SHOW REPORT: Stardom 5Star Grand Prix – Night 10 (Sunday, 25th August 2024)

August 27, 2024 Rob Goodwin News, Show Reports, Stardom 0
Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Notes

  • Ami Sohrei will be absent from all cards as she begins the process of recovering from ACL and meniscus tears in her knee. Ranna Yagami will replace her in the 5Star Grand Prix.
  • Kaori Yoneyama – more commonly known as Fukigen Death in Stardom – has also suffered an ACL tear and will be out of action for a year.
  • Due to poor physical condition, Lady C will miss the shows on the 23rd, 24th and 25th August.

Current Block Standings (Before 25th August 2024)

  • Before the main show began, a contract signing took place between Tam Nakano and Natsuko Tora for their upcoming World of Stardom Championship match at the 5Star Grand Prix 2024 Finals on August 31st in Musashino Forest Sports Plaza.

Quick Results

  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Suzu Suzuki (7) def. Ranna Yagami (4) w/ Tequila Shot (5:06)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Syuri (8) def. Miyu Amasaki (3) w/ Spinning Ryuen (7:07)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Saya Iida (4) def. AZM (8) w/ Iidabashi (7:59)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Maika (12) def. Manami (5) w/ Michinoku Driver II (8:57)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Ruaka (3) def. Yuna Mizumori (0) w/ Choke Bomb (7:43)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Saki Kashima (6) def. Thekla (4) w/ Kishikaisei (3:43)
  • Tag Team Match: H.A.T.E (Natsuko Tora & Rina) def. Hina & Anna Jay w/ Diving Double Knee Drop (10:21)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Koguma (6) def. Saori Anou (7) w/ Kuma Roll (3:16)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Starlight Kid (8) def. Xena (4) w/ Black Tiger Leg Killer (10:31)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Natsupoi (9) vs. Hazuki (7) Ended in a Time Limit Draw (15:00)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Mayu Iwatani (10) def. Tomoka Inaba (8) w/ Roll-Up (4:23)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Mei Seira (8) def. Tam Nakano (0) w/ Meteor Dragon (12:19)
  • 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Hanan (7) def. Saya Kamitani (8) w/ Back Drop Hold (9:55)
Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #1 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Suzu Suzuki (7) def. Ranna Yagami (4) w/ Tequila Shot (5:06)

We open this gargantuan card with a hugely important match in Blue Stars B. Following her main event defeat to Saya Kamitani last night, Suzu has to win and hope Hanan loses to Saya in tonight’s main event to qualify outright. If both her and Hanan win, a play-off will have to take place in Shinjuku on Wednesday as the pair drew their opening night block match and as a result, there is no tiebreaker. A loss for Hanan and Suzu also opens the door for Thekla to sneak through if she is to beat Saki Kashima later in the night by way of a tiebreaker victory over Risa Sera.

Ranna, who is the only person aside from Saki unable to qualify before tonight’s round of block matches, attacks Suzuki before the bell with a Dropkick, perhaps buoyed by her surprise victory over Hanan last night. Suzu is having none of this though, and drags Yagami back by the hair as she looks to run the ropes before slamming into her spine with a brisk kick. With a dazed Ranna now suspended in the ropes, Suzu hits the Drive-By before hauling Ranna by the hair into a knee strike.

Ducking under a Lariat, Ranna is able to hit a Dropkick lot create some distance before unloading a volley of kicks into Suzu’s chest. The latter catches one of the kicks and floors her with a forearm, only for Ranna to stagger back up to her feet and attempt another. The same happens again with Ranna refusing to stay down a third time and driving a volley of forearms into Suzu’s chest, and following up with a kick to the chest that finally takes Suzuki off her feet. She follows this up with a kick to the head in the corner and a kick to the spine of her own, before attempting to drag Suzu into a Cross Armbreaker.

Suzu gets to the ropes and is then able to reverse an Irish Whip so she can hit a Stomp in the corner. She misses a Buzzsaw Kick and is almost caught with a roll-up, while a Single-Legged Dropkick gets Yagami another two count. She misses her own head kick though, which allows Suzu to lock in a waistlock to, in spite of furious struggling from Ranna, hit a Release German Suplex. Yagami kicks out at two, but Suzu very quickly latches onto her again to hit the Tequila Shot to complete what must be considered something of a routine victory.

