Looking Back with Eiji Matsumoto: Akira Koizumi vs. Yoko Kitsune (2005)

[CaptainL]

Written by Eiji Matsumoto

There are times when I don’t feel old. Times when I get up in the morning to the sun streaming through my window, feeling just as ready to get out there and seize the day as I was on my first day of high school back in ‘77.

And then, there are days I look at some of the names recommended for this column, and I think to myself, “What? Yoko Kitsune’s run as RSP Women’s World Champion was sixteen years ago?” I mean, goddamn, there’s probably wrestlers in training right now who weren’t even born when she won the belt!

What the hell happened?

But you don’t read this column to hear me complain about getting old. You read it to relive the glory days of wrestling, when the championships meant something, and when good, honest hard work was worth more to a girl’s career than a pretty face or a chest the size of Texas. And because of that, good sir or madam, I salute you. You’re proof that there’s still some sanity in the world.

In any case, let’s get to the match. Today, we’re going back to August 19th, 2005, at the Kobe World Memorial Hall. Yoko was enjoying the peak of her run as Rising Sun Puroresu’s Women’s World Champion, having won the title a few months ago. Already, she’d made a name for herself as a capable champ, with two successful defenses under her belt - defenses that saw a couple of promising would-be challengers squashed in no time flat, leaving them sobbing hopelessly for the mercy that never came.

See, even before she won the belt, Yoko had gained her fair share of notoriety for a nasty little habit of hers, refusing to end the match even when her opponent couldn’t fight back. Whether it was letting up on a pin before the three-count, or releasing a submission that her victims couldn’t possibly break, Yoko made it clear that if a match was to end, it was when she wanted it to. She enjoyed crushing her opponents, and she wasn’t one to pass up on a good opportunity to do what she liked best.

This, of course, caused quite an uproar in the wrestling world. Yoko was deemed an unsafe worker, and a disgrace to the rules of wrestling and honorable conduct. Many argued that she wasn’t worthy to hold a championship or even be on the roster at all - but few were brave enough to challenge her place in the company to her face, and the promoters were keen to keep her on board, noticing how her defenses brought in record crowds just for the prospect of seeing her taken down a peg.

That was where it became clear that if anyone was to challenge Yoko, it had to be someone with a proven record, one who would give her a run for her money no matter what.

Enter Akira Koizumi.

That name may sound familiar for a few folks out there, and for good reason. Akira made her wrestling debut in 1988 at the age of 16, and she would reach the heights of her career during the golden age of joshi puroresu in the 90s. Despite a rocky start, she rose to prominence for her endurance and her indefatigable spirit during her early run, never seeming to tire or submit regardless of the circumstances.

She would enjoy numerous title runs, both alone and as one half of a tag team, and her resilience proved to hold true to her personal life as much as it did to her work in the ring; after her partner suffered a career-ending injury in a barbed wire deathmatch, Akira reinvented herself, going from the agile striker she’d been to putting on muscle mass and adopting a powerhouse style in her efforts to hold her own.

It was also around this time that she developed her infamously stoic attitude; though she never sank low enough to use any underhanded tactics, she made it clear she wasn’t here to make friends, and she didn’t mince words either, cursing out her opponents for their perceived dishonor to the sport of wrestling. Akira held herself to high standards, and anyone who couldn’t meet them wasn’t worth her time.

By 2005, Akira had retired from full-time competition, having started a wrestling school in her native Shiroishi that quickly gained a reputation as one of the toughest and strictest places in the country for a woman to train. It was under her guiding hand - some would call it an iron fist - that wrestlers like Michiko Shimizu honed their skills, and where her own niece Sachiko dropped out of the program when it couldn’t beat some sense into her. Unfortunately, that didn’t stop her from going into the business anyway and dragging the good name of wrestling down to her level. I shudder to think of how the youth of today might see the name “Koizumi” in wrestling and think of that talentless lout who can’t win a match without clubbing people over the head with a baseball bat or copping a feel.

