A busy day for Stardom continued with their own presser alongside New Japan’s (Syuri & Saya Kamitani were there as they’ll be at Tokyo Dome on 1/4), this one to announce the field for the Goddess Of Stardom Tag League tournament beginning this weekend. It’s a 16-team field divided into 2 blocks of 8 in a round-robin format. The top 3 teams on each block advance with the winners of each block going to the Semifinals and 2nd & 3rd place going to elimination matches. All matches will have a 15 minute time limit except the Semifinals and Finals which will be no time limit.
The full field:
Red Block: Natsuko Tora & Ruaka (current Goddesses Of Stardom Champions), Natsupoi & Saori Anou, Yuna Mizumori & Mei Seira, Hina & Ranna Yagami, Waka Tsukiyama & Rian, Bozilla & Akira Kirogame, Hazuki & Koguma, Sareee & Miku Kanae
Blue Block: Saya Iida & Bea Priestley, Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara (current New Blood Tag Tram Champions), Syuri & Saki Kashima, Ami Sohrei & Lady C, HANAKO & TBA (will be revealed at first match time on 11/7 per HANAKO), AZM & Miyu Amasaki, Suzu Suzuki & Rina Yamashita, Konami & Rina.
Only real notable name missing from the field is Hanan but I think she’s injured. Also understandably no Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe nor rookies outside of Kurogame.
The tournament begins Saturday and prelim matches run the rest of the month. The eventual tournament winners will likely get a Goddesses Of Stardom Championship match, probably at the year-end blowout event, unless Tora & Ruaka win.
UPDATE: Tokyo Sports reports Kamitani not being in the tournament could be “politics” as it’s the promotion’s decision. but also because Watanabe will miss the tournament due to a knee injury apparently suffered yesterday. Kamitani’s next World Of Stardom Championship defense was also announced-12/29 vs. Saori Anou. That means Kamitani’s reign will reach exactly one year…but recent history is bad for her as the last few years have seen title changes on that date, including Kamitani beating Tam Nakano last year. They also want to try and keep her healthy for that and Tokyo Dome on 1/4 when she will face Syuri for both the IWGP and STROMG Women’s Championships, meaning 12/29 is not a double title match.
UPDATE 2: It has been announced that Hazuki & Koguma are now out of the tournament. Various unspecified circumstances. Teotleco & Osita, a team from Mexico, are the replacements.