ALL JAPAN WOMEN ’96 JAPAN GRAND PRIX PARTS 1 & 2 Commercial Tape

Running Time: 5 hours 10 minutes

1996 marked a turbulent and transitional year for All Japan Women. Their drawing power for the most part decreased significantly, although there were a few events, such as their 12/8/96 show at Sumo Hall (10,500 sellout) that still drew really well. Their match quality suffered from the retirement and/or phasing out of veterans such as Lioness Asuka, Bull Nakano, and Sakie Hasegawa. Also, most of their top stars showed noticeable signs of a decline in quality of work and/or their physical capabilities. AJW started to push some of their rising “stars” (a relative term, as they weren’t very over), but this new crop of talent couldn’t touch the previous group that ignited the federation for the past several years. That said, there were still a number of positives about the AJW product in 1996. While their matches didn’t set new standards anymore, they still produced many good shows, some great, and most with very good workrate. While the 1996 Japan Grand Prix tournament was probably not one of the best in terms of match quality (a tough standard to meet), in my opinion it marked one of the brightest spots of the AJW product in 1996. From the taped footage, most of the action ranged from decent to very good, with some great matches. Most of the well-known wrestlers at the time still had lots of life left in them, such as Aja Kong, Kyoko Inoue & Yumiko Hotta. Manami Toyota was great in her few non-tournament appearances. Also, Chapparita Asari and Reggie Bennett appeared to have been at their best in this tournament, especially Bennett, whose work seemed rarely dull and for the most part good. This tape is a near-perfect balance of match clips and complete airings. Even the clipped matches have enough content shown for one to judge whether or not the match was good. Except for the UFC style match halfway through the tape, just about every match is given adequate coverage. Most of the matches shown in their entirety were *** or better and I gave ****+ to three matches, making this a heck of a tape in terms of match quality. For those of you who think that the only joshi stuff worth getting would be from 1992 to 1995, I would only give this a marginal recommendation. However, to just about everyone else, especially those who enjoy the current joshi product, this is definitely a tape worth getting. In fact the length of this review will probably tell you how much I enjoyed watching this tape…

The tape started out with a nice 10 minute intro segment with comments from all the tournament entrants.

-The first 10 matches are all Japan Grand Prix (JGP) ’96 tournament matches.-

1. Tomoko Watanabe vs Takako Inoue

Watanabe used a couple dragon screws and a figure four. Takako fought back and attacked Watanabe’s right leg. Watanabe gained a near fall after a screw driver. Takako hit a back suplex and a Takako panic for a near fall. Takako scored the pin after a second Takako Panic at 11:55 (3:02 aired). What aired was good, but not great.

2. Kaoru Ito vs Mima Shimoda

Ito gained a near fall with a German suplex and another with a top rope foot stomp. Shimoda gained a near fall with a top rope victory roll and another with a tiger suplex. Ito gained a near fall with a tiger suplex of her own. Shimoda gave Ito her tiger superplex for a near fall and pinned Ito after a fisherman buster at 13:24 (2:27 aired). What aired was good but the fans were almost silent.

3. Reggie Bennett vs Toshiyo Yamada

Yamada hit a 360 spinkick for a near fall but missed a top rope spin kick. Bennett gained a near fall with a second rope splash and another with a tilt a whirl slam. Bennett powerbombed Yamada and pinned her at 12:29 (1:47 aired). From what aired, this looked like an average match.

