STARDOM GRAND QUEENDOM 2025, the promotion’s biggest event of the year, is now in the books.
Today’s event was held at Yokohama Arena in Yokohama and can be watched on demand as a PPV on Stardom World in Japanese and English until 5/4 for 4400 Japanese yen (around $30 US). You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube.
The announced paid attendance was 7503. That’s probably around 60% full based on the setup-the venue’s normal full capacity is 17,000 but about 1/3 was blocked off under the setup so a legit sellout would have been in the 11,000-12,000 range.
There were last-minute changes to the card due to Konami being pulled off the event. The always-vague poor health. There’s really been an issue across Japanese promotions the last couple months. Kinda worrisome for me as I will be in Japan for the first time in a week.
Pre-show match: HANAKO won a 15 woman battle royal, last eliminating Miyu Amasaki. As a result, HANAKO will get a chance at a management title in Stardom.
Match 1: Future Of Stardom Champion Hina beat Ranna Yagami to retain the title. V2 for Hina.
Match 2: Sayaka Kurara beat Thekla. As a result, Thekla must join Cosmic Angels. Had Thekla won, she would have gotten a match with President Taro Okada. Lucky Okada.
Match 3: Yumiko Hotta (Independent/Freelancer) beat Rina by submission.
Match 4: Meiko Satomura, Mika Iwata & YUNA (Sendai Girls) beat Natsupoi, Saori Anou & Aya Sakura. Satomura pinned Sakura after Satomura Special.
Match 5: In a No DQ match, Suzu Suzuki beat Mei Seira.
Match 6: Sendai Girls World Champion Chihiro Hashimoto beat Maika to retain the title. V1 for Hashimoto.
Match 7: Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hanan & Saya Iida beat Hazuki & Koguma to retain the titles. Hanan pinned Hazuki with a backdrop hold. V3 for the champs.
Match 8: Syuri beat IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani to win the title. Syuri becomes the 4th IWGP Women’s Champion. This is UPSET ALERT!!! just because it ends what will probably be the most dominant reign even though it was only the third as Iwatani held the title for 2 years with 9 successful defenses. Who really might be upset now, pun intended, is Sareee. Possibly next for a title shot, it was made clear in the Japanese media recently she wanted to challenge Iwatani for the belt after this. Not happening.
Match 9: Wonder Of Stardom Champion Starlight Kid beat AZM to retain the title.V3 for Kid. As a result, Kid is now the “official” leader of Neo Genesis.
Main Event: In a Loser Complete Retirement Match, World Of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani beat Tam Nakano to retain the title. V2 for Kamitani. As a result, Nakano must retire. The best possible outcome after this last year which made me just about give up on Stardom because of how Nakano was treated during and after the 2024 5STAR GP after coming back from injury. This is redemption. Tam Road is over, dead and buried. LONG LIVE THE PHENEX QUEEN! If you also believe what some media outlets said, Nakano’s retirement may not be permanent-there were hints that longtime wrestler Shinobu Kandori, also the owner and promoter of the (very small) LLPW-X promotion, was interested in signing Nakano if this happened. Stay tuned…until then, a new era in Stardom begins now. Embrace The H.A.T.E.
The next event is Tuesday at Fukuyama Big Rose in Hiroshima. Broadcast plans TBA.
UPDATE: Thekla will not be joining Cosmic Angels. Her contract has been terminated due to not paying a fine from her December suspension and staff assaults yesterday.
Next up for Kamitani: Kurara. That match will happen on 5/11 at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.
UPDATE 2: It gets even worse for Stardom…now Mayu Iwatani has left the promotion effective today (4/28). She had spent her entire career with the promotion but now that she no longer has the IWGP Women’s Championship she is moving on.