In this installment of my journey through IWTV in chronological order, the seventh consecutive event from AJW, I review the March 17, 1991 episode of AJW TV.
At first glance, this card seems more like one for a supershow versus one for an episode of TV. There is a martial arts match to crown the first ever Martial Arts Champion, a little persons’ match, plus Noriyo Tateno’s retirement match and ceremony all on the bottom half of the card.
The top half of the card is loaded with all-stars and all-star matches. The new All Pacific Champion, Manami Toyota, who won the title at our last reviewed event, AJW TV from January 11, 1991, defends against Suzuka Minami. Two all-time greats in Aja Kong and Akira Hokuto do battle, as well. Finally, Bull Nakano and Bison Kimura recruit two new partners as their heated rivalry rages on in a tag team main event.
MATCH #1
TOMOKO WATANABE vs. KAZUE SAITO
For some reason, this match was pared down for viewing and offered only highlights. Saito started quickly with a series of dropkicks, but Watanabe managed to duck a clothesline and returned fire with several dropkicks of her own. A Watanabe body slam led to two consecutive covers, but Saito bridged out of both.
Frustrated, Watanabe parked herself on Saito’s chest and started pulling Saito’s hair and gouging Saito’s eyes. The referee tried to halt Watanabe’s nefarious tactics, but to no avail. Tomoko stopped gouging the eyes, but held onto a large chunk of Saito’s hair as she rolled Kazue over into a Boston Crab, then into a single leg crab.
When Saito refused to submit, Watanabe lifted Saito to her feet and whipped her into the ropes. However, a rejuvenated Saito countered with a dropkick off the ropes, followed by two more for good measure, a body slam and a sling blade. Unfortunately, that was end of the rally for Saito. Quickly, Tomoko Watanabe hit a cross body off the ropes, three dropkicks, and a body slam to end the evening for young Kazue Saito.
WINNER: TOMOKO WATANABE
MATCH #2
LITTLE FRANKIE vs. TOMEZO TSUNOKAKE
Unlike the occasional martial arts matches that seem to ruin all momentum for the night, I was thrilled to see this micro wrestling match on the card, though I had never heard of either of the competitors in this match. As expected, this was a comedy match with plenty of goofy spots to keep the crowd entertained. Before the bell rang, Tsunokake looked to antagonize the referee by slapping him with a shoe. After multiple cheap shots from Tomezo, the referee took the show away and slapped Tomezo back as the bell rang.
Little Frankie similarly confounded Tomezo Tsunonake, hitting two arm drags and a snap suplex, then flipping onto his hands and walking in a handstand when Tsunokake tried to whip him into the corner. Tomezo countered with a series of headbutts, then stood Frankie on his head and spun him like an 80s break dancer.
Tsunokake whipped Frankie into the ropes, but Frankie fell through to the floor. With no ring steps Little Frankie marched around ringside for a moment looking for assistance returning to the ring. When he got there, Frankie used a single leg takedown to facilitate his standing on Tsunokake’s crotch until the referee forced a break, then locked in a figure four (during which the referee smacked Tomezo with a paper fan for some reason).
Tsunokake escaped the hold and managed to hit an atomic drop and whipped Frankie into the turnbuckles face first. Tomezo hit a body slam and attempted a top rope splash, but Little Frankie got his feet up. Quickly, Little Frankie leapt to his feet and whipped Tsunokake into the ropes for a mule kick, then body slammed him and climbed to the top rope for a splash.
WINNER: LITTLE FRANKIE
MATCH #3
MARIKO YOSHIDA & DEBBIE MALENKO vs. MAYUMI OZAKI & SAKIE HASEGAWA
Debbie Malenko took control of this match by working the leg of Mayumi Ozaki early in the contest. Following a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall, Malenko trapped Ozaki in a leg lock submission. When Ozaki reached the ropes, Malenko dragged her back to the center of the ring and went right back to the leg lock.
Mariko Yoshida tagged in an achieved some early success against Ozaki, but Sakie Hasegawa evened the score with two snap mares, a body scissors and a cross body off the ropes. Yoshida managed to hit a back handspring elbow, but soon found herself locked in a Texas Cloverleaf in the center of the ring.