The loss brings an end to an enjoyable tournament for Ranna, who has showcased some outstanding fighting spirit and a lot of development over the relatively short run time of this tournament. The win eliminates Thekla from the running, making it a straight shootout between Suzu and Hanan for the second spot in Blue Stars B, with Suzuki now facing a nervous wait for the result of the main event to see if her victory is enough to qualify outright.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #2 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Syuri (8) def. Miyu Amasaki (3) w/ Spinning Ryuen (7:07)

After a pleasing performance against Starlight Kid last night, Miyu has the opportunity to gain a huge scalp in defeating the 2021 5Star Grand Prix winner Syuri tonight, which in turn helps her NEOGENESIS stablemate Starlight Kid in her own quest to qualify. A defeat wouldn’t necessarily be catastrophic for Syuri mind you, though she would need victories for Saori Anou and Xena later in the night to go through as second in the block.

Amasaki attacks early and looks to cut Syuri down, hitting a Dropkick to the knee and a DDT. She follows up with a second Dropkick to the back, but only succeeds in riling up Syuri, who throws her into the corner and thuds into her with a knee before locking her in a Sleeper Hold. Miyu manages to get a foot on the ropes, but she’s then hit with a Snap Suplex and a vicious pair of kicks to the back. However, as Syuri tosses Miyu into the corner, she’s able to mount the second rope and hit a Facebuster to stop – however briefly – the tide of offence.

She can’t capitalise, with Syuri easily breaking free of a Miyu Sleeper Hold and locking in a Boston Crab. She gets to the ropes and attempts to fire up by throwing a host of forearms into Syuri’s chest, managing to grind her down by then drilling more into her neck. Syuri then misses a Lariat, which allows Miyu the space to hit a Tornado DDT, and then follow it up with a Hammerlock DDT. Syuri breaks free of the Cradle DDT though and plants Miyu with an STO before planting a kick into her chest, one in the back and locking her in a Sharpshooter.

Miyu makes it to the ropes, but Syuri is able to hoist her up into the Zansyu before going for the Ryuen. Amasaki gets free and achieves a nearfall with the Amanohashidate, hitting her Jumping DDT before getting another two count with the Cradle DDT. She sets for the Tensai, but Syuri blocks it and hits a Release German Suplex before flooring her with a Buzzsaw Kick. With this quick one-two punch, Syuri has apparently driven the fight right out of Miyu, and after hitting the spinning variation of the Ryuen, she is able to keep her down for the three count.

It’s a win that puts Syuri at the top of the block, and cements her qualification for the quarter-finals, meaning we now have a straight shoot-out between Starlight Kid and Saori Anou. An Anou win against Koguma would see her top the block with Syuri in second spot, while an Anou loss and a Starlight Kid win would see Syuri top the block and Kid join her in the quarter-finals as the block runner-up.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #3 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Saya Iida (4) def. AZM (8) w/ Iidabashi (7:59)

Securing her first ever singles victory over Mayu Iwatani, AZM is in poll position to take the top spot in Red Stars B. A win against already-eliminated Saya Iida, someone over whom she already has a 1-0 record in singles competition, takes her 10 points and would have her facing the winner of Natsupoi and Hazuki in the quarter-finals.

The match starts predictably quickly, with AZM blocking a Gorilla Press leading to a high-speed series of reversals. Iida locks in a Side Headlock in an attempt to slow down the High Speed Bomb Girl, but AZM slips through Saya’s legs, dragging her down to the ring at in the process and then connects with a PK to the chest and a Running Knee. She then sends Saya into the corner and grinds against her face with a boot, before connecting with a Dropkick and locking in a Armbar when Iida kicks out at two.

AZM is in complete control in this match, and is even able to initially weather a flurry of Saya Iida forearms, baiting her into a chop before ducking under it and kicking her legs out from under her – kicking her hard in the chest to add a little more salt to the wound. It’s here that AZM gets a little complacent however, and she has a Headscissors blocked with Saya powering her into a Bodyslam, before wiping her out with a Sliding Elbow and an Elbow Drop. It’s from here to at Saya is able to play in her chops to AZM’s chest and back, before AZM ducks under a Double-Handed Chop and the pair trade suplexes. It’s AZM that gets to her feet first though, and she slams into the side of Saya’s head with a Buzzsaw Kick. Saya is made of stern stuff however and, far from going down, she gets to her feet and hits a Lariat, resulting in an exhausted double down.

As they charge into each other again, Saya catches AZM and drives her into the corner, but as Iida goes for the Diving Shoulder Tackle, AZM expertly sidesteps it and immediately locks in the Armbar. Saya reaches the ropes and this prompts AZM to try her luck from the top rope, connecting flush with Saya’s midriff with a Diving Double Footstomp. She tries for the Destroyer, but Saya blocks it and then hits a Lariat before following up with a Pop-Up Spinebuster.

Saya then attempts the Brainbuster, but AZM fights furiously to get free before a frantic battle between the Azumi Sushi and the Iidabashi erupts. Both women get nearfalls, but as AZM looks for La Mistica, Saya is able to sidestep it and trap her in the Iidabashi for the three count. Out of nowhere, Saya gets her second victory and moves to four points, subjecting AZM to her first defeat of the tournament.

