The only wrestling list most people would rate these two close to the top in is the best looking list, but the way they worked their spots into this match was incredible. What made this match beautiful to watch wasn't their looks, but that almost all of their wrestling looked like reaction. It was like a shoot in that they used the best technique in their arsenal that fit the opening that presented itself. It wasn't close to all shoot spots though because based on the positioning and physical condition of the opponent, they were able to work in Lucha, pro style, and anything else they knew. This style was awesome to watch, and all their spots looked logical and credible. I mean, it was cool just seeing them be able to go between styles, all of which they had studied enough to portray fairly accurately, without killing the credibility of the match. Stylistically, this was the most enjoyable match I've seen all year.
Fukawa La Magistral'd Omukai right off the bat because that was the opening ducking Omukai's wild high kick gave her. Omukai tried more kicks, but Fukawa ducked the high kick and put her leg over Omukai's head, which really took cooperation given the difference in their heights. Fukawa did a backflip from this position, which is a spot Owen Hart among others used to do, but instead of just landing on her feet like the rest, she headscissored Omukai on the way over!
They knew the positions on the mat, which is more than you can say for most of the "shooters" in the pro wrestling leagues. Of course, passing the guard still wasn't a big deal because they didn't want the match to be slowed to a standstill. They also had good intensity, not to the level of making you think it was a real shoot of course, but how many people can really fake that level of intensity?
Omukai went back to her kicks. At this point, Don "The Dragon" Wilson pointed out that unlike the majority of the UFC combatants, Fukawa actually knows how to block a leg sweep. Omukai finally connected with a high kick because Fukawa was thinking block low. Fukawa then ate a kick in order to shoot in for the takedown, but once they got to the mat her udehishigigyakujujigatame attempts were unsuccessful.
Omukai was finally able to blister Fukawa with kicks because she didn't give her time to get back to her feet after a rope break. These kicks were vicious. You could hear the flesh being pounded and all. Omukai doesn't have the weight behind her kicks that Kansai or Hotta do, which in part is due to having a very high metabolism because she has been trying to gain weight, but still weighs below 135. However, at 5'9", her reach makes up for her lack of weight. She can probably reach Toshiyo Yamada level of stiffness, and if so she would be a better kicker than Yamada because of the reach advantage and far superior flexibility. After using her kicks, Omukai worked over Fukawa's arm to soften it up for future udehishigigyakujujigatame attempts.
Fukawa
was able to use her fisherman suplex because she caught Omukai's foot on a running
front kick. Omukai put Fukawa on the second and tried to hit her, but Fukawa
caught Omukai's arm and rolled off the top into an udehishigigyakujujigatame.
Fukawa DDT'd Omukai then hit a Lionsault. Omukai broke this cover by pushing
Fukawa off, but Fukawa swung into an udehishigigyakujujigatame!
Omukai was too close to the ropes for Fukawa to get a submission there though.
Another good, but not nearly as explosive, reaction spot was when Fukawa rolled
to her stomach to avoid Omukai's spinning toe hold, thus giving Omukai her back,
so Omukai immediately applied the STF. Fukawa was screaming in pain, but she
made it to the ropes for a big pop.
Omukai Tiger drivered Fukawa, but when Fukawa kicked out, she turned it into an udehishigigyakujujigatame! Fukawa got yet another udehishigigyakujujigatame on after a takedown, but once again Omukai was able to grab the rope. Omukai was slow in getting up, which gave Yumi the opening to deliver the Buff Blockbuster for a near fall.
Omukai got a near fall with a Destiny Hammer that didn't really work then applied the udehishigigyakujujigatame. What they were probably trying to show in this match, though obviously it would have worked better if Omukai's Destiny Hammer hit cleanly, was that their old finishers were no longer good enough to win with. Instead, they would have to rely on submissions to get the victory, which separates ARSION from the groups these women used to work in. Now if only All Japan remembered what a submission victory in a big match was like, but I digress. Anyway, Fukawa stayed in this udehishigigyakujujigatame too long before making it to the ropes. Fukawa somewhat atoned for this by selling her arm huge, which allowed Omukai to use her swandive wheel kick for a near fall. This spot looked kind of weird because Fukawa is so small that Omukai had to jump down instead of out. Omukai then caught Fukawa in a crucifix, which is a perfect submission for her to use because it's tailored for her large agile frame, for the win. Fukawa put the finish over big, but Omukai was too cocky for her, getting in her face with her hand up about the win. Thus, Fukawa attacked Omukai and they had a pull apart, which set up their meeting in the first round of the ZION '98 tournament.
Yumi & Michiko both deserve consideration for most improved wrestler, but they'll probably get blown out of the water by such overrated wrestlers as The ChinRock and Captain Suck It now that they are chalking out to "*****" ladder matches. Did I miss the article where it was explained that we are now rating on a seven star scale? I'm wondering how something "not on the level" with TWO OTHER matches of the EXACT SAME TYPE can still be *****, but I guess some things in life will always be a mystery. Anyway, this was a futuristic style bout, and I'd be pretty happy if this somehow turned out to be the style of the future. In any case, the other women's groups should "lift" the way the ARSION women are applying, counter, and finishing with submissions because it would make their matches more well rounded and it would extend their careers. 13:20. ****
"The great thing that other women's groups should copy (GAEA was already doing this to an extent) is how the ARSION women have so many ways to get into and out of submissions. It really adds to their matches. Again, Yumi is the most improved wrestler this year to the point that it's amazing how much she's improved by completely changing her style and look for the better. Certainly it helps that no one in ARSION is holding her back. I truly think that she's one of the 10 or 15 best women's wrestlers right now, and I don't think that's stretching it. Considering that she wasn't in anyone's top 25 last year, or probably even considered a candidate for it, that's an amazing improvement," wrote Michael.
