ALL JAPAN WOMEN 5/24/92 KORAKUEN HALL COMMERCIAL TAPE

Running Time: 2 hours 25 minutes

To me this seems like a pretty underrated and much forgotten Korakuen Hall outing for All Japan Women. Unlike many such events, there were no classic matches, nor any really historical matches, unless you count the main event. Quality-wise this show is one of AJW’s most balanced, with a nice run of ***-**** matches and no really lackluster matches. While I can’t say I’d recommend this to all fans, most All Japan Women tape collectors should check this one out.

1. Kaoru Ito & Chikako Hasegawa vs Tomoko Watanabe & Akemi Torisu

Torisu dominated Hasegawa early in rookie-level action. Ito gained a near fall on Torisu after a series of dropkicks. Watanabe threw a bunch of dropkicks at Ito and gained a couple near falls. Ito and Watanabe exchanged submissions. Watanabe suplexed Hasegawa for a near fall. Torisu applied a Boston crab on Hasegawa as well as other submission holds. Torisu and Watanabe dominated Hasegawa for a while. Watanabe gained a couple near falls on Hasegawa. Ito gave Watanabe two hip attacks for a near fall. Hasegawa gained a near fall on Watanabe after a cross bodyblock and another after two more cross bodyblocks. Watanabe worked on Hasegawa’s leg with holds such as a half crab. Torisu dominated Hasegawa with lame offense. Watanabe was double teamed but hit both opponents with a second rope cross bodyblock. Watanabe gave Ito two judo throws and a suplex for a near fall. Ito gained a near fall on Watanabe with a second rope hip attack. Ito pinned Watanabe at 12:59 after a top rope foot stomp. Torisu vs Hasegawa sucked, but otherwise a pretty good match for an opener. **

2. Suzuka Minami vs Miori Kamiya

Kamiya hit a victory roll early but Minami fought back. Minami worked on Kamiya’s arm and also applied a variety of submission holds such as a camel clutch and a bodyscissors. Kamiya took the fight outside the ring and threw Minami into a sea of chairs on opposite ends of Korakuen Hall. Kamiya worked on Minami’s left arm and threw some decent kicks. Kamiya applied a cross armbreaker on Minami. Minami fought back with an atomic drop and took the fight outside the ring. Minami hit Kamiya with a chair. She gave Kamiya a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker for a near fall. Minami gained a near fall after a top rope jumping knee and another with a cradle suplex. Minami applied a half crab on Kamiya. Kamiya gained a near fall with a rollup and another with a double arm suplex. Kamiya applied a figure 4 leglock. Kamiya threw Minami into a sea of vacated chairs in the crowd. Minami gained a near fall with a cross bodyblock and another with a powerbomb. Minami also gained a near fall with a piledriver. Kamiya countered a German suplex with a rollup for a near fall. Kamiya gained a near fall with a back suplex. Kamiya hit a flying bodypress but Minami reversed her momentum for a near fall. Kamiya hit a second rope dropkick but missed a senton. Minami pinned Kamiya at 13:44 with a rollup. A very good match, about as good as you could expect from these two. ***1/4

3. Yumiko Hotta vs Bat Yoshinaga

Yoshinaga scored early with a kick. Hotta laid in a bunch of stiff kicks of her own. Yoshinaga held her own with stiff strikes and kicks. Yoshinaga dominated Hotta for a lengthy period of time early. Hotta got the better of Bat with more stiff kicks and forearms. Hotta took the fight to the floor and whipped Yoshinaga into a bunch of chairs. Yoshinaga laid in more stiff kicks to Hotta’s body and also won an exchange of punches. Hotta fought back with an enzuguiri and more kicks. Hotta gained a near fall with a piledriver. Hotta applied a rear chinlock and then a bodyscissors. Yoshinaga whipped Hotta into a sea of chairs on the floor. Yoshinaga maintained the advantage as they returned to the ring. Hotta missed an enzuguiri. Yoshinaga hit a pair of stiff spin kicks but missed a third and Hotta scored with a spin kick of her own for a near fall. Hotta gained a near fall after a top rope spin kick. Yoshinaga back suplexed Hotta and hit a top rope Thesz press for a near fall. Hotta pinned Yoshinaga at 10:52 with a tiger driver. The finish was a bit sudden, but otherwise a very good, stiff match built around both women’s strengths. ***