It might be AZM’s first loss, but she now faces a rather nervy wait to see the results of Tomoka Inaba’s match with Mayu, and Mei Seira’s with Tam Nakano to see if where she’s qualified – if she’s qualified at all.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #4 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Maika (12) def. Manami (5) w/ Michinoku Driver II (8:57)

The former-World of Stardom champion is one of the few people heading into this final night of block action already assured of a place in the quarter-finals. She does however have the chance to become the only person to go 6-0 in the block stages against a Manami that is already eliminated.

We get a strong lock-up to start before Manami snatches in a Side Headlock and transitions it into a Camel Clutch. Referee Daichi Muryama demands that Manami release the hold due to her pulling of the hair, which causes Manami to then scream in his face. Maika uses this momentary lapse in concentration to slap her hard around the head and snatch in her own Side Headlock, grounding Manami in the middle of the ring. Manami briefly manages to fight free with a series of failed pinning attempts, before successfully wrapping her legs around Maika’s neck with a Neckscissors and forcing her to crawl to the bottom rope.

Maika regains her composure and rocks her with a forearm, though Manami ducks under a second and connects with a pair of Dropkicks and a Flying Takedown. Manami misses in the corner, and this allows Maika to connect with a Lariat and a Shoulder Tackle. Maika then attempts to lock Manami in the Boston Crab, only for her to grab the ropes for dear life, leading to a rather comical sequence of Maika attempting to shake her violently off of the ropes. Eventually, she settles for hitting a Sliding Lariat in the ropes and then connects with the Sazanka for a two count. 

She then looks to get Manami onto her shoulders, but the latter gets free and locks Maika in the Hydrangea before booting her clean through the ropes. Manami continues to rain down forearms and then flattens Maika with a Jumping Knee Strike, only for Maika to respond with a typically thumping Lariat. Having avoided a second Lariat, Manami gets a nearfall with an O’Connor Roll before ploughing into Maika with a Somato. She goes to the top rope, but Maika is quick to join her and hurl her into the centre of the ring with a Superplex, maintaining control to complete another three Vertical Suplexes in a row. Manami kicks out at two however, and then does the same after the Enka Otoshi before kicking free of the Michinoku Driver and hitting another Jumping Knee Strike. She slams into Maika’s face with a Kamigoye, but as she comes off the ropes she is stunned with a quick succession of three Lariats. From there, it’s made to look easy for Maika to muscle Manami into the Michinoku Driver II for the victory.

One of the early tournament favourites, Maika goes into Wednesday’s quarter-final with all the momentum in the world, sweeping the entirety of Red Stars A in an unprecedented show of dominance. Manami has impressed during her time in this tournament, with this and her matches with Hazuki and Yuna Mizumori particular highlights from her run.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #5 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Ruaka (3) def. Yuna Mizumori (0) w/ Choke Bomb (7:43)

Though neither woman can qualify, there is a still quite a bit of heat surrounding this match. Not only are both women seeking their first ever 5Star victory, but Ruaka got herself disqualified from the initial 5Star play-in tournament for assaulting Yuna during their match, resulting in a busted lip for Mizumori. 

Yuna clearly hasn’t forgotten this, and comes charging out during Ruaka’s entrance in order to beat her with her shirt. She then chokes her out it for good measure before rolling her into the ring so that the match can begin properly. Ruaka senses danger and immediately roll for the ring, but Yuna isn’t done and follows her, trading forearms before Ruaka reverses an Irish Whip into the front row of chairs. She then sends her into another set of chairs before bringing her back to the ring to break the count. The instant that happens, Ruaka takes her back outside and looks to fling her into the ring post, only to miss a Lariat and end up being splashed against it. Full to the brim with tropical passion, Yuna sprints the full way around the ring in order to floor Ruaka with a Shoulder Tackle. 

The action moves back to the ring again and this time actually stays there, Yuna hitting a Diving Shoulder Tackle before Ruaka responds with a Tackle of her own followed by a Senton. Mizumori kicks out of the pinfall with Ruaka then locking in a Crossface. She can’t stop Mizumori getting to the ropes though, and instead hits a Crossbody as she’s stunned by the ropes. She misses a Splash in the corner however, allowing Yuna the opportunity to unload a whole host of Lariats. This ultimately leads to a battle of Lariats, with both women refusing to go down. Eventually, Yuna takes Ruaka down and then hits the Sliding Lariat for good measure. 

