Maika and AZM Set to Advance From Red Stars A in STARDOM 5★STAR GP

By: Noah Leatherland

STARDOM were back for the double header in Sapporo for the STARDOM 5★STAR GP. As some finished their tournament campaigns there, AZM and Maika rose to the top of Red Stars A.

AZM rose to nine points with a win over Akira Kurogane, making her submit to the Numero Uno hold. Later, Maika joined her on that points total with a victory over Itsuki Aoki. By pinning Aoki off the wrist-clutch Michinoku Driver, Maika leapfrogged her opponent to climb to the top of the leaderboard. Both are now mathematically safe, and will advance to the next round.

This was Aoki’s final match of the round robin section of the tournament, meaning she finishes on eight points. Natsuko Tora also had her last block match, defeating Sayaka Kurara with a Swanton Bomb to match Aoki’s total. With the top three of each block advancing, Aoki would hold a tiebreaker over Tora. However, Rina could play spoiler for both. In Sapporo, Rina defeated Tomoka Inaba with the Pink Devil to climb to seven points. Should Rina defeat AZM in their final block match, she will overtake Aoki and Tora, and clinch the third advancing spot from Red Stars A.

Maika’s win filled her with confidence for the rest of her tournament:

Hokkaido had been a place associated with bitter memories for me, but having finally won today, I vow to return next year as an even greater version of myself. Winning means I’ve secured my place in the tournament! Next, I’ll beat Akira too, so I can go into the tournament as the top seed. And I’ll win the title for the first time in two years.

Though secure, AZM was not looking past Rina at all:

So, with this, I’ve scored nine points—doesn’t that mean I’m in a pretty good position to go through? My final opponent is Rina, who I had a really tough battle with last year. I think nothing would be better than winning, so I intend to remain a formidable opponent for Rina.

Aoki was feeling the pressure, but still holds on to hope:

Just because we’ve lost today, does that mean all we can do now is hope for the others to win or lose?… I’m still aiming for the 5★STAR tournament victory!

Rina shared her determination to fill that third spot from Red Stars A:

If I lose one more time, it’s all over for me too. The next match is my last: Hamamatsu, AZM. Honestly, if I don’t win here, I’ll be disappointed in myself and wonder what I’ve been doing for the past year; and if I lose like that, I can’t even talk about winning the title, so I’m determined to take all the points from AZM.

In Red Stars B, Rina Yamashita finished her successful block run on nine points, rounding out her round robin here with a draw against Saya Iida. While nine points leaves Yamashita at the top of Red Stars B, she may not stay there. The time limit draw also awarded Saya Iida a ninth point in her tally, but she has one more match to go in her block campaign. Meanwhile, Konami and Maki Itoh both rose to eight points with wins over Azusa Inaba and Utami Hayashishita, respectively. Luckily for Yamashita, though Konami and Itoh are both only one point behind her, the two of them are set to face each other in their final block match. Yamashita also holds a tie break win over Konami, and also drew with Itoh.

With fate out of her hands, Yamashita was reflective on her tournament run:

This was my first time competing in 5★STAR, and I feel like I’ve ended up with even more favourite wrestlers. I’ve got a strong feeling that my future appearances in Stardom are going to be even more enjoyable. I’ll take as many chops as it takes, and I’ll take on every move you throw at me. We drew this time, but Iida-san, let’s do it again up in the North.

Having one more match to go, Iida was feeling the need to win:

There’s just one match left, but I want to secure our place in the tournament and win the whole thing. And there’s someone I want to take on. There’s a reason why I have to win this.
I’ll show you all exactly what that is.

Konami has her targets set on Itoh, but is sure not to take her lightly:

If I keep this up, I reckon I’ll finish in the top three and make it through to the final again. Itoh’s up last, then. She’s the type I struggle with the most. But before you start saying anything stupid, I’ll crush her.

Also looking ahead, Itoh is already planning her tactics:

My next match is against Konami, so I’ll just have to come up with a way to deal with her spray and make sure I win.

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

Here are the results for STARDOM 5★STAR GP in Sapporo, August 9th, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Red Stars A: Natsuko Tora [8] def. Sayaka Kurara [4] (7:28)
• Red Stars A: AZM [9] def. Akira Kurogane [1] (7:39)
• Natsupoi & Saori Anou def. Lady C & Waka Tsukiyama (10:45)
• Red Stars B: Konami [8] def. Azusa Inaba [4] (8:40)
• Red Stars A: Maika [9] def. Itsuki Aoki [8] (11:40)
• Red Stars B: Saya Iida [9] vs. Rina Yamashita [9] – Time Limit Draw (15:00)
• Red Stars A: Rina [7] def. Tomoka Inaba [6] (5:10)
• Red Stars B: Maki Itoh [8] def. Utami Hayashishita [5] (13:05)

Here are the updated standings for the STARDOM 5★STAR GP:

Red Stars A:

• AZM [9]
• Maika [9]
• Itsuki Aoki [8]
• Natsuko Tora [8]
• Rina [7]
• Tomoka Inaba [6]
• Sayaka Kurara [4]
• Akira Kurogane [1]

Red Stars B:

• Rina Yamashita [9]
• Saya Iida [9]
• Konami [8]
• Maki Itoh [8]
• Utami Hayashishita [5]
• Azusa Inaba [4]
• Mei Seira [3]
• Lady C [2]

Blue Stars A:

• Suzu Suzuki [8]
• Julia Hart [6]
• Ruaka [6]
• Aya Sakura [4]
• HANAKO [4]
• Hina [4]
• Miyu Amasaki [4]
• Rian [0]

Blue Stars B:

• Momo Watanabe [7]
• Hanan [6]
• Saya Kamitani [6]
• Starlight Kid [5]
• Koguma [4]
• Ami Sohrei [4]
• Yuna Mizumori [4]
• Kikyo Furusawa [0]