Ozaki returned and hit a dropkick and a slam before Yoshida reversed an Irish Whip with a flapjack and tagged Debbie Malenko. Malenko hit a back elbow, side suplex, and an elbow drop for a near fall, then tagged Yoshida back into the match. However, when Yoshida charged at Mayumi Ozaki, she found herself lifted up and over the top rope onto the floor.
Ozaki followed Yoshida to the floor as Sakie Hasegawa climbed to the top rope for a suicide dive onto the pack at ringside. Soon, all four women were battling at ringside as the referee tried to maintain some sort of order. In the chaos, it was hard to tell exactly what happened, but somehow Hasegawa was seriously injured from a Debbie Malenko cross body and required attention.
For several minutes, the folks at ringside tried to assist Hasegawa, but to no avail. Sakie had to be assisted back to the locker room, leaving everyone in attendance to wonder if the match would continue. After some consultation with Ozaki, the match did continue as a two on one handicap match, with the expected results.
Yoshida and Malenko double teamed Ozaki with a whip and back elbows, before Malenko locked Ozaki in a single leg crab. Ozaki reached the ropes to force a break after some time, but was clearly limping after the hold was released. After a reset, Ozaki hit a couple of clotheslines, and even managed to move as Malenko charged, sending Debbie crashing into her partner.
However, Malenko recovered, hit a modified cutter followed by a Northern Lights suplex to finish off Mayumi Ozaki. After the match, Malenko stated that she felt bad for Hasegawa’s injury and hoped to have another match when Sakie was fully recovered.
WINNERS: DEBBIE MALENKO & MARIKO YOSHIDA
MATCH #4
KAORU ITO vs. BAT YOSHINAGA (c)
WWWA MARTIAL ARTS TITLE MATCH
Although Cagematch listed Bat Yoshinaga as the incumbent champion entering this event, it was clear that their match listing was nothing but a spoiler. In fact, this match was to crown the first ever WWWA Martial Arts Champion…and you’ll never guess who won.
Luckily (at least for me because I hate these matches), we were only subjected to clips of this contest. Ito and Yoshinaga stood toe to toe for most of the contest. Yoshinaga attempted to overpower Ito with strong punches, while Kaoru Ito tried to use her long legs and low kicks to create some distance to keep Yoshinaga at bay.
Yoshinaga scored a knockdown in the first round that earned a standing eight count for Kaoru Ito and made me think the match would be short. Imagine my surprise when we jumped from the first to an uneventful sixth and final round. Ito scored some points with a takedown and kept kicking Bat until the referee forced her to stop.
Toward the end of the round Yoshinaga took charge with some hard knee strikes to the face of Kaoru Ito. In the end, though, the scorecards gave the bout, and the first WWWA Martial Arts Championship, to Bat Yoshinaga.
WINNER: BAT YOSHINAGA
MATCH #5
TAKAKO INOUE vs. NORIYO TATENO
I was aware that Noriyo Tateno’s time in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestlinlg was coming to an end, but I had no idea it would come to a conclusion at this event until the Noriyo Tateno career retrospective began to play. There was some ceremony before the match, as there had been in previous events with a retirement match, as well as a fun send off for Tateno afterward.
Feeling less than nostalgic, Takako Inoue got the jump on Tateno early as she looked to spoil the evening for Noriyo Tateno. Inoue hit a dropkick and clothesline as the bell rang, then used a series of axe handles to break a body scissors, and locked Tateno in a cross arm breaker.
Tateno managed to reach the ropes to force a break, then used a hair mare to set up a double underhook suplex followed by a cross body from the second rope. Tateno went back to the body scissors, but got reversed into Boston Crab by Takako Inoue. Inoue followed with a double underhook suplex, a back suplex, and a body slam, all for near falls, and whipped Tateno into the corner.
Tateno got both feet up to stop a charging Inoue to take control of the match for the last time in her career (you know, until she un-retired like a year later). Quickly, Tateno hit a shotgun dropkick, back elbow, and a double underhook suplex for a near fall. When that failed to win the match, Tateno climbed to the top and hit a flying knee drop, but still could garner just a two count. Finally, though, another body slam followed by a double underhook suplex got the job done.
