[7.0] "Intense fight, I only saw 2 mistakes and the most obvious was the table incident. When these things happen and there's no real physical damage, and it still looks brutal, it's not a big deal. The spot was even somewhat amusing."
[7.0] "I thought the match was good; it was a solid main event and felt like one. Personally, I wasn't as impressed with Aono. I felt her wrestling style was very sloppy, though not as bad as her challenger, Sakurai. I understand why some people like this style, which might seem more realistic, but it just wasn't for me. Also, the match was perhaps too long. I think it would have been much better if it were five minutes shorter but with more intensity, because there were a lot of dead time."
[4.0] "The table spot is great, it could've gone very poorly though. Other than that the match just doesn't work in my honest opinion. The match feels very lifeless and the kickouts of the styles clash really soured the match for me. Especially the kickout of the top rope styles clash. 2 stars."
[2.0] "I came into this match right after watching MOTYC Iwatani vs. Iroha, and to have this match not only go on longer but to be so much worse as far as in-ring was concerned, let alone the layout of the match, soured me even further on the match. Mai Sakurai is not and has never been the kind of wrestler to sustain a high quality, PPV main event match of even 15 minutes and she was the challenger of a 26 minute match. Miku Aono is a frustrating wrestler as every time I see her matches I see really nice flashes (sharp strikes, neat TNA-inspired? moves like the Styles Clash, Olympic Slam, Angel's Wings) that then will follow almost immediately with muted moves (soft kicks, embarrassing forearms, average lariats.) Combined these two kinds of workers in the main event of a PPV show for the company's most important title and give them 26 minutes and you get what feels like the script of a Wrestle Kingdom main event but with mid carders. There's the shocking outside table spot (on a pre-broken table that couldn't even sustain itself long enough for the spot) that instead led to a scary botched piledriver through the end of the table. You have stealing one-another's finishers and kicking out at one, Mai Sakurai of course doing an absolutely miserable attempt at a Styles Clash where she couldn't even do the requisite hop. There were underwhelming lariats from Aono, and the finish was a second-rope Styles Clash from Aono to Sakurai that she kicks out of just so she can be pinned literally 10 seconds later with another move. Coming after an exceptional title match between two of the best wrestlers in the world, this felt almost insulting to have as the main event."
[5.0] "Maybe im in a bad mood but I dont think so because I loved Iroha vs Iwatani. Mad respect for that insane edge of table bump they ran but otherwise this was rough. A million years long with barely any interesting beats. There's a Styles Clash competition in here that ends with a avalanche Styles Clash that Sakurai kicks out of 20 seconds before the real finish for some reason. Would've benefitted if they weren't going for a Tokyo Dome epic. **3/4"
[8.0] "Dramatic, intense and wild. One presumes that Aono/Sakurai knew they had to really go for it to justify headlining over Mayu and Takumi and really go for it they did (that table spot was absolutely bat shit insane). This is the best Aono/Sakurai match yet and I would give this an 8.5 if I could."
[7.0] "I'm not a fan of this match, it felt dragged as hell tbh and the chemistry between them was really weak - don't get me wrong, i really like them as individuals but together they were not it. The crowd doesn't seemed to care at all and it was shown especially during the kick outs at one - most of the time the crowd is going crazy for that and here they were basically silent. The only memorable thing that really got me into and the crowd was the table spot which almost went awful but thankfully somehow it worked. The wrestling from both was fine but it felt awkward almost of the times. Overall i'm pretty disappointed with this one as i thought they will deliver a way better match. ***, 25"
[8.0] "2026.01.04 - Good match overall and the strikes felt tough. I just wish the finish had a bit more momentum and back-and-forth. Miku targeting Mai's leg early on but it didn't really go anywhere later. If that leg work had been built up more in the second half, the match would've felt even stronger. The rivalry and the chemistry between them are excellent."
[6.0] "It wasn't a bad match but it was too long and even a bit boring with Mai Sakurai copying pasting Giulia's match formula but it doesn't work and the sequences where both steal each other's finishers felt awkward because nobody popped during the kick out at one. Some spots were good and they hit each other pretty hard but too many empty moments during this match - ***"
[8.0] "Really good match for the Marigold World title. Mai and Miku have developed a strong rivalry, their feud marked by big matches and this one being the biggest. To say that they beat the hell out of each other would be an understatement. The piledriver on the edge of a broken table was nasty, and it took Miku a while to get back into the match. It did benefit the story they were telling with Mai going all out to win the red belt and Miku in her first defense not wanting to fail. Mai was relentless, but no matter what she did Miku simply wouldn't stay down or give up. Miku overcomes all the damage she took to retain. For a PPV main event, this delivered. 8.5/10"
[8.0] "These 2 just beat the hell out of each other. Both were willing to give everything for the world title. Miku took an absolutely insane table bump here. Mai just continuously dropped her on her head afterwards too. Miku gets a little receipt on the finish and drops Mai right on her head as well."
[4.0] "I thought this was bad. Mai & Miku started off alright but everything went downhill real fast after the botched table spot outside. It was like the match came to halt and didn't pick up until near the end which by that point, I just needed it to end. It sucks cuz I love these two but this just wasn't their day. Miku looked put of it for the most part and while I like mai, she's not good enough to change stuff on a whim cuz of a botch/potential injury. Just a cursed, boring, unfortunate match."
[7.0] "I don't envy these two needing to follow the previous match, but they certainly didn't let what came before deter them. That piledriver table spot was nasty, but could've been so much worse. I admire the physicality on display here, but this one didn't fully click for me. Despite this one being a legit main event style match, I think I prefer their match last year. Great to see Sakurai get the opportunity to main event. 3.75 stars."
[7.0] "I absolutely commend the physicality of this match. Aono and Sakurai beat the tar out of each other (low-key to the detriment of the match). This ended up being good but the combination of the dreadful atmosphere and a clear before and after the table spot where it seemed the momentum/flow was lost. Aono seemed worryingly out of it. Still a good match and I'd love for a rematch, as I think they have a better match with these stakes in them."
[8.0] "It wasn't easy to come into the ring after the semi main event, but they gave everything in the ring and more! I'm starting to like Mai more and more (it wasn't that easy at first). The table bump was scary. And Miku Aono is great at the top of Marigold and I'm ready for a revenge if there is one!"
[8.0] "The main event was good, but somehow I thought their match last year was better, it felt like they were trying a bit too hard to live up the the GHC match that came just before. The table spot should have never been attempted, they had no footing on that thing and it took a while for Miku Aono to recover. Mai Sakurai had overall a very strong performance."
[8.0] "2nd best match of the night, and easily the best story going into the show. Miku Aono and Mai Sakurai have had a great rivalry in Marigold so far, and this match added to it! The early table spot was nasty to watch and quite worrying, but Miku recovered took some more punishment in the ring. Then started to make her comeback, trading STF and submissions. Doing each others moves and finishers, though Mai's Styles Clash looked rough to take. Miku's kicks are stiff and sound amazing, tried the Styles clash from the 2nd rope but it's reversed. Eventually she takes the advantage and she hits her version of a glorious driver to get the win.Which looked amazing and apparently is a new finisher for ehr, called the Red Sensation. No new challenger, but they build up a cool tag match for the next Korakuen. Utami and Miku vs Mayu and Yuzuki."
[9.0] "Really great match here, Mai and Miku understood the assignment and after probably watching a better match came out and still gave a hell of a performance. Kudos."
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