STARDOM
MidSummer Champions 2023
July 2, 2023
Yokohama Budokan
Kanagawa, Yokohama, Japan

Watch: PPV (see @we_are_stardom)

Waka Tsukiyama & Yuna Mizumori vs. Queen’s Quest (Miyu Amasaki & Hina)

The opening content material for MidSummer Champions 2023 shall be a preshow bout because the mix-and-match duo of Waka Tsukiyama and Yuna Mizumori group as much as tackle Queen’s Quest’s Miyu Amasaki and Hina. Normally like these, I’d be extra inclined to decide on the faction over the tag group co-existing, however Tsukiyama and Mizumori are in larger standing on this roster and will have the ability to make it work. Prediction: Waka Tsukiyama & Yuna Mizumori

Hazuki, Saya Iida & Aya Sakura vs. Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira & HANAKO

Hazuki shall be one week faraway from the Metal Cage loss to the Bari Bari Bombers that she and her STARS group felt with the Artist of Stardom Championships on the road. This week shall be lots much less harmful and with little stakes at hand as she groups with STARS stablemate Saya Iida and rookie Aya Sakura to tackle Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira, and HANAKO.

Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira each got here into STARDOM full-time on the similar time and have been paired up as a duo — a dominant one at that. They’re 14-3-1 in tag group and trios bouts however are contemporary off a trios loss per week in the past once they teamed with Maika towards KAIRI and meltear. Seeing that they’ve the stronger rookie on their group and have labored extra incessantly as of lately than Hazuki and Iida, they need to have the ability to get again on observe right here with a win. Prediction: Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira & HANAKO

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

Extra tag group motion is ready however this one has a bit extra that means as it will likely be the primary time followers can see Queen’s Quest as a united group for the reason that Metal Cage predominant occasion final Sunday at STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023. Utami Hayashishita delivered among the finest performances of her profession in considered one of STARDOM’s biggest matches that accomplished considered one of their biggest tales. Now as all rivals attempting to construct momentum in direction of the upcoming 5STAR Grand Prix, we’re fairly assured that Utami and firm shall be taking the victory. Prediction: Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM & Girl C

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

What’s Oedo Tai going to appear to be once they had been on the opposite aspect of a loser leaves faction match? A shell of themselves? Or way more aggressive? Primarily based on the moment response to Saki Kashima being kicked out of the group, we’re going to go along with the latter. They immediately introduced the boots to Kashima following the cage match loss earlier than Queen’s Quest chased them off. Rina, nonetheless, was notably upset with the choice, and maybe, that may very well be what results them on this match.

Donna del Mondo is again to being a well-oiled machine. The Bari Bari Bombers are rolling as a trio, Maika can’t be defeated, and Giulia is making ready for a NJPW STRONG Ladies’s Championship match at STRONG Independence Day days after this. Nothing is absolutely stopping them from success proper now and seeing that Oedo Tai is on their heels searching for solutions, it’s powerful to go along with them this coming Sunday. The faction that has lengthy labored greatest as a group has to reply a variety of questions proper now. Prediction: Giulia, Maika, Thekla & Mai Sakurai

Nanae Takahashi vs. Starlight Child

Nanae Takahashi’s Ardour Injection sequence reaches a brand new degree at MidSummer Champions 2023 as she takes on Starlight Child.

There are a variety of alternative ways to consider this match heading in. On one hand, Takahashi is the veteran utilizing these matches to check the younger expertise of the STARDOM roster with none fear of shedding. And on the opposite, it’s Starlight Child — a wrestler who has been on the rise for 2 years now and is heading into the 5STAR Grand Prix with one thing main to show to everybody. And it’s these two elements that make this match all of the extra thrilling.

Child has been coaching with Momoe Nakanishi to totally develop her personal model of the Momoe Latch, a ravishing flash pin that might set Child up for an enormous match if she’s in a position to make use of it to her benefit. Maybe it’ll be this match that we see how a lot the coaching has helped? I imagine so.

Starlight Child shouldn’t be shedding right here with the large match forward and Takahashi doesn’t have a transparent future in STARDOM transferring ahead. Child ought to get the win, particularly if it’s the ultimate time we see a Ardour Injection match. Prediction: Starlight Child

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

One week after profitable the Goddesses of Stardom Championship, ROSE GOLD will get their first probability to defend the gold towards God’s Eye as soon as once more at MidSummer Champions 2023 — however this time Syuri replaces MIRAI. Mina Shirakawa and Mariah Could have been seamless in changing into a tag group, displaying immediately of their tag title win that the chemistry they’ve is even higher than that of the champions on the time, THE NEW ERAS.

Shirakawa was in a position to make use of these tag titles as some kind of bounce-back win after dropping the Surprise of Stardom Championship to Tam Nakano at Flashing Champions 2023. With the roll she’s been on this yr, these titles may very well be on ROSE GOLD for fairly a while as she feels she must redeem herself after the loss. Could has been incredible after all since becoming a member of STARDOM, so seeing her seize her first gold in STARDOM was a particular second as effectively.