4. Mima Shimoda & Debbie Malenko vs Takako Inoue & Cynthia Moreno

Moreno got the better of Shimoda early with a unique rolling cradle. Malenko gained a near fall on Moreno with an elbow. Moreno fought back and applied a Boston crab on Malenko. Takako double arm suplexed Malenko for a near fall. Moreno gained a near fall on Malenko with a northern lights suplex. Moreno gave Shimoda a huracanrana out of the corner and a somersault dive off the apron. Shimoda gained a near fall on Takako with a top rope clothesline. Malenko dominated Takako with moves such as a neckbreaker, double arm suplex and a dragon sleeper. Takako armdragged Malenko off the top rope for a near fall. Moreno did some decent lucha style armdrags on her opponents. Takako gained a near fall on Shimoda with a top rope knee drop and another with a cross bodyblock. Moreno gained a near fall on Shimoda with a huracanrana. Malenko piledrove Moreno for a near fall. Takako dropkicked Shimoda out of the ring and Moreno hit a plancha to little reaction. Shimoda fought back and hit a tope suicida on Moreno. Malenko gave Takako a top rope elbow but Takako fought back. Malenko gained a near fall on Takako with a belly to belly superplex. Takako countered a tombstone and rolled up Malenko for a near fall. Takako back suplexed Malenko and pinned her at 13:39. A good match, but lacked the heat or spot-to-spot momentum of the previous two matches. Also a bit sloppy at times. **1/2

5. Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa vs Kyoko Inoue & Mariko Yoshida

Toyota and Kyoko had their usual solid exchanges early on. Hasegawa attacked Yoshida’s right arm with a variety of armbars. Toyota threw a bunch of dropkicks at Yoshida including a second rope dropkick for a near fall. Toyota gained a near fall on Yoshida with a double arm suplex. Kyoko got the better of Hasegawa and applied a half crab. Kyoko applied a modified Romero special on Hasegawa. Yoshida applied a half crab on Hasegawa and also hooked Hasegawa’s arm behind her leg in a neat submission hold. Yoshida applied an octopus-like hold on Hasegawa. Kyoko and Yoshida dominated Hasegawa until Toyota tagged in. Yoshida hit a running plancha on Toyota for a pop and suplexed her for a near fall. Toyota gained a near fall on Kyoko with her Toyota roll. Yoshida gained a near fall on Toyota with a flying bodypress but Toyota then fought back with a dropkick. Toyota and Hasegawa back suplexed Yoshida and hit a double top rope splash after which Hasegawa gained a near fall on Yoshida. Hasegawa gave Yoshida five spinning savate kicks for a near fall and gained another with a double arm suplex. Kyoko gave Hasegawa a 17-revolution giant swing for a near fall. Yoshida gained a near fall on Hasegawa with a cradle suplex and another with a top rope splash. Toyota gained a near fall on Yoshida with a German suplex but Yoshida fought back with a dropkick. Kyoko gave Toyota a fallaway slam. Kyoko and Yoshida double dropkicked Toyota but Toyota then backdropped Kyoko to the floor. Yoshida hit a tope suicida but Toyota moved and she hit Kyoko instead. Toyota and Hasegawa hit simultaneous planchas on their opponents. Toyota gave Kyoko a rolling cradle for a near fall and gained another with a moonsault. Hasegawa hit a top rope spinning superkick on Yoshida for a heated near fall. Yoshida gained a near fall on Hasegawa with a sunset flip. Toyota went for a top rope splash but Yoshida lifted her knees up. Kyoko gave Toyota a running top rope elbow and went for a Niagara driver but Toyota countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Kyoko jumped off the second rope and elbowed both opponents. Kyoko pinned Hasegawa at 16:00 after a Niagara driver. A great workrate-oriented match with all four at or near the top of their game. ****

