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THE REAL MARIKO YOSHIDA

AnubisPosted on 03/01/06 at 07:29:10

I originally posted this in my dynasty thread, but wasn't sure how many people would notice (not to mention it's a bit off-topic), so I decided to also post this here for those who don't follow my dynasty.



Well, I finally found a freebie showing Mariko Yoshida in action. In the match, she takes on Cheerleader Melissa in ARISON.

From what I'm seeing, she's definitely a top-notch technical wrestler, although her strikes lack stiffness.

I can honestly say I haven't seen many matches like this. It actually looks like an old school match, although I'm no expert by any means. It starts out nice and slow and builds up over about 15 minutes, slow at first but getting more exciting near the end. Mariko has Melissa tied up in knots at many points, and she seems to really love giving Yakuza kicks to the face. I even saw a lot of moves I've never actually seen used in wrestling before (moves I have seen used in PRIDE); Mariko puts her in the Kimura Deathlock at least twice and wrestles like a combination of amateur wrestling and shootfighting.

Not quite what I'd consider the world's best, but this match did take place way back 1998 (maybe 2002, I've seen both dates listed), so I imagine that if she was that good then while just starting to find her real skills, she may very well be the best in the world now.

By the way, can anyone identify the move Mariko ends it with? It looked hella cool, and I suspect that might be the Mariko Sleeper, but I'm not too sure. Awesome pure match, though, that's for sure. Here's the link:

http://www.clickwrestle.com/modules.php?name=Downloads&d_op=viewdownloaddetails&lid=44&ttitle=Cheerleader+Melissa+vs.+Mariko+Yoshida
rey619Posted on 03/01/06 at 10:28:09

Considering that Melissa debuted in 1999, I bet the correct date is 2002.
AnubisPosted on 03/01/06 at 10:49:42

Yeah, that's the weird thing.  The video description says it happened when Mariko Yoshida "recently beat Candy Okutsu to become Queen of ARISON", but the date in the listings has it for 2002.

Well, either way, it was several years ago.  So what do you think?  Is she wicked cool or what?  I've never seen wrestling like that, not even in NJPW or FMW.
CrplsPosted on 03/02/06 at 05:15:47

It's definitely 2002 and it's ARSION, not ARISON. Clickwrestle is on top of things, obviously.

I'm pretty sure that is the Mariko Sleeper, but I'm not 100% certain.
Critic of the DawnPosted on 04/06/06 at 04:38:04

Very good for a women's match - certainly better than 90% of women's wrestling in the united states.  This is solid *** to ***1/2 stuff, and Mariko is definately a very competent technical wrestler.

Best in the world, though?  She's good, but she's not even close to being up there from what I saw in that video.

As for wrestling believably against men, she was already playing up a size, strength and power disadvantage against Cheerleader Melissa, who is only 5'9" and 140 lbs.  Against an opponent much larger...  it'd make anyone she beat look very weak because of the size difference unless it was portrayed as a fluke.   Maybe after a couple years and a sustained push people might take her seriously...  but any booker attempting it would risk making their talent look bad in the interum.

Eric "Critic of the Dawn"
AnubisPosted on 04/06/06 at 04:52:23

Ah, but keep in mind this was multiple years ago and her opponent wasn't as good as she was.  Of course, I said she was one of the best in the world of any gender, but the best female wrestler.

Certainly better than any of my favorites, like Goldberg, AJ Styles, and Rob Van Dam.

As for her playing the size and power disadvantage, keep in mind that I don't advocate no-selling such things.  It's fine to play up your opponent being bigger/stronger than you are.  That's where the booking comes into play.  The booking as to be such that the win looks believable.  Like the old saying "Fight smarter, not harder."

In the match, Mariko Yoshida was overpowered, so she instead used her mat ability and intelligence to overcome her opponent.  I also believe that any moves used must be fitting and must be believable, which is why I've stated I could better buy Rey Mysterio in the main event if he had better finishers.