Marvelous’s final Korakuen of the year had two biggies at the top of the card. First, Mio Momono and Tomoko Watanabe battled to decide who would get the first shot at reclaiming the AAAW Title from the villainous Mayumi Ozaki. Then, Magenta challenged for the AAAW Tag Titles for the second time, as they hoped to wrest the belts from the seemingly unbeatable pairing of Takumi Iroha and Chikayo Nagashima. It was all exciting on paper, so let’s see how reality lived up to it.
Chihiro Hashimoto defeated Ai Houzan
There was a moment in this match, and it was a short one, where Big Hash looked a tad worried. As she looked to twist Ai over into a Crab, the wee rookie bundled her up and got a two count, followed by a slightly longer one off the La Magistral that followed. Let’s not get carried away here – it was a sprinkle of joy for Ai in an opener where she had little to no success – but to her credit, she forced Hash to take things up a notch. Of course, when Sendai’s Ace did, she won the match with relative ease, but it was still a taste of triumph for the youngster.
Before that, there was a sense that Hashimoto was testing Ai. The early grappling saw her doggedly refuse to let go of the simple holds that most people throw away, instead insisting that Ai battle out of them. As Houzan struggled to her feet to escape a headlock or pushed to get free from a tight head scissors hold, you could see her already tiring, her blows growing feeble as she fought on. In nearly every way, Hash is her superior, and she wasn’t coming to Marvelous to give her an easy time.
And it made those seconds where she did escape feel huge. The flurry of dropkicks she got off after rolling away from a senton, stunning Hash for long enough to pick up some momentum. She was still bashing herself against a brick wall, barely able to make a dent, but when facing a force which can break you like a twig, even the tiniest victory has to be celebrated. Ai never stood a chance, and Hash ultimately spent a lot of the match playing with her food, but a spark of hope was enough to bring it to life. The veteran hoss and the young hopeful played their roles well, and while there was nothing particularly unique about it, they delivered a good version of something we’ve seen before.
Verdict: Strong Stuff
Makoto, Unagi Sayaka & Promise Braxton defeated Manami, Yurika Oka & Gigi Rey
I’m starting to lose track of the armada of foreign talent Marvelous’s relationship with West Coast Pro has brought to Japan. Promise Braxton and Gigi Rey were both making their debuts here and like 99% of American indie talent, I was going into them blind. It meant they had my attention, though, as everyone else was a familiar face.
And I’d put their first Marvelous appearances down as solid, if unspectacular. Braxton looked nervous early on, rushing her offence, as she seemed to get caught up in the moment. Not that I blame her. I’d be a fucking mess if I made my Japanese debut in Korakuen Hall with Chigusa Nagayo standing at ringside. Meanwhile, Ray played it safe, hitting her spots nicely and throwing a bit of flash in there. Neither blew me away, but I am intrigued to see more of them after they’ve got their feet under the table (and are in a less crowded ring).
As for the rest of the match, it was about what you’d expect. Makoto was a calming presence but wasn’t going all out, as Unagi took centre stage for most of it (a role she’s always happy to inhabit). Oka and Manami are, even at this young stage in their career, wrestlers you can rely on, and it’s always fun to see them take the trip over to Marvelous. There was little to get excited about, but I had a good time while it was on.
Verdict: Fine
In the aftermath, Unagi challenged Takumi to a match at her produce show in January. She does love getting her head kicked in.
Leo Isaka, Vinnie Massaro & IssI defeated Alpha Zo, Bryan Ishizaka & Viento
There was yet more foreign talent here, as alongside Zo and Massaro (whom we’ve already met), we had masked luchador Viento (who has also done some West Coast Pro work) and Spanish wrestler IssI. IssI has wrestled on cards with Takumi in Spain, so presumably, that’s where he got his invite.
Viento would end up making the strongest first impression, as he got to show off some lucha flash with the help of Vinnie Massaro. The big man proved a solid base, as we saw the benefit of bringing in people from different backgrounds. I don’t think a lot of that stuff would have gotten a substantial reaction in Mexico, where it’s more commonplace, but you won’t typically see it on a Marvelous show, so it felt new and exciting. I also liked that Vinnie was ready when he returned to his fancy rope tricks for a second time, yanking him off into a cutter. Sadly, IssI did less for me, as with his over-the-top facial expressions and cobbled-together moveset (there was a lot of thigh slapping), he was very indie. I don’t want to be too mean, but he was at his best in this match when he was being launched across the ring by Alpha Zo, whose power is a lot of fun.
Not that it did him too much good here, as despite also throwing Leo around, he was ultimately bundled up by Marvelous’s own for the three. Much like the last match, this had too many unfamiliar cogs crammed into it, but it had its moments. Still, I’d happily see more of Viento while Massaro and Zo have won me over, so it wasn’t a total disaster.
Verdict: Some Solid Performances
Tomoko Watanabe defeated Mio Momono to become the number one contender for the AAAW Title
Sometimes, we get so caught up in the narrative we want to follow that we forget it’s not the only option. When Mio battled her way past Veny and Yuu on the same night, it felt like her destiny to get another crack at Mayumi Ozaki, a chance to redeem herself and reclaim the title she lost. Sure, if I’d taken a step back, I probably would have felt it was too soon, that Mio hadn’t been on enough of a journey yet, but I wasn’t about to do any of that. I, like many others, want to see Momono’s redemption arc, and I was happy to ignore any niggling doubts.
