ALL JAPAN WOMEN KORAKUEN HALL 5/7/95 COMMERCIAL TAPE
Running Time: 3 hours 30 minutes
Out of the AJW Korakuen Hall shows I have in my collection, this is one of my favorites. While the first three matches are throwaways qualitywise, we then get a nice run of borderline-great undercard matches in addition to one to the most emotional and memorable retirement ceremonies I’ve seen. The crown jewel on this tape is the main event, a *****, 60-minute all-time classic match between Manami Toyota and Kyoko Inoue. I cannot imagine a more amazing 60 minute singles match in terms of workrate than the one these two women produced.
Another plus to this show was that it had a major-league feel. While most Korakuen Hall events were treated with some prominence, even with a less than major event caliber lineup this event seemed to have a greater feeling of importance to it than most other Korakuen Hall shows. Also, as much as any show this tape displays the strengths of AJW during 1995, when it was still in its glory era workwise. You had the workrate queens in Toyota and Kyoko Inoue, a strong selection of midcard and rising stars such as Ito, Yoshida & Watanabe, and veterans such as Lioness Asuka & Bison Kimura. Just about everyone on this show except for Chapparita Asari was used well. Overall, a very highly recommended show for all tape collectors, not just the AJW diehards. In fact, it might be a must-see due to the main event.
1. Yoshiko Tamura vs Yumi Fukawa
Tamura gave Fukawa a series of monkey flips early and gained a couple near falls. Tamura applied a sitting front chancery. Fukawa escaped Tamura’s bodyscissors and applied a Boston crab. Fukawa used a series of snapmares and a headlock takedown. Tamura fought back and applied a sleeper. Tamura applied a legscissors on Fukawa and flipped her around several times. Fukawa gained a near fall with a small package and another with a cross bodyblock. Fukawa missed a cross bodyblock and Tamura then gave her a cross bodyblock. Tamura gave Fukawa three dropkicks. Fukawa fought back and pinned Tamura at 9:26 after a simple bodyslam. The match dragged towards the end given how simple their work was. *
2. Mini-Atsushi Onita vs Tomezo Tsunokake
Little Frankie was the referee. This was a lame match. Tsunokake “hit” Onita with a barbed wire bat. Mini-Onita sprayed something in Tsunokake’s face. Onita pushed Tsunokake into an area where barbed wire and firecrackers were placed in the ropes, the firecrackers went off and both sold like they were shot. Onita pinned Tsunokake at 2:26 and the firecrackers on the other side went off. DUD
3. AJW Jr. title: Chapparita Asari (c) vs Nobue Endo
Endo attacked Asari at the bell and hit a series of dropkicks. Endo applied a Boston crab and a half crab. Asari fought back but Endo gave her a backslide for a near fall. Endo attacked Asari’s leg and re-applied a half crab. Asari hit two of her double flip handspring dropkicks as Endo appeared to be bleeding from the eye. Asari gained a near fall with a backdrop. Endo fought back and rolled up Asari for a near fall. Asari hit a somersault kick/dive off the apron onto Endo. Asari pinned Endo at 5:55 after a skytwister press to retain the title. A bland match, but short. *1/4
4. Takako Inoue, Tomoko Watanabe & Kumiko Maekawa vs Kaoru Ito, Mariko Yoshida & Rie Tamada
Ito gave Watanabe two hip attacks but Watanabe fought back with a modified Thesz press. Takako gained a near fall on Yoshida with a tombstone. Yoshida gained a near fall on Maekawa with a version of a pedigree. Yoshida applied a submission hold similar to an STF on Maekawa. Maekawa superkicked Tamada twice for a near fall. Watanabe and Inoue also dominated Tamada for a time. Ito and company gave Watanabe a triple dropkick. Watanabe gave Ito a bulldog and a judo hiptoss twice. Takako dominated Yoshida in occasionally heelish fashion. Maekawa gained a near fall on Tamada with a double arm suplex. Tamada gave Watanabe two tilt-a-whirl cross bodyblocks for a near fall. Watanabe gained a near fall on Ito with a German suplex but Ito fought back with a German suplex of her own for a near fall. Ito gained a near fall on Watanabe after 4 foot stomps and a senton. Watanabe gained a near fall on Ito with a huracanrana. Inoue gained a near fall on Yoshida with a back suplex and another with a top rope nodowa. Watanabe gave Yoshida a short lariat for a near fall. Yoshida hit a springboard plancha, but her opponents moved and Yoshida crashed onto Tamada and Ito. Watanabe missed a moonsault on Yoshida and Ito gave her a top rope foot stomp. Yoshida gained a heated near fall on Watanabe after a top rope splash and another with a great sunset flip. Watanabe gave Yoshida three lariats for a great near fall. Watanabe gave Yoshida a powerbomb/back suplex combo and pinned her at 12:59. A great match gown the stretch and all six were used well. Very good heat as well. ***3/4
