THE MOSS COVERED THREE HANDLED FAMILY CREDENZA

ARTICLE #4
SEPTEMBER 10, 2001

Toyota vs Inoue: The Tag Wars

WWWA World Tag Team Championship: Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (champions) vs Kyoko & Takako Inoue (challengers) 10/9/94

This was a gem of a match that showcased the strengths of the All Japan Women style at the time. All four women were at or near their best here. The first fall began hot and both Inoues dominated Toyota at the start. As expected, Toyota was dominated for a lengthy stretch, although the champions both got in their share of offense. Toyota hit her springboard plancha on both Inoues at 11:38. Toyota won the first fall by pinning Kyoko at 13:28 using her ocean cyclone suplex. Toyota and then Yamada dominated Kyoko at the start of the second fall. Yamada's kicks were stiff as usual. Kyoko finally tagged out 4:00 into the second fall. Kyoko took out both champions with a springboard elbow and scored a near fall on Toyota with another springboard top rope elbow. Yamada nailed Kyoko with a series of stiff kicks and back suplexes. The champions missed a double diving headbutt. Kyoko locked her version of the camel clutch on Yamada as the crowd came alive. Kyoko then gave Yamada her Niagara driver and pinned her to win the second fall in 11:28. The third fall was all action from the start with Toyota gaining an early near fall on Takako with a rolling cradle. Yamada dominated Takako until Kyoko came in. The champions nailed Kyoko with a double diving headbutt and Yamada gained a near fall. Kyoko gained a near fall on Toyota with a great belly to belly superplex. Kyoko gained another near fall on Toyota with her Niagara driver. Toyota went for her top rope dropkick to the floor, but nailed Yamada by accident. Takako gained a dramatic near fall on Toyota with a destiny hammer. Takako then pinned Toyota to win the third fall, match and titles in 8:51 with a powerbomb/destiny hammer double impact. Great ending to a super match with the trademark incredible workrate. *****

WWWA Tag Team Title: Kyoko & Takako Inoue (c) vs Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa 1/3/95

This match was a three fall match, and an amazing one in terms of workrate. Toyota had many classics against the Inoues, and this was no exception. Both Inoues dominated Hasegawa early in the first fall. Toyota tagged in four minutes into the match and assumed the advantage for her team. She and Hasegawa double-teamed Takako in heelish fashion. Takako turned the tables on Toyota with a DDT and a tombstone for an early near fall. Both Inoues briefly worked on Toyota's leg. At 8:48 Toyota surprised Kyoko with her Toyota roll for a near fall. However, Kyoko then hit her with a dropkick off the second rope. Toyota jumped to the top rope and did a reverse flying bodypress onto the champions. Toyota missed a moonsault at 10:00. She recovered and hit the champions with a great springboard plancha. Takako gained a near fall on Hasegawa with a back suplex and Kyoko gained one after a lariat. Kyoko gained another near fall with her running top rope elbow on Hasegawa. Sakie recovered and hit Kyoko with a savate kick for a heated near fall. After giving Kyoko several urinages, Hasegawa gave her a tornado DDT and pinned her at 13:42 to win the first fall. Hasegawa exchanged offense with the champions early in the second fall. She and Toyota missed a double diving headbutt on Kyoko and both champions applied submission holds on their opponents amidst great heat. Toyota gained a near fall on Kyoko with a Toyota roll but Kyoko then gave her a top rope superplex for a near fall. Toyota German suplexed Takako for a near fall. Takako gave Hasegawa a top rope nodowa for a near fall and a destiny hammer for a great near fall. Takako then pinned Hasegawa at 4:42 to win the second fall after a second destiny hammer. Third fall began with Toyota hitting Kyoko with several dropkicks including a couple off the second rope. Toyota gave Kyoko a rolling cradle for a near fall. The pace slowed as Hasegawa was dominated by the champions, who primarily used submission holds in this segment. Hasegawa hit both champions with a plancha at 5:58 as the action picked up. The action spilled into the crowd, where Toyota moonsaulted the champions who were draped on tables that would not break. Back in the ring Toyota moonsaulted Kyoko for a near fall and gained a dramatic near fall with her ocean cyclone suplex. The champions gave Toyota their powerbomb/top rope nodowa combination for a great near fall. Kyoko gave Toyota a top rope headscissors and pinned her at 9:20 to win the third fall and the match. All four were great, but Toyota and Kyoko really stood out. ****3/4