Issues change on this match although with Syuri getting into the dialog. It was Ami Sourei who was pinned by Shirakawa final week to drop the titles through Glamorous Driver Mina, so the actual fact she will get a shot to redeem that loss — however this time with Syuri at her aspect ought to give her the boldness she could also be lacking after that loss.

Most significantly — the brand new champions shouldn’t be shedding of their first protection. Prediction: Mina Shirakawa & Mariah Could

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

Nicely, this acquired much more attention-grabbing. When the match was initially introduced, I questioned what the purpose was aside from Saki Kashima wanting a profitable first protection. However now along with her exit from Oedo Tai, it has change into way more attention-grabbing only a week out.

Fukigen Dying didn’t participate within the Oedo Tai Metal Cage loss, so we don’t understand how the clown is feeling in regards to the exit of Kashima but. It’s fairly straightforward to imagine that she received’t be siding with the Excessive-Velocity Champion by any means however it ought to make the match extra compelling and an actual battle.

Kashima and the place she goes subsequent goes to be one of many predominant tales of STARDOM for the rest of 2023, however so long as she has the Excessive-Velocity Championship round her waist, it shouldn’t be all too unhealthy. Prediction: Saki Kashima

Natsupoi vs. Saori Anou in an Indian Strap Match

Natsupoi and Saori Anou have been destined to struggle. And MidSummer Champions 2023 would be the time to take action. It was on the June 4 Korakuen Corridor present that one small mistake by Natsupoi and Anou was able to struggle her the second she noticed her after the match. And sure, they received that tag group match thoughts you.

Anou immediately went for a Swinging Neckbreaker which was answered by a swift Roundhouse Kick try by Natsupoi — a lot for being in the identical faction (or two). With the historical past between these two, I’m positive Cosmic Angels chief Tam Nakano hoped that there wouldn’t be any issues anymore however the second she left them alone, bam.

And never solely will they’ve a match to take care of each other however they’ve leveled up the violence with an Indian Strap Match. The foundations are as follows:

• You could pin your opponent earlier than touching the 4 corners of the ring consecutively
• When you contact the 4 corners, you win
• In case your opponent will get to their toes previous to touching all 4 corners, it should all relaxation
• Utilizing the strap as a weapon is allowed

This match goes to be brutal. It’s going to be bodily. And it’s going to be private. Nevertheless it’s going to be large. There isn’t a extra constant “huge match” performer in STARDOM than Natsupoi. Stepping right into a match with somebody like Anou, who has been nothing however wonderful since returning to STARDOM earlier this yr, ought to make this among the finest of the yr. If they will make the most of the strap to their benefit and never have or not it’s a hindrance, I imagine it should ship.

As to who wins, it seems like Saori Anou has an enormous remaining six months arising along with her first entry into the 5STAR Grand Prix. Defeating Natsupoi will be how she kicks that off. Prediction: Saori Anou

Surprise of Stardom Championship
Tam Nakano (c) vs. MIRAI

It’s MIRAI’s time. It must be.

The back-to-back Cinderella Match winner has lastly used her want to get one other shot on the Surprise of Stardom Championship. She’s been ready since April to make use of this want and get her title shot so you understand she shall be getting in decided. What stands in entrance of her, nonetheless, is the second-ever World and Surprise of Stardom Double Champion within the historical past of STARDOM — Tam Nakano. And these current victories have definitely gone to Nakano’s head.

Within the construct in direction of this match towards MIRAI, we’ve seen Nakano relentlessly assault the “Ash-Coated Cinderella” whether or not it’s stabbing her within the head with a fork or pushing her round throughout considered one of her photoshoots. It was solely after THE NEW ERAS dropped their Goddesses of Stardom Titles at STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023 that MIRAI lastly fought again.

The Cinderella winner laid out Nakano in the midst of the ring with a brutal lariat earlier than placing her knee down on Nakano’s throat to tell her she’s prepared for the match.

Now, who wins?

Nakano shall be making her first protection since changing into a Double Champion. MIRAI shall be attempting to change into a champion and never fail on back-to-back Cinderella needs. It’s nearly unimaginable to make sense of who walks out of this one with each choices very a lot doable. That mentioned, it ought to be the “Ash-Coated Cinderella” strolling out of this match as the brand new Surprise of Stardom Champion.

She’s been prepared for this second for the reason that finish of the 5STAR Grand Prix final yr, reaching a degree that made me imagine she’d be defeating Saya Kamitani for the Surprise of Stardom Championship to finish the historic reign. It didn’t occur and as a substitute, Mina Shirakawa achieved that feat, so beating the second-ever Double Champion could be an awesome feather within the cap of MIRAI as effectively.

MIRAI is prepared for the second come MidSummer Champions 2023 and ought to be getting into the 5STAR Grand Prix because the Surprise of Stardom Champion. Prediction: MIRAI

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