World Wonder Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix August 23rd 2024

We’re back with more fantastic Stardom action, or kinda simply okay Stardom action as we’re in Sendai with an audience of 304…eeesh. Well we got a bit more star power as it’s Red Block time. Let’s get to it! Oh and once again, only reviewing block matches and I’m like…2 months behind and I feel ancient already. But undercard stuff I do not care about.

Mayu Iwatani [6] vs. Mei Seira [4] – Red Block B Match

Background: Mayu is the aging ace and the leader of Stars. Mei is the fastest of the cruisers in Stardom and being really fast is her like…thing, she’s in the cocky young upstart stable of Neo Genesis (though they’re pure face).

The Match: We go fast to start with both doing high-speed stuff and it ending with a double dropkick and then a standoff. Mei goes for the handshake and Mayu double crosses to get the cheapshot and then after more go-go-go stuff we get the vet stomping down the smaller wrestler and doing snapmares into soccer kicks and then a camel clutch to grind things down. Mei breaks by licking the hand and then Mayu just stomps her down and and tees off on her in the corner before dropkicking her. The Icon of Stardom follows with some rope choking and then the two of them slug it out. More physical match than I was expecting so far. And Mei heard me does some tricky stuff and gets the reverse dropkick out of the ropes before getting an STF-esque hold and uses Mayu’s gear to choke her. Iwatani slips out and gets another stiff elbow and then a spin kick. But Mei stomps Mayu’s foot and gets a running blockbuster to set up her climb to the top…where Mayu cuts her off and they fight on the top, and Mayu puts down Mei with a slap and then a superplex and follows with a sloppy missile dropkick. They trade running moves and Mayu is tossed outside after a dropkick but recovers enough to trip Mei mid apron run and the smaller wrestler goes flying to the mats…but back inside and Mayu’s own dive gets cut off with a springboard dropkick. Sloppy German follows from Mei who sets up whatever her finish is (I don’t think I’ve seen it yet) and then both trade rollups and Mayu gets a crucifix driver for a nearfall. Buzzsaw kick follows and Mayu signals for the end and loads up the Dragon Suplex but Mei gets a cazadora…but Mayu reverses that into a sloppy (that word again) O’Connor Roll for the win.

**½

Man I think I see what they were going for here but there was just too much sloppy work for me to call it good. I get that’s kind of Mayu’s thing (and part of the reason I don’t love Mayu like many do). They did work hard and had nice sequences, but switching between crunchy heel bullying and then loose and awkward high-speed sequences just made it feel disjointed.

Konami [4] vs. Yuna Mizumori [0] – Red Block A Match

Background: So this block has THREE people with winless records floating around, and while Konami isn’t the favorite to leave the block, she’s at least in the running and can take it. Yuna is a tropical themed brawler/bruiser and Konami is an evil kickboxer.

The Match: Hot start as Yuna ambushes Konami in the corner with a dropkick and then reverses a whip to a shoulderblock and tosses Konami to the apron…who uses the ropes to get a hanging armbar and then they roll to the ringside area and Konami brutalizes Yuna here. Back in and Konami gets a rope choke and Yuna gets a soft comeback until Konami goads her and the Powerful Pineapple gets a dropkick to knock Konami down. Konami reverses a lariat attempt into an armbar and then a sliding kick into the ropes and then another flying armbar into a triangle and well…we know what’s going to happen here as after a while Yuna gets a deadlift spinebuster and then some rough ground and pound and now Yuna gets the sliding lariat and a slam. Yuna goes for a fireman’s carry but Konami reverses into an armbar and then takes Yuna down with it, where they’re on the mat until Mizumori gets a foot on the ropes. Brainbuster to follow but Yuna gets a weird leg-hook electric chair suplex and then lands the lariat. Firmean’s carry driver follows but Konami weakly kicks out. Electric chair facebuster follows but Konami reverses the pin into the Triangle Lancer and we get an immediate tap from Yuna.

***

Maybe that’s too high but I like the psychology of Konami only getting things going by using the ropes or reversals and her slowing wearing out a stronger, tougher opponent. And Yuna might be okay? She didn’t try anything she couldn’t do and her power stuff mostly looked good. Plus consistent arm psychology!

Momo Watanabe [0] vs. Saya Iida [2] – Red Block B Match

Background: Momo is the other cheating kick devil of HATE, but uses less submissions than Konami and more suplexes, she’s also winless which remains eternally frustrating to me, but overall she’s a credible singles and tag wrestler who has won significant titles. Saya is a tiny but jacked up lady who does power spots despite being like…four foot nine, she’s much less credible. Is it time for Momo’s first win or will Saya keep the momentum going?