The win by Tateno and the end of the match meant it was time for one of my favorite spots, the retirement beat down. Once the bell rang, several of Tateno’s old colleagues hit the ring and started to hit moves on Tateno in a jovial, light-hearted manner to send Noriyo Tateno into retirement the right way. Once everyone got their shots in, Tateno was lifted onto the shoulders of her fellow wrestlers and carried off into the sunset.
WINNER: NORIYO TATENO
MATCH #6
ETSUKO MITA, MIMA SHIMODA & TOSHIYO YAMADA vs. CYNTHIA MORENO, ESTHER MORENO & YUMIKO HOTTA
SIX PERSON TAG TEAM MATCH
I have learned that Esther Moreno’s presence on the card, virtually assures the viewer will see at least one dive to the outside and a bunch more high flying, fast paced offense. The addition of a second Moreno sister got me excited for what might be in store.
Esther started the match with a flurry of offense against Mima Shimoda with a series of dropkicks and a double underhook suplex with a bridge for a near fall. Yamada and Hotta tagged in next, with Hotta gaining the upper hand until Esther Moreno returned to the match with a missile dropkick from the top rope to Toshiyo Yamada.
Yamada recoiled into her corner which allowed Etsuko Mita to see her first action. Mita hit a back elbow and went for a slingshot, but Moreno landed on her feet and charged. Mita had the presence of mind to lift Moreno up for a back body drop, but again, Moreno landed on her feet like a cat and, soon after, tagged her sister into the match.
Cynthia Moreno immediately reversed Mima Shimoda with an arm drag and got a near fall with a cazadora into a roll up, then brought Yumiko Hotta in for a side slam, tilt-a-whirl suplex, and a double underhook piledriver, all for near falls. After that, Cynthia returned and hit a back elbow before Shimoda got a near fall with a sudden small package. Shimoda got another near fall after an airplane spin, then put Cynthia on her shoulders and dropped her backward.
Shimoda twice locked Cynthia in a Boston Crab, but Moreno was able to escape both times, thanks in part to Hotta’s interference. Cynthia hit a body slam and a back elbow, then brought her sister into the match for an assisted dropkick and a back elbow off the second rope.
Esther would miss on a top rope moonsault, which allowed Shimoda to tag Yamada back into the match. Yamada hit a superkick and a spin kick that knocked Moreno to the mat, then locked her in a body scissors. When Esther escaped, Etsuko Mita ran in to assist Yamada on a double clothesline, as well as a double suplex.
Mita climbed to the second rope, which allowed Esther Moreno to make a much-needed tag to Yumiko Hotta who quickly hit a side slam and back-to-back suplexes for a near fall. Esther climbed to the top rope as Hotta held Mita for a cross body, but Mita moved and tagged Yamada. Astutely, Esther leapt to the second rope and hit Yamada with a springboard arm drag that sent Yamada to the outside.
Etsuko Mita joined Yamada outside just as Esther Moreno lifted a charging Cynthia up and over the top rope for a suicide dive onto everybody at ringside. In an instant, Esther parlayed that success with a tope suicida. In the ring, Shimoda missed a dropkick to Hotta allowing Hotta to climb to the second rope. Shimoda used an ensiguri to knock Hotta off the ropes and down to the floor. All six competitors brawled at ringside as the referee counted. Only Esther Moreno had the awareness to roll back in at the count of 19.
WINNERS BY COUNTOUT: CYNTHIA MORENO, ESTHER MORENO & YUMIKO HOTTA
MATCH #7
SUZUKA MINAMI vs. MANAMI TOYOTA (c)
ALL PACIFIC TITLE MATCH
The champion went right to work in this match with a German Suplex off of the opening bell, followed by a series of low kicks to set up a figure four leg lock. Minami writhed in pain for a while, but eventually managed to reach the ropes to force a break. Toyota went back to work on the leg, but Minami countered and ended up locking the champion in a figure four of her own.
Toyota got the upper hand after reset and used a rear chin lock to set up a body scissors then ended up being a bow and arrow submission.. Minami managed to escape that hold and shifted the momentum when she ducked a clothesline off the ropes and wrapped Toyota in a small package for a near fall.
The challenger took control with a top rope body slam, followed by a torture rack into a modified Samoan Drop, each for near falls. When a surfboard submission failed to earn the victory, Minami unloaded with back to back running knee strikes and double underhook suplex, followed by an abdominal stretch.
