Stardom 9th Anniversary
Event Date: January 19, 2020 (11:30 JST)
matches published individually on Stardom World
City: Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Korakuen Hall
Attendance: 1,602
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yoritaka Ando (dark match, 3), Yurie Kozakai (1, 2, 4 – 7)
Match 1
Ruaka & Rina vs Hina & Leo Onozaki
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Rina pins Hina with a wing clutch hold
Time: 3:49
Match Thoughts
This was a nice, quick opener. It’s listed as a dark match on Stardom-World, but other than not having Yurie Kozakai announce the competitors in the ring, I didn’t see much difference from Stardom’s usual opening matches. All four of these young women are coming along nicely in the ring, and I think this was a solid match for them.
Match 1
High Speed Three Way Match
Zoey Skye vs AZM (Artist Champ) vs Starlight Kid
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: AZM pins Zoey Skye with Azumi Sushi
Time: 6:03
Match Thoughts
Very good match! All three women are in the High Speed Grand Prix, so even though this match didn’t matter as far as the tournament goes, it could definitely help build some momentum for someone. This was a fast-paced match (naturally), and it had a lot of super fun exchanges between all three competitors. AZM and Starlight Kid have great chemistry in the ring, and Zoey Skye was able to fit right in with them. This was a ton of fun.
Match 2
Saki Kashima & Natsu Sumire & Natsuko Tora vs Itsuki Hoshino & Saya Iida & Saya Kamitani
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Saki Kashima pins Saya Iida after My Emblem
Time: 10:53
Match Thoughts
Good match. The Stars team were a bit outmatched by Oedo Tai tonight. Itsuki Hoshino started the match against Oedo Tai’s newest member, Saki Kashima, and Hoshino pretty much got destroyed for the first third of the match by all three members of Oedo Tai. Saya Kamitani came in next for Stars and did better (with some help from Saya Iida), but Oedo Tai’s teamwork and dirty tactics were too much to handle. Saya Iida finished the match against Kashima, but the end felt inevitable. This was a strong performance for Oedo Tai, and it was pretty fun to watch. For me, seeing Kashima team with Natsu Sumire and Natsuko Tora really solidified her place in the group. Kashima is good at being a jerk, and I love it. Also, it was fun watching Sumire try to kick all the younger wrestlers before the match as they were trying to clear the ring of streamers after each introduction!
Match 3
Tam Nakano vs Kagetsu
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Tam Nakano wins via pinfall with Twilight Dream
Time: 10:15
Match Thoughts
Great match! Nakano and Kagetsu really gave everything in this. There were a few dives, but for the most part this was a hard-hitting match with some seriously good exchanges near the end. By the end of the match both women were pushing through quite a bit of pain and fatigue (as well as each other’s finishers) because neither one of them wanted to lose in their final match ever against each other. Kagetsu’s retirement road is getting closer to its end, and this match will definitely stand out as one of the best in the series.
Ring Area
After the match, an emotional Tam Nakano thanks Kagetsu for letting her choose her own path. Nakano hopes that Kagetsu will watch as Nakano becomes a symbol of good for Stardom. Kagetsu tells Nakano that the path she chose wasn’t wrong, and now she can move forward to the white belt and the top of Stardom. Kagetsu will be watching. The two women embrace before Kagetsu leaves. Nakano is then helped out by Arisa Hoshiki and Starlight Kid.
Match 4
Goddess of Stardom Title Match
Jamie Hayter & Bea Priestey vs Konami & Jungle Kyona (Goddess Champs)
(referee: Barb Sasaki; title match official: Rossy Ogawa)
Result: Jamie Hayter pins Konami with Queen’s Landing, Bea Priestley and Jamie Hayter become the new Goddess of Stardom Champions
Time: 12:55
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Over the past few weeks, Jamie Hayter and Bea Priestley have continually antagonized Konami and Jungle Kyona. All their efforts to anger Tokyo Cyber Squad seemed to work, because Jungle Kyona and Konami were fighting angry at the cost of wrestling smart. Kyona wanted to pay Hayter back for all the recent shoves and disrespect, and Konami paired of with Priestley to vent her anger with a bunch of kicks. hose pairings stuck around for most of the match, and the anger TCS felt allowed Hayter and Priestley to work much better as a cohesive team tonight. This was a well-thought-out and entertaining match.
Match 5
Leyla Hirsch & DEATH Yama-san & Hana Kimura vs Maika & Syuri & Giulia
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Giulia pins Leyla Hirsch after a tombstone piledriver
Time: 14:08
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Giulia had been teasing everyone with a couple of mystery partners for tonight’s squad battle with Tokyo Cyber Squad, and she found two very nice new partners. Maika comes to Stardom as a standout from Just Tap Out, and Syuri has more than a decade of experience in the ring. Together with Giulia, they make for a strong team. Tokyo Cyber Squad was split up tonight because of the various matches they all had, but they did well in this match. Leyla Hirsch had a strong showing with her grappling skills and strength, and Hana Kimura battled evenly with Giulia. Even so, Giulia’s team was strong individually and as a team.