4. Yumiko Hotta vs Aja Kong

They traded kicks and then UFC style mount fighting. Kong gained the advantage with several stiff kicks. Kong and Hotta traded punches from the mount position. Hotta laid in some kicks but Kong no-sold them , took down Hotta and applied a leglock. Kong focused her attack on Hotta’s right leg and applied a half crab. Kong took the fight into the crowd and hit Hotta with a chair. Kong whipped Hotta into a ton of vacated chairs in the crowd and even threw a section of a barricade onto Hotta, who appeared to injure her left knee. Kong attacked Hotta’s left leg with kicks and submission holds but Hotta hit an enzuguiri. Kong recovered and continued to attack Hotta’s injured leg. Kong even hit a second rope splash onto Hotta’s left leg and applied a leg grapevine. Hotta fought back with a spin kick in the corner but missed a second spin kick. Hotta scored with another spin kick for a near fall. Kong blocked a tiger driver attempt but Hotta went for a Fujiwara armbar. Hotta missed an enzuguiri and Kong applied an ankle lock. Hotta countered a back suplex with a sleeper in a unique spot. Hotta unsuccessfully went for a tiger driver and hit an off-balance spin kick on Kong but further damaged her left leg in the process. Hotta missed a top rope spin kick and Kong applied a leg grapevine. Hotta caught Kong on the top rope but both fell to the canvas with Kong landing on Hotta and again briefly applying a leglock. Kong gained a near fall with an uraken of sorts. Kong landed a second uraken but Hotta surprised her with an armlock for the upset submission at 14:06. The heat was disappointing, but this was a very good, well-worked match. Kong’s working on Hotta’s leg was well-done with the right amount of dramatic spots. ***1/2

5. Kyoko Inoue vs Chapparita Asari

They started with some comedy with Kyoko making fun of Asari’s short height. Asari armdragged Kyoko out of the ring and taunted her. Kyoko dropkicked Asari out of the ring and also taunted her. Kyoko no-sold Asari’s strikes and overpowered her. Kyoko gave Asari a giant swing for a near fall and applied a camel clutch. Kyoko applied a torture rack and dropped Asari back-first on her knee. She continued to dominate Asari with power moves and submissions such as a half crab. Asari landed some dropkicks and hit her double flip kick on Kyoko in the corner. Kyoko recovered and gave Asari a short lariat. Kyoko attempted a second rope diving elbow but Asari knocked her to the floor and hit a plancha. Asari hit Kyoko with a chair and hit a great top rope spinning huracanrana to the floor. Asari hit a spinning huracanrana for a near fall but barely landed a skytwister press. Asari landed a second skytwister for a near fall but Kyoko fought back with a great released German suplex out of the corner for a near fall. Asari gained a near fall with a small package and another with a rollup. Asari gained a near fall with another spinning huracanrana of sorts. Kyoko gained a near fall with a cradle suplex. Kyoko also gained a near fall with her running top rope elbow. Kyoko knocked Asari for a loop with a lariat and pinned her at 12:11. A really good match with Kyoko giving Asari a chance to shine. ***

6. Reggie Bennett vs Aja Kong

Aja gained a near fall with an uraken but then missed a top rope elbow. Bennett went for a second rope splash but crashed onto Kong’s knees. Kong gained a near fall with two back suplexes. Kong missed an uraken and Bennett pinned her after a top rope splash at 10:48 (1:48 aired). Fans popped for the upset. Hard to tell if it was good but fans were quiet except for the finish.

7. Yumiko Hotta vs Takako Inoue

Hotta attempted a Fujiwara armbar but Takako countered with one of her own. Takako gained a near fall with a back suplex and a near fall after three Takako panics. Hotta gave Takako two tiger drivers for a near fall. Takako fought back with a rolling leglock. Takako gained a near fall with a backslide but Hotta immediately responded with a Fujiwara armbar for the submission win at 20:25 (3:25 aired). What aired was very good with perhaps the most heat of any of the first seven matches.

8. Chapparita Asari vs Mariko Yoshida

Asari started quick with her double flip kick in the corner but Yoshida responded with a handspring elbow. Yoshida briefly worked on Asari’s leg with solid matwork. Yoshida hit a jumping knee in the corner and applied a half crab. Asari fought back with a headscissors takedown out of the corner but Yoshida recovered and double arm suplexed Asari twice for a near fall. Asari hit a couple jumping knees and applied a Boston crab followed by a camel clutch. Asari continued to dominate Yoshida with a half crab. Asari aborted a Yoshida comeback and applied a leglock. Yoshida fought back with a dropkick but Asari gained a near fall with a backslide. Yoshida hit a great running top rope flying bodypress for a near fall. Asari missed a flying bodypress and Yoshida gained a near fall with a pedigree-like move. Asari hit a plancha but fans barely reacted, which was surprising. Asari then hit an impressive superquebrada. Asari gained a near fall with a skytwister press but appeared to hurt herself in the process. Yoshida recovered and hit Asari with a chair at ringside. Yoshida hit a great running plancha and gained a near fall with a running top rope splash back in the ring. Yoshida gave Asari a released German suplex for a heated near fall. Asari surprised Yoshida with a rollup for a very near fall. Asari hit a top rope spinning huracanrana and pinned Yoshida at 15:20 and fans popped for the upset. A very nice match. Asari was at her best and Yoshida looked very good. Lack of heat prevented it from being excellent. ***3/4