Toyota escaped the hold with a roll through into a front chancery, then hit two suplexes for near falls, and went back to the leg lock. When Suzuka Minami escaped once again, Toyota came off the ropes with a cross body, then climbed to the second rope for a missile dropkick for another near fall.
Frustrated, Toyota flipped Minami with a hair mare, then locked her into a head scissors. Minami reversed that into a toe hold which converted into a surfboard. Minami hit back-to-back knees to the back of Toyota, then hit a double underhook back breaker for a near fall.
Toyota came off of an Irish Whip and maneuvered Suzuka into a backslide, followed by a drop kick and a flying shoulder tackle from the top rope. Toyota tried to parlay that success with a double underhook suplex, but Minami blocked and countered with a back drop, followed by a Fisherman’s suplex and a power bomb. When both failed to earn Minami the victory, she climbed to the top for a senton.
Toyota evaded Minami’s top rope move and quickly countered with a double chicken wing suplex, two drop kicks and a top rope moonsault for a near fall. Toyota climbed to the top rope once again and hit a shotgun drop kick that sent Minami outside the ring for a breather. Refusing to give Minami a break, Toyota climbed to the top for a cross body to the outside, but completely missed Suzuka.
Minami got back into the ring first, but Toyota quickly made her way to the apron behind Suzuka. Toyota climbed to the top rope for a sunset flip back into the ring for a near fall, but Minami countered with a German Suplex, spinning back kick, and double chicken wing suplex and nearly got the victory.
As the match wound down, Minami hit a modified Styles Clash and climbed to the top rope. The champion followed and superplexed Minami back to the mat for a near fall. Quickly, Toyota leapt back up to the top rope for a moonsault, but missed. Minami jumped up and hit a double chicken wing suplex for the win and the title.
WINNER AND NEW CHAMPION: SUZUKA MINAMI
MATCH #8
AKIRA HOKUTO vs. AJA KONG
As usual, Aja Kong could not wait to get her hands on her opponent and attacked Akira Hokuto outside the ring as Hokuto made her entrance. Kong continued the onslaught once both competitors made it to the ring. Kong bit Hokuto’s face, then draped her neck across the top rope and choked Hokuto with it. The referee got involved when Kong stood on Hokuto’s neck, so Kong grabbed a metal box and nailed Hokuto with it, then hit a piledriver and began biting Hokuto’s face once more.
Hokuto eventually hit a sunset flip off of an Irish Whip, but Aja Kong sat down on Hokuto rather than be pinned. Kong went for a clothesline off the ropes, but missed, which opened the door for Hokuto to lock Kong in an abdominal stretch. Kong escaped easy and quickly locked Akira in a rear chin lock and smiled at her overwhelming success early in the contest.
Hokuto spent an extended period in the rear chin lock and only escaped after several overhead kicks to Aja Kong. Hokuto jumped to the top rope and hit a shotgun dropkick for a near fall, then followed with an elbow to the back of Kong’s head and a reverse face lock.
Kong reached the ropes to force a break, then went back on the offensive. Aja hit multiple rapid headbutts, then dragged Hokuto outside the ring and slammed her head into the commentary table. As the pair battled down the entrance ramp, Kong threw Hokuto into the chairs in the crowd.
Hokuto and Kong made it back into the ring just before the count of twenty, but did not stay there long. Kong hit a spinning back elbow and a German suplex that sent Hokuto back out to the apron, then hit a spinning back fist that knocked Hokuto back to the floor. Kong jumped up to the top rope and hit a cross body onto a crowd of people at ringside. However, Hokuto was not one of them. Akira slid into the ring, climbed to the top rope and hit a cannonball senton onto Kong and everyone else gathered at ringside.
Back inside the ring once again, Hokuto hit two spinning back kicks and a Michinoku Driver for near falls, then climbed to the top for a flying cross body. Somehow, Kong managed to catch Hokuto in mid-air and converted into a Junkyard Dog-style running power slam. When that garnered just a two count, Kong hit another spinning back first and a package piledriver for two more near falls, then climbed to the top rope.
