This review was commissioned by Andrew over on my Ko-fi account.
There’s something real beautiful about the dynamic these two are able to tap into here. There’s a novelty to this kind of major intergender booking that, for a long time, it felt like only DDT could really capitalize on for the best of it. It’s a first time ever singles bout that has so much going for it: the intergender dynamic, of course, but also being this battle of two ace figures for entirely different eras and companies, and then also the interpromotional aspect of Satomura playing something of an invader to DDT here. Even moreso than all of that though, they really tap into something in the ring here that speaks to almost the ideal forms of both wrestlers involved.
The most fascinating thing for me here is just what a novelty it feels like to have Meiko Satomura so physically outmatched. Even against the likes of her most famous bully Aja Kong or other top GAEA heels like Devil Masami, Meiko never feels so totally eclipsed by the size of her opponent as she does here against Soup. To his credit, Takeshita maximizes the drama inherent here by putting in one of his most patient and smug performances ever. Look at the way he casually hoofs Meiko about on the mat, trapping her beneath his weight and taking the time to preen for the audience, it’s so distinctly antagonistic without going overboard and still allowing him to read more as something of a cocky ace-type than an out and out heel.
Later on too, Soup’s more aggressive offense takes on a lot more weight. There’s a fantastic moment where Soup catches Meiko attempting a baseball slide and she has to fight for her life clinging to the bottom rope just to keep Soup from bodily throwing her into the front row. It’s the kind of stuff that creates images in the mind, getting across the sheer power of Takeshita while emphasizing the scrappiness of Meiko.
In this way too, everything Meiko’s able to get in feels so much more worked for. It’s no longer than crazed forward energy of her GAEA babyface though, and more of this real refined battle of leverage and space. Soup’s no wizard on the mat but the sheer size of him really forces an active struggle from Meiko here that she typically doesn’t have the occasion to showcase. Even a side headlock on the mat is a real major obstacle for Meiko, and it makes her comebacks pop all the more. And my god, when Meiko gets going, it’s exhilarating. The fact that Takeshita’s elbows in this are hit and miss, make all of Meiko’s gunshot blast kicks and strikes stand out all the more. Meiko feels like this relentless, righteous killer when she’s on the offense, just blasting Takeshita with these wild kicks, occasionally catching him right in the face too. There’s an element of stooging from Takeshita here too, bumping big for some of those strikes, and eating shit deep in the bout when taking that Death Valley Driver through the table on the floor. Meiko’s no slouch in the bumping here either, absolutely eating it on a few standard Takeshita backbreakers but also seemingly landing just right on her dome for some of Soup’s famous German suplexes towards the end.
Such a great match that highlights everything around it. For one, the beauty of DDT’s open approach to booking, allowing for a feud between their top guys and representatives from what’s arguably the best joshi promotion of the last ten years or so, the domineering ability of Takeshita, and the undying determination of Satomura. Just so well done, without the need for excess, just patient pro wrestling that builds to its thrilling climax.
Rating: ****
