2025 Matchguide: Addendum

 Elimination Gauntlet: Ai Houzan, Maria, Riko Kawahata, Sora Ayame & Takumi Iroha vs. Chika Goto, Kizuna Tanaka, Miku Aono, Natsumi Showzuki & Rea Seto, Marigold 4/25

First half of this was pretty great and absolutely some of the best wrestling I've seen all year. There was interpromotional heat and a real sense of competitiveness. Pretty much perfectly laid out, establishing that a shoot submission or shoot pin could always eliminate someone. Loved all the frantic armbars etc and there was a real sense of fighting for survival, which is how it should be. Should say Maria looked quite great - really sharp offense, and her selling of the bad arm and desperately trying to even the score was right on the money. 2nd half was not quite as good I thought, but still plenty fun thanks to Miku Aonos harsh kicks, although going for the time limit finish 2 times in a row was a bit lame I thought. Chika Goto seemed way out of her depth against Iroha, though it was pretty fun to watch Iroha kick her like a mule and just coming out as a dominant badass. Overall I would still classify this as one of the more worthwhile matches of the year simply due to delivering quality action in spades and not being cookie cutter.

Elimination Gauntlet: Ai Houzan, Maria, Mio Momono, Riko Kawahata & Sora Ayame vs. Komomo Minami, Miku Aono, Seri Yamaoka, Utami Hayashishita & Victoria Yuzuki, Marvelous 8/8

Not quite as good as the 4/25 gauntlet match, but still pretty fun due to similiar factors: a sense of fighting for survival, any move can finish, and unconventional layout. There was some awkwardness and mishaps but nothing too egregious. Yamaoka vs Ayame at the beginning wasn't perfect but had the right spirit + Seris cool amateur wrestling moves. Match significantly improved again once Maria came in thanks to her sharp offense, cool submissions and Yasha Kurenai like scuzzy heel vibe. I also quite enjoy Ai Houzans quest to stop being such a loser. Aono and Kawahata were just solid here and I thought the match lost quite a bit of steam when they were at it, but thankfully things pick up again with Momono speed pinning Yuzuki and then a fun tricked out finishing run between her and Hayashishita. Definitely needed more of those frantic armbars that the 4/25 match had, though.

Timothy Thatcher vs Charlie Dempsey, WWE EVOLVE 11/14

Ahh.. EVOLVE is back? But now they're under the WWE banner outright? And it's like another WWE developmental? I have no idea what's going on, but one thing is for certain. Thatcher and Dempsey are gonna step in the ring and give you the grapplingest match you can possibly have on a WWE show. This was just a bunch of really tight hold for hold stuff with a good deal of aggression and accordingly, quite good. Won't make you forget Regal/Benoit but it's a fun shot at that kind of match. Thatcher does act a bit more punishing, busting out those cool knees on the ground and outright smacking Dempsey at the face. Some good nitty gritty groundfighting here and quality selling from Thatcher when Dempsey started beating up his leg. Really liked how they segued into the finish and Dempseys suplexes are awesome. 

 

2025 Matchguide 

JWA Tokai Origins of Pro Wrestling 4/20/2025

 Shigeru Takagi vs Yuki Toyoura

This show was described as 'pro wrestling without show elements' and 'going back to the origins of pro wrestling'. And also, all matches were held under greco roman rules. Yeah, so only grappling, and no grappling below the belt! There are still submissions, and there are no rounds and seemingly no points or passivity warnings. Now this is an interesting set up. And this was - well, it was very much greco roman wrestling. Takagi is bald with no eyebrows, in a singlet, and barrel chested. Toyoura I've seen before and he also looks quite strong. This was two powerful men trying to hook an arm or neck and mostly averting and kind of attempts at offense through sheer struggle. There were no moves, no big throws, no fancy holds. Toyoura tries to go for a reverse gutwrench lift but doesn't make it despite struggling his hardest. After around 8 minutes Takagi is able to grab a side headlock - the first 'move' of the match  and turns Toyoura on his back, but instead of pinning him he cranks way back forcing the tap out. Quite antithetical to the pro wrestling landscape in 2025 but I enjoyed the sheer struggle these two displayed.

Yuina vs Mana Yokoi

Yuina is something of a veteran of the Nagoya scene, while Yokoi had only made her debut in 2025. That is almost more information than I can write about this match, as it's mostly Yokoi being in turtle position and Yuina unable to do much of anything. Yokoi reverses out of the position once, but the second time she tries it Yuina reverses her and pins her for the 3. Talk about hammering the point home.

Yasushi Sato vs Super Taira

The two previous matches were more like a set up for this main match. This was amazing to watch. Mind you, it was 15 minutes of greco roman pro wrestling, so it's a very aquired taste, but I thought for that they went above and beyond. Both guys here displayed an intricate knowledge of greco roman techniques, but also great struggle, anticipation and timing. Yasushi Sato just keeps cementing himself as a grappling master in my eyes and Taira is a great match for him. The pin attempts they did here were amazing, but so were the escapes from the pin attempts. Also, since they previous two matches established that a match can end with any move, there was a great deal of tension, end even something like a side headlock could spell the end. Loved the struggle over the attempted suplexes as well as Sato wheezing when Taira went for the sleeper. Finish was amazing not just because the actual move that ended it was great (it was a great move) but because of the struggle and build that had preceded it. A super unique piece of pro wrestling that most wrestlers could not even attempt yet these two pretty much nailed it when they stepped on that mat. I definitely do not regret checking it out, one of my favourite bouts of the year.

 

The Library

2025 Matchguide