Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara Retain Tag Titles at STARDOM New Blood 28

By Noah Leatherland

The New Blood Tag Team Championships were on the line at the 28th edition of the rookie-oriented STARDOM series. In Tokyo Square, the duo of Aya Sakura and Sayaka Kurara defended their belts against Yuna Mizumori and Anne Kanaya.

The reigning champions, known as Sakurara, won the New Blood tag belts back in October from HANAKO and Waka Tsukiyama. This was their first defence of the titles, and fortune ended up favouring them in this match. Sakura secured the win for her team by scoring a pinfall on Kanaya.

After the match, Sakura took the microphone and showered her rookie opponent with praise:

Anne actually debuted at the same age as me, 26, in March. And then, just like me, she had to go on a long hiatus right after her debut. During my own hiatus, I couldn’t even bring myself to watch pro-wrestling, and I muted all of my fellow rookies on Twitter. That period was truly, truly a hellish time for me. But I’m so, so happy that both Anne and I didn’t quit wrestling and that we were able to meet each other in the ring like this. That’s why, out of the six rookies, I see Anne as a little… how should I put it? I see her as someone special. I’m still in the middle of my own dream, but I’m looking forward to seeing what kind of dreams Anne will draw for herself from here on out.

(Quote translated via meraWRESTLING on X)

Then, Kanaya shared her own feelings on Sakura:

When the H.A.T.E. members started winning belts and STARDOM was plunged into darkness, I saw a glimmer of light in Sakura. That moment made me think, “I want to be like Sakura,” and from then on, I began to properly embrace professional wrestling.

(Quote translated via DeepL)

Here are the full results from STARDOM New Blood 28:

• Hina def. Kikyo Furusawa (10:59)
• Azusa Inaba def. Yuria Hime and Kiyoka Kotatsu (5:50)
• Ranna Yagami & Tomoka Inaba def. Mase Hiiro & Moe Hiiro (14:28)
• HANAKO & Rian vs. Nanami Hatano & Miran – Time Limit Draw
• Xena def. Akira Kurogane (8:01)
• New Blood Tag Team Championships: Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara (c) def. Yuna Mizumori and Anne Kanaya (15:28)