Buoyed by this, Yuna connects with a second rope Diving Body Press before hoisting Ruaka into a Samoan Driver for a two count. This time, Yuna heads to the top rope, only for Ruaka to bring her crashing back to the canvas with a Vertical Suplex. They both charge again, taking it in turns to crash into the other with Lariats. Yuna reverses a Choke Bomb into a Crucifix pinning attempt to get a nearfall, but is caught with Ruaka’s Stalling Fisherman’s Buster when she’s too over-zealous when she charges in again. This allows Ruaka the opportunity to power Yuna into the Choke Bomb and cover her for the victory.

It’s been a delight to watch Yuna in this tournament, with her matches against Maika, Hazuki and Natsupoi all being excellent. However, credit must also go to Ruaka, who used the opportunity given to her by Natsuko Tora to showcase her own development. 

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #6 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Saki Kashima (6) def. Thekla (4) w/ Kishikaisei (3:43)

Thekla may now be out of the tournament courtesy of Syuri’s win earlier in the night, but there is not a chance she is going to pass up the opportunity to beat up Syuri’s stablemate here. 

However, Saki Kashima fighting members of H.A.T.E is completely different to a Saki fighting anyone else, and you know that she will certainly not back down from the challenge here, leaving her usual comedy at the door. Indeed, she comes to the ring with no advertising billboard, but her focus leads to her not seeing Thekla sneaking around the ring with her belt in hand. She mercilessly whips Saki with it, both inside and outside of the ring, before then attempting to hang Saki from the apron. 

She then hits her Double Footstomp from the apron to Saki’s back before taking her chair bowling, launching one of the unforgiving chairs at her whilst she’s lying down. She drags Saki to the timekeeper’s table where President Okada is sitting, driving Saki’s head into it before responding to Okada’s demands to get on with it by flipping over his table. 

Done causing pandemonium at ringside, Thekla rolls Saki back into the ring, demanding that she get up. However, the moment she looks to hit the Dokugumo Death Drop, Saki rolls her up with the Kishikaisei for the win in under four minutes.

It makes perfect sense, watching Thekla take a part Saki as now that she’s eliminated from the tournament, she just wants to inflict as much pain as possible. Couple that with the fact that Saki getting the win achieved the biggest pop of the night so far and I would argue that this match did everything it needed to! 

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #7 – H.A.T.E (Natsuko Tora & Rina) def. Hina & Anna Jay w/ Diving Double Knee Drop (10:21)

Anna Jay looks like she’s having the time of her life as she poses in the ring with Hina ahead of H.A.T.E’s entrance, which is a clear indicator of how much Anna appears to have enjoyed this tour. 

Anna and Hina immediately charge the H.A.T.E duo, isolating Rina from Tora. Hina then hits her sister with three consecutive Bodyslams before attempting an unsuccessful cover. She tags in Anna who hits Rina with a kick in the corner and a Flying Takedown, before Hina re-enters to hit a Backbreaker. However, as she attempts to run the ropes, Rina drags her back by the hair and slams into the back of her with a Dropkick. She throws Hina across the ring with a Judo Throw while Tora takes out Anna before hitting another Dropkick to the small of Hina’s back. 

It’s Tora’s turn to target Hina now, hitting the Samoan Drop and a Senton. Hina attempts to fight back with some forearms, but isn’t strong enough to get Tora over for a Judo Throw, with the World of Stardom Championship hitting the Samoan Drop. However, the moment she runs the ropes, Hina is able to hit the Ripcord Judo Throw. 

Hina tags in Anna, who hits the Dangerous Jay Kick before stacking up Tora and Rina in the corner for a Running Elbow. She then hits the Northern Lights Suplex to Rina, but is taken out with a Crossbody from Tora. Rina re-enters the match and hits a Dropkick before unsuccessfully looking to get Anna over with a Northern Lights Suplex of her own. Jay plants a Knee Lift into Rina’s stomach and then tags in Hina again, who immediately charges her sister in the corner.

The sisters engage then in a battle of forearms, with H.A.T.E the momentum back in their direction by utilising the numbers game. Rina misses the Diving Double Footstomp, and is caught with an Anna Jay Flatliner and a Hina Pumphandle Urunage as a result. Tora aids Rina by Lariating Hina, allowing the Future of Stardom Champion to ride the momentum into a Jakknife pin that is only broken up by a timely intervention from Anna Jay. Following a whole spate of quick-fire moves that take out Anna and Tora while leaving both Rina and Hina down on the centre of the ring, Rina hits the Northern Lights Suplex and then sets for the Pink Devil. Hina fights free and gets a close two count a Gedo Clutch, but her and Anna are then taken out by Tora, allowing Rina to regain control again.

Hina tries desperately to stop the Pink Devil, but is caught by Tora as she runs the ropes. She hoists Hina into a Death Valley Bomb and then sits and waits as Rina lands the Diving Double Knee Drop for the victory.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #8 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Koguma (6) def. Saori Anou (7) w/ Kuma Roll (3:16)

All Saori has to do in this match to guarantee a spot in the quarter-finals of this year’s tournament is to avoid defeat against Koguma here tonight. 

