What’s up, smarks? Welcome back to the AEW Women’s Tournament.
Last time, we saw 4 stellar opening matchups on the Japanese side. This week, it’s time for the semi-finals on the Japanese side and two opening round matches for the American side. Again, if you want a recap on the American opening rounds, check out Robert Ward’s Dynamite recaps.
Before we start, can I have some decorum, please? Yes, I’m afraid we have some bad news. Anna Jay is injured and will be out of action for a predicted 6-12 months. She was scheduled to face Britt Baker, but she will be replaced by Maddie Wrenkowski, a trainee of Thunder Rosa.
Former Champ vs Up and Comer
We start with a match on the American side. Also, we have Taz on commentary! The two lock up, but it doesn’t stick. After a second lockup, Nyla knocked Tay down. She gets a lead and goes for a pin, but not even a one count. She keeps the lead and has Tay in the corner for a two count before tossing her to center.
Tay gets some kicks in, but Nyla lands an impressive dragon screw. It’s actually pretty cool that Taz is on commentary on this match when you consider he has a judo background, as does Tay. Hey, their names are also literally only 1 letter away alphabetically. Hm…
Fashion Files style conspiracies aside, Nyla regains the lead and lands a two count, then putting Tay through a hold on her leg. Tay then gets a kneebar on Tay, but Nyla kicks her off. Nyla goes for the beast bomb, but Tay counters with a huricanrana. She goes for a pin, getting a two.
Impressive clothesline by Nyla sends Tay to the corner. Nyla tries to barge into her, but Tay gets out of the corner and lands a knee strike. Tay shows off her Judo background with three tai otoshis into a pump kick. She then delivers a hammerlock DDT that looks like murder to Nyla, but only a two count. Tay goes for two more pins, but doesn’t get it.
Strike exchange as the two are on their knees – they shortly get to their feet – Tay jumps on for a dragon sleeper, but Nyla gets to the corner and removes a turnbuckle pad. Tay gets a roll-up, but again, a two. Nyla looks to ram Tay to the turnbuckle, but Aubrey Edwards isn’t having it.
Tay gets a rollup that would be a win, if it weren’t for Aubrey trying to get the pad back on the turnbuckle. Instead, a two. Tay charges, but Nyla launches her above the ropes and then down to the stage. Nyla lands a DVD on the stage. Nyla rolls her to the ring, but Tay still has enough in her to kick out. Nyla lands the Beast Bomb for the win, however.
Kind of interesting story with Nyla working over Tay’s leg, but it didn’t really factor much in the match. That being said, still a pretty good match. Nyla will go on to face whoever wins the match between Britt and Madi later on.
Back To Japan
Time for the semi-finals over in Japan. Yuka vs Emi is up first. Taz is still on commentary, to my surprise. Mei Suruga and Yuna Mizumori accompany Emi to the ring. Mei, as you may remember (no pun intended) was in the first round, but Yuna was not – good to see some other talent that aren’t involved in the tourney.
Yuka defeated Mei in the first round, as Excalibur reminds us, so Emi may be looking to ‘avenge’ her student who’s on the outside. Yuka goes right for one of Emi’s legs – Emi gets the hair and rams Yuka to the corner and unleashes a flurry of offence. She flings Yuka and she sells by almost doing a spin-a-roonie.
Yuka dodges more offence for a dropkick. Emi rolls to the outside, but Yuka hits a senton. Emi throws Yuka back to the ring, but she kicks Emi. Emi makes it to the ropes, and Yuka goes for a clothesline, but Emi dodges. Yuka charges at Emi, but lands on the other side of the ropes as Emi hits a crossbody.
Mei and Yuna attack Yuka while she’s down and Emi distracts Yuki. Emi goes back outside the ring to hit a backbreaker. The ref makes a 7 count, but Yuka makes it back in. Excalibur notes that we can see Yuka’s back is taped – she’s a little banged up going into this.
Emi lands a couple of submissions on Yuka on the ropes. Emi hits a rolling Romero special on Yuka and it looks like hell. Emi drops Yuka on her back. She then targets the back with some stomps. Emi goes for a vertical suplex, but Yuka fights out (she can’t reverse due to the back pain). She hits a back elbow, but it’s not effective whatsoever.
Emi gets a double underhook, but Yuka elevates her and drops her. Yuka lands a rising knee strike, a diving back elbow and a scoop slam before going for an ankle hold. Emi makes the ropes to break. Yuka heads to the top rope for a dropkick, making her a two count.
Yuka tries to land something, but Emi gets a standing dragon sleeper, spinning her down to the mat. Crossbody to the corner on Yuka, followed by a vader bomb for a very close pin. Emi gets Yuka on the ropes and rakes her back, then the eyes.
Yuka to the top rope hits Emi – then a hurricanrana for a two count. Emi goes for a lariat, but Yuka hits a flatliner. Yuka heads to the top rope, but Emi has it scouted and hits another backbreaker. She goes to the second rope for a twisting vader bomb. Again, a two.
Yuki hits an airplane spin to a facebuster. Goes for a crossbody, but gets a tiltawhirl backbreaker for her efforts. We get almost a strike exchange, but Yuka sends Emi down after Emi gives her a stiff chop. Emi does a kind of ojou-sama laugh, proceeding to hit more chops. We then get a rapid sequence which ends in a clothesline by Emi, giving her a two count.
