STARDOM
STARDOM held two shows at Korakuen Hall this week, which marked the third show at Korakuen in eight days. While the shows didn’t have major matches, they set up multiple matches in the future and featured some interesting angles that continued the current storylines in STARDOM.
A great angle was Thekla’s suspension. She had a match with Sayaka Kurara at the second Korakuen Hall show, and they fought to a double countout as Kurara prevented Thekla from getting back into the ring. The ‘Idol Killer’ responded by giving Kurara a brutal beating with her belt and continued to run roughshod in the backstage area as well, where she attacked a media employee. For her actions, she got suspended for the next three tour shows. It was the best work of Thekla since coming back to STARDOM at All Star Grand Queendom in April. She made Kurara look like a big underdog, while she felt like an actual threat and looked like a star.
One of the biggest angles coming out of this week was built around the Wonder of Stardom Championship as in a great match, Natsupoi & Saori Anou battled to a 20-minute time limit draw against Manami & Mika Iwata, who made her first appearance in STARDOM as the new Wonder of Stardom Champion. In the match, Anou showed more emotions than ever and put on a great performance, especially in her interactions with Iwata, who she wants to get her revenge on. The two fought until the bell ended the match.
After the match, it was decided that Mika Iwata would defend the Wonder of Stardom AND Sendai Girls World Championship against Saori Anou at the Korakuen Hall show of Sendai Girls on July 15th. The winner will defend the White Belt against Natsupoi in Sapporo on July 27th. This seems to be the next step in the story between Anou-Natsupoi as a potential clash between the two Cosmic Angels members could occur in just three weeks.
Saori Anou not only has the chance to win back the White Belt but also something more important to her – fulfilling the promise to Natsupoi and defending the title against her in Sapporo. She will have doubts in her head after the recent match if she can actually defeat Iwata, and that will decide the outcome of this match. Going by their past interaction & matches, this could be the best one yet as Anou has found a new fire, while Iwata has more motivation than ever to defeat Saori Anou on her home turf and retain her two Championships. Two incredible talents will collide with enormous stakes. This match will change the future of both STARDOM & Sendai Girls forever.
Taro Okada kicked off the second STARDOM Korakuen Hall show to announce a few championship matches for later this month. On July 23rd at Korakuen Hall, Syuri & Konami will defend the Goddess of Stardom Championship against Momo Watanabe & Thekla of OEDo Tai, while Hanan & Saya Iida put the New Blood Tag Team Championship on the line against Rina & Azusa Inaba. On the Sapporo Rendezvous shows on July 27th & 28th, Rina defends the Future of Stardom Championship against Ranna Yagami, whilst Saya Kamitani puts the High Speed Title on the line against former Champion Mei Seira. The main event of Night 1 will be Natsupoi facing the winner of Iwata vs. Anou for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, meanwhile, the main event of Night 2 is Natsuko Tora trying to dethrone the winner of Maika vs. Tomoka Inaba for the Red Belt.
STARDOM have also announced the full line-up and schedule for the 5STAR Grand Prix, which will start on August 10th in the Yokohama Budokan, and they made a couple of changes. It’s a four block system with 7 wrestlers in each block, so 28 wrestlers overall. The first two wrestlers of each block will advance to a quarter-final that will be held in Shinjuku FACE. The semi-finals & final of the tournament will be on the final show on August 31st.
Next to the already announced names, there are two wrestlers who will be announced later and two wrestlers who will qualify from a tournament qualifier, with more to be announced soon.
Full Blocks of the 5STAR Grand Prix 2024:
Red Stars Block A
- Maika
- Natsupoi
- Natsuko Tora
- Manami
- Konami
- Hazuki
- Tournament Qualifier #1
Red Stars Block B
- Mayu Iwatani
- Tam Nakano
- Momo Watanabe
- AZM
- Mei Seira
- Saya Iida
- Tomoka Inaba
Blue Stars Block A
- Saori Anou
- Starlight Kid
- Syuri
- Xena
- Koguma
- X
- Tournament Qualifier #2
Blue Stars Block B
- Suzu Suzuki
- Saya Kamitani
- Hanan
- Ami Sohrei
- Saki Kashima
- Thekla
- XX
The full schedule for the 5STAR Grand Prix has been revealed, including a huge Opening Night with 12 tournament matches set. Here’s the lineup for August 10th:
- RED STARS A: Maika vs. Natsupoi
- RED STARS A: Hazuki vs. Manami
- RED STARS A: Konami vs. Natsuko Tora
- RED STARS B: Mayu Iwatani vs. Tam Nakano
- RED STARS B: AZM vs. Momo Watanabe
- RED STARS B: Mei Seira vs. Tomoka Inaba
- BLUE STARS A: Syuri vs. Starlight Kid
- BLUE STARS A: Saori Anou vs. X
- BLUE STARS A: Xena vs. Tournament Qualifier #2
- BLUE STARS B: Suzu Suzuki vs. Hanan
- BLUE STARS B: Saya Kamitani vs. Ami Sohrei
- BLUE STARS B: Saki Kashima vs. XX
Sendai Girls
On July 15th, Sendai Girls will hold a show at Korakuen Hall with one of the best cards in the Joshi Indies this year featuring eight matches, including two championship matches, a dream match, and more. The show will be available LIVE on Wrestle Universe.
The main event of the show is the Wonder of Stardom & Sendai Girls World Championship match between Saori Anou & Mika Iwata, where Anou is trying to win back the White Belt after losing it at STARDOM THE CONVERSION last month, but that isn’t the only highlight match on the card. Chihiro Hashimoto will face TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in a special singles match, and DASH Chisako battles Momo Watanabe in a Hardcore Match. The sleeper match of the show is Ryo Mizunami & Manami defending the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championship against Mio Momono & Yurika Oka in a rematch from their great match last month in Shinjuku-FACE.
The full card for the Sendai Girls Korakuen Hall show on July 15th:
- Mika Iwata (c) vs. Saori Anou for the Wonder of Stardom & Sendai Girls World Championship
- Ryo Mizunami & Manami (c) vs. Mio Momono & Yurika Oka for the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championship
- Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Jordynne Grace
- DASH Chisako vs. Momo Watanabe in a Hardcore Match
- Nina Samuels & Lena Kross vs. Sareee & Chi Chi
- Aja Kong, ZONES & Hiroyo Matsumoto vs. VENY, Miyuki Takase & Millie McKenzie
- Yuu vs. Sakura Hirota
- YUNA vs. Yura Suzuki
