So there’s an interesting smattering of companies in the mix the week! If you enjoy women’s wrestling, this might be a Top 5 for you!

Now as we always do, we address the last week vote winner. This is no surprise to anyone, unless you live under a rock, NJPW G1 Climax 29 Finals: Jay White vs Kota Ibushi.

Last week had a nice mixture of things, this week is a…well…different mixture. Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling makes it’s debut with a match in the Top 5 and I think it’s only the second time for Big Japan.

So, WWE fans can skip this week. BUT – with 3 women’s matches, this is a different looking Top 5 than usual.

5. Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 2: Bea Priestley vs Konami

Aside from wrestling recently, these two don’t have much of a built in story either. Of course, Bea being the Red Belt champion makes every match matter for her. Aside from the prospect of a title shot, this ain’t much more than a normal tournament match. So hey, let’s just enjoy it, right?

Konami flies in with a Body Scissors, immediately aiming for a Knee Bar. That was Konami’s bulls-eye all match, she kept focusing strikes and submissions at Bea’s left leg. We saw Ankle Locks, Knee Bars, Stretch Mufflers, all those fun moves trying to take out the leg. The attack is questionable from a logic stance since Konami’s finish focuses on the neck and arm. So it seemed a little weird to be honest.

Aside from me questioning Konami’s game plan, the match was actually well wrestled. Bea tapped into her inner Kenny Omega and hit a few Knee Strikes which I’m assuming she calls Bea Triggers. And if she doesn’t…well dammit she should, it’s right there.

Anyway, Bea kept her distance with Pump Kicks and Bea Triggers until she decided to pull out a few finish attempts. She first went for the Regal Suplex, but Konami kicked out of that. So Bea then uses an Electric Chair Suplex Hold, which thanks to the We Are Stardom Twitter, I learned is called Queen’s Landing.

So the Red Belt champion is off to a fast start and in a three way tie for the lead.

Winner: Priestley via Queen’s Landing

Rating: *** 3/4

4. TJPW Brand New Wrestling 3 ~ Stronger Than Anyone!: Maki Ito vs Mizuki

It’s always funny what draws attention to a show. Maki Ito is a snarky little former Idol (Japanese Pop Star), who likes to flip people off and learn bad English words. So thanks to her entertaining Twitter, and the show containing Mina Shirakawa, as well as, a match between Yuka Sakazaki and Su Yung, I was intrigued.

So this was definitely an odd match to watch visually. Two girls in frilly Lolita style outfits, who seem to hate each other and make this seem like a brawl. Maki wraps a microphone chord around the ring post and Mizuki’s neck just so she can get in her catch phrase of being the Cutest in the World.

What this lacked in technical prowess, it made up for in feeling like a grudge match. The two we literally scratching and clawing to stop one another at different points. Maki has an ever defiant bird to flip to Mizuki, before the Fisherman Suplex Hold finished the match, but it was still damn entertaining. Even with not having a lot of context, a grudge match is easy to understand.

Winner: Mizuki via Fisherman Suplex Hold

Rating: ****

3. Impact Cali Combat: X Division Championship: Jake Crist (c) vs Rich Swann

Rich Swann gets his contractual rematch, and Crist is told by Callihan that he’s on his own for this defense. Crist kicks off the match quickly with a Yakuza Kick, then we get insane amounts of back and forth. Gimmick be damned, Jake is a damn good wrestler, and I appreciate his new attire have his JC initials stylized in a Prince symbol type of thing. Swann did catch Crist with his blitz, his back kick and then a 450 Splash, but the champion didn’t stay down. The heel roll-up with a handful of tights keeps the Golden Draw in tact, but don’t let the heel finish detract from the fact the match was great.

Winner: Crist via Roll-Up

Rating: ****

Honorable Mentions:

Dragon Gate Dangerous Gate: Open the Dream Gate Championship: Ben-K (c) vs YAMATO
Winner: Ben-K via Ben-K Bomb
Rating: *** 3/4
Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 1: Utami Hayashishita vs Jungle Kyona
Winner: Utami via Torture Rack
Rating: *** 3/4
WWE SmackDown Live: Buddy Murphy vs Daniel Bryan
Winner: Murphy via Murphy’s Law
Rating: *** 1/2
TJPW Brand New Wrestling 3 ~ Stronger Than Anyone!: Su Yung vs Yuka Sakazaki
Winner: Double Knock Out
Rating: *** 1/2
Dragon Gate Dangerous Gate: Open the Twin Gate No DQ: Eita & Big R Shimizu (c) vs Kzy & Genki Horiguchi
Winner: Big R via Shot Put Chokeslam
Rating: *** 1/2
Stardom 5 Star GP Red Stars Day 2: Hazuki vs Tam Nakano
Winner: Tam via Tiger Suplex Hold
Rating: *** 1/2
Impact Cali Combat: Rhino vs Michael Elgin
Winner: Double Count-Out
Rating: *** 1/4
Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 2: Utami Hayashishita vs Arisa Hoshiki
Winner: Utami via Torture Rack Bomb
Rating: *** 1/4
Impact Cali Combat: Willie Mack vs Trey
Winner: Mack via Stunner
Rating: *** 1/4
WWE Raw: Ricochet & The Miz vs Baron Corbin & Drew McIntyre
Winner: Ricochet via Recoil
Rating: ***
NXT UK: James Drake vs Mark Andrews
Winner: Andrews via Stundog Millionare
Rating: ***
Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 2: Natsuko Tora vs Kagetsu
Winner: Kagetsu via Michinoku Driver
Rating: ***
Impact Cali Combat: No DQ Match: Tommy Dreamer vs Sami Callihan
Winner: Callihan via Piledriver
Rating: ***
Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 1: Arisa Hoshiki vs Jamie Hayter
Winner: Hayter via Curb Stomp
Rating: ***
WWE Raw: Cesaro vs Samoa Joe
Winner: Joe via Coquina Clutch
Rating: ***

2. Stardom 5 Star GP Blue Stars Day 1: Kagetsu vs Konami

The rematch from last year’s round 1 match! Konami’s Triangle Lancer injured Kagetsu’s neck last year, which may have impacted her ability to win as champion. So does Kagetsu get her win back? Will Triangle Lancer’s winning percentage remain 100%?

Kagetsu hits a Dropkick at the bell, Michinoku Driver and then goes for the Oedo Coaster…but she misses. This was nearly a 30 second match, which would’ve been disappointing. We see some great chain wrestling between the two, Armbar transitions everywhere, great mat work, and a very even back and forth.

Konami lands a Round Kick to Kagetsu’s head, but it just pisses her off, she trips her, slingshots in for a Footstomp, extends Konami’s arm, springboards to the top rope and Footstomps the arm, all setting up for a Fujiwara Armbar attempt. The Prime Minister of Oedo Tai dominates from that point forward. 3 Michinoku Drivers, Avalanche Michinoku Driver and then she hits the Oedo Coaster! It’s over! 1-2-and…Kagetsu picks up Konami. Oh hubris…you cheeky monkey…

Kagetsu tries to drive home the point, but then we get a myriad of counters. Michinoku Driver attempts, Triangle Lancer attempts…and then Konami finally catches Kagetsu and sinks in the Triangle Lancer. Damn well wrestled match.

Winner: Konami via Triangle Lancer

Rating: ****

1. Big Japan Pro-Wrestling: Michael Elgin vs Daisuke Sekimoto

So Big Japan had a hell of a special match penned in for 8/24. Michael Elgin squaring off with arguably the best guy in Big Japan, Daisuke Sekimoto. We’re gonna have two big boys beating the hell out of each other!

The match was a lot of what you’d expect from two thicc power house wrestlers. It started off a little slow, but we saw a ton of power moves, some suplexes off the apron, and just generally great and stiff looking wrestling. Elgin manages to fight out of Sekimoto’s Suplexes and even the Torture Rack. Sekimoto returns the favor by eating two Buckle Bombs and an Elgin Bomb, but still kicking out.

It’s not often that the particular sequence of Buckle Bomb + Elgin Bomb doesn’t finish a match, so that was a big pop moment. Then Elgin props Sekimoto on the turnbuckle, puts him on his shoulders, and actually finishes the match with a Burning Hammer!

My synopsis is a little light on details, but if you like two bull’s charging at one another until one just stops…this is your match. Find it.

Winner: Elgin via Burning Hammer

Rating: **** 1/2

Thoughts:

Since I’m covering the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix with Mathew, the shows I’m consuming are definitely a little different than usual. As much as I’d love to give my vote to Kagetsu and Konami, that Big Mike vs Daisuke match was just great to watch. No need for any context, just two big strong guys beating the hell out of each other. So, Big Japan: Michael Elgin vs Daisuke Sekimoto, gets my vote.

A weird week, I’m fully aware. But hey next week is All Out, that NXT:UK Takeover (I’m pretty sure) and a few other shows. But I think Royal Quest is exclusive to Fite for a week or so, so I won’t be watching that live. So if you’re not familiar with Joshi or non-New Japan, Japanese companies, next week there should be plenty of stuff for you!