100th WWWA Tag Team Championship Tournament Final: Kyoko & Takako Inoue vs Manami Toyota & Blizzard Yuki 3/21/95

Yuki charged her opponents at the bell but Kyoko got the better of her. Both Inoues took turns DDTing Yuki and Kyoko gained an early near fall. Takako used variations of the sleeper on both opponents and tombstoned Toyota. Kyoko gave Toyota a lightning fast giant swing. Both Inoues dominated Toyota with various submission holds. Toyota went for her Toyota roll but Kyoko caught her and powerbombed her before applying a Boston crab. Kyoko sidestepped a Toyota springboard reverse bodyblock but Toyota kicked her off the top rope, knocking her to the floor. Toyota hit both Inoues at once with her top rope dropkick to the floor. Toyota moonsaulted Kyoko for a near fall. Yuki hoisted Kyoko on her shoulders and Toyota gave her a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Yuki hit a savate kick on Kyoko and Toyota gave her an ocean cyclone suplex for a near fall as heat picked up. Takako hoisted Toyota on her shoulders and Kyoko gave her a spectacular top rope elbow. Takako back suplexed Toyota for a near fall and gained another with a top rope nodowa. Takako hit Toyota with her Takako panic for a near fall. The Inoues did their powerbomb/top rope nodowa combo on Toyota for a great near fall at 10:00. Kyoko attempted a Niagara driver but Toyota countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Yuki missed a spin kick but gave Kyoko a urunage. She dropped Kyoko on her head with 3 more urunages for a near fall. Kyoko gave Yuki a great running top rope inverted victory roll for a near fall amidst great heat. Kyoko powerslammed Yuki off the top rope for a near fall. Toyota and Yuki missed a double top rope headbutt on Kyoko and Kyoko then locked Yuki in her camel clutch as Takako applied an STF on Toyota. Yuki gave Kyoko a spinning savate kick for a great near fall. Kyoko gave Yuki a lariat for a dramatic near fall and gained another with her running top rope elbow. Takako gave Toyota a Takako panic off the apron. Kyoko gave Yuki a Niagara driver and pinned her at 14:52 to win the tournament and become the 100th WWWA tag team champions. Super match, tons of action, but not a classic only because it was a bit short. ****1/4

WWWA Tag Team Title: Kyoko & Takako Inoue (c) vs Manami Toyota & Sakie Hasegawa 8/30/95

An amazing workrate match that was typical of the All Japan Women style with all the big moves and great pacing. This was a rematch from their 1/3/95 match that was nearly as memorable. Like that match, this also went three falls. The first fall began quickly, and the challengers missed a double top rope headbutt on Kyoko early on. The Inoues dominated Hasegawa for a couple minutes. Toyota tagged in and immediately used a rolling cradle on Takako for a heated near fall. Kyoko vs Toyota drew the most heat. Kyoko gave Toyota a giant swing and then used submission holds on her. Both Inoues continued their dominance of Toyota until she surprised then with a springboard reverse bodypress at 10:06. However, Kyoko then hit both opponents with a jumping elbow off the middle rope. Hasegawa gained a near fall on Kyoko with her savate kick and then dropped her on her head with three urinages for another near fall. Toyota gave both Inoues a springboard somersault plancha at 12:00. After more great action and near falls, Toyota caught Kyoko with a sunset flip off the top rope to win the first fall at 14:14. The second fall only lasted 29 seconds, with Kyoko catching Hasegawa with her Niagara driver for the pin to even the match. The Inoues continued to dominate Hasegawa in the third fall until she gave Kyoko a urinage, Takako a savate kick, and tagged Toyota. Toyota was her usual sharp self on offense, gaining near falls on Takako using moves such as a German suplex and her Toyota roll. The Inoues dominated Hasegawa for a stretch after they knocked Toyota out of the ring and briefly out of commission. They gained several near falls on Hasegawa, including a dramatic one after Takako hit a destiny hammer. At 7:23, Toyota hit the champions with her top rope dropkick to the floor, but injured her leg in the process. Kyoko knocked Toyota for a loop with a lariat and gained a near fall. The challengers gave Kyoko a double impact with Toyota doing a top rope dropkick for a near fall. Toyota then gained near falls on Kyoko with a moonsault and an ocean cyclone suplex. At 12:20, Kyoko gained a heated near fall on Toyota with her Niagara driver but Toyota turned at attempted second one into a Toyota roll for a great near fall. Kyoko caught Toyota with a spectacular running belly-to-belly superplex. Kyoko then gained a near fall on Toyota after she and Takako hit a top rope DDT. After another near fall after a Niagara driver, Kyoko finally pinned Toyota at 14:14 after a double-team powerbomb- nodowa combination. Amazing workrate and very similar to the 10/10/94 Toyota/Yamada-Inoues classic. *****

