Toni Storm vs Meiko Satomura
Not a surprise that this match was pretty terrific. Even
Satomura’s headlock takeover was a struggle, and their mat exchanges had a real
sense that neither wanted to yield. Toni isn’t afraid to lay her stuff in here,
with a big boot and nasty kicks, but Meiko is even more brutal, just laying
into Storm’s legs with a series of vicious kicks, grounding her. Loved the leg
lariat that just sees Satomura flying off the ropes. Like Storm locking Meiko
into an STF as soon as she gets an advantage, knowing she needs to wear her
down as much as she can. She holds it a long time, and suddenly Satomura is in
trouble. Storm really goes for it on this opening, hitting a corner charge and
a huge suicide dive, but Satomura plants her with a DDT and hits a flipping
kick for two. We get a collection of believable nearfalls from both – Storm
Zero from Toni, DVD from Satomura, Scorpion Kick from Satomura – with each
feeling like the end. Eventually, Toni reverses another DVD attempt to her
second Storm Zero to get the win. Loved this.
Rhea Ripley vs Io Shirai
Huge coming out party for Ripley here, she looked like she
belonged with Io, didn’t look outclassed at all. Ripley over-powers Shirai
early, rag-dolling her about and hitting some really big shots. Loved her
punches to the ribs and kicks. Ripley locking on a stomach claw thrilled me,
and she hit a tremendous delayed suplex. Loved the flurry of nasty forearms Io
hit to break a body-scissors, needed to look convincing to wear down the larger
Ripley. Io hits a sudden rana on a rope running exchange, followed by a suicide
dive and a big missile dropkick, that Ripley sells big but also believably. She
manages to stumble into place for the dropkick without it looking massively
contrived. Rhea hits a great superplex, shows incredible balance on the top
rope, but Io escapes a pumphandle and hits the corner knees and the moonsault
to win. Really great stuff.
No comments:
Post a Comment