Kurenai upside down in the corner and bent her leg over the top rope. Maekawa kicked Kurenai. Kurenai took Maekawa down and tried to apply a half crab but Maekawa reached the ropes. Kurenai slammed Maekawa�s knee into the mat and gave her some kicks. Kurenai struggled but applied a half crab. Kurenai headbutted Maekawa�s back and gave her a second rope headbutt to the back. Kurenai went for a bow and arrow but Maekawa rolled on top of her. Maekawa whipped Kurenai into the corner but ran into a high kick. Kurenai attacked Maekawa with what looked like Zap Isozaki�s stick. Maekawa won an exchange of kicks. Kurenai gave Maekawa some kneelifts and kicked her out of the ring. Kurenai took the fight into the crowd and rammed Maekawa into a row of chairs. She attacked Maekawa with a soda can. Kurenai repeatedly hit Maekawa with the stick. Kurenai gave Maekawa a modified pedigree for a near fall and gave her a hanging chokehold on the second rope for another near fall. Kurenai went for an armbar but Maekawa countered. Kurenai gave Maekawa a couple high kicks but Maekawa blocked a third and gave her a cool sweeping superkick. Maekawa superkicked Kurenai for a near fall. Maekawa whipped Kurenai into the corner but missed an ax kick and Kurenai back suplexed her. Kurenai gave Maekawa three chokeslams but Maekawa caught her on the top rope with an ax kick. Maekawa gave Kurenai an ax kick in the corner but missed a second and Kurenai gave her a palm strike for a near fall. Kurenai went for a weird armbar type submission but Maekawa reached the ropes. Maekawa gave Kurenai a sharp bicycle kick for a near fall but missed a kick and Kurenai gave her a cross arm pumphandle suplex. Kurenai top rope legdropped Maekawa for a near fall. Kurenai gave Maekawa, who was on all fours, a top rope legdrop for a near fall. Kurenai then applied what looked like a modified double chicken wing while standing over Maekawa�s head and back. Fans actually reacted a little to this. Maekawa slapped Kurenai and gave her a koppo kick. Maekawa ax kicked Kurenai for a near fall that actually drew some heat. Maekawa missed two ax kicks and Kurenai gave her a shoda. Kurenai did something of a hammerlock/chokeslam/suplex combo on Maekawa. Kurenai gave Maekawa a hammerlock belly to belly suplex for the pin at 16:29 to win the title. Finish seemed sudden given the pace they were working. However, the work up to that point wasn�t bad and at least was better than I had been led to believe. Some might find this boring because they didn�t work a fast pace or work with as much intensity as a usual joshi match, but much of the work, including Maekawa�s kicks and the leg work, was solid. Most importantly, this match seemed to draw the most heat of any match so far, and at least the crowd seemed awake. Maybe they were getting restless and were aching for something to react to? In any case this was okay with Maekawa being the better worker of the two. **