9. Tomoko Watanabe vs Aja Kong

Watanabe gave Kong two dragon screws and applied a figure four leglock. Kong gained a near fall with a powerslam and another with a German suplex. Kong gave Watanabe a brainbuster and pinned her at 14:56 after an uraken (2:46 aired). Looked like a good, focused match.

10. Reggie Bennett vs Kyoko Inoue

They exchanged chops early. Kyoko sailed over the top rope to the floor when Bennett moved out of the way from a charging Kyoko. Kyoko took the fight to the floor and whipped Bennett into a sea of chairs. Kyoko took Bennett down and quickly applied a Romero special but only barely due to Bennett’s weight. Kyoko suplexed Bennett but Bennett fought back with a short lariat. Bennett gained a near fall with a legdrop. Kyoko applied a half crab but Bennett recovered and gave Kyoko a corner splash. Kyoko hit a running top rope elbow on a standing Bennett and applied a camel clutch. Bennett gained a near fall with a big splash. Kyoko superplexed Bennett and gained a near fall after a running top rope elbow. Kyoko scored with another short lariat but Bennett caught her in the ropes and shoved her to the floor. Bennett actually hit a tope through the ropes. Bennett gained a near fall with a powerbomb but then missed a top rope splash. Kyoko gained a near fall with a German suplex and another with a powerbomb. Kyoko hit two lariats but missed a third and Bennett gave her a sitout powerbomb for a heated near fall. Kyoko escaped a powerbomb attempt and gained a near fall with a quick victory roll. Bennett gained a near fall with a tilt-a-whirl slam. Bennett pinned Kyoko at 12:05 after a top rope splash in another upset. Very good match in which Bennett actually wasn’t carried at all. ***1/4

11. Pro Debuts Match: Momoe Nakanishi vs Nanae Takahashi

They mainly just did basic rookie spots like armdrags, dropkicks and bodyslams. What they did had no rhyme or reason to any of it but their execution was fine. Nakanishi didn’t really show any evidence of the great talent she would be known for in years to come. They fought to a 15:00 draw (2:12 aired).

12. Pro Debuts Match: ? Kawamoto vs Miho Wakizawa

There were more snapmares in this match than in the other rookies match. They also used simple offense, but this was a weaker match and fans knew it as they were quieter for this one. At times it looked more like a sparring session than an actual match. This also went to a 15:00 draw (2:34 aired).

13. UFC Style Match: ? Takahashi vs Thunder Crack

They showed more technique than in most AJW martial arts matches. Thunder looked strong early but Takahashi held her own. Takahashi asserted herself on the ground and repeatedly took down Thunder when they were stood up. Takahashi landed several punches from the mount. Thunder was more assertive with strikes but weaker on the mat where Takahashi dominated her. Takahashi went for an armlock but Thunder countered with a headscissors. Takahashi scored with a bunch of kicks and won at 10:14 when Thunder gave up. An okay match at times, but they shouldn’t have aired the entire match.

