P’s Party 12/19/18 Live Thoughts

December 19, 2018 in Tokyo, Japan

This Spring Ice Ribbon’s Tequila Saya started producing a series of biweekly shows called P’s Party (“short” for Peace Party… somehow…) focusing on talent with less than three years experience, with some vets mixed in for them to work with. The concept is fantastic and I really enjoyed the show I got to see in Spring.

 

Misaki Ohata has been a regular participant for P’s Party, and with her retirement in a couple weeks this was her last appearance for them. As a special send off she would wrestle three different opponents she hadn’t faced previously. Before the show five possible wrestlers (Guilia, Maika Ozaki, Totoro Satsuki, K-Dojo’s Rina Shingaki, and Saya herself) drew numbers. Numbers 1 and 2 would face each other to open the show, while numbers 3 to 5 would face Misaki in the order of their draw.

 

 

So the show opened with #1 Giulia vs #2 Rina Shingaki. Solid match, with Giulia showing a nice aggressive streak and K-Dojo’s rookie Rina looking fine in my first exposure to her work.

 

 

The sole match on the card not involved with the earlier number draw was a triangle match of Asahi vs Uno Matsuya vs Tsukushi. Uno’s such a naturally great underdog it’s interesting when she plays a little more of a favorite. She’s had some success in these types of matches going into her Triangle Ribbon title match at Ribbonmania, so seemed to have the advantage here. However it was the rookie who isn’t Tsukushi that would get the pinfall victory on Asahi after being a total brat all match with shifting alliances, cheap shots, etc. She even stomped Asahi and Uno’s hands after the match in a pretty clear definition of “sore winner.” Asahi continues to look really good overall for her experience level, and I’m excited to see her continue to evolve as a performer as time passes.

 

 

With all due respect to Giulia and Rina, them being in the opener meant the three possible opponents I most wanted to face Misaki Ohata most were the ones chosen. First up was P’s Party producer Tequila Saya, in a match that definitely needed to happen on Ohata’s last P’s Party show. Really good little contest that saw Saya pushing to attack with her signature moves and Misaki countering often and eventually putting Saya away with a Fisherman’s Buster.

 

 

The wrecking ball that is Totoro Satsuki was next, providing a nice contrast of styles with Misaki’s previous match. Misaki had to weather a quick onslaught of powerful moves based around Totoro’s size advantage to pick up her second win of the night in a really fun encounter. This was well worked to the point where it didn’t feel short even though it was, being the shortest match of the night at under four minutes.

 

 

So the main event spot against Misaki went to Maika Ozaki, a power wrestler of a different style than Totoro. Really loved the chemistry between these two, and they fought tooth and nail until time expired giving Maika a draw against the veteran. The three matches Misaki wrestled were all good, felt different, and made for a nice way to say goodbye to her involvement in P’s Party.

 

 

I adore what Saya’s been doing with P’s Party and it’s letting/helping several of Ice Ribbon’s more junior roster develop their skills more fully. I really wish there was a way to watch these other than just live. Unfortunately I’ve asked Saya about it and there are no such plans. But if you happen to be in Tokyo on one of the right alternating Wednesdays I highly recommend checking these out.