News, results & more from Japanese Pro Wrestling & Sumo
Updating recent injury news from Stardom, it was announced that Ami Sohrei, who missed recent events due to injury, is now out long-term. Torn left ACL. Apparently she competed through it for at least 2 years. Out indefinitely but will be months and she is out of the upcoming 5STAR GP.
In other injury news, It was also announced Sayaka Kurara is out this week. Undisclosed injury treatment. Out Friday & Sunday. Expected to return next Tuesday.
More as it becomes available.
For the first time, Sendai Girls Pro Wrestling, a small women’s promotion based in Sendai founded by current WWE wrestler Meiko Satomura, will be featured on the site as they have a major event in Tokyo today. This event became big a few weeks ago because of the main event-Mika Iwata went into Stardom and won the Wonder Of Stardom Championship from Saori Anou in an upset. Today they run it back, but this time it’s a double title match as Iwata also puts her Sendai Girls World Championship on the line. Which promotion will continue holding the other’s championship hostage? Momo Watanabe also comes over from Stardom to face DASH Chisako in a hardcore match. There also is a second title match as the Sendai Girls Tag Team Championship will be defended by Manami & Ryo Mizunami, the latter fans of Tokyo Joshi Pro may be familiar with from her occasional appearances there as a freelancer. Hall of Famer Aja Kong will also be participating as will Sareee, who returned to Japan earlier this year after being released by WWE, and also competing is TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace, who has been competing in WWE and against WWE wrestlers in TNA. In other words, this is a loaded event.
Today’s event will be held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE in Japanese. Meiko Satomura will be on commentary. This is the first time in a long time I’ve watched them live or on demand (Sendai Girls events are now available on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE as of a couple months ago) and I don’t know how they do time limits for matches but I’m guessing this will be a standard Korakuen event with a running time of around 2 1/2 hours.
Today’s lineup:
YUNA vs. Yura Suzuki
Sakura Hirota vs. Yu
Aja Kong, Hiroyo Matsumoto & ZONES vs. Veny, Millie McKenzie & Miyuki Takase
Nina Samuels & Lena Kross vs. Sareee & ChiChi
Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Jordynne Grace
DASH Chisako vs. Momo Watanabe in a hardcore match
Sendai Girls World Tag Team Champions Manami & Ryo Mizunami vs. Yurika Oka & Mio Momono for the titles
Sendai Girls World Champion & Wonder Of Stardom Champion Mika Iwata vs. Saori Anou for the titles
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. The live stream is scheduled to begin at 7 PM PT/10 PM ET.
7 PM PT UPDATE: Live stream launch has been pushed back to 7:15 PM PT/10:15 PM ET.
7:15 PM PT UPDATE: Live streaming has begun. We should be going to the venue shortly.
7:27 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. Your host is Katsuo (?) Ichikawa. We hopefully will be joined by Meiko Satomura later.
The paid attendance will be announced after the event. They’re using the “smaller promotion” reduced bleacher setup with only the middle open, but otherwise the venue already looks close to full and the reserved seats are still filling up fast. Could be a sellout, and seems to be heading for close to 1000.
The matches will begin shortly.
Meiko Satomura comes out to begin the event. For those unfamiliar with the promotion, Satomura is a co-founder of Sendai Girls along with fellow wrestler Jinsei Shinzaki. (Based on what she says, this is also a Samurai! TV broadcast in Japan) She greets the crowd and puts over some of the big names appearing today in brief comments. This is followed by the announcement of today’s lineup.
The matches begin at 7:38 PM PT/10:38 PM ET. Meiko Satomura joins commentary as the first match begins.
Match 1: YUNA vs. Yura Suzuki. 10 minute time limit
Result: Yura Suzuki beat YUNA
Match 2: Sakura Hirota (aka Shin Sakura Hirota) vs. Yuu. 10 minute time limit
Result: Yuu beat Sakura Hirota. Comedy match. Crazy spot where a ringside usher/monitor had to help Yuu do a top rope tightrope walk (Yuu is a large woman wrestler) but ultimately failed and took the low blow spot on the rope.
