AEW fans will be no stranger to Yuka Sakazaki. The Magical Girl has popped up a few times, last being seen getting her teeth broken by Dr. Britt Baker in February 2020. She’s back now for the Japanese Bracket for the AEW World Women’s Championship Eliminator tournament. Her first round opponent is Mei Sugura, who mainly competes in the unconventional but very fun Gatoh Move promotion.
They’ve never met before today, but Sakazaki has five years of experience over the rookie Sugura. Sakazaki also has a rare height advantage despite being 5’1”, as Sugura is only 4’10”.
Yuka Sakazaki Uses That Size Advantage
Sugura & Sakazaki would lock up to start this match, Sakazaki quickly snatching the arm and then applying a headlock. Sakazaki lost the wrist control after Sugura rolled around the ring, and bounced off the rope for an armdrag. Sugura applied a body scissor before getting the big Oklahoma Roll around the ring. This mostly just made Sakazaki dizzy, and she’d come back with a shoulder tackle and a big suplex.
Sugura would take some clubbing blows to the back and face, as Sakazaki threw some forearms before going for the deep head scissor over the ropes. Sakazaki used all of the five count, before cartwheeling off the top rope and going for a dropkick. Sugura dodged and launched her own, before being taken down into a crossface. It was a long crawl to the ropes, and Sakazaki even isolated the free arm, but Sugura still got the break.
Mei Sugura Isn’t All Heart
Mei Sugura would fire up after getting free, hitting a springboard feint, pretending she had the high punch planned before kicking the leg. Sugura would throw Sakazaki into the corner before hitting a big scoop slam, and getting a two count. Sakazaki would end up in a Muta Lock, slipping free before Sugura got the Indian Deathlock as well. Sugura moved back into a double underhook, before getting the Muta lock again.
Sakazaki was able to free herself, before taking a diving axe handle. Sugura was unable to hold the advantage, taking a kick in the corner before a vertical drop brainbuster dropped her. Sakazaki set up the Magical Girl Splash, Sugura got up to counter and hit a running crossbody, Sakazaki using Sugura’s momentum to get a pin of her own. Sugura messed up the Victory Roll, before getting a body scissor pin.
She’d move into Cattle Mutilation, before Sakazaki countered and nailed a sliding lariat for a two count. Sakazaki would dump Sugura on her head with a Northern Lights Bomb, and hit the Magical Girl 450 Splash for the win.
Could Yuka Sakazaki win this side of the bracket? She will face the winner of VENY & Emi Sakura. Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
SUBSCRIBE NOW: Get TheOvertimer’s Hottest Stories, Breaking News and Special Features in your email, CLICK HERE!
Remember to stay up to date with the latest news on TheOvertimer. Don’t forget to visit Gamestingr for great videos, news, and gameplay!
