With the debacle that was this year’s 5STAR GP now behind them, Stardom moves on with their first September event today in Tokyo. The event starts with an award ceremony for tournament winner Maika, then it’s an 8-match card including a title match as Mei Seira defends the High Speed Championship against Gina. There also will be a 3-way between Hanan, Thekla & Hazuki with the winner getting the next Wonder Of Stardom Championship shot.
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. Since any match probably won’t have more than a 20 minute time limit (High Speed Championship matches usually go 15 minutes at most) I anticipate this event having a total running time of around 2 1/2 hours. (Pre-show Update: You can also watch the first 2 matches FOR FREE on YouTube)
Today’s lineup (match order TBA):
5STAR GP Award Ceremony (before matches)
Starlight Kid vs. Rian
Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara vs. Rina & Ruaka
Mina Shirakawa vs. Saya Iida & Ranna Yagami in a 3-way
Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Momo Kohgo vs. AZM, Suzu Suzuki & Miyu Amasaki
Syuri, Saki Kashima, Hina & Lady C vs. Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Saya Kamitani & Konami
Hazuki vs. Hanan & Thekla in a 3-way for the next Wonder Of Stardom Championship match
Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori vs. Maika, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO
High Speed Champion Mei Seira vs. Gina for the title
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET.
7:30 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 almost full capacity setup and not a sellout but mostly full from what I can see so far, so probably around 1000. (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 1022)
The event begins with introduction by the ring announcers ahead of the 5STAR GP Award Ceremony. These include special prizes for wrestlers and announcement of the best match in each block. After all the winners are announced, New Japan Pro Wrestling President Hiroshi Tanahashi is introduced as the presenter. Special prizes went to Hanan, AZM & Starlight Kid. Red Block A Best Match was Maika vs. Hazuki. Red Block B Best Match was Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe. Blue Block A Best Match was Kid vs. Saori Anou (Anou is not present today). Blue Block B Best Match was Suzu Suzuki vs.Thekla. Thekla accepted in full heel mode by ending with “Thank You, F*ck You!” in English. Next up was the Runner-up prize for Saya Kamitani, whose heel taunt pose was mimiced by Tanahashi for photos. Finally, the tournament winner’s prize including a queen’s robe and crown for Maika, plus the trophy. Lastly were comments from Stardom President Taro Okada then the group photo, during which like earlier Momo Watanabe acted like she wanted nothing to do with all this.
UPDATE: Here were the specific special prizes:
Distinguished Service-Hanan
Courage-AZM
Skill-Starlight Kid
Runner-Up-Saya Kamitani
Today’s lineup order announcement follows. The High Speed Championship match will be the main event.
The matches begin at 7:56 PM PT/10:56 PM ET.
Match 1: Starlight Kid vs. Rian. 15 minute time limit
Result: Starlight Kid beat Rian by submission
Match 2: Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara vs. Rina & Ruaka. 15 minute time limit
Result: Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara beat Rina & Ruaka. Sakura pinned Rina. Afterwards, Sakura with microphone. Not surprisingly, she wants Rina again for the Future Of Stardom Championship. Or perhaps the New Blood Tag Team Champinoship held by Rina. Or both…
Match 3: Mina Shirakawa vs. Saya Iida & Ranna Yagami in a 3-way. 15 minute time limit
Result: Mina Shirakawa beat Saya Iida & Ranna Yagami in a 3-way by pinning Yagami. Afterwards, Shirakawa with microphone. She said “I’m baaaaaaaaack!” in English before addressing the crowd in Japanese. She won a couple titles in England while she wasn’t doing the HLAEW thing. She then said in English that Japan, England and the US all want Mina. The way she’s been acting lately, I’m surprised she didn’t follow Rossy Ogawa to Marigold. Her style is perfect for the grumpy old pervert.
Match 4: Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Momo Kohgo vs. AZM, Suzu Suzuki & Miyu Amasaki. 20 minute time limit
Result: AZM, Suzu Suzuki & Miyu Amasaki beat Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Momo Kohgo. Suzuki pinned Kohgo.
Match 5: Syuri, Saki Kashima, Hina & Lady C vs. Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Saya Kamitani & Konami. 20 minute time limit
Result: Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Saya Kamitani & Konami beat Syuri, Saki Kashima, Hina & Lady C. Konami pinned C.
Match 6: Hazuki vs. Hanan & Thekla in a 3-way for the next Wonder Of Stardom Championship match. 20 minute time limit
Result: Hazuki beat Hanan & Thekla in a 3-way by pinning Hanan. As a result, Hazuki will face Wonder Of Stardom Champion Natsupoi for the title at a later date. Lots of H.A.T.E. interference here.
Quick break for ring cleaning/maintenance.
Match 7: Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori vs. Maika, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO. 30 minute time limit
Result: Maika, Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO beat Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori. HANAKO beat Mizumori. Long promos followed.
Main Event: High Speed Champion Mei Seira vs. Gina for the title. 15 minute time limit
Result: Time Limit Draw. As a result, Seira retains the title. V1 for Seira.
The next event is NEW BLOOD 14 Friday at Chunichi Hall in Nagoya. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin at 3 AM PT/6 AM ET. Since it’s a NEW BLOOD event it may also be streamed on YouTube.
UPDATE: Said later date for Natsupoi-Hazuki for the Wonder Of Stardom Championship is Saturday in Osaka. That event is scheduled to be a PPV. Aya Sakura is next for Rina for the Future Of Stardom Championship, but not this coming week.
