STARDOM
STARDOM THE CONVERSION
June 22, 2024
Yoyogi Nationwide Stadium
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: PPV through @wwr_stardom
STARDOM is again on pay-per-view this weekend with STARDOM THE CONVERSION. It needs to be a noteworthy present, that includes the “Ultimate Chapter” between Queen’s Quest and Oedo Tai. It’s been a bizarre yr for STARDOM, however I’m taking a look at this present as a reset for the corporate in a approach — for higher or worse. Sufficient matches on this present ought to hit the extent you’d count on from STARDOM, which is all the time good.
I’ll additionally preview Mayu Iwatani’s IWGP Girls’s Championship match, which takes place this Sunday on an Ice Ribbon present.
Let’s dive into what’s prone to be a significant present in STARDOM’s historical past.
Tam Nakano, Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara vs. Tomoka Inaba, Saki Kashima & Ranna Yagami
STARDOM THE CONVERSION will kick off with high star Tam Nakano in motion, as she is going to lead the Cosmic Angels rookie duo of Sayaka Kurara and Aya Sakura. On the opposite aspect of this trios match might be Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami, and a returning Tomoka Inaba — who has been a member of God’s Eye since 2022 however has not often appeared over the previous yr and a half.
There’s not an excessive amount of to debate on this one. With rookies on all sides, it may be a toss-up. I’ll aspect with the God’s Eye aspect as Inaba could be on her approach to a World of Stardom Championship match on the JTO Anniversary present subsequent month. Prediction: Tomoka Inaba, Saki Kashima & Ranna Yagami
Mina Shirakawa & HANAKO vs. Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori
One other undercard tag crew match for this present. It’ll seemingly be Mina Shirakawa’s last match forward of her AEW Girls’s World Championship bout at Forbidden Door.
She groups with HANAKO to tackle the Cosmic Angels crew of Natsupoi and Yuna Mizumori. Simply over a yr in the past, it was Shirakawa and Natsupoi preventing over the Surprise of Stardom Championship in considered one of STARDOM’s greatest matches of the yr. Boy, do I want that’s the place we have been with these two proper now. This match is a toss-up with few stakes. Shirakawa ought to get the robust win heading into her large title match towards Toni Storm. Prediction: Mina Shirakawa & HANAKO
Starlight Child vs. Mei Seira
The Excessive-Velocity Championship match of the present… with out the Excessive-Velocity Title on the road. In fact, Saya Kamitani is the Excessive-Velocity Champion however she’s discovered herself busy preventing Oedo Tai (once more). So we have now this and it needs to be tremendous!
Mei Seira had an unimaginable begin to the yr. She held the Goddess of Stardom Championship and Excessive-Velocity Championship on the identical time, delivering two of the most effective matches all yr in STARDOM with these belts. After which, , she misplaced — each. Sigh. We haven’t seen her in an vital function since, particularly with Suzu Suzuki out resulting from harm. She hasn’t even been introduced for the 5STAR Grand Prix but. So, I’ll take this match at this stage for her.
Starlight Child has been nothing however busy. She’s at present factionless and free, in search of the following place to name house inside STARDOM. That has included Tam Nakano telling her she could be prepared to put on a masks if it meant she joined Cosmic Angels. It’s obvious that SLK is making an attempt to realize momentum proper now and this match will play as much as that.
Contemplating how little Seira is included proper now, I believe that is Child’s match to win. Prediction: Starlight Child
Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo vs. Syuri & Ami Sohrei
Runaway Wrestler presents one other tag crew match. Although, it is a cool one. Mayu Iwatani’s biopic will current this match as Mayu Iwatani and Momo Kohgo crew as much as face Syuri and Ami Sohrei. For anybody who doesn’t know, Iwatani, Kohgo, and Syuri all had involvement within the movie. Anna Hirai, who performed Iwatani within the biopic, might be ringside for the match.
Whereas the film could also be about “The Icon,” she has a troublesome mountain to climb as Syuri and Ami Sohrei are prone to win right here. Syuri is getting heated up for an eventual Goddess of Stardom Championship match alongside Konami and Sohrei is only a month faraway from a Surprise of Stardom Title problem. Prediction: Syuri & Ami Sohrei
The Ultimate Chapter – 4 Wrestlers Different Than The Ultimate Loser are Expelled from their Faction
Queen’s Quest (Saya Kamitani, AZM, Miyu Amasaki, Woman C & Hina) vs. Oedo Tai (Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla, Ruaka & Rina) in an Elimination Match
Right here we go once more. Another time.
