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.
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