JPN
Cosmic Angels' Sakura Aya will face off against Natsupoi's rival and best friend, Saree, in a one-on-one match against Saree, who is sure to be a challenger for the IWGP Women's Championship. Prior to this, Sakura faced off against IWGP Women's Champion Akari in a singles match, putting up a good fight but losing. After that match, Saree appeared in front of Akari. Saree declared war on Sakura, telling her, "I'm not as easygoing as Akari." How far can the Senjo Junior Champion Sakura corner Saree?
Without waiting for the bell, Sakura launches a dropkick, elbow, and knee strikes. Saree pulls back and delivers elbows, dropkicks, and a reverse crab hold, locking her hands to prevent an escape. When Sakura escapes, Saree stomps on her back, foot stamps, and stomps repeatedly. She pulls back Sakura's dropkick and Saree delivers a dropkick. After a series of hair whips, Sakura stomps on her face, then takes her to the center and applies a body slam followed by an Indian deathlock and a modified sickle hold. Sakura, who has been thrown into the corner, flips over and hits a dropkick. She mounts and hits elbows. Saree flips over, but Sakura flips over and hits a flurry of punches. Saree takes her down with an elbow and charges forward. Sakura jumps in and gets into a triangle choke position. Saree tries to get her feet up, but Sakura holds on and keeps the hold. When Saree escapes, Sakura hits a series of middle kicks and a Northern Lights. When Saree returns, Sakura goes to the corner. Saree catches up, but Sakura hits a body attack. When Saree returns, Sakura goes to the corner. Saree catches up and hits a series of headbutts and an avalanche brainbuster. She declares the finish and hits a diving foot stamp. Sakura dodges and hits a high kick and a series of roll-ups. As Sakura charges, Saree delivers a dropkick, then another low one, saying, "Stay seated!" Sakura falls to the outside of the ring. Sakura stands up, and Saree pulls her in for a fisherman's suplex. Sakura counters, and Saree hits a diving foot stamp from the corner. Saree is confident of victory, but Sakura manages to counter. 10 minutes have passed. Saree receives a series of elbows from Sakura as she gets up, but stands up. Saree knocks her down with one punch, and Sakura hits the mat, gets up, and delivers a middle kick. Saree knocks her down with an elbow and charges forward. Sakura counters with a thrust kick. A high kick followed by a kick combination. She takes Saree down, takes her back, and applies a German suplex. Saree returns, and Sakura screams, and Saree throws her with a uranage throw. Sakura is unable to return the blow, and Saree is victorious.
Saree's comment
: "First up is a singles match against Sakura Aya in the semi-finals. As I'm Natsupoi's direct junior, my honest impression after the match is that I still have a lot to improve on. My finishing is slow. I threw a German suplex and told her to go for it. But my opponent recovered. It made me realize that I need to fight more and more, watch pro wrestling and learn from it. As long as she's not discouraged, I want to be a wall to her again and again, and show those under her how tough pro wrestling is, and that this is what it really is. She's got something good in her. I think she's putting the most important part on the line. Also, this is my best friend Natsupoi's 10th anniversary, and I know that Natsupoi, and I'm sure Saori as well, have worked really hard every day up until this day, so I'm really glad that today has come. I'm looking forward to Natsupoi's matches and endings from now on, and as her best friend, I'll burn them into my memory. Thank you."
Sakura's comment
: "Saree, it hurts so much! It really hurts! I knew it, I knew it, but pro wrestling is painful and difficult, but for me, pro wrestling is the only thing that can make me feel this frustrated and get so serious. I won't forget the pain I felt today, and I will continue to grow more and more with this Senjo Junior Championship belt, so hey Saree, I will become a fighter that makes you want to fight me again, so just wait for me."