STARDOM
MIDSUMMER CHAMPIONS 2023
JULY 2, 2023
YOKOHAMA BUDOKAN
KANAGAWA, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN

Watch: PPV

Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira & HANAKO def. STARS (Hazuki & Saya Iida) & Aya Sakura

The opening contest on the MidSummer Champions important card was a pacesetter for the remainder of the night time as any match that includes Hazuki typically is. It was the primary of a trio of huge tag staff matches to kick off this card. Whereas it gained’t go down as a memorable match by any means, it does register as an enormous win for rookie HANAKO.

HANAKO used the JP Coaster on Aya Sakura, a transfer handed all the way down to her by the just lately retired Himeka, to earn the victory. It received the job carried out for a gap tag staff match, however there’s not far more to remove from it. Facet observe: I’m prepared for the full-time Suzu Suzuki to kick into full gear story-wise. **½

Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM & Girl C) def. STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, Hanan & Momo Kohgo)

Utami Hayashishita and the united Queen’s Quest was a wonderful factor to see at MidSummer Champions 2023… even when she left us all confused after the match.

One week faraway from the large win over Oedo Tai contained in the Metal Cage to maintain the group as one, they’d an opportunity to indicate how united they honestly had been with a match in opposition to STARS. A lot of the motion was as anticipated however Saya Kamitani stood out above the remaining. She hit a formidable Spinning Kick at one level that simply performed to a lot of her Marvel of Stardom Championship reign the place she simply added new strikes to her repertoire seemingly each single match she had. She pinned Momo Kohgo with the Star Crusher to get the win however all folks shall be speaking about was the post-match.

Hayashishita grabbed the microphone and informed her fellow Queen’s Quest members that regardless of having led them to a win final week, she must make a journey to consider her shortcomings as a frontrunner prior. Understandably, the group was left shocked as Hayashishita dropped the microphone and started to stroll to the again. This looks like a narrative the place Hayashishita returns from her “journey” extra decided than ever with a 5STAR Grand Prix run to recollect. She even added within the post-match remarks backstage that numerous her questioning has come together with her misfortune as a singles competitor over the previous yr and a half. My 5STAR Grand Prix Information isn’t out but however I’m feeling good about my favourite for the match proper now. **¾

Donna del Mondo (Giulia, Maika, Mai Sakurai & Thekla) def. Oedo Tai (Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Rina & Ruaka)

Donna del Mondo has been rolling as of late coming into this match and it was extra of the identical. The principle takeaway you’d need from this was how is Oedo Tai working one week after dropping the Metal Cage match and Saki Kashima. They labored nicely however not nicely sufficient in the long run.

The dominance of Maika has been one of many fascinating footnotes of this yr in STARDOM because it’s been a delicate story that you simply’d want to essentially take note of together with her having no main singles matches outdoors of the retirement match of Himeka at All Star Grand Queendom. Add in that the Bari Bari Bombers are using excessive after final week’s profitable title protection and you’ve got a staff that was by no means dropping this one. **½

Nanae Takahashi def. Starlight Child

The PASSION INJECTION match by no means fails! Whoever made the choice for Nanae Takahashi to go in opposition to the youthful roster members in these “show it” matches knew what they had been speaking about as they’ve solely introduced the perfect out of the opponents increasingly. Now, this gained’t go down as Starlight Child’s biggest match as she already has an excellent catalog of nice matches to her identify however she definitely can use this effort to drive her ahead increasingly as we enter the 5STAR Grand Prix later this month.

All indicators pointed to the Momoe Latch, a transfer Child has been enhancing behind the scenes with the innovator of the transfer Momoe Nakanishi, being the central level of the bout. It was and it created some nice, late drama due to it.

Child didn’t again down in opposition to Takahashi however somewhat introduced it greater than she has for almost all of the yr. She was bodily in opposition to Takahashi, matching ardour with ardour and fortunately slapping the style out of Takahashi’s mouth to show some extent. When she lastly received the Momoe Latch roll up on Takahashi, the veteran kicked out at 2.99 to keep away from dropping and maintain the match going. In the long run, it was Takahashi who walked away with a victory in opposition to the Oedo Tai star but it surely was Child who left the match with an added confidence in defeat. Means to me the PASSION INJECTION match achieved its job as soon as once more at MidSummer Champions. ***¾

Goddesses of Stardom Championship
ROSE GOLD (Mina Shirakawa & Mariah Could) (c) def. God’s Eye (Syuri & Ami Sourei)

ROSE GOLD had been all the things the Goddesses of Stardom Championship wanted they usually didn’t have a staff identify up till two weeks in the past.