Akira Hokuto managed to move out of the way of a diving headbutt and countered with a German suplex with bridge, then climbed to the top rope herself. Hokuto missed a top rope dropkick, as Kong simply sidestepped to avoid it, then got nailed with yet another spinning back fist from Aja Kong.
When that failed to earn Kong the victory, Aja lifted Hokuto up to the second rope for a super piledriver, then another on the mat. Kong climbed back to the top rope and flattened Hokuto with a splash for the win. After the match, each woman took the microphone and screamed at the other, which led to a post-match brawl through the crowd. This feud is just getting started and I am here for it.
WINNER: AJA KONG
MATCH #9
BULL NAKANO & KYOKO INOUE vs. BISON KIMURA & MIKA TAKAHASHI
After Bull Nakano was responsible for shaving Bison Kimura’s head, tensions between the two competitors reached a fever pitch. The two women faced off in the center of the ring during introductions, Kimura with nunchakus in her hand. However, it would be Mika Takahashi that would start the match against Nakano.
Takahashi tried a few shoulder tackles that had no effect on Bull Nakano. In response, Nakano picked Mika up and threw her into her own corner so she could tag Bison Kimura. Takahashi insisted on staying in the match and quickly hit a drop kick. However, Nakano caught her in mid-air in a cross body coming off the ropes and converted to a back suplex for a near fall.
Kimura had similar luck at first as Nakano no-sold a strike off the ropes and returned fire with a massive tomahawk chop and a back elbow for a near fall. Nakano tagged Kyoko Inoue who leapfrogged her own partner for a strike on Kimura, then followed with a drop kick.
Kimura managed to tag Takahashi back into the match who stunned Inoue with a cross body and a double underhook suplex, each for near falls. Takahashi whipped Inoue into the ropes, but Inoue reversed into a fall away slam, followed by a double underhook suplex for a near fall of her own.
Inoue grabbed an arm bar that converted into a body scissors that ended up being a surfboard submission, then tagged Nakano. Nakano held Takahashi as Inoue came off the second rope with a karate chop. After a lazy pinfall attempt, Nakano hit a clothesline and a piledriver for a near fall, then hit a choke slam that brought Bison Kimura into the ring.
Kimura went right for Nakano and began choking her and unloaded with several forearms, all of which Nakano no-sold before hitting a German suplex for a near fall. Nakano used a snap mare to set up a rear choke on the mat that Kimura only escaped after a series of overhead kicks briefly weakened Nakano’s grasp.
Kimura came off the ropes with two tomahawk chops and grabbed a rear choke, but Nakano would not fall to the mat. Takahashi fixed that with a dropkick as Kimura held the rear choke that finally knocked Nakano down. At that point, Kimura added a body scissors to the mix and held it for so long it appeared Nakano was falling asleep.
Slowly, Nakano crawled for the ropes or her partner, anything to break Kimura’s tight grasp. The only thing that worked was for Nakano to roll both women out of the ring onto the floor. Outside, Kimura threw Nakano into the guardrail, which brought both partners into the mix.
All four women brawled outside until Kimura and Nakano slid into the ring just in time to avoid being counted out. They brawled briefly but soon each tagged in their respective partners who had finally made it back to the apron. Takahashi took control first with an arm drag and back-to-back facebusters.
Takahasi got a near fall after a German suplex with a bridge, then loked Kyoko Inoue in a figure four leg lock. Kimura added insult to injury as she flew in with a splash from the top rope as Takahashi continued to hold the figure four. Eventually, Inoue reached the ropes, but Takahashi pulled Inoue back to the center and converted into a step over toe hold with a rear chin lock.
Takahashi broke the hold long enough to tag in Bison Kimura who continued with the leg with a modified STF, then grabbed an arm in a hold that twisted Inoue like a pretzel. Somehow, Inoue reached the ropes again, but, with Takahashi’s help, Kimura soon had Inoue locked in an ankle lock that converted to a single leg crab.
When all seemed hopeless, Inoue made one last push and got the tag to Nakano. Bull went right after Bison with a series of low kicks and a Northern Lights suplex for a near fall. Nakano whipped Kimura into the ropes but was countered with two tomahawk chops from Kimura as Takahashi climbed to the top rope for a flying elbow strike to Nakano’s arm.
