The 2022 Stardom 5★Star GP Tournament ran from the last two days of July to the first day of October, boasting a field of 26 entrants (most of the roster, not Lady C) split in two fields (Red Stars and Blue Stars) and battling for point-based supremacy.
5★Star GP Nights 1 and 2 were assessed here already, as were the Finals. In search of good wrestling and better understanding of Stardom’s in-ring style and less featured talents, I watched 3 appealing matches from each show in between. Below are some thoughts on those wrestlers and matches, limited to a sentence each.
The 10 Best Wrestlers I Saw, Statistically
1. Giulia (119.50)
2. Syuri (94.5)
3. Natsupoi (89.5)
4. Saya Kamitani (71.5)
5. Momo Watanabe (68)
6. Tam Nakano (67)
7. AZM (67)
8. Starlight Kid (57)
9. Utami Hayashishita (53.5)
10. Mayu Iwatani (47)
The 10 Best Matches I Watched, Vibes-Wise
1. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Natsupoi (8/28/22)
2. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. AZM (7/30/22)
3. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Natsupoi (8/13/22)
4. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Tam Nakano (8/11/22)
5. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Starlight Kid (8/27/22)
6. 5★STAR GP – Final: Tam Nakano vs. Giulia (10/1/22)
7. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Hazuki vs. Giulia (7/30/22)
8. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Starlight Kid (8/11/22)
9. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Himeka (9/4/22)
10. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Syuri (7/31/22)
52 Sentences on Stardom’s 5★Star GP 2022
1. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Hanan (8/6/22)
All the babyface charisma, bottled up in a single match – except it started with a Hanan attack before the bell and Mayu’s strikes are vicious. ***1/2
2. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Hazuki vs. Starlight Kid (8/6/22)
Starlight Kid worked the leg, Hazuki worked the shit out of a headlock, and there was an amazing 619 and brainbuster. ***1/2
3. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Momo Watanabe (8/6/22)
Momo brought the kicks, interference and ability to close a match while Kamitani brought a poison rana on the floor, butterfly suplex off the top, and 450 splash. ***3/4
4. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Mai Sakurai (8/7/22)
Mai is new to me and showed some character in requesting a second spine kick, while Azumi let her show off a little but otherwise continued to bring the blistering speed and elaborate rope-running. ***1/4
5. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Himeka vs. Koguma (8/7/22)
Koguma began with her standard jokes but once the match got going she brought offense that was either impressive (missile dropkick, that tricky reverse rollup) or cool (body block on the ropes, that time she just stepped on Himeka). ***1/4
6. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Natsupoi vs. Ami Sohrei (8/7/22)
Natsupoi’s been a menace since she started hanging with Tam Nakano and here she gave it to Ami Sohrei whether out-pacing her or hitting her or even biting her, only stalled by the occasional show of strength before victory. ***
7. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Unagi Sayaka (8/11/22)
Sayaka got bullied by Syuri at Korakuen Hall before she rallied with a Codebreaker and Crossroads, then got brought back down to Earth with some good old-fashioned kicks. ***1/4
8. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Tam Nakano (8/11/22)
Tremendous amount of action and narrative in just 7 minutes, with Tam appearing charmed by AZM’s ability any of the rare times they took a breather. ****
9. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Starlight Kid (8/11/22)
Two members of Oedo Tai tried to out-heel each other while also doing incredible feats of athleticism delivered with pinpoint accuracy. ****
10. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Risa Sera (8/11/22)
Sera basically squashed the previous World of Stardom Champion using a pendulum swing and giant swing and other things, then the Hijack Bomb stopped her short — for now. ***1/4
11. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Momo Kohgo (8/13/22)
AZM continued being outrageous while young Momo Kohgo kept up, especially when exchanging on one of wrestling’s finest things: crazy rollups. ***3/4
12. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Natsupoi (8/13/22)
Kamitani (successful champion filled with pride) started the match by pushing up Natsupoi (willing to stab backs for success)’s chin with her index finger, then Nat stomped foot, then they maintained that fantastically rude energy for the duration of an entire wrestling match thriller. ****
13. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Himeka (8/14/22)
