4. Mei Suruga vs. Arisu Endo
I wish this match had gone longer. Mei Suruga and Arisu Endo have such great chemistry as opponents. The opening segment was particularly enjoyable, with Endo's persistent headlock and Mei's headstand escape. Endo applied pressure with her dropkicks and Tsurugajo variations, and Mei tried to slow her down with scientific arm attacks. Mei didn't play around much in this match, which I think was partly due to Endo's forward momentum. The match unfortunately ended too quickly, but it was quite high in density. ***3/4
6. DPW Women's Worlds Championship: Emi Sakura (c) vs. Miyuki Takase
Emi Sakura has been in remarkable form since settling in America and has such a renewed sense of vitality. Miyuki Takase is a hard hitter with a powerful expression likely owed to her background as an actress. They delivered exactly what you would want from this matchup and more, with a fleshy meat-smacking chop battle with the occasional lariat, worked in such a way that it didn't fall into monotony. A mature woman rendition of Kobashi-Sasaki, with Emi's experience and Miyuki's intensity creating a match that was both smartly worked and emotionally resonant. ****1/4
