With the upcoming Mae Young Classic in WWE, I thought it would be fun to upload a match from each of the participants with matches in Japan (that I had a copy of). Not all the matches are necessarily great, but do show them in a different environment.

• Nanae Takahashi vs. Mercedes Martinez in Stardom on 7/24/11
• Crazy Mary Dobson (Sarah Logan) vs. Mia Yim vs. Leah Von Dutch in REINA on 6/9/12
• Alpha Female vs. Nanae Takahashi in Stardom on 3/17/13
• Alex Lee vs. Carmen Rose vs. Demi Bennett (Rhea Ripley) in REINA on 5/5/15
• Princesa Sugehit vs. Maki Narumiya in REINA on 5/5/15
• Mayu Iwatani vs. Evie (Dakota Kai) in Stardom on 2/21/16
• Candice LaRae and Joey Ryan vs. Daisuke Sasaki and Shuji Ishikawa in DDT on 3/26/16
• Kairi Hojo (Kairi Sane) vs. Santana Garrett in Stardom on 5/15/16
• Kairi Hojo (Kairi Sane) and Yoko Bito vs. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell in Stardom in Stardom on 1/15/17
• Io Shirai vs. Viper (Piper Niven) in Stardom on 1/15/17
• Io Shirai vs. Shayna Baszler in Stardom on 2/23/17
• Toni Storm vs. Jungle Kyona in Stardom on 3/20/17
• Hiroyo Matsumoto and Jungle Kyona vs. Jessicka Havok and Tessa Blanchard in Stardom on 5/14/17

The post Mae Young Classic Wrestlers in Japan appeared first on Joshi City.

Championships Held: ATTACK! 24/7 Championship, British Empire Woman’s Championship, Queen Of Southside Championship, WCPW Women’s Championship
Tournaments Won: None
Awards Won: None

Notable Matches in Japan:

• January 15th, 2017 with Kay Lee Ray vs Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito
• January 29th, 2017 vs. Kairi Hojo

Signature Moves:

• The Shiniest Wizard
• Welsh Destroyer

In Action:

Coming Soon 

Back to Gaijin Invaders

The post Nixon Newell appeared first on Joshi City.

As I mentioned in my review of the Stardom show on January 8th, on this tour Stardom happened to bring in quite a few wrestlers that I like so I am looking forward to this event. The show lost a big match when Mayu Iwatani was too sick to wrestle Momo Watanabe for the High Speed Championship, so Momo got thrown into a different match instead. But we still do have two title matches, with Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell challenging for the tag team championship and Viper challenging for the World of Stardom Championship. Here is the full card:

• Arisu Nanase and Azumi vs. Ruaka and Natsuko Tora
• HZK vs. Konami vs. Kris Wolf
• Hiromi Mimura vs. Saori Anou
• Jungle Kyona vs. Momo Watanabe vs. Shayna Baszler
• Goddess of Stardom Championship: Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito vs. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell
• World of Stardom Championship: Io Shirai vs. Viper

Clicking on the names above will take you to that wrestler’s profile on Joshi City. Since I am watching the Stardom World version of the show, it will be shown in full but no multi-cam setup.