14. Kyoko Inoue & Chapparita Asari vs Manami Toyota & Yoshiko Tamura

Toyota hit a springboard plancha on Tamura when their opponents moved out of the way. Kyoko threw Asari over the top rope onto Toyota and Tamura on the floor. Asari dominated Tamura as they brawled all over Korakuen Hall. Toyota and Kyoko also had a wild brawl throughout the crowd. They did some comedy making fun of Asari’s height. Toyota dominated Asari, as did Tamura, who used simple but well-executed offense. Toyota applied a figure 4 on Asari as Tamura held a headscissors on Asari. Tamura looked decent in taking the fight to Kyoko. Kyoko dominated Tamura with submission holds. Tamura gained a near fall on Asari with a second rope sunset flip. Toyota hit two second rope dropkicks on Asari for a near fall. Asari gained a near fall on Toyota with a top rope spinning huracanrana. Toyota hit a springboard flying bodypress on both opponents and she & Tamura tried to do stereo leglocks on their opponents but Tamura messed hers up in a comedic (intentionally) spot to show her inexperience. Kyoko hit a springboard second rope elbow on both opponents. Kyoko and Asari did stereo Romero specials on their opponents in a neat spot. Toyota gained a near fall on Asari with a rollup out of the corner. Asari did her double flip kick on Toyota in the corner but tried again and Toyota literally kicked her butt. Asari gained a near fall on Toyota with a top rope huracanrana. Toyota gave Kyoko a rolling cradle for a near fall. Kyoko caught Toyota in the corner and gave her a released German suplex. Toyota gained a near fall on Kyoko with a German suplex and another with a moonsault. Toyota gained a near fall on Kyoko with her Toyota roll. Kyoko caught Tamura on the top rope and gave her a belly to belly superplex for a near fall. Kyoko gained a near fall on Tamura with a running top rope elbow. Tamura gained a near fall on Kyoko with a rollup. Kyoko gained a near fall on Tamura after three lariats. Toyota hit a top rope dropkick on both opponents. Toyota hit a top rope missile dropkick to the floor on Kyoko as Tamura hit a plancha on Asari. Toyota and Tamura gave Asari a double top rope dropkick. Tamura gained a near fall on Asari with a northern lights suplex and another with a top rope splash with Toyota launching Tamura. Asari hit a plancha on both opponents and Kyoko went for a running plancha but slipped and decided to do a somersault flip off the apron. Asari pinned Tamura at 20:32 after a skytwister press. Nice booking and a great match with a lighter feel to it than you would expect with rivals Toyota and Kyoko on opposite sides. ****

15. Manami Toyota & Mima Shimoda vs Tomoko Watanabe & Kaoru Ito

Watanabe gave Shimoda three lariats for a near fall. Shimoda gained a near fall on Watanabe with a German suplex. Watanabe gained a near fall on Shimoda with a screw driver. Shimoda rolled up Watanabe for a near fall. Toyota and Shimoda gave Watanabe a modified doomsday device and Shimoda gained a near fall. Shimoda pinned Watanabe at 17:31 after a tiger superplex (2:27 aired). What aired was good but Ito and Toyota were almost non-factors.

16. 10th Anniversary Class of 1986 Memorial: Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada vs Etsuko Mita & Mima Shimoda

There was a lengthy and classy ceremony and presentations of flowers & other items before the match. Fans deluged the ring with streamers during intros. Mita and Shimoda attacked their opponents before the bell but Toyota fought back with a springboard cross bodyblock on Mita. Toyota gained a near fall on Mita with a top rope dropkick. Shimoda dominated Yamada with moves such as a piledriver and a Boston crab. Yamada top rope splashed Mita as Toyota held her in a figure 4 leglock and repeated this spot two more times. Toyota applied a Boston crab and then a half crab on Mita. Mita fought back with a blazing chop on Toyota. Yamada intervened and Toyota hit a springboard somersault plancha on both opponents. Yamada also hit a plancha on Mita and Shimoda. Toyota German suplexed Mita and gave her a rolling cradle for a near fall. Mita hoisted Toyota on her shoulder and dropped her off the second rope to the mat for a near fall. Mita attempted a powerbomb but Toyota countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Yamada kicked Mita but Shimoda then gave Yamada a top rope dropkick. Mita gained a near fall on Yamada with a northern lights suplex. Mita gave Yamada a blazing chop but Yamada recovered and hit a 360 spin kick on Shimoda for a near fall. Yamada lifted Shimoda on her shoulders and Toyota hit a flying bodypress after which Yamada gained a near fall. Yamada gained a near fall on Shimoda after she & Toyota hit a double top rope headbutt. Shimoda gained a near fall on Yamada with a top rope victory roll. Toyota gave both opponents a top rope dropkick but missed a moonsault and Shimoda German suplexed her for a near fall. Shimoda hit a springboard plancha on both opponents and Mita followed with her tope suicida. Shimoda gained a near fall on Toyota with a top rope splash and another with a tiger suplex. Toyota crashed onto Shimoda’s feet on a moonsault attempt. Toyota hit her top rope missile dropkick to the floor on Mita. Toyota and Yamada back superplexed Shimoda and Toyota gained a near fall. Shimoda countered an ocean cyclone suplex attempt by Toyota with a rollup for a great near fall. Toyota rolled up Shimoda and pinned her at 13:12. An excellent match from start to finish with a fitting conclusion. ****

