Tag: stardom

This is not entirely a done deal yet and, based on later fact-checking done weekly by the site that shares them is probably 55-60% accurate right now, but there are RUMORS another top Stardom name could be WWE-bound. This time it’s top foreigner Giulia. Here’s what is being said: Giulia is verbally committed to Stardom for next year. But talks are to the point that WWE has made an offer. What it may come down to is money and which brand-if it’s NXT (their developmental brand), owner Bushiroad Corporation and sibling company New Japan Pro Wrestling can probably match the offer and keep her. But if it’s main level (Raw or Smackdown), and money is more important, Goulia is probably following KAIRI (back in the latter’s case) to The E. Giulia is said to be a “priority acquisition” for WWE and her multi-racial background (she is mixed Japanese & Italian and was born in England) could help then worldwide. Again, just RUMORS for now but bears watching.

More as it becomes available.

Stardom ran their final Osaka big show of the year, STARDOM GOLD RUSH 2023, yesterday, loaded with major title matches and more.

Yesterday’s event was held at Osaka Prefectural Gym in Osaka and can be watched on demand as a PPV via Pia for 4000 yen (around $27 US) until Tuesday morning (purchase by 1 AM PT/4 AM ET Tuesday). It should be available on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 1033. If the venue was configured for full capacity (5000 for sumo, maybe a little less for wrestling), that’s barely 20% full. Probably was smaller capacity, but on paper that still seems rather bad.

There were multiple late changes to the cards due to Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima being off the event (injured).

Match 1: It’s Fukigen (Kaori Yoneyama) won a 7 woman battle royal, last eliminating Miyu Amasaki.

Match 2: Moneyball Tournament: Hanan, Hazuki & Saya Iida beat HANAKO, Ami Sohrei & Konami. Hanan pinned HANAKO after 17.

Match 3: Moneyball Tournament: Mai Sakurai, Thekla & Giulia beat Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora & Ruaka. Sakurai pinned Ruaka with Mai Bread Roll.

Match 4: High Speed Champion Mei Seira beat Momoka Hanazono to retain the title. V1 for Seira.

Match 5; AZM beat Starlight Kid & Suzu Suzuki in a 3-way by pinning Kid.

Match 6: In a UWF Rules MMA Fight, Syuri beat Scandinavian Hurricane by TKO.

Match 7: Wonder Of Stardom Champion MIRAI vs. Saori Anou went to a 30 minute time limit draw. As a result, MIRAI retains the title. V3 for MIRAI.

Main Event: Moneyball Tournament Finals: Artist Of Stardom Champions Mai Sakurai, Thekla & Giulia beat Hazuki, Hanan & Saya Iida by retrieving the right chest hanging above the ring with the key to unlock the chest to retain the titles. Thekla made the winning retrieval. V3 for the champs. Afterwards, Thekla challenged Seira for the High Speed Championship. That match will likely happen on 12/2 at Aichi Prefectural Gym in Nagoya.

The next event is Thursday at Nagoya International Conference Center Event Hall in Nagoya. It should be available on Stardom World at a later date.

It seems no Japanese promotion has gotten the worst of a recent major injury wave the last couple months than Stardom. That continues today with 2 more casualties-Mayu Iwatani & Waka Tsukiyama. Iwatani-dislocated finger. Out long enough to be off Sunday’s PPV. Tsukiyama-hernia. Out indefinitely but long enough to be “taking time off”. Possible the former happened last weekend at Lonestar Shootout.

More as it becomes available.

Stardom continued the Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League this weekend with 2 events, although the latter event today was more of a Halloween-themed comedy event.

Yesterday’s event was held at Kira Messe Numazu in Shizuoka and can be watched on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 362.

In addition to absences mentioned below, Giulia missed these events due to being in the US for a New Japan event yesterday.

Match 1: Thekla beat Miyu Amasaki. This was to have been a Goddesses Tag League match but Ami Sohrei & Lady C were off the event due to illness so AZM & Mei Seira got a free win instead. Then it was changed to a 3-way between Thekla/Amasaki/Sohrei but no Sohrei.

Match 2: AZM beat Ruaua. This was a last-minute match due to the above match and absences.

Match 3: Hanan & Mayu Iwatani beat HANAKO & MIRAI. Hanan pinned HANAKO after an Iwatani Sling Blade.

