One day after Stardom delivered a series of gimmick matches at Showcase Vol. 1, they had a more traditional PPV card at the same spot in Nagoya. The Showcase was more fun than canon, but now it was back to business: earlier this month Natsupoi turned on Giulia and DDM to join Tam Nakano, while both Syuri and Saya Kamitani continued to hold the line as Stardom’s red-and-white champions of 2022.
1. Saya Iida & Hanan vs. Mai Sakurai & Rina Amikura
Iida will be a star in this biz-ness based on sheer force, whether charisma or strength or just likablity. Amikura joins Stardom from the Actwres girl’Z organization, and I am basically pro anything that has a capitalized Z at the end of it. The match was one of those openers not designed not to start the show off hot, but just to start the show. Earnest attempts were made at victory until the 10-minutre time limit ran out. **
2. Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo vs. Ruaka & Fukigen Death★
A dumb match. Fukigen won a Battle Royal playing a good clown last night but was back to evil here, and after 5 minutes her partner got pinned. *1/2
3. High Speed Title: AZM [c] vs. Rina
I don’t know about you, man, but I like my pro wrestling high speed. Rina proved herself quick and capable when needed (especially when trading strikes), but spent most of the High Speed Title match trying to slow down the speed. AZM worked through the obstacles and visible pain they were causing her towards a rebound dropkick, top rope armdrag, and finally the Hankouki Clutch. Lower-end AZM defense but a tremendous amount of work for 8 minutes. ***1/2
4. Captain’s Fall 3-Way Battle: Mina Shirakawa (c), Unagi Sayaka & Hikari Shimizu vs. Hina (c), Lady C & Miyu Amasaki vs. Risa Sera (c), Kurumi Hiragi & Suzu Suzuki
Captain’s Fall rules assign each team a captain, who even though their teammates can be eliminated has to be pinned for the match to end. Prominence entered first in moody darks, Queen’s Quest next in classy whites, and finally there were the Cosmic Angels, two-thirds of whom basically wrestled a wet t-shirt contest last night.
The wrestling was impressive while the random pins and captain’s rule didn’t add much, especially in contrast to the inspired use of different gimmicks and stipulations last night. Suzu Suzuki eventually cored a big dub over captain Shirakawa. ***1/4
5. Artist of Stardom Title: Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid & Saki Kashima [c] vs. Giulia, Maika & Himeka
There was plenty of talent here and they kept the action moving, not wasting time with “tags”and just seamlessly going from one impressive thing to the next. It ran together sometimes but was usually just a treat to watch. DDM’s triple-teams ranged from elaborate to a little weird, and in a match filled with cool spots it was the arc on Starlight Kid’s northern lights suplex bridge that stood out enough for me to write it down. ***1/4
6. Goddesses of Stardom Title: Hazuki & Koguma [c] vs. MIRAI & Ami Sorei
Newcomer Ami Sorei has come a long way, baby. Hazuki and Koguma let her know it, too, by having her stand on the apron and watch her partner get her ass kicked. Her eventual hot tag wasn’t so hot, but as the match headed to a close it really developed into something.
Everything felt delivered with an extra gusto, like when Ami and MIRAI lifted and just chucked Koguma right through Hazuki. They were almost able win the Tag Titles too, but Hazuki reversed a suplex into a la magistral on young Sorei. Let’s hear it for Hazuki and Koguma’s theme music too. ****
7. Wonder of Stardom Title: Saya Kamitani [c] vs. SAKI
SAKI is another recent addition to Stardom, with a resume boasting pretty much every company that isn’t Stardom. Other than playing yesterday’s designated prude she hadn’t distinguished herself much prior to this match nor did she really during it. Her offensive playbook included a Michinoku driver on the floor, pendulum swing, step-up knee in the corner, Vader splash, superplex and pumphandle slam. Kamitani sold it all big enough including folding herself up off a kick later on, though eventually found her way up top for the Phoenix splash. Good match but mid Kamitani defense. ***3/4
8. World of Stardom Title: Syuri [c] vs. Tam Nakano
I was lucky enough to catch the start of Syuri’s big run, while I missed most of Nakano’s but she’s still delivering greatness. There were the Natsupoi matches last month and now this – even if more pressing World of Stardom matches are in 2022’s future, for Midsummer she will give Syuri the fight of her life.
Matwork led to choking and brawling and Nakano plancha off the entrance. They got back in the ring just before a 20-count and Nakano immediately pounced with a boot, which was followed by each going for the kill another 15 minutes, opting for slaps or kicks or worse like a Steiner Screwdriver, which delivered a spectacular near fall.
Nakano is so good at selling exhaustion but also moments: when Syuri stops her short with a kick late in the match her entire body ends up sprawled out on the mat… she is DOWN. She did what she could to survive after that but following an Emerald Frosion and another few kicks it was time to call it a day. Excellent, physical, entertaining and just plain high-level championship match. Maybe Syuri was pissed Kamitani owned her so much last month. Her best defense so far. ****1/2
Happy Thoughts: It’s the consistency, you know? Heck of a show. 4.0 / 5.0
