Stardom 5Star Grand Prix – August 20th, 2024

Howdy!

Been a minute, Stardom. I missed ya.

Let’s watch some wrestling, shall we?

So, what’s the deal? Well, I had been dipping in and out of Stardom over the last year or so, really since Suzu Suzuki won this particular event but lost her title challenge. Then the great Marigold split happened (I miss you, Utami!) and I honestly kept running out of time for the company.

But a few weeks ago or so, the H.A.T.E. angle happened and I figured that maybe this was a good time to dive back into Stardom, especially with the 5Star coming up. Time being what it was, I waited until the G-1 ended (ZSJ! ZSJ! ZSJ!!!) and now I’ve got free time again.

I’m not taking over for Phred at all, as he’s been doing his own work on the 5Star and I expect that to continue. It’s honestly cool to have multiple people covering women’s wrestling on the blog. To avoid my usual word bloat, I’m skipping a lot of the background, which has already been covered by Phred right here, so go check out his most excellent work: https://www.blogofdoom.com/2024/08/12/world-wonder-ring-stardom-roster-snapshot/

I didn’t see much reason to start from the beginning, let’s just dive right on in with the current show!

Stardom 5Star Grand Prix 2024 – Night 7, August 20th, 2024

Anna Jay vs Miyu Amasaki

Both women are out of the running here and playing for pride. Anna had a decent enough match with Starlight Kid (but who doesn’t), but outside of that has been learning the ropes of joshi, so to speak.

They trade shots and Anna needs to start laying that shit in, because the difference is noticeable when Miyu connects. Jay comes back with leg to the corner and plays to the crowd. Boot choke by Anna, Miyu comes back with a few dropkicks and a DDT, then ties Jay up. Anna catches the Queenslayer, but Miyu makes the ropes. Miyu back with another DDT. Anna gets a Koji Clutch, Miyu makes the ropes. This match would give ‘meh’ a run for it’s money. Miyu comes back with a hammerlock…..DDT for two. Gory Bomb by Anna leads to the Queenslayer for the submission. (Anna Jay over Miyu Amasaki, submission, 8:02)

THOUGHTS: *3/4. Not good and I’m starting to wonder what Anna is going to take from this tournament. She’ll be better just by the experience, I suppose, but not much has changed. I don’t question the desire, but that’s not all there is to pro wrestling.

Risa Sera vs Ranna Yagami

Risa! Queen bitch of Prominence in da house!

…..I’m a 46 year old white dude, I can’t pull that line off.

Risa! A professional wrestler who I very much enjoy!

Nailed it.

Anyhoo, Risa’s victim tries to attack fast and actually hits a nice-looking high kick to send Sera to the floor. Then she foolishly follows Risa to said floor, allowing Sera to toss her like a bowling ball into two separate sets of chairs. Back in and Ranna tries to fight off a Boston Crab, so Risa calmly STEPS ON HER FACE to force the turnover. I adore this woman. Sera rocks her and drops her like garbage before stepping on her back and yanking her hair because she fucking CAN and if the ref has a problem with that, he can take an ass-kicking himself.

Ranna tries a comeback, so Risa amuses herself by taking some shots before calmly waffling her back down. Ranna doesn’t take the hint and keeps fighting back with kicks, so Sera hits her with a Meteora in the corner and goes up, but misses the double knees. Sera puts her in a Liontamer and the sadistic, bloodthirsty crowd hasn’t had enough ass-whuppin’ because they clap to try to will Ranna to the ropes, instead of just screaming at her to give up and spare herself.

Several near-falls ensue, with Ranna even kicking out of Ayers Rock II, but finally Risa has enough of this shit and finishes with a Air Raid Crash. (Risa Sera over Ranna Yagami, pinfall, 8:46)

THOUGHTS: ***. I’m a sucker for someone just beating the crap out of a plucky underdog, and I got that in spades here. It helps that I’m a big fan of the one doing the ass-kicking, but still – a fun match where the outcome wasn’t in doubt but Sera kept it entertaining for what it was, and Ranna did her part (taking said ass-kicking) like a champ, while still firing up from underneath well.

Koguma vs Syuri

Koguma starts strong, as she should considering Syuri is a machine of violence. Hair-assisted camel clutch makes Syuri angry. You wouldn’t like her when she’s angry. Well, maybe you wouldn’t but I sure as hell do. She gets back to her feet and Koguma is about to get kicked. A lot. And sure enough, Syuri just beats her ass and goes for covers, as Koguma cries out in agony. Koguma fires up…..so Syuri kicks her in the face and stomps on her. Tremendous.

Cutter by Koguma turns the tide, and now she’s the one stomping on the back of Syuri. Dropkick by Syuri, followed by a suplex. They end up on top and Koguma snaps Syuri’s neck on the top rope, but comes off the apron and takes a knee to the gut. Back in for Syuri to kick Koguma and put her in an armbar. Syuri goes up again, but Koguma again cuts her off and brings her down with a cutter this time. Koguma gets caught and takes an INSANE head bump off a German Suplex, then fires up and hits Syuri with one of her own. That was bonkers. Syuri tries a slam, gets two, tries a second, and this time Koguma rolls her up for the pin. (Koguma over Syuri, pinfall, 10:33)

THOUGHTS: **1/2. I admit I’m not really a big Koguma fan, but damned if she didn’t sell her ass off in this one. Syuri, of course, can do no wrong. Finish felt like it was kind of from another match, but some of Koguma’s comebacks were great.