7. Shinobu Kandori & Harley Saito (LLPW) vs Takako Inoue (AJW) & Noriyo Tateno (LLPW)

Tateno hit Kandori with a jumping knee before the bell and gave her a second one. Kandori no-sold a slam by Tateno, but Tateno did the same to Kandori. Takako and Tateno double clotheslined Kandori but Kandori ducked a second clothesline. Saito bulldogged Takako. Kandori headbutted Tateno and Saito bulldogged her. Saito gave Tateno an enzuguiri and suplexed her. Saito gave Tateno a couple kicks but Tateno clotheslined her. Saito gave Takako a roundhouse kick. Takako landed some punches but Kandori gave her a kneelift. Takako kicked Kandori and DDTd her. Takako gave Kandori three yakuza kicks but Kandori responded with a bunch of slaps. Takako kicked Saito and DDTd her for a near fall. Takako slammed Saito and Tateno gave her a top rope kneedrop. Tateno applied a Romero special and gained a near fall on Saito. Tateno double arm suplexed Saito for a near fall and applied a half crab. Takako rammed Saito into the mat twice and applied an STF. Saito spin kicked Takako and Kandori applied a swinging choke sleeper for a near fall. Kandori applied a chinlock and pounded Takako. Kandori booted Takako but Takako kicked and DDTd her. Takako applied an STF on Kandori and then added an armbar while maintaining the facelock. Kandori reached the ropes after a struggle. Tateno rammed Kandori into the corner twice but Kandori headbutted her. Saito gave Tateno two spin kicks for a near fall and a Saito suplex for another near fall. Saito tombstoned Tateno for a near fall. Tateno rolled up Saito for a near fall. Saito blocked a kick and gave Takako what looked like a botched dragon screw. Saito back suplexed Takako but Tateno elbowed her. Takako and Tateno double clotheslined Saito and gave her a double dropkick. Takako DDTd Saito. Takako and Takeno missed a double top rope headbutt. Kandori and Tateno traded blows. Kandori countered a clothesline but Takako countered a cross armbreaker with her own armbar. Kandori then quickly countered and applied a legbar on Takako but Takako reached the ropes. Kandori slammed Takako and Saito top rope splashed her for a near fall. Takako countered a suplex with a DDT and Tateno clotheslined Saito twice. Tateno German suplexed Saito for a near fall. Saito caught Tateno but Takako gave her a Takako panic. Tateno powerbombed Saito with Takako�s help for a near fall. Takako missed a Takako panic but Saito missed a spin kick. Takako kicked Saito for a near fall and gave her a second rope chokeslam for another near fall. Takako went for a Takako panic but Saito met her with a roundhouse kick. Kandori landed some punches and gave Takako a kneelift. Kandori gained a near fall but Takako countered a powerbomb and rolled up Kandori for a near fall. Takako countered a sleeper and back suplexed Kandori for a near fall. Takako gave Kandori a cradle back suplex for a near fall and three Takako panics for another near fall. Takako gave Kandori two more Takako panics for a fairly heated near fall. Takako rolled up Kandori for a near fall and gave her la magistral for another near fall. Takako applied a rear choke but Kandori escaped and applied a cross armbreaker while hooking Takako�s leg for the submission win at 15:27. Finally a match that delivered if not slightly exceeded expectations. Saito was great and continued to present herself as one of the great underrated workers of the 90s. Takako was solid in her work as was Kandori, and they worked surprisingly well together. Tateno was also solid in her work. Takako was an inconsistent worker by 1998, but this was one of her better nights. The closing stretch was damn good with lots of near falls, some of which actually drew decent heat. Takako looked good pushing WWWA champ Kandori to her limit before going down in defeat. Finish seemed a little sudden, but it worked in getting over the dangerousness of Kandori�s submissions. This was enjoyable by 1993 standards let alone 1998 standards. ***1/4

