What's new, lovers of ludicrous leglocks?
I'll keep this intro short this week, which will make more sense when you get to the Weekly Roundup, as I want to get right into the action this week. No fluff, no filler, all killer, all... buff? I dunno, man, I'm sleep deprived. Let's get to the action!
 |
| Sendai Girls |
Weekly Roundup
Here's what I watched for the week;
Project Morgan - Postponed
I'll keep it cut and dry here, folks, there's no Project Morgan - CHIKARA dropping in the podcast feeds this week. My wife is in the hospital and I don't have the time to keep up with my usual weekly writing (which I am getting done in bursts) along with scripting and recording this week. I hate leaving things until the last minute, but that's just how Project Morgan - CHIKARA has been done lately. We should be back up and running with episode 3 next month without any issues.
Editors note: At the time of this post being published, she's been discharged! Hallelujah!
Here’s what we’re reviewing for the Watchlist;
• • • • •
Syuri vs. Chihiro Hashimoto - Evening the Score
 |
| Poised and ready. Sendai Girls |
🔔 Bell to Bell 🔔
Teaming in an easy match of the year contender a few weeks back, that I gave the spotlight to here in the Watchlist, the IWGP Women's Champion Syuri has set her sights on the Sendai Girls World Champion Chihiro Hashimoto. Ever since that match, I've been super high on Hash, wanting to watch more of her whenever possible. When I saw people discussing this match online recently, I made it my mission to seek it out and maybe even review it. Well, as luck would have it, I not only found the show, but loved the match! What a treat I have for all of you this week. Buckle in, it's a doozy.
The story is pretty simple here, Syuri beat Hash 3 years prior, and Hash wants her rematch. A basic, easy to understand premise, "you beat me, and I want my win back." They've both come a long way from where, and who, they were three years prior, both women highly decorated and able to be considered one of the best in the world right now, regardless of gender. Neither title is on the line in this match either, it's all about getting a win back.
It's a real clash of styles here, which works for the old adage "styles make fights." Syuri is fierce and technical, a vicious striker with deadly kicks and as limber as they come. Hashimoto, on the flip side, is sturdy and brutal, with a background in legitimate wrestling, she hits like a bear and can float around your body like you aren't even there. To say I'm excited about this match would be an understatement, I'm hyped as fuck.
It's tight and technical at the start, each of them grabbing a limb and trying to find an opening. Hash is able to get behind seconds in, but Syuri twists around and pulls guard on the canvas, nearly snagging a Hashimoto arm in an armbar, but Big Hash effortlessly floats over Syuri and gets her torso again. A front facelock is turned into a wristlock, only to be turned into a hammerlock by Hash. Each window they find is sealed shut in seconds, with their adversary sneaking in another way. Syuri has a side headlock and tries to take Hash down with a takeover, but her bullish target has her base wide enough that she simply holds fast, taking Syuri off her feet to disrupt her balance and grip. It's honestly so good, I love shit like this.
 |
| It's the little things, honestly. Sendai Girls |
Resetting in the middle, both women realize they need to change their approach to this match. Syuri tries a kick, but Hash blocks and shoots for the supporting leg, snatching her ankle and dropping her stomach first to the canvas. Sometimes, that's all that's necessary, a window an inch big can create an opening a mile wide if you have senses keen enough to spot them. Like a shark to blood, Hash spotted the leg and snatched an ankle lock early, but Syuri rolls through quickly to break. She charges Hash for a shoulder tackle, but the living tree refuses to budge, with Syuri hitting the canvas hard.
Another opening for Hash is found when she goes for the ropes, with Syuri hitting the canvas for a dropdown, with Hash stopping in her tracks and dropping down on her back, snatching a headlock. God, shit like that gets me going, it's so simple but makes so much sense, why would you jump over someone if you spotted them dropping down? They've given you their back! Take it! They're back on their feet and separated again in seconds, but the message is sent loud and clear, "watch your back, because I'm watching it closer."