Anou will no doubt be oozing confidence following a successful defence of the Sendai Girls World Championship against DASH Chisako yesterday, but finds herself forced into a Kuma pose following a lock-up. Saori looks to rectify this by folding Koguma in half with a Release-German Suplex. She follows this with a Step-Up Enziguri and a modified Muta Lock, eventually transitioning into a Camel Clutch. 

She goes to the top rope, but Koguma gets to her feet and stuns her with a series of forearms before taking Saori down with an Avalanche Koguma Cutter. They trade forearms in the middle of the ring, before then trading a pair of brutal-looking Release German Suplexes. Saori looks for a Ripcord, only for Koguma to roll through into the Kuma Roll for the victory out of absolutely nowhere. 

This was certainly not in the script for Saori, and both her and Koguma then dash to President Okada at ringside to see what this means for their tournament qualification chances. As it turns out, a win for Koguma does very little as she was already eliminated, while Saori needs Xena to get a win or a draw against Starlight Kid to ensure her own qualification. Devastated, Saori plonks herself down next to Okada with her head in her hands, apparently intent on watching that match come up next.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #9 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars A Match: Starlight Kid (8) def. Xena (4) w/ Black Tiger Leg Killer (10:31)

Starlight Kid needs a victory against Xena here to ensure that it is she that progresses ahead of Saori Anou, and it’s somewhat fitting that she is on the very precipice of qualification given the atrocious tournament she had last year; it almost seems like vindication for the Sky Tiger!

Xena shrugs off an attempted handshake before then shrugging off Kid’s first attempt at a lock-up. The second attempt sees Xena easily drive Kid to the ropes, before she swings wildly with an unsuccessful attempted chop. She misses repeatedly as Kid runs the ropes before being hit with a Flying Headscissors, though she then wipes Kid out with a Shoulder Tackle. 

The Touch of Thunder continues to showcase her power, launching Kid across the ring with a Release Double Underhook Suplex and hitting a Basement Dropkick in the corner. When Kid attempts a Springboard Crossbody, Xena catches her, but she is able to use it to her advantage by manoeuvring herself to hit a Drop Toe Hold and a Knee Crank. She then drives her heel into the knee of Xena in an attempt to weaken it ahead of the Black Tiger Leg Killer. She doubles down on it by hitting a Moonsault onto it, but is then taken out of the ring by a Springboard Dropkick from Xena. She does for her Springboard Plancha, but Kid rolls back into the ring as Xena lands on the apron. Kid follows it up by kicking the bad knee with a Tiger Feint Kick before dragging it through the ropes and hitting a Dragon Screw Leg Whip to it. 

Kid rolls Xena from the apron back into the ring and immediately sets to work trying to lock in the Black Tiger Leg Killer, but there is still too much strength left in the leg and Xena is able to fight free. It’s not long before Kid weathers a brief Xena comeback in order to target the knee again, but when she begins attempting to deliver double-handed chops to Xena’s chest as she’s on her knees, you can’t help feeling Kid may have gone too far! Kid pays for her cockiness when she’s hit with an incredibly dizzying Spinning Side Slam, before Xena is able to impressively halt an attempted DDT and deadlift Kid into a Vertical Suplex. 

Xena then begins unloading chops into Kid’s chest, one taking her clean off her feet, though Kid is able to hit a pair of Leg-Trap Suplexes and a Diving Rounding Body Press to reassert control. Once again the Black Tiger Leg Killer is applied and once again Xena fights free, stopping a Kid Headscissors and muscling her into a Lumbar Check. Kid kicks out of Flying Lariat and a Bridging Pop-Up German Suplex, before fighting free of the Thunderstruck and connecting with a Satellite DDT. Kid then hits the top rope Moonsault to Xena’s knee, followed by an Inverted Dragon Screw Leg Whip before locking in the Black Tiger Leg Killer. The camera cuts repeatedly to Saori Anou desperately willing Xena to fight, but she can’t and she taps out. 

This result leaves Blue Stars A as the first block with two confirmed competitors progressing, with Syuri at the top of the block and Starlight Kid pipping Saori Anou by a solitary point to the runner-up spot. 

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #10 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars A Match: Natsupoi (9) vs. Hazuki (7) Ended in a Time Limit Draw (15:00)

The situation here is very simple, anything but a win for Hazuki and it is Natsupoi who will join Maika in the quarter-finals. However, having promised that she would win the Wonder of Stardom Championship in her tenth year of wrestling, this is potentially one of the most important matches of Hazuki’s career for more than one reason.