However, while I was picturing Mio getting that massive title strapped around her waist, Marvelous had other plans. Momono is looking for revenge, but Tomoko Watanabe is looking for a chance to prove she still has it. When she lost a title match to Takumi Iroha last year, there was a sense that it was the end of her road as a high-level wrestler as she prepared to step aside for the younger generation. Then, Mayumi Ozaki (who is four years older than her) left one of those youngsters a bloody, crying mess before stamping all over the company Watanabe helped Chigusa Nagayo build. Suddenly, Tomoko’s days didn’t seem quite so numbered, and she had to point to prove.
That shifting of the narrative happened before the bell had even rung, as it was Tomoko, not Mio, who charged across the ring to get the first shot. They have wrestled and teamed countless times this year, never mind over the last seven, and she’s seen Mio swarm opponents before. Watanabe wasn’t going to let that happen to her, not on this day, and it set the theme of this match, as she found herself one step ahead of Momono throughout. Whether it was stepping out of the way as Mio leapt from a Korakuen entrance, cutting her leg out from underneath her with a combination of Figure Fours and Dragon Screws or throwing her around the ring with wild abandon, Tomoko had an answer to every challenge she presented. Even when Momono unleashed a torrent of headbutts, Watanabe answered with one of her own, proving her ability to eat up damage and dish it out harder.
And that ultimately made the difference. In the final act, this became a contest of attrition, as these two devolved into throwing bombs, and the second that happened, it was Tomoko’s to lose. Mio can take a lot, and she hits hard, but Watanabe is bigger, stronger and has years of hardening her body to this stuff. There is no world in which Mio Momono goes down easily, and even the final pin saw her wiggling away, desperate to get her shoulders up, but on this day, Watanabe was too much. She was powered by the need to prove herself, and while it will be a hell of a challenge for her to get that title of Ozaki, this match left me excited to see her try.
Verdict: Their Best One Yet
Magenta (Maria & Riko Kawahata) defeated Takumi Iroha & Chikayo Nagashima to win the AAAW Tag Titles
The underlying tension in this match came from the feeling that, while they might not say it, Takumi and Chikayo never saw Magenta as legitimate challengers. There was some logic to that, too. Not long ago, Iroha defeated them single-handedly, and the build-up tags had Magenta lose more often than not. For Maria and Riko, this was the biggest match of their careers, but for the champions, it was just another Korakuen main event. Could you blame them for taking their eye off the ball for a second?
And that dismissal played out in the early going. It was in Takumi casually slapping a downed Maria across the face and in her fury when Riko dared hit her back. The champions were having fun, putting these young pups in their place, and wrestling like two people confident in their ability to take this home. However, slowly but surely, that began to change. The kids stubbornly hung in there, pulling out tricks we hadn’t seen before as they did so. They were rarely, if ever, in control, but they were chipping away, keeping themselves in the fight and refusing to be pushed aside.
Takumi and Chikayo should have seen it all coming, too. Because while they did win those warmup tags, there was a growing sense, throughout them all, that Magenta were starting to figure things out. Even on their best day, they aren’t going to beat the champs one-on-one. That’s too big a mountain to climb at this point in their careers. However, together, they could nibble away at the edges, opening them up. All they had to do was stay in the fight, waiting for their opportunity to strike, and while it hadn’t paid off yet, who knew what would happen in Korakuen Hall with the belts on the line?
That plan paid off beautifully, although they ate a hell of a lot of punishment before it could. The crowning glory of their survival was the overcoming of a dual Go To Sugoi and Fisherman’s Buster, Magenta somehow clinging on even as the champs put them down hard. It was a moment that they’d judged to perfection, the shock on Takumi’s face on the kickout getting over just how big a deal this was, and also leading to the mistake that got the win. Desperate to finish them off, she set up for the Running Three, only for Riko to wriggle out, leaving Iroha vulnerable to a boot to the face from Maria and being bundled into a package for the three. It was a smash-and-grab, but one that felt earned, and as Nagayo went wild on commentary, even Magenta looked shocked that it had worked.
It is worth saying that even if you haven’t watched those previous tags, this was still a cracker of a match. Magenta were feisty and defiant in the face of overwhelming odds, while the champs were such unbeatable foes that even though I went in spoilt, I was still shocked that Maria and Riko clung on, refusing to go down. The context adds to it, but it’s by no means essential, and you can enjoy this win without it. Christ, even if the match was shit, Maria and Riko lifting those belts, crying tears of joy, is something to get excited about, and I can’t wait to see what they can do with this reign.
Verdict: Great In Isolation And With Context
Overall Show
If you’re in a rush, you can skip the two multi-person tags on this show. They had a few fun moments, but they were both a bit throwaway. The rest of it, however, is worth a watch. I’m always going to love a rookie being thrown at a veteran hoss, while Mio and Tomoko had perhaps their best match yet, and the main event was outstanding. Marvelous have a couple of shows left before they’re done for the year, but this was the last biggie, and they went out on a high.
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