One yr after the most effective story in STARDOM was instructed with Utami Hayashishita defending Queen’s Quest, STARDOM will return to the Queen’s Quest vs. Oedo Tai nicely. And this time feels… completely different.
Don’t get me fallacious, final yr carried all of the worry on the planet into that match, however the payoff was nearly as good because the story stepping into. This time? I don’t know, of us. There’s an eerie feeling to this — a lot in order that it feels as if both Saya Kamitani or AZM might be turning their again on their long-time faction.
The stipulation — 4 wrestlers aside from the ultimate loser are expelled from their faction — is an odd however scary one all in all. If you’re a fan of Queen’s Quest, Oedo Tai, or STARDOM as a complete — this match ought to go away you frightened. For so long as I can keep in mind, these two factions have been feuding. The wrestlers could change, however the groups all the time had the identical thought. Whether or not it was Io Shirai and Kagetsu main or it was Utami Hayashishita making an attempt to show her management — many tales have been instructed between these two factions. And this may increasingly really be it.
I don’t count on 4 members to only go away a faction on Saturday. I consider considered one of STARDOM’s staples goes away for good. That’s the one approach this finally ends up being the true “Ultimate Chapter.” And Oedo Tai will do every part of their energy to ensure it’s not them for a second straight yr. Prediction: Oedo Tai
Goddess of Stardom Championship
FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) (c) vs. wing*gori (Hanan & Saya Iida)
No match on the STARDOM THE CONVERSION card has extra potential than this one proper right here. It will likely be a STARS Civil Battle of types as FWC and wing*gori collide for the Goddess of Stardom Championship.
The record-breaking FWC has been unstoppable since profitable the titles from CRAZY STAR in Fukuoka. Not solely was that match probably the greatest all yr in wrestling, but it surely reminded the world that FWC is particular. Being three-time Goddess of Stardom Champions places them on a stage no different single crew has achieved in STARDOM historical past. So far as I’m involved, they’re within the dialog of the most effective tag groups in STARDOM historical past.
wing*gori has finished nothing however present why they’re prepared for something this yr. Because the NEW BLOOD Tag Group Champions, they’ve managed to defend the belts three separate instances and will add a fourth the night time prior at NEW BLOOD 13. Hanan and Saya Iida are the proper threats to their STARS stablemates, but it surely’s going to be an uphill battle.
That is a type of matches the place sitting again and having fun with the match is admittedly all that issues. FWC continues to be so contemporary into their reign that, regardless of the greatness of wing*gori this yr, it’s too early to see their reign finish. The three-time champions are on their approach to V2. Prediction: FWC (Hazuki & Koguma)
Surprise of Stardom Championship
Saori Anou (c) vs. Mika Iwata
Saori Anou will make one other protection of the Surprise of Stardom Championship at STARDOM THE CONVERSION, defending towards reigning Sendai Women World Champion Mika Iwata.
There are two methods to take a look at this match. A method is that it is a actually cool championship bout. Iwata is nice and has been for years. Her stepping as much as face Anou was a legit shock but it surely is smart — they went to a 20-minute draw earlier this yr in Sendai Women. There’s little shot that Iwata wins this match as an outdoor, but it surely’s going to be nice. I’ll take that.
Now, the opposite approach to take a look at this match is that it’s a questionable choice. STARDOM crowds haven’t been quiet in latest months. And so they’ve made it clear at exhibits that they like to root for the STARDOM-based wrestlers than outsiders. They usually present little curiosity within the constructing. But it surely’s additionally a questionable alternative due to what number of wrestlers on the roster have proven curiosity within the Surprise of Stardom Championship. Natsupoi looks like the apparent subsequent champion, however she’s been pushed down the road time and time once more. Anou has teased a match with Hazuki extra instances than I can rely, and even Xena teased a possible match with Anou after pinning Natsupoi in a tag match. There are numerous matches that make sense for Anou proper now, however STARDOM has gone with an outsider as a substitute.
