Event: Stardom Tokyo Dream Cinderella Special Edition
Date: June 12th, 2021
Location: Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 1,240
Broadcast: Streamed on Stardom World

I tend to fall behind in my Joshi watching and rarely get around to reviewing “new” events, so for me this is a quick turnaround. This was a huge event for Stardom on several levels. First, just in its presentation as not only was it live on PPV but for the first time they had live English commentary, making the event far more accessible for Western fans. Second, the long delayed ending of the Cinderella Tournament is taking place, with both the Semi Finals and Finals happening tonight. To top it all off, we also have a killer main event as Utami Hayashishita and Syuri battle for the World of Stardom Championship! Plus a few fun tag matches to fill out the rest of the show, as even those are filled with high-end talent. Here is the full card:

As this streamed on both PPV and on Stardom World, all matches will be shown in full. All wrestlers on the show have profiles on Joshi City, you can click on their names above to go straight to it. I will be reviewing the PPV version of the event, with the only major difference being the PPV did not have the dark match.

Maika vs. Unagi Sayaka
Cinderella Tournament Semi Final

They immediately start trading elbows after the bell rings, Unagi gets Maika in the corner but Maika gets her foot up on the charge. Unagi catches it however and hits a running boot to Maika’s apparently already injured leg (its wrapped up), she flings Maika to the mat and covers her for two. Unagi keeps working on Maika’s leg, she picks up Maika but Maika plants her with a side slam. Vertical suplex by Maika, she goes off the ropes but Unagi catches her with an elbow. A dropkick by Unagi sends Maika to the apron, Unagi charges her again but Maika avoids her slide and hits a double footstomp. Maika returns to the ring and hits a scoop slam, sliding elbow by Maika and she applies a sleeper. Unagi gets to the ropes for the break, Maika picks her up and the two trade elbows. Judo toss by Maika but Unagi blocks the monkey flip attempt and hits a leg drop.

Unagi picks up Maika and she hits a running facecrusher, double legdrop by Unagi and she covers Maika for two. Unagi positions Maika and goes to the top turnbuckle, but Maika recovers and elbows her before she can jump off. Maika joins Unagi and hits a delayed superplex back to the mat, but Unagi kicks out of the pin attempt. Maika picks up Unagi but Unagi pushes her off and hits a spinebuster. Unagi goes back up top and hits a Frog Splash, but Maika barely gets a shoulder up. Unagi goes off the ropes but Maika levels her with a lariat, cross-arm STO by Maika but her cover gets two. Maika picks up Unagi but Unagi wiggles away and schoolboys her for two. Heel drop by Unagi, she picks up Maika but Maika spins away and applies a sleeper. Cover by Maika, but it gets a two count. Maika drags Unagi to her feet and delivers a Michinoku Driver, and she picks up the three count! Maika is the winner and advances to the Finals.

The effort was there but this was a bit sloppy. Unagi tries hard but she is a bit loose when it comes to her mechanics, as several moves here were either not hit clean or looked awkward. Maika was the grounded force she always is, keeping things together with her simple but impactful offense. The right wrestler definitely won, maybe Unagi’s time will come but its not here yet. I won’t drag it too much as they kept the pace up and the end stretch went well, but not a high-end match.

Himeka vs. Saya Kamitani
Cinderella Tournament Semi Final

They get right into it as they go into a fast paced exchange, dropkick by Saya but Himeka boots her and goes for a scoop slam. Saya slides away and hits another dropkick, she hangs Himeka over the second rope and goes out to the apron to deliver an ax kick. Back in the ring, neck crank by Saya and she lets go so she can apply a full nelson. Himeka gets to the ropes to force the break, Saya throws Himeka into the corner but Himeka moves when she charges in and gets Saya on her shoulders. She dumps her over the top rope onto the apron, Himeka charges her but Saya springboards back into the ring. Himeka stays in control and delivers a backbreaker, crab hold by Himeka but Saya gets to the ropes for the break. Himeka picks up Saya and gets her in an Argentine Backbreaker, she slams Saya to the mat and covers her for two. Himeka goes off the ropes but Saya delivers a big boot, leaving both wrestlers on the mat.

Himeka recovers first and elbows Saya, Saya returns fire as they trade shots while still on their knees. They keep trading back on their feet, Saya goes off the ropes and hits a spinning heel kick. Saya picks up Himeka but Himeka blocks the suplex attempt and plants Saya with a short-range lariat. Sliding lariat by Himeka, and she covers Saya for two. Himeka picks up Saya and drops her with a powerbomb, but Saya barely kicks out. Himeka picks up Saya and throws her into the corner, lariat to the back by Himeka before she sets up Saya for a powerbomb, but it is blocked. Saya slides out to the apron and hits a swandive crossbody, but Himeka kicks out. Dropkick by Saya, she picks up Himeka but Himeka drills her with a short-range lariat. Saya quickly returns to her feet and hits another heel kick, Fisherman Suplex Hold by Saya but it gets two. Saya gets Himeka back up and delivers the Star Crusher, and she picks up the three count! Saya Kamitani wins and advances to the Finals.

I could watch these two wrestle all day. Its interesting that neither match went with the Over The Top cop-out victory, showing both Maika and Saya Kamitani were the better wrestlers and not just the luckiest. A good mixture of hard hitting and high flying, the time flew by as they kept the action interesting. My one quibble is Saya no-selling the lariat and immediately going into the end stretch of the match. I don’t mind no-selling or delayed selling if its returned by the opponent, but here it was more Saya completely shrugging off a big move and dominating from there until she won. Not the end of the world, but certainly a smoother transition could have been used. Overall a solid match though.  Mildly Recommended

AZM and Natsupoi vs. Giulia and Nakano vs. Shirakawa and Watanabe

All seem to have accepted their short term tag partners as the match begins, with the legal wrestlers being Tam, Natsupoi, and Mina. Tam and Natsupoi lock up first while Mina messes with her partner Momo, Momo decides to pose like Mina but gets knocked off the apron for her efforts. Mina is double teamed but shoulderblocks both Natsupoi and AZM, Momo comes in the ring and helps Mina out. Tam breaks things up and tries to steal a cover, but she only gets a two count. Tam and Mina have an exchange, elbow by Mina and with Momo they both hit running strikes on Tam. Mina goes off the ropes but Giulia hits her from the apron, Giulia holds Mina but Momo holds Tam. Natsupoi and AZM come in and take care of both pairs, Giulia gets in the ring as maybe the legal wrestler (who knows) and plays around with Natsupoi. Tam tries to help but doublestomps Giulia by accident, dropkick by Natsupoi to Tam and she lands on Giulia in the process. Natsupoi asks Giulia for forgiveness but Giulia kicks her in the face, cover by Giulia but AZM breaks it up.

Tam and Giulia both hit backdrop suplexes before going to the top turnbuckle, but AZM and Natsupoi joins them in their respective corners. Giulia and Tam both get them back and deliver diving moves, but the pin is broken up. Now it is Momo and Mina’s turn but they eat a dropkick by Giulia, Tam randomly elbows Giulia but Giulia elbows her back and the partners trade shots while everyone else watches. Mina and Momo interrupt them with dropkicks, Momo throws Giulia in the corner and hits another dropkick. High kick by Tam to Momo, Giulia recovers and fights over who can beat up Momo with Tam. They eventually both kick Momo before Giulia picks up Tam and slams her onto Momo for a two count. Sliding Kick by Giulia but AZM suddenly returns and hits a triple jump crossbody out of the corner. Momo reemerges and trades elbows with AZM, vertical suplex by Momo but it gets two. Irish whip by Momo but AZM delivers La Mistica, Momo rolls out of it but AZM hits a vertical suplex.

Natsupoi comes in to help but Tam and Giulia interrupt them, they get Tam and Giulia to their knees before Natsupoi jumps off their backs and hits a footstomp. Mina tries to do the same trick but trips, everyone gets annoyed at her and stomps Mina out. Mina is thrown into the corner but Mina avoids their charges and takes out all four of her opponents. Mina and Natsupoi are alone for a moment, high kick by Natsupoi but Mina drops her with a powerslam for two. Momo finally comes back to help her partner but AZM comes in too and they deliver dropkicks. Natsupoi and AZM both go up the same turnbuckle and hit double… double footstomps, but Momo hits them both with a Somato. She goes up top but Giulia joins her, Tam comes over to help as they create a suplex tower down to the mat. Natsupoi gets Mina’s back, AZM tries to help but kicks her own partner by mistake. AZM goes for La Mistica, Mina rolls through it but AZM applies the A. Cyclone for the three count! AZM and Natsupoi win!

They certainly leaned more into the silly than the serious with this one, which isn’t totally surprising considering the way the match was formed. Even with that though there still was plenty of hard hitting action as well, as when it gets down to it all of these wrestlers enjoy inflicting violence (even if on their own partner, in the case of Tam and Giulia). There were a lot of cute spots but needless to say it was pure chaos, with the referee not even attempting to keep things under control. Maybe a little more random and meandering than my personal preference would be but it did make me laugh a few times and they seemed to be having a good time. An interesting match, I enjoyed it as a one time thing but hopefully it doesn’t become a recurring gimmick.  Mildly Recommended

Hanan, Koguma, Iwatani, Starlight Kid, and Kadokura vs. Fukigen Death, Konami, Natsuko Tora, Ruaka, and Kashima
Elimination Match, Loser Must Join Other Faction

STARS attack Oedo Tai before the bell rings as both teams brawl, Mayu gets isolated in the ring and all of Oedo Tai take turns attacking Mayu. Natsuko stays in as the legal wrestler, she throws Mayu in the corner and tags Saki. Stomps by Saki and she connects with a series of mounted elbows, she tags in Ruaka as the Mayu beatdown continues. Konami is next as she comes in and kicks Mayu in the back, she goes off the ropes but Hanan runs in and hits a judo toss. This gives Mayu time to tag in Rin, dropkick by Rin to Konami and Koguma comes in too so they can double team her. All of STARS eventually join in the fun as they attack various Oedo Tai members, but things finally calm back down with Rin and Konami alone in the ring. Cross armbreaker takedown by Konami but it gets broken up, she hits a sliding kick on Rin before connecting with a vertical suplex. She tags in Saki, hurricanrana by Saki on Rin and she delivers a big boot. Saki charges Rin but eats a superkick, Saki boots her back however and makes the tag to Ruaka. Hanan is tagged as well, dropkick by Hanan but Ruaka hits a shoulderblock. Ruaka and Hanan trade elbows, drop toehold by Hanan and Starlight Kid flies in with a 619. Hanan tags Mayu, dropkick by Mayu as Starlight Kid and Koguma get in the ring as well. Ruaka’s teammates take care of Koguma and Starlight Kid for her, Mayu is thrown in the corner and all the members of Oedo Tai deliver running strikes. Ruaka goes up top and hits the diving body press, but Hanan breaks up the cover. Ruaka goes back up top but Rin joins her, hitting a Frankensteiner down to the mat. Double superkicks to Ruaka, Mayu hits the Dodonpa on Ruaka while Rin dropkicks her, and Mayu gets the three count cover! Ruaka is eliminated.

Konami runs in as the legal wrestler and hits a release German on Mayu, knees by Konami but Koguma runs in and dropkicks her. This gives Mayu time to recover and tags in Koguma, dropkick by Koguma and she stomps on Konami. Footstomps by Koguma against the ropes, she picks up Konami but Konami gets away and kicks her in the midsection. Throat Trust by Death on Koguma, Konami plants Koguma with a Fisherman Suplex Hold but it only gets two (Koguma didn’t kick out though). The match breaks down as both teams charge the ring, Starlight Kid hits a double diving crossbody and Koguma follows with a missile dropkick on Konami. Mayu jumps on Koguma’s shoulders, Starlight Kid then gets on the top turnbuckle to stand on Mayu’s shoulders, hitting a diving body press down onto Konami. Mayu follows with a diving footstomp, German suplex hold by Koguma to Konami and she picks up the three count! Konami is eliminated.

Death enters but Koguma plants her with a DDT, she tags in Hanan but Death swats away her dropkick attempt. Crossbody from Hanan out of the corner and she hits a monkey flip for two. She goes for the cross armbreaker but it gets broken up quickly, Natsuko picks up Hanan and Saki boots her. Diving senton by Death to Hanan, and she covers her for the three! Hanan is eliminated. Koguma quickly runs in and hits a Northern Lights Suplex Hold on Death, but it gets a two count. Rin goes to the top turnbuckle but Konami kicks her from the apron, sending Rin to the apron. Death charges Rin but Rin holds down the rope, so Death ends up on the apron with her. They battle on the apron until Mayu dropkicks Death, which sends both her and Rin crashing to the floor! Fukigen Death and Rin Kadokura are both eliminated.

Saki and Koguma come in as the legal wrestlers, drop toehold by Koguma and she hits a dropkick. She puts Saki in the corner, Irish whip by Koguma and she hits a body avalanche followed by a face crusher for two. Starlight Kid and Mayu get in the ring and they triple team Saki, cover by Koguma but Natsuko breaks it up. Koguma picks up Saki but Saki quickly puts her in the Kishikaisei and picks up the three count! Koguma is eliminated. The wrestlers left are Mayu Iwatani, Starlight Kid, Saki Kashima, and Natsuko Tora. Mayu and Saki trade strikes, superkick by Mayu and she drops Saki with a tombstone piledriver. Mayu goes up top but Saki avoids the moonsault, Kishikaisei by Saki but the cover is broken up. Mayu picks up Saki and hits a headbutt, she goes for the Tiger Suplex but Saki blocks it and applies the Kishikaisei again, picking up the three count! Mayu Iwatani is eliminated.

Natsuko comes in when Starlight Kid does and attacks her in the corner, cannonball by Natsuko while Saki goes to the top turnbuckle. Diving footstomp by Saki, and she covers Starlight Kid for a two count. Saki picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid avoids their charge, goes for a few flash pins on Saki before finally holding her down for the three count! Saki Kashima is eliminated. Natsuko goes for a senton but Starlight Kid avoids it, she can’t avoid the sliding elbow however and Natsuko covers her for two. Natsuko picks up Starlight Kid and gets her on her shoulders, but Starlight Kid slides off. Starlight Kid charges Natsuko but Natsuko plants her with a Black Hole Slam for a two count. Natsuko picks up Starlight Kid and goes off the ropes, but Starlight Kid trips her and applies a fireman’s carry cover, but Oedo Tai pulls the referee out of the ring. Konami and Saki return to the ring to attack Starlight Kid, Natsuko goes up top and hits the diving body press on Starlight Kid, but Starlight Kid barely gets a shoulder up. Natsuko picks up Starlight Kid and hits a Death Valley Bomb, she follows up with a second one and covers Starlight Kid for the three count! Starlight Kid is eliminated and must join Oedo Tai.

Putting aside my thoughts on the stipulation, which I’ve already kvetched about, this was a fun match but not without its issues. Having a ten wrestler elimination match go only 17 minutes means some eliminations and spots are going to be rushed, and not everyone is going to get a chance to shine. There are also more chances for mistakes with all the chaos going on, like with what looked like Koguma not kicking out of a cover because I assume she thought it would be broken up by a teammate. That being said, there were a lot of good spots throughout the match and having so many wrestlers helped protect those in the match that aren’t really on that high of a level. Even with the match being too short to give them time to do anything too memorable, still an entertaining sprint.  Mildly Recommended

Maika vs. Saya Kamitani
Cinderella Tournament 2021 Final

They charge each other to start as Saya immediately takes out Maika’s injured leg and starts working it over. Saya applies the Sickle Hold but Maika gets into the ropes for the break, stomps by Saya and she throws Maika into the corner. Saya charges Maika but Maika moves, Saya slides out of the ring however and slams Maika’s knee into the ring post. Saya returns to the ring and picks up Maika, she goes off the ropes but Maika catches her with a backbreaker. Maika picks up Saya and hits a scoop slam, single leg crab hold by Maika but Saya gets to the ropes. Maika throws Saya into the corner and elbows her repeatedly in the back, stomps by Maika and she hits a scoop slam. Crab hold by Maika but Saya gets to the ropes again, Maika charges Saya but Saya goes off the ropes as well as they trade move attempts. Saya wins the battle as she dropkicks Maika in the back, she then puts Maika’s leg on the second rope and kicks it. Saya gets on the second turnbuckle and delivers another dropkick to the knee, she goes to the apron and goes for a swandive crossbody but Maika catches her and hits a Fallaway Slam. Lariat by Maika, she charges Saya and hits a second one for a two count.

Maika picks up Saya but Saya slides out of the suplex attempt and hits a double kneedrop to Maika’s leg. Running Shooting Star Press by Saya, and she covers Maika for two. Saya goes up to the top turnbuckle but Maika hits her from behind, Saya kicks her back and keeps climbing but Maika elbows her again before she can jump off. Maika joins Saya and delivers a superplex down to the mat, she is too hurt to make a cover however and the two trade shots as they slowly stand back up. They keep exchanging elbows once on their feet, a battle ultimately won by Maika. Saya gets back up but Maika plants her with a backdrop suplex, picking up a two count cover. Maika applies a chinlock while controlling Saya’s wrist, but Saya gets a foot on the ropes for the break. Maika picks up Saya and hits the cross-arm STO, cover by Maika but Saya barely gets a shoulder up. Maika gets Saya up but Saya spins way, Maika levels her with a lariat but Saya returns with a big boot. Both wrestlers get back up and Maika hits another lariat, she goes off the ropes but Saya reverses her lariat with a moonsault side slam for a two count. Fisherman Driver by Saya, she goes to the top turnbuckle and nails the Phoenix Splash for the three count! Saya Kamitani wins the match and is the 2021 Cinderella Winner!

This was a great match. Its been really fun watching both Saya and Maika grow so much over the last year, and while Stardom may be overly stacked with quality wrestlers right now they seem determined to continue to grow these two young talents. Saya’s entire game plan was on point, as it was logical to go after Maika’s leg, while Maika tried to keep Saya grounded with power moves and the occasional submission. Saya was a little sloppy early in her career but she has figured it out, as all her high spots were delivered flawlessly, including a real impressive Phoenix Splash. Fast paced with many convincing nearfalls, I really have nothing bad to say about the match. I could nitpick Maika not selling the leg more considering Saya’s work on it, but it wasn’t distracting and since Maika doesn’t fly around the ring anyway it didn’t hurt the match. Overall just a really entertaining match and a good showcase for two great young wrestlers.  Recommended

(c) Utami Hayashishita vs. Syuri
World of Stardom Championship

They start slow as they get into a long lockup, Utami gets Syuri in the ropes but she gives a clean break. Syuri gets Utami into the ropes on the second tie-up, she goes for a kick but Utami ducks out of the way. Armdrag by Syuri and she keeps the armbar applied, but Utami gets out of it and the two trade holds. They end up breaking cleanly and returning to their feet, takedown by Syuri and she gets a front necklock applied. Utami gets out of it and applies a wristlock but Syuri reverses it, they trade standing holds until Syuri gets Utami back to the mat. Utami wiggles away as they get to their feet again, side headlock by Syuri but Utami hits a hard shoulderblock. Syuri gets the headlock re-applied and goes for a few covers, but she can’t keep Utami down. Back up they trade waistlocks, snapmare by Syuri and she hits an armdrag, but Utami returns the favor. They reach a stalemate as they get back up, hard elbow by Syuri but Utami elbows her back as they trade blows. Syuri tackles Utami through the ropes and down to the floor, stomps by Syuri and she gets on the apron to hit Utami with a running kick. She follows up with a hurricanrana down to the floor, stomps by Syuri but Utami catches a kick and slams Syuri knee-first into the ring apron. Utami slides Syuri back in the ring and keeps on Syuri’s leg, cross kneelock by Utami but Syuri gets to the ropes for the break. Utami goes back to the leg but Syuri knees her in the corner, Utami avoids her lariat however and pulls Syuri back to the middle of the ring. Syuri trips her and applies a submission, she goes for the cross armbreaker but Utami quickly gets to the ropes.

Snapmare by Syuri and she kicks Utami in the back, she sits up Utami and kicks her in the chest. More kicks by Syuri, she throws Utami into the corner and stomps her into a seated position. Running knee by Syuri and she goes for the cross armbreaker, Utami blocks it so Syuri goes for a Triangle Choke instead. Utami stands up and gets out of the hold by slamming Syuri into the corner, running elbow by Utami and she hits a missile dropkick off the second turnbuckle. Lariat by Utami and she delivers a sliding lariat for a two count. Utami picks up Syuri but Syuri kicks her repeatedly, head kick by Syuri and she punts Utami in the face. Utami rolls out of the ring while the referee checks on her, Syuri gets tired of waiting and comes out after her, sliding Utami back in the ring. Cover by Syuri, but Utami barely kicks out. Dropkick into the corner by Syuri and she hits a running knee, Syuri goes up to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving legdrop to Utami’s back for two. Syuri picks up Utami but Utami gets her back and German suplexes Syuri into the turnbuckles. Lariat by Utami in the corner and she sits Syuri on the top turnbuckle, she joins her and hits Syuri on her shoulders. Avalanche Air Raid Crash attempt by Utami but Syuri flips out of it, allowing her to kick Utami in the face. Syuri gets Utami on her shoulders and connects with a double knee gutbuster, but again Utami rolls out of the ring before Syuri can cover her. Syuri goes to the apron but Utami avoids her running kick, as Syuri splats down to the floor. They both slowly return to the apron and trade elbows, kicks by Syuri but Utami catches one and drops Syuri with an Air Raid Crash on the apron. Utami returns to the thing but Syuri rolls back up, Utami goes after her but Syuri hits a front dropkick.

Tilt-a-whirl slam by Syuri and she follows with a DDT (which is likely what she was going for the first time), and both wrestlers are down on the floor. Syuri tries to get back in the ring but Utami grabs her from behind and German suplexes her neck-first into the edge of the apron. Utami gets back in as Syuri follows, Utami goes to the top turnbuckle and delivers a missile dropkick for two. Sleeper by Utami but she lets go so she can hit a backdrop suplex for a two count. Utami picks up Syuri and gets her on her shoulders, she spins Syuri around but Syuri reverses it with a DDT. Knees by Syuri to the midsection and she applies a cross armbreaker takedown, but Utami gets into the ropes for the break. Syuri scoops up Utami but Utami slides off to apply the sleeper, she gets Syuri to the mat while keeping the hold applied but Syuri gets a foot on the ropes. Utami puts Syuri on the top turnbuckle and suplexes her back down to the mat, she picks up Syuri but Syuri slaps her in the face. They trade strikes with Syuri winning the exchange, Syuri goes off the ropes but Utami strikes her to the mat. Release German by Utami and she delivers the Air Raid Crash, cover by Utami but it gets a two count. Utami gets Syuri on her shoulders but Syuri slides off and cradles Utami for two. Rolling cradle by Syuri, but that gets a two count as well. Syuri picks up Utami but Utami blocks the head kick and hits a short-range lariat. They both get up, jumping knee by Syuri and she hits a series of elbows. Utami elbows her back, but while they struggle to stand the bell rings, as time has expired! The match is a Draw.

Syuri isn’t satisfied and gets on the microphone, clearly wanting the match to continue. Utami agrees, and after OKing it with Rossy Ogawa, the match continues! Syuri and Utami charge each other and immediately start trading elbows, Utami elbows Syuri to the mat but Syuri connects with a series of knees. Syuri picks up Utami and darts her head-first into the turnbuckle, Syuri grabs her and plants Utami with a DDT for a two count. Syuri picks up Utami, Utami fights back but Syuri delivers a kick combination. Cross armbreaker takedown by Syuri and she switches it to a seated armbar. Utami rolls out of it and puts Syuri in a sleeper hold, but Syuri gets out of it with a jawbreaker. Kicks by Syuri but Utami avoids her charge and hits a release German. Slaps by Utami but Syuri slaps her back and the two trade shots. Takedown by Syuri and she hits mounted slaps, she goes for the cross armbreaker but Utami blocks it. Syuri goes for a PK but Utami ducks, she gets Syuri on her shoulders but Syuri hops off. Elbows by Utami but Syuri hits the Codebreaker, but Utami lands on top of Syuri for a two count cover. They both slowly get up, head kick by Syuri and she puts Utami in the Stretch Muffler. Utami is too close to the ropes and makes it for the break, Syuri grabs Utami and deadlifts her up before dropping her back to the mat for a two count. Syuri picks up Utami but Utami dropkicks her, she gets on the second turnbuckle but Syuri recovers and joins her.

Avalanche modified armdrag by Syuri and she applies a Kimura, but Utami gets to the ropes for the break. Utami picks up Syuri and hits a German suplex, she gets Syuri on her shoulders and delivers the Torture Rack Bomb for a two count cover. Utami picks up Syuri and gets her up in the crucifix, she spins her around but Syuri breaks free and puts Utami in a cross armbreaker. Seated armbar by Syuri but Utami again inches to the ropes, so Syuri switches the hold to a double armbar. Utami finally makes it to the bottom rope for the break, Syuri sits up Utami and nails a running knee but Utami gets a shoulder up on the cover. Syuri gets Utami on one shoulder and drops her with the Emerald Frosion, cover by Syuri but again it gets two. Syuri waits for Utami to sit up but Utami catches her kick attempt and hits a powerbomb. Utami picks up Syuri and gets her up, nailing the Hijack Bomb but Syuri lands too close to the ropes and grabs the bottom one to break the cover. Utami picks up Syuri but Syuri kicks her in the head, clubbing blows by Utami but Syuri nails a series of spinning backfists. High kick by Syuri but Utami fires back with a lariat, Syuri gets up and delivers a Buzzsaw Kick but she collapses to the mat along with Utami. The referee starts a count and makes it to ten, counting down both wrestlers. The match is declared a Draw due to a Double Knockout, and Utami Hayashishita retains the championship!

A lot has already been said about this match, but I am going to say a little bit more. First, I have no issue with the ending. These two gave literally everything over 40+ minutes and its perfectly believable that they used up every ounce of energy they had. I was beyond impressed that after such a physical match, Utami was still hitting the Torture Rack Bomb and the Hijack Bomb, showing how strong she is and how great both of their cardio is. They had every right to be puddles of goo by the end after going at each other so hard, but they kept a surprisingly fast pace up for much of the match. Normally matches that are Draws can drag for me but this match never did, as the early mat work stayed interesting and they spaced out the big spots so there was rarely a chance to let your guard down.

Utami’s early work on Syuri’s leg and later work on her neck was so well done it almost was unbelievable that Syuri was still functioning, and Syuri has some of the hardest strikes in the business as Utami at times seemed to be legitimately feeling the effects. There were one or two small miscues but its hard to really focus on those in a 45 minute match, and none had any real impact on what they were doing. The subtle and random violence like Syuri darting Utami into the turnbuckles or Syuri getting suplexed head-first into the ring apron were nice little surprises in an already enthralling match, and to say both gave it everything they had would be an understatement. This match may be what finally puts Utami over the edge into super stardom, a spot she has been destined for since she debuted just a few years ago, and Syuri showed she is still one of the best at what she does. A must-see match and one that will likely be remembered by Joshi fans for years to come, an instant must-see classic.  Very Highly Recommended

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Event: Stardom “Osaka Day and Night” (Evening Show)
Date: March 28th, 2021
Location: EDION Arena Osaka #2 in Osaka, Japan
Announced Attendance: 227
Broadcast Information: Streamed on Stardom World

As part of my project to review as many events as possible in April that are available to Western fans via an official streaming service, we next stop by Stardom! Even though this event took place in March, it was uploaded in April so it still qualifies. Stardom put on two events on March 28th (the other was uploaded at the end of March) that contained a Trios Tournament that spanned over both days. So we get the conclusion of that, plus some other random fun matches as well. Here is the full card:

• Bea Priestley vs. Lady C
• Momo Watanabe vs. Konami vs. Starlight Kid
• Mayu Iwatani and Saya Iida vs. Natsupoi and Syuri
• Top Unit Tournament Third Place Match: AZM, Saya Kamitani, and Hayashishita vs. Giulia, Himeka, and Maika
• Top Unit Tournament Final: Mina Shirakawa, Tam Nakano, and Sayaka vs. Natsuko Tora, Ruaka, and Kashima

All wrestlers on the show have profiles on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it. As this streamed on Stardom World, all matches will be shown in full.