8. Zap I (Kaoru Ito) & Zap T (Tomoko Watanabe) (AJW) vs Shark Tsuchiya & Eagle Sawaii (LLPW)

Shark�s cronies attacked the Zaps before they entered the ring. They but I�s mask but Zap I fought back, hit her opponents with her stick and unmasked. T then unmasked as well. Shark and Sawaii attacked their opponents and the action quickly left the ring. Sawaii and Ito fought into the crowd as did Shark and Tomoko. Shark attacked Tomoko with a chain, tied it around her neck and dragged her around with it. Sawaii attacked Ito with a chain and someone hit Ito with a stick. Shark dragged Tomoko to the entrance and into the crowd as Sawaii dominated Ito in the bleachers. Sawaii choked Ito with a chain but Ito fought back and attacked Sawaii with the chain. Shark whipped Tomoko into the barricade and repeatedly cut her open with a sickle. Sawaii rammed Ito into a table but Ito hit her with a bunch of chairs. Shark continued to bloody Tomoko with a barbed wire baton. Sawaii choked Ito with a chain near the announcers� table as Shark again attacked Tomoko with the sickle and the barbed wire baton. Ito tried to fight back but Sawaii and her cronies continued to attack her with a chain. Back in the ring Sawaii ran through Tomoko and elbowed her. Shark attacked Ito with the barbed wire baton on the floor. Sawaii went for a powerbomb but Tomoko countered with a huracanrana for a near fall. Tomoko German suplexed Sawaii for a near fall as Ito and Shark dueled with batons on the floor. Sawaii�s and Shark�s cronies attacked Ito and Tomoko. Shark rammed Tomoko into the barricade. Sawaii blocked a suplex but Ito caught her and gave her a rock bottom for a near fall. Ito knocked Sawaii out of the ring with a baseball slide kick but someone knocked Ito off the top rope to the mat and DDTd her. Sawaii then missed a top rope foot stomp. Crusher Maedomari came in and clotheslined Watanabe. Shark clotheslined Ito but Sawaii missed a second rope dropkick. Ito gave Sawaii a top rope foot stomp. Shark missed a sickle shot, stuck the sickle into the mat and Tomoko gave her a blue thunder powerbomb for the pin but the ref was out of position. Ito was handcuffed to the ropes. Sawaii gave Tomoko a lariat and powerbombed her for a near fall. Sawaii gave Ito a powerbomb of sorts out of the corner for the pin at 10:38. Talk about mercy killing. After the last match I began to have hope that this could be a good show, but this crap shattered that hope. Very little wrestling, and most of the brawling was highly unathletic and lame. The action was wild, which prevented this from being a complete bore, but this was still the biggest waste of Ito and Watanabe�s talents I have ever seen. Keep in mind I�m usually more generous than the average internet critic when rating matches. Not this time. -*

9. Aja Kong (AJW), Yumiko Hotta (AJW) & Dynamite Kansai (JWP) vs Devil Masami (JWP), Lioness Asuka (Jd/GAEA) & Jaguar Yokota (Jd)

