By: Jeff Brown

AWG Actwrestling at Korakuen Hall 12/29

Korakuen Hall was the site of AWG’s last full show of 2024 (there was Actwres Time at AJPW), and it featured two title matches, a rookie’s anticipated debut, and the return of The Phoenix of Osaka, Miyuki Takase. There was also a series of tag matches for the young roster members to show how they have improved. 

Erisa Nagai, Hinata Senya & Hina Toiro vs. Anri, Chii Aoba & Nanami Togi

It was a nice way to start things off with some of the newer talent in multi-tag action. Togi had a Jazz bass instead of her usual Thunderbird bass for her entrance theme. Chii and Togi especially have made some strides in 2024. Anri just won the Young Actwres Cup, and she has already had some glimpses of greatness; her early outings are reminiscent of Mizushima’s in early 2022. The impressive first-round match (11/23 Osaka) between Anri and Togi is a sign that the company is getting these rookies up and running fast. Anri has a kickboxing background, which provides some outstanding head kicks. Erisa has a larger-than-life personality and is getting good; Hinata and Hina are finding what works, and that’s perfectly okay. Hina is very good in the babyface-in-peril role, which is a vital part to play in a tag match. Erisa pinned Anri with a bridging pin; these two could have a bright future being rivals.

Miyuki Takase vs. Kyoka Iwai

Miyuki returned recently and started a feud with Kyoka. Mikyu was part of the previous system of AWG when it was a traditional pro wrestling company. A freelancer, she’s now the outsider with harsh words and was challenged by Kyoka, who is never afraid of a fight. Under the old rules, Miyuki had a run that lasted over 500 days with the AWG Championship, the longest in any iteration of AWG. Kyoka is an amazing stage actress who has played some very intense roles, and that has translated well in ARG when she was in Sky Rex as well as in AWG with personal grudges. This match felt different and is maybe an example of how Actwrestling differs from pro wrestling. Miyuki was dominating a lot of the match, but Kyoka shined with the wildfire-like emotions she put on display. Miyuki blasted Kyoka with a headbutt and then finished her off with the 2nd rope leg drop. A nice handshake to close things out and another strong and unique performance from Kyoka.

Nene Arahata & Yufa vs. Haruka Ishikawa & KYANREN vs. Asako Mia & Mii

A good buffer match that gave the audience time to unwind after the previous fight, and it was fun chaos. Fun chaos is what Asako specializes in and has made her a favorite with Western fans. While there are a few wrestlers out in the scene today that have made an art form out of unpredictable comedy, the closest approximation is likely Gabuko from the earliest days of AgZ. Nene has become a bit of a powerhouse, and she has more confidence since her recent title challenge. Some entertaining spots with Kuma-chan’s body flying into the crowd and Yufa using her pico-pico hammer. It ended with Nene executing a delayed brainbuster on Asako for the win.

Act vs. Yukina Uehara

The debut of Yukina Uehara, who is a bit of a super rookie and who is even the cover star of the latest issue of Graffiti. Act is a perfect first opponent because just being in the ring with a legend of her stature is an accomplishment. Act entered with fog and just owned Korakuen Hall as she has done for years. She is the type of performer that causes murmurs from the crowd and makes people put their phones down and pay attention. Uehara had a cool look and appeared very athletic while executing some nice sequences of moves and submissions. Act was searching for the stretch muffler for the entirety of the match and worked over Uehara’s leg methodically. Uehara came in with a contingent of fans already behind her, and that helped make the debut feel like an event. Act hit the Act Stampede for the win, but the story was Uehara didn’t feel lost, and she held her own.

Princess Tenko performed and added another level of entertainment to the “action entertainment” that has become an AWG signature.

Marino Saihara, Riko Fukunaga & Yui Tensho vs. Nagisa Shiotsuki, Naru & Sakura Mizushima

The next match was essentially the Actress 5 plus Nagisa in multi-action. Naru did a Spiderman-style crawl across the middle rope, perhaps a callback to the Comic Con superhero performance. Mizushima was fantastic hitting her signature moves, and she feels ready for the next step in her career. There was a funny spot where the 5 teamed up against poor Nagisa with dropkicks; she fired off her deadly chops, so she got even. Yui and Riko both are improving nicely, and their execution of moves is noticeably tighter. Marino and Naru had a serious exchange of strikes, and that could be interesting as they usually are tag partners. Mizushima executes a Northern Lights suplex on Yui for the 3 count. All six took a bow afterwards.

AWG KING Of Ring Entertainment Title Match

Mari vs. MARU

Mari has been one of the most sadistic characters going today, but she was up against the equally sinister Maru. It was a wild brawl all over Korakuen, with Maru landing a double footstomp off the entryway and Mari answering back by kicking her down the steps. As is customary in Maru matches, the chain was used heavily by both competitors. Maru set up a ladder in the ring and performed a double footstomp to the floor. Much like the Miyuki match early on, this felt different; in this case, it was two veterans who were not in a player-coach role and had a chance to show what the top-level players in AWG can deliver. Mari was beaten pillar to post but answered back with an arm trap powerbomb and then started in with the chairs. Mari put Maru down with a crucifix bomb onto a chair to retain the King of Ring Entertainment title. In short, a war.

AWG Title Match

Natsuki vs. Ayano Irie

This was a big match, as Ayano is quite popular, and so the fan support was not squarely with Natsuki. Ayano came to the ring full of emotion and clearly not taking this title shot lightly. The two even had a friendly handshake to start off the main event, but that was short-lived. They ended up on the floor exchanging mounted punches, and Ayano got it back in the ring, trapping Natsuki in her Boston Crab. Natsuki is so good at being a fighting champion; she pulled off some new moves, including a 2nd rope superplex. Ayano wasn’t going down easy and was kicking out of many of Natsuki’s big moves. Natsuki blasted her with a running knee and finally put Ayano down to retain the AWG Championship.

It was a quick-moving show that accomplished a lot, as is the case with AWG at Korakuen Hall. Natsuki and Mari are strong champions who have been wonderful pillars for the company during its tumultuous 2024. Act is always a great attraction, as is Maru, and they both are vital to the roster as mentors. 2025 feels like the right time for Mizushima to ascend to the next level and have a banner year. The young rookies continually get up and running very fast under the Actwres system, which is a strength that no other company has quite matched. That may, in fact, be a benefit to the closed ecosystem, as the new players can be guided and focus on facing each other while building on their strengths. The company had seen a lot of turmoil but really seems to be in a nice place heading into the new year.