Stardom New Year Stars 2018
Event Date: January 28, 2018 (12:00 JST)
matches published individually on Stardom World
#stardomworld
City: Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Shinkiba 1st Ring
Attendance: 335
Series: New Year Stars 2018
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Fuka
Match 1
Ruaka & Kaori Yoneyama vs Hanan & Xia Brookside (IPW:UK Women’s Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Kaori Yoneyama pins Hanan with an O’Connor Roll
Time: 4:26
Match Thoughts
This was a pretty good opening match. It went by quickly, but I liked it. Hanan and Ruaka are getting better and looked good against each other, and Yoneyama and Brookside helped carry the match towards its finish.
Match 2
Shiki Sibusawa & Starlight Kid vs AZM & Momo Watanabe
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Momo Watanabe pins Shiki Shibusawa after a running double knee strike
Time: 8:24
Match Thoughts
Good match. It started with AZM facing off against Starlight Kid, and that was very good. They both worked together to create a fast-paced sequence that showed how good they both can be. Starlight Kid stayed in the ring for a while as AZM and Watanabe tagged a few times, and that whole part of the match was very good. Shibusawa tagged in about halfway through the match, and even though she’s still learning and seemingly getting comfortable in the ring, I liked her portion of the match as well. It slowed down a bit from the beginning, but Watanabe carried Shiki to a nice finish.
Match 3
Miranda & Nicole Savoy (Shimmer Champ) & Kay Lee Ray vs Konami & Hiromi Mimura & Mari Apache (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Nicole Savoy forces Hiromi Mimura to submit to Memento Mori (Rings of Saturn)
Time: 9:52
Match Thoughts
Good match. World Selection selected Mimura to be their focus, and they worked well as a team to keep Mimura from getting into any kind of rhythm. Konami and Apache had their moments in the ring as well, but Savoy, Ray, and Miranda did well to weather their attacks and return the focus to Mimura. By the end, the finish was academic.
Match 4
Natsuko Tora & Jungle Kyona vs Tam Nakano & Mayu Iwatani
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Mayu Iwatani pins Natsuko Tora with a bridging German suplex
Time: 14:04
Match Thoughts
Good match. Nakano’s heart wasn’t in this match when the opening bell rang, but a silly bit where Jungle Kyona presented Nakano with two fake P-samas brought Nakano angrily into the match. I liked how that comedy segment set the tone for the rest of the match. Nakano did get beat up an awful lot in this one, but that allowed her and Iwatani to come together as a team towards the end of the match when they finally started learning how to work together. I thought this was a great first post-Oedo-Tai match for Nakano.
Ring Area
After the match, Mayu Iwatani asks Tam Nakano how her first match after Oedo Tai was. Nakano apologizes for not doing well, and she thanks Iwatani for being there for her. Nakano says she wants to learn how to be a better wrestler from Iwatani and the Stardom Army.
Jungle Kyona says that even though Nakano is her rival, she wants to work together to make the Stardom Army great. Nakano says that’s fine, but she doesn’t like the name “Stardom Army.” She wants something better and less plain. As she asks Team Jungle what they think about “Stardom Japan,” Iwatani re-enters the ring.
Iwatani has a surprise for Nakano: P-sama! Iwatani says P-sama was left behind at Korakuen Hall, so she took care of him. Nakano squeals with delight and hugs Iwatani. Iwatani says that with P-sama and the Stardom Army, Tam Nakano is not alone.
Match 5
Artist of Stardom Title Match
Sumire Natsu & Hana Kimura & Kagetsu (Goddess of Stardom Champs) w/ Kris Wolf vs HZK & Viper & Io Shirai (Wonder of Stardom Champ) (Artist of Stardom Champs) w/ AZM, Momo Watanabe
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Viper pins Sumire Natsu after a Michinoku Driver II, Queen’s Quest retain the titles
Time: 19:34
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Towards the end it felt like anyone could win with the next move, and there were a few moments when I was sure the match was over. Queen’s Quest and Oedo Tai continue to provide the best matches every single night in Stardom.
Ring Area
After the match, HZK has to be pulled off of Hana Kimura at ringside. Back in the ring, Queen’s Quest celebrates their second victory in a row. Io Shirai says that Oedo Tai is weak. They talk a lot, but they can’t back it up.
Kagetsu gets on the mic and says that QQ won twice, but Shirai didn’t beat Kagetsu to do it. Oedo tai doesn’t need the colorful Artist Titles anyway. They have the Goddess belts, and they’re more important. No one will take them away from Oedo Tai.
Mayu Iwatani runs to the ring with Tam Nakano behind her. Iwatani challenges Kagestu and Kimura to a title match. Kagetsu gets in Nakano’s face and asks if Nakano is challengin Oedo Tai to a title match. Nakano says she is. Kagestu wants to get a word from Hana, but Hana is gone, so she asks Natsu o say something. Natsu, still recovering, says she’s ready for Queen’s Quest. Oedo Tai quietly leaves the ring area. Iwatani and Nakano walk away as well.
In the ring Momo watanabe tells Shirai not to worry about any of them. Watanabe wants to face Shirai in a tag match, QQ vs QQ, at the next Shinkiba show. Shirai agrees to the match, saying that regardless, QQ still has the best win percentage in Stardom.
Show Impressions
Good show. It felt like a lot of setup, but it was good. I really enjoyed seeing Tam Nakano’s story develop alongside Iwatani’s return to action. I like where that is headed. And of course, QQ vs Oedo Tai was the best thing on the show.
Match of the Night
Artist of Stardom Title Match
Lots of good action. I’m looking forward to Oedo Tai getting some big wins pretty soon though.
Official Results (Japanese): http://wwr-stardom.com/?result=2018%E5%B9%B41%E6%9C%8828%E6%97%A5%E3%80%80new-year-stars-2018