AZM was on it right away with a double foot stomp to the floor and tilt-a-whirl Fujiwara armbar, then she escaped no less than a crab hold, the JP Coaster and a powerbomb from Himeka on the way to 2 more points. ***1/4
14. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Hazuki vs. Mirai (8/14/22)
After Hazuki worked that headlock and Mirai hit a pump kick and nasty lariat, they continued to Bring It to each other all the way through the closing bell. ***¼
15. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Natsupoi (8/14/22)
Before a spectacular bunch of fighting over the finish, two of Stardom’s low-key flashiest wrestlers made choices: Momo chose an apron Meteora, crossface chickenwing and some kicks, Nat went with a dropkick, plancha and apron German suplex. ***3/4
16. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Ami Sohrei (8/20/22)
Kicks, interference and an exposed turnbuckle told the story for this one, at least before Sohrei delivered the tremendous Raiden Shiku. ***
17. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Saya Iida (8/20/22)
Wish I caught more strong girl Iida but she wasn’t jumping out, even in this good and to-the-point match with one of the tournament’s best performers. ***
18. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Saki Kashima (8/20/22)
Kashima’s journey to be competitive with Syuri made this under-10 minute match a fun one, especially when it ended with such a big surprise. ***3/4
19. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Natsupoi vs. Suzu Suzuki (8/27/22)
Natsupoi (so confident) and Suzu (finding her way) were going off by the end here, with unbelievable speed as they held onto each other and tried to counter every single thing. ***3/4
20. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Maika vs. Utami Hayashishita (8/27/22)
Good match that approached greatness when, after they had already clotheslined the shit out of each other and pulled off some shocker near falls, it made Maika look even stronger. ***1/2
21. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Starlight Kid (8/27/22)
It was on at Korakuen hall, with SLK dragging Giulia by the hair and factions brawling on the floor and as they headed towards a conclusion some of the coolest-looking wrestling in modern civilization. ****
22. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Mai Sakurai (8/28/22)
Mai gave another determined performance while Tam either beat ass or talked shit. ***3/4
23. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Maika (8/28/22)
They maintained a sense of struggle all 7 minutes, which really is harder than it sounds. ***1/4
24. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Natsupoi (8/28/22)
Giulia was on a run two nights in a row, following the Starlight Kid match with this even better one that over-delivered on a combination smooth wrestling, badass fighting, and CHARISMA. ****1/4
25. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Mina Shirakawa (9/3/22)
Mina worked the leg and kept Giulia guessing until she got hit in the head a few too many times. ***1/2
26. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Maika (9/3/22)
As they hit the mat a loud fan could be heard from above, though after enough spine kicks and headbutt most things stop being distracting. ***1/2
27. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Mayu Iwatani (9/3/22)
Like some of the best wrestling to ever exist, humans in brightly colored outfits were running the ropes and jumping off of them. ***1/2
28. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Saya Iida (9/4/22)
Kamitani went from being charmed by Iida to in serious pain because of her, resulting in a good Saya Kamitani match and great Saya Ida one. ***3/4
29. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Natsupoi vs. Mayu Iwatani (9/4/22)
Claps echoed in the arena as they traded signature moves and 2-counts, then Natty made Tam Nakano’s whole week when she avoided a moonsault and kicked Mayu in the face. ***1/2
30. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Himeka (9/4/22)
Himeka overwhelmed The Champ during an elbow exchange best described as “furious,” then delivered one of its’ most compelling matches as refused to let up then refused to stay down. ****
31. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: AZM vs. Utami Hayashishita (9/11/22)
When it comes to the 7-minute match, AZM has established herself as one of the best wrestlers going. ***1/2
32. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Mayu Iwatani (9/11/22)
Each block match had a 15-minute time limit and this was 1 of the 3 that actually went the distance, delivering a big show (and headbutts!) on the way there. ***3/4
33. Goddesses of Stardom Title: Tam Nakano & Natsupoi [c] vs. MIRAI & Ami Sohrei (9/11/22)
This headlined the 1,000+ seat Yokohama Budokan show and was tremendous, with Tam taking heat from the Power Twins as Nat helplessly did apron work adding a fun dynamic to a great basic tag match. ***3/4
34. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Momo Kohgo (9/12/22)
Back to tournament action (and back at Korakuen Hall), Momo attacked before the bell (after an earnest handshake!) before Syuri took over and controlled the rest of the match, besides a couple 619’s that shouldn’t have been so effective on her. ***1/4
35. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Sayaka Unagi (9/12/22)
Solid staredown was followed by solid action that just didn’t get going enough to stand out. ***1/4
36. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Suzu Suzuki (9/12/22)
Suzu kept up with another Stardom Superstar in a good match filled with many varieties of the “elbow smash” and “superkick.” ***1/4
37. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Saki Kashima (9/17/22)
Utami began the match with a setback when she took the bait on a Kashima handshake, then just as she was finding her way Kashima countered the Hijack Bomb with a rollup and won! ***
38. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. SAKI (9/17/22)
Even going 12 minutes with the World of Stardom Champion, SAKI continued to have trouble defining a “thing” – maybe next time. ***
39. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Starlight Kid vs. Natsupoi (9/17/22)
Here’s two wrestlers who aren’t afraid to take some swings, and they delivered enough fun spots – Asai moonsault! Spanish Fly! Stretch Muffler! leg work – to make up for how disjointed the rest seemed. ***1/4
40. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Ami Sohrei (9/18/22)
Giulia’s name is already made, but Ami had something to prove and tried to it by way of a crab hold, chops, body attack, bodyslam, blue Thunder bomb and the ability to keep Giulia up in a (reverse) torture rack before the (assumed) inevitable. ***
41. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Risa Sera (9/18/22)
Shoulder tackles and a buckle bomb were a couple things on the menu for the second Risa Sera GP match that made me go, “I guess I’ll watch that.” ***
42. 5★STAR GP -Blue Stars: Momo Watanabe vs. Suzu Suzuki (9/18/22)
Suzu Suzuki was in the main event and she continued to both hold her own and peak at ***1/4.
43. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Mina Shirakawa vs. Suzu Suzuki (9/19/22)
On the lower-end of the matches I saw in that it was the most Just A Bunch of Stuff, even if there was an elbow exchange that got so heated the camera feed went out for a second. **3/4
44. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Momo Kohgo (9/19/22)
As the tournament began to wind down Tam took poor Momo to school, though because of both things this wrapped up pretty quickly. **3/4
45. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. SAKI (9/19/22)
The tournament’s weakest show ended with an acceptable but forgettable main event. ***
46. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Mina Shirakawa (9/23/22)
Shirakawa both worked the leg and established herself as a serious contender to a championship, a great one-two punch of pro wrestling in addition to the very good match and wild finish. ***3/4
47. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Momo Watanabe (9/23/22)
Exposing a turnbuckle and interference with chairs was followed with stretching and suplexes, including one by Momo into the exposed turnbuckle that didn’t play into the finish. ***1/4
48. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Syuri vs. Tam Nakano (9/23/22)
This was serious business that ended 7 seconds from a 15-minute draw, after Syuri kicked out of the Violent Screwdriver and moved on from a sleeper to just wrenching Nakano’s arm into a nasty enough position that she quit. ***3/4
49. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe (9/24/22)
After a 2-month tournament the roster was working a little slower except for Mayu Iwatani, who saved some of her best work for the tournament’s last couple weeks including this pairing of babyface vs. heel. ***1/2
50. 5★STAR GP – Red Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Tam Nakano (9/24/22)
So, yeah, the roster was working slower on the tournament’s last regular day. ***
51. 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars: Giulia vs. Saya Kamitani (9/24/22)
The effort and content was strong, just hampered by a mix of claps and familiarity and these two maybe not matching up the best together. ***1/2
52. 3-Way Match – High Speed Title: AZM [c] vs. Hazuki vs. Fukigen Death★ (9/24/22)
I came for a clown doing High Speed wrestling spots and was not disappointed; in fact I was downright impressed. ***1/4
Happy Thoughts: Stardom’s PPVs are good and so is their recipe for a singles match. I skipped plenty but even the worst matches I saw were pretty good, any repetition easily forgiven thanks to clear effort or a really cool move or it just ending before it got weird. I learned things too. Would do it again. Maybe not as much. 3.0 / 5.0
