Tokyo Joshi jumps into the first round of this international AEW tournament!

The AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament has begun! And the Japan bracket will get through its first round all at once!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Yuka Sakazaki VS Mei Suruga; Sakazaki wins and advances.
• Veny VS Emi Sakura; Sakura wins and advances.
• Maki Itoh VS Ryo Mizunami; Mizunami wins and advances.
• Aja Kong VS Rin Kadokura; Kong wins and advances.

PLAY BY PLAY

Yuka Sakazaki VS Mei Suruga!

The Wrestling Magical Girl returns to AEW through this tournament, and in a big way! Will she wipe the Biggest Smile in the World off Mei’s face in this opening round?

The bell rings and the two shake hands to show there is respect here. They circle, tie up, and Yuka wrenches Mei to a wristlock and hammerlock right away. Yuka shifts to a headlock, wrenches through again, and has another wristlock. Mei tries to grab at Yuka but Yuka cranks on the arm. Mei rolls and rolls and gets free, then fakes Yuka out on the dropkick! Mei takes advantage of Yuka’s shock by wrenching to a knuckle lock. Mei is all smiles as she goes, springboards, then runs to springboard again, for the arm-drag! Mei wraps on body scissors and squeezes tight! And then the ROLLING CLUTCH! They go around and around and around, and then to the cover, TWO!!

Yuka narrowly escapes but Mei still smiles as she puts on a headlock. Mei fires up and heads for a corner but Yuka pushes her to buckles! Yuka headlocks, grinds Mei down, but Mei throws elbows. Mei powers out, Yuka runs her over! Things speed up, Yuka rolls then sweeps the legs. Cover, ONE and Mei Matrix bridges out! Yuka rolls her and whips but Mei reverses, only for Yuka to get around and shove. Yuka gets Mei for a BIG suplex! Mei writhes but Yuka brings her up to CLUB her on the back. Yuka stalks Mei to the ropes, brings her up again and CLUBS her. Mei goes to a corner, Yuka throws forearms over and over, then lets off to go out and up.

Yuka gets Mei in a headscissor, but the ref reprimands. Yuka drops back for the HANGING HEADSCISSOR! The ref counts, Yuka lets go at 4 then climbs up. Yuka cartwheels but Mei avoids it and then avoids the dropkick! Mei runs but Yuka avoids the dropkick to then get around and trip Mei to an STF! Mei flails and reaches as she endures Yuka pulling her back! Mei drags herself and Yuka over, reaches out, but Yuka gets those arms to add a straitjacket! Mei still fights and gets the ropebreak! Yuka lets go fast, and then drags Mei back up. Yuka brings Mei around but Mei throws a forearm! And another! Yuka kicks low, but Mei blocks the uppercut to stomp a foot!

Mei runs, but Yuka reels her into a waistlock! Mei fights out, gets around and springboards to fake Yuka out, to sweep the legs! Mei fires up and she drags Yuka back up. Mei whips her to a corner, then whips her back in even harder! Yuka staggers, Mei whips her a third time but Yuka reverses, only for Mei to reverse back! Yuka hits off buckles again, and staggers into Mei’s scoop slam! Cover, TWO!! Yuka survives again but Mei runs to get the LAST CHANCERY! Mei bridges up to then get Yuka’s legs for a DEATHLOCK! Yuka endures but Mei comes back to bridge again, to add CATTLE MUTILATION!! Yuka is trapped but she endures!

Yuka gets her arms free, drags herself and Mei over, but Mei drops to make it a MUTA LOCK! Yuka keeps crawling, and she gets the ropebreak!! The ref counts, Mei lets go and goes up the corner, for flying ax handles! Cover, TWO! Yuka still survives but Mei gets one arm then a half nelson. Yuka fights out of that and whips Mei to a corner, to GAMANGIRI! Mei staggers, Yuka goes up, and Yuka leaps for a FLYING BACK ELBOW! Mei is down, Yuka drags her back up, and reels her in to suplex, and holds Mei up for a count of 10, into the BRAINBUSTER! But Yuka isn’t done there, she goes to the apron and goes up the ropes.

