Stardom New Year Stars 2017
Event Date: January 8, 2017
Matches published individually on Stardom World
City: Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan
Venue: Act City Hamamatsu
Attendance: 283
Series: New Year Stars 2017
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Fuka
Match 1
Azumi vs Arisu Nanase
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Azumi wins via pinfall with a bridging O’Connor Roll
Time: 1:42
Match Thoughts
This was an extremely fast match both in pace and length, but I liked it. Azumi refused to shake hands before the match so Arisu attacked Azumi from behind. The two girls then quickly went to work. Arisu opened with some nice strikes, then they both attempted multiple pin attempts until one of them worked.
Ring Area
After the match, Azumi gets on the mic and tells Arisu that she’s weak. She asks the crowd to make posts on Twitter and Facebook that she beat Arisu, and if she see’s them Azumi will leave a comment and a like. Arisu tries to take the mic from Azumi, but Azumi kicks Arisu and tells her to stay down.
Match 2
Kris Wolf vs Natsuko Tora
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Kris Wolf wins via pinfall after a diving double knee drop
Time: 7:46
Match Thoughts
Good match. It started with a little feeling out period that consisted of trading some wrist locks, then Wolf started to take over by using the ropes to her advantage. Wolf punished Tora, but Tora survived long enough to mount a comeback with a flurry including a pair of sentons. The match ended pretty evenly with both women feeling like they could take control at any moment. I liked Wolf’s carefree attitude and arrogance up against Tora’s increasing frustration with her antics. It was an interesting matchup.
Match 3
Three Way Battle
Shayna Baszler vs Viper vs Hiromi Mimura
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Viper wins via pinfall on Hiromi Mimura after a running splash
Time: 5:49
Match Thoughts
This was okay. It mostly consisted of Viper and Baszler fighting while Mimura hovered around the ring and tried to attack when she could. Viper and Baszler no-sold Mimura the whole time ad eventually started using her as a weapon and a tool to try to pick up an easy win. It was kind of fun, but it also felt overly choreographed at times.
Match 4
Nixon Newell & Kay Lee Ray vs Konami & Kairi Hojo (Goddess of Stardom Champ, Wonder of Stardom Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Nixon Newell pins Konami after a Shining Wizard
Time: 9:40
Match Thoughts
Good match. Newell and Ray attacked Hojo and Konami during the ring introductions and took the fight out to the crowd. This made it feel like Konami and Hojo were fighting an uphill battle the entire time. Both teams had some good teamwork throughout the match, but Newell and Ray just seemed to be in better unison with a better game plan. I liked the competitiveness of this one. Some of the moves looked really good.
Match 5
Jungle Kyona & Mayu Iwatani (High Speed Champ) & Yoko Bito (Goddess of Stardom Champ) vs Queen’s Quest (Momo Watanabe & HZK & Io Shirai (World of Stardom Champ)) (Artist of Stardom Champs)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: HZK pins Jungle Kyona after Atomic Bombs Away (diving seated senton)
Time: 15:57
Match Thoughts
Good match. I think Io Shirai was clearly the standout in this match with her strength and poise in the ring, but everyone looked good. The first half of the match had lots of different pairings and the occasional multi-person attacks, then the second half had a lot more of a free, everyone fighting everywhere structure. Jungle Kyona seemed to take the brunt of Queen’s Quest’s attacks towards the later part of the match, and that played into the finish.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. I think my least favorite match was the three way battle, but even that was pretty fun. None of the matches seemed too important, but the action was very good.
Match of the Night
Jungle Kyona & Mayu Iwatani & Yoko Bito vs Queen’s Quest
The tag match before this was about equally as good, but some of the things Io Shirai did in this match impressed me more than anything else on the show.