Match 3: Aja Kong (OZ Academy), Hiroyo Matsumoto & ZONES vs. Veny (Independent/Freelancer), Millie McKenzie & Miyuki Takase. 15 minute time limit. (Note: Veny in the past has also been known as Asuka in Japan and Veny outside Japan to avoid confusion with WWE wrestler Asuka, formerly known as Kana in Japan)
Result: Aja Kong, Hiroyo Matsumoto & ZONES beat Veny, Millie McKenzie & Miyuki Takase. Kong pinned Takase after a diving elbow drop.
Match 4: Nina Samuels & Lena Kross vs. Sareee & ChiChi. 15 minute time limit
Result: Nina Samuels & Lena Kross beat Sareee & ChiChi. Kross pinned ChiChi.
Quick break to prepare the ring area for the next match.
Match 5: DASH Chisako vs. Momo Watanabe (Stardom) in a hardcore match. 20 minute time limit
Result: DASH Chisako beat Momo Watanabe. I admit to being surprised this wasn’t a time limit draw. But it was crazy fun. US fans would’ve given them a “Fight Forever” chant for sure.
Quick break for ring cleaning.
Match 6: Chihiro Hashimoto vs. Jordynne Grace (TNA Wrestling). 20 minute time limit
Result: Jordynne Grace beat Chihiro Hashimoto. Great women’s hoss fight match. Afterwards, Grace with microphone. Speaking in English, she put Hashimoto over as the reason she came back to Korakuen Hall after previously facing her in 2019. Grace hoped this isn’t the end of the story as she wants one more to make it best-of-3. Hashimoto screamed in Japanese before walking off, I’m assuming that was enthusiastically accepting.
Match 7: Sendai Girls World Tag Team Champions Manami (WRESTLE UNIVERSE incorrectly called her Aimi) & Ryo Mizunami vs. Yurika Oka & Mio Momono for the titles. 30 minute time limit
Result: Yurika Oka & Mio Momono beat Sendai Girls World Tag Team Champions Manami & Ryo Mizunami to win the titles. Oka & Momono become the 19th Sendai Girls World Tag Team Champions. Oka pinned Manami. Based on their gimmicks, a “banana” and “melon” are the new champs…
Main Event: Sendai Girls World Champion & Wonder Of Stardom Champion Mika Iwata vs. Saori Anou (Stardom) for the titles. 30 minute time limit
Result: Saori Anou beat Sendai Girls World Champion & Wonder Of Stardom Champion Mika Iwata to win the titles. Anou becomes the 14th Sendai Girls World Champion and the 22nd Wonder Of Stardom Champion. Now the tables are turned. Sendai Girls just lost their top title to Stardom. Post-match, Anou with microphone. She began to address Iwata but was quickly interrupted by DASH Chisako. Sounds like she wants next. The question is will it be for one title or both? We shall see, but Anou appeared to accept so it’s likely on at some point. (Postscript: Probably just the Sendai Girls World Championship as Anou will now defend the Wonder Of Stardom Championship on 7/27/2024 vs. Natsupoi)
If this is your first time watching Sendai Girls, this will be a great introduction to their current product (they have been around for 19 years though) as this was a major event on paper and it delivered. WRESTLE UNIVERSE is once again offering their acclaimed 1 week free trial for first-time subscribers…take advantage to watch this event. I’m gonna be keeping up with them more now again, haven’t followed them in over a decade and it’s time to start again. This was a really good event top to bottom and is worth 2 1/2 hours of your time. And all events going forward will be on demand on WRESTLE UNIVERSE and occasionally live too.
Stardom continued their long weekend in western Japan with events yesterday & today.
