In this installment of my journey through IWTV in chronological order, the fourth in a row from All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling, I review Survival Shout in Korakuen from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on August 19, 1990. This card is so clearly top-loaded, with the two final matches being both the focus of the show and, by far, its two best matches.
Unfortunately, this card contained a martial arts contest, plus an actual boxing match. It did not even dawn on me, until the match got started, that it could be set for up to twelve rounds like a regular boxing match. The Hotta vs. Shimoda contest would not go that long and it wouldn’t always look like a pure boxing match, but, trust me, it every bit as bad as the martial arts matches.
The main event tag team match is the best match of the night, but more importantly, it sets up the main event at Wrestlemarinepiad ’90, which is next on the list to review. Also, the penultimate contest between Akira Hokuto and Manami Toyota is certain to be just one chapter in that rivalry, as well.
MATCH #1
ETSUKO MITA vs. MIORI KAMIYA
The final matches are so long that they cut time from each of these first three matches. We joined this match already in progress with Mita holding Kamiya in an airplane spin. Mita followed with what looked like a back drop, but she dropped Kamiya forward onto her butt. Kamiya rallied with a cazadora roll up, followed by two strikes to the midsection off of Irish Whips, and a double underhook suplex for a near fall.
Mita would catch Kamiya coming off the second rope in an fireman’s carry, but Kamiya kicked out. Mita tried for a back drop, but Kamiya reversed it into another cazadora and a body slam. Kamiya missed on the senton off the ropes and Mita missed a cross body. However, when Kamiya lifted Mita up for a suplex, Mita fell on top of her and held on for the three count.
WINNER: ETSUKO MITA
MATCH #2
KAORU ITO vs. SAKIE HASEGAWA
Pretty soon into this martial arts contest, it started to feel like we didn’t just join this match in progress, but in the final round. Once the bell rang, both competitors unleashed a fury of punches. However, after a couple of takedowns left Ito on the mat looking helpless, the referee seemingly called for the bell and declared Hasegawa the winner.
WINNER: SAKIE HASEGAWA
MATCH #3
BULLDOG KT & COOLIE SZ vs. MASA MICHINOKU & MONKEY MAGIC WAKITA
Bulldog KT and Coolie SZ, now known as NJPW’s Gedo and Jado, were in trouble early in the coverage of this match (again, joined in progress) with Masa Michinoku and Monkey Magic Wakita firing on all cylinders. Michinoku took advantage of a Wakita trip from the outside and hit a step up kick to Bulldog, followed by, in rapid succession, a Wakita dropkick, senton, and top rope elbow.
Wakita used a German suplex to set up a pinfall attempt that was broken up by Coolie SZ who, soon after, tagged himself into the match and mounted a brief rally. However, Wakita regained the momentum when he saved his partner from a double suplex, then held Bulldog in piledriver position as Michinoku flew over into a sunset pin. Hard to describe. Very cool to see. Check it out.
As Michinoku and Wakita focused on Coolie SZ, Bulldog KT regrouped and double clotheslined them both, then whipped his partner into Wakita and Michinoku. Coolie hit a DDT and a flying headbutt on Masa Michinoku which brought all four men into the ring. Wakita drop kicked Bulldog outside the ring, but took his eye off the ball as Coolie SZ trapped Michinoku in a double underhook submission from which he could not escape.
WINNERS: BULLDOG KT & COOLIE SZ
MATCH #4
ESTHER MORENO, KAORU MAEDA & MIKA TAKAHASHI vs. HYPER CAT, KYOKO INOUE & LA DIABOLICA
SIX WOMAN TAG TEAM MATCH
Moreno, Maeda and Takahaski started on fire with a triple team assault on Kyoko Inoue. Quickly, though, La Diabolica helped right the ship when she went one-on-one with Moreno. Diabolica hit an illegal hair pull snap mare and Hyper Cat followed by driving her elbow into Moreno’s eye. When Maeda tagged in, she got her hair pulled in a snap mare, as well, before Hyper Cat insultingly rubbed her face in the mat. Inoue tagged back in and locked Moreno in a Texas Cloverleaf submission that she rolled over into a modified surfboard.