Bea Priestley vs. Lady C

They lock up to start, Lady C pushes Bea into the ropes but Bea switches positions with her and kicks her in the stomach. Irish whip by Bea, Lady C goes for a shoulderblock but Bea doesn’t go down. Lady C tries a few more times and finally knocks Bea to the mat, Lady C goes off the ropes but Bea punches her in the midsection. Stomps by Bea and she chokes Lady C with her boot, Irish whip by Bea and she elbows Lady C in the face. Snapmare by Bea and she follows with a dropkick for a two count. Bea applies a chinlock but Lady C gets to the ropes for the break, Bea picks up Lady C but Lady C fights back with an elbow. Bea challenges Lady C, more elbows by Lady C but Bea elbows her hard to the mat. Bea goes off the ropes but Lady C boots her in the face, both wrestlers slowly get up and Lady C boots Bea in the face again for a two count cover. Lady C picks up Bea and hits a side Russian leg sweep, but that gets a two count as well. Lady C goes for the chokeslam but Bea blocks it and hits an elbow, running knee by Bea and she covers Lady C for two. Bea goes for a suplex but Lady C blocks it and boots Bea. Lady C picks up Bea but Bea reverses the chokeslam attempt into a cradle for two. Enzuigiri attempt by Bea but Lady C ducks it, running boot by Lady C and she gets a two count. Elbows by Lady C, she goes off the ropes but Bea drills her with a jumping knee. A second knee by Bea follows, and she covers Lady C for the three count! Bea Priestley is the winner.

I haven’t really formed a strong opinion on Lady C either way as she has a unique skill set that will take some dedication on Stardom’s part to build up, but this was fine for an opener. I was a little surprised that Bea gave Lady C so much offense, with the rookie even winning the shoulderblock battle, but knowing as I do now (at the time of the review) that Bea was on her way out of Stardom it makes more sense. Bea still treated Lady C like the rookie that she is, and won rather easily once she got in control, but she respected the chokeslam and gave Lady C several nearfalls. I think Lady C still has a bit of a ways to go, but solid experience for the young wrestler.

Momo Watanabe vs. Konami vs. Starlight Kid

They are slow to engage but eventually all three lock knuckles, they break and apply waistlocks to each other but Momo sneaks in a schoolboy on Konami for two. Starlight Kid goes off the ropes and elbows Konami out of the ring, Momo snapmares Starlight Kid and kicks her in the back. PK by Momo but it gets a two count. Momo kicks Starlight Kid in the chest and goes off the ropes, but Konami pulls her out of the ring and throws Momo into the ring post. Konami returns to the ring and dropkicks Starlight Kid in the head, cover by Konami but it gets two. Konami twists Starlight Kid in the ropes and dropkicks her in the back, stomps by Konami and she puts Starlight Kid in a camel clutch. Momo breaks it up, sending Konami back out of the ring as she gives Starlight Kid her attention. Starlight Kid fights back but not overly effectively, as Momo boots her back to the mat. Scoop slam by Momo and she applies a single leg crab hold, but Starlight Kid gets to the ropes for the break. Irish whip by Momo, Starlight Kid goes for a crossbody but Momo catches her. Starlight Kid cradles Momo to the mat anyway and dropkicks her, Konami runs in and delivers a sliding kick to Momo’s chest. Konami picks up Momo but Momo blocks the suplex, Starlight Kid comes over so Konami goes after her instead. Starlight Kid gets away and hits a side headlock takedown/headscissors on both Momo and Konami, she hits a standing moonsault on both of them but it only gets a two count.

Starlight Kid picks up Konami but Konami hits a kick combination, Starlight Kid slides away as Momo gets up and all three trade elbows. Momo wins the strike battle against both opponents, she charges Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid avoids her charge. Momo knocks Konami to the mat before going back to Starlight Kid, dropkick by Momo to Starlight Kid and she hits a second one. Vertical suplex by Momo, and she covers Starlight Kid for two. Momo applies a crossface chickenwing but Konami sneaks in and puts Momo in a sleeper hold. Momo gets out of it and the two trade kicks until Konami catches one and applies an ankle hold. Momo gets out of it but Konami quickly locks it back in, Starlight Kid returns and she tries to break it up but Konami trips her and puts them both in submissions. Momo and Starlight Kid work together to crawl to the ropes for the break, Momo rolls out of the ring while Konami focuses on Starlight Kid, but Starlight Kid avoids her boot and hits one of her own. Konami and Starlight Kid trade elbows but Momo hits a double Somato on both of them, regular Somato by Momo to Starlight Kid but it gets a two count. Momo picks up Starlight Kid, Starlight Kid slides away but Momo delivers a PK. Momo goes for a B Driver but Konami kicks her first, which allows Starlight Kid to hit a sunset flip powerbomb on Momo.

Konami breaks up the cover but Starlight Kid sends her out of the ring with a satellite headscissors. Starlight Kid goes to the top turnbuckle and dives out onto Oedo Tai with a plancha, but Bea and Natsuko catch her. Konami gets up on the apron and hits a sliding kick to Starlight Kid, Konami slides Starlight Kid back in the ring  and delivers a leg clutch suplex hold for two. Konami picks up Starlight Kid and goes for the Triangle Lancer, but Starlight Kid rolls through it and they trade flash pins. Momo runs in and hits a suplex on Konami but Starlight Kid drops her with a double arm DDT. Release German by Konami and Starlight Kid, and all three wrestlers are down on the mat. They all make it up before the ten count, Konami grabs Starlight Kid and hits a German suplex hold for two. She goes for the Triangle Lancer and gets it locked in, but Momo kicks her in the head to break it up. Crossface chickenwing by Momo to Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid blocks the suplex attempt out of the hold into a cradle for two. She goes for the Ki-chan Bomb but Konami kicks her in the head, Konami goes off the ropes but Momo delivers a B Driver for two. Momo drags Konami to her feet but before she can hit the Peach Sunrise, the bell rings as the time has expired. The match is a Draw.

I’ll forgive this match for not giving me a more decisive ending as it was just so entertaining. I mentioned at the top that all three are quality wrestlers and they showed here that my evaluation was well-placed. Three way matches usually have some awkward pauses or dumb looking spots, but everything here was so fluid and they had so many reversals which showed how familiar they are with each other. Whether it be the B Driver breakup, Triangle Lancer breakup, Ki-chan Bomb breakup… they weren’t just interrupting moves but doing so in a violent fashion that immediately led to more offense, not wrestlers looking at each other planning the next spot. In a way these are the unsung heroes of Stardom, always putting on great matches but not getting the respect they deserve (although SK I think is in line to get a push soon). A great match that the rest of the wrestlers on the card will struggle to match.  Highly Recommended

Mayu Iwatani and Saya Iida vs. Natsupoi and Syuri

Syuri and Mayu start the match, Syuri takes it to the mat and they jockey for position before reaching a stalemate. They tag out as Saya and Natsupoi come in, hard shoulderblock by Saya and she covers Natsupoi for two. Natsupoi avoids Saya’s next strike and hits an armdrag, but Saya chops Natsupoi in the chest repeatedly. More chops by Saya, Natsupoi goes for the tag but Syuri is in no rush to get back in the ring. Saya drags Natsupoi to the middle of the ring but Natsupoi cradles her for two, spinning kick to the stomach by Natsupoi and she delivers a dropkick. She tags in Syuri, snapmare by Syuri and she kicks Mayu off the apron. Natsupoi returns and they double team Saya, Natsupoi leaves after a moment and Syuri kicks Saya into the corner. Running knee by Syuri and she covers Saya, but Mayu breaks it up. Saya clubs Syuri in the chest but Syuri knocks her back, she goes off the ropes but Saya hits a spinebuster and makes the tag to Mayu. Back kick by Mayu but Syuri kicks her into the corner, Mayu avoids her charge however and delivers a sliding kick to Syuri’s face. Natsupoi comes in to help but Mayu grabs both their hands and hits a double springboard armdrag. Saya runs into the ring and they both hit dropkicks on an opponent,

Mayu picks up Syuri but Syuri knees her in the stomach and hits a double underhook suplex. She tags Natsupoi, Natsupoi goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a diving crossbody for two. Superkick by Mayu and she tags Saya, dropkick by Saya and she chops Natsupoi in the chest. Syuri cuts her off but Mayu comes in too, as STARS hit jumping chops on their opponents. Running elbow by Saya to Natsupoi, but her cover gets a two count. Saya goes for the Northern Lights Suplex but Natsupoi blocks it and hits a running neckbreaker. Assisted splash by Natsupoi to Saya and she kicks her in the head, jackknife by Natsupoi but Mayu breaks it up. Double Irish whip to Iida but she ducks an attempted lariat and Mayu sails off the top with a double crossbody. Missile dropkick by Saya to Natsupoi, but it gets two. Saya picks up Natsupoi and delivers the Northern Lights Suplex, but Syuri breaks up the cover. Saya picks up Natsupoi but Natsupoi gets out of the suplex attempt, superkick by Natsupoi and she goes up top, hitting the Swivel Body Press for two. Natsupoi picks up Saya but Mayu superkicks her, lariat by Saya to Natsupoi and she covers Natsupoi for two. Saya picks up Natsupoi but Natsupoi reverses a suplex into an inside cradle for two. They trade flash pins until Natsupoi applies a rolling La Magistral and picks up the three count! Syuri and Natsupoi are the winners!

This was pretty pedestrian, with the main wrestler holding it back being Natsupoi. I like Natsumi a lot and I don’t think this match defines her or anything, but she was really off here as she messed up several moves. With most wrestlers in Stardom being so smooth, it really sticks out when a wrestler is not holding up their end of the match. Even beyond that, the action was *fine* but nothing memorable before it suddenly ended ten minutes in. Good wrestlers but average match.

AZM, Saya Kamitani, and Hayashishita vs. Giulia, Himeka, and Maika
Top Unit Tournament Third Place Match

Giulia and Utami start the match, Utami pushes Giulia into the ropes but she gives a clean break. Waistlock by Utami but Giulia reverses it into a wristlock and the two trade holds. Giulia gets Utami to the mat and works a headlock but Utami gets back to her feet and they continue going back and forth. Neckbreaker by Giulia, she picks up Utami and sags in Himeka. Himeka throws Utami into the corner and hits a body avalanche, they both run into each other with shoulderblocks until Himeka knocks Utami to the mat. Utami quickly gets back up and returns the favor, stomp by Utami and she tags in Saya. Stomps by Saya in the corner but Himeka blocks the scoop slam and clubs on Saya’s back. Himeka throws Saya into the corner and takes in Maika, Saya fights back but Maika returns her blows. Maika tags in Giulia, neckbreaker by Giulia and she covers Saya for two. Giulia picks up Saya and throws her down by the head, Himeka returns and stomps Saya in the corner. Backbreaker by Himeka and she applies a crab hold, but Saya gets into the ropes for the break. Saya finally gets away from Himeka and hits a dropkick, she goes for a slam but Himeka blocks it and goes for her own slam.

Saya blocks that as well and finally hits a scoop slam, giving her time to tag in AZM. Tilt-a-whirl armbar by AZM, she lets go and schoolboys Himeka but it only gets two. Maika comes in to help but AZM rolls them both to the mat and puts them both in armbars. Giulia breaks it up, AZM goes off the ropes but Giulia catches her with a knee. Armdrag by Maika and Himeka kicks AZM in the chest for a two count. Himeka tags Giulia, Irish whip by Giulia to the corner but AZM reverses it. Giulia avoids AZM’s charge and hits a neckbreaker out of the corner, she goes to the top turnbuckle but AZM joins her. Giulia puts AZM in a guillotine while on the top turnbuckle, she lets her go after a moment but AZM avoids her missile dropkick. AZM goes for a kick but Giulia catches it and puts her in a STF, but it is broken up. Giulia picks up AZM but AZM gets away from her and hits La Mistica, giving her time to tag Utami. Dropkick by Utami and she hits a running elbow on Giulia in the corner followed by a kick to the head for a two count. Utami picks up Giulia and tries to get her on her back, but Giulia slides away. Utami gets her up anyway and hits a Samoan Drop, picking up a two count cover. Utami picks up Giulia but Giulia elbows her and the two trade strikes.

Giulia goes off the ropes and applies a stretch hold, but Utami gets into the ropes for the break. Dropkick by Giulia and she tags in Maika. Maika flings Utami around the ring and hits a STO, cover by Maika but Utami kicks out. Sleeper by Maika but Utami drives her into the corner to break it up, crucifix roll by Maika and she goes for an armbar, but AZM breaks it up. Maika goes off the ropes and hits a judo toss, she picks up Utami and hits a scoop slam for a two count. Utami gets Maika’s back and applies a sleeper, she gets Maika to the mat and puts her in a guillotine choke but Maika muscles out of it and hits a vertical suplex. Utami fires back with a release German, Utami starts to fire up but Giulia kicks her from behind. Himeka comes in too but Utami fights them off, AZM dropkicks Himeka and Queen’s Quest all get on the ropes to hit Maika with a triple dropkick. Well that was the idea anyway. Deadlift German by Utami to Maika, but Himeka breaks it up. The ring clears with Utami and Maika alone, Utami picks up Maika and gets her on her shoulders but Maika slides off. Sleeper attempt by Maika and she gets it locked in, cover by Maika but the bell rings as the time has expired. The match is a Draw.

Couple things. First of all, Stardom being too big of cowards to even have a definite ending in a “3rd Place” match is annoying, its not like all six of these wrestlers can’t take a pin and its basically them saying “there is no 4th place unit!” which is lazy. The action also wasn’t as crisp as I’d expect from these six, with several awkward moments and missed spots. Maybe due to having two shows in one day these teams had little time to chat about the match, but it wasn’t very smooth. Some sections were great, as Utami and Maika have good chemistry and Giulia is really owning her new look to the point I think I now like this one better. But between the cop-out ending and the choppy action, definitely a disappointment considering the wrestlers involved.

Mina Shirakawa, Tam Nakano, and Sayaka vs. Natsuko Tora, Ruaka, and Kashima
Top Unit Tournament Final

Saki and Unagi start the match, Saki immediately charges Unagi and boots her in the chest. Elbows by Saki in the corner, she goes off the ropes but Tam kicks her from the apron. Mina comes in too and they triple team Saki, Unagi covers Saki but it gets a two count. Unagi tags Tam, stomps by Tam and she snapmares Saki before kicking her in the back. Tam goes off the ropes but Ruaka trips her from ringside, giving Saki time to tag in Ruaka. Ruaka goes off the ropes and pushes over Tam, she grabs Tam by the hair and tosses her into the corner. Punch to the stomach by Ruaka and she puts Tam in the ropes before her Oedo Tai friends come over to help attack her. Big boot to the back of the head by Ruaka and she covers Tam for two. Ruaka picks up Tam and tags Natsuko, Natsuko knocks Unagi and Mina off the apron before going back to Tam and throwing her down by the hair. Bootscrapes by Natsuko and she boots Tam, she tags in Ruaka who hits a running boot while Tam is against the ropes. Tam falls out of the ring where Natsuko greets her, but Unagi comes over to even the odds. Unagi and Mina are knocked back while Tam is rolled back into the ring, Tam fights back with an elbow but Ruaka kicks her. They trade blows until Tam does the matrix cradle for a two count.

Tam knocks Ruaka back and finally makes the hot tag to Unagi, Unagi picks up Ruaka and hits a face crusher. Leg drop by Unagi and she covers Ruaka for two. Unagi picks up Ruaka and applies the Gory Special, but Saki breaks it up. Saki and Ruaka Irish whip Unagi but Unagi blocks it, Mina runs in and they both attack Ruaka and Saki. Unagi goes off the ropes but Ruaka boots her in the head and tags in Natsuko. Hard shoulderblocks by Natsuko, she picks up Unagi but Mina runs in and hits a Lou Thesz press. Leg drop by Unagi and she crawls to her corner to tag Tam. Neckbreaker and she hits a cartwheel kneedrop for two. Tam picks up Natsuko but Natsuko elbows her off, Tam elbows her back and they trade shots. After an assist from Unagi, Tam knees Natsuko in the back and hits a backdrop suplex for a two count. Tam charges Natsuko but Saki comes in and his a hurricanrana, Cannonball by Natsuko to Tam in the corner and she hits a Samoan Drop. Diving footstomp by Saki and Natsuko follows with a diving body press for a two count cover. Natsuko picks up Tam but Tam blocks the slam, eye rake by Natsuko and she hits a lariat for a two count. Natsuko picks up Tam and hits a few elbows, she goes off the ropes but Tam catches her with a heel kick. Tam tags in Mina while Natsuko tags Saki, they immediately trade elbows until Mina knocks over Saki with a double chop.

Mina charges Saki in the corner and hits an elbow, dropkick by Mina and she covers Saki for two. Mina throws Saki in the corner but Saki avoids her charge, Ruaka runs in and shoulderblocks Mina. Diving footstomp by Saki, but Mina kicks out of the cover. Saki picks up Mina and delivers a double underhook facebuster, but Tam breaks up the pin. Saki picks up Mina but Tam comes in and superkicks Saki, backdrop suplex attempt by Mina but Saki blocks it. Mina trips Saki instead and applies a submission hold, but Natsuko breaks it up. Cosmic Angels take control for a moment but it doesn’t last long, as Oedo Tai all hit slams around different corners. Natsuko, Ruaka, and Saki all go up different corners and go for diving body presses, but all three miss. Ruaka and Natsuko are knocked out of the ring, dropkick by Mina to Saki and she falls out of the ring as well. Unagi goes to the top turnbuckle and dives out onto all three with a plancha, Saki is rolled back in while Mina goes up top, hitting a diving elbow strike for two. Mina picks up Saki but Saki gets away, superkick by Tam to Saki and she hits a release German. DDT by Mina to Saki, but Natsuko breaks up the cover. Mina and Tam pick up Saki and hit heel drops, Mina grabs Saki but Saki quickly applies the Kishikaisei for the three count! Oedo Tai win the match and the tournament!

I can understand doing the tournament with the lesser wrestlers in a faction to try to put them over, but its hard to take this Oedo Tai team seriously while Bea and Konami are at ringside cheering along. And they didn’t even cheat! Just lots of boots. Its hard to accept Ruaka as a real main event threat due to her status as Child and Recent Opening Match Jobber, and she didn’t really add anything positive to the match. Uninspiring offense by Oedo Tai aside, Cosmic Angels looked pretty good here and had a variety of entertaining offense, which the match desperately needed. This is a very “house show” main event, it wasn’t bad but it wasn’t special either, I can respect Stardom wanting to spotlight the bottom section of the Oedo Tai faction but sadly it just didn’t lead to an entertaining match. Hot ending aside, the first half was just too drab and overall it was just an average match.

The post Stardom “Osaka Day and Night” (Evening Show) on 3/28/21 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: Stardom 10th Anniversary ~Hinamatsuri All-Star Dream Cinderella~
Date: March 3rd, 2021
Location: Nippon Budokan in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 3,318
Broadcast Information: Streamed Live on PPV and Samurai TV!

It is time for what will likely be the biggest Joshi event of the year! Since Bushiroad purchased Stardom, one of their goals was to have Stardom run in bigger buildings when the time was right, which leads them to Nippon Budokan for All-Star Dream Cinderella. They went all-out for the show, as SEAdLINNNG invades with big singles matches involving Nanae Takahashi and Yoshiko. Also, there is a Rumble with former wrestlers returning, and a total of five title matches. This review will be long so strap in, here is the full card:

• High Speed Championship: AZM vs. Natsupoi
• Goddesses Of Stardom Championship: Himeka and Maika vs. Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima
• All-Star Rumble with Momoe Nakanishi, Mima Shimoda, Chigusa Nagayo, Kyoko Inoue, Kikutaro, Gokigen Death, Emi Sakura, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Miho Wakizawa, Yuzuki Aikawa, Yoko Bito, Yuuri Haruka, Koguma, Yuna Manase, Hiromi Mimura, Starlight Kid, Rin Kadokura, Bea Priestley, Ruaka, Mei Hoshizuki, Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sayaka, Saya Iida, and Lady C
• Nanae Takahashi vs. Momo Watanabe
• SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship: Syuri vs. Konami
• Mayu Iwatani vs. Yoshiko
• World Of Stardom Championship: Utami Hayashishita vs. Saya Kamitani
• Wonder Of Stardom Championship, Hair Vs. Hair Match: Giulia vs. Tam Nakano

I will be watching the live broadcast, so matches will be shown in full. All Joshi wrestlers on the event have profiles on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it.

(c) AZM vs. Natsupoi
High Speed Championship

They charge each other and get right into a fast exchange, they avoid each others dropkicks and after some flash pins attempts they end up back on their feet. Kick by Natsupoi and she throws AZM into the corner, dropkicking her down to the floor. She goes up top but AZM quickly recovers and gets onto the apron before kicking Natsupoi in the head. Natsupoi falls to the floor, AZM gets on the second turnbuckle and dives out of the ring with a double footstomp. AZM rolls Natsupoi back in and hits a swandive dropkick, cover by AZM but it gets two. She applies the Fujiwara Armbar but Natsupoi quickly gets to the ropes, Natsupoi throws AZM into the corner but AZM avoids her charge. Kick to the chest by Natsupoi, she goes off the ropes and delivers a dropkick. Natsupoi goes up top and hits a diving crossbody, but AZM rolls through it and applies a submission.

Natsupoi quickly gets to the ropes again, AZM goes up top and nails a diving double footstomp for two. AZM goes off the ropes and hits La Mistica, but Natsupoi rolls out of it. Head kick by AZM, she goes off the ropes but AZM hits La Mistica again. Natsupoi gets to the ropes, AZM runs to the corner but when she goes for the triple jump attack, she is greeted by a dropkick from Natsupoi. AZM and Natsupoi trade elbows as they return to their feet, AZM goes off the ropes but Natsupoi catches her with a kick. Backlash by Natsupoi, but AZM kicks out. Waistlock by Natsupoi and she nails a German suplex hold, but that gets a two as well. Natsupoi goes up top and delivers the twisting body press, but the cover gets a two count. Natsupoi picks up AZM but AZM elbows her off, rolling inside cradle by AZM but it gets a two count. They trade flash pins with neither having any luck, so Natsupoi superkicks AZM in the face. Natsupoi drags up AZM and hits rolling German suplexes, but the third only gets a two count. Natsupoi picks up AZM and nails a Cross-Arm German Suplex, and she picks up the three count! Natsupoi wins and is the new champion!

A really fun way to kick off the show. Not everything was super smooth but the energy helped make up for that as it was just go-go-go from the opening bell. Fans that only watch Stardom may not been as familar with what Natsumi has been up to in recent years but she is fantastic, and she got a pretty dominating win here as by the end of the match she was firmly in control. AZM hit some killer footstomps and stayed in the match, but it almost felt like a coming-out party for Natsumi and I assume she’ll hold the title for awhile. A quality match to begin the big event.  Recommended

(c) Himeka and Maika vs. Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima
Goddesses of Stardom Championship

Oedo Tai jump DDM before the match starts and isolate Maika, double teaming her. Saki stays in as the legal wrestler and kicks Himeka before tagging in Natsuko, bootscrapes by Natsuko but Himeka kicks her from the apron. This gives Maika time to recover and she tags Himeka, Himeka and Natsuko trade shoulderblocks with Himeka winning the battle. Saki runs in but Himeka stacks them both in the corner and hits a lariat. She puts both up on the turnbuckle and places them in an Argentine Backbreaker together before dropping them to the mat. Himeka picks up Natsuko and delivers a Jumping Knee, but Natsuko kicks out of the cover. Himeka tags Maika, Maika tosses Natsuko around the mat before hitting a STO for a two count. Stomps by Maika and she hits a lariat, but she didn’t notice that Saki blind tagged herself in. Saki jumps in the ring with a bulldog to Maika, Maika is thrown into the corner and Saki hits a running knee. Saki gets on the top turnbuckle and hits a headscissors into a cradle, picking up a two count.

Natsuko is tagged back in, she stacks both opponents in the corner and delivers a cannonball. Samoan Drop by Natsuko, she tags Saki and Saki hits a diving footstomp. She quickly tags Natsuko back in, diving body press by Natsuko but Maika kicks out of the cover. Swinging side slam by Natsuko, but that gets a two count as well. Natsuko picks up Maika but Himeka runs in to help, Saki kicks Himeka however and she falls out of the ring. Natsuko tags Saki, flying headscissors by Saki to Maika but Himeka cuts her off with a knee. Himeka and Maika charge Saki but accidentally lariat each other, scoop slam by Saki to Maika and she goes up top but Maika recovers and joins her. Superplex by Maika to Saki, she picks her back up and hits a STO but Natsuko breaks up the cover. Himeka comes in and with Maika they hit a lariat on Saki followed by a sliding lariat for a two count. Maika picks up Saki but Saki slides away and pins her down for a two count. Natsuko has found her way back in but she eats a double chokeslam, Maika picks up Saki and nails a Michinoku Driver II for the three count! Donna del Mondo win and retain the championship.

Normally I like title matches to be a little longer than this, but considering the participants and the fact this was a pre-show match, I don’t mind it as much here. This was pretty well-worked, nothing mind blowing but a good match within their limitations. Maika and Himeka are a bundle of fun, I could watch them all day as they bring something fresh and interesting to Stardom’s matches. Saki really brought her A game today which helped elevate the match, and Natsuko didn’t do much which is for the best. Oedo Tai wrestled the match oddly straight besides from the pre-bell jumping, with no cheating which surprised me. A solid match to keep the show rolling along, even if it was nothing special.

Stardom All-Star Rumble

Starlight Kid and Mei Hoshizuki are the first two in the match. They start pretty traditionally as they trade holds, armdrag by Starlight Kid, Mei catches her crossbody attempt but Starlight Kid spins it around into a cradle for two. Dropkick by Mei as Gokigen Death comes down, but she just poses while the other two keep fighting. They get tired of this and jump her, but Starlight Kid and Death end up double teaming Mei. Momoe Nakanishi is the next wrestler to enter the match, she goes up top but Death and Starlight Kid shake the ropes to knock her off. Irish whip to Momoe but she runs over all three opponents and poses on the mat with Death. The veterans stay in control and pose on Starlight Kid and Mei, as Koguma enters the match! First time we have seen Koguma wrestling in almost six years. Koguma hits a falling body press on Death and Starlight Kid before they all get into a fast exchange. Meanwhile the next wrestler is already on their way to the ring, Unagi Sayaka! Starlight Kid is attacked by everyone in the corner but is able to knock back Unagi, Unagi is stomped on by everyone while Saya Iida enters the match. Saya chops everyone, and while she is doing that Mina Shirakawa comes down as the next wrestler in the match.

By now there are too many people in the ring, a common issue in Battle Royal style matches. The Stardom wrestlers get into an exchange while Yuna Manase enters the match. Yuna and Saya exchange shots, Starlight Kid comes over to help but Yuna lariats both of them. Suddenly all of Gatoh Move appear on the ramp as Emi Sakura is the next wrestler down, Emi immediately goes after Momoe and hits a crossbody in the corner. Everyone watches as Emi and Momoe trade dropkick attempts before they hug, but we take a break as Lady C is wrestler #11 to join the match. Lady C snapmares Emi and puts her in a headscissors, and you know what is coming as this starts a giant headscissors chain with all the wrestlers (except Momoe, who runs over all of them instead of joining them). яндекс As it is broken up, Kyoko Inoue enters the ring but she is immediately attacked by everyone. She fights back but Lady C drops her with a chokeslam, everyone covers Kyoko but she kicks out. Lariat by Kyoko to Lady C, and she covers her for the three count! Lady C is eliminated.

