January 3, 2017
matches published individually on Stardom World
(taped January 3, 2017)
City: Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Shin-Kiba 1st Ring
Attendance: 408
Series: New Year Stars 2017
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Fuka
Match 1
Ruaka vs Azumi
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Azumi wins via pinfall with a bridging pin
Time: 4:37
Match Thoughts
This was alright. Both girls are very young, and they really just seemed to be going from one move to the next until the finish of the match. There wasn’t much in the way of pacing, but both girls look sharp in the ring.
Ring Area
After the match, Azumi gets on the mic and tells Ruaka that she’s gotten slow and lazy. She then wishes Ruaka and the crowd a merry Christmas before realizing it’s already the new year. Azumi apologizes for her mistake, saying she was just following Ruaka’s lead.
Match 2
Natsuko Tora & Konami & Kaori Yoneyama vs Arisu Nanase & Saori Anou & Hiromi Mimura
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Hiromi Mimura pins Natsuko Tora with a La Magistral
Time: 7:16
Match Thoughts
This was pretty good. It broke down fairly quickly and got a little frantic, but overall I enjoyed the match. Yoneyama’s team definitely worked better as a cohesive unit, but Mimura’s team managed to hang in there with them. Out of all the matchups in this one, I’d really like to see more of Konami versus Saori Anou. Their brief time in the ring together was proabably my favorite part of the match.
Match 3
High Speed Challenge
Kagetsu vs Momo Watanabe
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 15:00
Match Thoughts
Good match. Kagetsu started off not taking Watanabe seriously. The fight went out to the crowd early in the match, and Kagetsu had her way with Watanabe, attacking her (awkwardly at times) with a broom before the referee pried it away from her. That would start Watanabe on an underdog fight in this match as well as some aggression from Kagetsu towards the referee. Both of those factors played a role in the way the match developed. This one built nicely with the intensity increasing the closer it got to the time limit.
Match 4
Kris Wolf & Viper vs Nixon Newell & Kay Lee Ray
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Kay Lee Ray pins Kris Wolf after a Swanton Bomb
Time: 6:21
Match Thoughts
This was pretty good. At times I think it felt a little over choreographed, like you could see them thinking about the next spot, but it was still fun to watch. Wolf and Viper are the more interesting team visually and in their teamwork, but Newell and Ray seemed like they were the better tandem overall.
Match 5
Sumie Sakai & Kagetsu & Kyoko Kimura vs Jungle Kyona & Shayna Baszler & Mayu Iwatani (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Mayu Iwatani pins Kagetsu after a second rope hurricanrana
Time: 17:27
Match Thoughts
Good match. Mayu Iwatani seemed to be the standout in this. She got beat up the most but she also had the most support and the biggest comeback of all the women in the match. All six women worked well together though, and this was a fun, energetic match.
Ring Area
After the match, Mayu Iwatani gets on the mic and laughs at Kagetsu. Kimura points out that Kagetsu wrestled two matches tonight, but Iwatani is still happy about getting the first pin of the year on her rival. Momo Watanabe enters the ring and tells Iwatani that she wants to challenge her for the High Speed Title at the upcoming anniversary show. Iwatani makes some jokes, but eventually holds out her hand for Watanabe. Watanabe refuses to shake hands and walks away.
Match 6
Queen’s Quest (HZK & Io Shirai (World of Stardom Champ)) vs B.Y. Ho (Yoko Bito & Kairi Hojo (Wonder of Stardom Champ)) (Goddess of Stardom Champs)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Kairi Hojo pins HZK after a diving elbow drop
Time: 17:55
Match Thoughts
Good match. All four women fought hard, giving and receiving some tough shots. For the most part this stayed as a normal tag match with two women in the ring at any given time, though there were naturally a few breakdowns and double teams here and there. I liked how the match flowed and how everyone stayed involved with everyone else. Both pairs worked well as teams, though the champs B.Y. Ho seemed like they were slightly better in the teamwork department.
Ring Area
After the match, Nixon Newell and Kay Lee Ray enter the ring and tell B.Y. Ho that they are going to take their titles. Viper then enters the ring and challenges Io Shirai for the World of Stardom Title. Shirai accepts the challenge then calls out Kyoko Kimura.
Kimura and Kagetsu come out to the ring, and Shirai asks them who their partner will be for the upcoming Artist of Stardom Title match between Queen’s Quest and Oedo Tai. Viper grabs the mic and says she will be their partner and become the Artist of Stardom champ as well.
Show Impressions
I liked the show. Half the show was quite good, and the rest of the matches were pretty fun. I think it was a good way to start the year, and it’s already setting up a lot of matchups and title matches for the coming weeks which is nice.
Match of the Night
Queen’s Quest vs B.Y. Ho
I liked the High Speed Challenge match as well, but I think this was the best match overall. Good action from start to finish.