Mio Momono returned from her devastating injury in June 2022 and is starting to find her way back to being one of the very best in the world.
Prior to her injury, Momono was seemingly unstoppable. Her part in Marvelous’ rivalry with Sendai Girls heading into and coming out of the GAEAISM event was incredible. It felt as though every match she was having wasn’t only must-see, but one of the best matches of the year in 2021. Momono took charge when Takumi Iroha injured her knee and by doing so showed the world why she had what it took to carry Marvelous on her back. She had a number of moments where it looked like she’d have a real championship run to really celebrate her success but in her final match before taking time away due to her injuries, she lost the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championship to Mika Iwata and Manami.
Fast forward to her return in June 2022. Every match she had from there saw her find some sort of confidence. Whether it was trusting her back that she had surgery on to hit her stunning German Suplexes or getting the speed back that made her so different from her competitors, she was getting there. But she didn’t want to wait around any longer and wasn’t finding the success she had been prior to her injuries, so she challenged herself.
Earlier this year, Momono kicked off a five-match series that would help earn her an opportunity at the AAAW Championship, a title she strived to win at GAEAISM back in 2021. But she’d have to do so go by going through a real gauntlet of top wrestlers including Arisa Nakajima and reigning Chikayo Nagashima. But no match was more important to her getting back to that top level than her match with Chihiro Hashimoto.
The Sendai Girls ace was the thorn in Momono’s side throughout the rivalry between Marvelous and Sendai Girls as more often than not, it was Hashimoto who walked out with the victories over Momono. The last time they had faced off in singles action was on July 11, 2021, when Momono challenged for the Sendai Girls World Championship at SENJO Chronicle. Notably, this was after Momono and Rin Kadokura had defeated Hashimoto and her partner Yuu to win the Sendai Girls Tag Team Titles. So despite the big GAEAISM loss one month earlier, Momono was able to find the momentum to give herself a shot.
Ultimately, Momono fell victim to Hashimoto’s devastating German Suplex much like she did in the main event of GAEAISM. But you could feel as a fan that she was close to getting that win. So when it was time for Momono and Hashimoto to face one another again on March 15 this year, you knew Momono was determined to get that win not just to continue her series but because Hashimoto had become the mountain she had to overcome.
The match happened at Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo and you would have thought these two hadn’t gone nearly two years since last going head-to-head. There was an energy there, unlike any other match Momono has had since returning a year ago. The underdog in Momono shined bright from bell to bell and she not only looked her best but she looked like the Mio Momono we were seeing all throughout 2021.
Momono used her speed to keep Hashimoto guessing. It was almost as though Momono knew that she needed to avoid being caught to have a chance. Anytime she did, Hashimoto would only hit her harder and harder to the point that there had to be some worry. But as she did back in 2021, Momono continuously bounced back and answered Hashimoto with hard-hitting forearms and dropkicks to chop her down. Momono smashed Hashimoto with a headbutt followed by rapid forearms to leave the bigger opponent looking for answers.
There was a confidence for Momono that came from her being desperate to get the victory. She had an answer for everything as she’d hit a Code Red (Sunset Powerbomb) on Hashimoto for a near fall. All was going well for Momono for the most part outside of a few moments but the turning point in the match was when Hashimoto hit the first release German Suplex. That left them both laying and led to the closing stretch.
Momono was tired. Hashimoto was tired. But there was still a match to finish. That German Suplex that spiked Momono took a toll but she kept avoiding, reversing, and doing anything to not get hit by another. She’d even hit a German Suplex of her own on Hashimoto for a near fall but it wasn’t enough to stop her. This was that final shot for Momono who would soon after get dropped by a towering German Suplex by Hashimoto and fall victim to her one more time.
Despite the loss, Mio Momono showed that she was back to being that top-level performer she was before the injury. And as she prepares for her AAAW Championship match against Chikayo Nagashima, she needs to bring the fire, energy, explosiveness, and heart that she showed against Hashimoto. If she does, she can become the AAAW Champion for the first time in her career.
No matter the results, just know that Mio Momono is back to being one of the very best in the world.
Check out part of the match here:
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