Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2018
Event Date: April 30, 2018 (11:30 AM JST)
matches published individually on Stardom World
#stardomworld
City: Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Korakuen Hall
Attendance: 987
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yurie Kozakai (1, 4-8, 10-13, 15), Yoritaka Ando (2, 3, 9, 14)
Match 1
Natsuko Tora & Shiki Shibusawa & Ruaka & AZM & Leo Onozaki vs Hanan & Natsumi & Starlight Kid (Future Champ) & Nao Yamaguchi & Mari Apache (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Starlight Kid pins Leo Onozaki after a rounding moonsault
Time: 5:50
Match Thoughts
This was pretty fun, though it was quite chaotic and maybe a little messy at times. As a warm-up match, it was fine. Being so short meant there wasn’t a lot to it though.
Match 2
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Konami vs Momo Watanabe
(referee: Kyohei Wada)
Result: Momo Watanabe wins via pinfall with a diving meteora
Time: 3:58
Match Thoughts
The match was short, but this is the first round so that’s not unusual. The action consisted almost entirely of kicks, and it worked well. It was essentially a competition of who could get the strongest and most opportune kicks. I liked it.
Match 3
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Candy Floss vs Saki Kashima
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Saki Kashima wins via pinfall after My Emblem (inverted double underhook facebuster)
Time: 4:12
Match Thoughts
Candy Floss started very aggressively and dominated a large portion of this short match. Kashima basically had to survive Floss’s onslaught and try to get in moves when she could. This was very short, but I think it was pretty good for a first round match.
Match 4
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Session Moth Martina w/ Kagetsu, Nao Yamaguchi vs Bea Priestley
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Bea Priestley wins via pinfall after a step-up curb stomp
Time: 4:47
Match Thoughts
Martina got a surprising amount of offense in this match. It felt as though Priestley underestimated Martina. Priestley said in the pre-match interview that Martina’s antics and styles made her no match for Bea, but during the match Martina’s antics seemed to give Bea a false sense of security. Martina was goofy, but the goofiness led to some good and impactful moves. Priestley eventually figured things out and started to mount a comeback. I thought this match was fun and interesting. Martina’s antics made me pull against her which pulled me into the match and got me invested. Pretty good for a match this short.
Match 5
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Sumire Natsu vs Brandi Rhodes
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Brandi Rhodes wins via pinfall with a seated counter to a sunset flip
Time: 3:59
Match Thoughts
Natsu dominated the match, but she didn’t really seem to take Rhodes seriously. Granted, Rhodes had almost zero offense, but she did get a little offense when it mattered. This was a pretty good opening round match that based a lot of its interest on the fact that both Natsu and Rhodes are members of Oedo Tai.
Match 6
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Hazuki vs Hana Kimura (Goddess Champ)
(referee: Kyohei Wada)
Result: Hazuki wins via Ring Out when she forces Hana Kimura over the top rope and to the floor
Time: 4:47
Match Thoughts
Good match. Hazuki was extremely aggressive, attacking Kimura before the bell and not letting up. The two women exchanged some heavy strikes and kicks in an effort to overpower each other. This was a fight, and I liked it. It was quite interesting given Hazuki’s position in Oedo Tai and the resentment she seems to feel. After the match Hazuki and Hana shook hands which was also interesting to see.
Match 7
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Tam Nakano vs Mayu Iwatani
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Mayu Iwatani wins via pinfall with a bridging dragon suplex
Time: 5:26
Match Thoughts
This was another match that was made interesting be the relation ship between the competitors. Iwatani and Nakano are friends, so seeing them not hold back against each other shows how much this tournament means to them. This was a good match. Nakano was clearly the underdog facing a two-time tournament champ, but he did very well. Nakano started the match with a burst of offense and repeatedly took the fight to Iwatani. Iwatani’s experience helped her fight back though.
Match 8
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Chardonnay vs Io Shirai (Wonder Champ)
(referee: Kyohei Wada)
Result: Io Shirai wins via submission with a Texas Cloverleaf
Time: 5:18
Match Thoughts
Good match and a good, strong performance from Io Shirai. Chardonnay had some offense, but Shirai went about her business like the champ she is.
Match 9
Cinderella Tournament Round 1 Match
Jungle Kyona vs Kageko (Goddess Champ) w/ Nao Yamaguchi, Session Moth Martina, Sumire Natsu, Hana Kimura (Goddess Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Jungle Kyona wins via Ring Out when she powerbombs Kageko from the apron to the floor (onto members of Oedo Tai)
Time: 5:53
Match Thoughts
This was interesting. Kageko is Kagetsu in a dress acting overly feminine (worried about makeup, being modest about her dress, etc.). Kagetsu’s wrestling style differed when she was in the dress, and Kyona didn’t have too much trouble with her. Kagetsu would eventually take the dress off and wrestle like she normally does, and that’s when the match ceased to be a comedy act and started to have some serious action. I liked Kyona’s attitude in this, and I’m glad she wasn’t affected by Kagetsu’s antics.
Match 10
Cinderella Tournament Round 2 Match
Bea Priestley vs Hazuki w/ Nao Yamaguchi, Session Moth Martina, Sumire Natsu, Kagestu (Goddess Champ), Hana Kimura (Goddess Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Bea Priestley wins via pinfall after a step-up curb stomp
Time: 3:17
Match Thoughts
I liked this. Oedo Tai got heavily involved, and even though members of Queen’s Quest attempted to hold them back, Priestley took a lot of damage from Oedo Tai’s attack. Both Hazuki and Priestly looked very good, fighting hard and putting a good amount of action in this short match. The finish was well done, and the result was a bit of a surprise.
Match 11
Cinderella Tournament Round 2 Match
Saki Kashima vs Mayu Iwatani
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Mayu Iwatani wins via pinfall after a bridging dragon suplex
Time: 4:40
Match Thoughts
Kashima looks tons better in this round, and she took the fight to Iwatani. Both women were impressive here, and this might have been the most competitive match so far in the tournament. Very good match.
Match 12
Cinderella Tournament Round 2 Match
Brandi Rhodes vs Io Shirai (Wonder Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Io Shirai wins via pinfall after a diving moonsault
Time: 5:17
Match Thoughts
Rhodes took a pretty good beating in this one. Shirai controlled almost the entire match, which really isn’t very surprising. I liked Rhodes in this tournament, but getting past Shirai, or even putting up a good fight, was always going to be an extremely difficult task. This was definitely good for Shirai. She showed her dominance with ease, and it sets her up to possibly have an advantage in the next round depending on the condition of her opponent after round two.
Match 13
Cinderella Tournament Round 2 Match
Momo Watanabe vs Jungle Kyona
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Momo Watanabe wins via Ring Out after a cradle back-to-belly piledriver on the apron
Time: 5:05
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Both women really seemed to want to win this, and they both fought hard. There was a lot of energy in this, and a lot of impactful moves. I like how they worked together, trading moves all the way up until the end. This could have gone either way, and that makes the victory feel even more important.
Match 14
Cinderella Tournament Semifinal Match
Mayu Iwatani vs Io Shirai (Wonder Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: the match ends in a Time Limit Draw
Time: 10:00
Match Thoughts
Great match with a surprising finish. I liked the result, but I can see that it might be unsatisfying for some people. Shirai and Iwatani always have great matches against each other, and this was no exception. With the added threat of a relatively short time limit, they pressed the action hard right from the start.
Match 15
Cinderella Tournament Final Match
Bea Priestley vs Momo Watanabe
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Momo Watanabe wins via pinfall with a modified Tequila Sunrise suplex (half-Tiger suplex)
Time: 6:59
Match Thoughts
Very good match. As with all the matches tonight, it was kind of short, but it was very entertaining. Both women were hitting hard strikes and kicks. They were both feeling the effects of the tournament, but that added to the devastation of each strike. The momentum swung heavily from one side to the other during the match, and the finish was very well done. This was a nice finish to a fun tournament.
Ring Area
Rossy Ogawa presents Momo Watanabe with a gown, a trophy, and a tiara. After thanking everyone for their support, she issues a challenge to Io Shirai for the Wonder of Stardom Title. Shirai enters the ring and accepts Watanabe’s challenge, wondering if Momo’s momentum can push her through to a victory.
Kagetsu enters the ring and says that Shirai won’t be defending her title against Watanabe because Kagetsu is going to win the white belt on May 5th. Watanabe will have to face Kagetsu instead. s Kagetsu leaves, Shirai points out that Kagetsu was eliminated in the first round tonight. Shirai then gives control back to Watanabe so she can close the show.
Show Impressions
I really liked this show. I like tournaments in general, and this was a lot of fun. The 10 minute time limits meant all the matches were pretty short, but it added a sense of urgency to every match that made it all work believably.
Match of the Night
Tournament Final Match
I liked a lot of the matches for different reasons, but this one really felt like they both wanted the win. I was happy with the match, and though I would have been happy if either woman had one, I was quite pleased with the result.
Official Results (Japanese): http://wwr-stardom.com/?result=2018%E5%B9%B44%E6%9C%8830%E6%97%A5%E3%80%80%E3%82%B7%E3%83%B3%E3%83%87%E3%83%AC%E3%83%A9%E3%83%BB%E3%83%88%E3%83%BC%E3%83%8A%E3%83%A1%E3%83%B3%E3%83%882018