The Match: We start amateur style with Saya missing a single-leg and Momo fighting for a mount but Saya ending up with a headlock that Momo reverses out of and we get the standoff after a headscissors escape. Momo goes immediately to the cheating with a stomp to the foot and then a stomp to the back, but Saya gets a shoulderblock…before running into a crisp dropkick. Momo stomps out Saya, chokes on the ropes, and delivers basic slams while doing arrogant covers and disrespectful kicks in the midst of it. Solid heeling here. Saya gets the desperate forearms but gets kicked around while Momo just laughs at her. Momo starts firing more legit kicks at Saya who keeps rising back up. Saya eventually dodges a charge and chops away at Momo who writhes in agony at the abuse. Saya gets her jumping chop, sliding back elbow, and elbow drop before cranking in an inverted arm triangle. Momo breaks that, slips out of a brainbuster, but dodges the sliding lariat, and gets a kick to block a charge to set up her double kneedrop that Saya dodges and then lands her sliding lariat. But Momo’s followup lariat is blocked and Momo gets a half-nelson slam and the meteora for 2. That was a VERY quick sequence. Momo goes up but gets caught on the top-rope with a jumping…headbutt (I think) and Saya gets a super scoop powerslam (?!) for a big double-down. That was a nice move. Back up and we get a slug fest with Momo throwing big kicks and Saya throwing big chops. Momo finally blocks a chop and drops Saya…but Saya reverses the brainbuster and then runs into a spinebuster. Diving shoulderblock follows and a corner clothesline and Saya loads up the MUSCLE BUSTAHHHHHHH! But Momo slips out and gets a high kick and the diving meteora for a nearfall. Crossface chickenwing by Momo, but when Saya makes her feet Momo gets a B-Driver for 2.7. Buzzsaw kick is blocked however and Saya gets a falling lariat to counter it…before running into Momo’s Reverse B-Driver…for 1 (?!) and Saya reverses to her own cradle for 2.8…but Momo slips out, gets the punt, Saya pops back up and then runs into Momo’s Tequila Sunrise for the win and Momo utterly exhausted afterwards.

***½

Man Momo has been on a tear, from her getting frustrated early by Saya’s power and gumption and her having to cheat more and more to get ANYTHING going and then her finally having to bust out all of her big offense to drop Saya (though Momo didn’t cheat) and just look absolutely fed up by the whole enterprise was wonderful. And Saya remains delightful as a tiny power wrestler who does everything with so much energy. Really, really good match.

Tam Nakano [0] vs. Tomoka Inaba [6] – Red Block B Match

Background: So Tam is the biggest star in the company and winless so far in the tournament. Inaba is a rising rookie kung fu lady who is undefeated but is overall far below Tam. Is this where the tides finally turn for Tam and the magic runs out for Inaba?

The Match: Lockup and then standing switches and both throw whiffed kicks before Tam gets a cutter and a flipping neckbreaker in the first 30 seconds of the match. Tam gets a corner charge and then sets up a kick combo for 2.2. More kicks from Tam but Inaba fires up and tries to go for the same before Tam reverses into more of her kick combo and gets a Violet Shoot against the ropes as Inaba has been dogwalked so far. Tam sets up a brainbuster on the apron but runs into a gut punch from Inaba…before kicking the rookie down anyway. But when Tam tries to step back inside Inaba gets a dragonscrew in the ropes and Tam falls outside. Nakano limps back in, okay she doesn’t really limp, and then Inaba goes to work on the knee with more dragonscrews and more stomps to the leg. Tam gets whipped but can’t run and then Inaba gets an acrobatic rolling kneebar anklelock hold combo thing that looked very pretty. Tam makes the ropes and nods to the ref she can go on while she eats some Muay Thai knees from Inaba and eats some snapmares into shoot kicks. Inaba goes for the Michinoku Driver (her finish as TAKA was her trainer) but Tam slips out and slaps Tomoka before stumbling a bit on her knee and trying to get her footing. Inaba meanwhile just kicks the leg out of Tam’s leg and gets absolutely destroyed in a stand-up before eating a running kick to the chest. Tam gets a forearm though to stun Inaba and another Violet Shoot before trying for the tiger suplex…but both trade spin kicks to the head and then a double high kick sets up a double down. Both up and Inaba gets a running kick…but Tam gets a spin kick and a German for 2 and then goes for the tiger suplex again but Inaba reverses into the anklelock. Tam makes the ropes but she’s still basically dead so Inaba goes for the kill…and after a few reversals we get a Tam superkick she kinda sells and then runs into Inaba’s high kick and another Muay Thai knee. And now we get the Michinoku Driver…for 2.8. And Inaba just demolishes Tam with more kicks and then a rolling anklelock into a heel hook and then gets a figure-four heel hook deal and Tam taps.

**½

One of the better Tam matches as Tam didn’t do much after the opening moment and it was just a time for Inaba to execute. Tam still isn’t very good but the story was nice and logical and Inaba might have something really special to her, though she needs that next step beyond a very solid and logical worker. Tam is…yeah I don’t like it, but it worked fine here.

Natsupoi [6] vs. Manami [5] – Red Block A Match

Background: Natsupoi is the Wonder of Stardom Champion and the ring fairy, a mercurial and high-speed trickster babyface. Manami is a larger Sendai Girls based high-flyer of a more classic 80s set. So this is a dream match of sorts as we see both varieties of madness and acrobatics compete against each other.

