We come to the main event of the evening, and the match I was looking forward to the most. ASUKA (Veny), Mio Momono, Natsupoi and Syuri vs. Death Yama-san, Konami, Hazuki (HZK) and Kagetsu. We heard a few times through the night that this match features some of Hana’s closest friends. I was looking forward to this match most strictly due to HZK and Kagetsu coming out of retirement for the nights festivities and god did they both look fantastic.
HAZUKI’s last match was in December 2019 for STARDOM and Kagetsu retired in February 2020 on a show that she promoted herself. It was like they hadn’t lost a step at all and could get back into the ring anytime. I really wish that they would after this amazing match. However, HZK has said that it was a one time deal and I haven’t heard if Kagetsu is done again or not.. I digress. HZK and Kagetsu came out in their Oedo Tai gear and underneath had a mix of their gear and Hana’s pastel colors. It was a touching tribute to their fallen friend in my opinion. This match lived up to my expectations as it was a constant back and forth, even having a spot where Jungle Kyona got into the ring for a moment. Kyoko Kimura was at ringside and even tried to help her Oedo Tai friends out during the match. In the end, ASUKA (Veny), Mio Momono, Natsupoi and Syuri were declared the winners as ASUKA pinned Hazuki at 15:54.
After the match, we get ASUKA, Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura in the ring and they are on the mic talking. We can’t really hear them but we get an impromptu match between ASUKA and Kagetsu after Kyoko-san approves of it.
They really made ASUKA looks good this night. The ‘first genderless’ wrestler had a strong showing which was fitting as she was one of Hana’s best friends. She even wears Hana’s Oedo Tai Kimono to the ring in her entrances.
Kagetsu really gives it her all but ends up putting over ASUKA, as sort of a passing the torch moment between the old and new guard. This impromptu main event was just as fun as the eight woman tag match and it showed the world how good Kagetsu still is. I cannot say it enough, I really wish she and Hazuki would come out of retirement. Alas, as of now that is not to be. ASUKA pinned Kagetsu with a Northern Lights Bomb in 14:16 in this main event and that was the last wrestling match on the show.
Kyoko gets in the ring with ASUKA and Kagetsu and they give a salute to Hana. A video package played with highlights of her life. Jungle Kyona ran the bell for the 10-bell salute. Kyoko stood in the ring while holding a picture of Hana. TAJIRI introduces us to a touching video tribute to Hana Kimura as he explains what Matane means and then says it for Hana. What follows is a long and heart-wrenching package where wrestlers like Leyla Hirsch, Thunder Rosa, Hikaru Shida, Session Moth Martina, Kenny Omega, Keiji Muto, Io Shirai, Kairi Sane,and Meiko Satomura all tell Hana “Matane”. There were so many big names that I just can’t name them all. The package ends with Kyoko saying “Matane” followed by “We love Hana, Hana loves everyone.” This was emotional and I’m not ashamed to admit that I had tears in my eyes when all was said and done.
I still had tears in my eyes when the show ended and they stayed until I fell asleep. I’m sure I am not the only one.
Thank you to everyone who put this amazing show together. Sumie Sakai, Kyoko Kimura, Ring of Honor‘s Ian Riccaboni and The World Famous CB (fka Cheeseburger) for the commentary and all the men and women who made this night memorable. I know that wherever Hana is, she was watching this night with that beautiful smile on her face. I know that I will be watching this show many more times, as Hana Kimura was a very important figure in the wrestling world to me, and I never want her memory to fade.
If you haven’t checked out Matane yet, please go to https://www.fite.tv/watch/hana-kimura-memorial-matane/2p9bx/ and purchase the event for yourself. It is worth every cent and the proceeds all go to Kyoko Kimura. Thank you for joining me for this recap and review of the Hana Kimura Memorial Show “Matane”. Remember, this isn’t goodbye, it is a see you later.
Matane, Hana Kimura.