Maeda would hit back-to-back arm drags to earn enough time to Mika Takahashi, who tried two quick covers after a drop kick and a body slam to La Diabolica. Inoue returned and withstood a Takashashi cross-body, then reversed an Irish Whip into two fall-away slams on Esther Moreno to set up the Boston Crab.
Takahashi helped Moreno escape the Boston Crab, then faced of with Hyper Cat who quickly hit a double underhook power bomb and tagged Inoue. Kyoko was stunned when Takahashi hit two facebusters, a Sliced Bread #2, and a springboard back suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Maeda returned with a top rope Thesz Press and a double underhook suplex and The Honey Wings nailed simultaneous flying headbutts for another near fall as they seemed to have the match in control.
Soon, though, Hyper Cat returned and got caught in a boot to the midsection. However, when Maeda tried to flip her backwards by her foot, Hyper Cat landed on her feet and rebounded with a lariat and a piledriver and dragged Maeda to her corner. Inoue returned and used a drop kick to set up a toe hold converted into a pendulum swing on Kaoru. The heels continued to dominate in their corner until Maeda hit a reverse Frankensteiner out of nowhere and crawled over to tag Moreno.
The crowd rose to their feet as Moreno hit a shoulder tackle and a drop kick that sent Hyper Cat to the outside and followed with a tope suicida. Inside the ring, Diabolica and Inoue tried to whip The Honey Wings into each other, but they each put on the brakes and hit simultaneous drop kicks that sent Diabolica and Inoue to the outside. The Honey Wings followed with simultaneous springboard planchas and all six women were battling outside the ring.
As the match wound down, Hyper Cat and Moreno returned to the ring first. Moreno evaded a spinning back kick and countered with a German suplex into a bridge for a near fall. Moreno climbed to the top rope and leveled Hyper Cat with a moonsault, just as Hyper Cat got back onto her feet, and made the cover for the win.
WINNERS: ESTHER MORENO, KAORU MAEDA & MIKA TAKAHASHI
MATCH #5
MIMA SHIMODA vs. YUMIKO HOTTA
BOXING MATCH
Early in this contest, it was clear was the two fighters’ strategy would be. Hotta wanted to use her power and keep the contest on the mat to neutralize Shimoda’s long legs and her quickness. Shimoda was trying to use those strengths to stick-and-move and, also, cheat when necessary. Hotta seemed stronger early in each round and early in the contest, generally, but as each period ended, you could see Shimoda’s strikes starting to land and do more damage.
In the second round, Shimoda got more aggressive with several elbow strikes to the back of Hotta’s head whenever she was given a slight window to attack. In the fourth round, Shimoda actually choked Hotta until the referee forced a break. Still, though, Hotta came out to start each round with some impressive powerful punches and withstood every sneaky move Shimoda made.
In the fifth round, Hotta used her usual round-starting flurry of punches to set up a takedown and a rear choke on the mat. Hotta also hit a body slam and a single leg take over as this contest looked less and less like a boxing match. As the sixth round started, Hotta came out and shoved Mima into the corner and hit a German suplex to bring the match back down to the mat.
With Shimoda bleeding from the nose, Hotta tied Shimoda in the ropes off of a reset, and hit a nasty back fist as the referee forced another break. This time, Shimoda dropped like a sack of flour and stayed down for a five count. As soon as she hit her feet, Hotta clocked her with a punch that knocked Mima down for a four count. Shimoda tried to surprise Hotta with a jump kick off the reset, but missed and fell down. At that point, the referee stopped the fight.
WINNER: YUMIKO HOTTA
MATCH #6
MADUSA MICELI & NORIYO TATENO vs. MITSUKO NISHIWAKI & SUZUKA MINAMI
In the pre-match promo, Madusa Miceli said that her partner, Noriyo Tateno was the technique and Madusa would be the power. Miceli said their opponents have ten million dollar bodies, but ten cent brains. Before the match, there was a recognition ceremony for Tateno. Although Tateno was nearing the mandatory retirement age at the time of this show, this did not seem to be a retirement ceremony.