Natsupoi explodes out of the traps, flying into a Dropkick as Hazuki has her back turned, before launching her across the ring with a Release German Suplex that sends her rolling to the floor. Natsupoi goes to the top rope, but Hazuki joins her Snapmares her back-first onto the very corner of the apron. Rolling back into the ring, Hazuki goes for her Suicide Dive only to apply the breaks when she sees that Poi has sprung onto the apron to wait for her. Moving the referee out of the way, Hazuki opens the ropes for Natsupoi to get back into the ring, only to snatch her into an attempted Brainbuster almost instantly. 

The pair run the ropes at a phenomenal speed before Hazuki plants Poi with a DDT and then lands a Senton. The patented Hazuki Facewash Kicks then follow, but Poi kicks out at two. There’s still no respite for the Wonder of Stardom Champion though, as Hazuki transitions immediately into the Crossface, with Natsupoi having to work overtime to get a foot on the ropes. Hazuki continues to kick at Natsupoi’s head in what the champion takes very clearly to be disrespect, and she fires up to go toe-to-toe with Hazuki in a forearm exchange. 

An underrated striker she may be, but Natsupoi is initially no match for Hazuki’s power, though she does regain a foothold with an Armdrag, a pair of Dropkicks and a Superkick in the corner. Applying a Bodyscissors, Natsupoi looks to make it difficult for Hazuki to breathe, all while wrenching back on her arms at the same time. After taking the time to bite one of the arms, Natsupoi locks in her modified Muta Lock and Armbar. Hazuki gets a foot on the ropes, but Natsupoi continues her assault on her right arm. However, as she goes her for her Dropkick, Hazuki comes tearing out of the traps with a Pump Kick. She goes for her Springboard Dropkick, but Natsupoi sends her crashing to the floor with a forearm before taking her and the ringside seconds out with a Diving Crossbody.

Hazuki just beats the 20 count, with both women then getting to their knees and facing each other in another forearm battle. Hazuki insists on using her bad arm, which gives Poi an initial advantage, but that changes when Hazuki changes to Pump Kicking Natsupoi in the face. Not that Natsupoi gives any quarter mind you, giving as good as she gets. Eventually, Hazuki wins out in terms of the kicks though this simply prompts a torrent of slaps from the pair before Hazuki drives Poi to the mat with a series of forearms to the base of the neck. Natsupoi hits two back-to-back Release German Suplexes, but Hazuki is so fired up by this point that she stands straight up. She is hit with a Blockbuster though before the pair trade brief pinfall attempts – Natsupoi the first to alter things and make for the injured arm again. 

Hazuki gets to the ropes, but Natsupoi continues her assault, making for the top rope only for Hazuki to join her and slam into her with a headbutt, before hitting her with a Superplex. She misses the Diving Senton though, and Natsupoi wastes absolutely no time in snatching Hazuki’s injured arm into a Fujiwara Arm Bar. She fights to the ropes, but then can’t get the Hazukistral locked in properly because of the arm. She connects with a second rope Codebreaker though, and then manages to haul Poi into the Vertical Drop Brainbuster, only for the bell to sound just as she makes for the cover! 

It’s a fantastic match, both women’s best of the tournament and perhaps the best in Red Stars A. Though a draw eliminates Hazuki from the tournament and sends Natsupoi through in her stead, it is worth noting that Hazuki did not lose this match. As a result, The Wildheart may indeed have a claim to the White Belt, something she clearly thinks as she’s festering to the belt as Poi holds it in front of her.

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #11 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Mayu Iwatani (10) def. Tomoka Inaba (8) w/ Roll-Up (4:23)

Of all the first time match-ups in this year’s 5Star Grand Prix, it’s this match between Mayu Iwatani and Tomoka Inaba that many circled on respective calendars when it was made official. With AZM losing earlier in the night, the winner of this match will go through to the quarter-finals as the number 1 seed, with the loser then facing a wait to see the result of Mei Seira and Tam Nakano. 

Inaba channels the wrestling public’s excitement into her opening salvo, blitzing Mayu with a host of kicks, one in particular seemingly catching her flush in the nose and mouth! A Snapmare and Neckscissors follow, but Mayu is able to get a foot on the ropes. The pair then trade suplex attempts, each then reversing a frantic volley of kicks, before Inaba tries to knee the head clean off Mayu’s shoulders with a Pop-Up Knee Strike. When Mayu kicks out of the pinfall, Inaba locks in a Crossface, cracking into the side of Mayu’s head with a Buzzsaw Kick after the latter fights free of the Inaba Drop. 

Inaba looks for the One Hit Kill Tomoka Kick, but Mayu ducks it and launches her across the ring with a Release German Suplex. She hits a Buzzsaw Kick of her own but can’t seem to stay in control of the match, with Inaba’s almost frenzied attacks proving too much at times for the IWGP Women’s Champion. 