Kansai kicked Yokota and whipped her into the corner. Kansai overpowered Yokota and gave her a kneelift. Kansai missed a clothesline and a kick. Asuka applied a headlock but Kong countered and took Asuka down. Asuka gave Kong some roundhouse kicks. Masami and Hotta had a test of strength. Masami rammed Hotta into the corner and bounced her off the ropes. Masami kicked Hotta. Masami and Yokota double teamed Hotta and Asuka came off the top rope with an elbow. Asuka snapmared and kicked Hotta. Asuka whipped Hotta into the corner and Hotta missed a spin kick. Hotta took Asuka down and mounted her. Asuka held her own and went for an ankle lock but Hotta countered and applied a legbar. Kansai kneedropped and kicked Asuka�s leg. Kansai applied a leglock but Asuka reached the ropes. Kansai kneedropped and elbowed Kansai�s leg. Asuka applied a cross armbreaker but Kansai quickly reached the ropes. Kansai whipped Masami into the corner and gave her a lariat. Kansai missed a clothesline, Masami blocked a kick and elbowed Kansai�s leg. Masami rammed Kansai into the corner but Kansai clotheslined her. Masami gave Kansai a lariat but Kansai elbowed her and caught Asuke on the top rope with a kick. Kansai knocked Yokota off the apron. Kansai whipped Hotta and Kong into the corner into corner splashes on Asuka. Kansai then gave Asuka a running lariat in the corner and an enzu-lariat for a near fall. Kansai and Kong gave Asuka some roundhouse kicks. Asuka blocked a kick but Hotta gave her a koppo kick. Kansai back suplexed Asuka for a near fall. Kong missed a second rope splash but caught Asuka and back suplexed her. Kong elbowed Yokota and gave Masami an uraken. Asuka blocked a brainbuster, ducked an uraken but Kong gave her a lariat for a near fall. Kong gave Asuka an uraken for a near fall. Kansai kicked Asuka and gave her a splash mountain for a near fall. Hotta went to give Asuka a tiger driver but Masami gave her an enzu-lariat. Yokota tiger suplexed Hotta for a near fall but Hotta spin kicked her. Hotta gave Yokota a tiger driver for a near fall. Hotta went to powerbomb Yokota but Masami kicked and elbowed her. Hotta ducked a double clothesline and bulldogged Masami and Yokota. Yokota blocked a cross armbreaker from Hotta. Kong back suplexed Yokota twice for a near fall. Kong piledrove Yokota for a near fall. Kansai kicked and stomped Yokota, then applied a sleeper on the mat. Kansai kicked Yokota. Masami and Kansai clotheslined each other twice. Kansai countered a suplex with a really weak suplex of Masami for a near fall. Masami DDTd Hotta and suplexed her. Asuka gave Hotta two sharp roundhouse kicks and an elbow. Hotta blocked a suplex and gave Asuka a bunch of knees to the head. Asuka rolled out of the ring after a sharp knee strike from Hotta. Yokota snapmared Hotta and applied an abdominal stretch but Hotta threw her off. Hotta kicked Yokota but Yokota gave Kong a second rope huracanrana out of the corner for a near fall. Kong countered a hip attack and gave Yokota a Bubba bomb for a near fall. Kong gave Yokota a short lariat but missed a second. Asuka kicked Kong and Yokota German suplexed her for a near fall. Yokota went for a flying bodypress but Kong caught her and slammed her. Kong missed a lariat in the corner but kicked Yokota and gave her a second rope splash for a near fall. Kansai went for a splash mountain but Yokota sunset flipped her for a near fall. Hotta kicked Yokota. Yokota went for a cross bodyblock but Kansai and Hotta gave her a fallaway slam. Asuka and Masami gave Hotta and Kansai lariats. Masami powerbombed Yokota onto Kansai for a near fall. Masami missed a top rope somersault legdrop and Kansai kicked her. Kansai caught Masami�s arm and kicked her twice. Masami blocked a piledriver but Hotta gave her some kicks. Hotta missed a kick and Masami applied a choke. Kong gave Hotta an uraken when Masami moved. Masami applied a sleeper on Hotta. Asuka moonsaulted Hotta for a near fall and gave her a bunch of kneelifts. Hotta countered a suplex but Asuka countered a sleeper and kicked Hotta. Hotta pushed Asuka off the top rope but Asuka pushed her away. Asuka missed a moonsault but countered a lariat and powerbombed Hotta for a near fall. Hotta countered and applied a cross armbreaker but Asuka quickly reached the ropes. Asuka blocked a tiger superplex, Hotta went for a cross armbreaker but Asuka reached the ropes. Masami and Yokota knocked Kong and Kansai off the apron. Masami press slammed Yokota onto Kong at ringside but Kansai gave Masami an enzu-lariat. Kansai then took out all three opponents with a dive through the ropes. Kong also took out her opponents with a tope suicida. Hotta took out Kong with a dive through the ropes when their opponents moved. Hotta missed a spin kick but blocked an elbow. Asuka countered an armbar with a knee to Hotta�s head and slammed her. Kong hit Masami with her trash can. Asuka moonsaulted Hotta for a near fall. Hotta blocked a double arm suplex but Yokota gave her a pedigree for a near fall. Hotta countered a suplex with a kneelift and went for a Fujiwara armbar but Asuka reached the ropes. Asuka clotheslined Kong and Masami gave her two lariats for a near fall. Kong ran through Yokota and gave her a brainbuster for a near fall. Kansai went to give Yokota a second rope splash mountain but Yokota countered with a rollup for a near fall. Yokota gave Kansai a fisherman buster for a near fall. Masami gave Kansai a top rope flip senton and Yokota gained a near fall. Asuka dropped Yokota into a face front superplex on Kansai for a near fall. Asuka gave Kansai a powerbomb for a near fall and something went wrong as Kansai�s body stiffened and she had to be dragged to her corner so Kong could tag herself in. Kong gave Asuka a brainbuster for a near fall and an uraken as time expired at 30:00. The work itself was very good and the match never dragged at all because you had 6 veteran pros who knew what to do. However, this match lacked a real storyline and thus lacked emotion and a sense of urgency for the most part. They spent the first 10 minutes building the match, but then went to the near falls in such a way that it seemed like they pulled the plug on the buildup. They kept the near falls going for the rest of the match, and fans were into it, but the heat never reached the level one would expect even in 1998 given those involved. I�d say everyone looked solid if not good. Hotta vs Asuka was fun as they revisited their brutal classic shoot-esque match from 1995. Yokota was very reminiscent of Shawn Michaels today. Very slim, past her prime, aging, but still a good athletic worker who you could tell must have been a super worker in her heyday. Overall a genuinely disappointing match. Similar rating, but I actually prefer the Takako vs Kandori tag from earlier in the show. ***1/4

