Ami Sohrei Scores Huge Win Over Saya Kamitani in STARDOM 5★STAR GP

By: Noah Leatherland

The STARDOM 5★STAR GP rages on, this time taking things to the photogenic Kyoto KBS Hall. In the main event, Saya Kamitani suffered a rare loss, her undefeated streak in the tournament coming to an end at the hands of Ami Sohrei.

It was a very tense day for everyone in Blue Stars B. Kamitani came into Kyoto leading Blue Stars B on eight points, tied with her H.A.T.E. stablemate Momo Watanabe. Starlight Kid rose up the ranks with a win over Kikyo Furusawa, the Kokko Kyakusatsu earning her the victory and two more points, raising her total to nine and slotting her into first place. On seven points, a win would have helped the Wonder of Stardom Champion Hanan keep pace. However, she fell to the High Speed Champion Yuna Mizumori, who caught her in the Supergirl pin. Watanabe then had a chance to move back on top, but Koguma proved to be her foil, a German Suplex Hold keeping the Black Peach from ascending the ranks.

Then, the Blue Stars B leaderboard was further shaken up in the main event. Kamitani was the absolute favourite, a pair of draws being the only minor blemishes in her record for this year’s STARDOM 5★STAR GP. Starting the day on six points, a win for Sohrei would see her overtake Hanan and tie the eight point total of Kamitani and Watanabe. Sohrei fought hard against the biggest star STARDOM has to offer, unintimidated. Around the 14 minute mark, Sohrei rolled Kamitani up and secured the pinfall.

Kamitani was incensed, continuing to attack Sohrei after the bell had rung. But, that could not shake the joy Sohrei was feeling, which she shared in her post-match comments:

I’ve beaten the red-hot Saya Kamitani! Well, actually, the only results for Saya Kamitani on this league table were either a circle or a triangle, but I’ve finally managed to mark a black circle against her! Don’t forget, Saya Kamitani, that I, Ami Sohrei, was the very first to do that. I’m definitely going to become your rival—or rather, from today onwards, you’re my rival. Ah, I don’t think either of us has given it our all yet, so I’d love to face off against each other on an even bigger stage. When that time comes, I want to be in a position like champion or something, and really go for it, full throttle. I think I proved today that I’m more than just a match for Saya Kamitani, so I’m really, really, really happy! Alright! Well, I reckon this has secured my place in the tournament. Tomorrow, against Starlight Kid, all I have to do is win. Seriously, just win. I’m absolutely going to win—and if I do, I wonder what position I’ll qualify in? I’ve no idea, but I’m definitely going to win and make sure I qualify within the top three!

For those at the top end of Blue Stars B, there are still places to fight for. Momo Watanabe has completed her block matches, meaning she will remain on eight points, possessing a tie breaker over Sohrei. Sohrei will face Starlight Kid in each other’s final block match. Meanwhile, Hanan still has a chance as she faces Kamitani in their final block match.

Over in Blue Stars A, the race for second and third place continues. Suzu Suzuki remains comfortably in first place, a double countout against Ruaka adding to undefeated run and moving her up to eleven points. The tie also moved Ruaka up to seven points, but she was soon leapfrogged. HANAKO defeated AEW’s Julia Hart with the JP Coaster, pushing her up to eight points, now tying with Hart in joint second place. Hina had the chance to join them, but was caught out by Miyu Amasaki, with the tag champion gaining the win off the Tensei.

It will also be a nail-biting end in Blue Stars A. The final matches will see Suzuki face off with Hart, and HANAKO meet Ruaka on the last day.

Elsewhere in Blue Stars A, Rian finally got points on the board with a win over Aya Sakura. Finishing her campaign on a positive note, Rian shared her next goal in the post match comments:

I beat Aya Sakura in the final match of the league! Whether it’s singles or tag matches, I’ve faced her dozens of times and lost every single one—I really wanted to win today. I’ve finally managed to win! My summer with 5★STAR may be over, but there’s still one thing left to do. That’s the NEW BLOOD Tag! I’m going to go and win the NEW BLOOD Tag title. Just you wait!

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

In a lone Red Stars B match, Mei Seira defeated the block leader Saya Iida with the Checkmate. Iida has now completed her block matches, finishing on nine points, tied with Rina Yamashita. However, there is still spots to play for in the block. Seira has one more match against Utami Hayashishita, where a win could see Seira also join them on nine points. Meanwhile, Maki Itoh and Konami are set to face off, both on eight points, and both able to top the block with a win.

Here are the full results for the STARDOM 5★STAR GP in Kyoto, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Blue Stars A: Rian [2] def. Aya Sakura [4] (12:55)
• Blue Stars B: Starlight Kid [9] def. Kikyo Furusawa [0] (7:53)
• Blue Stars B: Yuna Mizumori [6] def. Hanan [7] (5:55)
• Blue Stars A: Suzu Suzuki [11] vs. Ruaka [7] – Double Countout (8:05)
• Red Stars B: Mei Seira [7] def. Saya Iida [9] (10:27)
• Blue Stars B: Koguma [6] def. Momo Watanabe [8] (12:51)
• Blue Stars A: HANAKO [8] def. Julia Hart [8] (8:30)
• Blue Stars A: Miyu Amasaki [6] def. Hina [6] (12:23)
• Blue Stars B: Ami Sohrei [8] def. Saya Kamitani [8] (14:02)

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]
• Mei Seira [7]
• Utami Hayashishita [5]
• Azusa Inaba [4]
• Lady C [2]

Blue Stars A:

• Suzu Suzuki [11]
• HANAKO [8]
• Julia Hart [8]
• Ruaka [7]
• Hina [6]
• Aya Sakura [6]
• Miyu Amasaki [4]
• Rian [2]

Blue Stars B:

• Starlight Kid [9]
• Ami Sohrei [8]
• Momo Watanabe [8]
• Saya Kamitani [8]
• Hanan [7]
• Koguma [6]
• Yuna Mizumori [6]
• Kikyo Furusawa [0]