I’m getting off track. Akira might have been a part-timer, but she was still making semi-regular appearances on the joshi circuit when she needed to demonstrate that she could still stand up among the best. With Akira’s proven track record, not to mention her respect for wrestling, the promoters felt that if there was anyone to take the belt off Yoko, it would be her. It would be a victory as symbolic as it was figurative, the triumph of good old no-nonsense wrestling against Yoko’s sadistic self-indulgence. When approached about the offer, Akira didn’t even need any convincing to jump on board. As it turned out, she knew what Yoko had been up to, and she’d wanted to teach her a lesson herself!

Returning to the ring with much fanfare, Akira quickly shot to the top of the RSP women’s division, taking down opponent after opponent in quick succession and winning a title shot by emerging the last woman standing in a battle royal. When she issued her challenge to Yoko, she called her out as a “pretender” who “could only hope to know the prestige of a true champion,” already igniting the tension between these two ladies. The stage was set, and on RSP’s next show, Akira would give Yoko the biggest challenge of her career up to that point.

From the moment the two women entered the ring, staring each other down from opposite corners, commentators were already waxing about how this was sure to be a closely-fought match. Yoko was known for her muscular physique, towering above many of the other women who stood in her path, but Akira was finally a challenger who could look her in the eye - and the cold glare Yoko got in return told her that she wouldn’t take this lightly! Although Yoko might have been younger and more spry, Akira had the experience of a seasoned veteran. She’d been through it all, and she knew her way around the ring in ways Yoko could only imagine. Many suspected this would be the first challenger that stood a chance at taking the title for herself. And, as the bell sounded, they were about to have their suspicions vindicated.

Yoko opened the match by offering her opponent a test of strength - a classic move in wrestling, yes, but also a trick that Yoko had grown fond of doing in her RSP run. She liked letting her opponents think they had a chance in overpowering her, only for her to come out at full force, bringing them to their knees with a single shove. The looks on their faces never got old, she thought, and she was looking forward to seeing the veteran go stiff when she realized she was out of her league.

But that moment never came. Yoko coiled her fingers around Akira’s hands, pushing in close - and the veteran was unmoved, standing with all the flexibility of a stone wall! Koizumi’s grip tightened, and a cold glare stared back into Yoko’s eyes as she leaned in, giving her foe a feel for just what she was up against. It was that moment that told all in attendance that this wouldn’t be like any other championship bout Yoko Kitsune had held thus far!

Akira took the lead, her hands never leaving Yoko’s wrists as she steered the blonde titan toward the corner. The champion struggled to repel her, but although Koizumi may have been held back for a few seconds after each push, every time she powered through it undeterred! Soon, Yoko’s back met the turnbuckles, and Akira broke the lockup to unleash a couple of well-placed forearms, smacking the champion upside the head!

Now Yoko realized that she couldn’t expect to steamroll over Akira like she had to every other challenger in her path. She’d have to actually give some effort here! While the veteran had her on the ropes, Yoko was keen to make a comeback. It looked as though Akira’s dominant streak was unbreakable, but Kitsune had a special trick up her sleeve - as she threw her head forward, her skull colliding with her older challenger’s with a loud thud!

Hissing from the pain, Akira backed out into the center of the ring, holding her face to try and dull the throbbing in her head. But Yoko was already on the move, and she wasn’t going to give her a chance to let up. She grabbed the stunned Akira by the shoulder, holding her in place as she flung a few jabs into the veteran’s rock-solid abdomen - and even Akira found herself staggered by the force of Kitsune’s blows! Doubling over forward, Akira clutched at her stomach - which left her head in reach of Yoko’s grasp; a threatening position indeed! The blonde threw her arm around Akira’s head, pulling it close against her side as her arm flexed with the pressure of a tight headlock!

Now, not only was Yoko keeping Akira held down, bent over at the waist, she was also applying force to her already aching head! Even the famously stoic Akira had to voice a few pained groans. But if Yoko thought she had her challenger taken care of now, she’d be sorely mistaken - a fact that Koizumi was quick to remind her, as she wrapped her arms around Yoko’s waist, countering her hold with a hip toss!

Both women now unseated from their stances, they came crashing into the mat below. The two of them scrambled to the side, each trying to create distance between themselves and their opponents. But Akira wasn’t about to let Yoko get far. She kicked out with her leg, staggering Kitsune just long enough for her to grab her by the arm, pulling her closer. The champion went down on top of Akira, as she applied a bodyscissor with all the force of her commendable lower body strength!