Landing the first proper strike, Syuri goes back and forth with Hash, landing heavy forearms that stagger her a step back. Winding up, Hash fires a lariat off but Syuri ducks, leaving Hash vulnerable for a shotgun dropkick that sends her flying back into the corner. Keeping the pressure on, a knee to the gut and a DDT after pulling her to centre gives Syuri a chance for a pin, but Hash is out quickly, barely letting a one count register. A chinlock keeps Hash down until she gets to the bottom rope, with Syuri laying in kicks to keep her down.
Hitting the ropes, Syuri tries to use momentum to take a rising Hashimoto down, but she channels the Mastodon and barges Syuri chest first and drops her flat out. With Syuri backed in the corner, Hash charges with an insane burst of speed, crushing her with a heavy lariat against the corner pad. Almost scoring a vertical suplex, Syuri squirms out in time to save herself, going for a kick to the head of Hash but finds her foot being caught into another ankle lock. Turning the tables on Hash, Syuri adjusts her position and is able to grab the left leg of Hashimoto, rolling forwards to grab an ankle lock of her own!
 |
| Kaibutsu crush. Sendai Girls |
Hash is able to get her ankle lock back on, with Syuri using her long frame to nearly break the hold, touching the ropes right as Hash changes tactic, grabbing a waistlock and transitioning to an abdominal hold, using Syuri's position to effortlessly apply the hold. Again, SYuri uses her length to get close to the ropes, nearly breaking, only for Hash to shift her grip and gutwrench Syuri off her feet, flipping her back into a suplex. Just awesome shit here, folks. Going to the second rope, the most dangerous rope, Hash tries a flipping senton, but Syuri rolls to the corner to avoid the impact, leaving Hashimoto to crash into an empty pool.
With her foe seated, Syuri lands a kick to the back and tries for one to the chest, but Hash catches the foot and picks Syuri off the canvas, driving her back into the corner again. She tries another corner crush, but Syuri gets a foot up to halt her charge. With Hashimoto staggered, a headscissors flips her down and disorients her for a moment, allowing Syuri to charge for the ropes. She snatches Hash by the torso with her legs, almost looking like she got wheelbarrowed into a suplex, but Syuri is able to drive Hash head first into the canvas with a bulldog.
 |
| Gotcha! Sendai Girls |
A pin has Hashimoto kicking out at two, with Syuri driving a kick into her back to wear her down on the canvas. A second kick has Hash writhing around, twisting and rolling until she's chest out again, with another Syuri kick landing before a pinfall. Out at two, Syuri stays on top, going for an armbar as Hash holds fast, able to roll off her back but into a modified triangle choke, of sorts. Working to her feet, Hashimoto shows off her insane strength by getting Syuri off the canvas with one fucking arm before standing straight up. Syuri releases her grip and lands on her feet before Hash can plant her with something more lethal, catching Hash in the gut with a kick to send her staggering back.
Hash keeps standing from the kicks, but each one seems to hurt her worse. The second drops her to a knee, and the third sends her to the ropes, with Syuri confident as she stalks her prey. Once more channelling Big Van Vader, Big Kaibutsu Hash grabs Syuri by her hair and clobbers her with a baseball bat-like right arm, dropping her to a knee like it's nothing at all. She grabs another wad of hair and lays in another, Syuri nearly knocked out of her boots from the impact. A third drops her to the canvas, with Hash hitting the ropes to come crashing with a fourth, killing blow. She swings her Korauken Hall slugger for the fences, but Syuri catches her! A standing triangle is attempted, but Hash is able to reverse the grip herself, getting Syuri up into a massive vertical suplex. Holy hell.
 |
| An absolute brute. Sendai Girls |
⚡Move of the Match⚡
Keeping her window open, Hashimoto charges off the ropes for another lariat, but Syuri counters into a Codebreaker! Hash is staggered and nearly drops, with Syuri charging in for a lariat to take her down, but Hash ducks the line. Shooting into a waistlock, mother of God, Hashimoto takes Syuri for a fucking ride, drilling her with a massive German suplex. Fucking goosebumps, that was gnarly.
 |
| You best protect ya neck. Sendai Girls |
Back on her feet in seconds, Syuri is a demon, launching a kick at Hash only to get it chopped back with a heavy forearm. They both stagger, with both charging in for another shot. Syuri successfully lands a knee under the jaw of Hashimoto, but she uses the stagger as a window to explode, firing off the ropes like a bull out of a bullpen, crashing into Syuri with a lariat that could kill mere mortals. Both are flat out on the canvas, pulling back pounds of oxygen, trying to keep the fight going.