The Match: Respect and then a stiff, AJPW lockup that Manami wins and gives a dirty break but Poi gets a cartwheel evasion and it’s so fast and they do all the things and it is, yet again, very fast. We get a Manami slam and then Poi pulls some hair and does her slam and then Manami responds and shrieks and does a monkey flip. But Poi comes back with more hairpulls and gets a low dropkick. South Asian Deathlock follows and Poi works the knee and finally loads up a Muta lock armbar. Manami finally breaks and we get Poi going at the arm again with stomps in the ropes. Manami finally reverses a whip and gets some running stuff and sheiking to set up her business. Poi gets a reversal though and an armbar as Manami sells big and hits the ropes. A sloppy low-bridge sends Poi outside though and Manami gets a dropkick off the apron. More dropkicks outside from the Sendai Girl. Back in and another missile dropkick follows from Manami but Poi gets an enzuigiri and a flipping neckbreaker before we do a sunset flip sequence into a Manami Boston Crab. Natsupoi makes the ropes, Manami goes up Poi cuts her off, Manami counters, and we get a suplex off the top rope from Manami. Eh whatever. Manami goes up and misses a splash and Poi gets the diving crossbody for 2 and then transitions into the armbar. Manami eventually makes the ropes but eats a series of kicks from Poi…before running into a jumping knee from Manami and then another as the outsider goes for the win. Poi gets the suplex in response and this overall has stunk. Poi gets a cartwheel into ther ambar again and Manami tries to sell and then finally taps.

**

Man this…didn’t work for me at all. The work was enough to be fine but they had zero chemistry. And I had no idea what the story was, Poi was working a limb Manami didn’t want to sell, and they didn’t have a clash of their weirdness. Just a match, in every negative way that means.

Hazuki [2] vs. Maika [4] – Red Block A Match

Background: Hazuki is the quick kicking, hard-edged taskmaster of Stars. Maika is a former champion and a big of the ugly duckling of DDM and the One Who Was Left Behind as she’s trying to figure out where she works as a powerhouse judoka.

The Match: Hockey fight to start as both just slug it out. Hazuki finally gets the upper hand with a dropkick and then a facewash and a senton and some running stuff and a missile dropkick and Hazuki has done a million things here as she transitions to a crossface. Maika finally makes the ropes and Hazuki unleashes a flurry of knees in the ropes but she runs into a scoop powerslam and Maika follows up with a chinlock until Hazuki makes the ropes. Maika runs through her regular business with a lariat and a shoulder, but can’t land the brainbuster and Hazuki unleashes some strikes and we are back to the hockey fight. Hazuki gets a drop toehold and a running boot on the ropes to knock Maika outside and a Hauzki Suicida follows. Hazuki gets a missile dropkick to follow and then returns to the crossface. We get a long fight for it and then Maika almost makes the ropes before Hazuki rolls back to the center and transitions to a border city stretch. Maika makes the ropes after 3 hours and we get back to Hazuki going up…and she gets cut off for a Maika superplex…but Hazuki slips out, gets a diving stomp on the top of Maika draped over the top turnbuckle, and then we get a Hazuki superplex, and then Maika goes up and gets her own superplex and then both get like 50 brainbusters against each other afterwards into a double down. They climb up using each other and slug it out, Hazuki wins the exchange…but runs into a spinning lariat and then the enka otoshi, Maika loads up a Michinoku Driver (also trained by TAKA) but Hazuki reverses into a DDT. Hazuki gets a codebreaker out of the corner and then the diving senton as the pace has been FAST. Hazuki gets her own Michinoku Driver and Maika is d-e-a-d. Well of course she ain’t as Maika slips out of another driver and gets a lariat and then her own driver for 2.8. But on a second attempt Hazuki goes for la magistral…and Maika scoops out of that for another driver…for 2.9. And as they count down the clock Maika gets one more Michinoku Driver and that’s 3.

***¼

Very good work from both and a nice contrast of power and speed, but the final sequence made everything click for me. Very fun battle over the Michinoku driver had it all work out.

Hey, Stardom is still pretty reliable for Pretty Good matches and this is what this card will give you. Mostly.

Blue Block A:
Saori Anou 7
Starlight Kid 5
Syuri 4
Xena 4
Koguma 4
Anna Jay 4
Miyu Amasaki 2

Blue Block B:
Saya Kamitani 6
Risa Sera 6
Suzu Suzuki 5
Hanan 5
Saki Kashima 4
Ranna Yagami 2
Thekla 2

Red Block A:
Natsupoi 8
Maika 6
Konami 6
Manami 5
Hazuki 2
Ruaka 1
Yuna Mizumori 0

Red Block B:
Mayu Iwatani 8
Tomoka Inaba 8
AZM 6
Mei Seira 4
Momo Watanabe 2
Saya Iida 2
Tam Nakano 0