JWP THUNDER QUEEN BATTLE IN YOKOHAMA PART 1 TV
Taped July 31, 1993
The show began with the opening ceremony which introduced the wrestlers and matches on the card. A series of clips previewing the next match then aired.
1. Yumiko Hotta (AJW) vs Plum Mariko (JWP)
Mariko went for a huracanrana but Hotta countered with a powerbomb. Hotta threw a couple stiff kicks but Mariko kicked her out of the ring. Mariko hit a Thesz press off the apron. Mariko hit a cross bodyblock but Hotta soon fought back with more kicks. Hotta knocked Mariko out of the ring with an elbow. Hotta landed more kicks but Mariko countered and went for an ankle lock, but Hotta reached the ropes. Mariko applied a figure 4 leglock on Hotta. Hotta fought back and twice spin kicked Mariko in the corner. Hotta gained a near fall with a piledriver after which she applied a camel clutch. Hotta rammed Mariko into the barricade. Hotta no-sold a few dropkicks from Mariko but Mariko knocked her down with a second rope dropkick for a near fall. Hotta scored with more stiff kicks and went for a powerbomb but Mariko fell on top of her for a near fall. Mariko countered a German suplex with a leglock in a neat move. Mariko gave Hotta four German suplexes for a near fall. Hotta missed an enzuguiri and Mariko went for an STF but Hotta reached the ropes. Hotta hit a second enzuguiri as well as more stiff kicks to Mariko’s body. Hotta went for a tiger driver but Mariko somehow countered with a backslide for a near fall. Hotta went for a superkick but Mariko caught her leg and applied a leglock. Mariko hit two top rope dropkicks for a near fall. Hotta missed a spin kick in the corner but Mariko herself missed a corner splash. Mariko dove off the top rope but Hotta powerbombed her for a near fall. Hotta attempted a powerbomb but Mariko countered with a sunset flip for a near fall. Mariko gained a near fall with a German suplex. Hotta landed a pair of kicks and pinned Mariko at 14:17 after a pyramid driver. A solid, but flat match that lacked momentum and heat until the end. **
The 8-Woman main event was previewed, with clips of the wrestlers involved and an explanation of the unique rules of the match.
JWP New Dimension 8 Queens Match: Aja Kong, Kyoko Inoue, Takako Inoue & Sakie Hasegawa (All Japan Women) vs Dynamite Kansai, Mayumi Ozaki, Cuty Suzuki & Hikari Fukuoka (JWP)
This is without a doubt the best stipulation match in wrestling history. The first 20 minutes were divided into four 5 minute segments in which one wrestler from each team faced each other. If a wrestler gained a fall during the segment, her team scored a point. Also, the segment would continue, giving the loser the chance to score a fall to even things up. The last forty minutes involved all eight women, with a point being scored for every fall won. At the end of the one hour match the team with the most falls/points won the match. A very different and complex type of match, but it worked like a charm with those involved. Hasegawa and Fukuoka started things out. Nice combination of heated exchanges, matwork, and teasing of falls. Fukuoka surprised Hasegawa with a pin at 2:33 to score the first point for her team. Great booking that showed fans that flash falls could take place. From there, the heat was fantastic for the other segments. Kyoko Inoue & Ozaki fought in the second segment with plenty of good work and near falls. Takako and Cuty were next and worked very well together during their segment, playing well to the booking of the match. Kong and Kansai fought in the last "first attack" segment, as they were called. Kong immediately gave Kansai an uraken and scored a 10 count KO win at 16:34 to even the match at one point apiece. They had a great segment with many toughwoman spots with lots of stiffness. Once all 8 women were legal, the action spilled outside the ring. Aja pinned Cuty at 23:02 after a top rope elbow to put AJW ahead 2 to 1. The next 20+ minutes saw all eight women play their roles to perfection. Ozaki was probably the best worker during this stretch, although Kansai and Kyoko were spectacular as well. Kong played her monster role to perfection. Fukuoka also had a chance to showcase her impressive agility and Cuty was cool in her underdog role. Lots of great spots and too many to account for here. The work was also great in that whenever the pace would slow, it would quickly intensify once again. The pace intensified for good around the 43 minute mark. Kansai pinned Kyoko at 50:02 after a splash mountain to even the match at 2-2. Fans were into every near fall from now on knowing that the next fall would likely be the last. Kong gained a few near falls on Ozaki before Kansai came in. Team JWP scored some dramatic near falls in the closing minutes before Takako turned things around. However, Ozaki caught Takako in her tequila sunrise suplex and pinned her at 59:55 to win the match for JWP by a 3-2 score. Fans went nuts for the finish. In place of a detailed description of spots, picture this. Picture all 8 women being at or near the top of their game, then throw in masterful booking and lots of heat and drama, and you get this match. Easily the best match in JWP history and one of the best women's matches ever. *****
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