Stardom Shining Stars 2017
Kairi Hojo’s Last Match
Event Date: June 4, 2017
matches published individually on Stardom World
City: Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Shinkiba 1st Ring
Attendance: 433
Series: Shining Stars 2017
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Fuka
Match 1
Hanan vs Ruaka
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Hanan wins via pinfall with a rollup
Time: 5:04
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty decent opener for the young girls. Hanan had already been beaten by Ruaka twice before, so she was looking for her first singles win. It’s clear they’re both young and inexperienced, but they both certainly have a good base to grow from.
Ring Area
After the match, Hanan gets on the mic and says that since she wants to continue to rise in Stardom. The Starlight Kid then gets in to the ring and says that Hanan can’t do it alone. She, along with Hanan and Ruaka, wants to make Stardom even more exciting.
Match 2
Rebel vs Hana Kimura
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Hana Kimura wins via pinfall after a missile dropkick
Time: 8:40
Match Thoughts
This was pretty good. It started as a comedy match with both women trying to out-pose the other. Kimura then chased Rebel around the ring, through the crowd, and into the backstage area before returning to the ring. Once they were back in the ring the match became more serious. Rebel dominated most of the match with her power and size, but Kimura came back with a burst of offense towards the end. I like the second half of the match.
Match 3
Natsuko Tora & Jungle Kyona (Goddess of Stardom Champ) vs Hetzza & Mayu Iwatani (Wonder of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Jungle Kyona pins Hetzza after a sitout powerbomb
Time: 10:45
Match Thoughts
Good match. Mayu Iwatani was all over the place and used her speed to combat her opponents, but Hetzza never really seemed to get going. Kyona and Tora worked well as a team and dominated the ring when Iwatani wasn’t in it. The action was a little all over the place, but I liked it. This was a fun match.
Ring Area
After the match, Hana Kimura enters the ring and tells Kyona and Tora to leave. Kimura wonders if Mayu Iwatani might lose her Wonder of Stardom title since she just lost to a couple of junior wrestlers. Iwatani tells Kimura that she may be persistent, but Iwatani won’t join Oedo Tai. Kimura responds by challenging Iwatani to a title match the next time Stardom has a show at Shinkiba 1st Ring, and if Iwatani wins then Oedo Tai will break up. Iwatani accepts Kimura’s challenge.
Match 4
Artist of Stardom Title Match
Queen’s Quest (AZM & HZK & Io Shirai (World of Stardom Champ)) vs Hiromi Mimura & Konami & Kairi Hojo (Artist of Stardom Champs)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; title match official: Rossy Ogawa)
Result: AZM pins Hiromi Mimura with a bridging O’Connor Roll, Queen’s Quest becomes the new Artist of Stardom Champions
Time: 15:20
Match Thoughts
Good match. Kairi Hojo started the match against AZM, and it seemed like this would be some friendly competition. That didn’t last long though. AZM offered her hand to Kairi, but as Kairi shook it she got a boot from AZM and the rest of Queen’s Quest attacked. The match would progress with Queen’s Quest working very well as a team and Kairi’s team trying to keep up.
Hojo and Shirai had some moments in the ring together that were very good, and everyone pitched in to make this a fun and exciting match. The final segment of the match was nice, with multiple near falls and an increasing feeling of inevitability before the final three count actually happened.
Ring Area
After the match, Kairi Hojo gets on the mic. She doesn’t like losing, but she sees the future of Stardom in her opponents and her partners. She thinks they will need to continue to work even harder to improve themselves and Stardom.
Kairi also has a request. Before she leaves, she would like to face every member of Stardom one on one. Her request is approved and it is announced that Kairi Hojo will compete in a series of ten matches, each one with a one minute time limit.
Match 5
Kairi Hojo vs Hanan
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: Kairi Hojo wins via submission with Ikari (bridging cross-legged Boston crab)
Time: 0:56
Match Thoughts
Hanan slapped Kairi to start the match which was a nice surprise from the young girl. Kairi taught her a lesson though. A good match to start the series.
Match 6
Kairi Hojo vs Ruaka
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: Kairi Hojo wins via pinfall with a schoolboy
Time: 0:58
Match Thoughts
Unlike Hanan, Ruaka showed Kairi respect. She hit a fisherman suplex before Kairi took over.
Match 7
Kairi Hojo vs AZM (Artist of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
AZM was all over Kairi. Kairi never got a chance to mount any offense before the one minute time limit expired. This was a good night for AZM.
Match 8
Kairi Hojo vs Natsuko Tora
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Tora continued where AZM left off, hitting Hojo with some strong moves and a spear. She went for a few pin attempts but couldn’t put Hojo away before the time limit.
