STARDOM
5STAR Grand Prix Day 2
July 29, 2023
Saku Metropolis, Nagano

Watch: Stardom World

Blue Stars
Giulia (3) def. Hanan (0)

The 5STAR Grand Prix has kicked into full gear as Day 2 of match motion was led off by Giulia vs. Hanan.

Primarily based on the primary night time, we discovered shortly that this isn’t going to be a match the place Giulia sits again and is proud of the 2 titles she holds. She isn’t going to decide on profitable the 5STAR Grand Prix final yr. No, as an alternative she’s going to go all out to try to get again to the highest of STARDOM as soon as once more.

Hanan is in a totally totally different spot from Giulia. She’s merely attempting to show she belongs. The 18-year-old is the youngest wrestler within the 5STAR for a second-straight yr and whereas she ought to be pleased with what she completed final yr, this yr is all about constructing upon that. A match in opposition to Giulia is the way you do it.

The violence was unsurprisingly there on the Giulia facet of issues however Hanan was capable of constantly match her together with her judo-style offense, conserving Giulia on her heels at instances and coming near pulling off the upset of all upsets. It shouldn’t come as an excessive amount of of a shock that it was the STRONG Ladies’s Champion who walked out with the victory in the long run through Wonderful Driver.

Just like the Maika loss, it’s a match for Hanan to maintain constructing off of as she’s displaying she has what it takes to get these huge wins. Earlier than later, she’ll begin to get them too. It’s her better of the match after three days of motion. ***¼

Blue Stars
Saori Anou (3) def. Mariah Could (2)

A match highlighting the 2 breakout additions of STARDOM’s yr was clearly going to be one to look at and it ought to come as no shock that it was an thrilling one. From the opening bell, this match was aggressive with Could faking the handshake to hit Saori Anou with a devastating Saito Suplex. She’d comply with it up together with her Sundown Flip Powerbomb onto the ground, completely devastating Anou early and leaving her searching for solutions early.

However what turned it throughout for Anou was attacking the leg of Could. As soon as she hit that first Dragon Screw, it turned the story of the match. Could tried again and again to get cease Anou’s assault however she is a violent wrestler and violently made Could pay. At instances the match was uncomfortable with Could screaming in agony however she was capable of struggle again. The offense of the “International Ace” included a picture-perfect Sling Blade and continued forwards and backwards from there.

Anou would lock in a hybrid Arm Breaker, wrapping up Could’s leg earlier than ripping down on the arm and forcing the Membership Venus member to surrender. This was proper there with the AZM match for Could by way of breakout singles performances and whereas she didn’t win, she’s effectively on her solution to extra success in STARDOM. That is effectively well worth the watch as Anou is blazing via this match with nice performances. ***¾

Blue Stars
Mina Shirakawa (2) def. MIRAI (0)

What was as soon as going to be an enormous Marvel of Stardom Championship match was as an alternative the principle occasion of a taped 5STAR Grand Prix present but it surely definitely lived as much as the hopes I had. MIRAI has been again to the elite stage that we noticed her discover in final yr’s match since profitable the White Belt. Mina Shirakawa has been on the highest of her recreation all yr as STARDOM’s MVP. This was merely nice.

After the Saya Kamitani damage and information, I not too long ago talked myself into Mina Shirakawa probably profitable the 5STAR and getting payback in opposition to Tam Nakano on the finish of the yr.

Performances like these solely assist the trigger! She’s been unbelievable.#STARDOM pic.twitter.com/dTC4cLJgaB

— Scott E. Wrestling (@ScottEWrestling) August 2, 2023

Shirakawa is hitting onerous and hitting usually. You possibly can really feel her willpower on this match after she misplaced the Marvel of Stardom Title and had an opportunity to beat the reigning champ. The Spinning Backfists had been on level however as MIRAI usually does, she will be able to take you out with a Lariat at any second — which she did quite a few instances.

The closing moments included clear slaps to the face of MIRAI, slaps that had been harking back to ones you’d see in a New Japan NEVER Openweight Title match from again within the day. They had been stiff and ROCKED MIRAI. Shirakawa managed to seize the victory when she hit the Determine-4 Driver MINA to pin MIRAI and ship the Marvel of Stardom Champion to a surprising 0-2.

Now that Saya Kamitani is out of the match, the reported winner can also be out. If there have been somebody to win and face Tam Nakano on the year-end occasion that is sensible, few make extra sense than Shirakawa. She’s going to get a title match out of this match a method or one other after this win — so why not each? For those who’re searching for a match to exit of your solution to see from this previous weekend of 5STAR motion, that is the one. ****

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