5. Aja Kong & Reggie Bennett vs Lioness Akuka & Bison Kimura
Kong and Bennett got the better of Kimura early on, including Bennett using her Reggie rack. Bennett went for a lariat but Asuka caught her arm and countered with a Fujiwara armbar. Kong leveled Asuka with a lariat. Kong and Bennett attempted to sandwich Asuka but Asuka moved and they ran into each other. Bennett gave Kimura a Samoan drop. In an interesting twist, Kong slighted former partner Kimura by just wanting to fight Asuka. Kong got the better of Kimura as she took the fight into the crowd, where she hit Kimura with a chair. Bennett overpowered Kimura and worked on her arm. Kimura fought back and applied an STF on Bennett. Bennett then worked on Kimura’s leg and applied a version of an STF of her own. Kong slapped the crap out of Kimura, who finally tagged Asuka. Kong and Asuka briefly traded offense on the mat, then Kong kicked the crap out of Asuka. Asuka caught Kong, took her down and worked on her leg. Kimura and Bennett exchanged leglocks with Kimura winning the exchange. Kimura again applied an STF on Bennett. Kong no-sold Kimura’s strikes and gave her several lariats. Asuka countered a Kong suplex with a Fujiwara armbar. Asuka hit a second rope elbow on Kong and a top rope dropkick. Asuka gave Kong a spin kick but Kong fought back with a dangerous backdrop. Bennett gave both opponents a double lariat and gained a near fall on Asuka with a second rope splash. Kimura hit Bennett with her nightstick and slammed her for a near fall. Kimura gained a near fall on Bennett after a blazing chop. Kong gained a near fall on Kimura with a back suplex but Kimura gave Kong a blazing chop for a near fall. Kimura missed a top rope splash and Kong back suplexed her for a near fall. Kong gave Kimura an uraken and pinned her at 15:31. A very good match with really good intensity, and everyone was used well. Very strong execution of the storyline of Kong’s disrespect for Kimura. ***1/2
6. Suzuka Minami Final Memorial Bout: Suzuka Minami & Yumiko Hotta vs Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda
Mita and Shimoda got the better of Minami early on in hellish fashion. Minami gained a near fall on Mita with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Hotta dominated Mita with moves such as her kicks and a double arm suplex. Shimoda applied a Boston crab on Minami. Minami fought back with a cross bodyblock on Shimoda for a near fall. Minami back suplexed Shimoda for a near fall. She dominated Shimoda on the mat, mainly focusing on her legs and back. Hotta applied a camel clutch on Shimoda and Minami gave her a stiff kick in a unique role reversal. Shimoda gained a near fall on Hotta with a second rope cross bodyblock. Hotta and Mita briefly exchanged offense. Mita gained a near fall on Minami with two blazing chops. Shimoda gained a near fall on Minami after several lariats and applied a sleeper. Mita missed a blazing chop and Minami rolled her up for a near fall. Hotta hit a double bulldog on Mita and Shimoda. Mita hit a tope suicida on her opponents and Shimoda then hit them with her springboard plancha. Shimoda gave Minami a top rope splash and Mita gained a near fall. Shimoda gained a near fall on Hotta after a top rope dropkick. Shimoda gained a near fall on Hotta with a tiger suplex. Mita jumped off the top rope but Hotta met her with a stiff kick. Minami missed a top rope senton and Mita gave her a northern lights suplex for a near fall. Minami powerbombed Mita and hit a tope suicida on both opponents. Minami met Mita’s feet on a top rope splash attempt but recovered and German suplexed Shimoda for a near fall. Hotta accidentally top rope spin kicked Minami as Shimoda moved out of harm’s way. Hotta gained a near fall on Shimoda after a spin kick. Minami powerbombed Shimoda for a heated near fall. Minami pinned Shimoda at 12:44 with a second powerbomb. Very good workrate with good heat for Suzuka’s spots. ***1/2
Afterward Bull Nakano and Akira Hokuto showed up unannounced to congratulate Minami. A challenge was issued leading to a dream match of sorts for Minami.