Nishiwaki faced off with Madusa to start the match, but Suzuka Minami quickly tagged in and demanded a shot at Tateno. Noriyo immediately hit two running knees, a suplex, and a guillotine choke, then used a test of strength to hurl Minami across the ring by her hands. Madusa returned with a clothesline, suplex and spinning back kick for a near fall, but somehow, Suzuka made it to her feet first and stunned Miceli with a piledriver.
Nishiwaki tagged in and immediately went to work on the leg of Madusa with a series of stomps and kicks to set up a Texas Cloverleaf. When Tateno tagged back in, she got hit with two clotheslines, a double underhook suplex and a hair mare. Minami compounded Tateno’s troubles with a top rope side kick and a double underhook back breaker to set up a modified figure four leg lock on the mat. When Tateno reached the ropes, Minami dragged her back into the center of the ring. When Madusa tried to save her partner, Nishiwaki intercepted her with a Texas Cloverleaf.
Tateno used a cazadora to create some space, but missed the tag to Madusa and was dragged back into the corner of Minami and Nishiwaki. Minami hit an arm drag, then stood on Tateno’s hand. Minami held Tateno as Nishiwaki returned with a top rope elbow strike to the arm, then held a rear choke on the mat. Minami held Tateno’s arms as Nishiwaki ran in with punches to Tateno’s exposed stomach.
Nishiwaki tagged back in, but missed the second rope senton and got hit with a back elbow as Tateno finally made the tag to Madusa. Miceli hit a series of palm strikes, and a body slam to force Nishiwaki to tag Minami, then teamed with Tateno for a modified Dudley Death Drop. Madusa hit a spinning back kick to set up a whip to the corner. As she rebounded, Madusa and Minami hit simultaneous clotheslines that left both women down.
As Suzuka rose to her feet, Nishiwaki climbed the ropes for a missile drop kick to Madusa. Unfortunately, Mitsuko missed and drop kicked her partner instead. Tateno ran in with two clotheslines and a double underhook suplex to Minami, followed by a suplex into a bridge for a near fall.
Madusa returned and lifted Suzuka into a piledriver. At the same time, Nishiwaki climbed to the top rope and helped Minami escape the piledriver with a double axe handle followed by a nasty power bomb. Now in control, Nishiwaki and Minami hit a double drop kick on Miceli. Minami missed a cross body off the ropes, but still managed to roll up Miceli for the pin as Nishiwaki played defense to keep Tateno from interfering.
WINNERS: MITSUKO NISHIWAKI & SUZUKA MINAMI
MATCH #7
AKIRA HOKUTO vs. MANAMI TOYOTA
These two competitors clearly do not like each other as the fireworks started during the referee’s instructions. Hokuto slapped Toyota in the face. Toyota responded with a multitude of slaps as the bell rang. Toyota ducked a spinning back kick, then tried for two quick pins off of back-to-back German suplexes. Manami climbed to the top rope, but Hokuto met her up there, slammed her back down to the mat, then leg dropped Manami’s legs and hit her own German suplex for near falls.
After the opening flurry, the match quickly settled down as Toyota hit an O’Connor roll for a near fall, then grabbed a leg lock on the mat. Hokuto struggled, but eventually forced a break when she reached the ropes. Hokuto countered with a double leg takedown into a Boston Crab until Toyota forced a rope break. In the subsequent minutes, Toyota nearly got submissions with a leg lock, a modified Texas Cloverleaf, a Cattle Mutilation, a figure four leg lock and an abdominal stretch as she dominated the middle stages of the contest.
When Toyota went back to the figure four leg lock, Hokuto tried rolling over to reverse the hold, then tried tying Toyota up in a pinning combination to break the hold. When the referee finally forced a break, she tried clothesline but missed and got thrown over the top rope by Manami. Hokuto managed to avoid a tope suicida from Toyota and quickly jumped up onto the apron and followed with a cannonball onto Manami. Hokuto lifted Manami up for a tombstone piledriver, but Manami reversed into one of her own. Somehow, Hokuto countered with a traditional piledriver and returned to the ring.
Toyota took a moment to regroup, then tried to spring back into the ring for a sunset flip and a near fall, followed by a series of drop kicks and a double underhook suplex for another. Going back to her strategy, Toyota locked Hokuto in a rear choke and slowed down the tempo on the mat. The choke turned into a chin lock, then back into a rear choke as the fans tried to rally Akira Hokuto.