Mei scrambles up to deny the splash, then runs in, into a boot! Mei fires up and comes back but Yuka jumps over, only for Mei to CROSSBODY! Yuka turns it over to her own cover, TWO!! Mei escapes, Yuka is after her! Yuka wrenches, hammerlocks, fireman’s carries, and spins, only for Mei to slip out! Mei hops up, body scissors and a head vice! Yuka fades from the squeeze, and Mei rolls her to a body scissor clutch, TWO!!! Mei still can’t believe she hasn’t pulled it off! Yuka gets up, Mei dodges her to step up and around, but no rana as Yuka shoves her off! Mei fakes Yuka out again to get the body scissor roll! Cover, TWO!!

Mei wants the half nelson but Yuka resists the lift! So Mei bridges to a HALF CATTLE MUTILATION! Yuka fights free of that, gets around Mei and snapmare rolls her to KICK her! Yuka runs to SLIDING LARIAT!! Cover, TWO!! Mei survives but Yuka keeps her cool. Yuka drags Mei up, scoops her, and hits a DRIVER! Yuka takes aim from the apron again, climbs the rope, MAGICAL GIRL 450 SPLASH!! Cover, Yuka wins!

Winner: Yuka Sakazaki, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The Magical Girl adds a twist to her usual finish, and that’s what gets her into the Elite Eight! Will her power continue to grow and bring her to the AEW Women’s World Championship?

Veny VS Emi Sakura!

Another new addition to AEW takes on the returning Queen of Joshi! Will Veny be the one to rock Emi out of the tournament? Or will Emi be strong under pressure?

The bell rings and Veny circles with Emi. They tie up, Veny gets around to waistlock then drops to trip Emi. Veny shifts to a facelock but Emi slips out to put the facelock on Veny. Veny rolls but Emi holds on. Emi drags Veny up with the facelock, rakes Veny on the back then runs. Veny goes Matrix to dodge Emi and then uses a unique inverted somersault to roll away to the corner. Veny does a little dance but Emi runs in to kick the legs and throw Mongolian Chops! Emi drags Veny back up, tosses Veny by the hair, then kicks Veny at the ropes. Emi drags Veny up again to TOSS Veny even harder! Emi drags Veny around, ties up the legs and throws hands in order to get the arms.

Emi brings Veny up into the Romero Special surfboard! Veny endures but gets TOSSED away! Emi stalks Veny to the corner, steps on Veny’s head in the corner and gives some kicks. The ref counts, Emi lets off and drags Veny up against the ropes from the outside. The ref counts, Emi lets go and then stomps Veny down! And again! Emi drags Veny up for a CHOP in the corner! Emi whips but Veny blocks by holding ropes. Emi CHOPS Veny again, then whips Veny corner to corner. Veny reverses, runs and handsprings to back elbow! Veny whips Emi, Emi reverses but Veny goes up and over to ROCK Emi! Veny springboards and CROSSBODIES!

Emi goes to the apron, Veny pursues and kicks Emi, to then go up the corner! ARIHARA MOONSAULT!! Direct hit and Veny takes Emi down at the red carpet! The ring count starts, Veny drags Emi up at 5 and puts Emi in at 6. Veny hurries up to aim from the apron, but Emi intercepts the springboard by hitting ropes! Emi drags Veny through ropes in double underhooks, DRAPING TIGER BACKBREAKER! Emi goes up and up and CANNONBALL SENTONS! Emi doesn’t cover and dares Veny to bring it. Veny sits up, Emi gets double underhooks again, another TIGER BACKBREAKER! Veny writhes again but Emi isn’t done!

Emi goes to a corner, climbs up and dares Veny to stand. Veny rolls to SHORYUKEN! Veny then runs in to go up, and ARABIAN ARM-DRAG! Both Veny and Emi are down but Veny gets to a corner. Veny gets up, runs, SHOOTING STAR PRESS! Cover, TWO!! Emi survives but Veny fires up! Veny drags Emi up, reels Emi in but Emi turns it around to a dragon sleeper! Veny drops and Emi cranks on the hold harder! Veny fights, kicks, moves around, gets up, but Emi shifts to hit the TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Emi gets the beat going, “We Will! We Will! ROCK YOU!” Veny goes to a corner, Emi runs in and BODY CHECKS! Emi goes up, VADER BOMB!

