On September 29, Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling sends off Yuna Mizumori with its event aptly titled Tropical Night. Earlier this month, Mizumori announced her graduation, or departure, from the company, stating that she would be taking on a new role as a freelance wrestler. While this doesn’t necessarily spell the end for “The Pineapple Girl” in the company as a whole, it’s evident that she’ll be aspiring toward greater goals. Live from Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan, the Gatoh Move crew will put on a show to bid one of their brightest stars a fond farewell. Here’s what to expect from this special evening of wrestling.
Gatoh Move – Tropical Night Full Card
- SAKI, Tokiko Kirihara and Antonio Honda vs. Sayaka Obihiro, Sayuri, and Choun Shiryu
- Hagane Shinno vs. Ryo Mizunami
- Chie Koishikawa and Sayaka vs. Mei Suruga and Haruka Umesaki
- Super Asia Championship: Baliyan Akki (c) vs. Kaori Yoneyama
- Yuna Mizumori vs. Emi Sakura
SAKI, Tokiko Kirihara and Antonio Honda vs. Sayaka Obihiro, Sayuri, and Choun Shiryu
The preliminary match of Gatoh Move’s Tropical Night event is a six-person contest featuring SAKI of Actwres girl’Z fame teaming with the wily duo of Tokiko Kirihara and Antonio Honda, the latter two collectively known as Shin Black Comaneci. Together, they will take on Sayaka Obihiro and the team of Dragon Ninja, which is made up of Sayuri and former Interim Super Asia Champion Choun Shiryu. This match primarily serves the purpose of warming up the crowd in Shin-Kiba and it’s fair to expect there will be shenanigans aplenty. From the antics associated with Shin Black Comaneci to the ninja-like tactics of Dragon Ninja, this tag team affair aims to set the pace for the rest of the evening. It’s also worth noting that, depending on how it unfolds, either Shin Black Comaneci or Dragon Ninja may end up expanding their ranks.
Hagane Shinno vs. Ryo Mizunami
Following up from the previous six-person tag team match will be Hagane Shinno taking on Ryo Mizunami in singles competition. Also known as “Aniki,” Mizunami hasn’t made a Gatoh Move appearance since March when she teamed with Emi Sakura in a winning effort against Shinno and Sayaka Obihiro. American wrestling fans may know Mizunami from her sporadic appearances in All Elite Wrestling, where she won last year’s AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament. At Tropical Night, Mizunami takes on the stoic, stone-cold Shinno, who recently made his own AEW-affiliated appearance at the Tokyo Game Show, defeating Michael Nakazawa in a match to help promote the upcoming AEW Fight Forever video game. It’s also worth noting that Shinno recently decided to take an American excursion of his own. Who will take home the victory in what promises to be a hard-hitting encounter?
Chie Koishikawa and Sayaka vs. Mei Suruga and Haruka Umesaki
The second tag team match set for Tropical Night sees Gatoh Move fourth-generation stars “Too Much Energy” Chie Koishikawa and “The Beautiful Cosplayer” Sayaka team up to take on “The Apple Girl” Mei Suruga and her long-time rival and ally, Haruka Umesaki. Koishikawa and Sayaka saw recent success, picking up a victory on ChocoPro #256 against Tokiko Kirihara and Yuna Mizumori. Koishikawa and Sayaka look to keep their momentum going, though against a team as formidable as Suruga and Umesaki, this may be easier said than done. Often regarded as the crown jewel competitor of Gatoh Move, “Mei-chan” is a former Asia Dream Tag Team Champion, having held the purple belts alongside Baliyan Akki for 422 days. Meanwhile, Umesaki is a 3x tag team titleholder in her home promotion of World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana with Miyuki Takase, the two known as Luminous. Despite their talents, Koishikawa and Sayaka have an uphill battle on the 29th of September.
Super Asia Championship: Baliyan Akki (c) vs. Kaori Yoneyama
In the second-to-final match Gatoh Move has planned for Tropical Night, Baliyan Akki will defend the Super Asia Championship against Kaori Yoneyama. Having recently returned from the United States, where he competed for DEADLOCK Pro-Wrestling, All Elite Wrestling, and elsewhere, Akki proudly represented Gatoh Move as its top singles champion. Across his 220-day-plus reign, Akki boasts 4 successful title defenses, most recently retaining the blue belt against Tony Deppen at Garden State Pro Wrestling’s Thy Kingdom Come event. At Tropical Night, Akki makes his fifth title defense against Yoneyama, whose animated yet crafty offensive style has led her to victory time and time again. A joshi puroresu veteran, Yoneyama has donned multiple faces and captured several championships, winning OZ Academy’s Pioneer Championship earlier this month. Will she leave Shin-Kiba a double champion at the expense of the self-proclaimed “Ace” in Akki?
Yuna Mizumori vs. Emi Sakura
To conclude Tropical Night, Yuna Mizumori wrestles her final Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling match. It couldn’t be more appropriate, either, that her swan song for the promotion she calls home is against her trainer and mentor, Emi Sakura. Since 2018, “Yunamon” developed a reputation as one of the most versatile competitors in the promotion. Though a powerhouse wrestler by nature, the wrestler that often proclaims “Tropical Yahho” is incredibly agile, able to hit hard and move fast. She is a former 2x Asia Dream Tag Team Champion and her character development throughout the early days of ChocoPro made her that much more of a beloved wrestler. Sakura has been largely responsible for said development, pushing Mizumori to become better. Though it may go without saying, Sakura couldn’t be prouder of her tropical pupil as the latter prepares to bid farewell to Gatoh Move. This main event promises to be equal parts competitive and emotional.
Gatoh Move Presents Tropical Night will take place on September 29 live from Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan. It will then be made available to watch for free on the Gatoh Move YouTube channel. To support the company, you can sign up for their Patreon, which features multiple tiers, linked below.
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