Yoko cried out in pain as Akira’s muscles rippled; even when Akira had been out of practice, her body was still honed to levels that let her reach peak performance! As the seconds on the clock ticked, and Yoko didn’t move, it looked as though the end was near. The referee moved into place, asking Kitsune if she was going to submit. But this was no time for her to surrender, especially when her belt was on the line. Yoko refused to hand over her title, especially when she had only defended it in contests that barely required any effort. This, though - this was her chance to prove she could really wrestle!

Bellowing out a roar of rage, the blonde twisted back and forth, throwing her body from side to side to try and loosen Akira’s grip. The veteran held firm, but Yoko began to lay into her with elbows to the sides of her legs, and at long last, she had no chance but to fall back against the mat. Now, it was Yoko’s turn - and she was going to let Koizumi know just what she felt!

Yoko was the first to make it back up to her feet. Akira was starting to rise as well, but she was still doubled over forward by the time the blonde had gotten back over to her - and clasped her hands together to deliver a double axe handle right into Akira’s back! She fell onto her face, groaning, which left Yoko with enough time to scoop her up from behind, lifting her upside down with her head pointed to the mat.

It looked as though Akira was destined to take a piledriver - but with her legs pointed skyward and framing Yoko’s head, she could turn it to her advantage, something she did by throwing her legs into place and squeezing the champion’s temples between her thighs! That left Kitsune stunned for just long enough for Akira to swing herself up, sitting on her shoulders, and causing Yoko to bend at the knees against the weight of her opponent!

The crowd cheered at the sight of Akira’s wrestling prowess, honed from many years in the ring. Not stopping there, the veteran hooked a leg around Yoko’s own as she turned herself in place and threw her other leg over her head to transition into an octopus hold! The champion was bent over at the waist, panting for breath as her knees quivered beneath her. The strain on her back could only be imagined! Many grew doubtful that Yoko would emerge with her spine intact, let alone her championship reign!

So loud were the cheers that the crowd couldn’t hear Akira as she taunted her hapless foe. While I wasn’t fortunate enough to see the match in person, the talented photographer who provided the shots for this article told me that as Koizumi leaned toward the blonde’s grimacing face, he could hear her say it - “if you can’t get out of this,” she admonished, “you don’t deserve to be called a champion!”

There was only one thing Yoko could do, and that was to amble slowly to the ropes, her free arm grabbing at the air in front of her as she struggled to bear her opponent’s weight. One staggered step at a time, she made it over to the edge of the ring, where her fingers grabbed the ropes!

The referee thought Yoko was going for the rope break, and signaled for Akira to break the hold. But before the words had even left his mouth, the champion showed her true colors. She wasn’t trying to get free - she used the ropes to hoist herself higher, straightening her back with Akira along for the ride! The veteran tried to ride it out, struggling to keep her place, but in the end she was forced to let go, bowled onto her back with a thud. And if the landing wasn’t a happy one, it would only get worse as Yoko let go of the ropes, springing herself on top of Akira to drive an elbow into her side that forced her against the mat!

With Koizumi out of breath, Yoko clambered on top of her. She hooked her leg, pinning her shoulders against the mat and commanding the referee to come near. The one was counted, and the two...and then, in typical fashion, Yoko let Akira go! Even when the veteran had given her the greatest challenge of her title run, Yoko still wouldn’t be satisfied with her victory unless it left Akira humbled and hopeless!

The blonde readied herself for a brutal submission of her own. She took one of Akira’s arms, cruelly yanking on it to roll her onto her face before she climbed on her back, twisting that arm around Akira’s head to apply a crossface chickenwing! Akira howled in pain as her head was bent back, her spine shuddering from the weight of Kitsune’s body as she got on top of her. Barely able to see ahead of her, she groped around blindly, digging her fingers into the canvas and dragging herself toward the ropes. But even when Akira had secured the rope break, Yoko held on! The ref got to three on the warning count before Yoko finally saw fit to let her go, much to the fans’ ire!

Slowly, Akira climbed to her feet, dusting herself off. She rubbed at her sore shoulder, but when she stared up at her opponent, it was with a glower that could send a chill down anyone’s spine. She hurled herself closer to Yoko, flinging her arm at her to connect a lariat that brought the champion to her knees! Then, on the warpath, Akira grabbed her from behind, her arm wrapped around Yoko’s throat as she lifted her to her feet in a sleeperhold!

