{"id":45962,"date":"2019-05-13T14:59:18","date_gmt":"2019-05-13T18:59:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=45962"},"modified":"2019-06-04T19:46:01","modified_gmt":"2019-06-04T23:46:01","slug":"match-point-aja-kong-emi-sakura-yuka-sakazaki-vs-riho-abe-hikaru-shida-ryu-mizunami","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2019\/05\/13\/match-point-aja-kong-emi-sakura-yuka-sakazaki-vs-riho-abe-hikaru-shida-ryu-mizunami\/","title":{"rendered":"Match Point: Aja Kong, Emi Sakura &#038; Yuka Sakazaki vs Riho Abe, Hikaru Shida &#038; Ryu Mizunami"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/AEWrestling?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">All Elite Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>has committed to showcasing the best women&#8217;s talent in the world in their women&#8217;s division.\u00a0 With signings like\u00a0<strong>Nyla Rose\u00a0<\/strong>and <strong>Hikaru Shida,\u00a0<\/strong>they have followed through on this intent.\u00a0 On the latest edition of Being The Elite, they announced a six woman tag match pitting legendary names\u00a0<strong>Aja Kong\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Emi Sakura\u00a0<\/strong>alongside\u00a0<strong>Yuka Sakakzaki\u00a0<\/strong>as they face young rising star\u00a0<strong>Riho Abe,\u00a0<\/strong>underrated freelancer\u00a0Shida and a hard hitter\u00a0<strong>Ryo Mizunami<\/strong>.\u00a0 For anyone that knows these six talents, this is an insane match that crosses various Joshi companies and showcases veteran talent as well as young talent on the rise.\u00a0 To help familiarise people ahead of the show we will run through the six talents involved in the match.<\/p>\n<h2>Aja Kong, Emi Sakura &amp; Yuka Sakazaki vs Riho Abe, Hikaru Shida &amp; Ryu Mizunami:\u00a0Match Point<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Aja Kong<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-35055 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/01\/AK.jpg\" alt=\"aja kong\" width=\"600\" height=\"402\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/01\/AK.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/01\/AK-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Aja Kong is a monster that has been a dominant force in the Japanese women&#8217;s pro wrestling scene for three decades now.\u00a0 Kong has some of the most vicious strikes you will ever see having<a href=\"https:\/\/imgur.com\/r\/squaredcircle\/l0bB1b4\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> infamously broken her opponents nose on an episode of RAW with a spinning backfist<\/a>.\u00a0 She was one of the biggest stars for\u00a0<strong>All Japan Women&#8217;s Pro Wrestling (AJW)\u00a0<\/strong>who helped make women&#8217;s wrestling extremely popular in Japan to the point they could easily run shows in the Tokyo Dome.\u00a0 In her two runs as WWWA champion, the top title in AJW, she held it for almost 1000 combined days and was a five-time tag team champion.\u00a0 Since AJW&#8217;s demise Kong has remained one of the biggest stars on the scene and has been a major player in companies like\u00a0<strong>GAEA Japan\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0<strong>Oz Academy\u00a0<\/strong>as well as making appearances for various other Joshi companies on a rare basis.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Meiko Satomura vs Aja Kong Highlights\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/XHg_VXQQk24?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Emi Sakura<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45964\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45964\" style=\"width: 450px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45964\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Emi-Sakura.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"450\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Emi-Sakura.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Emi-Sakura-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Emi-Sakura-315x420.jpg 315w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45964\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: PCW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Emi Sakura debuted in 1995 for\u00a0<strong>International Wrestling Association Japan\u00a0<\/strong>before moving on to AJW and\u00a0<b>Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling\u00a0<\/b>(FMW).\u00a0 In 2006 when the Joshi scene had lost some of it&#8217;s biggest names and companies Emi Sakura helped to form\u00a0<strong>Ice Ribbon<\/strong> where she would discover her talent for training.\u00a0 As a trainer Sakura has had a big impact on the Joshi scene as she has trained many extremely talented women, passing on her experience and technical expertise.\u00a0 She left Ice Ribbon in 2011 and set up the unique\u00a0<strong>Gatoh Move\u00a0<\/strong>where she has spent the rest of her career as a wrestler, trainer, and owner.\u00a0 Sakura has a wealth of experience and a bright personality, but don&#8217;t let that fool you she can manipulate her opponent&#8217;s body in so many ways.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Emi Sakura vs Shazza McKenzie\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/3n4c_1_STzE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><strong>Yuka Sakazaki<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45966\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45966\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-45966\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Yuka-Sakazaki-e1557771482899.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45966\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: AEW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>A five year veteran that has spent her entire career with\u00a0<strong>Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling\u00a0<\/strong>(TJPW).