STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 Tournament Kicks Off, Major Title Change Occurs

By: Lewis Carlan

On July 18th, the STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 tournament got underway at the Ota City General Gymnasium with a crowd of 2,193 fans on hand for the event. The first tournament block matches were set for the event as well as two championship bouts.

The featured match saw Syuri defending her IWGP Women’s Title for the fifth time against a determined Natsupoi. Natsupoi, who was intensely training for this title opportunity, came into the match poised as she was looking to win the biggest title of her career. Unfortunately, Syuri had other plans and proved to be too much for her challenger. Syuri hit her Syu-Sekai and ended the bout by pinfall at the 20:52 mark thus retaining her title.

In the co-featured bout, the Artist of STARDOM Titles were on the line as the champions Ami Sohrei, Hina and Lady C defended their belts against the AEW trio of Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue. Thekla continues to be a huge thorn in the side of STARDOM President Okada as she led her team to victory after a curb stomp to Ami Sohrei to win the Artist of STARDOM Championship for her unit.

Sayaka Kurara, Momo Watanabe, Koguma, Mei Seira, Saya Iida as well as numerous other entrants all earned their first points of the tournament by emerging victorious in their respective block matches.

Here are the full results for the STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 tournament opening night courtesy of purolove.com:

• AZM defeated Fuwa-chan (6:11) by submission with a Numero Uno
• Starlight Kid, Maki Itoh, Utami Hayashishita and Kiyoka Kotatsu defeated Waka Tsukiyama, Rian, Matoi Hamabe and Ema Maishima (7:21) when Utami Hayashishita pinned Ema Maishima after a Lariat.
• Saya Kamitani, Natsuko Tora, Konami & Rina defeat Suzu Suzuki, Hanan, Saori Anou & Maika (7:28) after Rina’s Pink♡Devil vs. Hanan.
• 5★STAR GP – Red Stars – Block A: Sayaka Kurara [2] defeats Akira Kurogane [0] (6:00) with a Tokimeki Spear.
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Momo Watanabe [2] defeats Yuna Mizumori [0] (9:41) with a Hitodenashi Driver.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Koguma [2] defeats Kikyo Furusawa [0] (7:34) with a German Suplex Hold.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Red Stars – Block A: Itsuki Aoki [2] defeats Tomoka Inaba  [0] (9:52) with a Rasha Hasami.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Red Stars – Block B: Mei Seira [2] defeats Rina Yamashita [0] (8:41) with a reverse shooting star.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Red Stars – Block B: Saya Iida [2] defeats Azusa Inaba  [0] (7:56) with a lariat.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: Ruaka [2] defeats Miyu Amasaki [0] (4:06) with a Daruma-Style German Suplex Hold.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: Aya Sakura [2] defeats HANAKO [0] (13:36) with the Blooming Dream.
  
• Artist of Stardom Title: Thekla, Julia Hart  & Skye Blue  defeat Ami Sohrei, Hina & Lady C (c) (13:55) after a Curb Stomp by Thekla vs. Sohrei – Title Change (Failed 3rd defense -> 37th Champions).
  
• IWGP Women’s Title: Syuri (c) defeats Natsupoi (20:52) with the Syu Sekai (5th defense).

Here are the current point standing after Night 1 of the tournament courtesy of purolove.com:

RED STARS BLOCK A

• Sayaka Kurara [2]
• Itsuki Aoki [2]
• AZM
• Maika
• Natsuko Tora
• Rina
• Tomoka Inaba [0]
• Akira Kurogane [0]

RED STARS BLOCK B

• Saya Iida [2]
• Mei Seira [2]
• Lady C
• Maki Itoh
• Konami
• Utami Hayashishita
• Rina Yamashita [0]
• Azusa Inaba [0]

BLUE STARS BLOCK A

• Aya Sakura [2]
• Ruaka [2]
• Hina
• Suzu Suzuki
• Rian
• Julia Hart
• Miyu Amasaki [0]
• HANAKO [0]

BLUE STARS BLOCK B

• Koguma [2]
• Momo Watanabe [2]
• Hanan
• Ami Sohrei
• Starlight Kid
• Saya Kamitani
• Yuna Mizumori [0]
• Kikyo Furusawa [0]

The next STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 event is scheduled for July 19th at the Loisir Hotel Toyohashi Holiday Hall.