Hokuto escaped the hold with a sudden roll up, then went back to the same strategy. Hokuto used a piledriver and an elbow drop to set up a leg lock on the mat. Hokuto converted that move by grabbing one of Toyota’s arms and twisting her like the letter U. From there, Hokuto went back to a rear choke into a facelock submission with Toyota’s legs tied. Hokuto converted that into a Steiner Recliner before returning to the facelock submission that seemed likely to end the match.
Toyota used a series of knee strikes to escape Hokuto’s grip, then hit four drop kicks in a row and climbed to the top. Toyota missed the turn-around cross body and Hokuto climbed to the top for a missile drop kick. Toyota rolled outside to regroup, but Hokuto hit a suicide dive onto the floor from the top rope, threw her back inside the ring, and hit another missile drop kick.
Hokuto hit a Michinoku Driver and climbed to the top, but missed on the second missile drop kick attempt. In an instant, Manami leapt to the top rope and hit a flying headbutt. Toyota used a missed drop kick by Hokuto to get a near fall with a jackknife pin. Toyota rolled to the apron, then grabbed Hokuto’s hand for a top rope arm drag. Toyota climbed to the second rope for a missile drop kick, but, amazingly, Hokuto caught her in mid air and converted into an insane-looking Boston Crab. Hokuto released the hold and hit a Dragon suplex. Toyota countered with a German suplex for a near fall and then…the bell rang.
WINNER: TIME LIMIT DRAW
MATCH #8
BULL NAKANO & GRIZZLY IWAMOTO vs. AJA KONG & BISON KIMURA
The two monsters, Aja Kong and Bull Nakano have been on a crash course for months. Kong and Nakano were nose-to-nose and talking trash from the moment they entered the ring, and would still be doing so when all was said and done. The action spilled outside quickly as all four women hit ringside and grabbed chairs to pummel their opponents.
Nakano and Kimura returned to the ring first. Bison tried several strikes which were no-sold by Bull Nakano. Bull responded with one punch that dropped Bison Kimura to the mat, then hit a piledriver and tagged in Grizzly Iwamoto. Kimura slammed Iwamoto’s face into the mat and tagged in Aja Kong who hit a piledriver for a near fall.
Kimura snapped Iwamoto’s neck on the ropes from the apron and tagged back in. Bison hit a face buster, two hair mares, an eye gouge and a tombstone, then grabbed a rear choke on the mat. The action spilled back outside once Iwamoto escaped and tagged in Bull Nakano. Nakano lifted Bison Kimura up into a standing choke, then watched Kimura roll out once she released the hold. Nakano followed, slammed Kimura onto the timekeeper’s table, threw her back into the ring, and insisted she tag Aja Kong.
Kong did not officially tag in, but she entered the match momentarily. Kong and Nakano stood face-to-face for so long, Bison Kimura tried to intervene and got kicked in the face for her trouble. Kong stood there and watched as Nakano whipped Kimura into the ropes and kicked her in the midsection, then placed her knee on Kimura’s neck in a cocky pin attempt. Iwamoto tagged back in and hit a flying clothesline which sent Kimora over to make the tag to Kong.
Kong took over from that point. She hit Iwamoto with two shoulder blocks, a suplex, and a piledriver. Instead of going for the pin, Kong went for a metal box at ringside and pounded Iwamoto in the head with it repeatedly. Kimura came in briefly for a steel chair shot before Kong started biting Grizzly’s face. Kong handed the chair back to Kimura who hit a piledriver onto it, followed by a tombstone for a near fall, before teaming up with Kong for a double head bite.
Initially, Kong and Kimura double teamed Nakano, but a double clothesline from Bull left them both down. With Kong and Nakano alone in the ring, Nakano tried a shoulder tackle which had no effect on Kong. Kong tried the same to Nakano with the same result. Nakano came off the ropes with a clothesline that finally dropped Kong as she tagged Grizzly Iwamoto and climbed to the top for a leg drop.
