4. Red Goddess: Syuri vs. Tomoka Inaba vs. Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe
I knew Syuri & Inaba would make a good duo, but they were more fun than I expected. Such a refreshing and dynamic tag team. And of course BLACK DESIRE, who have been consistent since their formation, were great too. The two youngest in the match, Kid and Inaba, had exciting exchanges and seemed like worthy rivals. ****
7. Blue Goddess: Hazuki & Koguma vs. Nanae Takahashi & Yuu
I wasn't particularly interested in Nanae Takahashi's return to Stardom, but she had two exciting tag matches back to back on this pair of shows. This match ruled in ways I was not expecting. A high paced sprint with excellent timing, creativity and explosiveness all around. ***3/4
9. IWGP Women's Championship Decider - Semi-Finals: Mayu Iwatani vs. Utami Hayashishita
The match development was similar to their 2020 Sendai match, with Utami employing a pin-point attack strategy and Mayu working as a durable counter-puncher. Utami's cool and confident aura when in control reminded me of early "Rainmaker" Kazuchika Okada. Mayu's long limbs feel like they could be made of rubber how quickly they extend to reach their target. It was relatively short for a big show main event, but dense, with dynamic movements, explosive attacks and high drama. Utami has been a fan of New Japan since junior high school, before she became a professional wrestler, and it was evident that she has a strong desire for the "IWGP". It must mean a lot to her as a woman to be able to fight for the "IWGP belt", which until now was only a men's division. She showed great emotion both in the ring and after the match. ****1/4