Emi’s not done there, ANOTHER VADER BOMB, onto Veny’s knees! Veny brings Emi in, fireman’s carry takedown and a step over to the INVERTED ARMBAR! Veny even hooks Emi’s other arm with a leg, but Emi endures and reaches around. Emi gets the ropebreak with a foot! Veny lets go and drags Emi back up, but Emi ROCKS Veny with a right, KICKS and CHOPS, then brings Veny back in. Veny fights off the saido to BUZZSAW and HEEL KICK! Cover, TWO!! Emi lives but Veny runs to BASEMENT BOOT! Cover, TWO!! Emi survives but Veny fires up again! Veny drags Emi up, waistlock, but Emi resists and slips out to underhook, ANGEL’S WINGS!! But Emi can’t cover!

The ref checks on them both and they’re both okay to continue, and Emi sits up first. Veny rises, but Emi throws a haymaker! Veny hits back! Emi throws a forearm but Veny returns it! Emi headbutts, but so does Veny! Emi headbutts the chest! Veny ROCKS Emi with a forearm! Emi winds up to ROCK Veny with a forearm! Veny gets back up to ROCK Emi with a forearm, then a haymaker! BOOT, SUPERKICK, but Emi ducks the heel kick only to get a mule kick! Veny HEEL KICKS the second time, then climbs a corner, for a BIG missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!!! Emi survives and Veny can’t believe it! Veny drags Emi up, choke grips, but Emi denies the slam to drag Veny down!

Veny handsprings through into DOUBLE CHOPS! CHOP LARIAT COMBO! High stack, TWO!! Veny escapes, but Emi is back for more underhooks! Veny spins out but Emi spins back to backslide! Veny rolls off that but Emi steps through, La Magistrol- NO! Veny blocks it part way to get a lateral press, TWO!! Emi narrowly escapes and gives Veny a CHOP! And a CHOP! And another CHOP! Veny is literally on the ropes, Emi runs, but Veny WINDMILL KICKS! Veny drags Emi right up, choke grip to CHOKE SLAM BOMB!! Cover, TWO!?!? Emi survives but Veny isn’t done! Veny climbs, fires up, and MOONSAULTS, but FLOPS!

Emi steps to MAGISTROL! TWO!?! But into a DRAGON SLEEPER! Veny kicks and flails but Emi cranks harder! Veny looks to be out but Emi lets go to bring Veny around, underhook, TIGER DRIVER!! Cover, Emi wins!!!

Winner: Emi Sakura, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

What a battle! The Genderless Artist pushed the Queen but could not dethrone her! Will Emi be a favorite to go all the way to the finals?

Maki Itoh VS Ryo Mizunami!

The Cutest in the World, the Wrestling Idol, takes on Aneki, aka The Big Sister, in this tournament’s opening round! But who will be sweeter getting out of the Sweet Sixteen into the Elite Eight?

Ryo gets impatient and she smacks the ref on the back during the check. The bell rings and Maki offers a handshake. Ryo takes it and the two fire up. They circle, approach and tie up. Ryo stays put as Maki tries to push her, but Ryo pushes her! Maki turns it around to put Ryo on ropes, then lets off carefully. Maki throws a sucker punch and then eggs Ryo on. “Hit me! Hit me!” Ryo ROCKS Maki and Maki regrets asking for it. Maki is crying?! Ryo is confused, and maybe feels a bit bad. Ryo says Maki did ask for it, but then Maki stomps Ryo’s foot! Maki was suckering Ryo in! Maki does a little dance while standing on Ryo’s foot, the ref counts, and Maki steps off at 4.