Ruaka is the next wrestler, she shoulderblocks Kyoko to the mat and boots her, but Kyoko fires back with a lariat for the three count! Ruaka is eliminated. Rina Kadokura enters the match while Emi tricks Kyoko and gets everyone to cover her again, this time getting the three count! Kyoko Inoue is eliminated. We get some Random Chaos in the ring a Hiroyo Matsumoto is the next entry, she is in no rush to enter but eventually makes it into the ring. Miho Wakizawa is wrestler #16, while in the ring Hiroyo is beating everyone with a giant tawashi. Or something like one. Momoe is set up in the ropes to get a rubber band snapped in her face, but it accidentally gets sent back into Miho by mistake. Mima Shimoda comes into the match and dumps Yuna Manase over the top rope! Yuna Manase is eliminated. The legend Bea Priestley enters but Emi chops her in the chest and everyone tries to throw her out of the ring. She hangs on as Yuuri Haruka makes her entrance, meanwhile Mima is thrown over the top rope along with Bea in quick succession. Mima Shimoda and Bea Priestley are eliminated!

Yuuri applies an armbar to Death but it gets broken up, the camera pans to the stage and we see Hiromi Mimura is on her way down. Before she gets in the ring, Emi helps dump Yuuri over the top rope to the floor! Yuuri Haruka is eliminated. Hiromi winds up for an attack but is kicked by Miho, but Starlight Kid comes to the rescue. Hiroyo whacks Hiromi with a backpack, Miho puts Hiromi in the Backslide and she gets the three count! Hiromi Mimura is eliminated. Yoko Bito is the 21st entry, while Hiroyo dumps a box full of tawashis in the ring. Miho hits a Frankensteiner on Emi onto all the tawashis, and Emi is covered by multiple wrestlers for the three count. Emi Sakura is eliminated. Miho is slow to recover so everyone covers her as well, picking up another three count! Miho Wakizawa is eliminated. Not done yet, the mob rolls up Hiroyo, keeping her down for the three count! Hiroyo Matsumoto is eliminated. That clears the ring a little bit. Yuzuki Aikawa enters as the next wrestler, and she still looks the same as she did when she retired eight years ago. As she slowly walks down, Saya and Starlight Kid work together to throw Rin over the top rope. Rin Kadokura is eliminated. Not wasting time, Chigusa Nagayo quickly follows as she enters the match, Saya Iida greets her and the two trade blows. While they duke it out, the final wrestler enters the match – Kikutaro! 

Back in the ring (which most wrestlers aren’t even in anymore as they stand on the apron) Chigusa drops Saya with a Death Valley Bomb but Saya kicks out of the cover. Chigusa picks up Saya and drops her with a heel kick, but again Saya gets a shoulder up. Saya hulks up and knocks over Chigusa with a double chop, but her cover gets two as Chigusa puts Saya in an armlock. No one helps her and Saya submits! Saya Iida is eliminated. Yuzuki comes in the ring finally and challenges Chigusa, kicks by Yuzuki but Chigusa blocks the heel drop and punches her in the stomach. Yuzuki throws Chigusa into the corner and hits a body avalanche, as everyone else joins in attacking Chigusa in the corner. Yuzuki and Yoko both kick Chigusa, cover by Yuzuki but it gets a two count. She tries again with everyone else helping her, but that gets a two count as well. Chigusa gets back up but is schoolboyed from behind, and finally she is held down for the three count! Chigusa Nagayo is eliminated.

Kikutaro still hasn’t entered the ring but finally does so, he’s in full creeper mode as everyone runs away from him. He grabs Unagi but Mina attacks him, Kikutaro covers both of them but Starlight Kid breaks it up. Starlight Kid attacks at Kikutaro, he gets away but Chigusa jaws at him from the apron. Chigusa takes one for the team as Kikutaro grabs her… intimately, she gets back in the ring and hits him with an elbow. Everyone else joins in stomping down Kikutaro, Momo☆Latch by Momoe and she holds down Kikutaro for the three count! Kikutaro is eliminated. Moonsault by Momoe to Death, and she holds her down for the three count as well! Gokigen Death is eliminated. Starlight Kid and Momoe go after each other, Momoe jumps up to the top turnbuckle but Starlight Kid pushes her off before she can hit a move. She keeps hitting Momoe as she dangles on the top rope, dropkick by Starlight Kid and Momoe crashes to the floor. Momoe Nakanishi is eliminated. Snapmare by Yoko to Koguma, she picks her up but Koguma snaps off a DDT. Starlight Kid grabs Koguma and holds her for Yoko, but Koguma ducks and Yoko kicks Starlight Kid by accident. Yoko charges Kid but Kid holds down the top rope, sending Yoko to the apron. Koguma runs over and kicks Yoko, sending her to the floor! Yoko Bito is eliminated. 

We are down to five wrestlers! Cutter by Koguma on Starlight Kid and she nails a German Suplex Hold for the three count! Starlight Kid is eliminated. Koguma and Unagi trade flash pins, but Unagi gets help from Mina and Yuzuki as they hold down Koguma for the three count! Koguma is eliminated. We are down to three – Mina Shirakawa, Yuzuki Aikawa, and Unagi Sayaka. Yuzuki fights off both Cosmic Angels before getting into an elbow exchange with Mina, slap by Mina but Yuzuki slaps her back. Mina elbows Yuzuki against the ropes and charges her, but Yuzuki avoids the dropkick and hits a heel drop. Yuzuki goes for a tiger suplex but Unagi saves Mina, Mina then returns the favor but Yuzuki nails Mina with a heel kick and delivers the Tiger Suplex Hold for the three count! Mina Shirakawa is eliminated. Yuzuki charges Unagi but Unagi dumps her onto the apron, she goes for a kick but Yuzuki gets her out onto the apron with her. Kicks by Yuzuki as they both stand on the apron but Unagi catches one, heel drop to the back by Unagi and she hits another one to send Yuzuki to the floor. Yuzuki Aikawa is eliminated.  Unagi Sayaka is the last wrestler standing and is the winner!

Its always hard to ‘rate’ Battle Royals, and ones that take place in Japan tend to be even more difficult due to the more lighthearted atmosphere. There was a lot of wrestlers standing out of the way while the planned spots were going on, with some wrestlers such as Koguma disappearing for long periods of time. Some of the exchanges were really enjoyable though, such as Chigusa Nagayo/Saya Iida and the final threesome, and it was really nice of Chigusa Nagayo to “take one for the team” with Kikutaro as I can only imagine the Internet’s reaction if he had done that to Starlight Kid. It was great seeing Yuzuki again in particular, and none of the returning wrestlers looked too out of place. Its a long match with stretches of nothing, but still enough fun moments that long time Joshi fans will likely find something to enjoy.

Nanae Takahashi vs. Momo Watanabe

Momo and Nanae face off and trade slaps, Nanae pushes Momo into the corner and hits a series of elbows. Momo avoids one and kicks Nanae in the head, she hits her own elbows but Nanae gets her back and hits a German suplex. Nanae elbows Momo while she is against the ropes, snapmare by Nanae and she kicks Momo in the back. Momo returns the favor but Nanae catches the PK attempt and hits a dragon screw. Lariat by Nanae but Momo fires back with a dropkick, she dropkicks Nanae down in the corner and delivers a hard dropkick to the chest. More dropkicks by Momo and she kicks Nanae repeatedly in the chest. Nanae eventually catches one but Momo slaps her, headbutts by Nanae and she kicks Momo onto the apron. Nanae picks up Momo and hits a short range lariat, elbows by Nanae and she slams Momo to the mat for a two count cover. Nanae goes off the ropes but Momo nails a head kick, elbows by Momo and she kicks Nanae in the head. Momo goes off the ropes and hits the Somato, but Nanae kicks out of the cover.

Momo gets on the second turnbuckle and delivers the diving Somato, but again Nanae kicks out. Momo applies the crossface chickenwing but Nanae gets to the ropes for the break, Momo picks up Nanae and hits the B Driver, but Nanae rolls through it and hits one of her own for a two count. Both wrestlers slowly get up, jumping kick by Nanae and she goes to the top turnbuckle, but Momo avoids the Refrigerator Bomb and hits a knee to the back of the head. Momo goes to the top turnbuckle and delivers the diving Somato, but it gets two. Momo goes back up again but Nanae joins her and hits a superplex. Nanae goes to the top turnbuckle and this time nails the Refrigerator Bomb, but the cover only gets a two. Nanae picks up Momo but Momo slides away and delivers a Tequila Sunrise for two. Momo drags up Nanae but Nanae gets away and hits an elbow. Head kick by Momo, she goes off the ropes but Nanae catches her with a lariat. Nanae picks up Momo and drops her with the Nana☆Racka but Momo barely kicks out. Nanae picks Momo back up and nails the One Second EX, and she picks up the three count! Nanae Takahashi is the winner.

While this match was “good,” something felt like it was missing. Maybe due to the length or placement on the card, it didn’t have that pop I was expecting and never really felt like it elevated itself. If not for the history between Nanae and Stardom, it would have felt like a pretty standard veteran vs. young star match. Which probably isn’t fair, there was nothing “wrong” with the match at all, it just didn’t feel special either. Even with their limited time they seemed to run of out ideas, with lots of Somatos and elbows, and it makes you wonder if they just aren’t too familar with each other and decided to keep it simple. Hard hitting for sure, and Momo held her own, it just felt more like an introduction than an all out war. A decent enough match, but ultimately nothing that will leave a lasting impression once the show ends.  Mildly Recommended

(c) Syuri vs. Konami
SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship

They circle each other to start before grappling for position on the mat, Syuri goes for the armbreaker but Konami easily blocks it and goes for one of her own. Syuri gets to the ropes to break the hold, sliding kick by Konami and Syuri falls out to the floor. Natsuko comes over but Konami pushes her away and slides Syuri back in, stomps by Konami and she delivers a dropkick for a two count. Konami quickly transitions to the Fujiwara Armbar, Syuri rolls out of it but Konami keeps a hold on the arm. Syuri rolls out again and gets a hold of Konami’s ankle, but Konami reverses it and applies her own ankle hold. Konami gets Syuri’s back in a crucifix before driving her to the mat, she gets a stretch hold locked in but Syuri gets to the ropes. Strike combination by Konami and she delivers a head kick, but Syuri fires back with a release German. Konami hits a suplex of her own and applies a sleeper, Syuri gets up but Konami plants her with a Sleeper Suplex for two. Konami goes for a Buzzsaw Kick but Syuri catches her leg and hits a double knee gutbuster.

Konami quickly connects with a head kick but is too hurt to capitalize, they slowly get to their knees and trade elbows. They trade kicks as they return to their feet, running knee by Syuri and she covers Konami for two. Syuri applies a guillotine before putting Konami’s feet on the top rope and dropping her with a DDT for a two count. Syuri picks up Konami but Konami slides away and applies a cross armbreaker. Syuri quickly gets out of it and applies a Stretch Muffler, but Konami gets to the ropes for the break. Syuri gets Konami on her shoulders and hits a modified Emerald Frosion, but Konami kicks out of the cover and quickly applies a modified armbar. Syuri muscles out of it and gets the Stretch Muffler re-applied, but modifies it to also tie up Konami’s arm (Stardom called this move the “White Tiger”). Konami struggles for a moment but is forced to submit! Syuri wins the match and retains the championship.

Konami shook Syuri’s hand after the match and gave her a hug, showing a level of post-match respect that is rare for a member of Oedo Tai. This definitely had a different feel than most matches in Stardom, as it was a very ground-based and submission focused match. It really did feel like a match these two would have had against each other in 2016, obviously Konami is more polished now than she was back then but the structure reminded me of the older days of Konami. As far as mat-based matches go, this was pretty fun to watch and very fluid, and you could tell they are very comfortable with each other as nothing looked forced. I wouldn’t have minded a little more excitement in the closing stretch as it ended with little warning, but still an enjoyable match that probably meant more to the wrestlers than it meant to anyone else.  Recommended

Mayu Iwatani vs. Yoshiko

They tie-up to start, Yoshiko pushes Mayu into the ropes and gives a clean break. Kick by Mayu but Yoshiko blocks the armdrag, hitting one of her own. Hard shoulderblock by Yoshiko, she picks up Mayu and throws her down by the hair. Bootscrapes by Yoshiko in the corner and she delivers a running boot, cover by Yoshiko but it gets two. Yoshiko quickly applies a headlock but Mayu gets into the ropes, Yoshiko picks up Mayu and kicks her in the back. Yoshiko keeps stomping on Mayu’s back before picking her up and applying a stretch hold. Mayu gets into the ropes for the break, Irish whip by Yoshiko but Mayu reverses it and hits a headscissors. Mayu goes off the ropes and drills Yoshiko with a dropkick, sending the SEAdLINNNG wrestler out of the ring. Mayu gets a running start and sails out onto Yoshiko (mostly missing) with a plancha suicida, she slowly recovers and slides Yoshiko back in the ring. Mayu goes up top and hits a missile dropkick, cover by Mayu but it gets a two count. Mayu picks up Yoshiko but Yoshiko blocks the suplex attempt, low kick by Mayu but Yoshiko catches her with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Crab hold by Yoshiko but Mayu crawls to the ropes and makes it for the break. Yoshiko quickly gets on the second turnbuckle and hits a diving senton onto Mayu’s back, she goes back up to the second turnbuckle and connects with a regular diving senton for a two count cover.

Yoshiko picks up Mayu but Mayu gets her to the mat with a reverse hurricanrana. Dodonpa by Mayu, but it gets a two count. Mayu picks up Yoshiko but Yoshiko gets to the ropes to block the dragon suplex, Mayu pulls her off the ropes but Yoshiko elbows her off. Mayu ducks a lariat and drops Yoshiko with a release German, Yoshiko gets back up but Mayu delivers the dragon suplex hold for a two count. Mayu goes up top and goes for a moonsault, but Yoshiko gets her feet up to block the move. Both wrestlers are slow to recover, they trade strikes when they return to their feet until Yoshiko knocks Mayu back to the mat. Mayu gets back up but eats another hard elbow for her trouble, Mayu returns to her feet and temporarily knocks Yoshiko to her knees before eating two hard lariats. Yoshiko picks up Mayu and slams her to the mat from a fireman’s carry, but Mayu kicks out of the cover. Yoshiko positions Mayu and goes to the top turnbuckle, she nails the diving senton but Mayu barely kicks out of the cover. Yoshiko drags up Mayu but Mayu gets her back and applies a schoolboy for two. Superkick by Mayu and she kicks Yoshiko in the head, another superkick by Mayu and she covers Yoshiko for two. Mayu picks up Yoshiko and delivers the Two Stage Dragon Suplex Hold, but Yoshiko barely gets a shoulder up. Mayu quickly goes up to the top turnbuckle and nails the moonsault, cover by Mayu and she gets the three count! Mayu Iwatani is the winner.

There was a lot to enjoy here, a really entertaining match. Its kinda amazing these two still have such great chemistry after all these years, and everything they did here clicked. Yoshiko’s work on Mayu’s back was top notch, probably good enough it could have used a little more long term selling by Mayu but Mayu constantly looks in pain so it still worked out. I really loved the ending, with Mayu not wasting a second before going to the moonsault. No slow dramatic climb up the turnbuckles and pointing to the crowd, just quickly taking advantage of a hurt Yoshiko who is not the easiest wrestler to pin. The time just flew by and I wouldn’t have minded if it was a few more minutes, but they told their story and told it well. I don’t know where Stardom and SEAdLINNNG’s relationship is going from here, but this was a great hard hitting match that delivered on the expectations.  Highly Recommended

(c) Utami Hayashishita vs. Saya Kamitani
World of Stardom Championship

They tie-up to start, Utami pushes Saya into the ropes but she gives a clean break. Saya quickly kicks her and they lock-up before trading holds, they go through an exchange off the ropes ending with Utami dropkicking Saya in the chest. Utami picks up Saya and hits a scoop slam, another slam by Utami and she covers Saya for two. Utami puts Saya in the ropes and delivers a sliding kick to the back, double kneedrop to the back by Utami and she covers Saya for two. Utami applies a Camel Clutch but Saya inches to the ropes for the break. Utami stomps at Saya and boots her in the corner, Utami picks her up and hits a scoop slam for a two count. Saya fights back but Utami avoids her dropkick and kicks Saya in the back. Saya fires back with a dropkick of her own, hurricanrana by Saya and Utami falls out of the ring. Saya goes off the ropes and dives out onto Utami with a tope con hilo, she picks up Utami and tosses her back into the ring. Saya goes up top and hits a missile dropkick, cover by Saya but it gets a two count. Saya picks up Utami but Utami elbows her and the two trade shots. Utami wins the battle, she picks up Saya and goes off the ropes but Saya catches her with a dropkick. Another dropkick by Saya and she covers Utami for a two count. Saya picks up Utami but Utami slides away and delivers a sliding kick.

Utami picks up Saya but Saya snaps off a Canadian Destroyer, scoop slam by Saya and she goes up top but Utami hits her from behind and knocks her onto the apron. Saya comes back into the ring with a swandive hurricanrana, she picks up Utami and hits a Northern Lights Suplex Hold for two. Saya picks up Utami but Utami slides away and hits a release German. Utami gets Saya on her shoulders but Saya spins off and delivers a heel kick. Saya picks up Utami and drops her with a fisherman sitout slam, cover by Saya but it gets a two count. Saya picks up Utami and slams her in front of the corner, she goes to the top turnbuckle but Utami avoids the Phoenix Splash. Utami applies a sleeper but Saya drives her back into the corner to break it up, Saya charges Utami but Utami gets her on her shoulders and nails the Air Raid Crash. Utami gets the sleeper on but Saya gets a toe on the ropes for the break. Utami picks up Saya and gets her onto her shoulders, she spins Saya around and slams her to the mat for a two count. Utami picks up Saya and gets her up in a crucifix, but Saya hits a hurricanrana for a two count. Utami recovers first and picks up Saya, rocking her with a hard lariat. Another lariat by Utami, she picks up Saya and nails the Hijack Bomb (Spinning BT Bomb) for the three count! Utami Hayashishita wins and retains the championship.

While the last match was great, this one was even better. Even though Saya wasn’t an A+ challenger, she still brought everything she had and she has never looked better than she did here. Everything she hit was smooth as butter and her selling was top-notch, as she made everything Utami did look like death. She did so well in the match, I actually was buying into the nearfalls which is the biggest compliment I can give to a match that on paper had a clear winner. The dynamic between Utami’s power and Saya’s finesse created constantly entertaining back and forths, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire match as there was no telling what they were going to do. The ending was definitive as Utami threw Saya right through the ring, a fitting ending to an evenly contested match. These two are the future of Stardom if they stick with wrestling, easily the best match of Saya Kamitani’s career and a great showing from Utami as well.  Highly Recommended

(c) Giulia vs. Tam Nakano
Wonder of Stardom Championship

After circling each other they start tracking strikes, waistlock by Giulia and they trade holds. Tam gets Giulia to the mat but Giulia applies a headscissors, Tam slaps Giulia before returning to her feet. Tam goes for a cutter but Giulia applies a sleeper, snapmare by Tam and she kicks Giulia in the back. Giulia goes for a dropkick but Tam moves and applies a sleeper, Giulia tries to get out of it with a backdrop suplex but Tam lands on top of her. They trade elbows until Tam knocks Giulia to the mat, Giulia rolls out of the ring to recover while Tam waits for her in the ring. Giulia returns after a moment and picks up Tam, but Tam wiggles away. Release German by Giulia with Tam ending up on the apron, Giulia goes out to the apron as well and kicks Tam in the head. Giulia goes for a suplex but Tam blocks it, big boot by Giulia and she hits a cutter onto the apron. Tam falls out of the ring with Giulia going out after her, Giulia twists Tam in the guardrail and chokes her. Giulia stops choking her long enough to throw Tam into the railing, big boot by Giulia and she throws Tam into the rail again. Giulia gets a table and sets it up at ringside, she grabs Tam and pulls her up onto the table with her. Giulia gets Tam up and drops her onto the table with a piledriver, she returns to the ring while Tam slowly follows behind her. Giulia plants a sliding kick on Tam, cover by Giulia but it gets a two count.

Giulia gets on the top turnbuckle but Tam slowly gets up and joins her, Giulia grabs her head however and applies a guillotine choke while still on the turnbuckles. She lets go after a moment and Tam flops back to the mat, she goes for a missile dropkick but Tam avoids it. Tam goes for a knee but Giulia catches it, she gets Tam up in a Glorious position but Tam reverses it with Reverse DDT. Giulia recovers first and mounts Tam, slapping her in the face. Hard elbow by Giulia and she goes off the ropes, but Tam catches her with a heel kick. Giulia falls out of the ring, Tam goes up to the top turnbuckle and dives out onto her with a plancha. Tam slides Giulia back in, Tiger Suplex Hold by Tam but Giulia gets a shoulder up. Tam picks up Giulia but Giulia blocks her suplex attempt, getting to the ropes. Tam pulls her away and hits Giulia’s Glorious Driver, but it gets a two count. Tam drags up Giulia and kicks her repeatedly in the head, but Giulia ducks a kick and drops her with a backdrop suplex. Giulia picks up Tam but Tam pushes her away, headbutt by Giulia and she delivers a Glorious Driver for a two count cover. They both slowly get up and trade slaps, Tam connects with a series of slaps before knocking Giulia to the mat. Giulia gets back up and returns the favor, heel kick by Tam and she hits a second one. Giulia comes at Tam but Tam picks her up and drills Giulia with a Sitout Tam Screwdriver for a two count. Tam drags Giulia back up and nails the Twilight Dream, and she keeps Giulia down for the three count! Tam Nakano wins and is the new Wonder of Stardom Champion!

There is a lot to digest here. First, the emotion was certainly there and it just had a more urgent feeling than the last few matches. They weren’t really focused on trading bombs but having a real struggle, full of one-upmanship and emotion that was tangible. They still had a couple big moves but honestly they weren’t needed, the table spot was neat but added little to the match as that wasn’t what the match was about. Its harder to rate matches that are more about story and heart than smooth wrestling and big moments, but when considering all things this was a very captivating and memorable match. They didn’t fall into the ‘trading 2.999 nearfalls’ trap that many “epic” matches fall into, so each pinfall felt meaningful. Tam killed Giulia at the end, which was needed as a non-definitive ending just wouldn’t have worked to end this match and feud. A fitting way to end one of the best Joshi events in years, a very entertaining match that will be talked about in Stardom circles for years to come.  Highly Recommended

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Event: Stardom “10th Anniversary”
Date: January 17th, 2021
Location: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 713
Broadcast Information: Aired on Samurai TV! on 1/24/21

As is my custom, I try to review all of Stardom’s big events, which tend to happen about once a month at Korakuen Hall. I don’t really have time to review every Stardom show, as they have quite a few, but their TV tapings usually deliver. This is a big show for Korakuen Hall, with four title matches. None of the title matches are high-end on paper however, so the wrestlers are going to have to work hard to make this a memorable event. Here is the full card:

• Future Of Stardom Championship: Saya Iida vs. Unagi Sayaka
• Konami vs. Natsupoi
• High Speed Championship: AZM vs. Kaori Yoneyama
• Starlight Kid vs. Tam Nakano
• Bea Priestley and Saki Kashima vs. Himeka and Syuri vs. Mayu Iwatani and Ruaka vs. Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani
• Wonder Of Stardom Championship: Giulia vs. Natsuko Tora
• World Of Stardom Championship: Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika

As I am watching the Samurai TV! version, some matches will be clipped. All wrestlers have profiles on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it.

(c) Saya Iida vs. Unagi Sayaka
Future of Stardom Championship

The match is Joined in Progress, as Saya hits a jumping double chop on Unagi. Saya goes off the ropes and hits a running elbow, cover by Saya but it gets two. Saya and Unagi trade elbows on their knees, they keep exchanging elbows until Unagi drops Saya with a scoop slam. Unagi goes up top and hits a diving body press, but Saya kicks out of the pin attempt. Unagi picks up Saya and gets her up on her back, but Saya spins off and hits a dropkick. Unagi goes off the ropes but Saya catches her with a modified Spinebuster, Northern Lights Suplex Hold by Saya but it only gets two. Saya chops Unagi into the corner and hits a dropkick, modified Diamond Dust by Unagi and she covers Unagi for the three count! Saya Iida wins and retains the championship.

Even with this being heavily clipped, it still wasn’t the most smooth match. Both are wrestlers that benefit a lot from having the right opponent, or at least one they have chemistry with, and some interactions just didn’t click here. Too cut up to really evaluate, but not the ideal start to the show.

Konami vs. Natsupoi

The match is Joined in Progress, as Natsupoi goes for a dropkick but Konami moves and kicks her in the side. Stomps by Konami while Natsupoi is against the ropes, she grabs Natsupoi’s arm and knees her in the elbow. Snapmare by Konami but Natsupoi lands on her feet, kick by Natsupoi and she delivers a neckbreaker. Dropkick to the knee by Natsupoi and she follows with a dropkick to the chest, Konami ends up against the ropes but Natsupoi dropkicks her again. Natsupoi goes up top and hits the diving crossbody, but Konami rolls through it and goes for the cross armbreaker. Natsupoi gets a toe on the ropes to force the break, fisherman suplex by Konami and she covers Natsupoi for two. She quickly goes back to Natsupoi’s arm but Natsupoi gets out of it, kicks by Natsupoi and she delivers the Backlash for a two count cover. Natsupoi charges Konami in the corner but Konami kicks her back and applies a hanging armbar over the top rope. She lets go and climbs to the top turnbuckle, hitting a missile dropkick for two. German suplex by Konami and she nails the Buzzsaw Kick, but Natsupoi barely gets a shoulder up. Triangle Lancer attempt by Konami but Natsupoi reverses it into a cradle for two. Rolling La Magistral by Natsupoi but Konami kicks out and applies a seated armbar. Natsupoi inches to the ropes for the break but Konami is slow to break the hold, pushing down the referee. She gets a chair and wraps Natsupoi up in it, while maintaining the armbar. The referee has seen enough and calls for the bell. Natsupoi wins by DQ!

I don’t mind matches ending in DQ to help establish a character, my main issue here is just that Konami doesn’t need to take Ls against wrestlers at Natsupoi’s level. Konami was doing well in the match anyway, so it felt like a forced way to show that Konami is “evil” now to use the chair to lose the match. Even worse, she didn’t do a long post-match beatdown which would have made more sense, instead just leaving the ring and strolling to the back like nothing happened. The action was fine as both are quality wrestlers and I was enjoying what they were doing, the DQ ending just didn’t feel necessary in this case.