That was the last of the offense tolerated by Bull Nakano as Takahashi followed with a savate kick, punch off the ropes, and several rapid jabs that all had zero effect on Bull Nakano. Takahashi kept punching until she tired out, at which point Nakano whipped her by her hair and hit a clothesline followed by a power bomb for a near fall.
Kimura broke up the previous pinfall, so Nakano quickly hit a suplex for another near fall, and a pile driver that would have won the match if Takahashi had not gotten her foot on the ropes at the last second. Nakano followed with a DDT but the pinfall was again broken up by Bison Kimura.
Inoue and Kimura returned simultaneously with Inoue taking control off of a boot to the midsection and a springboard back elbow. Still, Kimura was able to lift Inoue onto her shoulders as Takahashi climbed to the top rope for what looked like a Doomsday Device, but Inoue rolled Kimura up before Takahashi could take flight, thwarting the move.
Inoue hit a double chicken wing suplex and a crucifix spin, each for near falls, then tagged Nakano back into the match. Inoue assisted Nakano as they lifted Kimura up and dropped her neck-first onto the ropes before Nakano hit a power bomb for a near fall. Inoue returned again briefly to body slam Bison Kimura as Nakano flew off the top rope with a leg drop.
Kimura broke up the pinfall attempt with a steel chair, resulting in all four women brawling inside the ring. Kimura threw Inoue outside the ring, then held Nakano as Takahashi climbed to the top rope. An unidentified man ran in to assist Kimura and Takahashi with a top rope bulldog before Kimura hit a German suplex and went for the pin.
Unfortunately, Mika Takahashi was the legal person, so the referee refused to count the pinfall. Takahashi rushed in to rectify the situation, but was too late. Mika hit a German suplex, but still could only manage a two count. Kimura assisted Takahashi on a back drop and both women made the cover. The referee refused to count with both women involved in the cover.
Inoue ran in and attacked Kimura to even the score, but Kimura soon dispatched her to the floor. Takahashi and Kimura hit a double spear on Nakano which sent her outside with her partner. Kimura hit a tope suicida onto Kyoko Inoue as Takahashi climbed to the top rope. Mika flew from the top rope out to ringside, but missed her intended target, Bull Nakano.
Nakano slid back into the ring along with Mika Takahashi and whipped her into the corner for a clothesline. Inoue ran in and Nakano lifted her into the air for an assisted dropkick. Inoue body slammed Takahashi as Nakano climbed to the top rope for a cannonball senton that finally ended the match. The two teams had words for each other for several minutes after the match. It appears the Nakano-Kimura feud is far from over.
WINNERS: BULL NAKANO & KYOKO INOUE
This card was a lot of fun to get through top to bottom, although the final three matches were the stars of the show. The first two condensed matches were good to set the table for the rest of the show and the micro wrestlers, Little Frankie and Tomezo Tsunokake, especially, had a really fun, albeit short match, that was unique and fun enough to get the crowd primed for the rest of the evening.
I also got my first glimpse at American Debbie Malenko in the third match. I was impressed with her skill level and I am looking forward to seeing her in future matches in AJW.
I am a huge fan of these retirement ceremonies and the way everyone comes together to celebrate the retiring performer. The final retirement “match” where all of Tateno’s colleagues gather to each take one last shot at their friend is a great way to send someone off into retirement. As we all know, Tateno would not stay retired for long.
The six woman tag team match was a lot of fun and featured two performers of whom I am growing more and more fond: Etsuko Mita and Esther Moreno. Mita’s hard work outside the ring continues to show inside the ring as she is very clearly improved from the first time I saw her perform.. It was great to see her capture the tag team titles in the last show and I enjoy each of her matches more than the last.
Esther Moreno consistently puts her body on the line for the enjoyment of the fans. Every one of the matches she is in ends up being a fast paced contest with lots of action. mainly because Esther Moreno does not stop moving. Her offense might be a bit before its time. I would love to have seen Esther Moreno competing against the high level of women’s wrestlers around in 2023.
I said it before and I will say it again. More Kong vs. Hokuto please. Just keep the matches coming. I will watch all of them.
EVENT SCORE: 84/100
Next up, All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling TV from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan on April 29, 1991 featuring a WWWA Title match as Bull Nakano defends against Monster Ripper and much more!!
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