Joseph and Colette Discuss Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura

Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura is arguably the peak of GAEA, but will it reach the peak of the BIG EGG MASTERLIST?

Colette Arrand, Joseph Montecillo

07 Jun 2025 • 11 min read

I didn't start doling out star ratings on BIG EGG until around the first anniversary of the project, when we covered 1 Called Manders and Mad Dog Connelly during a 2023 indie roundup. The answer I gave Joseph as to why was typically evasive ("Roger Ebert did them — am I better than Roger Ebert?") and I've continued to debate their function and purpose as someone whose job involves reading a lot of critical reviews of art that read better than the numeric score assigned to them.

In truth I think I settled on doing star ratings when I was in the middle of a failed website launch, wanting to challenge the notion that there's only one set of star ratings that matter in wrestling, but Dave Meltzer didn't exactly need any help in undermining whatever critical authority he held at the time, and with BIG EGG being my focus they largely serve as a vibe check for me, or a basis of comparison between how I feel about a match and how Joseph felt. Covering a tag match last week, the question I had was how big a gap three-quarter stars was when we're talking about something he gave **** & 1/4 to against my *****.

This week, we overlapped on five star reviews. It's probably not the first time we've done so, but given the district of the BIG EGG MASTERLIST that landed Akira Hokuto vs. Meiko Satomura in, I found myself wondering how much space there was between our interpretations of what "five stars" is. We also both really loved this match. It's almost a shame that GAEA Month is coming to an end!

More From BIG EGG

Meiko Satomura vs. Akira Hokuto: Read Joseph and Colette's essays.

WCW Monday Nitro MASTERLIST: Colette launched a new feature for $2/mo and up subscribers, the WCW Monday Nitro MASTERLIST, reviewing every match from the first two episodes of the show.

EXTRA BIG EGG: Colette closed out Hot Takes Month by reviewing Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay and the hair vs. hair match between Giulia and Tam Nakano. The Ospreay/Danielson match is part of BIG EGG's new $2/mo tier.

Up Next

GAEA Month comes to an end in one respect, as Chikayo Nagashima vs. Manami Toyota rounds out our picks for the theme. Manami Toyota is one of my favorite wrestlers but I've never seen her work in GAEA. Manami Toyota is not one of Joseph's favorite wrestlers but I get the feeling that these trappings may complicate his evaluation of her. Should be fun.

For paid subscribers, GAEA Month will continue in the form of EXTRA BIG EGG. I'm covering four more matches from the promotion:

The $2/mo match from that list will be the Nostradamus/GAEA gauntlet match. As an extra, extra bonus, I'll also be covering the GAEA Girls documentary. That one's free.

MONDAY NITRO MASTERLIST: After rolling a 288-sided die, the second installment of the MONDAY NITRO MASTERLIST will cover episode 166 of WCW's Flagship show. Kidman vs. Juvi! Mongo and Dean vs. Horace and Stevie Ray! Eddy vs. Rey! Hart vs. Benoit! SONNY ONOO VS. EL GRINGO! Nine matches! A descent into the madness that is three hour Nitro! GONNA BE GREAT!