Yesterday’s event was held at Yamato Arena in Osaka and can be watched on demand on Stardom World.
The announced paid attendance was 351.
Match 1: Syuri & Saki Kashima beat Saya Kamitani & Ranna Yagami. Syuri beat Yagami with Ground Suzaku.
Match 2: Hanan beat Aya Sakura.
Match 3; Waka Tsukiyama bear Rian & Sayaka Kurara in a 3-way by pinning Rian.
Match 4: Mina Shirakawa beat Momo Kohgo by submission.
Match 5: Maika & Gina beat Konami & Lady C. Gina beat C with Ground Suzaku,
Match 6: Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki beat Tam Nakano, Saori Anou, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori. Amasaki pinned Mizumori after Heavenly.
Main Event: Mayu Iwatani, Hacuki, Koguma & Saya Iida beat Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora, Ruaka & Fukigen. Iida pinned Ruaka after Heavenly.
Today’s event was held at Shiga Prefectural Cultural Industry Exchange Center Event Hall in Shiga and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date. There was no live broadcast.
The announced paid attendance was 405.
There was a last-minte change to the event due to Mina Shirakawa being removed from the event. Illness. She was to have teamed with Maika to face Tam Nakano & Yuna Mizumori. Gina was the replacement, meaning she competed in 2 matches.
Match 1; Saori Anou & Aya Sakura beat Natsupoi & Sayaka Kurara. Anou pinned Kurara.
Match 2; Hazuki beat Rian by submission.
Match 3: Starlight Kid & Mei Seira beat Gina & Waka Tsukiyama. Seira pinned Tsukiyama after Shooting Star.
Match 4: AZM & Miyu Amasaki beat Saki Kashima & Lady C. AZM pinned C.
Match 5: Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe & Ruaka beat Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Momo Kohgo. Ruaka pinned Kohgo after a neck hanging bomb.
Match 6: Maika & Gina beat Tam Nakano & Yuna Mizumori. Maika pinned MIzumori after MIchinoku Driver 2.
Main EVent; Syuri & Konami beat Hanan & Saya Iida. Syuri pinned Iida after Drift Flame.
The next event is Friday at Sendai Pit in Sendai. There will be no live broadcast.
Stardom ran the first event of a tripleheader weekend in Osaka today.
Today’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka and can be watched on demand on Stardom World. They made a late change to a live broadcast for today instead of on demand later.
The announced paid attendance was 335.
There were late changes to the card due to Ami Sohrei being off the card. Injury treatment. Also, Thekla is suspended for all 3 events.
Match 1: Hanan beat Rian.
Match 2: Saki Kashima beat Aya Sakura.
Match 3: Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo beat Yuna Mizumori & Sayaka Kurara. Iida pinned Kurara after a lariat.
Match 4: Syuri, Konami, Ranna Yagami & Lady C beat Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Ruaka & Fukigen. Syuri pinned Fukigen after Drift Flame.
Match 5; Tam Nakano, Saori Anou & Natsupoi beat Mina Shirakawa, Gina & Waka Tsukiyama and Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Hazuki in a 3-way when Nakano pinned Tsukiyama.
Match 6: Starlight Kid beat Miyu Amasaki.
Main Event: Maika & Saya Kamitani beat AZM & Mei Seira. Kamitani pinned Seira.
The next event is tomorrow at Yamato Arena in Osaka. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin TONIGHT at 9 PM PT/midnight ET.
Stardom has announced last-minute changes to their 3 events in Osaka this weekend because Ami Sohrei is now off. Undisclosed injury suffered in practice (accidental). Out indefinitely. Sohrei made the announcement and apologized on her social media accounts and these were shared by Stardom’s official accounts. Changes have been made to this weekend’s events. Updates to follow regarding her status.