Choking her foe out wouldn’t be enough for Akira, though. She knew that Yoko needed far more to drive the point home! Once the champion was standing, Akira’s strong arms encircled her waist, pulling her off the ground before she dropped back to slam her head into the mat with a German suplex! The canvas rumbled under the landing, and Akira tightened her grasp, letting out a huff as she arched her back and bridged with her hips to hold Kitsune’s shoulders to the mat.

The would-be pin didn’t even make it to the count of one before Yoko kicked out, but Koizumi was only inspired to escalate things forward. As she and Yoko rolled aside, pulling themselves to their feet, Akira was quick to come charging in toward the champ, throwing her arm between her legs to lift her up in a bodyslam position...only to keep her head pointed to the mat as she went to slam it into the canvas with a brainbuster, one of her signature maneuvers!

It would have been a devastating landing indeed if Akira hit it, and perhaps would have won her the championship. But at the last minute, Yoko swung her legs out to roll with the momentum, landing on her feet instead of her head while Akira went to her back!

The boos were raining down now. The hated Kitsune had been a hair’s breadth away from losing her title, and she had come away no worse for wear, while Akira suffered the consequences! Indeed, even now, Yoko wasn’t done. She hauled Koizumi to her feet by the hair before throwing her arms around her waist, pulling her in close with a wicked bear hug! The muscles in her arms bulged and the veins popped, leaving Akira to twist and turn in a desperate but fruitless attempt to fight back!

Even that wasn’t good enough for the champ! “You look better when you aren’t struggling,” she remarked - as she threw her head into Akira’s own, hammering away again and again at her skull! Soon, the veteran was slumped in her grasp, taking ragged breaths to fill her lungs. Unceremoniously, Yoko dumped her onto the mat below, planting a foot against her side to hold her down as she flexed her arms.

Things had turned around for Yoko Kitsune. She might have been taken by surprise at first, but not only had she managed to survive, she was destroying a legend of the ring in the process! It would be hard to imagine a prouder moment in her career.

Stepping off Akira, Yoko scooped her up around the waist. Though she was too weary and sore to mount a defense, Yoko slammed the veteran back down with a German suplex of her own, drawing a scream of pain from Akira as she landed on her shoulders. She had barely finished crying out when Yoko lifted her again, landing another in the opposite direction!

As she threw her head back in a laugh, Yoko readied herself to perform the crescendo of her orchestra of dominance. Akira had managed to counter a piledriver from her earlier in the match, but now, she had no hope of fighting back. Now, in fact, it was time for Yoko to show off what she was really capable of!

Again Koizumi was lifted up by the hair, panting and gasping as she struggled for breath. The champion pulled one of her arms between her legs and the other over her own shoulder. To the gasps of the crowd, Akira was lifted off her feet, turned upside down, and twirled in place, before Yoko jumped down to spike her head into the mat with her finishing move - a pumphandle tombstone piledriver dubbed the Fire Blast!

While the blonde pumped her fist in victory, the referee rushed to Akira’s side to confirm the fan’s fears - the veteran had been knocked unconscious on impact. Yoko would retain her title!

That was only the beginning of Kitsune’s reign, carrying her toward a full two years on top of RSP’s women’s division. She would only drop it in 2007 to the then-Red Dragon, Lyanna Eon, in an interpromotional card with the Universal Federation of Lucha Libre, only to win it back from her to become the last Women’s World Champion before the promotion closed its doors for good. Now, after a few showings on the independent circuit, she’s returned to wrestling as a member of LAW’s heavyweight division.

As for Akira, she’s since fully retired from wrestling - she had a few more matches in RSP and on the indies on and off, but never was able to recapture her past glory, dropping her last championship in a show in Russia in 2012. She remains as the head trainer and owner of her wrestling school, but even there, attendance has been dropping. With Tokyo becoming a hotspot of women’s wrestling once more, rumors abound of her moving operations to the capital to obtain a steady influx of new trainees, but only time will tell how that goes.

When asked about her contributions to Yoko’s career, Akira declined to comment.