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#2. Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki (AEW Women's World Title Eliminator Tournament semifinals match - Japenese Side)
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Sakazaki paid her respects to Emi Sakura before the AEW match began. 'The Magical Girl' started well by trying to take Sakura down.
Sakura fought back with monstrous Mongolian chops in the corner. Yuka created some separation with a dropkick that sent Sakura to the outside. Yuka delivered a senton, but Sakura was still stable enough to strike back. Sakura recuperated while Sakazaki waited for her opponent in the ring. Emi took Sakazaki out near the apron with a big crossbody.
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Sakura distracted the referee while her two followers attacked Sakazaki near ringside. The match was now firmly in Sakura's control, who delivered a brutal neck breaker.
Sakazaki beat the ten count and returned to the ring only to be punished by Sakura again. Emi stretched Sakazaki out using the ropes and followed up the holds with kicks to the back. Sakura then pulled off the rolling variation of the Romero Special. Emi picked apart Sakazaki piece-by-piece with well-placed strikes.
Sakazaki, however, had some life left in her as she blocked two suplex attempts. Sakazaki's back elbow bounced off Emi, who transitioned for a double underhook backbreaker. Sakazaki used all her power to rock Sakura with a back body drop. It was now time for the Magical Girl to rally in the AEW match.
Sakazaki delivered a diving back elbow from the top, followed by a modified Northern Lights suplex. Yuka captured Sakura's ankles and locked in a hold. Sakura crawled to the bottom rope and forced the break. Yuka walked on the top rope and delivered a high-impact dropkick for a two-count. Sakura reversed a suplex move to trap Yuka in a standing dragon sleeper lock.
Sakura spun her out in a Crossrhodes-type move. Sakura then got a near fall with a Vader bomb. The veteran also showed a sense of urgency as she set Yuka up on the top rope in the AEW match.
Yuka anticipated the incoming strike, but so did Sakura. They had an incredible moment in the corner before Yuka came crashing down on Sakura.
A step-up hurricanerana got Yuka a two-count. Sakazaki flatlined Sakura, and she looked for the Magical Girl Splash. However, Emi stopped her and connected with the double underhook backbreaker. Sakura followed it with a twisted Vader bomb.
Sakazaki kicked out at two and a half. Yuka was still in the match as she executed the airplane spin into the facebuster. Tremendous strength! Emi responded with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. The back-and-forth action was mesmerizing at this point.
Both women were now back on their feet, and they exchanged stiff shots. Stiff! Emi loved the slugfest and reacted by firing in heavy chops. Yuka came in with a heavier elbow strike. They canceled each other out before connecting with a straight kick. Sakura got a near fall with a chop and clothesline combo.
Sakura locked in the dragon sleeper, but Yuka was unwilling to concede defeat in the AEW tournament as she held onto the ropes. Emi got Sakazaki up on her shoulder before spinning her down to the mat face-first. Yuka somehow got her foot on the ropes. The AEW match continued!
Sakazaki countered Angel's Wings by landing on her feet and delivering the sliding clothesline. Yuka stole one over Sakura by catching her in a crucifix pin for the three-count to win the AEW tournament contest.
That was indeed an upset!
Result: Yuka Sakazaki def. Emi Sakura to advance to the finals of the AEW tournament
Grade: A+
Sakura didn't take too kindly to the loss, and she attacked Sakazaki after the match. Hikaru Shida came to the assist of Yuka Sakazaki to end the post-match AEW segment.
