WORLD WONDER RING STARDOM
ALL STAR GRAND QUEENDOM
APRIL 27, 2024
YOKOHAMA BUNTAI
YOKOHAMA, JAPAN
Watch: PPV
STARDOM’s spring go to to Yokohama has emerged as one of many marquee occasions on their calendar. That is the primary main occasion of the Taro Okada period that seems to be totally freed from Rossy Ogawa’s fingerprints, so it is a large take a look at for him and his potential to placed on main occasions that get the fanbase buzzing. With matches like Sareee vs. Mayu Iwatani, Maika vs. Momo Watanabe, and Hanan vs. Saori Anou, he certain has an opportunity to indicate out and ship an amazing present.
FUTURE OF STARDOM CHAMPIONSHIP
RINA (C) DEF. SAYAKA KURARA
Stable opener which had an excellent heel vs babyface dynamic with the Cosmic Angels’ latest recruit Kurara making an attempt to fend off the onslaught of Oedo Tai’s Rina. Rina’s reign is in a bizarre spot proper now as a result of she referred to as out her sister Rina for a match months in the past however her harm has prevented it from occurring. One would assume Rina retains the title till that match occurs even when we don’t know when it may occur.
For now, Rina is doing this “new gen sucks” angle the place she’s beating all the latest trainees, which might most likely work higher if she didn’t already ship Yuzuki packing, which was the clear chief of that new gen (till, you already know, she jumped ship at the very least). ***
GOD’S EYE (KONAMI, SYURI & AMI SOREI) DEF. E NEXUS V (WAKA TSUKIYAMA, XENA & HANAKO)
Konami introduced her return to STARDOM as a full-time roster member by getting the win for her workforce and having a really temporary “I’ve nonetheless bought it” trade with Xena early on. The remainder of the match was nothing to jot down residence about however they bought Konami re-established as somebody to look out for on the playing cards. **1/2
HIGH SPEED CHAMPIONSHIP
SAYA KAMITANI DEF. SAKI KASHIMA (C), SAYA IIDA & FUKIGEN DEATH
When Saki Kashima received the HS belt in a random comedic multi-woman match I wasn’t fully certain what the path was for the belt. Now that Saya Kamitani has received it in one other random comedic multi-woman match I’m nonetheless not fully certain what the plan is. I do like opening it as much as a wider discipline and letting somebody like Saya Kamitani maintain the belt and see what she will prepare dinner up whereas is out of the principle occasion image.
Solely the true home present freaks will recognize the little Kashima stuff right here. She’s had a knack of sneaking in on the finish of three-way matches to get the win lately, she tried it right here too which popped me. She seemed to be limping fairly closely in the direction of the top and in her post-match trade with Kamitani so right here’s hoping she isn’t damage too badly. ***
MINA SHIRAKAWA VS NATSUKO TORA – NO CONTEST
I’ve been much more defensive of Oedo Tai than most since Okada took over. They’re definitely leaning closely into being tremendous heels and they’re toeing a really, very skinny line between Home of Torture lite and one thing nice that’s harking back to basic Joshi factions like Black Joker or Gokuaku Domei (though not practically as legendary as Dump and co.).
This was one of many extra Home of Torture moments with this match being fairly poor and ending by way of interference and a swerve flip by Thekla who made her comeback to STARDOM after just a few months out. The Tora/Shirakawa match wasn’t that nice regardless of each being very succesful wrestlers and ending it with a nasty angle simply sucked the air out of the place. **1/2
AJA KONG & KAORU ITO DEF. TAM NAKANO & NATSUPOI
Pay attention, I knew what I used to be in for right here when the mixed age of 1 workforce was 105. It was a fairly gradual match at factors and undoubtedly not one for the purists however I loved it for the spectacle of STARDOM’s major idol pairing making an attempt to achieve an inch towards one of many greatest legends in Joshi historical past and a well-respected veteran who was in AJW (which nonetheless holds a variety of cache throughout the scene).
I preserve that Aja Kong can nonetheless ship and he or she tried her finest right here, she’s clearly restricted in her mobility however she appeared genuinely keen on letting Tam Nakano look aggressive, her large hits are nonetheless fairly spectacular too it’s arduous to not wince when she kicks somebody or tosses them onto their head with wreckless abandon.
Kong truly beating Nakano isn’t the end I anticipated, I believed Natsupoi was right here to take the autumn. Since this was Kong’s debut I don’t know if she plans to be round on a semi-regular foundation to take the story someplace to a different chapter or if it is a one-and-done. ***
GODDESS OF STARDOM CHAMPIONSHIP
CRAZY STAR (MEI SEIRA & SUZU SUZUKI) (C) DEF. FWC (KOGUMA & HAZUKI), 02LINE (AZM & MIYU AMASAKI) & OEDO TAI (STARLIGHT KID & RUAKA)
Throw 4 groups within the ring collectively and allow them to have an excellent time. There was no large story to look into right here or a lot to seize onto it was simply 4 groups having a enjoyable match. I like that STARDOM does these matches correctly with each workforce having a authorized participant always as an alternative of limiting it to only two, it provides one other layer of chaos. ***1/2
Put up Match: The large story popping out of this match is that Oedo Tai turned on Starlight Child and kicked her from the faction. Ruaka was the primary to strike earlier than Tora formally despatched her packing and tried to tear off her masks earlier than being stopped by Tam Nakano of all individuals. I’m to see the place that goes as I anticipated a babyface Child to finally return to STARS however she may as an alternative discover herself aligned with some Angels.