-The next three matches are JGP ’96 Tournament matches.-

17. Mariko Yoshida vs Yumiko Hotta

Yoshida rolled up Hotta for a near fall. Yoshida hit a running plancha on Hotta. Hotta hit a spin kick in the corner and another in the opposite corner for a near fall. Yoshida German suplexed Hotta for a near fall and gained another with a second rope DDT. Yoshida gained a near fall with another second rope DDT. Hotta gained a near fall with an enzuguiri but Yoshida then hit a top rope sunset flip for a heated near fall. Hotta gained a near fall with a tiger driver. Yoshida countered a second tiger driver attempt with a choke sleeper of sorts. Hotta gained a near fall with a spin kick out of the corner. Yoshida used a backslide for a very near fall and gained another with la magistral. Yoshida pinned Hotta at 15:24 with la magistral for a huge pop (5:42 aired). What aired was good, but not exceptional, yet the heat was very strong.

18. Aja Kong vs Kaoru Ito

Ito gave Kong a urunage and two top rope foot stomps for a near fall. Ito hit another top rope foot stomp and applied a leglock. Kong backdropped a charging Ito over the top rope to the floor and gave her a foot stomp off the apron. Kong gained a near fall with a back suplex. Ito ducked an uraken and German suplexed Kong for a heated near fall. Kong gained a near fall with a backdrop driver and a heated near fall with a brainbuster. Kong pinned Ito at 24:35 after an uraken (4:28 aired). What aired was very good with great heat.

19. Kyoko Inoue vs Takako Inoue

Takako briefly applied a Fujiwara armbar. Kyoko attempted a lariat but Takako countered with another Fujiwara armbar. Kyoko gave Takako a running top rope belly to belly superplex for a near fall. Kyoko gained a near fall with a German suplex and another with a powerbomb. Kyoko gained a near fall with a Niagara driver. Takako rolled up Kyoko for a near fall but Kyoko gave her a lariat and pinned Takako at 18:21 (2:43 aired). What aired was very good as expected from these two.

-The final 8 matches are from the 8/30/96 event.-

20. Momoe Nakanishi vs Mihoe Wakizawa

They mainly traded simple offense such as dropkicks and snapmares. Wakizawa hit three dropkicks and a backdrop. Nakanishi recovered and dropkicked Wakizawa three times. Nakanishi pinned Wakizawa at 7:12 after a bodyslam (2:44 aired).

21. Yumi Fukawa & Kumiko Maekawa vs Genki Misae & Saya Endo

Endo hit some dropkicks on Maekawa but Maekawa gave her a bicycle kick for a near fall. Misae atomic dropped Fukawa twice for a near fall. Fukawa gave Misae a headscissors takedown. Fukawa gained a near fall on Misae with a cross bodyblock. Misae rolled up Maekawa for a near fall. Endo gained a near fall on Maekawa with a powerslam. Maekawa superkicked Endo for a near fall and another with two superkicks. Maekawa pinned Endo at 14:40 after an axe kick (3:55 aired). From what aired it appeared to be ** or slightly better.