Match 9
Kairi Hojo vs Konami
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Hojo started mounting a comeback in this match, but Konami’s focus on getting Hojo in a cross arm breaker kept her grounded.
Match 10
Kairi Hojo vs Jungle Kyona (Goddess of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Hojo rolled out of the ring to escape Kyona as this match started. Kyona put Hojo back in the ring, but she could only manage to get a big swing a few pin attempts before the time limit.
Match 11
Kairi Hojo vs Mayu Iwatani (Wonder of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Iwatani had fun with her match, playing with Hojo and calling in Yoko Bito for a little double team. She didn’t seem at all concerned about going for a pin before the time limit expired.
Match 12
Kairi Hojo vs Io Shirai (World of Stardom Champ, Artist of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: the match ends in a time limit draw
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Hojo and Shirai traded chops, but Hojo, despite her exhaustion, got the better of the situation. That is, until Shirai hit Hojo with a strike and a lifting sitout double underhook facebuster. Shirai wasn’t able to attempt a pin before the time limit expired.
Ring Area
After the match, Shirai hit Hojo with a top rope moonsault. She then hugged Hojo before leaving the ring.
Match 13
Kairi Hojo vs HZK (Artist of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: HZK wins via pinfall after Atomic Bombs Away (diving frog splash)
Time: 0:40
Match Thoughts
HZK took full advantage of her spot in Hojo’s gauntlet and the damage done by Shirai. She opened with a diving elbow drop against Hojo, then continued to hit big moves.
Match 14
Kairi Hojo vs Hiromi Mimura
(referee: Daichi Murayama; time limit: 1 minute)
Result: Kairi Hojo wins via pinfall with a diving elbow drop
Time: 1:00
Match Thoughts
Mimura opened with a diving cross-body, then Hojo called for Mimura to hit her with forearms. Mimura obliged with a flurry, but Hojo survived and hit Mimura with an Alabama slam and a diving elbow drop to end the series of matches.
Ring Area
After the match, Kairi Hojo bows to the crowd. She talks about her debut match five and a half years ago and how she wasn’t cool. She learned that she just had to be herself though. She came up with her pirate gimmick years ago, and she has been finding treasure in the wrestling ring ever since. Her trainers and her fellow wrestlers have become her family. She then allows other wrestlers to say a few words.
Hanan starts by saying that she wants to be a legendary wrestler like Kairi. She tears up as she asks Kairi to watch her as she grows.
Ruaka expresses her gratitude for Kairi and hopes that she can continue to grow and make Stardom even better.
Natsuko Tora thanks Kairi for the short time they’ve been in Stardom together. She wants to fight Kairi again someday.
Jungle Kyona sings to Kairi before telling her that she will protect Stardom during Kairi’s journey.
Konami says she is in a Stardom ring because of Kairi. She thanks Kairi and hopes that they will meet in the ring again.
Mayu Iwatani just wants a hug.
Hiromi Mimura asks if Kairi is really leaving. Kairi says she’s surprised that Mimura didn’t beat her tonight, but the elbow drop Kairi gave Mimura transferred some of her power to Mimura. Mimura says she can’t be Kairi, but she will continue to grow.
AZM tells Kairi that she is going to be the best wrestler in the world and asks that Kairi watch her.
HZK tells Kairi that she was like Kairi’s stalker. She always wanted a singles match with her and she’s glad she could face Kairi in a title match. She wishes Kairi well on her journey. She then turns to Io Shirai and tells her that she would like a singles match with her.
Io Shirai agrees to a match with HZK next week. Shirai then tells Kairi that wherever she goes, her fellow wrestlers and the fans with always see Stardom within her. She wishes Kairi luck on her journey.
The Starlight Kid tells Kairi that even though they never teamed or fought, she’s happy she could return while Kairi was still in Stardom.
Shiki tells Kairi that she wanted to become a wrestler because of her.
Yoko Bito cries and says that it’s difficult, but you have to live your own life. She wishes Kairi luck.
Fuka thanks Kairi for her six years in Stardom and hopes that maybe one day she will return. In the meantime, the current roster will protect Stardom.
Kairi says that this is very difficult for her. She is sad that she won’t be able to see her friends or the fans, but she has worked hard to prepare herself for this journey. She asks that everyone continue to watch Stardom and herself. She closes out the show with everyone in the ring for a final bow, then bows by herself after everyone else leaves.
Show Impressions
The title match was very good, but this night was really all about Kairi Hojo. There was a lot of emotion on this show, and I think it was a good tribute to one of the biggest and brightest stars in the company. Her presence will definitely be missed.
Match of the Night
Artist of Stardom Title Match
A very good match, though I’m happy they did the ten matches in a row afterwards. It allowed Kairi to go out losing her last title, but it also allowed her to leave on a high note showing why she is such a huge part of Stardom.