Stardom kicks off their regular weekend doubleheader today with a major event in Tokyo that also marks a new beginning for the promotion. Effective today, former owner Bushiroad Fight officially transferred all shares of the promotion, and thus complete ownership, to New Japan Pro Wrestling and Stardom will now be known on the corporate side as Stardom Co. Ltd. Essentially they are still under the Bushiroad Corporation umbrella though. This is expected to open the door to more cross-promotional opportunities with New Japan. The talent roster will be thin this weekend, and even more so tomorrow, due to participation in the All Elite Wrestling “Forbidden Door” PPV with New Japan this Sunday US time. Today’s event does have 3 title matches on tap first: Future Of Stardom Champion Rina looks to keep inching closer to the all-time defense record as she defends the title against Nanami from Diana, a small women’s promotion run by joshi legend Kyoko Inoue. The second title match sees Saya Kamitani, now all by herself in Queen’s Quest, defending the High Speed Championship against Fukigen as Oedo Tai looks to perhaps deal the death blow to the face faction. In the third title match, Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hazuki & Koguma have a tough challenge ahead as they defend the titles against Syuri & Konami.
The promotion has announced that Mina Shirakawa will miss the event due to AEW participation this weekend and Suzu Suzuki is out due to injury. Several wrestlers including Tam Nakano & Momo Watanabe will immediately head to the US after this event for Forbidden Door.
Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on Stardom World. It’s not yet known if there will be any commentary. The card has 7 matches set, with most non-title matches going 15-20 minutes at most and title matches normally have 30 minute time limits except High Speed matches (15 minutes), so while it depends in part on if there’s an intermission I anticipate the event running a little over 2 hours. If there is a break, closer to 2 1/2 hours. (Late-event update: You can also watch the beginning and the first match FOR FREE on YouTube)
Today’s lineup (match order TBA):
Maika, Gina, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO vs. Mayu Iwatani, Hanan, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo
Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki vs. Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla & Ruaka
Tam Nakano, Saori Anou, Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Sayaka Kurara vs. Ami Sohrei, Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami, Hina & Lady C
Aya Sakura vs. Rian
High Speed Champion Saya Kamitani vs. Fukigen for the title
Future Of Stardom Champion Rina vs. Nanami for the title
Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hazuki & Koguma vs. Syuri & Konami for the titles
(Note: I expect the second & third matches listed above to go off first because some of them have to get to the US for Sunday’s event)
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET or when the live stream begins, whichever is earlier.
7:20 PM PT UPDATE: Live streaming has begun. Updates will begin when we go to the venue shortly.
7:26 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. Looks like close to normal capacity setup and the crowd is still filing in, right now it has me thinking it’ll be in the 700-750 range. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 946)
The matches should begin in a few minutes.
We actually start with “GO ACE!” That music only means one thing-New Japan President Hiroshi Tanahashi is in the house before heading to the US for Forbidden Door. With microphone in Japanese. He talks briefly about the acquisition of Stardom by New Japan which became effective today. He is then joined by who I’m guessing is Stardom President Taro Okada. They do the “start” shout and photo ops before Tanahashi heads off to the US.
The matches begin at 7:38 PM PT/10:38 PM ET.
Match 1: High Speed Champion Saki Kashima vs. Fukigen for the title. 15 minute time limit
Result: High Speed Champion Saya Kamitani beat Fukigen to retain the title. V2 for Kamitani.
Match 2: Aya Sakura vs. Rian. 15 minute time limit
Result: Aya Sakura beat Rian
Match 3: Tam Nakano, Saori Anou, Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Sayaka Kurara vs. Ami Sohrei, Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami, Hina & Lady C. 20 minute itme limit
Result: Ami Sohrei, Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami, Hina & Lady C beat Tam Nakano, Saori Anou, Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Sayaka Kurara. Sohrei pinned Anou. Post-match, the announce table delivered what seemed to be a challenge to Anou & Natsupoi by Mika Iwata (who recently beat Anou to win the Wonder Of Stardom Championship) & Nanami.
Match 4: Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki vs. Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla & Ruaka. 20 minute time limit
Result: Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki ebat Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla & Ruaka. Kid pinned Ruaka.
Match 5: Maika, Gina, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO vs. Mayu Iwatani, Hanan, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo. 20 minute time limit
Result: Mayu Iwatani, Hanan, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo beat Maika, Gina, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO. Hanan pinned HANAKO.
Quick break for ring cleaning.
Match 6: Future Of Stardom Champion Rina vs. Nanami (Diana) for the title. 15 minute time limit
Result: Time Limit Draw. As a result, Rina retains the title. V9 for Rina. One to go to tie the all-time defense record of 10 held by Hanan. Next up: Hinted at a rematch but Rina said no. Instead it may be Ranna Yagami as she came out and made the challenge. Accepted, it appears.
Main Event: Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hazuki & Koguma vs. Syuri & Konami for the titles. 30 minute time limit
Result: Syuri & Konami beat Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hazuki & Koguma to win the titles. Syuri & Konami become the 33rd Goddesses Of Stardom Champions. Konami beat Hazuki with a rear naked choke. Next up: Of course Oedo Tai…the question is who. TBA for now.
The next event is tomorrow at Shinjuku Sumitomo Hall in Tokyo. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin at 9 PM PT/midnight ET. Live results are tentatively scheduled although it conflicts with scheduled DDT live results.
UPDATE: That challenge from Sendai Girls was by Iwata & Aimi for a match against Natsupoi & Anou, and now it has been announced that match will happen on Thursday at Korakuen.
