By: Jeff Brown

Photos: Actwres girl’Z

Step 54 was a special night that featured a title match, an appearance from Princess Tenko, and a tribute to Asahi. AWG Champion Natsuki was in tag action, continuing to face Anri after their stellar title match on the last show. ACT celebrated some anniversaries as she teamed up with Kyoka while the Killer’Z fought against the Actress 5.

It was a cold night in Shin-kiba with a good-sized crowd, and you can catch the show on AWG Nets. It’s 1,000 yen per month with a very quick and easy sign-up process.. Here are some impressions from the evening’s performance.

The show began with the usual dance routine that transitioned into a tribute to Asahi as they performed a dance to her entrance theme. Roster members shared some heartfelt and emotional words before a moment of silence with a 10-bell salute. This was on the same level of respect and reverence they paid to Asahi last February with the tribute show.

The company is a family, and they lovingly remembered a member gone too soon.

Sakura Mizushima vs. Erisa Nagai

This was a big match for both, as Erisa was being tested while Mizushima was in the role of a veteran to lead the newcomer. The tempo was up with Erisa hitting more authoritatively now. There are similarities and parallels as both took to AWG very quickly; they have brightly colored gear, and their entrances are utilized for dancing.

Erisa blocked some of Mizushima’s signature moves, then Mizushima yelled at Erisa to hit her more and harder. Once Erisa was trapped in a crab, the crowd got really behind her to encourage the rope break. Mizushima puts Erisa down with a Northern Lights for the three-count. 

Throughout the entire match, Erisa felt like a threat, and while the outcome was likely predicated by everyone, if they meet again in six months, Erisa could realistically win.

ACT & Kyoka Iwai vs. Asako Mia & Nagisa Shiotsuki

Being that this tag team match features Asako, you would be wise to expect the unexpected. Asako tried and failed to bring the fight right after the bell rang. She was stretched and hit with the umbrella. Asako tries a strike battle, and ACT easily drops her to the growing frustration of Asako. Nagisa gets the tag and nails ACT with hard chops, leaving her chest bright red. After tagging out, ACT even resorts to cold spray for relief.

As an aside, Asako is the person Nagisa got her first singles victory over in 2023, and they were in Update+ together, with Nagisa being a great straight man to Asako’s lunacy.

Kyoka gets the momentum in the match and hits a Samoan drop on Asako to get the victory. ACT was celebrating 13 years in wrestling and 20 years in the entertainment business. She is an important person in Joshi but also for many inside AWG in ways not seen publicly; those 20 years in showbiz have helped make her one of the most magnetic figures who is doing important legacy-building work in Actwres girl’Z.

Afterwards, Asako appeared to try and get ACT to join the Asako Army, to much laughter and confusion from everyone in Shin-Kiba. 

Ayano Irie & MARU vs. Rico Fukunaga & Yui Tensho

The Killer’Z took on Actress 5 in the ongoing saga of good vs. evil. MARU, right out of the gate, was biting Rico and using her chain as she and Ayano kept her isolated. Yui gets the tag and is starting to really use more power moves and her size to her advantage.

This was a good outing for both Rico and Yui, while Ayano had a spark and immediacy that has carried over from her recent title challenge. MARU lands a double foot stomp off the top onto Yui for the three-count.

Hina Toiro & Natsuki vs. Anri & Marino Saihara

Hina has had only a few matches (this was her 7th), but she doesn’t look lost or nervous. Anri is great; the kick exchanges with Natuski are special, and it felt important having the champion perform in this match. Hina then asked to be tagged in the match, and she ended up getting a sleeper on Marino.

The main takeaway with Marino is that she continues to carry herself like a seasoned veteran and faces off with the newer talent confidently. Hina has a lot of counterattacks and then hits a jumping clothesline off the ropes, but Marino locks on a chicken wing and taps Hina out.

Getting to see Anri and Natsuki face off again is worth it, but keep your eyes on Marino and now Hina. 

Mari vs. Haruka Ishikawa—AWG KING Of Ring Entertainment Title Match

Princess Tenko enters the ring for the pre-match ceremony. During the proceedings, Ishikawa is in the corner like a mounting volcano about to go off. She does charge head-on at Mari, who stops her cold.

They got into some really impressive groundwork, and the entire section felt like an MMA fight as Ishikawa’s game plan went south quickly as she found herself struggling underneath Mari while also having to improvise a new attack plan and stay calm. That shoot style is a very welcome change of pace and completely different from their previous tag, which was a wild out-of-the-ring brawl. Ishikawa gets back to her feet and fires off her unhinged offense.

The match felt big; it felt important; it felt like a title fight.

Mari rolled to the floor and was favoring her shin. Ishikawa could smell blood in the water as Mari’s leg was failing her. Not one to panic, Mari returns the favor with a stretch muffler, but once she’s upright, she is holding the top rope as she tries some of her patented kicks. At this point, Mari is determined to find a submission to put the out-of-control Ishikawa away. 

Both were stellar in their performances in this match. Mari is an MVP. Mari has been an MVP for years, but now more than ever. She may at times be reluctant to go after titles or want to grab attention, but simply put, Mari is Actwres girl’Z. She would likely disagree, as she has stated at times she still feels like an outsider on the roster since she began her career elsewhere in REINA.

Mari gets a choke, and Gator rolls Ishikawa unconscious before the ref stops the match. Mari will not release the hold as Kyoka angrily fights her off Ishikawa. The two face off, and Kyoka could be the next challenger for Mari. 

The show ends with pinkies up, and everyone should be proud of the stellar show. The company built on the previous great main event of Anri and Natsuki, and this is one of the positives of having two singles championships.

Mari is really making the King Of Ring title unique with each defense, and she’s been on a special run since late 2023, when she won the AWG Championship. Natsuki is a wonderful fighting champion who fearlessly takes on all comers. Add in the talent like Erisa, Anri, and the Actress 5 taking off while Uehara shows early promise, and AWG has a recipe for success. 

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