#262: Saori Anou vs. Stephanie Vaquer, Ice Ribbon No Kishitachi (9/24/2022).
This is for Anou’s ICExInfinity Championship, the top title in Ice Ribbon.
Present day, Stephanie Vaquer is one of the brightest commodities in NXT, and the reigning NXT Women’s North American Champion. I’ve been a fan of hers since the first time at saw her at New Japan’s Resurgence event in May of 2023. Here, she faces off against another one of my favorites in the Joshi scene, Saori Anou, who currently wrestles in STARDOM.
Some of this match has been chopped from the video I’m watching, so sadly, this won’t be a complete review of this match. That said, I simply couldn’t turn it down because I’m a big fan of these two, and when I found out they had a singles match together, I couldn’t turn down the chance to write about it.
They lock up right away, and Anou has the advantage first, forcing Vaquer into the ropes. They lobby for control, with both ladies looking to tie the other up in the turnbuckle. Vaquer with a head scissors to Anou in the ropes. Now they fight into the front rows of Korakuen Hall, as Vaquer lands a snap mare and a kick to the back. She headbutts Anou, and then smashes her head off of a ringside chair. They fight up to the legendary East Sign, and Anou takes control back by smashing Vaquer’s head off the seats.
Back at ringside, Anou goes for a kick off the apron, but Vaquer blocks it. She uses her legs to send Anou’s head face first into the floor. Back in the ring, Vaquer lands a running leg drop, and then sends Anou into the turnbuckle. Nice running Meteora into Anou’s head, followed by a face wash. Vaquer with a nice dropkick. Anou stands up, and slaps the shit out of her. Vaquer returns in kind with a slap of her own.
Good slap exchange follows, with Anou having the upper hand briefly. Vaquer with some headbutts, until both women slap each other to the floor. They exchange clotheslines and running boots in the corner, until Vaquer kicks her in the midsection, and applies an arm bar submission. Anou struggles, but she’s able to get her foot on the bottom rope. Vaquer lands the 619, Mysterio style, but it only gets her a 2 count.
Vaquer with a Razor’s Edge into the turnbuckle, and she misses the double knees. Anou with a single leg dropkick to follow. She places Vaquer on the top rope, and hits a Fisherman Suplex, rolling into a Perfect Plex for a 2 count. Jawbreaker by Vaquer, and a slap/headbutt by Anou. Vaquer fires back with a back suplex. They exchange elbows on the ground, with neither woman letting up. Vaquer eggs Anou on, and catches one of her strikes and reverses it into an arm bar!
Anou manages to get her feet on the ropes to break the hold. Vaquer goes to the top rope, and Anou cuts her off with a strike. Anou joins her up there, and hits a Frankensteiner that’s not exactly clean. She covers, and Vaquer kicks out. Anou looks for a German Suplex, but Vaquer counters it. Anou turns that into a submission, where she ties Vaquer’s arms up around her neck. She pulls back, and Vaquer is able to get to the ropes.
Out of nowhere, Vaquer applies the Gogoplata submission! I love that move. Anou escapes, as the referee briefly gets knocked down. Anou with a running enziguri, and another. German Suplex by the champion connects, and another! Anou hits a third one, and Vaquer still kicks out. Now Vaquer pops off with one of her own, and Anou kicks out! Anou with another German, and Vaquer just barely gets the shoulder up.
DDT by Vaquer, but Anou is quickly back up and hits a bridging German Suplex for the 3 to retain the championship.
Nice little back and forth match here. They didn’t hold back their strikes, and it made for a fun, stiff battle. Vaquer looked impressive here, going hold for hold with the top champion in Ice Ribbon at the time. Anou, as always, was a blast to watch. Good exhibition match here. No complaints from me!