Arisu Nanase and Azumi vs. Ruaka and Natsuko Tora

Arisu and Natsuko start the match and they lock-up, Natsuko pushes Arisu into the ropes but she gives a mostly clean break. Azumi attacks Natsuko from behind and they double team her in the corner, but Natsuko snapmares Arisu and kicks her in the back. Natsuko tags in Ruaka, she kicks Arisu back into her own corner which allows her to tag in Azumi. Front necklock by Azumi to Ruaka and she throws her into the corner, but Ruaka elbows her and they trade strikes. Scoop slam by Azumi and she applies a crab hold, but Ruaka crawls to the ropes and forces the break. Natsuko tries to help but Azumi boots her off the apron and hits a footstomp onto Ruaka’s back. Ruaka is already in her corner so she tags Natsuko, shoulderblock by Natsuko to Azumi and she hits two more for a two count cover. Natsuko goes for a leg sweep but Azumi blocks it and hits a DDT. Dropkicks by Azumi and she applies a satellite roll-up for a two count. Azumi tags in Arisu, elbows by Arisu but Natsuko elbows her back. Natsuko throws down Arisu by her hair, Irish whip by Natsuko but Arisu rolls through it and hits a dropkick. Anther dropkick by Arisu but Natsuko hits a senton and tags in Ruaka. Big boot by Ruaka in the corner and she hits a second one, she goes for a scoop slam but Arisu blocks it. Natsuko comes in and hits a side Russian leg sweep on Arisu, big boot by Ruaka and she covers Arisu for two. Azumi comes in but Natsuko cuts her off, shoulderblock by Natsuko to Azumi but Arisu dropkicks her. Ruaka runs over and rolls up Arisu, but it only gets a two count. Back up, Reverse STO by Ruaka and she puts Arisu in a crab hold, but Arisu gets out of it and applies a jackknife cover for the three count! Arisu Nanase and Azumi win!

For an opening rookie match this was fine. It felt longer than it really was, which is never a good sign, and it lacked a veteran to help tie things together as the tag in/out transitions were pretty lackluster. But the action itself was ok, and Ruaka and Natsuko appear to be coming along nicely. Nothing special but nothing offensive either.

HZK vs. Konami vs. Kris Wolf

Kris Wolf immediately leaves the ring to sit in the crowd as the match starts, so HZK and Konami are alone in the ring. HZK and Konami trade holds until Kris suddenly returns to help Konami, they both kick HZK to the mat but Kris stops Konami when she goes for the cover. All three get back up and get into a triple knuckle lock, but HZK and Konami promptly kick Kris out of the ring. She returns and dropkicks Konami, but HZK dropkicks Kris back out and hits bootscrapes on Konami in the corner. HZK clubs Konami in the chest and covers her, but it only gets two. HZK goes off the ropes but Konami kicks her in the chest, running knee by Konami but that gets a two as well. Konami quickly goes for the cross armbreaker but Kris runs in and covers both of them for a two count. Enzuigiri by Kris to Konami and she hits a running knee in the corner, suplex by Kris but Konami kicks out of the cover. Kris goes off the ropes but HZK kicks her from the apron and snaps her neck over the top rope. Konami kicks HZK back to the floor and grabs Kris by the tail before hitting a release German. Buzzsaw Kick by Konami, but Kris barely gets a shoulder up. Konami applies a necklock but HZK breaks it up, she elbows Konami but Konami elbows her back and they trade shots. HZK punches Konami into the corner but Konami kicks her in the stomach, Konami charges HZK but HZK boots her in the head. HZK goes up top but Kris quickly runs in and covers Konami, so HZK has to hop back down to break up the pin. HZK goes off the ropes but Konami connects with a back kick, Konami charges HZK but HZK pulls down the top rope and Konami falls to the floor. Kris runs over and attacks HZK, she goes for a kick but HZK ducks it and applies the armtrap crossface. Bodyscissors by HZK, she rolls Kris around the ring before holding down her shoulders and getting the three count! HZK gets the win.

This was actually a lot better than I was expecting. Still a shortish early card match, but the action was really solid and they worked together well. Konami looked great, you wouldn’t have guessed this was her first tour with Stardom as she had good chemistry with both wrestlers. Kris trying to get the win by sneaky means throughout the match added a wrinkle to it, and the spots all connected well without any awkward moments. Hard to recommend a match like this in a vacuum, but for where it was on the card/expectations I thought it succeeded.

Hiromi Mimura vs. Saori Anou

Hiromi is all business here as they trade waistlocks, shoulderblock by Saori and she hits another, but Hiromi blocks the third with a drop toehold and dropkicks Saori near the ropes. Hiromi puts Saori in the ropes and dropkicks her a few more times, crab hold by Hiromi but Saori gets to the ropes for the break. Irish whip by Hiromi but Saori reverses it, dropkick by Hiromi but Saori fires back with a shoulderblock. Hiromi and Saori trade elbows, Saori wins the battle and gets Hiromi on her shoulders, but Hiromi slides off and stomps her to the mat. Hiromi goes off the ropes but Saori boots her and hits a sidewalk slam. Fisherman Suplex by Saori, and she covers Hiromi for two. Saori picks up Hiromi and hits a jumping knee in the corner, she goes for another one but Hiromi moves and schoolboys her for two. Elevated DDT by Hiromi and she hits a rebound bulldog out of the corner for another two count. Hiromi goes up top but Saori joins her before she can jump off, Hiromi slaps Saori back to the mat and hits a diving crossbody followed by La Magistral for two. Hiromi picks up Saori and applies a headlock, Saori punches out of it as Hiromi jumps up on the second turnbuckle, but Saori grabs her and hits rolling Fisherman Suplexes for a two count. Backslide by Hiromi, she charges Anou but Anou applies a backslide into a bridge for the three count! Saori Anou is the winner.

This was a touch better than their last match. Maybe. There are just too many small things that Hiromi doesn’t do quite right, her offense can look awkward (such as the bulldog) and she telegraphs transitions (such as sitting on the turnbuckles for no reason so Saori could suplex her off). Saori is solid but isn’t experienced enough to cover for these types of issues, so the match was just rough around the edges. Both are still early enough in their careers that it isn’t the end of the world, but I don’t think either are quite ready yet to be elevated higher on the card than they are right now.

Jungle Kyona vs. Momo Watanabe vs. Shayna Baszler

All three get into a knuckle lock to start, which Baszler wins with little issue and she puts both opponents in a headlock. Baszler locks both their arms before stacking Momo and Kyona in the corner, but both avoid her charge. Momo dropkicks Baszler but when Kyona goes after Baszler she is intercepted by a Momo dropkick. Momo quickly regrets this as Baszler kicks her repeatedly in the leg before a kick to the chest sends Momo to the mat. Baszler charges Momo but Momo dropkicks her, she charges again but she is caught in the ropes and Momo dropkicks her out of the ring. Kyona gives Momo a couple hard shoulderblocks but Momo gets away from her and kicks Kyona in the chest. Kyona kicks her back and applies the airplane spin before slamming Momo to the mat. Kyona picks up Momo and spins her into the returning Baszler, she puts them both into the corner and hits a body avalanche. Kyona goes for a face crusher on Baszler but Baszler slams on the breaks and hits a backdrop suplex. Baszler tries to pick up Kyona but Kyona flops to the mat, she finally gets her up as Momo gets on the second turnbuckle, but Baszler moves and Momo missile dropkicks Kyona on accident. Baszler charges Momo but Momo pulls down the top rope and Baszler lands out on the floor. Momo goes up top but Kyona avoids the avalanche Somato, hard shoulderblock by Kyona and she gets a two count. Momo and Kyona both go for backslides, Baszler comes back in the ring but she eats a double dropkick.

Kyona and Momo go off the ropes to do their old double team move, but Kyona instead hits a lariat onto Momo. Baszler punches Kyona, Momo tries to hit Baszler but she hits Kyona by accident. Double lariat by Baszler and she hits jumping knees on both Kyona and Momo in opposite corners. Baszler grabs Momo and suplexes her onto Kyona, double cover by Baszler but they kick out. Vertical suplex by Baszler to Momo, but Momo gets a shoulder up. Baszler kicks Momo and hits a dragon screw, she applies a kneelock but Kyona goes up top and hits a body press onto Momo, she covers her but Baszler breaks it up by picking her up and hitting rolling gutwrench suplexes. Cover, but Kyona kicks out. Baszler picks up Kyona and goes for the Waterwheel Drop, but Kyona slides away and goes off the ropes as she tries to lariat Baszler over. It doesn’t work, high kick by Baszler and she goes off the ropes, but Kyona finally does manage to lariat Baszler down. Cover by Kyona, but Momo breaks it up by hitting a Somato onto Kyona for a two count of her own. All three are slow to get up, but as they do Baszler hits a spear on Momo. Baszler picks up Kyona, Momo charges them but Baszler suplexes both of them to the mat. Baszler puts Kyona into a sleeper, once Kyona is out of it she spins her again and hits the Waterwheel Drop. Cover by Baszler and she gets the three count! Shayna Baszler wins!

All things considered, I thought they did a really good job. For a last minute situation, Momo and Kyona’s interactions were all on point as occasionally they’d have to work together since Baszler is so big, but other times they’d go after each other as bitter enemies. Kyona lariating Momo instead of doing their old move together was a great moment, showing that even if they sometimes helped each other here they were far from friends. Baszler looked good as she tends to, she hit her power moves well and looked like a dominate force and not a comedy act like in the last show I watched. Overall a pretty solid match that furthered a few storylines even if it wasn’t really planned.  Mildly Recommended

(c) Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito vs. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell
Goddesses of Stardom Championship

Kay Lee Ray and Nixon attack Kairi and Yoko during the customary handshake but the champions quickly take back over. The challengers recover as Nixon picks up Kay Lee Ray so that Kay Lee Ray can kick both of their opponents and they both then hit jumping lariats. Kairi is thrown into the corner but she slides out onto the apron, Yoko comes in and she knocks both Kay Lee Ray and Nixon out of the ring. Kairi then goes up top and dives down onto the floor, but her opponents move and she lands on Yoko by accident. Nixon and Kay Lee Ray take Yoko and Kairi up on different sides of the stands, leading up to opposite balconies. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon then get onto their own balcony and dive down onto they opponents, they quickly sprint back to the ring while the referee starts his count. Kairi and Yoko are assisted back to the ring, Nixon stays in with Kairi so they appear to the the legal wrestlers as Nixon covers Kairi for a two count. Nixon tags in Kay Lee Ray, Kay Lee Ray stomps on Kairi and she hits a scoop slam for two. Nixon returns as the Kairi Beatdown continues, she briefly gets away but Nixon stops her from making the hot tag. Kicks by Nixon, she goes off the ropes but Kairi does too and she delivers the spear. Kay Lee Ray runs in but Kairi kicks her off and she finally makes the tag to Yoko.

Kicks by Yoko to everyone but Nixon and Kay Lee Ray catch her with a double vertical suplex. She fires back with a double lariat, Yoko then picks up Kay Lee Ray and drops her onto Nixon for a two count cover. Yoko goes up top and connects with a missile dropkick to Nixon, she picks her up but Nixon headbutts her and tags in Kay Lee Ray. Kay Lee Ray chops Yoko into the corner but Yoko delivers a head kick, they trade kicks until both of them fall to the mat. They both manage to tag out, Nixon superkicks Kairi and hits a pair of running elbows in the corner, but Kairi avoids the third. Rebound crossbody by Nixon out of the corner and she tags Kay Lee Ray, double superkick to Kairi and they connect with a catapult dropkick for two. Yoko comes in but eats a double headbutt, they go back to Kairi but Kairi drops them with a headscissors/DDT combination. Yoko puts Kay Lee Ray draped over the top rope, Kairi hits a diving footstomp onto her back and Yoko follows with a suplex. Dragon Sleeper by Kairi to Kay Lee Ray and they hit a Final Cut/Kick combination, Kairi goes up top but Nixon kicks her from the apron, Kay Lee Ray grabs Kairi and with Nixon they hit a Gory Bomb/Superkick combination. Shining Wizard by Nixon, Kay Lee Ray covers Kairi but Yoko breaks it up. Kay Lee Ray crouches so that Nixon can go for a Super Shining Wizard, but Yoko catches her in midair with a kick to the face. Sliding D by Kairi to Kay Lee Ray, Yoko then picks up Kay Lee Ray and she delivers the B Driller. A Diving Elbow Drop by Kairi quickly follows and she picks up the three count pinfall! Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito are still the champions!

I think a match like this would probably be better with full production so I reserve the right to come back later and change my opinion, but I still thought it was great. Both teams work so well together, everything was so smooth and seamless which says a lot as there was constantly something going on. The ending came quick but I actually liked it that way, both teams were having issues keeping both of their opponents down so the most logical way to win was to knock out one and finish off the other as fast as possible. We had balcony dives, devastating strikes, and everything else you could hope for. I do wish it was longer as it was under 15 minutes, but I often think that when two teams are really clicking. I am going to re-watch it in a couple days on Samurai TV to get a better view of all the action, but a very early contender for best Joshi match of 2017.  Recommended

(c) Io Shirai vs. Viper
World of Stardom Championship

Viper throws down Io after the bell rings to assert her dominance, elbows by Viper but Io kicks her away when she goes for an elbow drop. Io goes off the ropes but Viper decks her with a body block, Io gets Viper’s back but Viper gets away. Elbows by Io but Viper throws her into the corner and hits a body avalanche. Body press by Viper, but Io kicks out of the cover. Viper beats down Io for several minutes, she goes for a back bodydrop but Io kicks her in the head. Dropkick by Io, and Viper rolls out of the ring to re-group. Io goes off the ropes and sails out onto Viper with a tope suicida, she then puts a chair around Viper’s neck and slams it into the floor. With Viper’s head still in the chair, Io gets a running start and dropkicks it, she then gets on the top turnbuckle but Viper has recovered and hits her before she can jump off. Viper gets Io on her shoulders while standing on the apron before tossing her to the floor on top of other Stardom wrestlers. Viper then gets a running start on the apron and jumps down onto the crowd, hurting everyone in the process.

They slowly get back into the ring, Viper goes off the ropes but Io catches her arm and applies an armtrap crossface. Tiger Feint Kick attempt by Io but Viper catches her and puts Io in an Argentine Backbreaker. Cover by Viper, but it only gets two. Viper picks up Io but Io wiggles out of it and lands on the apron, she goes for a swandive move but Viper elbows her. Io stands up on the apron but Viper hits a lariat, Viper goes out to the apron and she hits a running senton while Io is still lying on the apron herself. Viper slides Io back into the ring and hits a running crossbody, but Io kicks out of the cover. Io gets away from Viper and hits a missile dropkick, she goes for a German suplex but Viper gets out of it. Io knees Viper in the back and hits the Tiger Feint Kick, swandive missile dropkick by Io and she covers Viper for two. Running double knee by Io in the corner, she goes for the moonsault but Viper gets both feet up to block it. Io charges Viper in the corner but Viper moves, cannonball by Viper and she hits a Reverse Splash for a two count. Viper goes up top but Io avoids the diving bodypress, leaving both wrestlers down on the mat. They slowly recover and trade elbows, palm strike by Io and she dropkicks Viper in the knee. Io goes for a kick but Viper elbows her leg away and delivers a lariat. Michinoku Driver by Viper, but Io gets a shoulder up on the cover. Viper puts Io up top and joins her, she puts Io on her shoulders but Io reverses whatever she planned on doing with a Frankensteiner. Moonsault by Io, she picks up Viper and hits a delayed German suplex. Instead of holding onto it, she rolls through the hold and delivers a cross-arm suplex hold, picking up the three count! Io Shirai retains the championship!

Another quality match, and better than their last singles match as they got more time and freedom to do bigger spots. Io is in an odd place right now, as she is simultaneously the head of the heel faction, but also still the Protector of Stardom Against Giant Gaijins, which in theory is a ‘good guy’ role. But her wrestling style really hasn’t changed either way, especially here since she was more the face than the heel. Viper’s offense can look a bit rough but it is effective, and Io showed off her strength by hitting a couple suplexes on her to send the crowd home satisfied. A good way to end the show, predictable but still an enjoyable journey as Io overcame another obstacle again to stay the Ace of Stardom.  Recommended

The post Stardom 6th Anniversary on 1/15/17 Review appeared first on Joshi City.

Jumping ahead with Stardom a little bit. For 2017 I am trying to not review more than two events for a promotion per month and since I will be reviewing Stardom 1/15 next week, I had to be selective. This was not Stardom’s 2nd biggest show of the month, I am reviewing it because I thought that Kairi and Konami teaming was adorable. Doesn’t mean it won’t be a fun show even though its a small one, as we have a fistful of new gaijins plus Queen’s Quest in the main event. Here is the full card:

• Arisu Nanase vs. Azumi
• Kris Wolf vs. Natsuko Tora
• Hiromi Mimura vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Viper
• Kairi Hojo and Konami vs. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell
• Io Shirai, Momo Watanabe, and HZK vs. Yoko Bito, Jungle Kyona, and Mayu Iwatani

As always, you can click on the names above to go to the wrestler’s profile on Joshi City. Since this aired on Stardom World, it will be shown in full.

Arisu Nanase vs. Azumi

Azumi won’t shake Arisu’s hand so Arisu dropkicks her in the back when she turns around, backslide attempt by Arisu and she dropkicks Azumi. Double wrist armsault by Arisu, she throws Azumi into the corner but Azumi reverses it and hits a dropkick. Crab hold by Azumi but Azumi gets out of it and they trade quick pins. La Magistral by Azumi, but Arisu barely kicks out. An Oklahoma Roll gets the same result, Azumi then jumps on Arisu and applies a Japanese Leg Roll Clutch for the three count! Azumi wins!

A very short match but not without some purpose. This was Azumi’s first pinfall over Arisu, so it keeps up the storyline of these two battling for supremacy at the beginning of the card. Arisu is pretty great for a 15 year old but didn’t get much of a chance to show off anything here, just a quick storyline-driven match.

Kris Wolf vs. Natsuko Tora

They lock up to start, Kris gets Natsuko to the mat but Natsuko rolls her up for a two count. Back up they trade holds until Kris snaps Natsuko’s arm on the second rope. Kris goes out to the apron while Natsuko is hanging over it and hits a running knee, back in the ring she stands on Natsuko’s stomach before hitting a double knee drop. Kris slams Natsuko into the corner and chops her in the chest, jumping knee by Kris and she covers Natsuko for two. Belly Claw by Kris but Natsuko gets into the ropes, Natsuko fights back with elbows but Kris kicks her in the chest. Running knee by Kris, she picks up Natsuko but she ducks the next one and rolls up Kris for two. Natsuko bites on Kris’ tail but Kris bites her ankle until both let go, stomps by Natsuko and she hits a body press followed by a senton. Another senton by Natsuko and she hits a third for a two count cover. Natsuko gets on the second turnbuckle but Kris rolls to the other side, but she hops back off and hits a Side Russian Leg Sweep. Natsuko puts Kris in a submission but Kris inches to the ropes and forces a break. Natsuko picks up Kris but Kris sneaks in a roll-up, knee to the stomach by Kris and she applies a schoolboy. Kick to the face by Kris, she gets on the second turnbuckle and delivers the diving double knee drop for the three count! Kris Wolf is the winner.

Because Kris Wolf has a comedic element to her wrestling style, I think a lot of Stardom fans don’t notice that she is also a really solid wrestler. She has to stay within her character but her timing and strikes are on point and she led the rookie well here. Natsuko is still a bit rough around the edges, as would be expected, as that smoothness can take some time to develop. A fine early card match, simple but perfectly watchable.

Hiromi Mimura vs. Shayna Baszler vs. Viper

Shayna and Viper completely ignore Hiromi as the match starts as they are focused solely on each other, Viper punches Shayna but Shayna punches her back as thy trade blows. Hiromi jumps in and elbows them both but is swatted to the mat, waistlock by Shayna to Viper but Viper elbows her off. Viper clubs Shayna to her knees and goes off the ropes, but Shayna applies a cross armbreaker takedown. Viper gets out of it, Hiromi goes up top but Shayna puts her in a Triangle Choke when she jumps off. Viper breaks it up, Hiromi hits a diving crossbody on Viper but Shayna pulls her off and focuses back on Viper. Viper and Shayna trade strikes, Hiromi runs over to get involved but both Shayna and Viper fall to the mat before she can do so. Hiromi covers both of them for two counts, Shayna and Viper get back up and take turns trying to slam Hiromi but they keep stopping each other from completing the move. Hiromi dropkicks Shayna into Viper and kicks Shayna so that she gives Viper a Stunner, cover by Hiromi but Viper kicks out. Shayna hits rolling gutwrench suplexes on Hiromi, waterwheel drop but Viper breaks up the pin. Shayna tries to pick up Viper but Viper blocks it and hits a body avalanche in the corner. Body press by Viper to Hiromi, and she picks up the three count! Viper wins the match.

I realize this is just a midcard match on a house show that most people won’t see, but I actively hate this style of Stardom match. Not the comedy triple threat, but the comedy triple threats that have a monster gaijin that I am supposed to be taking seriously. In her first tour, I just don’t like seeing Shayna doing comedy spots with Hiromi, it doesn’t help that ‘asskicking’ aura that I think she naturally has without any help. Having Viper there too just made it worse since she is in the same boat. On top of that, much of the match wasn’t done well, it clearly was thrown together with some spot ideas but without thinking about how they would be executed. I’m glad this wasn’t at Korakuen, but still this match didn’t do anyone any favors.

Kairi Hojo and Konami vs. Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell

Kay Lee Ray and Nixon attack before the bell rings and the action spills out to the floor, with the European wrestlers controlling things. Kay Lee Ray throws Kairi into the ring post while Nixon slams Konami into the apron, Kay Lee Ray dropkicks Konami before Nixon hits a catapult dropkick onto Kairi. Kairi and Konami are both slid back into the ring as the double teaming continues, but the momentum swings as Konami and Kairi take over and connect with unison strikes on Kay Lee Ray and Nixon. Things finally settle down with Kay Lee Ray and Kairi in the ring together, they trade strikes until Kay Lee Ray chops Kairi to the mat. Headscissors by Kairi but Kay Lee Ray avoids her when Kairi charges in and plants her on the mat for a two count. Kay Lee Ray picks up Kairi, Nixon comes in but Kairi kicks Nixon away and rolls up Kay Lee Ray for two. Spear by Kairi to Kay Lee Ray and she makes the tag to Konami, kicks by Konami to Kay Lee Ray with a head kick sending Kay Lee Ray to one knee.

Konami goes for the fisherman suplex but Kay Lee Ray blocks it, Konami goes off the ropes but Kay Lee Ray catches her with a dropkick for a two count. Kay Lee Ray picks up Konami and tags Nixon, double superkick by Nixon and Kay Lee Ray and Nixon connects with running elbows in the corner. Konami finally avoids one but Nixon kicks her in the head, Nixon goes up top and she hits a diving crossbody for two when Kairi breaks up the cover. Takedown by Konami and she applies a kneelock, Kairi gets on the second turnbuckle while Nixon is still on the hold and hits a diving elbow drop. Kay Lee Ray tries to help but Kairi puts her in an Octopus Hold while Konami keeps the knee lock applied to Nixon, but Nixon finally makes it to the ropes. Release German by Konami and she nails a Buzzsaw Kick, but Kay Lee Ray breaks up the cover. Konami picks up Nixon and elbows her against the ropes, but Nixon superkicks her while Kay Lee Ray also superkicks Kairi. Nixon slams Konami in front of the corner, Swanton Bomb by Kay Lee Ray to Konami and Nixon follows with a Shining Wizard for the three count! Kay Lee Ray and Nixon Newell are your winners.

Even though this one had a ‘house show’ feel (under ten minutes, mostly general chaos), I still enjoyed it. Each of their individual strengths shown through, but Kay Lee Ray as usual stole the show. Her Swanton Bomb was absolutely insane, as Nixon set her up a bit far away so she had to clear half the ring. Kairi took a backseat which is unusual for her, as Konami did much of the work once they returned to the ring. A fun match, nothing mind-blowing but a good introduction for some new wrestlers to Stardom fans.  Mildly Recommended

Io Shirai, Momo Watanabe, and HZK vs. Yoko Bito, Jungle Kyona, and Mayu Iwatani

Momo and Mayu are the first two in, swinging headscissors by Mayu but Momo armdrags her and they end up in a stalemate. Io and Yoko tag in and lock knuckles, snapmare by Yoko but Io ducks the PK. Leg sweep by Yoko and she kicks Io in the back before hitting the PK on the second attempt. Back up, dropkick by Io and they tag out as HZK and Kyona come in. Kyona throws HZK in the corner but HZK avoids her charge and applies a sleeper. Kyona slams HZK into the corner to get out of it, body avalanche by Kyona but Momo kicks her from the apron. HZK kicks Kyona in the corner before hitting a body slam and tagging in Momo. Momo puts Kyona in the ropes and pulls her hair, dropkick by Momo and she covers Kyona for two. Momo tags in Io, HZK comes in too and they double team Kyona. Handstand kneedrop by Io, she throws Kyona into the corner and stomps her down to a seated position. The beatdown on Kyona lasts several minutes, Yoko comes in to help but HZK tosses her out of the ring. Yoko elbows Io from the apron and Kyona hits a jumping crossbody on all three opponents, giving her time to tag in Yoko. Yoko kicks Io in the chest and hits a double vertical suplex on Io and HZK before dropping Momo onto both of them. Cover by Yoko to Io, but it gets two. Yoko kicks Io in the corner repeatedly and tags in Mayu, missile dropkick by Mayu and she goes for the dragon suplex, but Io blocks it and applies an armbar. Mayu goes for a spinning headscissors but Io lands on her feet, Mayu knocks Io against the ropes but Io trips her and hits a slingshot dropkick.

Io tags Momo and Momo dropkicks Mayu in the corner, tornado DDT by Momo and she covers Mayu for two. Mayu kicks Momo but Momo kicks her back, Somato by Momo but Mayu reverses the pin and they trade quick covers. Superkick by Mayu to Momo and she kicks her in the head again, giving her time to tag in Kyona. HZK tags in too, shoulderblocks by Kyona and she hits a lariat on HZK for two. Kyona picks up HZK but HZK pushes her off and hits a Codebreaker, knees by HZK and she punches Kyona against the ropes. Momo comes in but Kyona gets away from them and Yoko delivers a double lariat. Mayu comes in too and catapult her at HZK with a dropkick, Kyona goes up top and nails the diving body press but Io breaks up the cover. Io drops Kyona with a German suplex, but Mayu comes in and hits a Sling Blade. Momo takes care of Mayu and then hits a missile dropkick on Yoko, as now all six wrestlers are down on the mat. Kyona and HZK slowly get up as they trade elbows until HZK nails Kyona with a jumping boot. HZK gets on the second turnbuckle and hits the diving senton, she then goes all the way up and delivers a second one, but the pin is broken up. Io hits a double swandive dropkick on Yoko and Mayu, she then gets on the top turnbuckle and hits a moonsault down onto both of them. In the ring, Momo hits an avalanche Somato onto Kyona, HZK then goes up top and nails the Atomic Bomb’s Away for the three count cover! Queen’s Quest win!

This was a pretty standard six woman tag match. I mean it was fine but it was by-the-book, the only ‘new’ thing was just seeing different double team spots since both of these sides are pretty recent factions tagging together. HZK looked good, I was concerned she may have more ring rust after taking so much time off when still in the ‘learning’ phase of her career but she doesn’t seem to have missed a beat. Io was Io, loved her landing on her feet on the headscissors attempt as she always does, but there was nothing that really stood out as special. A good match, but a pretty tame main event.  Mildly Recommended

The post Stardom New Years Stars 2017 on 1/8/17 Review appeared first on Joshi City.