6. CMLL Women’s Title: Bull Nakano (c) vs Toshiyo Yamada

Yamada attacked Nakano at the bell but Nakano no-sold her kicks. Yamada finally knocked Nakano down with a kick and applied a leglock. Nakano took a ton of kicks from Yamada and gave her a short lariat. Nakano piledrove Yamada for a near fall. Nakano asserted her dominance as the pace slowed. Nakano gave Yamada a stun gun and legdropped her for a near fall. Nakano also dominated Yamada in heelish fashion. Yamada fought back with a superkick but tried unsuccessfully to give Nakano her reverse Gori special suplex. Nakano gained a near fall with a powerbomb. Nakano took the fight to the floor and threw Yamada into a bunch of chairs. Yamada fought back with a series of kicks. Yamada gained a near fall with a side suplex after which she applied her version of a half crab on Nakano. Yamada also applied a Texas cloverleaf and then a regular half crab. Yamada applied an octopus submission at 10:00. Yamada countered a suplex attempt with a Fujiwara armbar. Nakano fought back with an atomic drop of sorts and dominated Yamada outside the ring. Yamada fought back with a spin kick and a few enzuguiris. Yamada gained a near fall with a top rope spin kick but Nakano fought back with a lariat. Nakano gained a heated near fall with a top rope legdrop. Yamada recovered and kicked Nakano off the top rope to the floor. Yamada hit two top rope enzuguiris and a top rope elbow strike for a near fall. Nakano hit an enzu-lariat and a second one that knocked Yamada off the apron. Nakano hit a tope suicida and pinned Yamada at 15:29 after a top rope legdrop. A very good and well-plotted, but not enough excitement for it to be great. ***1/2

7. Aja Kong & Bison Kimura vs Akira Hokuto & Etsuko Mita (known here as AKIRA and MITA)

A wild brawl all over the arena erupted before the bell. Hokuto and Mita held their opponents at bay early on. Kong got the better of Mita early. Mita showed good intensity as she held her own against Kimura. Kong gained a near fall on Mita with a couple elbowsmashes. Kong gave Mita her stiff kicks and Kimura dominated her in heelish fashion. Kimura legdropped Mita and hooked on a headscissors. Hokuto spin kicked Kimura twice and piledrove her for a near fall. Hokuto and Mita double teamed Kong in heelish fashion and double suplexed her. Kong and Kimura dominated Hokuto for a time including Kimura using a half crab. Kimura catapulted Hokuto into a lariat by Kong. Kimura briefly applied a Romero special on Hokuto until Mita intervened. Mita tombstoned Kimura twice for a near fall. Kong gained a near fall on Mita with a suplex but Kong then missed a big splash. Hokuto and Mita did a double Russian legsweep into duel leglock submissions on Kong. Kimura fought back against Mita with a couple chops. Kimura gained a near fall on Mita with a top rope headbutt. Hokuto hit a second rope corkscrew plancha on Kong. Mita gained a near fall on Kimura with a northern lights suplex and another with a piledriver. Hokuto gained a near fall on Kimura with a top rope splash. Hokuto hit somewhat of a chicken wing back suplex for a near fall. Mita piledrove Kong on the floor. Mita gained a near fall on Kimura with a double arm/northern lights suplex. Hokuto gained a near fall on Kimura with a top rope dropkick. Kimura German suplexed Hokuto for a heated near fall. Kong tore into Hokuto and piledrove her for a near fall. Kong gained a near fall on Hokuto with a dangerous backdrop and another with a second rope splash. Kong went for a superbomb but Hokuto countered with a huracanrana for a near fall. Kong gained a near fall on Hokuto with a dangerous backdrop. Kong attacked Mita with shodas and gave her an uraken in the corner. Kong dumped Mita upside down in the corner as Kimura held Hokuto at bay. Kong pinned Mita at 19:30 after a second rope dangerous backdrop. Very good heat throughout with Kong and Hokuto standing out with great performances. A bit messy towards the finish, but otherwise a great match. Interesting to note that this was one of the first matches if not the actual debut of the original Las Cachorras Orientales team of Hokuto and Mita. ***3/4

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