22. Toshiyo Yamada & Rie Tamada vs Manami Toyota & Yoshiko Tamura

Tamada and Tamura traded offense early. Toyota held Tamada in a figure 4 leglock as Tamura gave Tamada two top rope splashes. Yamada gave Toyota several stiff kicks but Toyota fought back with a rolling cradle for an early near fall. Yamada belly to belly suplexed Tamura for a near fall. Tamura attempted a northern lights suplex but Yamada countered with a DDT. Tamura gained a near fall on Yamada with a second rope sunset flip. Toyota hit a top rope dropkick on both opponents. Tamura gained a near fall on Yamada with a northern lights suplex. Yamada superkicked Toyota. Toyota hit a springboard plancha on Tamura when Yamada and Tamada moved out of harm’s way. Tamada hit a plancha on both opponents and rolled up Toyota for a near fall. Toyota attempted a top rope superplex but Tamada fell on top of her for a near fall. Tamada gained a near fall on Toyota with a German suplex. Tamura hit a plancha on both opponents and Toyota followed with a springboard somersault plancha. Toyota and Tamura double top rope dropkicked Yamada and Toyota gained a near fall. Yamada gained a near fall on Toyota with a 360 spin kick. Toyota gained a near fall on Yamada with a moonsault. Yamada hit a back superplex on Toyota for a near fall. Toyota countered a Gori special suplex by Yamada with a rollup for a near fall. Tamura German suplexed Yamada and Toyota gave her an ocean cyclone suplex for a near fall. Toyota pinned Yamada at 11:24 with an ocean cyclone suplex. A bit sloppy at times, but overall a very good match. ***1/4

23. JGP ’96 Placement Match: Tomoko Watanabe vs Kaoru Ito

Watanabe scored with two Thesz presses but Ito responded with a couple hip attacks and a second rope corkscrew senton. Ito applied a half crab for a lengthy period of time. Watanabe fought back with two dragon screws and a figure four leglock. Watanabe hit a second rope elbow and a legdrop for a near fall. Watanabe briefly applied a bodyscissors. Ito gained a near fall with a foot stomp and a senton. Ito missed a top rope foot stomp but dropkicked Watanabe out of the ring. Watanabe gave Ito a lariat at ringside. Ito gave Watanabe three foot stomps off the apron to the floor. Watanabe gained a near fall with a huracanrana and another with a lariat. Watanabe hit two more lariats but Ito caught her and German suplexed her for a near fall. Ito gained a near fall with a top rope foot stomp. Ito hit another top rope foot stomp on Watanabe. Watanabe hit a lariat and a back suplex/powerbomb for a near fall. Ito gained a near fall with a rollup. Watanabe pinned Ito at 11:21 after a lariat and a screwdriver. A well-plotted match but surprisingly flat until the end. **1/4

24. JGP ’96 Placement Match: Mariko Yoshida vs Takako Inoue

Yoshida immediately hit a sunset flip for a near fall. Takako gained a near fall with a back suplex. Takako took the fight to the floor but Yoshida recovered and gave her a great running plancha. Takako gained a near fall with a double arm suplex. Yoshida gained a near fall with a flying bodypress but Takako fought back with a nodowa off the second rope for a near fall. Yoshida gained a near fall with a German suplex and another with a second rope DDT. Yoshida hit a jumping knee in the corner. Yoshida went to the top rope but Takako caught her and sort of powerbombed her for a near fall. Takako gained a near fall with two back suplexes. Yoshida countered a third back suplex with a rollup for a near fall. Takako gained a near fall with a back suplex and another after a Takako panic. Yoshida DDTd Takako off the ropes for a near fall and pinned her at 6:43 with la magistral. Kind of odd to see these two do a short sprint, but it was very good. ***

25. JGP ’96 Placement Match: Etsuko Mita vs Mima Shimoda

Shimoda used heelish tactics early and took the fight to the floor where she twice whipped Mita into the barricade. Mita recovered and fought heelish back in the ring. Shimoda fought back with two lariats for a near fall. Mita gave Shimoda a blazing chop and took the fight to ringside and even into the crowd where she dumped Shimoda among a sea of chairs. Mita maintained the advantage as the action returned to the ring. Mita gave Shimoda a blazing chop but Shimoda recovered and gave Mita a top rope victory roll for a near fall. Mita went to the top rope but Shimoda shoved her to the floor and hit a tope suicida. Shimoda gained a near fall with a top rope dropkick but Mita responded with a rollup for a near fall of her own. Shimoda gained a near fall with a tiger suplex. Mita gained a near fall with a superplex. Shimoda gained a near fall with a German suplex. Mita powerbombed Shimoda for a near fall. Shimoda gained a near fall with a tiger suplex and another with a sunset flip. Mita pinned Shimoda at 10:03 after a Death Valley driver. The first half was lackluster and the second half good, but not great. **1/4

