May 21, 2017
matches published individually on Stardom World
(taped May 21, 2017)
City: Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
Venue: JMS Aster Plaza
Attendance: 224
Series: Gold May 2017
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Fuka
Match 1
Hetzza vs Kaori Yoneyama
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Kaori Yoneyama wins via pinfall after a diving senton
Time: 5:29
Match Thoughts
This was an okay match. Yoneyama seems better up close to her opponent moving from hold to hold while Hetzza is better using her speed. Unfortunately for Hetzza, Yoneyama managed to keep the match up close after a brief feeling out period. The match wasn’t great, but I think it worked as an alright opening for the show.
Match 2
Jessicka Havok vs AZM
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Jessicka Havok wins via pinfall after a running splash
Time: 2:08
Match Thoughts
This was kind of a squash. Havok is about three times the size of AZM, and tough AZM ran around the ring and managed to attempt a fight, Havok was just too big. Once Havok got a hold of AZM the match was pretty much over.
Match 3
Toni Storm (SWA World Champ) vs HZK
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Toni Storm wins via pinfall after a Drill a Hole Piledriver
Time: 9:28
Match Thoughts
Good match. There were some nice exchanges in this one where both women traded moves and pin attempts, and there were some nice chains as well. The pace and intensity gradually increased as the match went along, and the finish came suddenly (in a good way).
Match 4
Rebel vs Io Shirai (World of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Io Shirai wins via pinfall after a top rope moonsault
Time: 9:23
Match Thoughts
Good match. Rebel started the match trying to embarrass Shirai, but that didn’t last very long. After a little bit of a stalemate right at the beginning, Shirai took over and kept control of most of the match. Rebel got a few moves in, but her penchant for showboating didn’t help her maintain any sort of offense. Still, she looked pretty good in the match. Shirai just looked a lot better.
Match 5
Artist of Stardom Title Match
Natsuko Tora & Jungle Kyona (Goddess of Stardom Champ) & Mayu Iwatani (Wonder of Stardom Champ) vs Hiromi Mimura & Konami & Kairi Hojo (Artist of Stardom Champs)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Konami pins Natsuko Tora after a buzzsaw kick
Time: 19:47
Match Thoughts
Good match. This wasn’t originally scheduled to be a title match, but Konami got on the mic before the match and offered her opponents an opportunity at the titles. Jungle Kyona wondered if her team was ready, but Tora convinced the Jungle Team to accept the offer.
The match itself was fun, occassionally settling down to a normal tag match, but mostly consisting of all six women fighting in and around the ring at the same time. It was a little chaotic at times, but there were a lot of very fun spots. Konami seemed to get the worst of the beatings during most of the match. Towards the end of the match though, everyone started hitting some big moves and Tora took Konami’s place as the one taking all the shots. It was a very convincing finish to a good title match.
Show Impressions
The first two matches weren’t great, but everything after that was very good. Io Shirai’s match felt a little like an exhibition for her, but Storm versus HZK and the main event were both very nicely competitive. Over all it was a pretty good show.
Match of the Night
Artist of Stardom Title Match
This was easily the best match of the night. It had a little bit of story involved to make it interesting, and Kairi Hojo’s status in the company gave the match some tension. I think most everyone knows that Kairi is leaving Stardom soon, and she’s already dropped the rest of her titles, losing the latest one only a week prior. Adding that knowledge to the match makes it even more exciting.