Another quick sequence gives her a dragon sleeper in the corner – Yuka grabs the ropes to break. Emi hits Yuka down to the ring, again for a two, as Yuka breaks it by hitting the ropes with her foot. Emi goes for Angel’s wings, but Yuka gets a sliding clothesline for a two count. In mere seconds, Yuka gets a crucifix pin for a three count.
Emi and her students beat down Yuka – but none other than Hikaru Shida comes to save Yuka. Not to diss Nyla or Tay but I’d say that was even better than the first match. More consistent storytelling regarding a body part and great action.
Who Will Yuka Face?
Next is the other semi-final match for the Japanese side – Aja Kong vs Ryo Mizunami. Aja Kong still doesn’t have Electric Eye. I know she wouldn’t after she didn’t last week, but it still hurts me. She has a trashcan with her.
The two lock up. The strength of these two, that’s like two rhinos locking horns. Ryo goes for many shoulder tackles and actually manages to knock Kong down to my surprise – I thought this’d be unstoppable force vs immovable object.
Kong in the corner, Ryo goes for some chops. She tries to appeal to the crowd, which is an ill-fated decision as Kong gets some offense, but Kong herself makes the exact same mistake. Ryo goes for a bodyslam, but Kong reverses for a scoop and a slam. Kong goes for a leaping elbow drop, but misses.
Ryo capitalizes with two lego drops, but Kong impressively escapes a pin attempt as it barely reaches one. Ryo goes for a kneebar, but again, Kong immediately hits that bottom rope. Ryo continues to work the leg – Kong keeps trying to fight back by attacking Ryo’s face.
Ryo keeps trying to do something with Kong’s leg, but she grabs the ropes. Ryo tries to get that leg again, but a massive slap and headbutt is given by Kong. Ryo then sweeps Kong. Ryo sends Kong to the ropes, but her leg gives due to all the damage.
Ryo charges at Kong, but lands on the outside. Kong gets out there to continue offense – she hits Ryo down to the ringbell and straight into the ringpost. The ref makes a 9 count. They both get in the ring, but Kong goes for the trash can – the ref takes it from her, though.
Two back drop drivers to Ryo for a two count. Ryo goes for the Uraken. Ryo blocks, but not without taking damage. Kicks to Ryo with the bad leg, not helped as Ryo gets a dragon screw. She then gets a clothesline and legdrop for a two – Ryo gets a headlock on Kong, who nearly gets knocked out, but makes her foot to the rope.
Ryo goes for some more lariats, and the two then trade some. Kong gets a two off of the exchange. Kong makes it to second rope, but Ryo hits her down, hitting a spear. Ryo then goes to the top rope for a diving leg drop, but Kong STILL has fight.
Spinning back fist manages to hit Ryo, this time with no block. Kong covers for a two. Ryo rolls out. Kong gets that trash can. She throws it to Shida, who confusedly catches it, then ramming Ryo into it head first. Ryo runs to the ropes to hit a legdrop on Kong before she makes it back to the ring, Ryo getting in the ring to beat the ten count and thus Kong.
Holy shit. That was amazing, possibly even match of the year candidate. I feel bad for Britt and Madi, they can’t possibly top that. Well, while that’s next, we now know that Yuka will go on to face Ryo.
The Last Semi-Final Match
Madi makes her entrance, but is attacked by Britt and Reba. Britt hits a swinging fishermen’s (or fisherwoman’s in this case) neckbreaker. Excalibur speculates Britt could have such aggression against Madi due to her being a student of Thunder Rosa, whom she has had a rivalry with.
Britt continues this assault on the outside before the match even starts. Britt gets in the ring and Reba continues, but Madi strikes back. Britt comes back out to continue the assault, though. Madi rolls her back into the ring.
Britt hits a slingblade, then a butterfly suplex. Another suplex to Madi. Madi goes for a small package, but lands ANOTHER suplex on Madi. She goes for another, but Madi keeps blocking. She lands a facebuster and goes for the crossbody. She gets some more offense, going for a pin, but Britt makes the rope. Reba keeps doing her stupid laugh on the outside, which is great.
Madi goes for a diving crossbody but misses her mark. Britt hits the air raid crash for a two. Britt gets the glove and kicks Madi’s jaw. Obviously, next is the lockjaw, getting Madi to tap nearly instantly. Britt attacks Madi and Reba draws Rosa’s makeup on Madi to mock her.
It was basically a squash match, and that’s ok. Like I said, even if Madi was a seasoned vet, you’d be hard pressed to beat that last match. That being said, for a rookie, Madi was pretty good. Here’s hoping she goes on to have a floundering career in pro wrestling so that we can all look back on this performance and see how much she’ll improve.
That concludes the remaining American opening rounds and the Japanese Semi-Finals. Here’s the bracket now. Britt will go on to face Nyla Rose on Dynamite. Meanwhile, Sunday on Bleacher Report Live, Riho will face Thunder Rosa, a trio match is set between Shida, Mei Suruga, Rin Kadokura and Emi, VENY and Maki Itoh and finally Yuka will face Ryo Mizunami in the Japanese finals. I’ll be sure to cover that Sunday event – as for Britt vs Nyla, again I redirect you to Rob Ward’s Dynamite reviews.
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