In related news, Stardom announced that tomorrow’s event at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka has been changed from on demand only at a later date to a LIVE broadcast on Stardom World. It will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
It doesn’t matter how much a heel you are in wrestling in the ring-outside the ring there are boundaries. Those lines were crossed in Stardom and, for doing so, Thekla has been suspended and had her salary temporarily reduced. The suspension appears to be for 1 week as it means 3 events-7/12, 7/13 and 7/14. The salary docking is for the same time.
This is because of Thekla assaulting staff (cameramen) at today’s event and bad behavior at a recent meeting.
UPDATE: Here is footage of what caused Thekla to get suspended courtesy of the Stardom Official English Twitter:
Stardom ran a rather uncommon weeknight event earlier today in Tokyo, coming amidst reports in the Japanese media that Saya Kamitani was verbally harassed & insulted by fans at a post-event autograph signing this weekend (per a Tokyo Sports report). Stardom Co. Ltd. President Taro Okada addressed this report earlier today.
Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and can be watched on demand on Stardom World.
The announced paid attendance was 796.
Match 1: Tam Nakano beat Rian.
Match 2: Rina & Azusa Inaba (Just Tap Out) beat Waka Tsukiyama & HANAKO. Inaba pinned HANAKO after Bubber Killer #2.
Match 3; Hanan, Hazuki & Momo Kohgo beat Yuna Mizumori, Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara. Hanan pinned Kurara with a blockbuster hold.
Match 4: AZM & Mei Seira beat Mina Shirakawa & Gina. AZM pinned Gina after a shooting star.
Match 5: Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla, Ruaka & Fukigen beat Syuri, Konami, Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami & Hina. Thekla pinned Syuri after a poisonous spider death drop. Based on a post-match promo, it sounds like Thekla & Watanabe will be the pair challenging for the Goddesses Of Stardom Championship next against Syuri & Konami.
Match 6: Mayu Iwatani & Koguma beat Starlight Kid & Miyu Amasaki. Iwatani beat Amasaki with a standing dragon sleeper. It’s also being reported that Kid is forming a new faction with Mei Seira & the injured Suzu Suzuki, and is trying to add Amasaki & AZM. No response from those last 2 yet.
Match 7: Saori Anou & Natsupoi vs. Mika Iwata & Aimi (Sendai Girls) went to a 20 minute time limit draw. Afterwards, it was announced Iwata will defend the Wonder Of Stardom Championship against Anou (who she beat for the title) at the 7/15 Sendai Girls event, and it could be a double title match for Iwata’s Sendai Girls World Championship. Then Natsupoi said that, regardless of who wins, she wanted a Wonder Of Stardom title shot on 7/27.
Main Event: Maika, Saya Kamitani & Saya Iida beat Tomoka Inaba, Ami Sohrei & Lady C. Kamitani pinned C after Star Crusher.
The next event is Sunday. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. Live results are tentatively scheduled.
In other news, the field for the annual 5STAR GP Tournament was announced today. If will be a total field of 28 separated into 4 blocks: Red A, Red B, Blue A & Blue B. It will be a round-robin format with the top 2 in each block advancing to the Quarterfinals.
The fields so far:
Red A: Maika, Natsuko Tora, Hazuki, Natsupoi, Konami, Aimi, TBA
Red B: Mayu Iwatani, Tam Nakano, Momo Watanabe, AZM, Mei Seira, Saya Iida, Tomoka Inaba
Blue A: Saori Anou, Syuri, Starlight Kid, Gina, TBA, TBA
Blue B: Suzu Suzuki, Saya Kamitani, Hanan, Ami Sohrei, Saki Kashima, Thekla, TBA
For Red A & Blue A, TBA will be winners of a determination tournament to be held (only for one of the Blue A spots). Based on who isn’t in, presumably those tournaments would include Mina Shirakawa, Koguma, Rina, Hina, Miyu Amasaki and whoever else I may have missed. That aside, these brackets suggest Maika & Iwatani are the Red Block favorites while Block B will be tougher to predict, in particular Blue B-Hanan will be looking to back up her Cinderella Tournament win with now a 5STAR GP as she may be the biggest threat to Kamitani while Blue A seems loaded.