Mina Shirakawa and Mariah Could have gelled tremendously as a duo, showcasing immense chemistry and a vibe with each other that works much better than in all probability anybody anticipated to see when Membership Venus was created. And, for his or her credit score, Syuri and Ami Sourei seemed like a well-oiled machine. The reality is that each Sourei and MIRAI work higher other than each other than as a staff themselves and that was very obvious on this match.

Could and Ami Sourei paired off early, each displaying their offensive minds by throwing chops and going forwards and backwards. It introduced the match to a different stage as a result of their section of the match paired nicely with the ultimate stretch that was between Shirakawa and Syuri.

Once they received in there, it hit that high stage that we haven’t seen an excessive amount of from Syuri this yr outdoors of her match with Chihiro Hashimoto. Shirakawa was keen to face in there and commerce with Syuri, hitting her with numerous dropkicks to the knees to attempt to reduce down the previous World of Stardom Champion. Because the closing minutes neared, the tempo was nonstop.

Mariah Could hit a wonderful German Suplex to Ami Sourei within the match that left her tumbling and it was ultimately left all the way down to Shirakawa and Syuri as soon as and for all.

As we’ve grown used to, anytime Syuri performs a deciding consider a match, her staff is as a rule successful — however not right now. Shirakawa was in a position to get the Glamorous Assortment MINA pin onto Syuri to pin her clear in the course of the ring. For somebody like Shirakawa who had misplaced the Marvel of Stardom Championship to Tam Nakano in solely her second protection, the tag title win and now a pinfall over Syuri is the way you get her again on monitor.

This match was in a position to end because the second-best of the night time which, for those who ask me, is a credit score to those two groups greater than something. THE NEW ERAS (MIRAI and Ami Sourei) work higher aside than collectively and this night time confirmed that. MidSummer Champions 2023 may be the night time remembered because the tag titles getting again on monitor because of ROSE GOLD. ****

Excessive-Velocity Championship: Saki Kashima (c) def. Fukigen Dying

Saki Kashima defended her Excessive-Velocity Championship for the primary time on Sunday at MidSummer Champions in opposition to her handpicked opponent Fukigen Dying. In fact, issues have modified quite a bit since she initially picked Dying as Kashima is not a member of Oedo Tai and also you felt that each second as she made her entrance.

Reality be informed, this match wasn’t a lot of something apart from Oedo Tai making an attempt to journey up Kashima the perfect they might earlier than the champion would hit the Revival on Dying to get the win. When it comes to being the weakest Excessive-Velocity Championship matches, this shall be on the high but it surely’s a part of the story greater than it’s in regards to the match itself. The perfect a part of all the things on this match was seeing Kashima get saved by God’s Eye and formally becoming a member of the ranks of Syuri and firm seeing the previous yr has been all about Kashima being petrified of going through Syuri. A full-circle second in some ways. *¾

Marvel of Stardom Championship: MIRAI def. Tam Nakano (c)

The crowning second occurred at MidSummer Champions 2023.

After successful the Cinderella Event for the second-straight yr, MIRAI set herself as much as lastly develop into a singles champion in STARDOM after her two shortcomings in 2022. And all she needed to defeat was the second-ever Double Champion in STARDOM historical past — Tam Nakano.

The construct in the direction of the match noticed Nakano problem MIRAI numerous occasions within the lead-up, questioning her readiness and talent to rise to this spot of being a champion. On the conclusion of her Goddesses of Stardom Championship match at STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023 the place THE NEW ERAS misplaced the gold, MIRAI had mentioned sufficient was sufficient. She laid out Nakano and with that being the lasting picture heading into this title match, you knew it was going to be bodily and extra private than you’ll have anticipated when MIRAI initially made the problem.

