Ice Ribbon 6/4/2022 - Ice Ribbon #1205

Ice Ribbon 6/4/2022 - Ice Ribbon #1205

Exhibition Match - Asahi vs. Arisa Shinose

Arisa hits some bad forearms/hammerfists to the chest and has her head banged off the buckles. Asahi hair throws her then foot chokes her in the corner. Asahi hits a few snapmares then fujiwara armbars her for the fall.

Asahi then throws her into the ropes and chest kicks her. Arisa hits some shoulders and chest forearms. Arisa then dropkicks her as she is on her knees. Arisa puts her in a bad boston crab then hits some snapmares and the time limit expires.

I guess Asahi won this 1 fall to 0? Arisa is very green. She didn't mess up anything but she didn't do anything particularly well either. I'm sure she will get better.

Madeline & Saran vs. Sumika Yanagawa & Yuko Sakurai

Sumika may have new gear here. I'm not sure, but it makes her look like a star.

Yuko tries a test of strength with Saran but has her arm up too high and Saran can't reach, so she stomps her foot. Madeline and Saran double back elbow Yuko then Saran stomps Yuko's fingers. Yuko blocks a hair throw and gives Saran one of her own. She then facebusters her and camel clutches her. Sumika then crossfaces Madeline at the same time.

Sumika stands on Saran's back then full nelsons her. Yuko gets in and slams Saran then Madeline gets in and cartwheel elbows Yuko. Madeline then jumping splits on Yuko. Saran and Madeline then double stranglehold Yuko until Sumika breaks it up. Yuko then splashes Madeline for 2 and octopus stretches her.

Sumika comes in and hits some bad single leg dropkicks then spinning high kicks her. Madeline gets her kick blocked but rolls it into a nice grounded ankle lock then rolls again into a heel hook. Madeline uses the bottom rope to 619 Sumika in the back and gets Saran in for some dropkicks. Saran and Sumika mess up something then Saran gets on her back for a sleeper. Everyone gets in and Saran and Madeline take slams.

Saran tries a bunch of roll-ups on Sumika then messes up her up and over into a pin attempt. Saran backslides sumika for 2 then crossbodies her own partner off the top on a failed double team attempt. Sumika then taps out Saran with an indian deathlock for the win.

The pace was good and I didn't think it was that bad, but there were some noticeable botches here. Saran gets what she is doing and I think she's going to be very good as she gets stronger. She came out of this looking like the best worker.

Kiku vs Totoro Satsuki

Kiku brought her own tiger stuffed animal out to mock the tiger stuff animal on Totoro's jacket.

Totoro has some new red gear here. Kiku immediately throws the toy at Totoro and rolls her up. Kiku then stomps on Totoro's back but Totoro lifts herself up and knocks her over. Totoro hair throws Kiku then corner chokes her. Totoro then stands on her back. Kiku rolls out and Totoro tries to go after her but Kiku chases her with an iron pan and spoon. Totoro bangs it near Kiku's head.

Totoro crabs Kiku then running lariats her in the corner. Kiku then blocks her irish whip and leglocks her. Kiku kicks her in the rear a few times then takes a hard chest forearm. Kiku then dropkicks her and PK's her for 2. Kiku messes up some kind of double leg lock then sunset flips her for 2. Totoro splashes her against the ropes and falling splashes her for 2.

Time is running out with the 10 minute time limit and Totoro forward rolling fireman's carry slams her to win it.

It's not saying much, but it was maybe one of Kiku's better matches. She still had some awkwardness here but Totoro carried her here. It was decent enough.

Ibuki Hoshi vs. Yappy vs. Yuuki Mashiro

Yappy gets tripped and dropkicked by both early. Then the two push each other off as they try to pin Yappy. Yuuki and Ibuki grab each others hair then Yappy crossbodies both. Yuuki dropkicks Yappy then goes to crossbody her but is caught and backbreakered. Yuuki then gets put between the buckles and Yappy running splashes her.

Ibuki and Yuuki trade chops and forearms. Yuuki seemingly gets hurt somehow and has to roll outside. Ibuki then hits a flurry of chops on Yappy twice. Ibuki crabs Yappy then high kicks her in the shoulder and superkicks her in the face. Ibuki then taps out Yappy with a grounded choke and wins it.

The match obviously fell apart with Yuuki getting injured. Yappy and Ibuki did their best to keep it going after, but it was basically over after that.

Misa Kagura vs. Kaho Matsushita

Misa has some awful new gear and doesn't want to shake hands. Misa hits a flurry of chest forearms against the ropes then Kaho gives it right back to her. Kaho stretches Misa with both arms and her feet then kicks her in the back.

Misa slams Kaho then elbow drops her. Misa then gives her some curbstomps. Kaho comes back with dropkicks then kicks her in the back before hitting a PK. Kaho then crabs her and Misa ropebreaks for it. Kaho dropkicks her against the ropes for 2. The two trade real stiff chest forearms with Misa flurrying her.

Misa sits on Kaho's back and pulls both her arms back then boston crabs her. Kaho rolls her up and dropkicks her then Misa snapmares her off the buckles. Misa bodyscissors her then pulls both of her arms backwards. Misa shotgun dropkicks her then takes a step up enzugiri. Kaho hits a weak f-doll crash for 2 then top rope dropkicks her for 2.

Misa lariats and sentons her then hits a weird sit out spinebuster for the win.

I was surprised to see Misa get the win here, but Japan is Japan and even in dire situations like the one Ice Ribbon is in, they don't make the right move and put Kaho over. Misa stepped up here and had one of her better performances but it wasn't fantastic or anything. They did do a little more than usual and it was a good effort.

Overall thoughts: They tried here but the current roster is green and limited and trying is only getting them so far. The exhibition wasn't good and didn't exactly start the show off hot and Yuuki's injury in the semi-main was a giant distraction. They tried in the main and they did okay, but it wasn't great. As I've been saying, Ice Ribbon has a long and tough road ahead right now and it feels like they are cursed with the amount of injuries and sabbaticals going on.