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STARDOM in March 2023: Your Monthly Recap

1 year ago

STARDOM in March 2023: Your Monthly Recap

STARDOM in March 2023: Your Monthly Recap

By: Jeff Brown

Every month Monthly Puroresu will be bringing you a guide to the previous month’s happenings in STARDOM. Whether you’re someone who can only occasionally watch, are looking to get into the promotion and want to know what’s going on, or just been too busy to keep up, we have you covered! This is what happened in STARDOM during the month of March…

Championship Matches

Wonder of Stardom Championship: Saya Kamitani (c) vs Hazuki

Saya Kamitani was looking to continue her historic white belt run with defense 15 against the veteran Wildheart Hazuki. This was an all-time classic, a surefire match of the year, and an absolute statement by Hazuki that she belongs in the main event scene of Stardom on a regular basis. Kamitani definitely knows how to wrestle a big match style, and from her entrance, she shows the world a grace and sureness that only the best champions display.

Both had the fire and drive that are the hallmarks of Joshi that fans expect and can only get in a Japanese ring. There is a lot of wrestling happening every week across the world, but this Wonder of Stardom match is a must watch and would be a great introduction to Stardom or the world of joshi in general. It speaks volumes that Kamitani hit her Star Crusher finisher twice on Hazuki to ensure she got the win..

High-Speed Championship: AZM (c) vs Starlight Kid

These rivals crossed paths for another chapter in their storied rivalry. Anytime these two young stars lock up, magic happens in the ring, and this night was no different. Their match last year at Stardom Cinderella Journey in Nagaoka really caught the attention and imagination of fans, so there was a lot of anticipation before the bell rang.

It is state-of-the-art wrestling that is a continuation of Super J Cups in the 90s and Tiger Mask vs. Dynamite Kid in the 80s. At this point, they have counters for each other’s counters, and the fans are treated to multiple lightning-fast near falls as they upped their game with more vicious moves. It was a fantastic match that will have many fans dreaming about what the next encounter will look like.

World of Stardom Championship: Giulia (c) vs Maya Yuhiki

The bad blood that carried over from Ice Ribbon leads to an all-out war. It was expected that Giulia and Maya Yuhiki would not have a hold-for-hold mat classic; the resentment and anger they both felt wouldn’t allow it. Maya came in wanting to take everything from Giulia, be her first and only defense, and in the process ruin the company’s plans for its annotated one.

It was a wild brawl that led all over the arena with plenty of hard shots and bad intentions. Ultimately, they could not be controlled and both got counted out. This really felt like the first chapter in a violent story with the promise of more in the future. An extremely memorable defense for what could be an all-time red belt title run for Giulia.

Future of Stardom Championship: Ami Sourei (c) vs Lady C

Lady C wanted to test herself against the Future Champion, while Ami was set on making this a long title reign. Lady C, with her recent passion injection match, has brought more fire and passion to her matches, while Ami, who is entering year two of her Stardom career, has the strength and power advantage. The former Actwres Girl is on quite the run; she may be off radars, but as she continues to collect wins, people will surely start to take notice.

Goddesses of Stardom Championships: 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi & Yuu) (c) vs BMI2000 (Natsuko Tora and Ruaka)

Two hard-hitting teams collide for the Goddess of Stardom tag team titles. Tora and Ruaka, on a rare occasion, could not rely on their size advantage for this challenge. When Nanae and Yuu took the titles from meltear back at Dream Queendom last December, it felt like they would hold the titles for as long as they wished.

With Himeka and Maika and now Tora and Ruaka coming up short, it is clear it is going to take more than brute strength to unseat the champions. This is the type of match where just four wrestlers beat each other up until one team collapses and neither team wins any style points.

The First Triangle Derby Tournament

Semi-Final: Abarenbo GE (Ami Sourei, MIRAI & Syuri) vs. Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi, Tam Nakano & SAKI)

The Cosmic Angels have had a rough time of late and have been riddled with uncertainty with Unagi stepping away, Mina having one foot in the world of Club Venus, Waka struggling to get her first win, and meltear losing the tag titles. God’s Eye was working like a well-oiled machine and perhaps had the mental advantage as they beat the Cosmic Angels to move on to the finals.

Semi-Final: Prominence (Risa Sera, Suzu Suzuki, Hiragi Kurumi) vs. Neo Stardom Army (Nanae Takahashi, Yuna Mizumori & Yuu)

Both teams like to hit hard and often, so this was never going to be a mat classic. The Neo Stardom Army had the size advantage, but Prominence is well versed in violence, be it deathmatches or hardcore outings. As expected, there was a lot of brawling that could not be contained in the ring. It felt like the winners may end up being softened up for a fresher God’s Eye heading into the finals. Prominence got the victory and was one step closer to grabbing another big achievement in their Stardom run.

Finals: Prominence (c) vs Abarenbo GE

Before this match started, Prominence announced they wanted this to be a winner-takes-all scenario and offered up their Artist of Stardom championships to sweeten the pot.

God’s Eye are a team that rarely loses, but they had their work cut out for them as the Prominence are a trio that have a long history together and against each other that dates back to their days in Ice Ribbon. It was likely a shock to fans that Prominence, a team of rough around the edges outsiders, came away with the tournament win.

New Blood Premium PPV

New Blood Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final Match
God’s Eye (MIRAI and Tomoka Inaba) vs. God’s Eye (Ami Sourei and Nanami)

Faction on faction violence, neither team was going to go lightly just because they were friends. Often it is the case with friends that they go that little extra mile and chops are a touch louder, suplexes have more snap, and submissions are more fiercely applied. It’s not out of malice but out of mutual respect and rivalry.