7. Special Match: Minami & Akira Hokuto vs Hotta & Bull Nakano
Hotta hit a double bulldog on the former Marine Wolves. Minami cross bodyblocked Hotta and Hokuto spin kicked Hotta for a near fall. Hotta gave Hokuto an overhead flip powerbomb. Minami rolled up Nakano for a near fall and applied a leglock, then Hokuto applied a leglock on Nakano’s other leg. Minami held Nakano in a figure 4 leglock as Hokuto hit a top rope splash. Nakano briefly dominated Minami. Minami powerbombed Hotta and she & Hokuto gave Hotta a top rope dropkick for a heated Minami near fall. Hotta spin kicked Hokuto. Minami hit a tope suicida on her opponents, then Hokuto hit her flip plancha on both opponents. Hokuto and Minami gave Nakano a double back suplex as time expired at 3:00, but they continued the match anyway. Minami and Hokuto gave Nakano a double DQ bomb and Minami pinned Nakano at 4:36 for a huge pop. A great, classy touch to end Minami’s career.
A lengthy retirement ceremony followed with Minami being presented with tons of flowers, gifts and other items from many of the wrestlers and AJW staff. Also, the ring announcer narrated many of Minami’s accomplishments on the mic. A very classy, emotional segment. What was so cool about this was that Minami, while a very good to great worker for most of her career, was never one of the bigger stars of the promotion and never a main-eventer. She was just a great team player who could always be counted on to produce a strong match whenever the occasion called for it. It was like seeing a perennially overlooked, underrated performer finally get her just due and then some.
8. WWWA World Title: Manami Toyota (c) vs Kyoko Inoue
If I could best describe this match in one phrase, I would call it "the ultimate workrate match". These two had many classic matches in the 25 minute range, but this topped them all. For one hour, they went at nearly the exact same pace they did in their other matches! The content was every bit as breathtaking as well, with both women hitting nearly every spot in their arsenal. Toyota hit her springboard plancha at the 15:54 mark to charge the crowd up. Throughout this match both women spent a decent amount of time brawling around the ring, which gave the match a fresh feel and made it stand out from their others stylistically. Kyoko hit a pair of her running top rope elbows at 28:45. Three minutes later, Toyota delivered her top rope missile dropkick to the outside on Kyoko. Toyota gained a great near fall at 36:17 with her Ocean Cyclone suplex. For the final twenty minutes of the match, the heat generally remained at a peak level, as did the work. Toyota was going for an in-ring top rope dropkick but, in one single fluid sequence, Kyoko ran towards Toyota, leaped onto the top rope, and gave her a breathtaking belly-to-belly superplex for a great near fall at 43:00. One must see that move before it can be fully appreciated. The action continued back and forth with many great moves and near falls. Kyoko became dominant towards the end of the match and, with twenty seconds left, scored a near fall with her Niagara Driver. Toyota bounced back and was going for her frankentoyota, but time ran out as she started the move. An exhausting match for wrestler and viewer alike. Very similar content to their other classics, but more than twice the length. Undoubtedly the best 60:00 match I have ever seen. *****
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