Finally, Inaba connects with the Inaba Drop after smashing into Mayu’s face with a knee, but Iwatani kicks out at two. Inaba once again sets for the One Hit Kill Tomoka Kick, but Mayu is alive to the situation, ducking the kick and rolling her into a European Clutch for the win!

All of this happened in under five minutes! 

It’s a frantic match and, though I rather selfishly wish it had gone on longer, you cannot argue with the intensity of the exchanges. Mayu wins the block though she doesn’t stick around to celebrate, which really does put over just how much of a brute Inaba actually is. Inaba’s fate however now lies in the hands of Tam Nakano as, if Mei Seira wins, we will have a three-way tie for second place with her, AZM and Inaba with no tiebreakers between them!

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #12 – 5Star Grand Prix Red Stars B Match: Mei Seira (8) def. Tam Nakano (0) w/ Meteor Dragon (12:19)

Despite the majority of this tournament on one leg, Tam looks to match the High-Speed Champion’s energy in the opening exchanges. She does this, though there is more than one warning sign that this might be unwise later in the match. 

Mei wants a handshake, which Tam naively takes, only to sidestep Seira’s attempt at stamping on her foot and delivers a stamp of her own; she’s done her research for this match clearly! Tam connects with an elbow in the corner and then with two kicks in the centre of the ring, before hoisting Mei into the air with a Guillotine Choke from the top rope. She follows this up with a Diving Crossbody, but the impact jars her knee – though she does her best to hide her pain from Mei. 

Mei misses a Dropkick after attempting to work Tam’s knee by forcing her to run the ropes, with Nakano hitting one of her own. Seira makes up for this seconds later, sending Tam flying from the ring with a Missile Dropkick. Mei looks to the top rope, but Tam is quick to join her and they trade forearms whilst perched precariously on the top rope. Very unwisely, Tam then attempts to kick Mei from the top rope with her bad leg, which Seira gleefully snatches and pings off the top rope. With Tam struggling on the outside, Mei drapes Tam’s leg on the apron and hits a stomp to it before moving the action back into the ring and locking in a modified Inverted Figure Four Leg Lock. 

Finally, Tam gets to the ropes, but it just means that Mei is able to unload a volley of Dropkicks to it as it’s wrapped in the ropes. Mei looks to whip Tam into the ropes, but she collapses before she gets there. She fights valiantly to get out of a Mei waistlock, and is able to rock Mei with some thunderous forearms. Eventually, Mei loses interest in the exchange and makes forearm her again before kicking Tam’s bad leg out from under her. However, Tam is able to avoid a Dropkick and hit a Back Drop Suplex. 

She attempts to build up steam to hit the Bicycle Knee Strike in the ropes, but Mei moves and the pair each throw an almighty Release-German Suplex apiece. We get a trade off of roll-ups, before Tam impressively hauls Mei into a Deadlift German Suplex. She can’t connect with the Tiger Suplex, and Mei takes advantage by clattering into her with a Dropkick. Both women trade roll-up nearfalls with the closest coming from a Tam Andromeda. Once again, Tam tries to charge into Mei but can’t because of the pain in her knee, which affords Mei the chance to Dropkick the bad leg out from under her. Not wasting anytime, Mei locks in the Meteor Dragon and wrenches as hard as she can. Tam can’t go anywhere are all and eventually, the referee has no choice but to call for the bell and award the match to Mei.

Tam finishes a fairly eventful tournament with six straight losses and title match, while Mei Seira, Tomoka Inaba and AZM are now all tied in second place with no way of discerning between the three of them. With the three women confronting each other in the ring, President Okada confirms that a further play-in match will be needed to determine a winner. Therefore, a three-way will happen on Wednesday between the three women, with the first to two pinfalls progressing to then quarter-final, where whoever it is will meet Maika! 

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring Stardom

Match #13 – 5Star Grand Prix Blue Stars B Match: Hanan (7) def. Saya Kamitani (8) w/ Back Drop Hold (9:55)

With this being the final match of the night, the outcomes for Blue Stars B are incredible simple; a Hanan win will mean a play-off match will need to happen between her and Suzu Suzuki due to their double countout on the opening night, while a Saya victory would see Suzu go through in second place.

After throwing her robe to Momo Kohgo on the outside, Hanan immediately plants Saya with a Dropkick and a Corkscrew Uppercut. Kamitani wisely rolls to the outside, keeping her distance from Hanan by sliding in and out of the ring until she spies an opening. It comes when Hanan takes flight from the apron, and Saya is able to knee her hard out of midair. Following this, Hanan is sent chair bowling with Saya waiting for her to beat the count by setting up a chair in the middle of the ring and sitting in it. The moment Hanan attempts to charge her, Saya hits her with a Drop Toe Hold onto the edge of the chair. 