Nonetheless, this match might be nice — it simply gained’t deliver a lot drama as a result of there’s little or no likelihood Iwata takes this belt. It’s both going to be an Anou win or go to a draw. In any case, Iwata is the Sendai Women World Champion. No matter they select, I hope the gang is into it as a result of these skills deserve it — even when it’s not a match I’ll have picked myself for STARDOM THE CONVERSION. Prediction: Saori Anou
World of Stardom Championship
Maika (c) vs. Xena
Maika will defend the World of Stardom Championship for the primary time since All-Star Grand Queendom 2024. It’ll be towards her EXV stablemate Xena. It wasn’t anticipated, but it surely’s a match value your consideration.
It’s no secret that the Pink Belt reign of Maika has been lackluster. It’s exhausting responsible her — it hasn’t been the simplest time to be champion in STARDOM. However nonetheless, the Momo Watanabe title protection was met with each reward and hate — it was the fact of the match model, in any case. The principle downside for Maika since then has been not getting again into the ring to defend her belt. At Flashing Champions 2024, she simply went one-on-one towards HANAKO. So with the time away from defending her gold, I anticipated her subsequent protection to be an enormous one. I didn’t count on the problem to come back from Xena, who could have her first singles title match since becoming a member of the STARDOM ranks final yr.
In her STARDOM singles profession, Xena is 4-3 with wins over Hina, Thekla, Momo Kohgo, and Waka Tsukiyama. It’s not the largest and greatest listing ever — however she has been selecting up wins in tag and trios matches, which is the place her problem comes from. Previously two months, she’s pinned Momo Watanabe, Natsupoi, and even Maika of their preview trios match in Osaka. It is a enormous spot for the Australian, but it surely carries numerous curiosity.
That curiosity principally comes from the strides Xena has made in her second tour with STARDOM. Her lucha-style chops communicate for themselves, however she’s simply been a strong performer in every match she’s had. And if she’s going to step up into the largest match of her profession, doing so with somebody she trains with could also be her greatest likelihood to shine.
It’s not a problem that jumps off the web page, however it may be the match that places Xena on the map to extra than simply STARDOM followers. Maika isn’t going to lose proper now, however they’ll be decided to shine towards each other at STARDOM THE CONVERSION. Prediction: Maika
~ BONUS ~
Ice Ribbon
Ribbon After the Rain 2024
June 23, 2024
Korakuen Corridor
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: Ice Ribbon PPV
IWGP Girls’s Championship
Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Tsukasa Fujimoto
Our bonus match of the preview occurs in the future later at Korakuen Corridor. And it’s not simply any match — it’s an IWGP Girls’s Championship match.
It was an actual shock to see the most recent protection of the IWGP Girls’s Title happen in Ice Ribbon, however when it pits two of the most effective in a era towards each other for the primary time ever, who am I to complain?
Mayu Iwatani and Tsukasa Fujimoto led the highest Joshi promotions of the 2010s, watching from afar as they placed on traditional after traditional. The one time that they had ever shared a hoop previous to this yr was at Kyoko Kimura’s retirement present in 2017. In any other case, it’s been nothing between two all-timers. After which following Iwatani’s instantaneous traditional towards Sareee at All Star Grand Queendom, it was the Ice Ribbon ace who made her approach right down to the ring and got here nose to nose with Iwatani.
As we discovered that night time, she was there to arrange a tag crew match — which came about at Flashing Champions. Fujimoto, teaming with Arisa Nakajima, defeated Iwatani and Hanan to get a leg up over Iwatani. It was there that Fujimoto would formally problem Iwatani for the IWGP Girls’s Championship, so long as it’d occur in an Ice Ribbon ring.
So, that brings us to Sunday. An unprecedented state of affairs, however one that ought to result in the match of the weekend.
Iwatani has finished every part in STARDOM. She’s a two-time World of Stardom Champion, two-time Surprise of Stardom Champion, the longest reigning IWGP Girls’s Champion, a two-time Cinderella Match winner, and a one-time 5STAR Grand Prix winner — you get the purpose. After which there’s Fujimoto, who led Ice Ribbon to glory for a few years within the 2010s. She is a seven-time ICExInfinity Champion, former REINA World Girls’s Champion, and 14-time tag crew champion. Should I say extra about these two?
In case you’re a STARDOM fan, an Ice Ribbon fan, a Joshi fan, or a wrestling fan — it is a match you will have to see. Iwatani isn’t dropping her championship to Fujimoto, but it surely’s going to be as aggressive and thrilling as it may be. Two of the most effective for the primary time ever. Can’t beat that. Prediction: Mayu Iwatani
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