(c) AZM vs. Kaori Yoneyama
High Speed Championship

AZM charges Yoneyama as they go into a fast exchange, armdrag by Yoneyama and they trade trips for quick one counts. Kick by AZM and she runs to the ropes, but Yoneyama pushes her out of the ring and hits a jumping knee off the apron. Yoneyama slides AZM back in and goes up top, hitting a missile dropkick to the back. Knee to the back of the head by Yoneyama, she gets on the second turnbuckle and delivers a diving senton for two. Yoneyama goes all the way up but AZM recovers and joins her, Yoneyama pushes AZM back but AZM kicks her in the head and re-joins her. AZM snaps Yoneyama’s arm on the top rope and brings Yoneyama back into the ring with a head-spiking headscissors. AZM goes up top and delivers a diving footstomp, she puts Yoneyama in a Fujiwara Armbar but lets go so she can kick Yoneyama in the head. AZM picks up Yoneyama and drives her into the mat from the second turnbuckle, double armbar by AZM but Yoneyama gets a foot on the ropes. AZM goes up top again but Yoneyama joins her, suplexing AZM to the mat. Yoneyama is up first and grabs AZM, knee to the head by Yoneyama but AZM fires back with a kick. They trade flash pins with neither getting the three count, Chaos Theory attempt by Yoneyama but AZM rolls through and kicks Yoneyama in the head. La Mistica by AZM, Yoneyama tries to get to the ropes but AZM pulls her back to the middle of the ring and applies a Grounded Octopus Hold. Yoneyama struggles for a moment but has no choice but to submit! AZM is the winner and retains the championship.

Even though this was short, they packed a lot into it and overall it was a fun match. Since I don’t watch YMZ, I don’t get to see Yoneyama wrestling as “herself” very often so that was a nice change of pace. She isn’t a high end wrestler but is more than capable of being more than just a clown. AZM looked good in victory as she took some of Yoneyama’s offense before winning clean with a submission in the middle of the ring. It won’t by itself vault AZM up the card but its a step in the right direction as she claims another quality win.  Mildly Recommended

Starlight Kid vs. Tam Nakano

They lock knuckles to start and trade holds, snapmare by Tam but Starlight Kid ducks the kick to the back. Springboard armdrag by Starlight Kid but Tam avoids her dropkick, hitting a running knee of her own. Tam picks up Starlight Kid, snapmare by Tam and she kicks Starlight Kid in the back. Scoop slams by Tam, Starlight Kid tries to fight back but Tam kicks her back to the mat. Irish whip by Tam but Starlight Kid hits a tilt-a-whirl headscissors, Starlight Kid goes off the ropes but Tam drops her onto the apron. Starlight Kid grabs Tam and DDTs her onto the apron, Starlight Kid gets back in the ring and goes to the top turnbuckle, diving down onto Tam. Back in the ring, Starlight Kid goes for a Tiger Suplex but Tam gets out of it. Tam goes for a backdrop suplex but Starlight Kid lands on her feet, slap by Starlight Kid but Tam elbows her back. They trade shots until Tam elbows Starlight Kid to the mat, Tam picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid blocks the Tiger Suplex and cradles her for two. Armdrag by Starlight Kid, she goes off the ropes and ducks Tam’s kick attempt before nailing the Tornado Star Suplex Hold for a close two count. Starlight Kid picks up Tam and goes for another suplex but Tam spins away and delivers a heel kick. Tam grabs Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid again blocks the Tiger Suplex Hold into a cradle as the two trade flash pins. Knee to the back of the head by Tam and she delivers a sliding kick to the front. Tam quickly picks up Starlight Kid and drops her with a Tiger Suplex Hold for the three count! Tam Nakano is the winner.

This was good because both wrestlers are really good, but the strong focus on the Tiger Suplex Hold took me out of it a bit. I know that was the story going in, as Starlight Kid had pinned Tam a month prior with the move which normally is used by Tam, but they went a little overboard with it. Starlight Kid didn’t do hardly any of her regular signature moves as she was too focused on telling the Tiger Suplex story, and while Tam was more diverse she also went for the hold several times before succeeding. They clearly had a story idea going in, which was fine but they didn’t have enough around it to make a complete match. Also, while I appreciate new moves more than anyone else, the Tornado Star Suplex is a little convoluted. All that being said, the action was smooth and Tam is an underrated talent, but I do think they could put on a better match if they let the action flow more naturally. Mildly Recommended

Bea Priestley and Saki Kashima vs. Himeka and Syuri vs. Mayu Iwatani and Ruaka vs. Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani

Bea, Saya, Ruaka, and Himeka start the match but Bea soon leaves the ring, allowing everyone else to fight instead. Himeka is double teamed at first but shoulderblocks both opponents, Saya dropkicks Ruaka but Ruaka hits a jumping crossbody on both of them. Saki trips Ruaka from the floor while Bea runs in to clean house, as the action ends up on the floor with the wrestlers brawling around the ring. Except Mayu, who is just watching. Mayu eventually does get in the ring and dives out (under the top rope) with a tope suicida onto a bunch of wrestlers, but is immediately stomped down by Oedo Tai for her trouble. Back in the ring, Bea elbows Ruaka but Momo kicks her from the apron and joins the match. Boots by Bea but Momo dropkicks her, Syuri runs in and snapmares Momo before kicking her in the back. Momo ducks the front kick and cradles Syuri for two, Saki comes in and covers both of them but she only gets a two count. Mayu attacks Syuri from behind, she grabs Syuri and Momo by the hand and jumps up to the top rope to hit a double armdrag, but Saki runs in and pushes Mayu from the top rope to the floor. This eliminates Mayu via Over The Top, so STARS is out of the match.

Back in the ring, Syuri and Momo take turns kicking Saki before turning to each other and doing more kicking. Double arm suplex by Syuri to Momo and she covers her for two. Syuri picks up Momo but both Bea and Saki run in, and both connect with flying headscissors. Momo is booted out of the ring, but Himeka comes in and lariats both Saki and Bea. She kicks Bea out of the ring while Saki stays in with Syuri, face crusher by Saki but Syuri catches her with a double knee gutbuster for two. Syuri puts Saki in the Seiryu, and she has no choice but to submit! Oedo Tai is eliminated.

Syuri and Momo trade elbows until Syuri hits a release German, PK by Syuri and she covers Momo for two. Syuri kicks at Momo but Momo nails a head kick, Buzzsaw Kick by Momo and she hits a second one for a two count. Momo applies the crossface chickenwing but Syuri elbows out of it and they trade blows again. Momo elbows Syuri to the mat but Syuri catches her kick and kicks Momo in the head. Syuri charges Momo but Momo catches her with a suplex and both wrestlers are down on the mat. Saya and Himeka run in as the legal wrestlers, dropkick by Saya and she puts Himeka in a crab hold. Himeka gets into the ropes for the break, Saya goes off the ropes and dropkicks Himeka in the back. Saya goes up top and she hits a missile dropkick, covering Himeka for a two count. Saya picks up Himeka but Syuri runs in and knees Saya, Himeka and Syuri go off the ropes and both hit knees on Saya. Himeka goes up top and Syuri helps her hit a Swanton Bomb, but Syuri breaks up the cover. Himeka picks up Saya and hits a hard lariat, Himeka puts Saya in the Argentine Backbreaker before slamming her to the mat. Saya reverses the cover into one of her own, but Syuri breaks it up again. Syuri goes for a kick but connects with Himeka’s head by mistake, Momo kicks Himeka and Saya delivers a springboard crossbody for two. Saya drags Himeka up and drops her with the Star Crusher, picking up the three count! Queen’s Quest win the match!

The main issue here is just that there was too much going on and until the final pairing, no one was really able to get into a rhythm. The bit with Mayu at the beginning was also odd and gave the match almost a playful/not serious feel which shouldn’t have been what they were going for (although you can’t stop Mayu from being Mayu). A few of the pairings were really good, particularly any time Momo and Syuri were in the ring together and the Saya/Himeka parts, the match just would have worked better as a straight tag match. Overall an easy watch, just ultimately forgettable.

(c) Giulia vs. Natsuko Tora
Wonder of Stardom Championship

They get into a Sumo position to start and Natsuko pushes Giulia into the ropes, Irish whip by Natsuko but Giulia reverses it. Giulia goes for an armdrag but Natsuko blocks it, Giulia hits the armdrag on the next attempt and delivers a dropkick. Giulia goes off the ropes but Natsuko hits a hard shoulderblock, she throws Giulia down against the ropes and gives her some bootscrapes. Running boot by Natsuko and she hits a second one, which sends Giulia out of the ring. Natsuko goes out after her and throws Giulia into a chair tower that had been set up at ringside (presumably by Oedo Tai), Oedo Tai go over to attack her but Donna del Mondo fight hem off. Natsuko returns to the ring and takes off a turnbuckle pad so she can hit Giulia with it, she tries to throw Giulia into the exposed corner but Giulia blocks it. Giulia gets a chair but Natsuko catches it when she tries to use it and takes it from her, Irish whip by Natsuko but Giulia avoids the chair swing and dropkicks Natsuko. Syuri and Natsupoi slide some small boards of some sort in the ring while Giulia sets up a chair and puts Natsuko on it. She then stacks of some the boards on Natsuko’s back and punches down on it, breaking the boards. Dropkick by Giulia, she picks up Natsuko but Natsuko blocks her kick and they do an awkward strike exchange ending with a Giulia backdrop suplex.

Natsuko fires back with a spear, they both slowly get up and Natsuko avoids Giulia’s charge in the corner. Running elbow by Natsuko and she hits a cannonball in the corner, Samoan Drop by Natsuko and she covers Giulia for two. Natsuko picks up Giulia and hits a lariat, swinging side slam by Natsuko and she covers Giulia for two. Konami and Saki come in the ring with a table, Natsuko picks up Giulia and puts her on the table which is set up near the corner. Natsuko goes up top but Syuri and Natsupoi grab her from the apron before she can jump, giving Giulia time to recover and toss Natsuko off the top turnbuckle. Natsuko is given her chain and she hits Giulia in the chest with it, she wraps the chain over Giulia’s neck and tries to hang her over the top rope. Natsuko goes for a spear but Giulia moves and hits Natsuko in the head with a chair. Giulia goes up top and hits a missile dropkick, she gets more of the boards and stack them in the middle of the ring. Giulia picks up Natsuko and slams her onto the boards, cover by Giulia but it gets a two count. Giulia picks up Natsuko but Natsuko blocks the Glorious Driver, Giulia hits a backdrop suplex instead though followed by a sliding kick. Giulia puts Natsuko on the top turnbuckle and joins her, hitting a superplex.

Saki breaks up the cover however, Giulia grabs Saki and kicks her out of the ring. Giulia charges Natsuko but Natsuko moves, sending Giulia into the corner exposed earlier in the match. Bea and Konami run in the ring and both attack Giulia, they get the table re-set up in the corner and put Giulia on it. Natsuko goes up top and hits a diving body press through the table, she picks up Giulia but Giulia slides away from the Samoan Drop and hits a DDT. Giulia picks up Natsuko but Natsuko throws blue dust in her face, scoop slam by Natsuko and she delivers a guillotine leg drop for a two count. Natsuko picks up Giulia and hits a Death Valley Bomb, but Syuri pulls out the referee when he goes to make the count. This leads to Oedo Tai and DDM brawling at ringside while Giulia quickly cradles Natsuko for a two count. Natsuko gets her chain but Giulia kicks her arm away and delivers a headbutt. Giulia picks up the chain and warps it around Natsuko’s neck, swinging her around the ring with it. Giulia tosses Natsuko over the top rope so she can hang her by the chain, she pulls her back in after a moment and nails the Glorious Driver for the three count! Giulia wins and retains the championship.

While there were problems with this match, them making it a No DQ match was definitely the way to go. Their exchanges that didn’t involve weapons were just awkward and poorly done, as Natsuko just isn’t ready for a more traditional style of wrestling and may never be. But when they focused on weapons and chaos, it was a pretty entertaining match as they had a variety of violent ideas. I liked DDM helping just as much as Oedo Tai was so it wasn’t just the “heel” group getting involved, and the constant action helped the time go by. I can’t ignore the poor strike exchanges and iffy transitions, but if you just focus on the weapons-related portions of the match this was a fun and memorable defense for Giulia.  Recommended

(c) Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika
World of Stardom Championship

They trade holds to start, Utami gets Maika to the mat but Maika quickly gets away from her and they return to their feet. They trade strikes until Maika takes Utami down and puts her in a Fujiwara Armbar. Utami gets to the ropes for the break but Maika keeps on her arm, takeover by Maika and she applies an armlock. Boot to the face by Maika but Utami avoids her charge in the corner and drops her with a Schwein. They both are slow to recover, Utami is up first but Maika back bodydrops out of a powerbomb attempt. Maika whacks Utami in the back of the head, she picks her up and hits a STO for a two count. Maika goes for the cross armbreaker but Utami blocks it so she switches to a Triangle Choke instead. Utami slams out of the hold, both wrestlers slowly get up but Utami avoids Maika’s charge and hits an elbow. Utami goes up top but Maika recovers and joins her, hitting a superplex.

Maika picks up Utami but Utami gets away and delivers a big release German suplex. Maika fires back with a release backdrop suplex, dropkick by Maika and she slams Utami to the mat for a two count cover. Maika picks up Utami and goes off the ropes, but Utami rocks her with a lariat. Another lariat by Utami and she covers Maika for two. Utami picks up Maika but Maika gets away from the BT Bomb and applies a sleeper hold. Utami almost goes out but uses the ropes to slam backwards to break the hold, lariat by Maika but Utami delivers a lariat of her own. Both wrestlers get to their knees and trade strikes, a battle that Utami wins with a hard slap. Utami gets Maika up in the Argentine Backbreaker before spinning her around and slamming Maika to the mat. Utami drags up Maika and drills her with the BT Bomb, cover by Utami and she gets the three count! Utami Hayashishita wins and retains the championship.

These are two of my favorite wrestlers in Stardom, just to make by biases clear. Samurai TV clipped almost half of this match which is suspicious, but everything they showed was fantastic. Maika has improved so much, she deserves this little push she is getting as unlike Natsuko Tora she looks like she belongs. She stood toe to toe with Utami and traded shots, with none of it looking awkward or out of place. Utami nailed all her big moves with ease, and came out of the match looking like a boss and bonafide Ace. I have to take into consideration how much of the match was missing, maybe they clipped out the bad parts, but as shown it was a very enjoyable match with no real flaws.  Recommended

The post Stardom “10th Anniversary” on 1/17/21 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: Stardom “10TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR DREAM FESTIVAL ~ PROLOGUE ~ OSAKA DREAM CINDERELLA”
Date: December 20th, 2020
Location: EDION Arena Osaka in Osaka, Japan
Announced Attendance: 1,027

Before closing the door on 2020 for good (which I am very happy to do), I first wanted to review one of Stardom’s last big events of the year.  There is a lot going on here, with FIVE championship matches as they go out with a bang. A total of six titles are on the line, as Syuri and Giulia have a double title match for their SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship and the Wonder of Stardom Championship, respectively. Here is the full card:

• Future Of Stardom Championship: Maika vs. Saya Iida vs. Saya Kamitani
• Konami and Natsuko Tora vs. Riho and Ruaka
• Bea Priestley and Saki Kashima vs. Himeka and Natsupoi
• High Speed Championship: AZM vs. Mei Hoshizuki
• Artist Of Stardom Championship: Shirakawa, Nakano, and Unagi Sayaka vs. Gokigen Death, Iwatani, and Starlight Kid
• Wonder Of Stardom Championship/SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship: Giulia vs. Syuri
• World Of Stardom Championship: Utami Hayashishita vs. Momo Watanabe

In the interest of saving time, I will be watching the Samurai TV! version of the show so some matches will be clipped. All wrestlers on the show have profiles on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it.

(c) Maika vs. Saya Iida vs. Saya Kamitani
Future of Stardom Championship

They immediately get into it as Maika is attacked by both opponents, she fights them both off and shoulderblocks Iida out of the ring. She goes to Kamitani but Kamitani elbows her and the two trade shots, they go at it for over a minute before Kamitani gets Maika into the corner and stomps her down. Maika fires out of the corner with a hard shoulderblock, she goes off the ropes but Kamitani flips away from her and delivers a dropkick. Iida returns and dropkicks Kamitani, chops by Iida to both opponents and she knocks Maika to the mat. Kamitani grabs Iida but Iida chops her to the mat as well, Iida picks up Maika and they trade shoulderblock attempts. Iida knocks over Maika first but Maika returns to her feet and returns the favor. Maika goes for a suplex but Iida lands on her feet, she applies the Iida Bridge but Kamitani breaks it up. Kamitani knees Iida in the corner and hits a dropkick, over by Kamitani but it gets a two count. Kamitani goes up top and delivers a diving crossbody, but Maika breaks it up.

Irish whip by Maika to Kamitani but Kamitani hits a heel kick, Kamitani picks up Iida and hits a scoop slam. Kamitani goes to the top turnbuckle but Maika elbows her before she can jump off, Maika joins Kamitani and hits a superplex down to the mat. Maika picks up Kamitani and hits a cross-arm STO, but Iida barely breaks up the pin. Iida goes off the ropes and hits a double chop, Iida goes up top but Maika elbows her and goes up as well. Iida blocks the superplex attempt and hits a headbutt, she floats over Maika and nails a powerbomb. Iida grabs Kamitani but Kamitani blocks a suplex and boots Iida in the head. Kamitani picks up Iida but Iida spins away and delivers a Northern Light Suplex, Iida goes up top but she is interrupted by Kamitani. Iida grabs Kamitani anyway and spikes her with a front flip DDT, but Kamitani barely gets a shoulder up. Iida grabs up Kamitani and hits the brainbuster, getting the three count cover! Saya Iida is the new champion!

Even though Iida isn’t my favorite wrestler in this match, she certainly put in the work here and elevated herself to the occasion. Three way matches are always a bit of a tough sell, in this case Maika just disappearing but at least she took a hard powerbomb first to explain it. Iida finally has graduated by winning just via fluke pins, as the DDT and Brainbuster are both more exciting ways to win matches. I am curious to see where they go with Saya Iida as champion, a pretty entertaining opener to get the show off to a solid start.  Mildly Recommended

Konami and Natsuko Tora vs. Riho and Ruaka

This is joined in progress with Oedo Tai in control, but Riho and Ruaka both connect with running strikes. They single out Konami, face crusher by Riho and Ruaka delivers a running body press for a two count. Ruaka goes off the ropes and she boots Konami in the head, another boot by Ruaka and she delivers the Fisherman Suplex Hold for two. Ruaka elbows Konami and goes off the ropes, but Natsuko hits her from the apron with a chair. Konami quickly puts Ruaka in the Triangle Lancer, and Ruaka submits! Konami and Natsuko Tora are the winners!

Samurai TV! felt the same way about this match as I did, as they butchered the shit out of it. Good for you, Samurai TV. There wasn’t enough here to really comment on but Konami looked good. Love Konami.

Bea Priestley and Saki Kashima vs. Himeka and Natsupoi

We join this match in progress as Himeka picks up Saki, she gets her onto her shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker before slamming her to the mat for a two count. Himeka throws Saki into the corner and hits a lariat, Bea runs in to help but Himeka avoids her charge and stacks them both in the corner. Himeka gets both opponents on her shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker, she releases them after a moment and kicks them both out of the ring. Natsupoi goes to the top turnbuckle and dives out onto them with a diving crossbody, Himeka slides Saki back in but Saki avoids her lariat attempt and cradles her for two. Himeka is up first and hits a hard lariat, running powerbomb by Himeka and she covers Saki for the three count! Himeka and Natsupoi are the winners.

This was obviously clipped to just the last minute so I didn’t get to see much of Bea, but Himeka is such a treat to watch I don’t mind. She is so good with her facial expressions she is captivating to watch, and her power moves were all hit well here. A hot ending, I assume the rest of the match was good as well.

(c) AZM vs. Mei Hoshizuki
High Speed Championship

As one would expect they start off with a fast exchange which ends with a double kip-up stalemate, AZM goes for Mei’s arm and gets the Fujiwara Armbar but Mei quickly gets to the ropes. Irish whip by AZM to the corner and she delivers a dropkick, cover by AZM but it gets a two count. AZM goes back to the arm but Mei gets to the ropes again, they trade elbows back on their feet until AZM boots Mei to the mat. AZM goes off the ropes, Mei goes for a dropkick but AZM avoids it. AZM charges Mei but Mei drops her onto the second rope, she quickly goes to the apron and hits a dropkick before returning to the ring to hit a second one. Mei connects with a series of dropkicks, she covers AZM but it gets a two count. Irish whip attempt but Mei but AZM blocks it, they trade elbows until AZM knocks Mei to the mat. AZM picks up Mei and runs up the corner, but Mei recovers and pushes her down to the floor. Mei goes to the floor but AZM avoids her dropkick, kick by AZM from the apron and she returns to the ring. Mei slowly follows but AZM grabs her as she gets on the apron and hits a hurricanrana to get her back into the ring. Vertical suplex by AZM, she goes up top and nails a diving double footstomp but Mei barely kicks out. AZM picks up Mei and applies La Mistica but Mei gets out of it and the two trade flash pin attempts. Mei applies a series of cradles with no luck, they trade even more flash pins but still neither gets the win. Both wrestlers go off the ropes, AZM rolls Mei to the mat and applies a cradle for the three count! AZM wins and retains the championship.

I started out really liking this match but the ending didn’t do a lot for me. They had pretty good chemistry considering they probably don’t get a lot of chances to practice together, and everything was done very smoothly. But I didn’t really enjoy the last couple minutes of the match just being flash pins – I have nothing against flash pins but after the hard elbows and head-spiking it felt like nothing else mattered up to that point as they just went back and forth on 20+ cradles. A match can be ‘high speed’ without that, as Hazuki showed, and I’d rather they just kept going with the violence. Still an entertaining match, I just wish they had a different plan for how to end it.  Mildly Recommended

(c) Shirakawa, Nakano, and Sayaka vs. Gokigen Death, Iwatani, and Starlight Kid
Artist of Stardom Championship

Mayu and Tam start the match, Mayu gets Tam’s back but Tam spins her off and hits a cutter. Cartwheel kneedrop by Tam, and she covers Mayu for two. Tam goes off the ropes but Starlight Kid grabs her from the apron, Death comes in and all three hit running strikes on Tam in the corner. Snapmare by Mayu and she kicks Tam in the back before tagging in Death, Death puts Tam in a stretch hold but Tam gets into the ropes for the break. Death tags Starlight Kid, scoop slam by Starlight Kid and she covers Tam for two. Knees by Starlight Kid to Tam, Tam goes for a backdrop suplex but Starlight Kid lands on her feet. Tam kicks Starlight Kid in the head, Death and Mayu run in but Tam DDTs both of them. The STARS team rolls out of the ring, Mina and Sayaka come in and help Tam hit a plancha down onto all their opponents. We clip ahead to Sayaka and Death in the ring as the legal wrestlers, Sayaka gets Death on her back but Death gets away and cradles Sayaka for the three count! Unagi Sayaka is eliminated via pinfall.

Tam hits Death from behind, sending Death to her corner as she tags in Starlight Kid. Tilt-a-whirl headscissors by Starlight Kid to Tam, Mayu comes in and they hit double 619s. Standing Moonsault by Starlight Kid, and she covers Tam for two. Starlight Kid picks up Tam but Tam kicks her away, elbow by Starlight Kid and she delivers a cross-legged suplex hold for two. Tam is positioned in the middle of the ring as the members of STARS take turns hitting top rope moves, with Starlight Kid hitting a diving crossbody off of Mayu’s shoulders for two when the pin is broken up. Starlight Kid drags up Tam but Tam blocks the Tiger Suplex, backdrop suplex by Tam and Mina comes in to help. Double strike to Starlight Kid, Tam goes to the top turnbuckle and delivers the Destiny Hammer for two. Tam picks up Starlight Kid and goes for a suplex, but Starlight Kid lands on her feet and nails the Tiger Suplex Hold for the three count! Tam Nakano is eliminated via pinfall.

Mina comes in as the last wrestler on Cosmic Angels, double chop by Mina and she puts Starlight Kid in a stretch hold which is broken up by Mayu. Double vertical suplex to Mina, Mayu sits on the turnbuckle while Starlight Kid goes to get on her shoulders, but Mina recovers and knocks them both off the top turnbuckle. Mina gets a running start and knocks Mayu out of the ring, eliminating her! Mayu Iwatani is eliminated via Over The Top.

Starlight Kid is still on the turnbuckle and dives off with a crossbody onto Mina, getting a two count. Mina plants Starlight Kid with a DDT, she picks up Starlight Kid and elbows her in the head. Irish whip by Mina but Starlight Kid reverses it, Starlight Kid charges Mina but Mina avoids her charge and dumps her onto the apron. Mina kicks at Starlight Kid to try to send her to the floor while Death tries to hold her up, Mina gets a running start and dropkicks Starlight Kid to the floor, eliminating her! Starlight Kid is eliminated via Over The Top.

Now we are down to just Mina and Death. They trade elbows before Mina hits a Side Russian Leg Sweep, dropkick by Mina and she covers Death for two. Mina picks up Death but Death gets away, cradle attempt by Death but Mina reverses it into her own two count. Mina goes off the ropes and hits a Lou Thesz Press, but Death rolls it over into a two count cover. Spinning backfist by Mina, she gets on the top turnbuckle and hits a diving seated senton for two. Mina picks up Death and nails the GSS, cover by Mina and she gets the three count! Cosmic Angels win and retain the championship.

Elimination Matches are a bit of a tough sell for me as they tend to be overly random, but this one I think accomplished its goal of putting over Cosmic Angels and putting a final nail in their split from STARS. As I mentioned at the top, the tag rules are very loose/non-existent as Mayu wasn’t even the legal wrestler when she was eliminated, and the structure was all over the place to get to the final 3 vs. 1 situation. Mina handled her business to retain the titles but it didn’t feel like a title match, more like an early card ‘special attraction’ type match as the Elimination gimmick didn’t do the quality wrestlers in the match any favors. A fun casual watch but nothing more.

(c) Giulia vs. (c) Syuri
Wonder Of Stardom Championship/SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship

Syuri pushes Giulia into the ropes to start, she tackles her instead of giving a clean break but Giulia switches positions with her as they jockey for position. They end up back on their feet, Backstabber by Syuri and she kicks Giulia in the back for a two count cover. Syuri goes off the ropes but Giulia catches her with a slam, she picks up Syuri but Syuri snaps off a German suplex. Giulia returns to her feet and hits a German suplex of her own, but Syuri delivers a running knee and both wrestlers end up down on the mat. They trade elbows as they get back up, Giulia wins the elbow battle as she knocks Syuri back down and stomps on her back. Giulia goes off the ropes but Syuri gets up and hits a step-up enzuigiri, kick to the head by Syuri and Giulia collapses to the mat. Syuri drags Giulia up and kicks her some more, head kick by Syuri and Giulia is out. The referee checks on her as Syuri doesn’t go for a cover, she picks Giulia back up and kicks her repeatedly in the chest. Giulia finally catches one but Syuri gets away and kicks her again anyway, Syuri gets Giulia on her shoulders but Giulia slides off and applies a standing armbar. Syuri gets out of it and hits a Schwein, picking up a two count. Giulia rolls out of the ring but Syuri follows her out, Syuri picks up Giulia and takes her up the ramp, knees by Syuri but Giulia blocks the German suplex. Giulia gets Syuri’s back and drops her with a Glorious Driver, they both slowly crawl back to the ring to try to beat the generous count, with both making it.

Giulia goes off the ropes and delivers a sliding knee, she puts Syuri on the top turnbuckle and joins her, hitting an Avalanche Glorious Buster for a two count. Giulia picks up Syuri and hits a double underhook suplex, but that gets a two as well. Giulia goes for a running boot but Syuri avoids it and applies a sleeper, but Giulia gets out of it with a backdrop suplex. Giulia picks up Syuri but Syuri slides away, Giulia applies a double underhook and nails a Package Piledriver for two. Giulia grabs Syuri but Syuri throws her to the mat, kick to the back by Syuri and she hits a running knee in the corner. Another knee to the back by Syuri and she hits a STO for a two count. Syuri picks up Giulia and hits a German suplex hold, but it gets two. Giulia fires back with a big boot, she goes for a backdrop suplex but Syuri blocks it. Giulia ducks Syuri’s kick and hits one anyway, front dropkick by Giulia and she covers Syuri for two. Giulia picks up Syuri and hits the Glorious Driver II, but Syuri barely gets a shoulder up on the cover. Giulia picks up Syuri but Syuri levels her with a head kick, Buzzsaw Kick by Syuri but Giulia grabs the bottom rope to break up the pin. Syuri drags up Giulia but Giulia headbutts her, spinning backfist by Syuri and both wrestlers are down. Before either moves, the bell rings as time has expired. The match is a Draw.

