Much like the reigns of their top two champions – both approaching seven successful months in July – Stardom was on a roll. A couple weeks ago they put up their first steel cage and the result was so good it might’ve rendered any future attempt at a cage match irrelevant. The match bumped Natsupoi up the ranks too, something Stardom is pretty incredible at doing often and organically.
When the Stardom crew entered the Tachikawa Stage Garden midsummer, Syuri was on her sixth championship defense while Saya Kamitani was on her seventh.
0. 3-Way Battle: Lady C vs. Yuko Sakurai vs. Hina
With about 5 minutes of ring time, it’s honestly impressive how good some of the near falls were. I don’t know if Lady C is putting it all together, but a giant swing makes people happy. **
1. Future of Stardom Title: Hanan [c] vs. Waka Tsukiyama
Waka has one gear and it goes fast – after a relentless headlock she threw an entire moveset at the champion, who to keep up mostly used judo throws but also a Fameasser – two of them! ***
2. Utami Hayashishita & Miyu Amasaki vs. MIRAI & Ami Sorei
Queen’s Quest vs. DDM with a rookie on each side. I can’t tell if Hayashishita, who Syrui beat in December to take the World of Stardom Title, is graciously backing away from the spotlight or has spent 2022 falling too far down the card. I also can’t tell if it’s good or bad that young Amasaki looks so tentative whether on the attack or taking chops. She spent most of the match getting beat up by MIRAI, while Sorei was more evenly matched with Hayashishita – well, I should say Hayashishita sold a lot for Sorei even though Sorei struggled to keep up with everything. Fast paced though unconvincing match. ***
3. Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, Koguma & Saya Iida vs. Saki Kashima, Fukigen Death★, Ruaka & Rina
Mayu’s Stars against the clowns and jerks in Odeo Tai was mostly hijinks and they weren’t very good ones besides a 4-person running boot scrape that was pretty cool. Iida took a beating, Iwatani and Kashima smashed each other’s faces, and Iida did a diving shoulderblock better than any Chono has ever thrown before she eventually went down. ***1/4
4. High Speed Title: AZM [c] vs. Momo Kohgo
It may just be the power of the High Speed Title but AZM hasn’t skipped a beat from Starlight Kid’s awesome reign. They tried lots of stuff, as they will. Some, like Kogho’s loony/rebound dropkick on the floor, didn’t work. More, like the springboard dropkick that followed, did. Kogho kept up early but AZM found an opening targeting the arm, a theme that stayed to the end when AZM looked down at an exhausted Kogho with no pity and kicked it.
They traded all sorts of cradles at the end before AZM finally trapped Kogho in a submission she couldn’t escape. Kodgo isn’t a complete package yet but this was an impressive AZM performance and very good match. ***1/2
5. DDM vs. Cosmic Angels All-Out Battle Elimination Match: Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sayaka, SAKI & Hikari Shimizu vs. Giulia, Maika, Himeka, Natsupoi & Mai Sakurai
Even before DDM’s Natsupoi beat Tam Nakano last month, this was a loaded matchup. It was overwhelmed by the need to get in place for people getting thrown over the top rope, but there was a lot going on here – and it was all just a setup for a big angle, anyways.
Nakano and Natsupoi began the match then after 5 minutes, Shirakawa and Himeka ended up on the apron then eliminated on the floor – as will happen in these situations. A couple minutes later Shimizu cracked Sakurai with a spin kick to take her out, then Maika took out both Sayaka and Shizumu with Michinoku Drivers – before getting rolled up by SAKI when she tried the same on her.
SAKI got thrown over the top rope by Giulia, leaving Tam Nakano alone against Giulia and Natsupoi. They all ended up on the apron – as will happen in these situations – and Giulia held Nakano up for a kick from Natsupoi, only for Nakano to move which caused Natsupoi to stop, think… and kick Giulia right in the face.
Natsupoi delivered the perfect look of “yeah I fuckin did that” before allowing Nakano to eliminate Giulia and stepping to the floor so Nakano got the win. Giulia quickly disowned Natsupoi after the match and Nakano welcomed her into Cosmic Angels just as quickly. The absolute DRAMA! Fun match, killer turn. ***1/4
6. Wonder of Stardom Title: Saya Kamitani [c] vs. Starlight Kid
The first of two main events featured two of the best high-flyers in wrestling today, Starlight Kid for precision and Kamitani for chaos. They worked this like it was for the High Speed Title or something, fast-paced brilliant action with Starlight Kid in particular trying for the kill right away with a Tiger Suplex and Stretch Muffler to clue you in on what she’ll probably use later. They traded counters on the entrance ramp a little to – some things never change.
Starlight Kid eventually smashed Kamitani’s leg with a chair, leading to some Leg Work and Leg Selling. Kid brought variety to the leg work while Kamitani brought the reminder and desperation in her selling of it. When she eventually rallied with a springboard plancha and northern lights on the floor, god damnit, the leg still hurt!
They got a lot out of the leg actually, especially towards the end. When Starlight Kid tried to return to the Stretch Muffler, Kamitani refused and hit a German suplex – but couldn’t hold the bridge! Kid tried a moonsault but Kamitani put her knees up, which f’d them both up.
As The Champ began to rally Kid tried to keep the pressure by any means necessary, which included an awesome spot where Kamitani tried climbing the top rope only for Kid to quickly strike with a knee to the back. Multiple attempts at the Firebird Splash and what may or may not have been a counter of the Spanish Fly highlighted the finish, which had all the exciting wrestling you could want and was made better by some of the compelling stuff too. ****1/2
SAKI then Nanae Takahashi confronted Saya Kamitani after the match.
7. World of Stardom Title: Syuri [c] vs. Momo Watanabe
Momo Watanabe, who is blonde again after a run with black hair, had her Oedo Tai crew distract Syuri so she could kicked her in the face and piledriver her through a table. That’s what this match was about – thanks to the assistance available to her, Momo was confident and in control until she wasn’t.
Back inside the champ managed a German suplex but Momo responded with a Tiger suplex. They exchanged kicks until Syuri kicked Momo in the head for 2, then put her in a Stretch Muffler – popular move. Momo got to the ropes but was officially struggling, which Syuri jumped on with more strikes and another Stretch Muffler for the tap.
How does Syuri keep trying to follow these Saya Kamitani matches? Or, why does she keep getting put in situations where she has to? She’s a very good wrestler and this match was very good, but it couldn’t help but feel less spectacular and understated compared to what came before it. ****
Happy Thoughts: The two main events were great and Stardom’s PPV undercards seem to somehow be improving on their quality and consistency every month. What a run. 4.0 / 5.0
