Stardom NewYear Stars 2020
Daytime Show
Event Date: January 11, 2020 (12:00 JST)
matches published individually on Stardom World
City: Minato, Osaka, Osaka, Japan
Venue: Osaka World Pavilion (Osaka Sekaikan)
Attendance: 221
Series: NEWYEAR STARS 2020
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yurie Kozakai (1 – 4, 6), Yoritaka Ando (5)
Match 1
Itsuki Hishino & Saya Iida vs AZM (Artist Champ) & Utami Hayashishita (Future, SWA, & Artist Champ)
(referee: Duke Sado)
Result: AZM pins Itsuki Hoshino after a diving double stomp
Time: 6:49
Match Thoughts
This was a really good opening match. Hoshino and Iida started the match by surprising AZM and Hayashishita with a quick double-team attack. The Stars members managed to isolate Hayashishita and did well to continue to work together to beat Hayashishita down while continually preventing AZM from helping her partner. Eventually Hoshino tries to finish Hayashishita one on one, but a few big moves from Hayashishita (including a scary pair of powerbombs) drained Hoshino of her energy and adrenaline. That allowed Queen’s Quest to make a comeback, so by the time AZM finally got a tag, Hoshino was struggling to keep up with her. I liked this a lot.
Match 2
Andras Miyagi vs Riho (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Duke Sado)
Result: Riho wins via pinfall with a rolling clutch hold
Time: 7:48
Match Thoughts
Good match. Miyagi started strong and mostly dominated Riho during the course of the match. Miyagi was hitting a fair number of power moves, and Riho didn’t have much of an answer. Miyagi tried to take the fight to the outside though, and Miyagi taking time to mess with chairs gave Riho an opening. Riho started to make a comeback, but it was tough after all the punishment she’d taken up to that point. This show is definitely off to a nice start.
Ring Area
The competitors in the High Speed Grand Prix are introduced as they head to the ring: Zoey Skye, Leyla Hirsch, DEATH Yama-san, Starlight Kid, and AZM. It is explained that this will be a round robin tournament with 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss. The matches will have 10-minute time limits, and the two competitors with the most points will meet in a final match to determine a winner.
Match 3
High Speed Grand Prix Round Robin Match
Leyla Hirsch (0 – 0:0:0) vs Starlight Kid (0 – 0:0:0)
(referee: Duke Sado)
Result: Leyla Hirsch wins via submission with a cross armbreaker
Time: 4:48
Match Thoughts
Good match. This was power versus speed, and I liked it. Leyla Hirsch had no trouble throwing Starlight Kid around the ring. Even though Starlight Kid got in some good moves, there just wasn’t enough power behind her attack to take down Hirsch quickly. If the match had gone on longer then Kid might have been able to mount a sustained attack, but with 10-minute time limits, things needed to end quickly. This was a nice start to the High Speed Grand Prix.
Match 4
Zoey Skye & Jamie Hayter & Saki Kashima vs Leo Onozaki & Momo Watanabe (Artist Champ) & Bea Priestley
(referee: Duke Sado)
Result: Saki Kashima pins Leo Onozaki after My Emblem
Time: 8:59
Match Thoughts
Good match. Oedo Tai had good teamwork to start the match, but Queen’s Quest eventually came back with superior teamwork late in the match. Saki Kashima ended up in the ring with Momo Watanabe for a while, and that was probably my favorite part of the match. Kashima did well enough to force Watanabe to tag out though, and a tag to Onozaki for Queen’s Quest was maybe the wrong choice. Watanabe and Priestley did their best to support Onozaki in her fight against Kashima, but a few quick moves from Kashima proved difficult for Onozaki to bounce back from. Saki Kashima continues to be a great asset for Oedo Tai.
Match 5
Giulia vs Kagetsu
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Time Limit Draw
Time: 15:00
Match Thoughts
Very good match. They took their time with this, and I appreciated that. the match started with a feeling-out process that included a lot of grappling and vying for leverage. The match opened up a bit when Kagestu started hitting some strikes and slam on Giulia, but Giulia took the fight to ringside in order to gain an advantage. This went back and forth a bit, and it was always very good. I wish they had more time for an even longer match, but I think it ended in a good way regardless.
Ring Area
After the match, Kagetsu says she’s impressed with Giulia. Kagetsu says she wasn’t sure what to think of Giulia when she came into Stardom, but she’s worked the hardest in the few months she’s been here. If Giulia keeps working hard like that, then she can rise to the top of Stardom. Kagetsu offers her hand to Giulia, but Giulia grabs the mic.
Giulia says she really wanted to beat Kagetsu tonight since this will be their only match ever against each other. Regardless of the outcome Giulia took some life from Kagetsu, and she’ll keep that with her. Giulia thanks Kagetsu for the match on her retirement road.
Match 6
DEATH Yama-san & Konami (Goddess Champ) & Jungle Kyona (Goddess Champ) & Hana Kimura vs Saya Kamitani & Tam Nakano & Arisa Hoshiki (Wonder Champ) & Mayu Iwatani (World Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Jungle Kyona pins Saya Kamitani after the Hammer Throw Powerbomb
Time: 12:46
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Saya Kamitani wanted to start the match with Hana Kimura, but as comendable as her request was, Kamitani got more than she probably wanted. Kimura brushed off Kamitani’s strikes before easily putting the young Star down. Tokyo Cyber Squad started to dominate, but Stars quickly turned this into a very even, back and forth match. This was a bit chaotic, and it was fun.
Ring Area
After the match, Hana Kimura and Tam Nakano get into a hair-pulling scuffle and have to be pulled apart. It’s broken up quickly, and after Stars leave, Tokyo Cyber Squad closes the show.
Show Impressions
I liked this show. The matches started strong and ended strong. Besides Kagetsu’s retirement road match I don’t think anything specific really stood out as super important, but it was all very entertaining.
Match of the Night
Kagetsu vs Giulia
It’s too bad we won’t ever see this matchup again. I enjoyed this very much.
Official Results (Japanese): https://wwr-stardom.com/news/2020%e5%b9%b41%e6%9c%8811%e6%97%a5%e3%80%80newyear-stars2020%ef%bc%88%e6%98%bc%ef%bc%89/