All matches were announced as well. The tournament begins on 8/10 at Yokohama Budokan then continues on 8/11 (Shibuya Ward Sports Center, Tokyo), 8/12 (Light Cube Utsunomiya, Tochigi-2 events), 8/15 (Korakuen), 8/17 (Kyoto KBS Hall, Kyoto), 8/18 (Kobe Art Center, Kobe), 8/20 (Osaka Prefectural Gym 2, Osaka), 8/23 (Sendai Pit, Sendai), 8/24 (Parse Izaka, Fukushima), 8/25 (Yamagata Big Wing, Yamagata), 8/28 (Shinjuku Face-Quarterfinals), and 8/31 (Semifinals/Finals, Musashino Forest Sports Plaza Main Arena, Tokyo). Broadcast plans are also set-all events except 8/10 & 8/31 will be LIVE on Stardom World, 8/10 & 8/31 will be PPVs live then Stardom World on demand a few days later.
Also, it was just announced that the 7/15 Sendai Girls event will be streamed LIVE on WRESTLE UNIVERSE and the double title match between Iwata & Anou is now official.
Stardom runs a second event today in Tokyo, albeit with much less star power than yesterday due to several wrestlers headed to the US for the All Elite Wrestling “Forbidden Door” PPV tomorrow. With no title matches today, it still leaves plenty of chances to shine for those who will be part of the event. There also will be a fan event afterwards.
The following wrestlers will all miss today’s event: Tam Nakano, Mina Shirakawa, Momo Watanabe (all in US), Suzu Suzuki (injured), Saori Anou (unknown).
Today’s event will be held at Shinjuku Sumitomo Hall in Tokyo and can be watched LIVE on Stardom World. There will likely be no commentary. You can also watch the first match FOR FREE on YouTube. There are 6 matches today and with no title matches, it’ll probably be a shorter event than yesterday and probably run closer to 2 hours. Also, because I’ll be simulcasting as this event starts during the DDT event also going on today, I might miss a couple of results here & there.
Today’s lineup (match order TBA):
Maika & HANAKO vs. Saya Kamitani & Rian and Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo in a 3-way
Gina vs. Aya Sakura
Waka Tsukiyama vs. Lady C & Sayaka Kurara in a 3-way
Ami Sohrei & Saki Kashima vs. Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori
Syuri, Konami, Ranna Yagami & Hina vs. Natsuko Tora, Thekla, Rina & Ruaka
Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki vs. Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, Koguma & Hanan
Refresh this page occasionally for the latest results.
Updates below will begin at 9 PM PT/midnight ET. The live stream should begin 5-10 minutes prior.
8:40 PM PT UPDATE: The live stream has begun. We should go to the venue in 15-20 minutes.
9 PM PT UPDATE: Live updates begin now.
We are LIVE from Shinjuku Sumitomo Hall in Tokyo, Japan. There is no commentary.
The paid attendance will be announced sometime later today. This is the first time I’m seeing this venue used for wrestling. It looks like a small setup but what we do see is mostly full, so I’m going to guess it’ll be close to 300 and possibly a sellout regardless of the number. (Not a sellout actually, one section was only about half full) (UPDATE: The announced paid attendance was 346)
The matches begin after the opening card announcement.
Match 1: Maika & HANAKO vs. Saya Kamitani & Rian and Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo in a 3-way. 20 minute time limit
Result: Maika & HANAKO beat Saya Kamitani & Rian and Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo in a 3-way when Maika pinned Rian.
Match 2: Gina vs. Aya Sakura. 15 minute time limit
Result: Gina beat Aya Sakura
Match 3: Waka Tsukiyama vs. Lady C & Sayaka Kurara in a 3-way. 15 minute time limit
Result: Waka Tsukiyama beat Lady C & Sayaka Kurara in a 3-way by pinning Kurara. Afterwards, Tsukiyama & Kurara continued to fight after it appeared Tsukiyama disrespected Kurara.