Some online didn’t like this match due to them getting worked too hard by Giulia’s gimmick and thus hating everything she does, but this was a real quality match. It may have helped I saw the clipped TV version. But this was just non-stop hard hits and big bombs, its matches like this that make me not at all surprised when wrestlers are taped up or retire early as they were really laying it into each other. Since they were going for the Draw, the end stretch was maybe a bit too long but the transitions were so smooth I didn’t mind too much. Giulia having a reversal or back-up plan for everything is fun to watch, such as switching suddenly to the Package Piledriver, as her arsenal is incredibly deep. One of the more exciting matches I’ve seen in the last few months, really entertaining match between two wrestlers with surprisingly good chemistry.  Highly Recommended

(c) Utami Hayashishita vs. Momo Watanabe
World of Stardom Championship

We join this one in progress as Utami throws Momo into the corner, but Momo jumps up on the turnbuckles and hits a tornado DDT. Utami rolls out of the ring to regroup but Momo goes out to the apron and hits a PK. Momo jumps down to the floor and removes the mats at ringside, she grabs Utami but Utami gets away. Momo gets her again however and drops Utami with the B Driver on the exposed floor. Back in the ring, Momo kicks at Utami and covers her for two. Momo picks up Utami and elbows her repeatedly, Momo goes off the ropes and avoids Utami’s dropkick attempt before kicking her in the chest. Momo goes for a dropkick but Utami moves, Momo avoids Utami’s charge as well but Utami knocks over Momo with a hard shoulderblock. Running elbow by Utami in the corner and she hits a dropkick, Utami goes up top and hits a missile dropkick for a two count. Utami picks up Momo and gets her on her shoulders, but Momo slides away. Utami blocks Momo’s kicks and hits a big lariat, Utami picks up Momo and goes for the BT Bomb, but Momo slides away. Utami blocks her suplex attempt and hits a Samoan Drop, she gets on the top turnbuckle but Momo recovers and joins her. Avalanche Uranage by Momo but Utami recovers and hits a Release German.

Momo quickly gets back up and hits a Tequila Sunrise, Utami rolls through it however and they get back up to trade elbows. Utami goes off the ropes but Momo kicks her in the head, Somato to the back by Momo and then from the front for a two count. Momo applies a crossface chicken wing but Utami gets a foot on the ropes for the break, Momo goes up top and delivers the diving Somato for a two count cover. Momo goes back up top but this time Utami hits her before she can jump off and goes up top as well, she gets Momo on her shoulder and drops her with an Avalanche Schwein for a two count. Utami drags Momo up and gets her on her shoulders, she spins her around and slams Momo to the mat for two. Momo goes for a Triangle Choke but Utami quickly powerbombs out of it, she picks up Momo and goes for the BT Bomb, but Momo gets out of it and goes back to the crossface chicken wing. She gets Utami back up and delivers the Tequila Sunrise, but Utami kicks out. Momo picks up Utami and goes for the Peach Sunrise, she nails it but Utami barely gets a shoulder up. Elbows by Momo and she kicks Utami in the head, another head kick by Momo but Utami blocks the next Peach Sunrise attempt and hits a backdrop suplex. Utami grabs Momo around the waist and hits three rolling German suplexes, but it only gets two. Utami picks up Momo, she gets her up in the crucifix and nails the BT Bomb for the three count! Utami Hayashishita wins and retains the championship.

This was probably a little too clipped to get a great feel of the match as a whole, but the 13 minutes or so of the match Samurai TV showed was great. Some are worried about Momo’s future in Stardom but I am not – she may never be the “Ace” but she will always have a good place in the promotion as she is just too good not to. Utami continues to be impressive as well as she seems to grow some in the ring each time I see her. Like the last match, they weren’t holding back as the match was full of hard strikes, big moves, and snug suplexes. As presented, no real downtime whatsoever and it had the urgent feel of a big title match. While I am sure the full match was quite good as well, even as shown here its easy to recommend.  Recommended

The post Stardom Osaka Dream Cinderella on 12/20/20 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: Stardom Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League 2020, Day 6
Date: October 29th, 2020
Location: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 472

Even though this event is in the middle of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, which I am not really paying much attention to, in many ways it is its own independent show which is why I am watching it. Stardom returns to Korakuen Hall with a lesser event than they usually have there but still with two title matches. Plus, these is one low-level match in the Tag League, just to keep the tournament going while more important things are happening. Here is the full card:

• Gokigen Death vs. Hina vs. Rina vs. Ruaka vs. Saki Kashima
• Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League: Hanan and Saya Iida vs. Mina Shirakawa and Tam Nakano
• Bea Priestley, Konami, and Natsuko Tora vs. Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita, and Riho
• Future Of Stardom Championship: Maika vs. Saya Kamitani
• Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid vs. Natsupoi and Syuri
• Wonder Of Stardom Championship: Giulia vs. Himeka

I am watching the Samurai TV! airing, so some matches may be clipped. All the wrestlers on the show have a profile on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it. Onto the matches!

Gokigen Death vs. Hina vs. Rina vs. Ruaka vs. Saki Kashima

Saki leaves the ring before the match starts as Hina is triple teamed, they try to do the pose spot with Death on Hina’s back but it takes Death three tries to do it right. I’d like to say she was just “clowning around” but sadly I think it was a legitimate issue. Anyway, Saki trips Death and Ruaka from the floor and gets back in the ring, just to dropkick Hina. Saki and Rina dropkick Hina and choke her against the rope, double Irish whip to Hina but she avoids both her opponents and Ruaka hits a crossbody on Saki and Rina. Ruaka and Hina get into it, shoulderblock by Ruaka but Death breaks up the count. Death grabs Ruaka’s arm and goes up top, she walks the ropes before hitting an awkward armdrag. Ruaka knocks Death to the mat and boots her in the head, cover by Ruaka and it gets two. Fisherman Suplex Hold by Ruaka, but Saki breaks it up. Hina and Rina return and hit a double STO on Saki followed by a double vertical suplex. Cover by Hina, but Rina breaks it up. They take turns trying to cover Saki with the other breaking it up, Rina picks up Hina and the two trade elbows. Judo toss by Hina, she picks up Rina and applies a cover for two. Hina and Rina trade waistlocks, Ruaka and Death come in but Saki hits a face crusher on both of them. Saki kicks Hina, schoolboy by Rina and she gets the three count! Rina wins!

I was hoping that Saki would just stay outside the ring and refuse to participate in the match but sadly did not get what I want. I also thought Samurai TV! may clip it, but they didn’t, so I was 0 for 2. Pretty harmless action but still with many awkward spots, mostly revolving around Death. I’m not sure the target audience for these types of matches, its not offensive but there isn’t really a reason to watch it either as its clunky and has limited entertainment value.

Hanan and Saya Iida vs. Mina Shirakawa and Tam Nakano

Hanan and Saya attack their opponents from behind before the match starts, they focus on Tam as they tie her in the ropes and double team her. Body press by Hanan to Tam, but it only gets two. Hanan starts on Tam’s leg and puts her in a Figure Four, but Tam quickly gets to the ropes for the break. Hanan kicks Tam in the leg and tags Saya, who continues on the leg work. Mina runs in to break up a submission but Hanan elbows her to the floor, Saya goes off the ropes and she hits a back elbow on Tam for two. Tam fights back and dropkicks Saya, Hanan comes in but Tam catches her with a cutter and makes the hot tag to Mina. Mina hits a lariat on both opponents and she puts Saya in the Romero Special, she lets go after a moment and stomps on Saya’s back. They return to their feet and trade strikes, a battle that Saya wins and she tags in Hanan.

Dropkicks by Hanan to Mina, she picks her up but Mina blocks the slam attempt. Hanan goes off the ropes but Mina hits a Lou Thesz Press, she tags in Tam and Tam kicks Hanan in the midsection. Judo toss by Hanan and she hits a STO, kick to the arm by Hanan and she goes for the cross armbreaker. Tam wiggles to the ropes to get the break, Hanan goes for a slam but Tam blocks it. Saya hits a missile dropkick on Tam while Hanan goes up top and hits a diving crossbody. Bridging fallaway slam by Hanan, but Mina breaks up the cover. Hanan goes off the ropes but Tam catches her with a backdrop suplex, head kick by Tam and she covers Hanan for two. Tam picks up Hanan but Hanan blocks the suplex and cradles Tam for two. Back up, elbows by Hanan and she goes off the ropes, but Tam drills her with a spinning heel kick. Mina comes in and sets up Hanan, and both connect with strikes. Tam goes off the ropes and delivers the Violet Shooting (sliding knee), and she picks up the three count! Mina Shirakawa and Tam Nakano win the match and pick up two points in the tournament.

This was a perfectly acceptable, although not overly exciting, tag team match. The layout was a little all over the place, with the limb work switching limbs for no reason, but its hard to nitpick that kind of thing with the second match on the card. Hanan seems to have shaken off any ring rust she had and actually looks pretty solid, I know normally I trash the child wrestlers but I think she has a lot of potential if she sticks with it. Tam felt “too good” to be in this match but those are the breaks sometimes. For lower card entertainment, a decent little match.

Bea Priestley, Konami, and Natsuko Tora vs. Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita, and Riho

Queen’s Quest attacks before the bell rings as the action spills out to the floor, Oedo Tai takes over control however as Natsuko gets back in the ring with Momo. Natsuko mushes Momo in the corner before picking her up and tagging in Konami. Momo is triple teamed in the corner as Bea is tagged, scoop slam by Bea to Momo but Momo kicks out of the cocky cover. Natsuko returns as she bootscrapes Momo against the ropes, Momo avoids Bea’s next strike but Bea kicks her in the head. Bea jumps up to the top turnbuckle but Momo catches her with a side slam for a two count. Momo goes for the crossface chickenwing but Natsuko quickly breaks it up, Utami runs in too and drops Bea with an Argentine Slam. Riho helps as well before Momo picks up Bea and nails the Tequila Sunrise, but Saki Kashima pulls the referee out of the ring. Meanwhile, Bea hits a jumping knee on Momo and Natsuko hits Momo with her chain. Natsuko hangs Momo over the top turnbuckle with the chain for a moment before pulling her back into the ring, Bea gets Momo up for the Queen’s Landing and nails it, but the referee sees the chain around Momo’s neck and instead of counting he calls for the DQ. Your winner by the referee suddenly learning how to notice things is Queen’s Quest!

The issue here isn’t that they found a ‘way out’ of having someone take a pin in a meaningless midcard tag, but how they did it. Stardom referees are like referees in every promotion – they aren’t the smartest bunch. This reminded me of WWF back in in the day briefly having a “smart” referee that noticed things, and the idea failed as it just led to annoying inconsistencies match to match. Natsuko uses her chain a lot, and the referee has seen her use it before and didn’t DQ her. But here the referee didn’t even see it being used, just saw it on Momo and called for the bell. Its not lazy, as they could have had the referee just see her hanging Momo and DQ her there, its just poorly thought out. Anyway, the match was too short (and slightly clipped) to get excited about so I decided to just discuss the ending for a paragraph, which obviously I didn’t like.

(c) Maika vs. Saya Kamitani
Future of Stardom Championship

They immediately get into it as they trade elbows, dropkick by Saya and Maika falls out of the ring. Saya charges the ropes before slingshotting to the apron and hitting a moonsault down to the floor. Saya picks up Maika but Maika catches her with a scoop slam on the floor. Maika slides Saya back in and stands on her back, Maika flings Saya around the ring before hitting a STO for a two count cover. Maika throws Saya into the corner but Saya avoids her charge, Maika rolls Saya to the mat and puts her in a Camel Clutch. Saya gets to the ropes to force the break, Maika picks her up and goes off the ropes but Saya does a double backflip and dropkicks Maika to the mat. Jumping knee by Saya in the corner and she delivers another dropkick for a two count. Crab hold by Saya but Maika gets to the ropes, Saya picks up Maika but Maika elbows her in the chest. They trade elbow strikes until Maika smashes Saya to the mat, Maika gets Saya back up but Saya slaps her.

Pump Kick by Saya and they trade boots, hard elbows by Saya but Maika knocks her over with a lariat. Saya quickly returns to her feet and delivers a pump kick, and both wrestlers end up down on the mat. Saya elbows Maika before she can get back up but Maika catches her with a till-a-whirl backbreaker. STO by Maika, but Saya kicks out of the cover. Maika picks up Saya and gets her on her shoulders, but Saya slides away. Jumping heel kick by Saya, she goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick. Running Shooting Star Press by Saya, but Maika gets a shoulder up. Saya picks up Maika and hits the Fisherman Driver, but Maika gets a shoulder up on the cover. Saya goes to the top turnbuckle but Maika recovers and joins her, hitting a superplex back to the mat. Maika quickly picks up Saya and hits another suplex, getting a two count cover. Maika spins Saya up on her shoulders but Saya cradles her for two, Maika levels Saya with a lariat and finally hits the Enka Otoshi for the three count! Maika wins and retains the championship.

What these two lack in experience (and it does show sometimes) they make up for by presenting something different and entertaining even if it is sometimes a little rough around the edges. Everything Stardom does is so smooth its almost refreshing to have Saya Kamitani, who has more of a kamikaze style where not everything she does is crisp yet but she always goes out to entertain and amuse. Maika has really improved her offense in the last few months and everything she does is so tight, even if her finishing move probably is too convoluted for its own good. They both fought with a lot of passion and fire, with their strike exchanges being really good, and both hitting bigger and bigger moves to one-up the other was fun to watch. This is a fitting title for them to be battling over – neither are ready for the White or Red belt but they are close and will get there if they continue to improve. An entertaining match, looking forward to seeing these two continue to get better and better.  Recommended

Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid vs. Natsupoi and Syuri

Unlike the other tag matches on this event, this one started civilly. Mayu and Syuri begin for their teams, Syuri gets Mayu into the ropes but she gives a clean break. They trade wristlocks but end up in a stalemate, and both wrestlers tag out. Natsupoi and Starlight Kid go into a quicker exchange as they bounce off the ropes and trade armdrags, Starlight Kid wins the duel with a dropkick and Mayu comes into the ring to help. Double dropkick to Natsupoi and Starlight Kid hits a footstomp for a two count. Starlight Kid tags Mayu, dropkick by Mayu and she kicks Syuri off the apron. Mayu cradles Natsupoi to the mat and delivers a sliding kick, but Syuri comes in to try to help. She doesn’t, as Mayu hits a double springboard armdrag on them, then with Starlight Kid they hit a double 619. Starlight Kid and Mayu both hit standing moonsaults on their respective opponents, Mayu picks up Natsupoi and applies a double wrist-clutch armsault for a two count. Mayu goes off the ropes but Natsupoi catches her with a superkick, giving her time to tag Syuri. Syuri kicks Mayu into the corner and hits a running knee, DDT by Syuri and she covers Mayu for two. Back up they trade elbows, kicks by Syuri but Mayu kicks her in the midsection. A head kick sends them both to the mat, they get back up and Syuri hits a release German. Mayu fires back with the Dodonpa, she gets back up first and superkicks Syuri before tagging in Starlight Kid.

Starlight Kid goes up top and hits a diving crossbody on Syuri, Irish whip by Starlight Kid and she hits a spinning headscissors. She charges Syuri in the corner but Syuri moves, another tilt-a-whirl headscissors by Starlight Kid and she dropkicks Syuri for a two count. Starlight Kid goes off the ropes but Natsupoi cuts her off with a dropkick, double arm suplex by Syuri and she slams Natsupoi onto Starlight Kid. Syuri and Natsupoi both kick Starlight Kid before Syuri hits a PK, but Mayu breaks up the cover. Syuri picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid slides away, superkick by Mayu to Syuri and Starlight Kid delivers a satellite DDT. Cross-legged suplex hold by Starlight Kid, but Syuri barely gets a shoulder up. Backstabber by Starlight Kid, Mayu then comes off the top with a double footstomp to Syuri. Swivel Body Press by Starlight Kid, but Natsupoi breaks up the cover. Starlight Kid picks up Syuri and goes for Ki-chan Bomb, but Natsupoi dropkicks her to break it up. Running knee by Syuri, and she covers Starlight Kid for two. Syuri puts Starlight Kid in the Scorpion Deathlock, but Mayu breaks it up. Natsupoi comes in and takes care of Mayu, Syuri picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid gets away and they trade flash pins. Starlight Kid goes off the ropes but Syuri kicks her in the head, Syuri puts Starlight Kid in the Seiryu and Starlight Kid submits! Syuri and Natsupoi are the winners.

This was clipped on the Samurai TV broadcast, which shows the level of importance this match was, but I still enjoyed it. We need to now stop talking about Starlight Kid as “getting better” and being “almost ready” and switch to “she’s great” and “she’s ready.” She didn’t seem out of place at all when in the ring with more experienced wrestlers and still managed to shine, and its fun to see Mayu doing Starlight Kid’s spots with her as it shows she isn’t just a sidekick. Natsupoi didn’t get a chance to do much as she wasn’t the focus of the match (at least the portion we saw) but everything she did looked fine. Its hard to really get into a flow with parts of the matches clipped but the teams worked together well so they came across as real partners and not thrown together singles wrestlers, which I always appreciate. A pretty insignificant match to be one spot from the top, but still solid action. Mildly Recommended

(c) Giulia vs. Himeka
Wonder of Stardom Championship

Himeka attacks Giulia right at the start, lariats by Himeka and she goes for the running powerbomb, but Giulia punches out of it. Himeka goes off the ropes but Giulia ducks the lariat, Giulia grabs Himeka by the hair but Himeka spins away. Armdrag by Giulia and she hits a dropkick, big boot by Giulia and Himeka falls out of the ring to the floor. Giulia goes out after her, Himeka tries to hit a lariat but hits the ring post by mistake. Giulia rams Himeka’s arm into the post before throwing her into the railing, Giulia eventually slides Himeka back into the ring and continues working on her arm. Giulia puts Himeka in a cross-legged chinlock, curb stomp by Giulia and she covers Himeka for two. Irish whip by Giulia but Himeka reverses it, she charges in but Giulia moves out of the way. Big boot by Giulia and she hits a neckbreaker, cover by Giulia but it gets two. Himeka catches Giulia with a chokebomb to regain the advantage, crab hold by Himeka but Giulia gets to the ropes for the break. Himeka goes off the ropes and hits a knee to the back, backbreaker by Himeka and she covers Giulia for a two count.

Himeka gets Giulia on her shoulders but Giulia slides off, Giulia puts Himeka in an armbar that I can’t fully describe but Himeka gets to the ropes. Giulia goes up top and hits a missile dropkick to the back of Himeka’s head, Giulia scrapes Himeka’s face but Himeka fires back with a lariat. Himeka picks up Giulia and the two trade elbows, Giulia elbows Himeka to her knees and goes off the ropes, but Himeka catches her with a lariat. While on their knees they trade slaps, headbutt by Giulia and both wrestlers end up back on the mat. Himeka hits a big knee once they get up but Giulia delivers a big boot for a two count. Giulia goes for a backdrop suplex but Himeka blocks it, boot by Giulia and she hits a Michinoku Driver for two. Giulia goes up top but Himeka recovers and joins her, Himeka goes for a powerbomb but Giulia blocks it. Giulia gets Himeka’s back while still on the top turnbuckle and applies an armbar, but Himeka has none of that and hits an avalanche Samoan Drop. Cover by Himeka, but it gets a two count.

Himeka picks up Giulia and gets her on her shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker, she slams Giulia to the mat from the hold but Giulia gets a shoulder up on the cover. Himeka picks up Giulia and nails a folding powerbomb, but Giulia reverses the cover into an attempted triangle choke. Himeka tries to powerbomb out of it but Giulia keeps a hold on the arm and puts Himeka in the Stealth Viper. Himeka is too close to the ropes and makes it there for the break, Giulia picks up Himeka but Himeka blocks whichever Glorious Driver she wanted to do and hits a backdrop suplex. Sliding lariat by Himeka, she picks up Giulia and goes for the running powerbomb, but Himeka hurricanranas out of it for two. Running kick by Giulia but Himeka fires back with a lariat, she picks up Giulia but Giulia slides behind her and hits a Release German. Himeka gets back up but Giulia boots her in the face, shining kick by Giulia and she hits a backdrop suplex for two. Giulia drags up Himeka and nails the Glorious Driver II, and she gets the three count! Giulia wins and retains the championship.

A pretty great match between two young and hungry wrestlers. Himeka may be new to Stardom but she is legit, she’s put a lot of effort into improving since joining the promotion and it shows. She was able to hang with Giulia without any issues and they really did feel like equals, even though in the hierarchy Giulia is slotted a spot or two higher on a normal day. Everything they hit was on point and there were more snug strikes than I could count, both clearly are comfortable enough with each other to lay it on. The ending felt perfect, with Himeka’s final wind immediately being greeted by a boot to the face and Giulia hitting a good string of moves to keep Himeka down. I really have nothing bad to say about the match, it was exciting from bell to bell with no obvious flaws or down points. Definitely worth tracking down.  Highly Recommended

The post Stardom Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League on 10/29/20 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: Stardom Yokohama Cinderella
Date: October 3rd, 2020
Location: Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama, Japan
Announced Attendance: 1,007

For Stardom, this is a massive event at Yokohama Budokan, as they stack the card with surprises and title matches. Four titles are on the line here, although the High Speed, Trios, and Future of Stardom championships are not represented (Stardom has a lot of titles). We have two matches with “mystery opponents” plus the random one night return of former Stardom wrestler Yuna Manase. At the top of the card, both major single titles are being defended, and we will crown a new SWA Undisputed Women Women’s Champion after the title was vacated due to Jamie Hayter not being able to travel. On top of that, Oedo Tai and Tokyo Cyber Squad battle it out to see which faction will have to disband…… forever! Here is the full card:

• High Speed Championship: AZM vs. Starlight Kid
• Hanan vs. X (Mina Shirakawa)
• Natsu Sumire and Yuna Manase vs. Riho and Saya Iida
• Death Yama-san vs. X (Natsupoi)
• SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship: Bea Priestley vs. Momo Watanabe
• Losing Unit Must Disband Match: Jungle Kyona and Konami vs. Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima
• Goddesses Of Stardom Championship: Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita vs. Himeka and Maika
• Wonder Of Stardom Championship: Giulia vs. Tam Nakano
• World Of Stardom Championship: Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri

Big show! Since it was shown on PPV and was uploaded on Stardom World, all matches will be shown on full. You can click on the wrestler’s name above to go straight to their profile on Joshi City.

AZM vs. Starlight Kid

Starlight Kid goes off the ropes to start but AZM dropkicks her to the mat, stomps by AZM and she Irish whips Starlight Kid from the corner and dropkicks her to a seated position. AZM flips Starlight Kid back to the middle of the ring and performs a cocky cover, scoop slam by AZM near the ropes and she stands on her arm. Slingshot footstomp to the arm by AZM, and she covers Starlight Kid for two. Starlight Kid tries to fight back with elbows but AZM levels her, AZM picks up Starlight Kid and Irish whips her but Starlight Kid jumps out to the apron and elbows AZM as she charges in. DDT onto the apron by Starlight Kid, AZM falls out of the ring and Starlight Kid goes up top and dives down onto her with a plancha. Starlight Kid picks up AZM and slides her back into the ring, she goes off the ropes and hits the Tiger Feint Kick. Standing moonsault by Starlight Kid, but it gets a two count. Starlight Kid Irish whips AZM to the corner but AZM rebounds out of it with a dropkick, vertical suplex by AZM and she covers Starlight Kid for two.

Fujiwara Armbar by AZM but Starlight Kid quickly gets to the ropes, AZM goes up top but Starlight Kid avoids the diving footstomp. Starlight Kid catches AZM’s kick and delivers a dropkick, Backstabber by Starlight Kid out of the corner and she goes up top, but AZM recovers and joins her. Starlight Kid boots AZM back to the mat and delivers the swivel body press, but AZM kicks out and kicks her in the head. AZM then goes up top and hits the diving footstomp, but it gets a two count. Back up, head kick by AZM but Starlight Kid snaps off a DDT, and both wrestlers are down on the mat. They both kip-up and trade elbows, Starlight Kid charges AZM but AZM kicks her in the head and sits on the top turnbuckle. Kick to the arm by AZM and she hits another diving footstomp, but again it gets two. AZM picks up Starlight Kid and hits La Mistica, she switches it to a seated armbar but Starlight Kid gets a foot on the ropes for the break. AZM picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid reverses the triple jump move into a Codebreaker, cross-legged suplex by Starlight Kid but AZM kicks out at two.

Starlight Kid picks up AZM but AZM blocks the Ki-chan Bomb, Starlight Kid ducks AZM’s kicks however and delivers another Codebreaker. Tiger Feint Kick to the back by Starlight Kid and she nails the Ki-chan Bomb, but AZM is too close to the ropes and gets a foot on one to break up the count. Starlight Kid goes to the second turnbuckle but AZM avoids the moonsault, they trade flash pins but neither can get the three count. Kick to the head by Starlight Kid, she goes to the top turnbuckle but AZM joins her, slamming her arm-first down to the mat. Cross armbreaker by AZM, but Starlight Kid gets to the ropes. AZM goes back to the second turnbuckle and hits a diving footstomp to Starlight Kid’s arm, she pulls Starlight Kid to the corner and hits an armbreaker to the mat. Double armbar by AZM, she switches it to another modified armbreaker hold and Starlight Kid has to submit! AZM wins and is still the champion.

A great way to kick off the show. I liked that AZM’s focus on the arm wasn’t just for killing time or for the fun of it, but it continued to be her main target and then she won the match with an arm submission. What else could one ask for? Normally the opener in Stardom doesn’t try to steal the show but they still put on some high flying moves to show they weren’t just two kids putting on an exhibition, and both hit their moves flawlessly. There were a few weird selling parts, which they will get better at as they continue having longer and more important matches, but overall I thought this delivered. An entertaining match between two of the promotion’s best rising stars.  Recommended

Hanan vs. Mina Shirakawa

They tie-up to start and trade wristlocks, Hanan gets Mina to the mat but Mina gains the dominate position as they trade holds. Irish whip by Mina and she hits an armdrag, she goes for a submission but Hanan quickly crawls to the ropes for the break. Mina goes off the ropes but Hanan catches her with a dropkick, dropkick in the corner by Hanan and she covers Mina for two. Hanan goes for a cross armbreaker but Mina blocks it, Hanan stomps on Mina’s arm but Mina elbows her and the two trade blows. Jumping double chop by Mina and she hits an elbow in the corner followed by another double chop for a two count cover. Mina puts Hanan in the Mexican Surfboard before releasing her after a moment, Mina goes off the ropes but Hanan hits a judo toss. STO by Hanan and she hits a double wrist armsault for two. Hanan goes off the ropes but Mina hits a Lou Thesz Press for two. Hanan ducks Mina’s back elbow and cradles her for two, Hanan goes off the ropes but Mina hits the backfist. Mina goes up top the top turnbuckle and hits a twisting crossbody, Impact DDT by Mina and she covers Hanan for the three count! Mina Shirakawa is the winner.

Its an odd choice to me to have Mina debut for the promotion and have a back-and-forth match with a 16 year old. Clearly Mina isn’t going to be used towards the top of the card and knowing that Stardom is also an “idol” promotion I think we all know the reason that Mina is here. The match had nothing wrong with it, it was technically sound and Hanan seems to have worked the rust off after her time off. This felt more like an opener, a slightly confusing match but non-offensive.

Natsu Sumire and Yuna Manase vs. Riho and Saya Iida

Riho and Saya attack before the bell rings and isolate Yuna, double teaming her. Yuna regains the advantage and lariats both of them, Yuna picks up Saya and hits a scoop slam. Yuna tags in Natsu, Natsu comes in with her whip and hits Saya in the midsection with it. Natsu throws Saya into the corner and mounts her, Yuna comes in to help but Riho breaks it up. Natsu hits the gyrating bronco buster on Saya while Yuna keeps Riho occupied, Natsu tags in Yuna, lariat by Yuna to Saya and she covers her for two. Saya fights back and goes for a scoop slam, but Yuna blocks it and hits a slam of her own. Yuna throws Saya into the corner and hits a lariat, big boot by Yuna and she covers Saya for another two count. Saya finally hits a slam and makes the hot tag to Riho, spinning headscissors by Riho to Yuna and she follows with a Tiger Feint Kick. Riho gets on the top turnbuckle and hits a diving crossbody, but Yuna rolls through it and throws Riho to the mat.

Yuna kicks Riho in the back before sitting on Riho for a two count. Yuna goes off the ropes but Riho rolls her to the mat and hits a footstomp. She tags in Saya, dropkick by Saya and she chops Yuna against the ropes. Yuna returns with shots of her own but Saya chops Yuna to the mat, they both go off the ropes and Yuna delivers a lariat. That gives her time to tag in Natsu, knees by Natsu and she boots Saya while she is against the ropes. Bridging slam by Natsu, but it gets a two count. Riho runs in to help her partner and they both dropkick Natsu, Saya goes up top and hits a missile dropkick on Natsu for two. Saya picks up Natsu but Natsu blocks the Northern Lights Suplex, DDT by Natsu and she connects with the Shining Wizard. Natsu picks up Saya and drops her with the Demon, but Riho quickly breaks up the cover. Yuna shoulderblocks Riho, Natsu gets her whip but Saya avoids it and dropkicks her. Elbows by Natsu and Yuna comes in, but she boots Natsu by accident. Saya picks up Natsu and nails the Northern Lights Suplex, picking up the three count Riho and Saya Iida are the winners!

One of the issues with many Joshi fans online is an unwillingness to admit when a wrestler isn’t good in-ring. Even wrestlers that clearly aren’t very skilled are heavily praised, in cases starting ironically but then somehow becoming real just from persistently being said over a long period of time. I set that up to say – Yuna Manase and Natsu Sumire both aren’t very good wrestlers. Yuna has never been good, there is a reason she jumps from promotion to promotion and if anyone else but Natsu was doing whipping and gyrating bronco busters (particularly to children) everyone would be up in arms about how overly sexual and inappropriate it is. But I don’t get paid to lie (or at all) so the fact of the matter is this match had three ‘average to below average’ wrestlers and Riho, who is good but not good enough to drag everyone else to a good match. I don’t know why his match happened, this combination of wrestlers will never be in the ring together again (hopefully) and we can move on.

Death Yama-san vs. Natsupoi

Death of course poses off the start while Natsupoi ignores her, Natsupoi finally gets into it with her as they go off the ropes before Natsupoi hits an armdrag. Natsupoi throws down Death by the hair a few times, stomps by Natsupoi in the corner but Death grabs her by the nose. Death applies an abdominal stretch (while posing of course), she lets go after a moment and throws Natsupoi into the corner, but Natsupoi boots her when she charges in. Dropkick by Natsupoi but Death hits a throat trust, running senton by Death and she covers Natsupoi for two. Death goes for a suplex but Natsupoi lands on her feet and applies a tilt-a-whirl into a standing armbar. Death gets into the ropes for the break, cradle by Natsupoi but it gets two. Dropkicks by Natsupoi, she goes off the ropes and dropkicks Death in the head. Natsupoi goes up top and hits a diving crossbody, picking up a two count. Natsupoi goes for a neckbreaker but Death rolls out of it, Natsupoi hits a running neckbreaker but Death reverses the cover into a cradle of her own for two. Superkick by Natsupoi, and she nails a German Suplex Hold for the three count! Natsupoi is the winner.

Even though the match was a joke, Natsupoi looked really good as she tends to do so I wouldn’t consider it a wasted debut. Making a grand return to Stardom against a comedy wrestler is still an odd decision for Natsumi and there had to have been better options, but she made the best out of the situation and showed that she belongs. I look forward to more matches with Natsumi in the future, hopefully ones that will last longer and will be against better opponents.

Bea Priestley vs. Momo Watanabe
SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship

They immediately get into it trading elbows, Momo goes for a dropkick but Bea avoids it and stomps her in the back. Momo throws Bea out of the ring and goes out after her, snapmare by Momo and she kicks Bea in the back. Momo puts Bea on the apron and goes for the B Driver, but Bea blocks it. Kicks to the chest by Momo but Bea avoids one and Momo kicks the ring post by mistake. Bea pulls Momo back to the floor and stomps on her leg, she picks up Momo and throws her into the ring apron. Bea returns to the ring but Momo follows, Bea twists Momo’s leg around the bottom rope and stomps on it some more. Bea picks up Momo and throws her into the corner, as she continues working on her leg. Bea picks up Momo and hits a scoop slam, cover by Bea but it gets a two count. Bea keeps on Momo’s leg, Irish whip by Bea to the corner but Momo avoids her charge and delivers a dropkick. Another dropkick by Momo, she gets on the second turnbuckle and dropkicks Bea in the back. PK by Momo and she kicks Bea in the corner, cover by Momo but it gets two. Momo applies the chickenwing but Bea blocks the suplex, she rolls Momo to the mat and applies a kneelock. Momo gets out of it, Bea picks her up and hits a snap suplex for two.

Bea sets up Momo’s leg across the rope and goes up top, but Momo recovers and elbows her before she can jump off. Bea knocks her back but Momo catches her coming off the top and delivers a uranage. Momo picks up Bea, kick combination by Momo and she puts Bea on the top turnbuckle. Momo joins her and goes for a B Driver, but Bea flips over her and goes for a powerbomb. Momo blocks it but Bea then goes for a German suplex, which Momo blocks as well. Momo turns around and hits a Diving Somato, picking up a two count. B Driver by Momo, but that gets a two count as well. Momo picks up Bea and puts her on the turnbuckles again, but Bea slides away and superkicks Momo in the head. Queen’s Landing attempt by Bea but Momo rolls out of it, Knee by Momo and she covers Bea for two. Momo applies the chickenwing, release suplex by Momo and she delivers a Somato for a two count. Momo goes for a head kick Bea catches her leg, Momo goes for a suplex but Bea blocks it. Dragon Screw Leg Whip by Bea and she nails the Bea Trigger, Regal Plex by Bea but Momo kicks out at two. Bea hits another Bea Trigger in the corner, she gets Momo on the turnbuckles and drops her with the Queen’s Landing, picking up the three count! Bea Priestley is the new champion!

While I probably could have done without such a focus on the leg work in such a short title match, overall this was really good. Bea’s leg work was excellent but Momo didn’t do a whole lot to sell it when it wasn’t actively being worked on, which only matters when it is such a big part of the match. But Bea didn’t forget as really she set up the end run by hitting the Dragon Screw, so I appreciate her dedication to it. Besides the leg selling issue, Momo looked great and is stealthily one of the best wrestlers in Stardom, even if she doesn’t get much of a chance to show it. Everything looked crisp and they kept the match moving, which is good since it was only ten minutes long. I wish they could have gotten more time and a better spot on the card, but still an entertaining match between two quality wrestlers.  Mildly Recommended

Jungle Kyona and Konami vs. Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima

Oedo Tai set up a little chair tower in the corner before the match started, which I appreciate so they don’t waste time during the match doing it. Oedo Tai attacks before the match starts, Jungle fights back against Natsuko and the two trade blows. Jungle tries to throw Natsuko into the chair tower but Natsuko slams on the breaks, Konami returns but Natsuko spears both of them. Saki comes in and they both throw Jungle into the chair tower in the corner, Natsuko hits Jungle in the midsection with a chair and Saki hits a facebuster onto it. Senton by Natsuko and a cover, but it gets a two count. Saki chokes Jungle with the chair and then hits both Konami and Jungle with one, she puts the chair on both of them and Natsuko hits a senton. Saki throws Jungle into the corner and tags in Natsuko (I guess this match has tags), Natsuko throws down Jungle by the hair, bootscrapes by Natsuko and she hits a running boot. Natsuko and Saki both try to suplex Jungle but Jungle reverses it into her own double suplex, giving her time to tag in Konami.

Konami delivers strikes on both opponents before putting Saki in a leg submission, Natsuko breaks it up but Konami kicks her in the head. Saki cradles Konami before kicking her, double arm suplex by Saki but it gets two. Konami catches a Saki kick and applies an ankle hold, but Saki quickly gets out of it and hits a hurricanrana. Running boot by Saki and she tags Natsuko, running elbow by Natsuko in the corner and she hits the cannonball. Samoan Drop by Natsuko, but it gets two. Natsuko gets a chain and puts it down on the mat, she picks up Konami and tries to slam her onto it, but Konami slides away. Kicks by Konami and she hits a German suplex onto the chain for a two count cover. Konami tags Jungle, shoulderblocks by Jungle to Natsuko but Natsuko doesn’t go down. She finally knocks Natsuko over, Jungle throws Natsuko into the corner but Natsuko avoids her charge. Saki comes in but they get stacked in the corner as all of TCS come in the ring to hit running strikes. Jungle goes to the top turnbuckle and hits the diving body press, but Natsuko barely kicks out. Jungle goes for the Hammer Throw Bomb but Natsuko gets away, Jungle goes off the ropes but Natsuko catches her with a lariat for two.

Natsuko gets her chain and chokes Jungle with it, but Konami breaks it up. Kick by Konami to Natsuko but Natsuko levels her with a lariat, swinging side slam by Natsuko to Jungle and she covers her for two. Saki and Bea set up a table, Jungle is put on the table as Natsuko goes up top, but she is grabbed from the apron which gives time for Jungle to recover. Jungle sets up Natsuko for a powerbomb while Konami simultaneously hits a missile dropkick, but Natsuko barely kicks out. They set the table back up while Jungle picks up Natsuko, Jungle drags Natsuko onto the table with her and drops her with a piledriver. Cover by Jungle, but Saki breaks it up by chucking a chair at her. Natsuko tags in Saki, she hits Jungle with the chair and puts it on top of her before hitting a diving footstomp. Konami comes in with a chair but Saki knocks it away form her, she goes to hit Konami with her own chair but stops. Konami picks up a chair but she hits her own partner Jungle with it, Kishikaisei by Saki to Jungle and she picks up the three count! Oedo Tai wins the match and Tokyo Cyber Squad must disband!

I am going to try not to go on a rant so I’ll keep it brief. As wrestling fans we have accepted that some things don’t make sense and are just tropes we deal with, but matches like this take it a bit too far for me. I don’t mind partners turning on each other but it should be early in the match, or part as a run-in, not after 13 minutes. If Konami was going to change sides there were many many nearfalls that could have ended the match prior to her turn and she beat the crap out of her future partners – its just a major logic jump for a partner to ‘play along’ for that long. I don’t mind the heel turn, but I would have preferred she just not be in the match and do it via interference if that was the way they were going.

Anyway, complaints of the structure aside, this was actually a really good ‘hardcore’ style match. They fought like four people that hated each other (which is part of the issue with my above point) as they were using weapons whenever possible but not taking excessive time in the process. There weren’t any long beatdown segments or slow parts, there was non-stop action and everything they did made sense. Jungle was fighting with a lot of passion and in general I thought their ‘acting’ was good as the match felt important. The illogical way they went about the turn brings down the match some for me, but the action was great and its worth watching in that regard for sure.  Mildly Recommended

(c) Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita vs. Himeka and Maika
Goddesses of Stardom Championship

Utami and Maika start the match, they start slow as they trade holds until Utami shoulderblocks Maika to the mat. Saya comes in and they double team Maika, she leaves after a moment as Utami stomps on Maika. She tags Saya, stomps by Saya in the corner but Maika blocks the scoop slam attempt and hits one of her own. Maika tags Himeka and they double team Saya in the corner, Himeka tosses Saya around by her hair before hitting a scoop slam. Himeka picks up Saya and hits another slam before tagging Maika back in, slam by Maika and she stands on Saya’s back. Maika didn’t need help but Himeka comes in anyway, PK by Himeka and Maika covers Saya for two. Saya flips away from Maika and delivers a dropkick, giving her time to tag in Utami. Hard shoulderblocks by Utami but Maika gets her to the mat and applies an armbar. Utami wiggles to the ropes and makes it to force the break, Maika goes off the ropes and boots Utami in the head. STO by Maika and she tags Himeka, lariat by Himeka in the corner and she knees Utami in the face for a two count. Crab hold by Himeka but it gets quickly broken up, Saya stays in but Himeka stacks them in the corner and hits a lariat. Himeka puts both Utami and Saya up on the corner before putting both in an Argentine Backbreaker.

She drops them after a moment and puts Utami in a crab hold, but Utami gets to the ropes. Utami slips away from Utami and dropkicks her, hip toss by Utami and she hits a STO for two. Sleeper by Utami but Maika gets a foot on the ropes for the break, Utami picks up Himeka and tries to put her in the Argentine Backbreaker, but Himeka blocks it and hits a lariat. Utami stays up as they both trade lariats, Himeka knocks over Utami first but Utami quickly gets back up and returns the favor. They keep trading lariats until they both collapse to the mat, Utami makes the hot tag first and Saya hits a diving crossbody onto Himeka. Saya goes up top again and hits a missile dropkick, cover by Saya but it gets two. Himeka knocks down Saya with a lariat, Maika comes in and they both hit sliding strikes to Saya. Cover by Himeka, but it gets two. Himeka positions Saya and goes up top, and with Maika’s help she hits a front flip senton for a two count. Himeka picks up Saya and puts her in the Argentine Backbreaker, she slams Saya in front of her but Utami breaks up the cover. Himeka goes for the powerbomb but Utami breaks it up with a lariat. Release German by Utami to Himeka but Maika lariats her, Maika jumps back onto the apron so that Himeka can tag her in.

Maika tosses Saya around the ring but Saya recovers and slaps Maika, elbows by Saya but Maika knocks her back to the mat. Saya gets back up and they trade elbows again until Maika hits a side slam for two. Maika goes for a suplex but Saya reverses it into a guillotine choke, Maika muscles out of it however and still hits the vertical suplex. Maika goes off the ropes but Saya catches her with a dropkick, crab hold by Saya but Maika gets to the ropes. Saya goes up top but Maika joins her, hitting a superplex down to the mat. Cover by Maika, but Utami breaks it up. Maika goes off the ropes but Saya dropkicks her, kneedrop by Saya and she charges Maika but Maika catches her with a slam. Cross-arm STO by Maika, but Utami makes the save. Maika picks up Saya but Saya slides away and delivers a heel kick. Saya positions Maika and delivers the running Shooting Star Press, but Maika barely kicks out. Fisherman Driver by Saya, but Himeka runs in and breaks up the cover. Utami joins Saya and they hit the Magic Killer onto Maika, Saya goes to the top turnbuckle and she hits the Phoenix Splash! Cover by Saya, and she gets the three count! Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita are still the champions.

One thing that always fascinates me about Utami tag team matches is her partner always seems to do the bulk of the work. Saya was both the Face in Peril and the one that got the last hot tag, as she spent far more time in the ring. Since I love Utami, I’d like to see more of her but I liked her segments with Himeka and she hit a boss German suplex so I’ll let it slide. This match did have an identity issue, for a match that got plenty of time they didn’t really have a story to tell. The submissions were random and without meaning, and Saya seemed to be dominated for the bulk of the match before suddenly winning after hitting a few moves in a row. The action was really good though even if it wasn’t always cohesive, and they didn’t wrestle like a bunch of wrestlers early in their careers. A fun hard hitting match, didn’t quite reach that upper level but entertaining nonetheless.  Recommended

(c) Giulia vs. Tam Nakano
Wonder of Stardom Championship

They charge each other to start and immediately start throwing elbows, they go off the ropes and Tam elbows Giulia to the mat. Giulia gets back up and catches a Tam kick, Tam connects with the next one however and throws Giulia into the corner. Giulia avoids her charge and boots Tam in the corner, DDT by Giulia and she covers Tam for two. Giulia goes up top but Tam joins her, they trade slaps until Tam kicks Giulia in the head, sending her down to the floor. Tam goes back up top and dives out onto Giulia with a plancha, Tam slides Giulia back in but Giulia goes back to the apron. Tam grabs her and applies a dragon sleeper over the top rope, the referee gets her to break it so Tam tries to suplex Giulia back to the mat. Giulia blocks it and elbows her, she turns around while still on the turnbuckle and applies a stretch hold while still perched up top. They finally leave the turnbuckles with a powerbomb by Giulia, she goes back up again but Tam grabs her from behind and hits a German suplex off the turnbuckles.

They both slowly recover and trade elbows, backslide by Giulia and she knees Tam. Giulia puts Tam on the top turnbuckle and joins her, hitting a Glorious Buster down to the mat for a two count cover. Giulia picks up Tam and she goes for another one, but Tam blocks it. Heel kick by Tam but she is too hurt to capitalize, they get to their knees and trade strikes. As they get up, Tam hits a German Suplex Hold and then a Tiger Suplex Hold, but Giulia kicks out at two. Tam picks up Giulia but Giulia snaps off a backdrop suplex, she goes for the Stealth Viper and gets it locked in, but Tam barely gets a foot on the bottom rope to break it up. Giulia drags up Tam but Tam headbutts her, Tam charges Giulia but Giulia gets her in a headlock. Michinoku Driver by Giulia, she goes off the ropes and boots Tam in the head. Tam fires back with a heel kick, more kicks by Tam but Giulia boots her to the mat for a two count. Giulia quickly picks up Tam and drops her with the Glorious Driver, but Tam quickly kicks out. Giulia charges Tam but Tam schoolboys her for a two count. Front dropkick by Giulia, she picks up Tam and hits a final Glorious Driver for the three count! Giulia wins and retains the championship.

I have to say, they wanted to go in a certain direction with this match and they certainly went for it. From the start they were throwing bombs and doing high impact moves, as it felt like 20% of the match took place with one or the other (or both) on the top turnbuckle attempting to do something extra painful. It was a 15 minute dash with little time for breathing, which sometimes is needed just to let the moves have more of an impact with the viewer. They both showed off their toughness, and the match was smooth, it just felt at times like they were trying to do too much to try to one-up their previous match. Giulia stayed in control which made sense as she was the favorite going in, and she came across like she deserves to be in one of the top spots in the promotion. Certainly an entertaining match with a lot of memorable spots, it just needed a little more of a break at some point to let their moves have more meaning.  Recommended

(c) Mayu Iwatani vs. Syuri
World of Stardom Championship

Syuri pushes Mayu into the ropes to start and they end up on the mat as they jockey for position. Syuri goes for a cross armbreaker but Mayu blocks it, Syuri goes for Mayu’s leg but Mayu gets to the ropes. Back on their feet they trade wristlocks, Syuri works a headlock and gets Mayu to the mat. Back up, Syuri goes off the ropes and stomps on Mayu, Syuri kicks Mayu repeatedly but Mayu fires back with an elbow. Kick to the midsection by Mayu and they both kick each other in the leg, sending them to the mat. Syuri quickly regains the advantage and hits a running knee, sending Syuri fallout out of the ring to the floor. Syuri goes to the apron and hits a jumping knee, Syuri gets Mayu back into the ring and starts working on her leg. Syuri hits a running knee in the corner followed by another one, cover by Syuri but it gets a two count. Syuri applies a figure four leglock, snapmare by Syuri and she kicks Mayu in the back. PK by Syuri, but Mayu kicks out of the cover. Syuri picks up Mayu and continues to kick her, double arm suplex by Syuri and she covers Mayu for another two count. Syuri goes back to the leg but Mayu gets into the ropes for the break, Mayu rolls to the apron but Syuri goes out after her.

Syuri tries to suplex Mayu off the apron but Mayu blocks it, Mayu grabs Syuri and nails a German suplex on the apron. Mayu gets back in the ring, she goes off the ropes and sails out onto Syuri with a plancha suicida. Mayu slides Syuri back in, she goes to the top turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick. Cover by Mayu, but it gets a two count. Mayu goes for the dragon suplex but Syuri grabs the ropes to block it, stomps by Mayu and she dropkicks Syuri while she is against the ropes, sending Syuri back out of the ring. Mayu goes to the top turnbuckle  but Syuri gets on the apron to stop her from jumping off, she tries to kick Mayu off the turnbuckle but Mayu catches her leg and snaps it over the ropes. Syuri sits on the top turnbuckle but Mayu joins her and hits a Frankensteiner, Mayu goes back up top and nails the Frog Splash for a two count. Mayu returns to the turnbuckle but Syuri moves out of the way of the moonsault, Buzzsaw Kick by Syuri but she is too hurt to capitalize. Syuri recovers first and elbows Mayu while they are on their knees, but Mayu elbows her back and they trade blows. They keep exchanging elbows as they return to their feet, Syuri hits a Codebreaker and delivers a head kick.

Another kick by Syuri but Mayu rolls out of the ring to recover, she returns after a moment and is immediately grabbed by Syuri. Kicks to the chest by Syuri, cover by Syuri but it gets a two count. Syuri gets Mayu on her shoulders but Mayu hits the Dodonpa for a two count. Syuri goes for a kick but Mayu hits a second one, which gets a two count as well. Mayu goes up top and hits the moonsault, but Syuri barely gets a shoulder up. Mayu goes off the ropes but Syuri nails a head kick, they both slowly get back up and they elbow each other. Superkick by Mayu and she hits a German Suplex Hold, getting a two count. Half and half suplex hold by Mayu, but that gets a two count as well. Syuri grabs Mayu’s leg and puts her in a Stretch Muffler, but Mayu gets to the ropes for the break. Syuri picks up Mayu and gets her on her shoulders, hitting the double knee gutbuster for two. Running knee by Syuri, she picks up Mayu and knees her in the back of the head for a two count. Syuri picks up Mayu but Mayu grabs her and hits a Tombstone Piledriver, Mayu goes to the top turnbuckle and delivers another moonsault for two. Superkicks by Mayu and she kicks Syuri in the head again, Mayu hits the Two Stage Dragon Suplex Hold and she picks up the three count! Mayu Iwatani remains the champion.

This was a very different match stylistically than we have seen up to this point, which I think helped it after the higher paced match that went on previously. Syuri’s leg work felt old school and certainly lasted awhile, the only small issue being Mayu was running around after it and didn’t seem to remember to limp around until later in the match. Mayu always comes across as borderline invincible in her title matches but not necessarily in a bad way and its going to mean a lot when someone finally takes the title off of her. Mayu sells strikes really well and her offense is fun, it was an interesting contrast to Syuri as Mayu really didn’t bother with submissions as she just went for high flying and high impact moves. Even with their style differences they worked together well and nothing felt awkward or out of place. It may have been a few minutes longer than it needed to be and may have taken too long to ‘get going’ for some but overall a fitting main event to a big show.  Recommended

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Event: STARDOM 5☆STAR GP 2020 – Day 3
Date: September 5th, 2020
Location: Shin-Kiba 1st RING in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 140

The 5★STAR GP is an annual round robin tournament in Stardom with two blocks, and in 2020 each block has eight wrestlers. So its a long tournament as it runs from August 8th to September 19th. Here are the standings going into the show:

The rules are pretty simple. This year, there is a 20 minute time limit for each match, which is an increase from the usual 15 minutes so hopefully we will see less Draws. The point system is easy enough to remember: a win is worth two points, a Draw is worth one point for both wrestlers, and of course the loser gets no points. Tie-breakers to win the Block can get weird but if the tie is just between two wrestlers, the wrestler that won the Head to Head match moves on. If more than two wrestlers tie (or if the two wrestlers tied went to a draw) there will probably be a wacky tie-breaker match.

To visit each wrestler’s profile on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it. To make my life slightly easier, I will only be reviewing the tournament matches on each show.

We had a bit of a pause in the tournament due to a COVID situation, so going forward the cards will be further condensed to have more tournament matches. Therefore, Day 3 now has six matches, here is the full card:

• Red Block: DEATH Yama-san vs. Tam Nakano
• Red Block: Himeka vs. Starlight Kid
• Blue Block: AZM vs. Jungle Kyona
• Red Block: Giulia vs. Saya Kamitani
• Blue Block: Momo Watanabe vs. Natsuko Tora
• Red Block: Konami vs. Mayu Iwatani

This event was uploaded to Stardom World, so all matches will be reviewed in full. Lets get to it!

DEATH Yama-san vs. Tam Nakano

DEATH poses to start while Tam poses behind her, but Tam finally kicks DEATH from behind. Armdrag by DEATH but Tam trips her, schoolboy by DEATH but it gets a two count. DEATH throws Tam into the corner but Tam kicks her when she charges in and boots DEATH in the chest. Tam picks up DEATH and goes for a backdrop suplex, but DEATH lands on her feet and thrusts Tam in the chest. Running senton by DEATH, but her cover gets two. DEATH picks up Tam and applies a stretch hold, but Tam gets into the ropes for the break. DEATH picks up Tam gets out of the backdrop suplex attempt. Another throat thrust by DEATH and she goes off the ropes, but Tam finally catches her with a backdrop suplex. Tam goes up top and hits the Destiny Hammer, cover by Tam but it gets a two count. Tam picks up DEATH but DEATH blocks the Tiger Suplex, cradle by DEATH but it gets a two count as the two trade flash pins. DEATH goes off the ropes but Tam kicks her in the head, she goes for a running knee but DEATH avoids it and rolls her up for two. Chaos Theory attempt by DEATH but Tam rolls through it and hits a heel kick. Tiger Suplex Hold by Tam, and she picks up the three count! Tam wins and gets two points in the tournament.

For the first tournament match of the day, it was short and inoffensive. DEATH serves a purpose as she gives the other wrestlers in her block a ‘chill’ match, similar to what Yano does for New Japan in the G1 Climax. You know you aren’t getting a high end match, but it wasn’t bad either, it just existed. An easy two points for Tam as she gets her second win.

Himeka vs. Starlight Kid

They lock-up to start, Himeka pushes Starlight Kid into the ropes but she gives a clean break. Starlight Kid slaps her, Irish whip attempt by Starlight Kid but Himeka doesn’t budge. Elbows by Starlight Kid and she goes off the ropes, but Himeka knocks her over with a hard shoulderblock. Himeka goes off the ropes, Starlight Kid goes for a crossbody but Himeka catches her. Starlight Kid spins out of it and cradles Himeka for two, Starlight Kid goes off the ropes but Himeka hits a backbreaker. Camel Clutch by Himeka into a chinlock, but Starlight Kid gets into the ropes for the break. Himeka kicks at Starlight Kid and throws her into the corner, Irish whip by Himeka but Starlight Kid ducks her lariat attempt and hits a satellite DDT. Starlight Kid goes up top but Himeka recovers and elbows her, Himeka goes for a powerbomb but Starlight Kid reverses it with a hurricanrana. Tiger Feint Kick by Starlight Kid and she hits a standing moonsault for a two count. Starlight Kid picks up Himeka but Himeka blocks the cross-legged suplex, Starlight Kid goes off the ropes and she delivers a spinning headscissors. Irish whip by Starlight Kid to the corner but Himeka reverses it, Starlight Kid avoids Himeka’s charge in the corner but Himeka knees her in the face.

Single leg crab hold by Himeka but Starlight Kid gets into the ropes, Himeka charges Starlight Kid and knees her in the back. Cover by Himeka, but it gets a two count. Himeka picks up Starlight Kid and gets her on her shoulders, but Starlight Kid quickly slides off and hits an armdrag. Himeka gets on the second turnbuckle but Starlight Kid armdrags her back to the mat, Starlight Kid goes to the top turnbuckle and hits the swivel body press for a two count cover. Starlight Kid picks up Himeka and delivers the cross-legged suplex hold, but Himeka gets a shoulder up. Starlight Kid picks up Himeka and goes off the ropes, but Himeka levels her with a jumping knee. Lariat by Himeka, and she covers Starlight Kid for two. Himeka picks up Starlight Kid and goes for the running powerbomb, but Starlight Kid spins out of it and cradles Himeka for two. Starlight Kid charges Himeka but Himeka hits another lariat, she goes for a cover but Starlight Kid quickly rolls her up for a two count. Himeka picks up Starlight Kid and nails a short-range lariat, crab hold by Himeka but Starlight Kid gets to the ropes. Himeka picks up Starlight Kid and puts her in the Argentine Backbreaker, and Starlight Kid has no choice but to submit! Himeka wins and gets two points in the tournament.

A solid little match. This went exactly as you’d expect it to, with perhaps Starlight Kid getting more offense than I expected which just shows they aren’t booking her as just a feisty underdog but a serious competitor as well. They worked well together and there wasn’t any awkwardness, with both hitting all of their moves well. It felt like it went the right amount of time even though it wasn’t a long match, as the work that Himeka was doing on Starlight Kid’s back was convincing enough that it didn’t need another five minutes. Nothing mind-blowing but entertaining.  Mildly Recommended

AZM vs. Jungle Kyona

AZM offers a handshake to start but kicks Jungle instead, Irish whip by AZM but Jungle avoids her as they go into a fast exchange. Hard shoulderblock by Jungle and she stomps on AZM, but AZM hits an armdrag followed by a satellite schoolboy for two. AZM picks up Jungle but Jungle drops her with a vertical suplex, Jungle picks up AZM and puts her in a backbreaker. Jungle drops AZM so she is hanging on the top rope, she gets a running start and dropkicks AZM in the back. over by Jungle, but it gets a two count. Jungle applies a single leg crab hold, she lets go after a moment and hits a body press to AZM’s back. Jungle stomps on AZM’s back while AZM tries to get up, AZM fights back with elbows but Jungle elbows her into the corner. Irish whip by Jungle but AZM jumps on the second turnbuckle and hits a missile dropkick. AZM applies a standing armbar before rolling Jungle to the mat and going for a suplex, eventually getting Jungle over for a two count cover.

AZM picks up Jungle, Jungle throws her into the corner but AZM grabs her arm and slams Jungle down to the mat. Double armbar by AZM but Jungle gets a foot on the ropes for the break. AZM goes off the ropes and hits La Mistica, but Jungle rolls out of it. Head kick by AZM, she goes to the top turnbuckle and nails a diving footstomp for a two count. AZM goes off the ropes and goes for a hurricanrana, but Jungle blocks it and puts AZM in a crab hold. AZM struggles and eventually gets to the ropes for the break. Jungle positions AZM and gets on the second turnbuckle, but AZM avoids her dive and goes for the Fujiwara Armbar. Jungle rolls out of it so AZM applies a double armbar instead, but Jungle makes it to the ropes. AZM picks up Jungle and goes for a triple jump move out of the corner, but Jungle catches her with an elbow to the face. Lariat by Jungle and she hits a sliding lariat for a two count cover. Jungle picks up AZM and goes for the Hammer Throw Bomb, but AZM reverses it into a quick pin for two. Swinging Sleeper by Jungle and she keeps the hold applied on the mat, she lets go after a moment and goes up to the top turnbuckle. Diving Body Press by Jungle, and she picks up the three count! Jungle Kyona wins and gets two points.

This felt a little out of focus at times but I still enjoyed it. AZM being good isn’t really a surprise to any regular fans of Stardom but the promotion kept her hidden in the opener and mid-card for a long time so its nice she is finally getting a chance against wrestlers higher than her on the pecking order. It will take some time for her to get respect just from being lower on the card for so long, but she’ll get there. Jungle’s offense is a little all over the place as she was going after mostly AZM’s back before winning with a diving body press, the Hammer Throw Bomb would have made more sense but its still a move worthy of a victory. A little disjointed at times story-wise but the action was smooth, a good match.  Mildly Recommended

Giulia vs. Saya Kamitani

They tie-up to start, Giulia pushes Saya into the ropes but she gives a clean break. Saya gets Giulia into the ropes the next time and hits a series of elbows, dropkick by Saya but Giulia dropkicks her back. Giulia smashes Saya into the corner and knees her in the midsection, she stands on top of Saya for a moment until the referee gets her off. Snapmare by Giulia and she applies an armbar, but Saya gets to the ropes for the break. Saya tries to fight back with elbows but Giulia boots her in the head, running knee by Giulia and she flings Saya to the mat for a quick cover. Scoop slam by Giulia and she works a chinlock, but again Saya gets to the ropes. Elbows but Giulia but Saya elbows her back, Irish whip by Giulia but Saya reverses it and hits a knee in the corner. Giulia smacks Saya to the mat and goes off the ropes, but Saya flips away from her and hits a dropkick. Kip-up by Saya and she hits a jumping knee in the corner followed by a dropkick for two. Sickle Hold by Saya but Giulia muscles out of it and applies a STF.

Saya gets to the ropes for the break, Giulia picks her up but Saya blocks the suplex attempt and kicks Giulia in the face. Scoop slam by Saya and she cover Giulia for a quick two. Saya goes up top but Giulia recovers and grabs her, she goes for the Glorious Driver but Saya reverses it into a cradle for two. Heel Kick by Saya, she picks up Giulia and hits a scoop slam. Saya hangs Giulia on the top rope and goes to the top turnbuckle, hitting a diving double knee for a two count cover. Saya applies a single leg crab hold but Giulia gets to the ropes, Saya goes for the Running Shooting Star Press but Giulia reverses it into a Triangle Choke. Saya rolls around in it but gets a foot on the bottom rope for the break, Giulia picks up Saya but Saya fights back. Saya goes off the ropes but Giulia hits a boot, backdrop suplex by Giulia and she covers Saya for a two count. Giulia picks up Saya and drops her with the Glorious Driver, cover by Giulia and she gets the three count! Giulia is the winner and gets two points in the tournament.

While they didn’t really go away from the formula here, it was still a good match. I just wish they had done a bit more to differentiate it from just about every other veteran vs. rookie match that has ever taken place. Giulia controlled the action, stopped a few Saya comebacks, finally Saya got her comeback and hit some big moves, then Giulia catches her and wins. It doesn’t make the match a bad watch, and Giulia gave Saya quite a bit of offense, it just doesn’t make it special. My only structure-related complaint is the random crab hold by Saya which meant nothing and wasn’t necessary, otherwise the action itself was well done and both hit their moves well. A solid match with two good wrestlers, but we may have to wait a bit to see these two in a legitimately competitive match.  Mildly Recommended

Momo Watanabe vs. Natsuko Tora

Natsuko attacks Momo on the ramp before she even makes it to the ring so we are off to a good start, she brings Momo to the ring and tosses her in so that the match can officially start. Natsuko beats Momo with her own mask before throwing her down by the hair, bootscrapes by Natsuko but Momo catches her with a dropkick. Stomps by Momo but she is tripped from the floor by it looks like Saki Kashima, Momo falls out of the ring and Natsuko goes after her. Natsuko gets a chair and throws it at Momo, she eventually slides Momo back in and hits a few more bootscrapes followed by the running boot. Natsuko throws Momo into the corner and hits a running back elbow, cannonball by Natsuko and she covers Momo for two. Natsuko picks up Momo and throws her back into the corner, but Momo avoids her charge and delivers a dropkick. Natsuko falls into a seated position and Momo hits another dropkick, kicks to the chest by Momo and she hits a vertical suplex for two. More kicks by Momo but Natsuko catches one and hits an elbow, Momo elbows her back and the two trade blows. Backfist by Natsuko and she hits a lariat, cover by Natsuko but it gets two.

Scoop slam by Natsuko, she gets on the top turnbuckle and delivers a diving body press for another two count. Swinging Side Slam by Natsuko, but that gets a two count as well. Natsuko drags up Momo but Momo gets away and kicks her, she goes off the ropes but Natsuko pulls the referee in front of her and Momo knocks him over by mistake. Momo slams Natsuko to the mat anyway and hits the Somato, the recovered referee makes the count but it only gets two. Momo goes to the top turnbuckle  and nails the Diving Somato, but Natsuko barely gets a shoulder up. Momo goes for the Tequila Sunrise but Natsuko blocks it, she applies the crossface chickenwing but Natsuko gets to the ropes for the break. Momo goes off the ropes but Natsuko has gotten her chain and hits Momo with it, she ties the chain around Momo’s neck and throws Momo over the top rope so she can hang her from it. The referee of course is being distracted during this, Natsuko eventually lets go and covers Momo for the three count! Natsuko Tora wins and gets two points.

I can see why this match got a mixed reaction online. They finally did what I’ve been talking about, have Natsuko actually succeed with her cheating to get a win, but they did it in a stupid way. The referee bump earlier in the match was pointless since Momo stayed in control, and when they really needed the referee to be unconscious he instead was standing five feet away and pretending not to see Natsuko trying to kill Momo. Its a fine line as some weapon usage is allowed in Stardom, and some things like the green mist aren’t punished, but this went beyond that and it wasn’t believable that the referee wasn’t aware. Its still a step in the right direction, I just hope they improve the execution as its a tricky situation to get just right.

Konami vs. Mayu Iwatani

They start the match carefully as they trade holds, Mayu gets Konami to the mat first but Konami muscles away from her and applies a side headlock. Mayu gets out of it and goes for a sleeper hold but Konami has none of that and she gets Mayu’s back. She works a headlock as they return to their feet but Mayu reverses it, Irish whip by Konami but Mayu avoids her kicks. Irish whip by Mayu from the corner, reversed, Konami goes for the Triangle Lancer but Mayu is too close to the ropes and gets a foot on them for the break. Mayu rolls out of the ring to recover but returns after a moment, but Konami strikes her as she gets on the apron and hits a DDT through the ropes. Konami applies a headscissors and slams Mayu’s head into the mat repeatedly, but Mayu rolls into the ropes for the break. Mayu tries to fight back but Konami stomps her down, Mayu catches Konami with a Sling Blade but is too hurt to capitalize. Kick by Konami but Mayu delivers a superkick, Mayu goes off the ropes and dropkicks Konami hard in the chest. Konami falls out of the ring, Mayu goes to the top turnbuckle and dives down onto Konami with a crossbody.

Mayu slides Konami back in and goes to the top turnbuckle again, delivering a missile dropkick. Mayu sets up Konami in the corner to go for the Running Three, but Konami squirms away. Dodonpa by Mayu, but it gets a two count. Mayu goes up top and hits the diving body press, but Konami gets a shoulder up on the cover. Mayu goes up again but Konami avoids the moonsault, Buzzsaw Kick by Konami and she hits a release German for two. Konami picks up Mayu and goes for the Triangle Lancer but Mayu slides away and hits a Dragon Suplex Hold for two. She goes for another one but Konami gets away and puts Mayu in the Triangle Lancer. Mayu gets a foot on the ropes to force the break. Konami gets on the second turnbuckle and hits a footstomp to Mayu’s arm, she then goes all the way up but Mayu recovers and joins her. Konami slides between her legs and kicks Mayu in the head, Konami puts Mayu in a chokehold while hanging from the turnbuckle until the referee gets her to let go. Konami goes up top and hits a missile dropkick to the back of Mayu’s head, getting a two count. Konami picks up Mayu and applies a guillotine choke, but again Mayu gets to the ropes. Sleeper Suplex by Konami and she delivers a Buzzsaw Kick, picking up another two count. Mayu tries to get up but Konami quickly puts her in a modified Triangle Lancer, and Mayu taps out! Konami wins and gets two points in the tournament.

This was an entertaining match between two quality wrestlers. Mayu is so good at making all offense look painful, its really hard to dislike any big match she is in as she hooks you in to anything she is doing. She is one of the best sympathetic wrestlers on the scene. Konami’s kicks and suplexes were all on point and her focus on the arm was good, and then she won with an armlock which is even better as all her hard work wasn’t just wasted offense. I do wish Mayu had a bit longer of a run on offense though as she wrestled the match as the underdog and then tapped out even though she’s at the top of the food chain. Not that I mind her losing but normally she’s incredibly hard to beat so a longer end-stretch would have made the match feel more complete. Still though, a really good match between two really good wrestlers and a fitting main event.  Recommended

The post STARDOM 5☆STAR GP 2020 Day 3 on 9/5/20 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: STARDOM 5☆STAR GP 2020 – Day 2
Date: August 9th, 2020
Location: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 402

The 5★STAR GP is an annual round robin tournament in Stardom with two blocks, and in 2020 each block has eight wrestlers. So its a long tournament as it runs from August 8th to September 19th. Here are the standings going into the show:

The rules are pretty simple. This year, there is a 20 minute time limit for each match, which is an increase from the usual 15 minutes so hopefully we will see less Draws. The point system is easy enough to remember: a win is worth two points, a Draw is worth one point for both wrestlers, and of course the loser gets no points. Tie-breakers to win the Block can get weird but if the tie is just between two wrestlers, the wrestler that won the Head to Head match moves on. If more than two wrestlers tie (or if the two wrestlers tied went to a draw) there will probably be a wacky tie-breaker match.

To visit each wrestler’s profile on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it. To make my life slightly easier, I will only be reviewing the tournament matches on each show.

Day 2 has an almost full slate of matches, here is the full card:

• Blue Block: Maika vs. Saya Iida
• Red Block: Mayu Iwatani vs. Starlight Kid
• Blue Block: AZM vs. Momo Watanabe
• Red Block: Konami vs. Tam Nakano
• Blue Block: Natsuko Tora vs. Utami Hayashishita
• Blue Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Syuri
• Red Block: Giulia vs. Himeka

I am watching the version uploaded to Stardom World, for better or worse, so all matches will be reviewed in full. Lets get to it!

Maika vs. Saya Iida

Both wrestlers try to knock the other over to start with neither having any luck, they trade pushes and elbows until finally Maika knocks over Saya with a hard shoulderblock. Maika picks up Saya and hits a scoop slam, another slam by Maika and she stomps on Saya. Maika stands on Saya’s back before flinging her around the ring with tosses, STO by Maika and she covers Saya for two. Maika puts Saya in a Mexican Surfboard while Jushin Liger approves from the stands, she lets go after a moment and stomps Saya into the corner. Irish whip by Maika but Saya ducks the lariat and connects with a dropkick. Scoop slam by Saya and she stomps on Maika, chops by Saya in the corner and she chops Maika some more in the middle of the ring. A double chop sends Maika to the mat, she goes off the ropes and hits a back elbow for a two count cover. Mounted elbows by Saya and she covers Maika again, but Maika pushes her off. Saya picks up Maika but Maika gets away and elbows her in the midsection, they trade shoulderblocks until Maika knocks Saya down. Saya immediately gets back up and returns the favor, scoop slam by Saya and she goes up top, hitting a missile dropkick for two. Northern Lights Suplex by Saya, but that gets a two count as well. Maika gets Saya’s back and applies a sleeper, she swings Saya around and delivers a side slam for a two count. Maika picks up Saya and drops her with a Cross Arm Buster (cross-arm STO), cover by Maika and she gets the three count! Maika wins and now has four points in the tournament.

For an opener, this was decent enough. Maika has really improved her skills since first participating in Stardom, she is still a little clunky at times but its already vastly better and she looks a lot more comfortable than she did before. Saya is just an eternal JTTS but she held her own here, making Maika look good while getting in a few spots so it wasn’t a squash. For a shorter tournament match with a clear winner, a good match to kick off the tournament matches for the day.

Mayu Iwatani vs. Starlight Kid

Starlight Kid attacks Mayu right off the start as they go into a fast exchange, takedown by Mayu and she puts Starlight Kid in a submission hold. Back up, Mayu works the headlock but Starlight Kid gets out of it and the two return to their feet. Scoop slam by Mayu and she puts Starlight Kid in a stretch hold, she lets go and snapmares Starlight Kid before kicking her in the back. More kicks by Mayu and she puts Starlight Kid in a crab hold, but Starlight Kid gets into the ropes for the break. Mayu picks up Starlight Kid and hits a scoop slam, Mayu puts Starlight Kid in the ropes and kicks her in the back. cover by Mayu but it gets two. Mayu applies a Camel Clutch but lets go to stomp on Starlight Kid. Irish whip by Mayu but Starlight Kid rebounds off the ropes with a crossbody, she goes for a standing moonsault but Mayu moves out of the way. Tiger Feint Kick by Starlight Kid and this time she hits the standing moonsault, Starlight Kid picks up Mayu but Mayu blocks the cross-legged suplex. Hard elbow by Mayu but Starlight Kid fires back and the two trade blows. Starlight Kid goes off the ropes but Mayu kicks her in the stomach, head kick by Mayu and she goes up top, hitting a footstomp to Starlight Kid’s back.

Mayu charges Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid moves, Starlight Kid rolls Mayu to the mat but Mayu avoids her dropkick and applies a crab hold. Starlight Kid gets to the ropes for the break, Mayu goes off the ropes and dropkicks Starlight Kid in the chest. Mayu goes up top but Starlight Kid avoids her doublestomp attempt and hits a jumping lariat. Starlight Kid grabs Mayu, they struggle for position before Starlight Kid hits a dropkick. Starlight Kid charges Mayu but Mayu drops her onto the apron, Starlight Kid grabs Mayu and DDTs her into the apron. Starlight Kid goes up top and connects with a diving crossbody, she slides Mayu back in and delivers the cross-legged suplex hold for two. Starlight Kid goes to the second turnbuckle and hits a tornado DDT, she quickly goes to the second turnbuckle again and hits a moonsault for two. Starlight Kid picks up Mayu but Mayu blocks the Ki-chan Bomb and slams Starlight Kid to the mat. Mayu goes up top and hits a moonsault to Starlight Kid’s back, she goes for the Two Stage Dragon Suplex but Starlight Kid blocks it and cradles Mayu for two. Back up, Starlight Kid gets Mayu’s back but Mayu shakes her off and hits a superkick, German suplex by Mayu and she puts Starlight Kid in the Child Crusher (modified Dragon Sleeper) for the quick tap-out victory! Mayu Iwatani wins and now has two points in the tournament.

This match started clunky, which is unfortunate in a match that isn’t that long, but once they got going it was really good. The fast pace exchange had a slip-up, then Mayu’s “submission hold, release hold to stomp on Starlight Kid, submission hold” offense wasn’t overly exciting. But after about five minutes they kicked into another gear and Mayu started doing her neck bumps and all was right with the world. Starlight Kid is a legitimate star and can hold her own with anyone, but for a tournament match I’d have been fine if they cut out the first few minutes and just had a fire eight to ten minute match. Still good quality and a good showing by both, but not without its flaws.  Mildly Recommended

AZM vs. Momo Watanabe

AZM offers a handshake however its a ruse as she goes for a small package instead but Momo blocks it, AZM throws Momo to the mat anyway and goes off the ropes, hitting a springboard armdrag. AZM applies a double armbar but Momo gets to the ropes, AZM dropkicks Momo in the corner but Momo dropkicks her back. Momo kicks AZM in the corner and stomps on her, Momo throws down AZM by the hair a few times and stomps her some more. Scoop slam by Momo and she covers AZM for two. Momo applies a crab hold but she lets go after a moment, footstomp to AZM’s back by Momo and she kicks her in the back as well. Cover by Momo but AZM quickly kicks out. Momo elbows AZM but AZM elbows her back, Irish whip by Momo but AZM blocks it and applies a satellite armbar. AZM goes for a suplex but Momo blocks it, hurricanrana by AZM and Momo slides out of the ring. AZM goes to the apron and kicks Momo in the chest, Momo tries to get back into the ring but AZM drives her head into the mat as she goes. AZM goes up top and hits a diving footstomp, Fujiwara Armbar by AZM but Momo gets to the ropes. AZM goes off the ropes and goes for a headscissors, but Momo catches her and goes for the B Driver. AZM gets out of that, they trade head kick attempts but both miss. AZM rebounds out of the corner but Momo kicks her in the head, Somato by Momo and she holds it for two. Momo applies a crossface chickenwing but AZM gets a toe on the ropes, Momo kicks AZM and nails the Diving Somato, but AZM barely kicks out. Momo grabs AZM but AZM gets away and applies a double armbar, but Momo gets out of it. La Mistica by AZM and she applies a seated armbar, but Momo gets to the ropes for the break. AZM gets Momo’s back and applies a Victory Roll for two, Momo promptly kicks AZM in the head but AZM blocks the Tequila Sunrise. AZM goes for a cross armbreaker but Momo rolls thought it and kicks her, Momo applies the crossface chickenwing and AZM taps out! Momo Watanabe wins the match and has two points in the tournament.

This is more what I’d want/expect from a short tournament match. In this setting, we know most of the matches aren’t going to be very long so they may as well pack in as much action as they can. That doesn’t mean they have to go ‘high speed’ the entire time but them not wasting a lot of effort on moves that mean nothing is appreciated. I loved all the reversals and blocking of their signature moves, as it shows how comfortable and familar they are with each other as both had to work hard to do much of anything of substance. It made the ‘big’ moves feel bigger when there was a struggle to do them and they weren’t just trading bombs back and forth. Even though Momo won, AZM put up a fight and didn’t come across as the lesser wrestler, even though she is only 17 which bodes well for her future. Overall an entertaining midcard match that shows why both are so highly thought of by the Stardom fan base.  Recommended

Konami vs. Tam Nakano

They trade holds to start, snapmare by Konami and she kicks Tam in the back. She goes for a PK but Tam catches her leg and returns to her feet, hitting a cutter. Running knee by Tam while Konami is against the ropes, Konami flops down to the floor and Tam goes to the top turnbuckle, but Konami moves when Tam dives off and Tam lands on the other wrestlers hanging around at ringside. Konami gets on the apron and kicks Tam in the chest, she picks up Tam and throws her into the guardrail. Konami drags Tam to the apron and puts her in a headscissors, she lets go after a moment and slides Tam back into the ring. Konami picks up Tam, snapmare and she puts Tam in a headscissors. Sleeper by Konami but Tam gets into the ropes for the break, Konami picks up Tam but Tam hits her with an elbow. Konami elbows her back and stomps on her midsection, she throws Tam into the corner and throws her into the other corner, but Tam avoids her charge. Tam goes off the ropes but Konami kicks her in the chest, cover by Konami but Tam bridges out of it and hits a neckbreaker. Tam throws Konami into the corner and hits a running elbow, diving crossbody by Tam and she covers Konami for two.

Tam gets Konami’s back but Konami gets away, sleeper by Konami but Tam spins out of it and elbows Konami. Tam and Konami trade elbows and then kicks, Konami goes off the ropes but Tam connects with a running elbow. Konami hits a running knee before both wrestlers kick the other in the head, sending them to the mat. Konami recovers first and applies a guillotine but Tam inches to the ropes and makes it for the break. Konami charges Tam and delivers a sliding kick, dropkick by Konami and she covers Tam for two. Konami goes for the Triangle Lancer but Tam blocks it, cradling Konami for a two count. Konami goes for a kick but Tam blocks it and hits a backdrop suplex. Tam goes up top but Konami recovers and joins her, and she DDTs Tam down to the mat. Head kick by Konami, she picks up Tam and goes for the Triangle Lancer, but Tam rolls though it. Kick to the chest by Konami but Tam connects with a spinning heel kick, another heel kick by Tam and she hits a superkick. Konami blocks the next one and re-applies the sleeper, but Tam drops back to get break the hold. Spinning heel kick by Tam and she hits a Tiger Suplex Hold, picking up the three count! Tam Nakano wins and gets two points in the tournament.

A weird little match. It felt like they wrestled the first nine minutes as if they were having a 20 minute match, then cut out the end run to go right to the finish. Konami was the clear dominate wrestler in this match and all the way up to the end she seemed to have the match in control. Its not that the tiger suplex hold isn’t a well respected move by Tam but usually there is a bit more of a lead up to it getting the win. The ending just felt very sudden considering the structure up to that point, I wish they had gone a few more minutes to better tell the story. That being said, the action was very solid as Konami is a technically sound wrestler and Tam is easily carried, so for a midcard match on the show I still think it delivered. Ten minute matches are hard for many wrestlers to do and tell their entire tale, it can be a tough adjustment and these two didn’t quite pull it off even though the effort and output was there to put on a memorable match.  Mildly Recommended

Natsuko Tora vs. Utami Hayashishita

Natsuko attacks Utami as she gets in the ring, before she can even get her rope or mask off, throwing her into the corner. Natsuko stomps on Utami’s mask and throws it out of the ring, she picks up Utami and tosses her out of the ring as well. Natsuko follows her out and throws Utami into the guardrail, but when she tries again it is reversed by Utami and Natsuko goes into the steel. Utami slides Natsuko back in the ring, scoop slam by Utami and she puts Natsuko in a camel clutch. She lets go after a moment and stomps on Natsuko, but Natsuko pulls her down by the hair. She goes for a senton but Utami moves, Utami charges Natsuko but Natsuko slides out of the way and hits a cannonball in the corner for a two count. Natsuko picks up Utami but Utami slides away, lariat by Natsuko but Utami stays up and lariats her back. Utami gets Natsuko’s back and drops her with a German suplex, but Natsuko gets back to her feet and hits a German suplex of her own. Another German suplex by Utami, and both wrestlers are down on the mat. Utami is up first and hits a Samoan Drop, but Natsuko kicks out of the cover. Utami applies a sleeper and takes Natsuko to the mat, but Natsuko gets to the ropes to force the break. Utami applies an Argentine Backbreaker but Natsuko gets out of it, Utami charges her but Natsuko pushes the referee in front of her and Utami hits the referee by mistake.

Natsuko and Utami exit the ring but Natsuko gets her chain and hits Utami with it. She then gets a stack of chairs, placing them on Utami’s chest before going up onto the apron. Diving senton by Natsuko onto the chairs, she slowly recovers and gets back in the ring while Utami rolls around in pain on the floor. The referee has regained his senses and starts the count, but Utami barely makes it back in the ring. Natsuko gets her chain and tries to slam Utami onto it, but Utami gets her back and German suplexes Natsuko onto the chain. Lariat by Natsuko, and she covers Utami for two. Swinging Side Slam by Natsuko, but that gets a two count as well. Natsuko slams Utami in front of the corner, she goes up top and delivers the diving body press, but Utami barely gets a shoulder up. Natsuko gets her chain and goes up top, but Utami recovers and joins her. Natsuko bops Utami with the chain and starts choking her with it while still sitting on the top turnbuckle. Utami elbows out of it and gets Natsuko on her shoulders, but Natsuko rakes her in the eyes and slides out to the apron, still holding the chain she chokes Utami over the top rope, the referee gets her free but Natsuko keeps choking Utami anyway. During this the referee calls for the bell, as Natsuko is DQed! Utami wins and now has four points in the tournament.

On one hand, this is probably the best way that they can use Natsuko. Weapons, violence, and cheating is the only method one will buy Natsuko as standing a chance, and she is pretty convincing at it. On the hand, she did all this cheating and bashed Utami with various weapons – but she still lost. That’s the Natsuko Tora Story – cheats a lot, uses lots of weapons, still manages to lose. She needs to take an excursion to Oz Academy and learn from Mayumi Ozaki on how to use those tactics to actually get victories. But it was pretty entertaining, one of the better Natsuko matches I’ve seen in awhile as they used the time well and some of the spots did look hurt-y. Utami hit her moves well but really this was more a match for Natsuko, as she keeps ramping up the pain. A really solid match, we’ll see if as the tournament progresses if Natsuko learns to turn her tactics into wins.  Recommended

Jungle Kyona vs. Syuri

They start the match slow as they jockey for position on the mat, but they reach a stalemate and return to their feet. Waistlock by Kyona but Syuri reverses it into a wristlock, they trade holds while standing until Syuri armdrags Kyona to the mat. Kyona gets out of it as they get back up, elbows Kyona but Syuri kicks her back. Hard shoulderblocks by Kyona and she hits a body press for two. Kyona throws Syuri into the corner but Syuri kicks her when she charges in and applies an armbar over the top rope. She lets go after a moment and stays in control, running knee by Syuri in the corner and she hits a second one for a two count. Syuri goes for a cross armbreaker but Kyona blocks it and gets into the ropes for the break. Syuri picks up Kyona and hits a half hatch suplex, stomps by Syuri but Kyona catches her with a fallaway slam. Kyona gets Syuri on her shoulder and drops her hanging on on the top rope, dropkick by Kyona to Syuri’s back and she covers her for two. Kyona picks up Syuri and they trade elbows, kicks to the chest by Syuri but Kyona catches one and elbows her in the leg.

Syuri fires back with a cross armbreaker takedown, she switches it to a seated armbar but Kyona gets out of it. Kick by Syuri but Kyona elbows her hard in the chest, release German by Syuri but Kyona returns with a lariat. Kyona goes for a suplex but Syuri reverses it into a guillotine choke. Kyona muscles out of it and connects with the vertical suplex, she picks up Syuri and hits a scoop slam. Kyona goes up top and hits a diving body press to Syuri’s back, she picks up Syuri and hits a dragon screw leg whip. Kyona applies a Scorpion Deathlock but Syuri crawls to the ropes and makes it for the break. Dropkick by Kyona and she hits a lariat in the corner, she puts Syuri on the top turnbuckle and goes for the Kinniku Buster but Syuri slides around and puts her in a sleeper instead. Syuri knees Kyona and puts her in in a cross armbreaker, she switches it to the seated armbar, but Kyona gets to the ropes. Syuri goes off the ropes but Kyona catches her with a sit-down powerbomb for two. Kyona goes for the Hammerthrow Bomb but Syuri blocks it, high kick by Syuri and she hits a double knee gutbuster for two. Syuri applies a cross armbreaker but switches it to the Suzaku this time, and Kyona has no choice but to submit! Syuri wins and now has four points in the tournament.

This was just a really solid, well worked match. It didn’t have that big WOW moment but they used their time really well that kept the action moving without ever feeling like they were rushing. Kyona looked strong in defeat, which is kinda her thing, as she fought out of several Syuri submissions and was just one Hammerthrow Bomb away from picking up the possible win. Syuri’s strikes and submissions were all on point and came out of it looking beatable, but damn hard to beat which I think is a good sweet spot for her. Not a spectacular match or a MOTYC, but smart and entertaining from bell to bell.  Recommended

Giulia vs. Himeka

After a brief feeling out process, Giulia tries to get Himeka’s back but Himeka shrugs her off and goes for a backdrop suplex. Giulia lands on her feet, Himeka goes for a lariat but Giulia ducks it, leading them to a stalemate. Giulia works a side headlock but Himeka tosses her to the mat to get out of it, Irish whip by Himeka but Giulia reverses it. Himeka doublestomps on Giulia’s back when she pancakes and throws her hard into the corner before hitting a lariat. Crab hold by Himeka but Giulia gets to the ropes, Himeka twists up Giulia in the ropes and charges her, hitting a lariat. Himeka tries to dump Giulia out of the ring but Giulia won’t let her, but another lariat finally sends her crashing down to the floor. Himeka goes out after her and goes for a slam, but Giulia wiggles away and the two trade strikes. They return to the ring before the count so they can keep elbowing each other, boot by Giulia and she dropkicks Himeka in the knee. Giulia applies a STF but Himeka gets into the ropes for the break, Giulia goes to the top turnbuckle but Himeka elbows her before she can jump off. Himeka grabs Giulia but Giulia gets out of the powerbomb attempt, neckbreaker by Giulia out of the corner and she goes to the top turnbuckle, hitting a missile dropkick.

Giulia picks up Himeka and goes for a suplex, but Himeka elbows out of it and hits a Samoan Drop. Himeka goes off the ropes but Giulia boots her in the head, knee by Himeka but Giulia hits another running boot. Giulia goes off the ropes but Himeka levels her with a lariat, leaving both wrestlers down on the mat. They slowly get up and start trading elbows again, with Himeka winning the battle. Himeka gets Giulia on her shoulders in an Argentine Backbreaker, but Giulia slides off and puts Himeka in the STF. Himeka gets to the ropes for the break, Giulia goes off the far ropes and boots Himeka in the head. Giulia goes for a backdrop suplex but Himeka blocks it, she hits Himeka and tries again, and this time is able to drop her. Michinoku Driver by Giulia, but her cover only gets two. Giulia sets up Himeka for the Glorious Driver but Himeka hiptosses out of it, running knee by Himeka and she covers Giulia for a two count. Giulia gets up but Himeka greets her with a lariat, another lariat by Himeka and she covers Giulia for two. Argentine Backbreaker by Himeka and she slams Giulia to the front for another two count. Himeka picks up Giulia and nails the running powerbomb, cover by Himeka and she gets the three count! Himeka wins and now has four points in the tournament.

I knew the result before watching the match but I am still surprised by the execution. This was just a Himeka match, she had her way with Giulia for much of it and just beat her into the ground at the end without a hope spot in sight. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but Giulia had yet been pinned in such a definitive way since joining Stardom so they are definitely making a statement with their plans for Himeka. I enjoyed all the strike battles and they have good chemistry, its no secret that Giulia is one of my favorite Joshi wrestlers so I was going to enjoy this either way but Himeka more than held her own. An entertaining main event on the top of a really solid card by Stardom, I still would have it a touch below MOTYC level but Himeka came out of it looking like a beast which will only help her down the road.  Recommended

The post STARDOM 5☆STAR GP 2020 Day 2 on 8/9/20 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Event: STARDOM 5☆STAR GP 2020 – Day 1
Date: August 8th, 2020
Location: Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan
Announced Attendance: 445

Time for the 5★STAR GRAND PRIX 2020!  The 5★STAR GP is a round robin tournament with two blocks, and in 2020 each block has eight wrestlers. So its a long tournament as it runs from August 8th to September 19th. Here are this year’s participants:

The rules are pretty simple. This year, there is a 20 minute time limit for each match, which is an increase from the usual 15 minutes so hopefully we will see less Draws. The point system is easy enough to remember: a win is worth two points, a Draw is worth one point for both wrestlers, and of course the loser gets no points. Tie-breakers to win the Block can get weird but if the tie is just between two wrestlers, the wrestler that won the Head to Head match moves on. If more than two wrestlers tie (or if the two wrestlers tied went to a draw) there will probably be a wacky tie-breaker match.

To visit each wrestler’s profile on Joshi City, you can click on their name above to go straight to it. To make my life slightly easier, I will only be reviewing the tournament matches on each show.

Day 1 has a full slate of matches, here is the full card:

• Red Block: DEATH Yama-san vs. Starlight Kid
• Blue Block: AZM vs. Saya Iida
• Red Block: Konami vs. Saya Kamitani
• Blue Block: Maika vs. Momo Watanabe
• Blue Block: Natsuko Tora vs. Syuri
• Red Block: Himeka vs. Tam Nakano
• Blue Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Utami Hayashishita
• Red Block: Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani

I am watching the version uploaded to Stardom World, for better or worse, so all matches will be reviewed in full. However, I am cheating and using Samurai TV for the GIFs, just to get the better camera angles. Lets get to it!

DEATH Yama-san vs. Starlight Kid

Starlight Kid charges DEATH to start but DEATH swats away her dropkick, armdrag by Starlight Kid and they trade trips before DEATH cradles Starlight Kid for two. DEATH picks up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid elbows her, DEATH throws Starlight Kid into the corner but Starlight Kid kicks her back when she charges in twice. Dropkick by Starlight Kid, she goes off the ropes but DEATH does too and thrusts her in the throat. Running senton by DEATH, and she covers Starlight Kid for two. DEATH goes to pick up Starlight Kid but Starlight Kid hits a spinning headscissors, Tiger Feint Kick by Starlight Kid and she hits a standing moonsault for two. Starlight Kid picks up DEATH but DEATH slides away, Starlight Kid blocks the Chaos Theory but DEATH hits a DDT for two. Starlight Kid charges DEATH, they trade cradle attempts until Starlight Kid holds down DEATH for two. Starlight Kid charges DEATH and gets her back, Ki-chan Bomb by Starlight Kid and she gets the three count! Starlight Kid wins and gets two points!

I’ve said it before but if I keep up with tournament reviews you are going to hear it six more times after this – I really wish Yoneyama would wrestle as herself in Stardom in some situations as she’s too good to just be a low rent comedy gimmick. Anyway this was really short so not much to it and a few spots looked not very crisp, which is unusual for these two. A forgettable way to begin the prestigious tournament.

AZM vs. Saya Iida

They start slow (for an AZM match) as they trade holds, Saya gets a headscissors applied on the mat but AZM gets out of it as they return to their feet. Kick by AZM but Saya dropkicks her, AZM fires back with her own dropkick which sends Saya to the mat. AZM picks up AZM and throws her down by the hair, snapmare by AZM and she kicks Saya in the back for a two count. Scoop slam by AZM and she hits another one, she waits for Saya to get up and kicks her in the head. Hard elbow by AZM, she picks up Saya but Saya ducks her elbow and delivers a dropkick. Scoop slam by Saya and she puts AZM in an elevated crab hold, but AZM manages to roll out of it. Stomps by Saya, AZM elbows her and the two trade shots. AZM grabs Saya’s arm and applies a double reverse armbar, she lets go after a moment and goes up top but Saya avoids the diving footstomp. Chops by Saya and she double chops AZM to the mat, she goes up top but AZM recovers and joins her. Saya gets above AZM and goes for a powerbomb back to the mat, AZM blocks it but Saya pulls AZM from the turnbuckle down to the mat. Saya goes up top again and hits a missile dropkick, cover by Saya but it gets two. Saya picks up AZM and delivers the Northern Lights Suplex, but AZM kicks out. She goes for the Iida Bridge, AZM blocks it the first time but Saya gets it applied on her second attempt for a two count. Saya goes off the ropes but AZM kicks her, head kick by AZM and she covers Saya for two. Rolling vertical suplexes by AZM, she picks up Saya and…. well she goes for La Mistica but Saya is out of position so she spins her to the mat and puts her in an armlock for the submission win! AZM wins the match and gets two points.

Well that was one of the uglier finishes I’ve seen in Stardom, as Saya managed to mess up taking the same move twice in a five second period. Stardom usually is one of the most polished promotions I watch, they train together quite a bit and have so many shows they are generally on the same page. Definitely not the case with this one. It wasn’t a memorable match even leading up to that, with AZM changing her style to match Saya, but the ending will leave any fan with a bad taste in their mouth. Not AZM’s fault, she’s great, but just not a good combination here.

Konami vs. Saya Kamitani

Tie-up to start, they trade holds until Konami knocks over Saya with a kick to the chest. She goes off the ropes and delivers a sliding kick, Konami picks up Saya and hits a swinging neckbreaker. Headscissors by Konami but Saya gets to the ropes, Konami twists Saya between the ropes and pulls on her head until the referee gets her to stop. Konami throws Saya into the corner and kicks her a few times, Saya fights back with elbows but Konami elbows her back to the mat. Konami goes off the ropes but Saya does as well, cartwheel into a flip by Saya and she dropkicks Konami. Konami ends up in the corner, running knee by Saya and she follows up with another dropkick for a two count. Saya picks up Konami but Konami puts her in an armbar, Saya rolls out of it and applies a Sickle Hold. She lets go after a moment and switches to a single leg crab hold, but Konami gets into the ropes for the break. Scoop slam by Saya, she goes to the top turnbuckle but Konami recovers and throws her back to the mat. Dropkick to the head by Konami and she applies a guillotine choke, but Saya gets to the ropes. Konami goes off the ropes and knees Saya in the back of the head, she goes off the ropes again but Saya drops her with a pump kick. Spinning heel kick by Saya, and she covers Konami for two. Saya goes up top and delivers a missile dropkick, but Konami kicks out of the cover. Saya quickly picks up Konami and hits the Pele Kick, running Shooting Star Press attempt by Saya but Konami rolls out of the way and applies a sleeper hold. Sleeper suplex by Konami, she picks up Saya and hits a PK. Triangle Choke by Konami, and Saya taps out! Konami is the winner and gets two points in the tournament.

My favorite thing about this match was just the definitiveness of the ending. I don’t mind matches with hope spots, 2.9999 nearfalls, etc. as those elements can add a lot to a wrestling match. But sometimes, especially in a midcard situation, its better when a wrestler just pounds someone into the dirt. The sleeper/sleeper suplex/PK/Triangle Choke combination without Saya doing a damn thing to stop it was really great and put over Konami as a threat, which was more important than her trading nearfalls with a rookie. A very talented rookie that held her own, but this match was about Konami and she delivered. Short and pretty basic, but it accomplished its goal and was entertaining.  Mildly Recommended

Maika vs. Momo Watanabe

Maika charges Momo as soon as the match starts and boots her in the face, she stomps down Momo in the corner before bringing her to the middle of the ring and stomping her in the back. Maika goes off the ropes and hits a shoulderblock, Momo goes for the dropkick but Maika swats her away and armdrags her. Scoop slam by Maika and she hits a couple more, Maika stomps down Momo in the corner and Irish whips her, but Momo rebounds out of the corner with a dropkick. Maika lands in the other corner, kicks to the chest by Momo and she stomps down Maika. Momo picks up Maika and hits a vertical suplex, Maika elbows her and goes off the ropes, but Momo levels her with a dropkick. PK by Momo and she applies the crossface chickenwing, but Maika gets into the ropes for the break. Momo gets on the second turnbuckle and delivers the Diving Somato, but Maika kicks out.

Momo picks up Maika but Maika blocks the B Driver, head kick by Momo and she goes up top but Maika avoids her dive and hits an armdrag. Maika tosses Momo around the ring and hits a STO, side slam by Maika and she covers Momo for two. Maika gets on the second turnbuckle but Momo kicks her before she can jump off, Maika puts her in a hanging chokehold but lets go after a moment and hits a Reverse Splash. Delayed vertical suplex by Maika, and she covers Momo for two. Maika applies a sleeper but Momo quickly gets to the ropes, Maika goes off the ropes but Momo kicks her in the head. Momo goes off the ropes but Maika does as well, she slides behind Momo and puts her in a sleeper hold. Momo almost gets to the ropes but Maika drops her to the mat while maintaining the hold, and Momo eventually taps out! Maika wins the match and gets two points in the tournament.

A well constructed short tournament match. Maika coming out of the gate firing on all cylinders was a smart way to go, as generally she is seen as more methodical so it shows her more urgent side. It also helps put over Maika as more than just a new almost-rookie, as DDM is getting a push right now and needs all four of their wrestlers to be seen as threats. The sleeper hold at the end went on for maybe a tad long but it helped keep Momo strong since she fought so long before tapping out. A fun match and one of the better singles matches I’ve seen from Maika. Mildly Recommended

Natsuko Tora vs. Syuri

Natsuko attacks Syuri from behind before the match starts, she throws down Syuri by her hair but Syuri drop toeholds her into the second rope and kicks her in the back. Running knee by Syuri as Natsuko tumbles out of the ring, Syuri stays on the apron and hits a jumping knee off of it down to the floor. Syuri picks up Natsuko but Natsuko throws her into the guard rail and then the ring post, Natsuko throws Syuri into the railing again before sliding her back into the ring. Natsuko clubs on Syuri and throws her into the corner, elbow by Natsuko and she hits another running elbow followed by a Cannonball for a two count cover. Natsuko throws down Syuri by the hair and gives her some bootscrapes, running boot by Natsuko and she hits a second one. Natsuko gets Syuri on her shoulders and hits a Samoan Drop, cover by Natsuko but it gets a two count.

Natsuko goes off the ropes but Syuri knees her, DDT by Syuri and she covers Natsuko for two. Elbows by Natsuko but Syuri kicks her in the chest, running knee by Syuri and she hits a half hatch suplex for two. Crab hold by Syuri but Natsuko gets to the ropes, she picks up Natsuko but Natsuko elbows her and the two trade strikes. Kick to the midsection by Syuri but Natsuko blocks her next kick and hits a short range lariat. Natsuko picks up Syuri and hits a swinging side slam, she drags Syuri up and slams her in front of the corner. Natsuko goes to the top turnbuckle and delivers the diving body press, but Syuri barely kicks out of the cover. Natsuko gets her chain and wraps it around her knee, she gets on the top turnbuckle but Syuri avoids her diving leg drop. Running knee by Syuri, she goes for another one but Natsuko hits a lariat. Natsuko goes off the ropes but Syuri delivers a head kick, Buzzsaw Kick by Syuri and she covers Natsuko for the three count! Syuri wins and gets two points in the tournament.

Natsuko continues her trend of rule bending but losing anyway, although I assume at some point she will get some wins in this tournament. The match was ok but pretty by the numbers, also it was the shortest match since the opener so they had limited time to get in a groove. Natsuko did stand tall against Syuri and put up a good fight, which was needed, and it took a series of strikes to get Natsuko to stay down. Good enough for what they were going for but it felt like just a standard forgettable tournament match since it didn’t do anything outside of the norm. A small step down from the last two matches, but just slightly.

Himeka vs. Tam Nakano

They lockup to start, Himeka pushes Tam into the ropes and she gives a clean break. Takedown by Tam but Himeka gets in the dominate position, side headlock by Himeka but Tam gets out of it and they return to their feet. Tam quickly kicks Himeka, snapmare by Tam and she kicks Himeka in the back. She goes for a PK but Himeka catches it and hits a Samoan Drop. Scoop slam by Himeka and she puts Tam in a Camel Clutch, she lets go after a moment and stomps on Tam’s back. Single leg crab hold by Himeka but Tam gets to the ropes to force the break. Himeka pushes Tam under the under rope and cranks back on her head, the referee gets her to let go and Himeka elbows Tam before hitting a hard shoulderblock for two. Himeka picks up Tam and throws her into the corner, Irish whip by Himeka but Tam rebounds out of the corner with a crossbody. Running elbow by Tam and she kicks Himeka in the back of the head for a two count cover. Tam picks up Himeka and flips her to the mat, she goes for a cross armbreaker but Himeka blocks it for Tam’s first few attempts. Tam keeps cranking on the hold and almost gets it applied, but Himeka gets into the ropes to force a break. Tam stomps on Himeka and throws her towards the corner, but Himeka reverses it and hits a hard shoulderblock. Himeka puts Tam in a crab hold but Tam crawls to the ropes for the break. Himeka quickly re-applies it but Tam gets to the ropes again, Himeka goes off the ropes and knees Tam in the back for a two count.

Himeka goes for the Argentine Backbreaker and gets it applied, but Tam doesn’t submit so after a moment she drops her. Tam fires back with a kick to Himeka’s leg and they trade strikes until Himeka knocks over Tam with a hard lariat. Himeka goes off the ropes but Tam delivers a heel kick, Tam slowly recovers and goes to the top turnbuckle, but Himeka recovers and elbows her before she can jump off. Himeka grabs Tam but Tam gets away from her, Tam kicks Himeka down and goes to the top turnbuckle again, delivering the Destiny Hammer for a two count. Tam drags Himeka up and goes for the Tiger Suplex, but Himeka blocks it. Heel kick by Tam and she goes off the ropes, but Himeka levels her with a jumping knee. Himeka picks up Tam but Tam reverses the powerbomb attempt, spinning heel kick by Tam and she hits the sliding knee for a two count. Tam picks up Himeka and delivers the Tiger Suplex Hold, but Himeka gets a shoulder up. Tam elbows Himeka as she picks her up, she goes off the ropes but Himeka avoids the sliding knee and hits a lariat. Another lariat by Himeka, she picks up Tam and hits another big lariat for a two count. Himeka picks up Tam and goes for the powerbomb, but Tam back bodydrops out of it. Himeka immediately lariats Tam in the back of the head and puts her up on the turnbuckles to get her in the powerbomb position. Running Powerbomb by Himeka, and she picks up the three count! Himeka wins the match and gets two points.

This wasn’t the smoothest match we’ll see in the tournament, but it was pretty logically laid out anyway. I am not sure if Himeka was legitimately struggling with some of her power moves or just selling, but a few spots didn’t look quite right and its possible that Himeka isn’t quite as hoss-y as she tries to wrestle. But I liked her attention on Tam’s back and she was pretty consistent with it. Tam didn’t have as much of a plan, mostly spamming strikes which isn’t necessarily a bad way to win but it didn’t work out for her. This got a couple more minutes than it needed as long singles matches probably aren’t Himeka’s strength right now, but still more good than bad and I am looking forward to seeing Himeka improve as the tournament goes along.  Mildly Recommended

Jungle Kyona vs. Utami Hayashishita

They lock-up to begin, Jungle ends up pushing Utami into the corner and goes for a lariat, but Utami moves out of the way. Jungle avoids Utami’s charge as well, side headlock by Jungle but Utami Irish whips out of it and the two try to knock each other over. Utami wins the battle but Jungle quickly gets back up and they trade elbows. Elbows by Utami but Jungle shoulderblocks her to the mat, Jungle throws Utami into the corner and hits a body avalanche followed by a front dropkick. Utami lands near the ropes and Jungle lariats her over the top rope down to the floor. Jungle jumps out to the apron but Utami lariats her legs out from under her, she gets Jungle on her back out on the floor but Jungle wiggles out of her grasp. Utami throws Jungle into the guardrail but Utami returns the favor, and Jungle lariats Utami over the railing to the other side. Jungle grabs Utami and powerbombs her into the apron, she slides Utami back in and she hits a scoop slam. Falling body press by Jungle, and she covers Utami for two. Jungle picks up Utami hits a fallaway slam, single leg crab hold by Jungle but Utami gets to the ropes for the break. Stomps by Jungle, she picks up Utami and throws her into the corner before hitting a hard shoulderblock.

Jungle goes off the ropes but Utami dropkicks her, running elbow by Utami and she dropkicks Jungle in the back for a two count cover. Utami applies a sleeper but Jungle gets out of it, she goes for a sliding lariat but Utami ducks it and hits a dropkick. Utami goes up top but Jungle joins her, they trade elbows until Utami gets Jungle on her shoulders. Jungle luckily slides off since nothing good could come of that, Jungle picks up Utami and slams her off the turnbuckle to the mat. Lariat by Jungle in the corner, she puts her on the turnbuckle and goes for the Kinniku Buster, but Utami gets out of it. Lariat by Jungle, she picks up Utami and hits a scoop slam. Jungle goes up top and delivers the diving body press, but Utami kicks out at two. Jungle grabs Utami and drops her with the Hammerthrow Bomb, but Utami barely kicks out of the cover. Jungle drags up Utami but Utami ducks the lariat attempt, hitting a STO. Both wrestlers are down and slow to recover, Jungle is up first and grabs Utami, but Utami gets away. Elbow by Jungle but Utami hits the Air Raid Crash, cover by Utami but it gets two. Utami picks up Jungle and puts her in an Argentine Backbreaker, she spins her around into a powerbomb but Jungle gets a hand on the ropes to break up the pin. Utami grabs Jungle around the waist and drops her with a German suplex, she keeps the hold applied and hits a second German suplex. Utami rolls Jungle over and delivers a final German suplex hold, picking up the three count! Utami Hayashishita wins the match and gets two points.

This felt like a really good match that just never made it to the next level. I enjoyed much of it, as Utami continues to improve so much and Jungle is a solid base for anyone that hits her moves very crisply. There were a few little awkward moments but nothing that broke the match. I really liked the ending with the rolling Germans, it made Jungle look stronger for it to take three Germans to keep her down, which she needed after Utami kicked out of her Hammerthrow Bomb. Entertaining for sure but I think with a little more time and with something on the line these two could have a real banger.  Recommended

Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani

They trade holds to start, Giulia gets Mayu to the mat but Mayu gains the dominate position as they struggle for control. They end up back on their feet, Mayu works a headlock but Giulia gets out of it. Slap by Mayu and she snapmares Giulia before kicking her in the back. Scoop slam by Mayu and she stomps on Giulia, dropkick by Mayu while Giulia is against the ropes and she covers her for two. Giulia throws Mayu into the corner and hits a hanging neckbreaker, snapmare by Giulia and she applies an armbar. Mayu gets into the ropes to force a break, she rolls out of the ring to re-group before returning to the ring. Giulia stomps on Mayu, Mayu elbows her but Giulia boots Mayu in the head. Hammerlock by Giulia but Mayu quickly gets to the ropes again, Giulia goes off the ropes but Mayu catches her with the Sling Blade. Mayu rolls Giulia to the mat and dropkicks her, suplex by Mayu and she holds down Giulia for two. Mayu grabs Giulia but Giulia gets her back and puts Mayu in the grounded octopus hold, but Mayu gets into the ropes for the break. Giulia picks up Mayu and goes off the ropes, booting her in the head. Giulia goes up top and hits a missile dropkick, cover by Mayu but it gets two. Giulia goes for a suplex but Mayu lands on her feet and hits a superkick, but Giulia boots her back. Another superkick by Mayu as they go back and forth, Giulia goes off the ropes but Mayu superkicks her again and hits a German suplex hold for two.

Mayu goes up top but Giulia recovers and joins her, headbutt by Giulia but Mayu headbutts her back. More headbutts by Giulia and she delivers a superplex. Cover by Giulia, but Mayu bridges out of the cover. Giulia picks up Mayu but Mayu gets out of the Glorious Driver, reversing it into a Tombstone Piledriver. They slowly recover and trade strikes on their knees, they keep it up as they get back to their feet, head kick by Mayu and she drops Giulia with the Dodonpa for a two count. Mayu gets Giulia on the second turnbuckle and nails the Running Three, Mayu goes up to the top turnbuckle and nails the diving body press, but Mayu barely kicks out of the pin. Dragon Suplex Hold by Mayu, but that gets a two count as well. Mayu goes up top again but Giulia avoids the moonsault attempt, sliding kick by Giulia but she is too hurt to capitalize. Mayu is up first and goes for a dragon suplex, but Giulia blocks it and drops her with a backdrop suplex. Giulia picks up Mayu and hits a Falcon Arrow, cover by Giulia but it gets two. Giulia applies a seated armbar but Mayu gets into the ropes to force the break, Mayu picks up Giulia and hits the Glorious Driver. Giulia keeps Mayu clutched however and hits a second Glorious Driver, cover by Mayu and she gets a three count!  Giulia wins and picks up two points in the tournament.

In the main event slot, these two stepped up and delivered. It had the big match feel even with the sparse crowd, as both were dropping bombs to win. Mayu pulled out the Running Three (which she learned from Chigusa Nagayo directly) and it really looked killer, I love how wrestlers in Stardom are always adding to their move arsenal as it keeps the matches fresh. Giulia is so good with her strikes, whether they be boots or headbutts, and with her expressions always presents matches as a real struggle and not just choreographed violence. If I had to quibble, I wish Mayu had gotten to kick out of a few of Giulia’s big moves just to make it more fair (such as the Glorious Buster) since Giulia did it to her, as it made the end stretch feel short, but they only had two more minutes left so they had to wrestle within the time restrictions. Overall a pretty great match, and easily the best of the night.  Highly Recommended

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