With Thekla becoming a member of Oedo Tai it’s a transfer that makes some sense, they’ve bought a strong core and Child can be utilized elsewhere as a giant three in a faction, Cosmic Angles already has a giant three however Saori Anou has at all times felt like somebody who’d cut up finally and this might be the catalyst for that.
IWGP WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
MAYU IWATANI (C) DEF. SAREEE
It’s not typically that two of the undisputed finest on the planet get to sq. off. For Joshi followers there are few higher than Iwatani and Sareee, we have been first teased with the opportunity of this match again in 2020 after they have been purported to wrestle at Korkauen Corridor earlier than Sareee’s WWE departure. That match didn’t occur as a consequence of sickness and we have been left questioning what may have been..till at the moment.
This was completely the whole lot I may have requested for and extra. It was a scrappy affair that featured something from shoot headbutts, to arduous strikes, to Uranage’s, and the whole lot in between. The ending stretch was a wonderful instance of the Joshi spirit as each ladies bought the results of the battle however endured to energy by way of and attempt to get the win.
Initially, Sareee truly had this one within the bag. She was handily getting the higher of Mayu on the mat, with counters, even taking issues to the skin and throwing her into chairs. The flip switched after a slap, Sareee slapped and disrespected Mayu, who instantly turned the tides and simply hit Sareee in any manner she might be it with kicks or strikes or slaps of her personal. After that, they have been in a position to maintain the match feeling like there was a way of animosity between the 2 proper up till the end.
Sareee agreeing to take the loss got here with the added safety of Iwatani having to make use of mainly each finisher she needed to end off the Solar God. It didn’t really feel extreme although, it felt proper in step with what we’d seen Sareee do to her opponent in an try to win.
Not lengthy after Sareee’s final MOTY outing, she has one other, this time it is going to be robust to beat as there are usually not many wrestlers on the market on the extent of Iwatani for her to step into the ring with. ****3/4
Put up Match: As if that match wasn’t sufficient, I used to be nearly despatched into cardiac arrest when TSUKASA FUJIMOTO appeared after the match. Sure, THE Tsukasa Fujimoto, ace of Ice Ribbon, one of many defining Joshi stars of the 2010s in a STARDOM ring and he or she made the problem to Iwatani. The problem isn’t for a singles match nevertheless, it’s truly for her and her retiring Finest Buddies teammate Arisa Nakajima to tackle Iwatani and a accomplice of her alternative sooner or later. All I can say is, let’s not submit these MOTY ballots simply but as Joshi wrestling is simply getting extra insane because the 12 months goes on.
WONDER OF STARDOM CHAMPIONSHIP
SAORI ANOU (C) DEF. HANAN
This was the Saori Anou that I used to be actually ready to see throughout this title run. All through the match, she by no means felt like she misplaced management, she was poised, calm, and dominant. She had that sort of ice in her veins performances that I’d seen from her previously. The place she excels is that her poised efficiency is commonly used to convey one of the best out of her opponent. She knew she had the higher of Hanan, who continues to be younger and never prepared for the large time regardless of her skills, however she dared Hanan all through the match to provide it her finest shot.
To Hanan’s credit score, she introduced out the true Anou because the match progressed. Hanna’s late stretch comeback was one thing to behold, it was fiery and passionate and filled with combating spirit that had the followers onside. She finally misplaced when she bought caught within the Pottering pinfall however not earlier than making a believer out of the viewers in attendance and people watching on PPV.
There actually was no loser right here as STARDOM bought an amazing match, regardless of them having the robust job of following Sareee vs Mayu Iwatani, Hanan bought elevated to a brand new stage, and Anou bought her mojo again in a giant win. ****
Put up Match: No large angle right here simply them laying the seeds for Anou vs Natsupoi, Ami Sorei bought concerned and delayed issues however it’s clear that the following main step on this reign will come when Saori Anou takes on her stablemate and former co-champion Natsupoi.
3 FALLS
WORLD OF STARDOM CHAMPIONSHIP
MAIKA (C) (2) DEF. MOMO WATANABE (1)
When the stipulation for this match was introduced I had my doubts, a 3 phases of hell match with a hardcore fall and a final girl standing fall felt like a main spot for Bloodline stage heel interference and overbooking for Oedo Tai. I’m pleasantly shocked that they largely strayed away from that and let these two go at it as rivals which benefitted each.
I believe this win did loads for Maika (as has her whole reign thus far). She will get a 3rd main win and outlasted one of many firm’s major heels throughout three gruelling falls. Successful each the hardcore and LWS falls provides her the sort of grit and believability that may go an extended method to establishing her as one of many key items of Okada’s STARDOM.
Watanabe regardless of shedding bought the win within the regular fall so she will declare a victory in a one-on-one match over the champion. I don’t know if STARDOM ever goes all in and offers her the belt however they’ve given her some added credibility for her subsequent title problem when it rolls round.
I believed the match itself was nice, each wrestlers have at all times meshed properly stylistically and the three falls have been distinct sufficient that they stored issues shifting fairly properly. I even loved the final girl standing half regardless of that normally being a horrible stipulation. ****
FINAL THOUGHTS
As you possibly can most likely inform by the size of this overview, All Star Grand Queendom was an fascinating present. It definitely had its low factors however the principle stuff continues to ship as new stars enter the highest of the cardboard. With the expertise readily available, an open door that permits wrestlers like Tsukasa Fujimoto, Aja Kong, and Sareee to step into the ring, and faction realignment following the 5 departures to marigold, this present definitely served as an thrilling beginning line for the Taro Okada reign.
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