Slow to rise, they're on their knees and squaring up with forearms and lariats, climbing to their feet more with each shot. They eat each other's heaviest hits, with Syuri's kicks finally able to stagger and drop Hash. She fires to the ropes, but Hash is hot on her heels and stops her against the ropes with a lariat. Hash charges for the ropes herself this time, but Syuri is quick to charge after her and slam her knee into the gut of Hashimoto. A kick takes Hash down to the canvas, with Syuri taking a chance to catch her breath. The referee makes sure Hashimoto is still breathing, starting the ten count once he confirms signs of life. Seeing this as an opening, Syuri pulls her to her knees and rebounds off the ropes, landing a heavy kick and covering for a quick, tight pin, but Hashimoto is out at two.
Climbing to the feet, Syuri hopes that Hash will be down long enough for her to capitalize, but Hash is back up and slaps her across the face, stopping her on the top. Climbing to meet her, they trade shots on top, with Syuri flipping over Hash to try and drill her with a powerbomb, but Hashimoto holds on to the top rope tight, digging in to make sure she doesn't get flattened. Abandoning her previous plan, Syuri slips out and lands a kick to the ass, slowing Hashimoto enough for Syuri to pull her head down and pin it against the corner pad. A second kick to the face leaves Hash for dead on the ropes, with Syuri spinning her around so she is facing the ring, seated on the top. Pulling Hash down by the arm, she plants her on the canvas with a version of a superplex, the real focus being the top wristlock Syuri was able to grab!
 |
| Does she hear voices in her head? Sendai Girls |
Squirming on the canvas, Syuri traps her arm with one leg, pulling her other arm back to try and break Hashimoto in half. Syuri eventually moves to just holding the right arm of Hash in an armbar attempt, with Hash starting to shift around to make the hold less impactful. She's able to get to the bottom rope to break the hold, with Syuri wasting no time, pulling her into a front facelock and draping her feet on the top rope, planting her with a huge DDT.
Pulling Hash to her feet after escaping a pinfall, she shoves her into the corner and gets her into the electric chair position, walking to centre as Hashimoto starts to gather herself and realize the danger shes in. Shifting on Syuri's shoulders, she falls back to the canvas, charging in for a spear only for Syuri to drive a knee up, catching Hash flush in the jaw. Fuckin yikes. Confindent the end is near, Syuri lines up a huge kick to the head of Hashimoto, but she gets caught! Hash has her wits about her enough to catch her into a powerbomb position, spiking her into the canvas! Not looking for the pin just yet, Hash rolls her over and grabs a waistlock, deadlifting her off the canvas with a German suplex! Syuri is slow to get to her feet, and Hash is quick to hit the ropes, rebounding with a lariat. She covers, but Syuri is out at two.
Going for broke, Hashimoto pulls her up for another powerbomb, with Syuri able to shift around and take the back of Hashimoto and slip her into a rear naked choke! Pulling her around the ring, Syuri eventually gets her off her feet, wrapping her torso and holding on tight. The referee is in the face of Hash, checking on her for signs of life. It doesn't take long for him to realize she's not getting out of this hold, calling the match in favour of Syuri. 2-0.
 |
| Tap or nap, you choose. Sendai Girls |
Match Time: 14:58
Overview & Final Rating
🟢 ⭐ - Highly recommended, fantastic match.
Wow, this match was exceptional. There's something I really, really love about wrestlers doing such little, unique things in a match that make me notch is up at least a half a star rating or more. There's so much that is seen in every match without fail, you become so desensitized to it that it doesn't even register while watching, so when someone does something to change up that basic formula, even a tiny bit, I notice and it makes me smile. This match was so much fun, hard hitting, and exciting. I was loving it even more on rewatch. This is more than worth your time to hunt down and enjoy, two of the very best going right now doing what they do best. Wrestle.
• • • • •
Until next week. Be well, stay safe, and love one another.
cliffmorganwstl@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment