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 among the finest exhibits 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 but it surely picked up fairly shortly and so they meshed rather well. Anou’s work has been satisfying all match however Watanabe is working on a degree she hasn’t been reaching in somewhat bit. Watanabe stays unbeaten with this win that additionally dashes Anou’s hopes of profitable her block. ***¾

Scott: One of many many nice components 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 nearly as good as her — not to mention higher. And she or he introduced that prime degree once more into this match in opposition to Saori Anou, who has additionally had a fantastic match regardless of a file 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 ultimately.

Watanabe landed numerous heavy kicks on Anou, leaving her searching for solutions time and time once more. It by no means actually seemed like Anou received right into a place of strolling away with a victory due to the prematch assault however hey, typically it is advisable to get forward by any means needed 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 Might (4) def. Mina Shirakawa (6)

Alex: There was a very robust emotional thread to this match that they labored to. Might hasn’t been shy about Japan being a life-changing expertise so taking over the girl who in kayfabe recruited her and received the tag titles together with her was an enormous match for her character. That is likely to be the place the one disconnect is as a result of they labored this like an enormous fundamental occasion model match however had to take action within the confines of quarter-hour so that they couldn’t hit the fullest potential of what they have been going for.

I known as a Might 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 Might is about to be one of many greatest 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 staff accomplice, instructor, and good friend Mina Shirakawa.

I wasn’t too certain how this match was going to go. In spite of everything, 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 turn out 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 Might for her Determine 4 later within the match. It was a quite violent assault that, very like Might’s match with Saori Anou, felt prefer it’d be what value her ultimately. And it certain was trying that approach earlier than Might fully shifted the best way the match was going.

As Shirakawa crashed in on Might, the “Overseas Ace” would hit a nasty German Suplex that may see Shirakawa land straight on her shoulder and that’d show to be the distinction maker for the match. Now not did it appear like 75-25 in Shirakawa’s favor however as a substitute 50-50. Might would comply with up together with her Sundown Flip Powerbomb to the ground and that had Shirakawa all out of wack. Finally, Might would earn a very powerful win of her profession after hitting the Fortunately Ever After. It was the second for Might. 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

Purple Stars
Syuri (5) def. Hazuki (0)

Alex: I’ve not seen a show of pure unfiltered huge dick vitality like this since I final watched a few of Shibata’s NEVER matches. From the opening trade, this had me hooked and so they saved going proper till the closing bell. No match on this match 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 combat and it rocks. ****¼

Scott: For the primary time ever, we received 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’ll reside as much as expectations. Most of the time, they’ll, however there’s nonetheless worry there nonetheless. However in terms of Syuri in first time ever matches, you need to simply assume greatness will comply with as a result of she’s on one other degree when it’s match season.

Korakuen had been rocking all evening however this match introduced them to a fever pitch. They have been consuming up each little bit of Syuri and Hazuki making an attempt 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 simply 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 saved 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 occasions 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 must run it again as quickly as humanly doable. Chemistry was off the charts. ****¼

Purple Stars
Tam Nakano (5) vs. Mayu Iwatani (5) resulted in a 15-minute time-limit draw

Alex: I’ve been reminded recently that Mayu Iwatani is without doubt 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 actual fact, I feel their inevitable huge rematch might 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 quite a bit on this present) and made it higher, the best way she was so calm and picked up whereas allotting a beating to the girl who turned on her just some quick years in the past.

That isn’t to undersell Nakano in any respect, she’s all the time been a powerful match wrestler and her approach of wrestling gels completely with Mayu Iwatani. She put in a fantastic shift right here and soaked up the abuse from Mayu fairly properly earlier than firing again together with her personal pictures.

A draw was all the time the most certainly end result. This was a gathering of the IWGP Ladies’s and World of STARDOM champions they have been by no means more likely 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 huge win over Mayu Iwatani since turning on her to type Cosmic Angels, they have been by no means going to present that second away in the course of the 5STAR. That mentioned, the day that we see Tam lastly finest Mayu in an enormous match, STARDOM may need a brand new finest match ever. ****¼

Scott: There’s nothing higher in professional wrestling than an enormous Mayu Iwatani match to me and this was one other a type of that was merely unbelievable.

We don’t get Tam Nakano and Iwatani in a hoop one-on-one all that a lot, so once we do it carries additional that means. Their historical past says all of it. There’s a degree 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 completed a lot in her profession however she’s by no means been in a position to 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 can 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 match to this point for my cash. Brutal Suplexes, superb close to falls, and all of the drama you’d wish to really feel when the World of Stardom Champion faces off with the IWGP Ladies’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 in a position to 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 need 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 sport any time she feels prefer it and this was once more a type of occasions. It’s going to go down as one among my favorites of all the 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 virtually something Hayashishita did, seemingly by design. Hayashishita’s function was to be the disruptor, to throw off AZM’s stream 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 she or he took it with aplomb.

The ending stretch is what actually opened my eyes to simply what AZM is able to, her unbelievable transition right into a code pink was not like something I’ve ever seen and she or he adopted that up with a fantastic Canadian destroyer/Azumi sushi combo to get the upset win.

AZM will all the time be the spoiler to the massive canine and she or he 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 a fantastic base for AZM’s hijinx. ****

Scott: There’s no wrestler like AZM and this match proved that.

Taking up 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 a substitute repeatedly 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 completely different from the opposite 4 match 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 relating to AZM for me was this.

When is her subsequent huge shot?

She’s prepared. For something and every little thing. The victory over Hayashishita right here was with a lot confidence and swagger. It’s a type of occasions the place the 20-year-old, 10-year veteran seemed and competed like one of the crucial full gamers within the sport. She’s received it in her and when she’s outshining somebody like Utami, 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 proper base for AZM’s nonstop tempo, permitting AZM to have one of many greatest moments of her profession up to now.

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 delightful. These two had quite a bit to comply with and so they made certain to make it their very own model, 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 Remaining Ideas

Alex: What might probably 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 variety within the matches and the hassle ranges of all the area is one thing to behold. Each single GP match on this present is price watching however the closing 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 unbelievable.

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