Match 4: Goddesses Tag League Red Block: Saki Kashima & Syuri beat Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa. Syuri beat Tsukiyama with Ground Suzaku.

Match 5: Momo Watanabe & Natsuko Tora beat Mai Sakurai & Maika. Watanabe pinned Sakurai.

Main Event: Meghan Bahn, Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki beat Koguma, Hazuki & Saya Iida. Seira beat Iida.

Today’s event was dubbed “Halloween Dark Night 2023-House Of Horrors”, was held at Tachikawa Stage Garden and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 1116.

Match 1: Goddesses Tag League Red Block: Kurumi Hiragi & Risa Sera beat Saki Kashima & Syuri. Sera pinned Kashima with Rasa Scissors.

Match 2: Super Strong Stardom Machine won a 10 person zombie rumble battle royal, last eliminating Zombie C.

Match 3: In a Zombie Lumberjack Match, ZAP & Dump Matsumoto beat Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa. Matsumoto pinned Tsukiyama.

Match 4: In a Falls Count Anywhere Match, Suzu Suzuki beat Thekla, Mei Seira & Momo Watanabe in a 4-way by pinning Thekla.

Match 5: In a Halloween Battle with Murder Weapons, Saori Anou beat Mai Sakurai, Hazuki & Natsuko Tora in a 4-way by pinning Sakurai.

Match 6: MIRAI vs. Halloween Mask went to a no contest. Oedo Corps interference. Mask was revealed to be Ruaka.

Main Event: In an Exploding Coffin Match, where the winner was who put someone in the coffin and closed the lid-and then it exploded, Crow A & B aka Yuu & Meghan Bahn beat Mayu Iwatani & Crow C aka Maika in a 4-way by placing Iwatani and Stardom Executive Producer Rossy Ogawa in the coffin.

The next event is Friday at Wahlfahrt Toyama 3F Multipurpose Hall in Toyama. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

Stardom resumed the Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League today with Day 2 of the tournament.

Today’s event was held at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 687.

Match 1: Momo Watanabe & Natsuko Tora beat Miyu Amasaki & Lady C. Watanabe pinned Amasaki after B Driver.

Match 2: Saori Anou beat Ruaka, Mina Shirakawa & Ami Sohrei in a 4-way by pinning Ruaka.

Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League:
Match 3: Red Block: Saki Kashima & Syuri beat HANAKO & Saya Iida. Syuri pinned HANAKO after Suzaku.
Match 4: Blue Block: Hanan & Mayu Iwatani beat Meghan Bahn & Maika by countout.
Match 5: Blue Block: MIRAI & Mai Sakurai beat Hazuki & Koguma. Sakurai pinned Koguma.
Main Event: Red Block: Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki beat Giulia & Thekla. Seira pinned Thekla after a deformation powerbomb.

The next event is Sunday at Osaka Prefectural Gym 2 in Osaka. The event will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date. A few wrestlers ate also headed to Thailand for Bushiroad Expo Asia this Saturday & Sunday in Bangkok, Thailand, with a 4-person tournament scheduled over the weekend, 2 matches each day. Saturday’s matches are Syuri vs. Waka Tsukiyama and Mina Shirakawa vs. Yuna Mizumori, with the losers meeting Sunday for 3rd place and then the winners facing off for 1st place.

Stardom held a special Sumire Natsu Produced 10th Anniversary event today as the former roster member, who is now a freelancer but often working with fellow freelancer Maya Yukihi, brought together a wide variety of wrestlers to celebrate including DDT star Saki Akai, making a special appearance in Stardom before she retires next month.

Today’s event was held at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo and may be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date. There was no live broadcast.

The announced paid attendance was 494, a legit sellout. About 100% legit full too as the venue’s max capacity for wrestling is 500.

Match 1: Hazuki & Koguma beat Itsuki Aoki & Sakura Hirota. Hazuki pinned Hirota.

Match 2: ChiChi won a 10 woman Y shirt battle royal, last eliminating Waka Tsukiyama. Eliminations were by normal rules or being stripped of their shirt. Order of elimination: YAKO, Chanyota (?), Mai Sakurai, Saya Iida. ZONES, SAKI, Mina Shirakawa, Ram Kaichow, Tsukiyama. Y-shirts are button-up dress shirts for those unsure.