10. GAEA AAAW Title: Chigusa Nagayo (c) (GAEA) vs Manami Toyota (AJW)

Toyota German suplexed Nagayo at the bell for a near fall. Nagayo won a test of strength but missed a kick and Toyota dropkicked her in the ropes twice. Nagayo won an exchange of slaps and applied a legbar. Toyota escaped and applied a sharpshooter. Nagayo reached the ropes and rolled out of the ring. Toyota kicked Nagayo as she reentered the ring but Nagayo took her down and applied her own sharpshooter. Toyota kicked Nagayo and gave her a lucha armdrag off the ropes. Toyota mounted Nagayo and gave her a bunch of slaps. Toyota applied a figure 4 leglock and Nagayo reached the ropes after a lengthy struggle. Toyota dropkicked Nagayo but Nagayo fought back with a spin kick. Nagayo then applied her own figure 4 leglock on Toyota. Toyota reached the ropes after a struggle. Nagaya gave Toyota a couple kicks, whipped her into the corner and gave her a lariat. Nagayo applied a sleeper. Nagayo belly to belly suplexed Toyota but Toyota knocked her off the top rope to the floor. Toyota then hit Nagayo with her top rope dropkick to the floor. Toyota placed Nagayo on a table and gave her a springboard somersault senton but the table didn�t budge. Back in the ring Toyota missed a moonsault but blocked a kick and gave Nagayo a dragon screw. Nagayo responded with a dragon screw of her own. Toyota caught Nagayo and gave her a rolling cradle for a near fall. Toyota blocked an armbar and reached the ropes. Toyota kicked Nagayo and they traded German suplex counters. Toyota German suplexed Nagayo for a near fall. Nagayo blocked a kick and gave Toyota a Death Valley driver but Toyota stood up. Toyota gave Nagayo a cross arm German suplex for a near fall and Nagayo stood up. Nagayo caught Toyota and powerbombed her. Toyota kicked Nagayo but Nagayo blocked an ocean cyclone suplex. Toyota gave Nagayo a weak ocean cyclone suplex for a near fall. Nagayo gave Toyota what looked like a messes up powerbomb spot. Nagayo powerbombed Toyota for a near fall. Toyota caught Nagayo on the top rope and gave her a sloppy top rope frankentoyota for a near fall. Nagayo countered a German suplex with a kick. Nagayo blocked an ocean cyclone suplex and applied an octopus for the submission at 14:42 to retain the title. That�s it!?? Toyota vs. Nagayo, an all-time dream match, and that�s it? Not only was this one of the most disappointing matches of 1998, but this was one of the worst matches on the show. Not good at all. Too many useless and long submission spots, and few decent action sequences. Also, more spots were sloppy or just plain botched than one would expect. No real storyline and this match had such a shallow feel to it. I guess that makes it an appropriate conclusion to a disappointing and depressing show. *1/4

Well, if you still haven�t made up your mind, let me make it up for you. DO NOT spend your hard-earned money to get this event on tape. Heck, when you make a list of 100 (lol) tapes you want for Christmas, you have no justifiable reason other than curiosity to include this event on the list. One of the most depressing shows a joshi puroresu fan could ever see. It�s a miracle that I had the patience and discipline to spend as much time watching and reviewing this show as I did. Absolutely no recommendation whatsoever.

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