70s Joshi on Wednesday: Komine! Hanawa!

36. 1979.07.XX - 02 Hiroko Komine vs. Seiko Hanawa

K: We’d consider this a ‘rookie match’ in later years but the average experience level is so low in the company at this point that this isn’t quite worked like that. The spirit of the thing is done correctly, it constantly feels heated and that they’re both trying hard to win the match and getting mad at each other. That bit of pettiness at the end where Hanawa gets one last spiteful smack in is the kind of thing I’m talking about and what AJW excelled in stylistically. The mechanics and structure of the match were uninspired. The standard shine, heat, comeback stuff but there wasn’t really anything of interest in how it progressed or memorable moments, they just went out and did their match while getting the vibe of the thing right.

*3/4

MD: These two nominally competing for a spot on the Japan national team for the upcoming series vs the US women. Komine was in black and was more the rookie and Hanawa was in yellow. It was spirited but the transitions weren’t great, except for the first one which was Komine breaking out of a bodyscissors by grabbing Hanawa by the ears and lifting her up. She then ran her face across the top rope and rubbed her boot into it and it was all pretty good for a bit. The comeback was just Hanawa getting behind her and using a waistlock to drop her for an awkward rolling bodyscissors. From there it was back and forth and they worked hard but I’m not sure it entirely flowed. Hanawa finally came out on top, winning with a figure four. Ok when they were going but I wouldn’t say it all came together.