WWWA Tag Team Title Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match: Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (c) vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki - AJW Dream Rush In Kawasaki - 26/11/1992
This was so, so good. The first fall was incredible. The FIP work by Toyota was top notch in this fall, although it’d wane in the 3rd fall and the double team work by Ozaki and Kansai was immensely good. The Camel Clutch setting up Kansai’s brutal kicks to the throat was sadistically awesome. Kansai produced magic whenever she was involved. Especially when matched up with Yamada. The 2nd fall was short but still good and got a big pop. The 3rd fall is where the match falls short of being a classic though. The length of nthe fall wasn’t exactly a problem but it felt long. Toyota was again the FIP but her work wasn’t as compelling as the 1st fall. But it wasn’t a terrible fall by any means. Ozaki showed some great character work on the apron when she stamped on Toyota’s outreaching hand near the ropes. Awesome match. ****1/4
WWWA Tag Team Title Best Two Out Of Three Falls Match - Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada (c) vs. Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki - AJW Dreamslam 2 - 11/04/1993
Same pairing, same stipulation, totally different layout though. Team JWP bunrush the AJW side and put them away for the quick first fall in 12 seconds. Amazing. So the match is different immediately. And this time around, Toyota was less vulnerable to the smooth teamwork by Ozaki and Kansai, more aware of the tricks and relatively stays out of danger. And when she is in trouble, she is crafty enough to get out of it fairly quick. The dropkick to Ozaki while in mid-strike from a Kansai irishwhip was awesome but what was truly immense was Toyota, again, in mid-stride being able to balance herself on the ropes and hit a twisting crossbody taking Kansai out. That was brilliance which shows you why Toyota is widely considered the GOAT womens wrestler. That stuff right there is untouchable. But the body of the match was focused around Kansai and Yamada. And their exchanges produce excellent results. I loved how they still kept the underdog/big boss dynamic in their portion of the match. Yamada could easily knock anyone out with her wild kicks but Kansai is a machine and outmatches her in every way. So there is still a mountain to climb. It was so compelling. Ozaki adding in her lucha offence and some great heel characteristics is always a treat among the rest. She is the perfect tag wrestler, honestly. The match was paced rather long and you could feel the length but I can’t say there was a time where I was bored. Is it better than their first match? Hard to tell. ****1/2
WWWA Tag Team Title Match: Dynamite Kansai & Mayumi Ozaki (c) vs. Manami Toyota & Toshiyo Yamada - AJW St. Battle Final 1993 06/12/1993
This is probably more in tune with what I want from a tag team match than their matches. Non-stop drama in the nearfalls with an exhausting build but with a thrilling climax. But I think it's still just shy of their second (and best) of the series. The little callbacks to the first match where Kansai booted Toyota in the throat while she was in the boston crab was brilliant. Yamada threw all she had in the kicks back. I love that the camera didn’t even catch the first kick but you could hear the THUD of the contact. Toyota was incredible towards the last five minutes. Her missile dropkick to the floor was gorgeous. And I loved the crafty clutch pin she used on Ozaki. Brilliant match all around. Just one long stretch of nearfalls. ****1/2
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