Match 3: Natsuko Tora vs. Veny went to a double countout.

Main Event: Sumire Natsu 10th Anniversary Match: Saki Akai, Takumi Iroha & AZM beat Kaho Kobayashi, Rina Yamashita & Sumire Natsu. Iroha pinned Natsu after Running 3. This was a 10th Anniversary match for all the participants as everyone in this match debuted in 2013.

The next event is tomorrow at Korakuen Hall to resume the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

Stardom kicked off the 13th Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League tournament today, wasting little time moving from their annual major singles tournament into their annual tag team tournament.

Today’s event was held at Ota City General Gym in Tokyo and will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.

The announced paid attendance was 813.

Match 1: Ruaka beat Yuna Mizumori.

Match 2: Mai Sakurai & Thekla beat Miyu Amasaki & MIRAI. Sakurai beat Amasaki with Lady’s Clutch. This was supposed to have been Sakurai & Thekla vs. AZM & Mirai but AZM was out due to injury.

Match 3: Giulia beat MICHIKO (GLEAT).

Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League:
Match 4: Red Block: Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki vs. Kurumi Hiragi & Risa Sera went to a 15 minute time limit draw.
Match 5: Red Block: Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa beat HANAKO & Saya Iida. Shirakawa pinned HANAKO after Implant DDT.
Match 6: Blue Block: Meghan Bahn & Maika beat Ami Sohrei & Lady C. Bahn pinned C after F5.
Match 7: Red Block: Momo Watanabe & Natsuko Toura beat Saki Kashima & Syuri. Watanabe pinned Kashima after Tequila Sunrise.
Main Event: Blue Block: Hazuki & Koguma beat Hanan & Mayu Iwatani. Koguma pinned Hanan after a diving body press.

The next event is a Sumire Natsu Produced 10th Anniversary event Wednesday at Shinjuku Face in Tokyo. DDT star Saki Akai, who is retiring next month, will participate in the event along with Asuka (Veny outside Japan) and hardcore standout Rina Yamashita. Broadcast plans TBA.

The tag league resumes Thursday at Korakuen Hall.

Seriously. After announcing Utami Hayashishita was out with a cervical hernia, Stardom has announced so it Natsupoi. Cervical hernia. Out indefinitely. No further details were released.

More as it becomes available.

Stardom wrapped up the 5 STAR GP today, bringing the curtain down on their signature (marathon) annual tournament and determining the winner.

Today’s event was held at Yokohama Budokan in Yokohama and can be watched on demand on PPV via PIA Live Stream until 10/3. It should be available on Stardom World after that.

The announced paid attendance was 2507, a full house/near sellout.

There were late changes to the card due to injuries as both Utami Hayashishita and Starlight Kid were pulled. Hayashishita is out indefinitely and possibly long term due to a cervical hernia. Kid is out indefinitely due to an ankle injury. As a result, Giulia got a 5 STAR GP win by forfeit because she was to have faced Hayashishita. Giulia instead was on commentary for most of the event along with Waka Tsukiyama. Kid is also off tomorrow’s event.

Match 1: Suzu Suzuki won a 16 woman battle royal, last eliminating Mei Seira.

5 STAR GP:
Match 2: Blue Block: Giulia beat Utami Hayashishita by forfeit (injury).
Match 3: Blue Block: Rina beat Mariah May.
Match 4: Blue Block: Momo Watanabe beat AZM.
Match 5: Blue Block: Saori Anou beat Mina Shirakawa.
Match 6: Blue Block: Maika beat MIRAI. As a result, Maika wins the Blue Block and advances to the Finals.
Match 7: Red Block: Ami Sohrei beat Syuri.
Match 8: Red Block: Hazuki beat Natsuko Tora. As a result, Suzu Suzuki wins the Red Block and advances to the Finals because she beat Tora in their match, which was the tiebreaker as both finished tied for the lead in the block.
Match 9: Red Block: Natsupoi beat Tam Nakano.
Main Event: Finals: Suzu Suzuki beat Maika to win the tournament. Suzuki wins her first 5 STAR GP.

The next event is tomorrow (tonight US time) at Korakuen Hall in Tokyo headlined by an AZM 10th Anniversary Match and Giulia defending the New Japan STRONG Women’s Championship against Ami Sohrei. It will be available on demand on Stardom World at a later date.