Saya then hits a Dropkick and follows up with two consecutive Hairmares. Several kicks later, and Saya attempts a one-foot pin, but Hanan kicks out roughly. Hanan finds herself baited into a forearm exchange, but it’s just a chance for Saya to rake the eyes and lock in a Chinlock. With Hanan in the ropes, Saya goes for a kick, only for the Young Lioness to hit her with a Shoulder Tackle and hit a knee of her own. Saya rolls to the outside, but isn’t able to avoid the Hanan Diving Crossbody from the apron this time. She also can’t avoid the Corkscrew Uppercut when the action returns to the ring, but she blocks a Back Drop Hold and a forearm exchange begins in earnest.

Arguably it’s Saya that comes out on top, flooring Hanan and attempting the Northern Lights Suplex, but Hanan blocks it and hits the Hip Toss. Avoiding a Spinning Kick from Saya, Hanan hits a Pop-Up Uppercut before hitting the Blockbuster Hold. She isn’t able to pin though, and Saya is able to recover to hit the Wheel Kick for a double down. As both get to their feet, Saya plants Hanan with a Shotgun Dropkick and a knee in the corner, before taking her out with a Springboard Crossbody. Saya finally gets the Northern Lights Suplex away but Hanan kicks out, leading to Saya attempting the Star Crusher.

Hanan fights free and manages to reverse the move into an impressive Ripcord Famouser, before then hitting a second onto Saya’s keeled over body. Saya does kick out of the Blockbuster Hold and looks like she might steal a win with a Frankensteiner, but Hanan rolls through and wraps her up in the Seventeen for a nearfall. Hanan then fights through a Pump Kick, but is subsequently floored by a Roundhouse Kick. Kamitani gets another close pinfall with the Corkscrew Kick, but once again can’t get the Star Crusher away. This proves to be a huge problem, as Hanan wastes no time in hauling Saya into back-to-back Back Drop Holds to get that all important three count; she’s still alive in the tournament, but will need that play off match against Suzu Suzuki on the 28th to see it will be her name alongside Saya’s that make then quarter-final bracket!

Block Standings

RED STARS A
  • Maika (6-0-0): 12 Points
  • Natsupoi (4-1-1): 9 Points
  • Hazuki (3-2-1): 7 Points
  • Konami (3-3-0): 6 Points
  • Manami (2-3-1): 5 Points
  • Ruaka (1-4-1): 3 Points
  • Yuna Mizumori (0-6-0): 0 Points
RED STARS B
  • Mayu Iwatani (5-1-0): 10 Points
  • AZM (3-1-2): 8 Points
  • Tomoka Inaba (3-1-2): 8 Points
  • Mei Seira (3-1-2): 8 Points
  • Momo Watanabe (2-4-0): 4 Points
  • Saya Iida (2-4-0): 4 Points
  • Tam Nakano (0-6-0): 0 Points
BLUE STARS A
  • Syuri (4-2-0): 8 Points
  • Starlight Kid (3-1-2): 8 Points
  • Saori Anou (3-2-1): 7 Points
  • Anna Jay (3-3-0): 6 Points
  • Xena (2-4-0): 4 Points
  • Koguma (3-3-0): 6 Points
  • Miyu Amasaki (1-4-1): 3 Points
BLUE STARS B
  • Saya Kamitani (4-2-0): 8 Points
  • Hanan (3-2-1): 7 Points
  • Suzu Suzuki (3-2-1): 7 Points
  • Risa Sera (3-3-0): 6 Points
  • Saki Kashima (3-3-0): 6 Points
  • Thekla (2-4-0): 4 Points
  • Ranna Yagami (2-4-0): 4 Points

You can check out the Stardom roster win/loss records for 2024 right here; https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/103h_Y27csTgcS-CcBwswaj-D7hVazTC_Wn0SPn0BZBM/edit

You can check out a comprehensive run down of the Stardom Championship Histories here; https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1-Dk6T0ukSXm6R8eOTQU96i4rsfoy34wnz0-rKP5mwmQ/edit

Upcoming Shows

  • Wednesday 28th August – 5Star Grand Prix 2024 – Night 11, Shinjuku, Tokyo (LIVE)
  • Saturday 31st August – 5Star Grand Prix 2024 – Championship Match, Musashino Forest Sports Plaza, Tokyo (PPV)
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About Rob Goodwin 394 Articles
Hailing from Stoke-on-Trent, Rob fell back in love with the Wrestling Business in 2016 after a decade-long break. Rob is the host of the PodMania Wrestling Podcast, the StardomCast and reviews retro PPVs - with an odd fascination with 1995 WWF/WCW!
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