STARDOM
5STAR Grand Prix Day 9
August 15, 2023
Korakuen Corridor
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: Stardom World
The 5STAR Grand Prix lastly arrived to Korakuen Corridor. And unsurprisingly, it was top-of-the-line reveals of the yr for STARDOM.
Blue Stars
Momo Watanabe (6) def. Saori Anou (4)
Alex: I’m a easy human (OK that’s a lie) if I see a well-paced match with loads of head drops, I’m all in. This began a bit gradual resulting from Watanabe attacking Anou throughout her entrance nevertheless it picked up fairly rapidly and so they meshed rather well. Anou’s work has been pleasant all event however Watanabe is working on a stage she hasn’t been reaching in just a little bit. Watanabe stays unbeaten with this win that additionally dashes Anou’s hopes of successful her block. ***¾
Scott: One of many many nice elements of this yr’s 5STAR Grand Prix is the return of confidence for Momo Watanabe.
Her kicks are packing that very same punch from her days in Queen’s Quest and her confidence is thru the roof. When that occurs to be the case, there are few pretty much as good as her — not to mention higher. And she or he introduced that prime stage once more into this match towards Saori Anou, who has additionally had an excellent event regardless of a report of 1-2-2 heading into the match. With Watanabe at 2-0, it certain felt as if she’d be taking a loss to a determined Anou that wanted it however that was not the case in the long run.
Watanabe landed various heavy kicks on Anou, leaving her on the lookout for solutions time and time once more. It by no means actually seemed like Anou bought right into a place of strolling away with a victory due to the prematch assault however hey, typically it’s good to get forward by any means essential and that’s precisely what Watanabe did. “The Black Peach” is a bona fide killer when she will get into the zone. You noticed each little bit of that within the closing minutes of this match.
One nasty Hitodenashi B-Driver left Anou seemingly out together with her instincts being what helped her kick out. Watanabe would end her off with a Tequila Dawn adopted by two Peach Sunrises for the win. Proper now, there’s nobody in additional management than Watanabe. She’s again and we’re all higher for it. ***½
Blue Stars
Mariah Could (4) def. Mina Shirakawa (6)
Alex: There was a very robust emotional thread to this match that they labored to. Could hasn’t been shy about Japan being a life-changing expertise so taking up the girl who in kayfabe recruited her and gained the tag titles together with her was an enormous match for her character. That may be the place the one disconnect is as a result of they labored this like a giant important occasion fashion match however had to take action within the confines of quarter-hour in order that they couldn’t hit the fullest potential of what they have been going for.
I referred to as a Could win fairly early on since Mina has confirmed to be nothing if not unselfish in her run however that didn’t make it any much less significant to see her pin her faction chief. ***¾
Scott: Mariah Could is about to be one of many largest stars in professional wrestling and we’re fortunate sufficient to witness the rise that she’s having to that time.
That rise, thoughts you, had its milestone second on this very present as she beat her tag group associate, trainer, and pal Mina Shirakawa.
I wasn’t too certain how this match was going to go. In any case, they have been simply coming off the lack of their Goddesses of Stardom Championship at STARDOM x STARDOM 2023. Let’s simply say this — you felt that. Certain, these two have grow to be the perfect of pals and have formed the Membership Venus we now know however none of that mattered. All was playful earlier than the bell rang. From there, they have been off. Shirakawa went from mentor to murderer, focusing on the legs of Could for her Determine 4 later within the match. It was a relatively violent assault that, very similar to Could’s match with Saori Anou, felt prefer it’d be what value her in the long run. And it certain was trying that approach earlier than Could utterly shifted the best way the match was going.
As Shirakawa crashed in on Could, the “Overseas Ace” would hit a nasty German Suplex that may see Shirakawa land immediately on her shoulder and that’d show to be the distinction maker for the match. Now not did it appear to be 75-25 in Shirakawa’s favor however as an alternative 50-50. Could would comply with up together with her Sundown Flip Powerbomb to the ground and that had Shirakawa all out of wack. Finally, Could would earn an important win of her profession after hitting the Fortunately Ever After. It was the second for Could. And perhaps much more importantly, a crushing second for Shirakawa who now has to return to the drafting board as she tries to get again to the highest of STARDOM. ***¾
Crimson Stars
Syuri (5) def. Hazuki (0)
Alex: I’ve not seen a show of pure unfiltered massive dick vitality like this since I final watched a few of Shibata’s NEVER matches. From the opening alternate, this had me hooked and so they stored going proper till the closing bell. No match on this event will beat the vitality of Syuri standing proper up after a stiff kick and botting Syuri within the face, a lot to Syuri’s apparent annoyance. Typically, wrestling appears like an actual struggle and it rocks. ****¼
Scott: For the primary time ever, we bought Syuri and Hazuki one-on-one and they didn’t disappoint.
Anytime there’s a first-time-ever matchup between two nice professional wrestlers, you’re each excited and nervous to see if they will reside as much as expectations. Most of the time, they will, however there’s nonetheless worry there nonetheless. However in the case of Syuri in first time ever matches, it’s best to simply assume greatness will comply with as a result of she’s on one other stage when it’s event season.
Korakuen had been rocking all night time however this match introduced them to a fever pitch. They have been consuming up each little bit of Syuri and Hazuki attempting to one-up one another… and for good purpose! The truth that Syuri would pierce Hazuki within the again with a nasty kick only for Hazuki to comply with that up with a boot to the cranium of Syuri is why these two are so good at their craft. As soon as the oneupmanship was accomplished, the tempo for this match was out of this world.
And what makes Syuri’s matches so particular is that she has so some ways to beat her opponents that you just really feel it might cease on a dime. When Hazuki was gaining momentum, she met a Roundhouse Kick to the top on a number of events. However Hazuki stored getting again up.
Hazuki would get on the Hazukistral flash pin however Syuri simply managed to kickout. What spelled the start of the top is when Hazuki was caught as soon as too many instances as Syuri caught her with a Ryuen for an superior close to fall. She’d immediately lock within the White Tiger to completion on Hazuki, forcing the “Wild Coronary heart” to surrender and finish the match.
These two have to run it again as quickly as humanly potential. Chemistry was off the charts. ****¼
Crimson Stars
Tam Nakano (5) vs. Mayu Iwatani (5) led to a 15-minute time-limit draw
Alex: I’ve been reminded recently that Mayu Iwatani is likely one of the finest at what she does. Matches like these are a pleasant reminder of her versatility and apparent expertise. She and Nakano all the time work properly collectively, in truth, I feel their inevitable massive rematch may very well be a MOTY calibre outing. What actually stood out to me on this one with Iwatani was all of the little issues the best way she took the usual suplex no-sell spot (which occurred loads on this present) and made it higher, the best way she was so calm and picked up whereas dispensing a beating to the girl who turned on her only a few brief years in the past.
That isn’t to undersell Nakano in any respect, she’s all the time been a powerful event wrestler and her approach of wrestling gels completely with Mayu Iwatani. She put in an excellent shift right here and soaked up the abuse from Mayu fairly properly earlier than firing again together with her personal photographs.
A draw was all the time the most probably consequence. This was a gathering of the IWGP Girls’s and World of STARDOM champions they have been by no means prone to distinguish a transparent winner, even when that’s simply to maintain up appearances that the IWGP belt has any actual worth inside STARDOM. The titles apart, we’re additionally ready for Nakano’s first massive win over Mayu Iwatani since turning on her to type Cosmic Angels, they have been by no means going to offer that second away in the midst of the 5STAR. That mentioned, the day that we see Tam lastly finest Mayu in a giant match, STARDOM may need a brand new finest match ever. ****¼
Scott: There’s nothing higher in professional wrestling than a giant Mayu Iwatani match to me and this was one other a kind of that was merely improbable.
We don’t get Tam Nakano and Iwatani in a hoop one-on-one all that a lot, so after we do it carries additional which means. Their historical past says all of it. There’s a stage to their relationship that’s unmatchable within the present world of STARDOM. And it didn’t want additional, acted-out drama to make you’re feeling that. You simply knew when the bell rang.
