Starlight Kid Earns First STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 Victory as the Tournament Rolls On in Utsunomiya

By: Lewis Carlan

The STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 rolled on as the tournament hit Utsunomiya at the Light Cube Utsunomiya Grand Hall with another sold out crowd on hand for the event.

Starlight Kid’s first two matches in the STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 can be viewed as a disappointment as she went to a draw with Saya Kamitani on July 28th and fell in defeat to Hanan on Aug. 1st. As one of the favourites to win the tournament, she had only accumulated 1 point and was sitting near the basement of the Blue Stars B Block.

On Aug. 2nd, Starlight Kid faced Momo Watanabe in a tournament bout which was deemed as a must win for Kid. Watanabe had been undefeated thus far in the tournament and was last year’s 5★STAR GP winner. If Starlight Kid lost, she would have fell seven points behind Watanabe and that would have been most likely insurmountable for Kid to overcome.

Starlight Kid entered the match knowing it was going to be tough but she was poised and ready for Watanabe. The two engaged in hard fought evenly-matched encounter.

Starlight Kid proved to be the better woman on this occasion as she was able to score the crucial win over Watanabe after pinning her at the 10:11 mark with a Momo☆Latch. The win gives Starlight Kid a total of three tournament points and puts her within three points of the Blue Stars Block B leading Watanabe and Hanan who each have six points.

Photo Credit: STARDOM

During her post-match backstage comments, Starlight Kid indicated that the win over Watanabe has given her a huge confidence boost.

From Starlight Kid:

“I beat last year’s champion, Momo Watanabe. That’s what happens when you only keep your eyes on Kamitani. Beating last year’s champion has given me a huge boost of confidence. I have no intention of dropping any more points. We have another official match tomorrow, Yunamon. I’m going to snatch two points from you.” (Translated via Deepl.com)

In other action, Ami Sohrei defeated Wonder of STARDOM Champion Hanan in a Blue Stars B Block match-up. After the bout, Sohrei challenged Hanan for the Wonder of STARDOM Title. Hanan agreed to defend the White Belt against Sohrei after the STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 concludes.

Photo Credit: STARDOM

Rina defeated Itsuki Aoki in a Red Stars Block A bout to end Aoki’s tournament winning streak at four.

Here are the full results for STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 on Aug. 2nd courtesy of purolove.com:

• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Saya Kamitani [5] defeated Kikyo Furusawa [0] (7:15) with a crab hold.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: Suzu Suzuki [8] defeated Rian [0] (4:21) with a tequila shot.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: Miyu Amasaki [4] defeated Aya Sakura [4] (8:58) with the Tensei.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: Ruaka [6] defeated Julia Hart  [4] (7:35) with a Second Body Press.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Yuna Mizumori [4] defeated Koguma [4] (7:50) with a Supergirl.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Starlight Kid [3] defeated Momo Watanabe [6] (10:11) with a Momo☆Latch.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block B: Ami Sohrei [4] defeated Hanan [6] (11:16) with the Raiden Shiku.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Blue Stars – Block A: HANAKO [4] defeated Hina [2] (14:08) with a JP Coaster.
  
• 5★STAR GP – Red Stars – Block A: Rina [4] defeated Itsuki Aoki [8] (14:36) by pinfall.

Here are the updated standings for the STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 courtesy of purolove.com:

Red Stars A Block:

• Itsuki Aoki [8]
• Maika [6]
• Sayaka Kurara [4]
• Tomoka Inaba [4]
• AZM [4]
• Natsuko Tora [4]
• Rina [4]
• Akira Kurogane [0]

Red Stars B Block:

• Saya Iida [6]
• Rina Yamashita [6]
• Konami [6]
• Maki Itoh [5]
• Mei Seira [3]
• Azusa Inaba [3]
• Utami Hayashishita [3]
• Lady C [0]

Blue Stars A Block:

• Suzu Suzuki [8]
• Ruaka [6]
• Aya Sakura [4]
• Julia Hart [4]
• HANAKO [4]
• Miyu Amasaki [4]
• Hina [2]
• Rian [0]

Blue Stars B Block:

• Momo Watanabe [6]
• Hanan [6]
• Saya Kamitani [5]
• Koguma [4]
• Ami Sohrei [4]
• Yuna Mizumori [4]
• Starlight Kid [3]
• Kikyo Furusawa [0