Saya Kamitani vs Saki Kashima

Saya is newly turned to the dark side after being left behind, so to speak, by Queen’s Quest essentially breaking up. I dig the look, it’s got a strong evil vibe to it. Saki has been doing comedy a lot with her board, but she leaves it behind to play it straight here, a nice touch that she’s taking this one seriously. They end up on the floor early and Saki hits the post. Saya immediately tosses a chair into the ring to relax while Saki gets counted out. Of course there’s a nefarious purpose as well, as Saki dives back into the ring right into a drop toehold on the chair. Raven approves.

Kamitani maintains the advantage by beating on Saki in the ropes before stepping on her throat and then stomping away. Saya gets caught coming in on a charge in the corner and now Saki goes to work. Saya tries to come back with a dropkick, but Kashima drops her with a kick to the head. Kamitani tries bridging Northern Lights, gets two. She goes to finish, but Kashima counters into a rolling cradle pin that gets the duke. (Saki Kashima over Saya Kamitani, pinfall, 6:45)

THOUGHTS: **3/4. Might be the most I’ve enjoyed a Saya match in a long time, the new attitude was really fun to watch. I generally like Saki and liked the match, but at the same time, Saya took a lot in a losing effort to protect her.

Thekla vs Suzu Suzuki

YES! YES! Bring on the baddest women in the land! Thekla, of course, has a new attitude going from the demise of Donna Del Mundo to H.A.T.E. Also, she’s insanely hot and I love her. And speaking of love, Suzu Suzuki. I love/fear her. That is all.

They trade shots to start, Suzu winning that one, so Thekla sends her to the floor. And kicks her in the head. She hits a suplex onto the floor and sends Suzu into the chairs. Back in and Thekla kicks her in the head again for two, then applies the crossface, turning that into a lockjaw. Suzu is annoyed by this, so she snapmares her, kicks her as hard as possible in the back, then tosses her to the floor so SHE can send Thekla on a chair ride. You know, normal stuff. What we’d all do, really.

Suzuki is bleeding from the ear, which, ow. The ref counts and Suzuki tosses Thekla back in and the punishment continues. Suzu with knees, but Thekla cuts that off with kicks and goes for a suplex, reversed by Suzuki. Back up to their knees and Thekla spits in Suzu’s face, which produces the GREATEST Suzu face of ‘this woman did NOT’ before Suzuki just DROPS her with a forearm.

To the top we go now, and Thekla ends up hung upside-down on the buckle, but she bridges up and does the spider suplex on Suzuki from the top! Double foot stomp from Thekla! 1, 2, no! 3 straight superkicks from Thekla set up the roundhouse, but Suzu avoids that and hits a German, but runs right into a spear from Thekla! Superkick by Suzu! Thekla looks to once more rise up, but she does right into the Tequila Shot by Suzuki, which is enough to bring this one to a close. (Suzu Suzuki over Thekla, pinfall, 11:09)

THOUGHTS: ****. I’m a mark for both women, what do you want? Strong style stuff here with big moves and kickouts and fire ups, stuff I very much enjoy when done right in wrestling. I loved this and watched it twice, that’s the best rec I can give.

Post-match, Thekla(!) offers the handshake of respect after the loss, seemingly indicating she wants Suzuki to join H.A.T.E., so Suzu does the babyface move and slaps the shit out of her before leaving.

Xena vs Saori Anou

Anou starts out cautiously against the larger Xena as we get an actual feeling out process here. Early portion of the match establishes the dynamic where Anou uses speed to try to avoid Xena’s strength and size advantage.

Xena eventually takes over and in a neat spot I wish more people would do, just muscles her over for a suplex to cut off a reversal. More beatings by Xena ensue as Anou gets put into a Boston Crab. Anou makes the rope, but they do my least favorite thing ever as Xena just takes the arm away from the ropes and the ref doesn’t break the hold. You make the ropes, you make the ropes. That’s my view. You don’t get to change it if you’re the offensive wrestler who just didn’t keep the other one from doing it!

Anyway, Xena beats her ass some more, including sending her outside and diving onto her with a plancha. Back in and they stand and trade, then that devolves into a slap fest that sounds like firecrackers. Xena wins that exchange, but gets caught with a kick coming in, then a missile dropkick from Anou. Torture Rack onto knees as we’ve got less than 5 minutes left in the time limit.

Northern Lights by Anou into a straightjacket choke, but Xena gets her feet to the ropes to break. Xena makes a comeback and hits a bridging German for two, Anou comes back with a German of her own, Xena hits a lariat for two. Back and forth these two go. Off the ropes and Anou loops her into a backslide, then goes over the top with her legs to bridge for the pin to keep Xena down for three. (Xena over Saori Anou, pinfall, 12:31)

THOUGHTS: ***1/4. Anou was a bit on and off here, which only hurt things to me because Xena was booked to take 80% of the match and that necessitated her selling a bit more than she did in certain spots. Regardless, the pacing was strong and Xena didn’t get hurt in the loss, so it accomplished the goal it needed. I don’t know how sold I am on Xena, frankly, but she’s got time to improve.

FINAL THOUGHTS: The thing with Stardom shows is that things just kind of breeze by and you almost always get a decent match or two, which is what we got here. One excellent match and a few good ones is a good show.

I’ll be around a bit more until the 5Star finishes up. I did this one quickly, I’ll try to go more into depth when I have a bit more time. See you all soon!

As always, thanks for reading this thing I wrote,

Rick Poehling
@MrSoze on Twitter
[email protected] for email