Nanami is on loan from Diana, while Inaba is a Just Tap Out roster member; both have spent time in Stardom in recent months, with Inaba teaming with Syuri in the Tag League Tournament.

New Blood Tag Team Title Tournament Semi-Final Match
KARMA and Starlight Kid vs. Chanyota and Mai Sakurai

This was Starlight Kid and the bizarre alter ego of Haruka Umesaki, known as KARMA, taking on the odd couple tag team of Chanyota and Mai Sakurai.

KARMA, with her grand entrance and throwing of fire, is a modern version of the Sheik Ed Farhat, the uncle of Sabu, and a character that often terrorized Japanese rings in the past.

KARMA is unpredictable and in a recent outing has gotten the rare disqualification in a Stardom match. Tonight there was a focus on the tag titles on the line, with Sakurai and Chanyota’s lack of tag experience ultimately costing them an advancement to the finals. KARMA was more tame and in control for this match, and that is an interesting development and perhaps already an evolution of this character.

Supernova Five-Match Trial Series Match
Syuri vs. Miyu Amasaki

This match was not for the faint of heart; a trial match is pure violent theater as newcomers earn their stripes in front of the world.

This match was no different; repeated hard shots and wicked submissions were on tap for the young Amasaki. Nobody expected Amasaki to win; she just had to show fire and try to survive. Syuri continually prodded the young upstart to step up and hit back, which Amasaki did only to be snuffed out each time. It wasn’t about wins or losses; it wasn’t about hot moves or gif-able moments; it was about Amaski earning respect.

New Blood Tag Team Title Tournament Final Match
KARMA and Starlight Kid vs. God’s Eye (MIRAI and Tomoka Inaba)

There is a rivalry brewing between Starlight and MIRAI, and it really started over Starlight Kid trying to upstage MIRAI and get the crowd to start clapping for her. That is quite the unique way to start a feud, but Bret Hart faced Jean Pierre Lafitte over a stolen jacket, so anything is possible in this colorful world of wrestling.

Again, this was a less chaotic version of KARMA that felt more like Umesaki wrestling in face paint than the out of control force of nature that she has been in the past. It was a very good showing for both teams, and Tomoka Inaba continues to impress with each of her appearances, and performances like this make one wonder if she is set to become a permanent roster member in the near future. KARMA and Kid pick up the win, and now they are the inaugural New Blood Tag Team Champions.

Waka Tsukiyama Last Chance Match
Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano and Waka Tsukiyama) vs. 7KAIRI (KAIRI and Nanae Takahashi)
If Waka Tsukiyama cannot win, she will leave STARDOM

This is what the show was all about: the underdog of all underdogs. Waka Tsukiyama had one last shot at getting that elusive first win, or she was out of the Cosmic Angels. Her leader Tam Nakano was at her side as they took on the formidable team of veterans KAIRI and Nanae Takahashi, formerly known as 7Kairi in the pre-Bushiroad Stardom days.

Nanae had taken an interest in Waka and her shortcomings and put her through the paces in a Passion Injection Match, which is essentially a trial match by another name. It created a more fierce and aggressive Waka that even got a time limit draw with Red Belt Champion Giulia in her gauntlet series.

KAIRI and Tam wasted no time in picking up where their brief WrestleKingdom match left off and at times threatened to outshine the main player in Waka. Emotional and full of hard strikes and near falls that were incredibly close, it all ended with a rollup and cradle on Nanae to end one of the most memorable dry spells in recent history. The tears flowed as Waka got her first win and a group hug from her fellow Cosmic Angels.

Cinderella Tournament Round 1

The Cinderella Tournament for 2023 was again a multi-day event with a field of 36 competitors. It consisted of matches with a 10-minute time limit and the standard stipulation of over the top rope elimination, which is a way to create multiple upsets. This year was no exception, as many favorites were eliminated in round 1.

In the case of Mai Sakurai, she eliminated her Donna Del Mondo leader Giulia; Mayu Iwatani and Saya Kamatani fought to a double elimination; as did Cosmic Angels Mina Shirakawa and Natsupoi; and New Blood Tag Team Champions Haruka Umesaki and Starlight Kid.

Hazuki and AZM dashed their hopes when they eliminated each other. Utami Hayashishita and Nanae Takahashi went to a time limit draw. Waka Tsukiyama was the X against Lady C and continued her momentum from New Blood Premium with her second singles victory by advancing in the tournament. Club Venus saw its newest member, Xena, debut as the second mystery X, facing off against Queen’s Quest’s Hina.

Full Results for Cinderella Tournament First Round:

Waka Tsukiyama advances over Lady C
Saya Iida advances over Miyu Amasaki
Ami Sourei advances over Yuna Mizumori

Starlight Kid and Haruka Umesaki are both eliminated
Xena advances over Hina
Mariah May advances over Rina
Saki Kashima advances over Momo Kohgo

MIRAI advances over Hanan
Thekla advances over Koguma
Natsuko Tora advances over Ruaka
Syuri advances over Tomoka Inaba

AZM and Hazuki are both eliminated
Mai Sakurai advances over Giulia
Natsupoi and Mina Shirakawa are both eliminated
Saya Kamitani and Mayu Iwatani are both eliminated

Momo Watanabe advances over Maika
Utami Hayashishita and Nanae Takahashi are both eliminated
Tam Nakano advances over Himeka

Date:

April 3, 2023

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