Maki makes a face at Ryo, then runs, but bounces off Ryo! Ryo doesn’t even realize anything happened until she sees Maki on the mat! Ryo CLUBS Maki, kicks and stomps her, then drags Maki up to whip her to ropes. Ryo runs Maki over on purpose this time, and fires up with shaking the ropes! Ryo drags Maki up, scoops her, and slams her down! Leg drop! Cover, TWO! Maki gasps and sputters, but Ryo drags her up and CHOPS her to a corner! Ryo CHOPS Maki again, and again, and again! Ryo fires off machine gun chops a la Satoshi Kojima! The ref counts, Ryo stops and apologizes, but tops it off with one last CHOP! Ryo whips Maki corner to corner, runs in and forearm smashes!

Ryo fires up again, does a quick bow, and shows off her mime dance moves? Ryo runs in to LARIAT Maki down! Cover, TWO!! Maki survives and Ryo can’t believe it! Ryo looms over Maki, drags her up, but Maki breaks free to throw a forearm! Ryo withstands it so Maki throws more forearms! Ryo kicks low, scoops Maki but Maki slips out to kick a leg, wrench an arm and hammerlock, to the DDT! Ryo scrambles away, but Maki fires up! Maki runs corner to corner, to elbow! Maki whips the other way, runs and BULLDOGS! Ryo goes to a corner and Maki fires up again! Maki spins and thanks the fans for watching, as she goes to the corner!

Maki asks, “Who is the cutest? Itoh-chan deeesu~!” And then she hammers away on Ryo’s head! Maki stops as the ref counts, and she snapmares Ryo to then fire up again. Maki runs to drop the KOKESHI! Cover off the falling headbutt, TWO! Maki knows she isn’t quite Honma, but she gets Ryo in a BOSTON CRAB! Ryo endures as Maki sits deep and pulls back! Oh, Ryo isn’t actually in much pain. Ryo powers right out and Maki tumbles to ropes! Ryo gets up, Maki runs back in, to a POWERSLAM! Cover, TWO!! Maki survives but Ryo keeps her eyes on the fallen idol. Ryo CLOBBERS Maki, then drops a leg, brother! Cover, TWO!! Maki survives again but Aneki is just firing up more!

Ryo drags Maki up, reels her in, but Maki fights off the lift. Maki gets to ropes but Ryo ROCKS her with a right! Ryo fires up but Maki gets mad and forearms back! Ryo forearms, Maki forearms, and it’s a brawl! They go back and forth, harder and harder, and Ryo eggs Maki on! Maki grins and fires off several shots! But Ryo just gives them all back and from all sides! Ryo ROCKS Maki then DECKS her! Ryo wants Maki to get back up and Maki slowly rises. Maki fires up but Ryo CHOPS and LARIATS! Ryo wants Maki to get up again and Maki does, but Maki rolls Ryo into a HALF CRAB! Ryo reaches, drags herself around, but Maki is deep on that leg compared to the full crab!

Ryo endures, Maki drags and turns her, but Ryo boots her away. Maki blocks the lariat?! To HEADBUTT it! Maki’s iron head is powering up! Maki bangs her head off buckles to fire up more, and she brings Ryo around, for a HEADBUTT! Ryo is reeling but Maki eggs her on. Ryo shakes out the cobwebs, comes back, and she headbutts back! But it’s double-edged! Maki is not even bothered! Maki and Ryo fire up, they go no hands and DOUBLE HEADBUTT!! They dig foreheads like rams, Maki whips but Ryo reverses. Ryo pops Maki up but Maki DDT COUNTERS! Then a TORNADO DDT!! Cover, TWO!?!? Ryo survives and Maki can’t believe it!

Maki drags Ryo around, and says, “LET’S GOOOO~!” Maki climbs a corner, takes aim at Ryo, and leaps for the SUPER KOKESHI FLOP!! Ryo avoids disaster, and as Maki rises, Ryo runs in to SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!?!?! But Ryo is right on Maki with an Anaconda Vice, and she rolls Maki all around! Maki taps, Ryo wins!!

Winner: Ryo Mizunami, by submission (advances to the next round)

Maki Itoh has an iron head but Aneki has an iron will! Will this be the difference maker that propels Ryo all the way to the finals?

