“Golden Generation” Rivals Battle In Main Event Of 5★STAR GP Night 5

STARDOM descended upon Duo Cerezo in Joetsu, Japan for Night Five of the 5★STAR Grand Prix on Sunday. The event featured eight tournament matches, including four from the Red Stars Block A division.

The event began with a singles clash between two former students of TAKA Michinoku, as Maika faced Tomoka Inaba. Inaba controlled much of the early stages of the contest, but Maika gradually turned the tide through her superior strength and a series of well-timed lariats. Inaba came close to securing the win with a flurry of kicks, though Maika ultimately sealed the victory with a Michinoku Driver II at 8:03.

Next, Lady C looked to pick up her first victory of the 5★STAR Grand Prix against Konami, who entered the match with a 1-0 record. Lady C started aggressively with a series of hard strikes, but Konami quickly dragged the contest into her own territory on the outside, sending her opponent crashing into a row of chairs. From there, Lady C struggled to build any sustained momentum, aside from a brief rally. Konami eventually sealed the win with a brutal kick to the face before adding insult to injury by spraying black paint across Lady C’s face, just as she had done to Mei Seira the previous night.

In what was arguably the surprise match of the evening, Natsuko Tora faced her H.A.T.E. protégé Rina in a highly entertaining contest. Tora entered Joetsu still searching for her first points at 0-2, while Rina arrived with a 1-1 record. The pair went to war throughout the bout, with Rina controlling much of the action against the former World of Stardom Champion. However, Tora’s experience, resilience, and power ultimately proved decisive, as she halted Rina’s momentum with a Swanton Bomb to secure her first victory of the tournament at 10:54.

Following the longest match on the card, the tournament action shifted to the shortest as AZM used her world-class speed to defeat the struggling Sayaka Kurara in just 3:02. The match resembled a classic Saki Kashima high-speed encounter, with a frantic pace before AZM secured the victory with her signature Azumi Sushi pin. The result continued a difficult stretch for Kurara, who started the tournament with two victories but has since fallen to three consecutive defeats.

The second half of the evening began with Azusa Inaba taking on Mei Seira, with both competitors entering the contest holding 1-2 records. The pair delivered another fast-paced encounter, though this time the match went the full 15-minute time limit and ended in a draw. Inaba appeared close to securing the victory in the closing moments, as she had Seira in trouble when the bell sounded. After the match officially ended, Inaba continued the attack by trapping Seira in a kneebar, which likely would have forced a submission had the contest continued.

Following a brief intermission, Akira Kurogane faced Itsuki Aoki in tournament action. Kurogane entered the match with an 0-2 record, while Aoki was undefeated at 2-0. As members of Mi Vida Loca, the pair showed their familiarity with one another by delivering a physical and hard-hitting encounter. However, it was the veteran Aoki who emerged victorious, dropping Kurogane with a German suplex before finishing the match with a Rasha Hasami at 11:02. The result moved Aoki to a perfect 3-0 record and the top of Red Stars Block A, while Kurogane fell to 0-3.

The evening’s semi-main event saw Maki Itoh face Rina Yamashita in a match that ended in an unusual fashion. The contest was arguably the least memorable of the night, as both competitors failed to make it back into the ring before the referee’s 20 count, resulting in a double count-out. The result saw both wrestlers leave Joetsu with a point each, with Itoh moving to 1-1-1 with three points, while Yamashita now sits at 2-1-2 with six points.

Luckily, the show closed with a much stronger contest as fellow Class of 2018 graduates Saya Iida and Utami Hayashishita went head-to-head in a hard-fought encounter. The pair showcased their history as contemporaries and career rivals, bringing a level of intensity and emotion that made it a must-watch match for anyone looking to sample the 5★STAR Grand Prix. In the end, Hayashishita emerged victorious after putting Iida away with the Crusade at 13:45.

The next 5★STAR Grand Prix event will take place on Tuesday, July 28, featuring another eight matches, including Maika vs. Natsuko Tora, Rina vs. AEW’s Julia Hart, and Starlight Kid vs. Saya Kamitani.

For more coverage from the tournament and everything surrounding STARDOM, WrestlePurists will keep you updated.

5★STAR Grand Prix – Current Standings:

Red Stars Block A:

Itsuki Aoki – 3-0 (6 points)

AZM – 2-1 (4 points)

Maika – 2-0 (4 points)

Sayaka Kurara – 2-3 (4 points)

Tomoka Inaba – 2-3 (4 points)

Natsuko Tora – 1-2 (2 points)

Rina – 1-2 (2 points)

Akira Kurogane – 0-3 (0 points)

Red Stars Block B:

Rina Yamashita – 2-1-2 (6 points)

Saya Iida – 3-1 (6 points)

Konami – 2-0 (4 points)

Azusa Inaba – 1-2-1 (3 points)

Maki Itoh – 1-1-1 (3 points)

Mei Seira – 1-2-1 (3 points)

Utami Hayashishita – 1-1-1 (3 points)

Lady C – 0-3 (0 points)

Blue Stars Block A:

Ruaka – 2-0 (4 points)

Aya Sakura – 1-1 (2 points)

HANAKO – 1-1 (2 points)

Hina – 1-1 (2 points)

Suzu Suzuki – 1-0 (2 points)

Julia Hart – 0-0 (0 points)

Miyu Amasaki – 0-2 (0 points)

Rian – 0-1 (0 points)

Blue Stars Block B:

Hanan – 2-0 (4 points)

Koguma – 2-1 (4 points)

Momo Watanabe – 2-0 (4 points)

Ami Sourei – 0-1 (0 points)

Kikyo Furusawa – 0-3 (0 points)

Saya Kamitani – 0-0 (0 points)

Starlight Kid – 0-0 (0 points)

Yuna Mizumori – 0-1 (0 points)