WWWA Tag Team Title/ Best of 3 Falls: Kyoko & Takako Inoue (c) vs Manami Toyota & Mima Shimoda 6/22/96

Takako back suplexed Shimoda for an early near fall. Toyota hit both Inoues with a top rope dropkick but botched a springboard plancha attempt. The Inoues dominated a brief brawl around ringside and into the crowd. Shimoda gave Kyoko a top rope victory roll for a near fall. Toyota missed a top rope dropkick and Kyoko gave her a giant swing. Toyota came off the top rope and sunset flipped Takako for a flash pin at 3:54 to win the first fall. Both Inoues dominated Toyota for the first few minutes of the second fall, including Takako using an STF. Toyota surprised Kyoko with her Toyota roll for a near fall. Shimoda took the fight to Kyoko but Kyoko caught her with a snap suplex for a near fall. Shimoda gained a couple near falls on Takako. Toyota gave Takako a rolling cradle for a near fall. Takako caught Toyota and powerbombed her off the top rope for a near fall. Takako back suplexed Toyota for a near fall. Toyota crashed onto Takako�s outstretched feet on a moonsault attempt and Takako back suplexed her again for a near fall. Takako hit Toyota with her Takako panic for a near fall and gained a more heated near fall with her destiny hammer (top rope nodowa). Kyoko powerbombed Toyota for a near fall. Kyoko gave Toyota her running belly to belly superplex for a near fall. Kyoko pinned Toyota after a lariat to win the second fall in 10:50. Both Inoues again dominated Toyota early in the third fall until Toyota hit Takako with a second rope dropkick. Toyota top rope splashed Takako as Shimoda held her in a figure 4 leglock. Takako finally fought back at 7:00 with a series of blows on Shimoda. Kyoko dropped Shimoda on her head with a released German suplex and DDTd her off the second rope. Shimoda rolled up Takako for a near fall but Takako returned the favor with a second rope flying armdrag for a near fall. Shimoda hit a tope suicida on both Inoues 10 minutes into the third fall. Toyota nearly botched another springboard plancha attempt but held on and hit a somersault version on both Inoues. Shimoda top rope dropkicked Kyoko for a near fall as heat picked up. Shimoda gave Kyoko a double arm superplex for a near fall. She gave Kyoko her tiger superplex for a heated near fall and gained another near fall with a regular tiger suplex. Kyoko and Toyota traded near falls, including Kyoko scoring one after a lariat. Kyoko gave Toyota a Niagara driver for a great near fall. Toyota gained a super near fall on Kyoko with her ocean cyclone suplex. Toyota hit an ocean cyclone suplex and pinned Kyoko to win the third fall in 16:38 as well as the match and title. Some sketchy execution and spotty heat took away from this match. Also, they could have cut out about 5-7 minutes of the third fall that contained only decent work early on. Shimoda was good, but not her usual great self and seemed to lack chemistry with Toyota. Still an overall excellent match. ****1/4

NEXT ISSUE: Honorable Mention Part 2

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