When the opening bell rang, it was on. Immediately. MIRAI and Tam Nakano had been buying and selling bombs left and proper, Nakano hitting a few of the finest, loudest forearms of her profession and it was solely the opening minute. The Southpaw challenger didn’t maintain again and offered that willpower to inform Nakano she gained’t be stopped. A brutal opening made for a extra intense match, breaking away from the Tam Highway and following MIRAI’s hard-hitting measures that we received used to within the 5STAR Grand Prix a yr in the past.

The physicality would go to the surface the place you’d get Nakano’s typical Violet Shoot knee strike on the ramp and whereas she hit one, she was met by a devastating MIRAI Lariat on the second. And people Lariats could be what would get MIRAI the win on this one.

Once they received again to the ring, Nakano could be locked into the Miramare (Kimura Lock), searching for a approach to get out of it however the harm was carried out. MIRAI would load up for a kind of devastating Lariats however Nakano met her with a brutal head kick earlier than hitting the Violet Screwdriver. After holding up the challenger for so long as she did, Nakano must take a second to bounce again and that allowed MIRAI to kick out.

The closing of the match was when MIRAI leveled up from “Ash-Coated” to golden. She’d hit Tam Nakano with devastating Lariats, together with a leaping one to get herself a close to fall. MIRAI would climb as much as the highest and hit the Aces Excessive Crossbody that gained her the Cinderella Event earlier this yr earlier than lifting up Nakano to hit a multiple-spin Miramare Shock to pin the champion and win the Marvel of Stardom Championship.

MIRAI’s second was as particular as hoped for as she outlasted the Double Champion and was lastly in a position to rise to the highest of STARDOM as the brand new Marvel of Stardom Champion. With a championship that always embodies the fervour and story of their champion, MIRAI will observe the likes of Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani in making an attempt to carry this title to a workrate stage of dominance.

It was simply the match of MidSummer Champions 2023 and credit score have to be given to each rivals. Nakano was the proper champion for MIRAI to dethrone, making the second all of the extra satisfying. It’s formally MIRAI’s time. ****½

Saori Anou def. Natsupoi in an Indian Strap Match

The principle occasion of the night would go to the private rivalry between Natsupoi and Saori Anou. Their objectives to outdo each other and by no means be surpassed had lastly led each to STARDOM and to unravel their issues, they wanted to battle. And never solely did they should battle however they wanted to take action in a match not-so-ordinary. That’d finally be an Indian Strap Match.

As with many firsts in STARDOM, the match had some studying curves to see how they might make the most of the strap to their benefit however because the match stored going, they discovered their crucial footing. The perfect factor about this match is that you simply all the time felt the detest for each other. They’d use the strap to seize one another by the throat, throwing one another throughout the ring and into the stands on the surface numerous occasions. Anou was awfully decided and it confirmed by your entire match.

My important “downside” with this match is that I watched it figuring out how a lot better it’d be had it been an everyday singles match. I wrote in my preview how Natsupoi can typically be STARDOM’s finest huge match performer and whereas we noticed indicators of that, I nonetheless really feel as if we didn’t expertise that to its fullest potential both like we did a couple of months in the past in her match with Mina Shirakawa.

The match received to its finest after they lastly received again into the ring and the willpower got here again into play of successful. Anou would get the primary fall by placing on her spider-like bridge to pin Natsupoi, however that wouldn’t be sufficient to maintain her down by any means both.

They’d commerce pinfalls forwards and backwards in addition to smacking each other with the strap, hitting one another within the face on multiple event in brutal style. However when it got here all the way down to it, the strap wasn’t what would resolve the match because it’d as a substitute be a brutal Neckbreaker by Anou that might be sufficient to maintain Natsupoi down. She survived numerous the onslaught together with a Fisherman Suplex and devastating choke the place Anou had the strap tying Natsupoi up with nowhere to go.

There have been positively ranges to the match I’d have preferred to see them go that might have been extra becoming for a standard, non-stipulation encounter however this was the best way to get them from eternally enemies to stablemates as soon as and for all. Right here’s to hoping we get the true singles match someplace down the road however for now, we’ll accept a high-quality important occasion at MidSummer Champions 2023 that missed the additional sparkle in the long run that Natsupoi can ship in regular eventualities. ***¼

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