Match 4: Ami Sohrei & Saki Kashima vs. Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori. 20 minute time limit
Result: Ami Sohrei & Saki Kashima beat Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori. Kashima pined Mizumori.
Quick break for ring cleaning.
Match 5: Syuri, Konami, Ranna Yagami & Hina vs. Natsuko Tora, Thekla, Rina & Ruaka. 20 minute time limit
Result: Syuri, Konami, Ranna Yagami & Hina beat Natsuko Tora, Thekla, Rina & Ruaka. Syuri pinned Thekla.
Main Event: Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki vs. Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, Koguma & Hanan. 30 minute time limit
Result: Starlight Kid, AZM, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki beat Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, Koguma & Hanan. Seira pinned Hanan. They briefly continued to fight afterwards before they were separated. Intense stuff between them in this match.
The next event is Thursday at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin at 2:30 AM PT/5:30 AM ET.
The Stardom World broadcast schedule for July has been posted as well-5 live broadcasts (Thursday, 7/7, 7/13, 7/21, 7/23), 3 on demand only (no live broadcasts-7/12, 7/14/7/19) and 2 PPVs (7/27 & 7/28, both are at the same venue). The PPVs likely will be on demand on Stardom World 3-4 days after the live broadcast.
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.
What was billed as an event that would forever change Stardom, STARDOM THE CONVERSION, was held today.
Today’s event was held at Yoyogi National Stadium Gym 2 in Tokyo and can be watched on demand as a PPV for 4400 Japanese yen (just under $30 US) until Wednesday morning. It should be available on demand on Stardom World late next week for paying subscribers.
The announced paid attendance was 1654.
Match 1: Fukigen beat Rian.
Match 2: Goddesses Of Stardom Champions Hazuki & Koguma beat Hanan & Saya Iida to retain the titles. Koguma pinned Iida after a diving body press. V2 for the champs. Next up: Based on backstage stuff immediately afterwards, Syuri & Konami.
Match 3: Starlight Kid beat Mei Seira.
Match 4: Mina Shirakawa & HANAKO beat Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori. Shirakawa pinned Mizumori after Glamorous Driver Mina.
Match 5: Saki Kashima, Ranna Yagami & Tomoka Inaba beat Tam Nakano, Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara. Kashima pinned Sakura.
Match 6: Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo vs. Syuri & Ami Sohrei went to a 15 minute time limit draw. This match was based on the Japanese movie “Runaway Wrestler”, which is a biopic of sorts about Iwatani.
Match 7: In a Unit Elimination Match, Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla, Ruaka & Rina beat Saya Kamitani, AZM, Lady C, Miyu Amasaki & Hina. Tora won by last eliminating Kamitani. As a result, Queen’s Quest must disband with the exception of Kamitani. Oedo Tai wins the war.
Match 8: Mika Iwata (Sendai Gitls) beat Wonder Of Stardom Champion Saori Anou to win the title. Iwata becomes the 21st Wonder Of Stardom Champion. Next up: Possibly Natsupoi.
Main Event: World Of Stardom Champion Maika beat Gina to retain the title. V5 for Maika. Next up: Probably Tora. That match could happen on 7/15 at Korakuen Hall.
The next event is 6/29 at Korakuen Hall. Live streaming on Stardom World will begin Friday at 7:30 PM PT/10:30 PM ET. If that plan holds and they don’t make it a PPV last-minute then live results will be planned.
6/23/24 UPDATE: Per a post on Yuji Nagata’s Twitter, IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani today successfully defended the title in Ice Ribbon against Tsukasa Fujimoto, unfortunately it was a ref stoppage due to a Fujimoto injury. Dislocated right elbow. V6 for Iwatani.