Aja Kong VS Rin Kadokura!

The Japan bracket’s opening round closes with another big return! One of the hardest hitters takes on one of the most talented, but which one makes it to the second round?

The bell rings and Rin dropkicks Aja right away! Rin fires off forearms but Aja doesn’t even flinch! Aja blocks the whip and even smirks. Rin throws more forearms, then runs, but Aja runs her over! Aja drags Rin up, Rin throws more forearms, but Aja still isn’t bothered. Aja slaps Rin around, whips her then CLOBBERS her! Aja gives a shout out to Great Kabuki before dropping an elbow! Cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Another cover, TWO! Rin is still in this and Aja grows annoyed, but Aja stands on Rin’s hand. The ref notices that, Aja steps off, but then stomps the hand! Aja kicks Rin around, slaps her, but Rin throws more forearms!

Rin gets up and keeps throwing forearms but Aja just backs her down to CHOP her at the ropes! Aja stands Rin up and CHOPS her again! Aja goes a little high for the ref’s liking so Aja just DECKS Rin with a haymaker! The ref reprimands on using the closed fists, so Aja palm strikes Rin right in the forehead! Aja drags Rin right back up, lifts her, and toys with her for a moment before hitting the PILEDRIVER!! Cover, TWO!?! Rin survives but Aja drags her back up. Aja brings Rin around, whips her to ropes, but Rin counters to a DDT! Rin has Aja reeling and she fires up! Rin runs to basement dropkick Aja at the ropes!

Rin fires up more, goes to a corner and climbs up, to leap for a missile dropkick! Cover, ROPEBREAK! Aja is a ring general and Rin is frustrated! Rin drags Aja up, tries to lift but Aja is just too big and strong. Aja smirks as she knees away on Rin, but Rin throws more forearms. Rin runs and swings around Aja’s clothesline, but Aja resists the crucifix takedown so Rin shifts to a sunset flip. Aja drops down on Rin!! Cover, TWO!! Rin survives but Aja isn’t worried. Aja KICKS Rin right in the side and Rin falls over! Aja drags Rin back up, but Rin resists the lift! Rin throws elbows over and over, runs, but Aja clotheslines at the ropes! Then point-blank LARIATS! Cocky cover, TWO!!

Aja is annoyed but she puts Rin in a drop zone. Aja climbs but Rin hurries after her. Rin throws clubbing forearms then throws Aja down off the ropes! Rin goes up, boots Aja and hits a TORNADO DDT! Aja is in a corner, Rin runs in to CANNONBALL! Cover, TWO!! Aja is still in this but is still in the drop zone and Rin climbs again! Rin MARIPOSAS, to FLOP! Aja drags Rin up for a DANGEROUS SAIDO!! Cover, TWO?!? Rin survives and shocks Aja! Aja says she’s going to finish this, and she drags Rin back up. Rin resists the suplex but Aja ROCKS her with a haymaker! LARIAT! Cover, TWO!?!? Rin is somehow still in this but Aja isn’t going to let off!

Aja climbs up to the very top, for the ANIMAL HAMAGUCHI ELBOW!! Cover, Aja wins!

Winner: Aja Kong, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

Rin did all she could to last this long, but she couldn’t last any longer! Aja Kong conquers one opponent, is she going to do the same until she’s AEW Women’s World Champion?

My Thoughts:

A very good hour with very good opening round matches. I’m not as familiar with all the wrestlers featured, but it was clear they all got to really show their stuff here. Suruga, Veny, Itoh and Rin are all rising stars, have a lot of promise in the Joshi scene and even the AEW Women’s Division, but given AEW fans are probably more familiar with Yuka, Emi, Ryo and Aja Kong from the first year of AEW, it makes a lot of sense for those four to be the ones moving on. The Japanese Bracket winner is at least heading to the States to take on the US Bracket winner for the tournament finals at AEW Revolution, so whatever fans are allowed to be in attendance, they’d probably cheer more if it was someone they knew. Which to me means this bracket can go any which way.

My Score: 8.2/10