Stardom NewYear Stars 2019
Event Date: January 2, 2019 (18:00 JST)
matches published individually on Stardom World
City: Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Shinkiba 1st Ring
Attendance: 375
Series: NewYear Stars 2019
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yurie Kozakai
Match 1
Alex Gracia vs Kaori Yoneyama vs Natsuko Tora
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Tora pins Gracia after a diving splash
Time: 4:56
Match Thoughts
This was a fast and fun opener. This match could have really gone to anyone. All three women looked good.
Ring Area
After everyone has left the ring, Saya Iida enters the ring and gets on the mic. She tells Natsuko Tora that she’d like to have a match with her at Korakuen Hall. Tora gets back into the ring and wonders if Iida is ready for a match like that in her debut. Iida says she will win, and the two women shake hands.
Match 2
Hina & Rina & Hanan vs Viper (SWA Champ, EVE International Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Viper pins all three of her opponents after a running crossbody block (Flying Sausage)
Time: 4:11
Match Thoughts
This was a silly match. Viper mostly stood around while the sisters ran circles around her. Hine, Rina, and Hanan got a fair amount of offense, but none of it really seemed to matter. It was only a matter of time before Viper ended the match with her size and power.
Match 3
Sadie Gibbs & Mary Apache vs Ruaka & Jungle Kyona
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Sadie Gibbs pins Ruaka after a Michinoku Driver II
Time: 6:36
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Ruaka started the match, and though she looked hesitant at times, she looked okay in the ring against Gibbs. Then Mary Apache came into the ring and took over. Ruaka had to get out of there, and Jungle Kyona had some good exchanges with both Gibbs and Apache. Gibbs started showing some strong moves late in the match. Gibbs and Apache took advantage of their relatively inexperienced opponent Ruaka as the match went on, and that made for a smart, interesting matchup.
Match 4
Bobbi Tyler & Jamie Hayter & Hana Kimura vs Sumire Natsu & Hazuki (High Speed Champ) & Kagetsu (World Champ) w/ Nao Yamaguchi
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Kagetsu pins Bobbi Tyler after the Oedo Coaster (and a double knee backbreaker to Tyler from Hayter)
Time: 10:23
Match Thoughts
Good match. Sumire started the match with a comedy bit (which I enjoyed), but after that the action was good throughout. Oedo Tai took the fight to the floor early, and that gave them a nice advantage. Their opponents slowly mounted a comeback, but an attack from within the team of Tyler, Hayter, and Kimura was the deciding factor in the match.
Ring Area
After the match, Kagetsu says that match ended with a surprise. She asks Jamie Hayter what her actions mean. Hayter says Oedo Tai dominates every show they’re on, and she wants to join. Kagetsu immediately hugs Hayter and says she will be joining their faction starting tomorrow night.
Match 5
Five on Five Elimination Match
Natsumi & Starlight Kid (Future Champ) & Tam Nakano (Artist Champ) & Saki Kashima (Artist Champ) & Arisa Hoshiki vs Bea Priestley & AZM & Konami & Utami Hayashishita (Goddess Champ) & Momo Watanabe (Wonder, Goddess Champ) w/ Viper (SWA Champ, EVE International Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Bea Priestley is the lone survivor, Queen’s Quest wins
1. AZM pins Natsumi after a diving double stomp (9:26)
2. Saki Kashima is eliminated by going over the top rope and touching the floor (Konami pushed her to the apron, but Kashima’s teammates inadvertently kocked her to the floor) (10:36)
3. Arisa Hoshiki pins AZM after a running double knee strike (12:00)
4. Starlight Kid eliminates Konami by pushing her over the top rope and out to the floor (12:38)
5 & 6. Tam Nakano eliminates herself and Momo Watanabe when Nakano hits Watanabe with a German suplex on the apron and both women fall out to the floor (13:37)
7. Starlight Kid eliminates Utami Hayashishita by using a Frankensteiner to carry her over the top rope and down to the floor (14:45)
8. Starlight Kid eliminates herself by falling to the floor from the momentum of eliminating Utami (14:46)
9. Bea Priestley eliminates Arisa Hoshiki by knocking her to the floor with a jumping knee strike on the apron (16:49)
Time: 16:49
Match Thoughts
This was good. Despite most of the eliminations happening by people going over the top rope, this was still fun to watch. The drama of the battles on the apron were all good and tense. I would have liked to have seen more falls happen in the ring vie pinfall or submission, but I was still happy with what I saw.
Ring Area
After the match, Momo Watanabe says this is a great start to the new year for Queen’s Quest. She also tells Tam Nakano that despite them both being eliminated tonight, Watanabe will convincingly beat Nakano in their upcoming match. Watanabe doesn’t let Nakano speak, and she tells the Stars to go away.
Utami Hayashishitsa addresses Starlight Kid, saying she is going to beat Kid for her title tomorrow. Utami says she is going to go after as many title as possible in 2019. After taking the Future of Stardom Title form Kid, she wants to take Viper’s SWA Title. Viper walks over to Utami, and the two women shake hands.
Momo Watanabe closes the show by saying that Queen’s Quest will take all the titles in 2019.
Show Impressions
This was a good show. It definitely got better as it went along, but the earlier matches were fun in their own ways. I liked the main event, though I don’t know that it really meant much for the feuds involved. I also liked the turn from Jamie Hayter and Kagestu immediately welcoming her into Oedo Tai.
Match of the Night
Five on Five Elimination Match
Despite wanting something a little different from the action, I like elimination matches like this.
Official Results (Japanese): http://wwr-stardom.com/news/2019%E5%B9%B41%E6%9C%882%E6%97%A5%e3%80%80newyear-stars-2019/