Natsuko Tora: A Dominant Five Star Grand Prix Run

By: Ben Harris

Stardom Sunshine 2023. Oedo Tai have just lost to Queen’s Quest in a Loser Leaves Unit Cage match. Saya Kamitani stayed loyal to Utami Hayashishita. Saki Kashima is out of Oedo Tai. How can this be? Oedo Tai do not lose. They always get their own way. Natsuko Tora always gets her own way. In this moment, she was furious. She led her unit in attacking Kashima, blaming her for their loss. Tora yelled her way up the ramp, her anger not ceasing, and even confronted Hayashishita the next day. One month later, she began to turn this anger into motivation in the Five Star GP and embark on what has been an incredible run. Tora currently leads the Red Stars block on 12 points with one match to go at the end of this month. Let’s look at how she’s got herself into this incredible position.

全面戦争にテメェが負けた事と、大江戸隊に不信感抱いてた事って何が関係あんの？

詩美は1人で金網も登れない程に私が追い込んだ。
テメェがさっさと金網を登れなかったのが全ての敗因だろクソが。

自分の弱さを私達のせいにしてんじゃねぇよ。
話置き換えて同情誘ってんじゃねぇ、カス

許さない。 pic.twitter.com/iKJLXyZaZX

— 刀羅ナツコ (@STARDOM_N) June 25, 2023

Going into this year’s tournament, Natsuko Tora had been overlooked by many in favor of Utami Hayashishita, Maika, Saya Kamitani etc. Tora set out to become a dark horse from opening day where she disposed of Ami Sourei in just under five minutes. On that same show, the unfortunate incident of Saya Kamitani’s injury presented an opportunity for Tora. Saya was arguably one of the favourites to win Red Stars, and now suddenly it was all to play for.

In her second match, Tora claimed a shocking victory over former World of Stardom Champion Syuri. She withstood the God’s Eye leader’s devastating offense, then unleashed mist into her face. It was blatant cheating but Tora didn’t care. After all, she’s always meant to get her way. She delivered an intimidating promo towards Starlight Kid, also in Red Stars, post-match. “How are you going to beat me?” The way she defeated Syuri and these words aimed at an Oedo Tai teammate show how Tora is willing to do anything to win the Five Star.

Natsuko Tora’s strong start suddenly hit a wall when she came up against Suzu Suzuki and Starlight Kid. Both opponents chose to play Tora at her own game by attacking her before the bell. However, Suzu used a weapon to defeat her while SLK narrowly won from a roll-up. Tora had recovered well from the tactics used against her and still looked like a threat. This short run of defeats, though, paved the way for Natsupoi to race into the lead in Red Stars. The ‘Summer of Poi’ was shining over the Five Star GP. Natsuko Tora sought to darken the atmosphere.

A long-time foe awaited Tora next in Mayu Iwatani, “The Icon” and leader of STARS. Tora has put Iwatani through hell on multiple occasions over the years. In Numazu, she did so once again. The Icon seemed on her way to victory and a beautiful Moonsault looked to seal the deal. Tora, though, brilliantly escaped a pin by popping up and spraying red mist right into her eyes. It was like watching a horror movie. The ever-resilient Iwatani tried to battle on but a series of Swanton Bombs took the wind and fight out of her. This was a huge win for Tora, but now two tough opponents lay ahead for the following weekend. Two wrestlers who she said she had been chasing in this tournament.

Across a single weekend, Natsuko Tora battled World of Stardom Champion Tam Nakano and Red Stars leader Natsupoi. Overcoming both members of meltear seemed too much of a task even for her. The Top Kawaii of the Cosmos was up first in Nagoya. The two had a physical back-and-forth battle, with Tora needing to show resilience to escape a vicious submission hold. In the end, the same tactic that Tora employed against Syuri worked again. She shoved the referee away and sprayed Nakano with mist. Unlike Syuri, Nakano tried to fight on but to no avail. Tora got the win, placing herself a point above Natsupoi at the top of Red Stars. Furthermore, Tora berated Nakano afterwards, warned that she was coming for her Red Belt no matter what, and put Natsupoi on notice for the following day. In her words, this was the “Natsuko Revolution”.

酒なんて効かねぇよバーカ
お前が言ったように私は最狂だからな

なつぽい革命は本日で終了！
はいはい、踏み台お疲れさんでしたー

残りは葉月ただひとり。

ん〜w
こりゃ決勝確定だわ#スターダム#OEDotai pic.twitter.com/E38Xjayxig

— 刀羅ナツコ (@STARDOM_N) August 27, 2023

In Fukui, Tora was hit with everything Natsupoi had right from the bell. The ‘High Speed Fairy’ even had her own secret weapon in whiskey to combat Tora’s mist. Just a little something she picked up from Historic X-Over last year. She used it successfully, spraying whiskey into the Oedo Tai leader’s face. Natsupoi was in full control, but Tora refused to not have this match go her way. She stopped Poi’s burst of momentum by overpowering her. An impactful series of moves put down Poi. Tora had done it. She snapped Natsupoi’s undefeated streak in the Five Star GP and remained top of Red Stars on 12 points. Understandably, her confidence was high post-match. She mocked Natsupoi, verbally and physically abused her and boasted that no one was catching her. All Tora has to do now is sit back and wait for the final day while watching everyone chase her down. She is in control, for now.

It has since been announced that Natsuko Tora will get her World of Stardom Championship match with Tam Nakano at Nagoya Golden Fight, taking place in October. She has got what she wanted. Everything is going her own way. One has to wonder, though, whether this will affect Tora’s focus in her final Five Star match against Hazuki. Despite being in such a strong position, don’t be surprised if she chooses to get herself DQ’d to send a message to Tam. It wouldn’t be out of character at all. She could also decide to push on, win the tournament and aim for MIRAI’s Wonder of Stardom Championship. Either way, Tora has been on a monster run in the Five Star GP after being humiliated at Sunshine and is a real threat to Tam’s title reign. Stardom is on course to enter the ‘Autumn of Tora’.