Nakano has achieved a lot in her profession however she’s by no means been capable of defeat Mayu Iwatani one-on-one. That remained the identical right here even when she got here oh so shut to creating it occur. Now at 0-3-3, there’s a narrative that may by no means go away between these two and it makes it all of the extra sweeter. The precise motion on this match was top-notch which shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock. The ultimate 5 minutes particularly have been the perfect of the event to this point for my cash. Brutal Suplexes, wonderful close to falls, and all of the drama you’d need to really feel when the World of Stardom Champion faces off with the IWGP Girls’s Champion for the primary time.
The previous pals know one another so properly that each transfer had a follow-up and people follow-ups, properly, they have been answered with a reversal. The bout lastly got here to an in depth as Nakano was capable of hit the Violet Screwdriver however Iwatani kicked out. As she hit the Twilight Dream, the time ran out and all she was left with was one other draw.
All I would like in professional wrestling is a match like this. quarter-hour of a easy story being informed between two nice wrestlers. Iwatani is on the prime of her recreation any time she feels prefer it and this was once more a kind of instances. It’s going to go down as considered one of my favorites of the whole 5STAR Grand Prix and I don’t see that altering. Sensational match. ****½
Blue Stars
AZM (4) def. Utami Hayashishita (4)
Alex: AZM was actually the star of the present right here. Her creativity and talent stood out above nearly something Hayashishita did, probably by design. Hayashishita’s function was to be the disruptor, to throw off AZM’s move with counters and energy wrestling and I have to say she did that basically properly on this match. She gave AZM each alternative to shine and he or she took it with aplomb.
The ending stretch is what actually opened my eyes to only what AZM is able to, her unimaginable transition right into a code purple was not like something I’ve ever seen and he or she adopted that up with an excellent Canadian destroyer/Azumi sushi combo to get the upset win.
AZM will all the time be the spoiler to the massive canine and he or she clearly relishes that spot as she’s all the time discovering new methods to enhance and diversify her moveset. Utami Hayashishita, to her credit score, molds herself to her opponents when wanted and offered an excellent base for AZM’s hijinx. ****
Scott: There’s no wrestler like AZM and this match proved that.
Taking over her faction’s chief Utami Hayashishita, AZM was the one who was the largest star from begin to end. There wasn’t a second the place she was outshined however as an alternative constantly shined brighter with each transfer. Opening up the match with a Canadian Destroyer and close to fall was how they set the tone. How they made this match so totally different from the opposite 4 event matches on the cardboard. As an alternative of following Hayashishita’s strategies, they went with AZM’s. And by the top of the match, the one query concerning AZM for me was this.
When is her subsequent massive shot?
She’s prepared. For something and all the pieces. The victory over Hayashishita right here was with a lot confidence and swagger. It’s a kind of instances the place the 20-year-old, 10-year veteran seemed and competed like one of the full gamers within the sport. She’s bought it in her and when she’s outshining somebody like Utami, you recognize she’s prepared for that subsequent step.
And this isn’t to say Hayashishita wasn’t nice, as a result of she was. She was essential to creating this work in addition to it did. Time and time once more. She labored as the right base for AZM’s nonstop tempo, permitting AZM to have one of many largest moments of her profession thus far.
The closing of the match with the Springboard Sundown Bowerbomb close to fall adopted by the Canadian Destroyer and Azumi Sushi was seamless, clear, and exquisite. These two had loads to comply with and so they made certain to make it their very own fashion, their very own match.
AZM is a wrestler you present somebody who’s stepping into Joshi. Why? A match like this. That’s why. The 5STAR Grand Prix makes stars. ****
5STAR Grand Prix Day 9 Closing Ideas
Alex: What might presumably be higher than a PACKED Korakuen Corridor going loopy for some nice matches? I’ve already come to phrases with this 5STAR Grand Prix being an all-timer however the hits simply carry on coming. The range within the matches and the trouble ranges of the whole subject is one thing to behold. Each single GP match on this present is price watching however the last three stand out as the perfect of the perfect.
Scott: There’s nothing higher than a packed Korakuen Corridor present for the 5STAR Grand Prix. The vitality raises up the motion and the moments we witness are nothing in need of improbable.
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