26. Japan Grand Prix ’96 Semifinal Match: Yumiko Hotta vs Reggie Bennett

Hotta took down Bennett early but Bennett held her own on the mat. Bennett basically overpowered Mita on the mat. Bennett laid in some chops but Hotta fought back with a spin kick in the corner. Hotta kicked the crap out of Bennett in the corner. Bennett went after Hotta’s left arm and continued to dominate her on the mat. Hotta escaped and went for a cross armbreaker but failed. Hotta regained the advantage with a slew of stiff kicks and gained a near fall after a spin kick. Hotta gave Bennett a pedigree and applied an armlock but Bennett reached the ropes. Bennett gained a near fall with a Samoan drop and a big splash. Bennett gained a near fall after a second rope splash. Bennett attempted a powerbomb but Hotta fell forwards on top of her and threw a ton of punches. Bennett responded with punches of her own and powerbombed Hotta for a near fall. Bennett hit a sitout powerbomb and a top rope splash for a near fall. Bennett gained a near fall with a big splash but she crashed onto Hotta’s knees in a top rope splash attempt. Hotta briefly applied a sleeper and gave Bennett three spin kicks. Bennett appeared to be out of it and Hotta seemed to be hurt in her head as well and she could not get back to her feet. The ref declared a double knockout at 12:50, eliminating both women and thus making the next match the tournament final. Fans were shocked and a bit upset with the result, but perhaps it was the best move in order to assure a memorable final. The match got really good in the last five minutes, but the ending was strange. **1/2

27. Japan Grand Prix ’96 Tournament Final: Aja Kong vs Kyoko Inoue

They traded a variety of blows early. Kyoko hit a lariat but Kong fought back with a suplex. Kong hit a lariat in the corner but Kyoko fought back with a second rope DDT. Kyoko DDTd Kong on the floor twice. Kong barreled through Kyoko and rammed her into a ringside table. Kong piledrove Kyoko on the floor and whipped her into the barricade. Kong hit Kyoko with her trash can and piledrove her again on the floor. She gained a near fall on Kyoko with a piledriver. Kyoko threw some kicks but Kong responded with some stiff kicks and an elbowsmash for a near fall. Kong applied a sleeper on Kyoko for a lengthy time and gained a near fall. Kyoko dove off the second rope but Kong met her with a kick to her back. Kyoko fought back with a lariat at 10:00. Kyoko slammed Kong but Kong sidestepped a top rope dropkick. Kong missed a top rope dropkick and Kyoko attempted a giant swing but Kong reached the ropes. Kyoko hit two lariats but Kong ducked a third and sent Kyoko over the top rope to the floor. Kong hit a tope suicida for a pop. Kyoko attempted a lariat but Kong countered with a back suplex. Kyoko recovered quickly and hit a lariat on Kong. Kong gained a near fall with a second rope splash. Kyoko German suplexed Kong twice for a heated near fall. Kyoko gained a near fall with a powerbomb. Kong gained a near fall on Kyoko with a brainbuster. Kyoko countered a second brainbuster attempt with a DDT and gained a near fall with a lariat. Kyoko went for a lariat but Kong powerslammed her for a heated near fall. Kong gained a near fall with a second rope dangerous backdrop. Kyoko fought back with a slew of elbows and gave Kong a victory roll for a near fall. Kyoko attempted a lariat but ran into an uraken and Kong gained a great near fall. Kong pinned Kyoko at 18:30 after a second uraken to win the tournament. An excellent match befitting of the finale of a tournament. Great action, good heat and the best match of the tape. ****1/4

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