With Kong and Nakano back in the ring, Kong came off an Irish Whip with a back fist and went for a suplex. Nakano blocked the move, but Kong converted into a modified exploder suplex and got Nakano over. Somehow, Nakano was up first and hit a piledriver after some struggle getting Kong into the air. Nakano got a near fall after a bicycle kick, but the fall was broken up by Bison Kimura.
Iwamoto tagged back in and pummeled Kimura with kendo stick shots, and added one to Kong on the apron for good measure. Iwamoto hit a suplex for a near fall that was broken up by Aja Kong. In the chaos, Bison Kimura rolled over and grabbed a night stick. She nailed Iwamoto in the legs, midsection, and back until Iwamoto found the kendo stick and returned fire. Grizzly set Kimura on the top turnbuckle, only to throw her down to the mat by her hair and tag Nakano back into the match.
Nakano hit a back suplex for a near fall, but Kimura followed with exploder and northern lights suplexes, respectively. After a near fall, Nakano locked Kimura in a Texas Cloverleaf. Aja Kong ran in with kicks to Nakano, but Bull would not break the hold. Kong grabbed a kendo stick and pummeled Nakano until she broke the hold. Kong handed another stick to Kimura and they double teamed Bull, but Nakano seemed impervious. Nakano nonchalantly grabbed Kimura’s stick and hit Aja Kong over and over with great force. Nakano turned briefly to hit the referee with the stick once, then went back to pounding Aja Kong.
Kong came off the ropes with a headbutt, then let Kimura hold Nakano as she followed with a top rope flying headbutt and pulled Nakano outside the ring. Kong slammed Nakano into the table. Nakano flung Kong into the chairs in the crowd. Kimura and Iwamoto joined the all out brawl as the referee nearly counted all four women out of the ring.
Nakano and Kong returned to the ring first with Nakano gaining the upper hand. Bull hit a clothesline and an exploder suplex and garnered just a two count, then tagged Grizzly Iwamoto back into the ring. As Kimura tagged Aja Kong, Grizzly pounced with back to back power slams and a knee drop. Kong turned the tide with a big boot off of an Irish Whip. Kimura and Kong hit a double clothesline on Grizzly, then Kong set Iwamoto on the top turnbuckle and climbed up with her for a top rope Jackhammer.
Bull Nakano managed to break up a sure pinfall, but got tied up with Aja Kong again. Kong and Nakano rolled out of the ring and brawled with more chairs. At the same time, Bison Kimura hit a German suplex to Grizzly Iwamoto and used a bridge pin to secure the three count.
After the match, Nakano and Kong screamed at each other in the ring almost endlessly. It was obvious that the match ended before Kong and Nakano were done with one another. Both seemed frustrated by the ending of the match and intent on resuming the fight at a later time. That time would be our next event, Wrestlemarinepiad ’90 in a steel cage title match.
WINNERS: AJA KONG & BISON KIMURA
This event was much better than the AJW TV episode from the last review, which is to be expected. This was a supercard which, on paper, looked to be a great card. In my opinion, though, only the final two matches were worthy of praise. That may be, in part, because the first three matches were incomplete. Still, this was another top-heavy card.
How Akira Hokuto keeps putting on wrestling clinics on a clearly hobbled left leg, I will never know. The leg is bandaged, and she appears to be limping at certain times. However, in the ring, you would never know she was hurt. The thirty minute draw with Manami Toyota is one that I hope leads to a sequel. Manami Toyota is very impressive.
I have changed my tune slightly. I can deal with the martial arts matches. Just, please, please no more six round boxing matches.
The steel cage match between Kong and Nakano looks to be a war for the ages. These two women clearly do not like each other but, at the same time, respect what the other can do in the ring. I can hear Gorilla Monsoon now calling the match “The irresistible force meets the immovable object.” Can not wait to find out who comes out on top. The snarky wrestling fan in me can’t help but think, “I just hope it’s not a let down.”
EVENT SCORE: 71/100
Next up, All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling’s Wrestlemarinepiad ’90 from the Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium in Yokohama, Japan on November 14, 1990 featuring a steel cage main event of Bull Nakano vs. Aja Kong for the WWWA Championship.
The Indy Wrestling Experience 