Ring Area
After the match, Giulia tells Hana that she brought more people that hate her, and she’s going to keep doing things that Hana doesn’t like. Hana says that just because she beat her bodyguard, that doesn’t mean anything. Hana says no one is interested in Giulia or her new partners. Hana doesn’t have time for any of this, so she leaves with Yama-san and Leyla.
Giulia says Hana will be fighting her for the rest of her life, or at least until Giulia crushes her. Giulia then announces her intentions to go after the Artist of Stardom titles with Maika and Syuri. She also announces that the trio will be known as Donna del Mondo (Women of the World).
Match 6
Wonder of Stardom Title Match
Utami Hayashishita (Future, SWA, & Artist Champ) vs Arisa Hoshiki (Wonder Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; title match official: Rossy Ogawa)
Result: Arisa Hoshiki wins via pinfall after a Brazilian Kick
Time: 15:21
Match Thoughts
Great match. This definitely felt like a heated grudge match. Hayashishita started by booting Hoshiki when she went for a test of strength, so Hoshiki responded by grabbing Hayashishita’s hear and hitting her with a headbutt. from there, the match stayed consistently hard-hitting with tons of strikes and kicks. Hoshiki was surprisingly brutal, and she even busted Hayashishita open early in the match either with a knee strike or by slamming her head into the mat. Hayashishita didn’t take her beating without a fight though. She had many of Hoshiki’s favorite moves scouted and made the champ pay with some hard suplexes and slams. The match built up very well, and the finish was particularly well done.
Ring Area
After the match, Arisa Hoshiki compliments Utami Hayashishita on how strong she was in the match, and she thanks Hayashishita for the fight. Now, it’s time for Hoshiki to start her next chapter, but she won’t say what that means.
Match 7
World of Stardom Title Match
Momo Watanabe (Artist Champ) vs Mayu Iwatani (World Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama; title match official: Rossy Ogawa)
Result: Mayu Iwatani wins via pinfall with a two-stage dragon suplex hold
Time: 19:12
Match Thoughts
Great match! I thought the Wonder of Stardom title match was going to be hard to beat (and it was), but this World of Stardom title match might have just beaten. It’s a close call, but Iwatani and Watanabe really put everything into this match. Iwatani had a very clear experience advantage which was displayed through the ways she was twisting and stretching Watanabe in so many different ways throughout the match. Watanabe wouldn’t be outdone though, and she showed vicious persistence by continuing to attempt to destroy Iwatani’s taped-up right shoulder. This became a battle of stamina and wills as the minutes went on, and I enjoyed every second of it.
Ring Area
After the match, Iwatani thanks Watanabe for the match and offers her hand. Watanabe acknowledges Iwatani without actually shaking her hand. Iwatani thanks the large crowd for coming out today, and she promises that Stardom will continue to keep things interesting for the fans. Iwatani then offers the mic to Watanabe.
Watanabe can’t stand how strong Iwatani was tonight. She vows to continue chasing Iwatani until she surpasses her on the way to the top of Stardom. Watanabe is disappointed with the results for Queen’s Quest in the World and Wonder title matches, but she congratulates Bea Priestley for bringing the Goddess title to the group. Priestley rolls into the ring, hugs Watanabe, then knees Watanabe in the face.
Priestley says Queen’s Quest is worthless. Then she invites Oedo Tai into the ring. Priestley asks Kagestu if she can join, and Kagestu immediately welcomes Priestley to the group. Priestley then says she’s not done. She wants to be the Wonder of Stardom champion as well, and she invites Arisa Hoshiki into the ring. Priestley challenges Hoshiki while Hoshiki smiles. The challenge is gladly accepted.
Oedo Tai leaves the ring, leaving Iwatani alone. Iwatani says there is a lot going on with all the units lately, but at least she is still at the top of Stardom. She invites anyone to come challenge her for the title. Suddenly, the lights go out and Sareee appears on the screen. Sareee says she will be coming for the red belt at the next Korakuen Hall show. Iwatani tiredly laughs as she talks about how challenging a match with Sareee is going to be. With a smile on her face, Iwatani invites the rest of Stars into the ring to close the show.
Show Impressions
This was a great show. The matches got better and better, and the a bunch of stuff was set up for the near future. I think this was a great way to begin the year with Stardom’s first big Korakuen show of 2020.
Match of the Night
Momo Watanbe vs Mayu Iwatani
I really wanted to pick Hoshiki versus Hayashishita as well, but I think the main event did edge it out a bit as my favorite match overall tonight. Kagestu versus Tam Nakano was right up their at the top for me as well.
Official Results (Japanese): https://wwr-stardom.com/news/2020%e5%b9%b41%e6%9c%8819%e6%97%a5%e3%80%80%e3%82%b9%e3%82%bf%e3%83%bc%e3%83%80%e3%83%a0%ef%bc%99%e5%91%a8%e5%b9%b4%e8%a8%98%e5%bf%b5%e6%97%a5/