\u00a0 While TJPW is mostly a character based promotion Sakazaki is one of the stronger in-ring workers in the promotion.\u00a0 She is a former\u00a0<strong>Princess Of Princesses\u00a0<\/strong>Champion as well as a two time and current tag team champion for the promotion.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vx1wbPdUjaM<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Hikaru Shida<\/strong><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_43853\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-43853\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-43853\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/04\/Hikaru-Shida-e1554828404123.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-43853\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Photo: AEW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Long regarded as one of the most underrated members of the Joshi independent scene <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/2019\/04\/09\/joshi-freelancer-hikaru-shida-joins-aew\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Hikaru Shida has been an extremely useful freelance talent<\/a> for Japanese promotions.\u00a0 What sets her apart from so many other Joshi wrestlers is her charisma and badass look.\u00a0 If there is one Japanese women&#8217;s wrestler that could succeed in the US it&#8217;s Shida.\u00a0 In her 10 years, she has won titles in various companies from\u00a0<strong>Ice Ribbon<\/strong> to\u00a0<strong>Oz Academy <\/strong>and\u00a0had classic matches with the likes of Aja Kong.\u00a0 Has been known as a tag specialist at times in her career as she has had eleven different reigns as a tag team champion in five different companies but is equally as strong on her own in singles competition.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=H9C_ZYCf4U4<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Ryo Mizunami<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-45977\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/Ryo_Mizunami_1-e1557780359112.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"355\" height=\"600\"><\/p>\n<p>A fourteen-year veteran who may be known to US fans for her appearances in\u00a0<strong>SHIMMER<\/strong>.\u00a0 Trained by the legendary\u00a0<strong>Meiko Satomura\u00a0<\/strong>she is one of the hardest hitters currently going in the Joshi scene.\u00a0 She has an eye-catching look and a natural charisma that will help her excel in the US.\u00a0 Is a two time\u00a0<strong>Regina Di WAVE\u00a0<\/strong>Champion in her home promotion of WAVE and wrestled all over the Joshi scene for the likes of Ice Ribbon,\u00a0<strong>Sendai Girls\u00a0<\/strong>and almost every other company in the scene.\u00a0 Aja Kong is a hard hitter but Ryo Mizunami can go toe to toe with the monster.<\/p>\n<p>https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=gaQ59REU1BE<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Riho Abe<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-45978\" src=\"https:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2019\/05\/tumblr_pob7utjczH1u3dlfgo1_640-e1557780437953.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"390\"><\/p>\n<p>A 21-year-old with 12 years of wrestling experience.\u00a0 Riho was trained by Emi Sakura and <strong>Nanae Takahashi<\/strong>.\u00a0 Riho has always been pushed and booked by Sakura which means she has almost one thousand matches under her belt at the age of 21.\u00a0 Her current reign as\u00a0<strong>Super Asia\u00a0<\/strong>Champion in Gatoh Move is about to approach 600 days as she has been at the top of the promotion since it&#8217;s debut in 2011.\u00a0 In the past, Riho shared the ring with\u00a0<strong>Kenny Omega\u00a0<\/strong>who has been a big part of putting together the women&#8217;s division for AEW so he knows first hand just how talented she is.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Emi Sakura &amp; Suruga Mei vs Command Bolshoi &amp; Riho\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/63SKHOakhOk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>AEW&#8217;s women&#8217;s division is one of the most exciting aspects of the company and matches like this are the reason why.\u00a0 Joshi veterans, legends, and talent on the rise get to showcase their talent on a big stage and prove that the Women&#8217;s Revolution isn&#8217;t just in the WWE.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Stay tuned to the\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/lwosonprowrestling.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>All Elite Wrestling\u00a0has committed to showcasing the best women&#8217;s talent in the world in their women&#8217;s division.\u00a0 With signings like\u00a0Nyla Rose\u00a0and Hikaru Shida,\u00a0they have followed through on this intent.\u00a0 On the latest edition of Being The Elite, they announced a six woman tag match pitting legendary names\u00a0Aja Kong\u00a0and\u00a0Emi Sakura\u00a0alongside\u00a0Yuka Sakakzaki\u00a0as they face young rising star\u00a0Riho [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2013,"featured_media":45973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4677,2,5302,6,317],"tags":[4133,1671,3911,4337,4972,5156,4171],"class_list":["post-45962","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew","category-featured","category-joshi","category-north-america","category-women","tag-aew","tag-aja-kong","tag-all-elite-wrestling","tag-emi-sakura","tag-hikaru-shida","tag-riho-abe","tag-yuka-sakazaki"],"modified_by":"Alex Richards, LWOF Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2013"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=45962"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/45962\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/45973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=45962"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=45962"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=45962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}