STARDOM NEW SUMMER 2020
Day 2
Event Date: July 12, 2020 (12:30 JST)
matches published on Stardom World
City: Koto, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Shinkiba 1st Ring
Attendance: 140
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yurie Kozakai
Match 1
Hina vs Rina
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Hina wins via pinfall with a Gedo Clutch transitioned into a seated roll-up
Time: 4:43
Match Thoughts
This was a good opener. Hina and Rina are evenly matched, and they continue to improve in the ring. Rina probably wanted to go for more submissions to set up for Hydrangea, but she ended up getting into a pinfall exchange that led to a nice finish.
Match 2
Saya Iida vs Jungle Kyona
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Jungle Kyona wins via pinfall after a diving splash
Time: 10:44
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I figured this would be entertaining, but it was even better than I expected! Kyona and Iida started with some mat wrestling where they exchanged multiple holds and counters. Both women looked very good on the mat, though Kyona did seem to be more in-control with her reversals. Kyona seemed to be thinking ahead while Iida was just reacting more. After a while they worked their way to their feet where they started exchanging strikes and a few slams. Again, Kyona had the experience and power advantage, and it often looked like she was urging Iida to attack in a kind of mentor role. Iida ended up getting some really good offense, but Kyona displayed poise and power in a very strong performance.
Match 3
Konami vs Momo Watanabe vs Mayu Iwatani (World Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Time Limit Draw
Time: 15:00
Match Thoughts
Great match. It’s just too bad it wasn’t longer. Everyone was wary to start, and nobody went in for an attack. After a feeling-out process, Watanabe and Konami made their intentions perfectly clear: they both want Iwatani’s title. The action started to pick up, and Iwatani was largely the target of most attacks. There were more than a few great three-way sequences, and the tension and action built up and up as the match went on. Both Konami and Watanabe definitely made strong cases for getting a title shot, and I’d be happy seeing either one of them get one (or, maybe just do another three-way match and put the title on the line).
Ring Area
After the match, a beat up and tired Mayu Iwatani gets on the mic. She says Konami and Watanabe are stronger than before. She wanted to win tonight, but before she faces either one of them again, there’s someone else she needs to face.
Jungle Kyona rolls into the ring. She talks about the match that was scheduled for February that had to be canceled, and she suggests that they reschedule the match for July 24 in Nagoya. She says Iwatani is going to see the best Jungle Kyona since her debut five years ago. Kyona goes on to say that it’s okay if people had sympathy for her, but she’s going to prove that she’s worthy of being champion despite any sympathy anyone might have for her.
Match 4
Natsu Sumire & Saki Kashima & Natsuko Tora vs Saya Kamitani & AZM & Utami Hayashishita
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Natsuko Tora pins Saya Kamitani after Ascension
Time: 14:03
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Oedo Tai is headed towards an Artist of Stardom title match, so I expected them to look good tonight, but Queen’s Quest gave them a good fight. After a back-and-forth start, Oedo Tai managed to isolate AZM for a while. It wasn’t until Hayashishita made a tag that Queen’s Quest started to mount a comeback. Their comeback didn’t last terribly long though. Oedo Tai’s teamwork (and cheating) kept them in control of most of this match. They isolated Kamitani near the end of the match, and that led to a decisive finish as Natsuko Tora took advantage of the least experienced wrestler in the ring.
Match 5
Himeka & Maika (Artist Champ) & Giulia (Artist Champ) vs Starlight Kid & Tam Nakano & Riho (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Giulia pins Starlight Kid after the Glorious Driver
Time: 17:46
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Giulia was looking to rebound after getting pinned in the main event last night (though she says she didn’t lose). On the other side of the ring, Tam Nakano was looking to beat up Giulia as their feud continues to simmer. Those were the two focuses of this match, and I think both of those stories added some good tension to the action. Nakano wanted to start the match against Giulia, but Himeka insisted on starting for Donna del Mondo. Himeka once again displayed her power, mostly against Starlight Kid and Riho. Maika also showed her skills, but it really felt like the match was building up to Nakano versus Giulia. They did eventually go one on one for a while, and they were just looking to hurt each other. After a while, the match ended up being Giulia and Starlight Kid in the ring for an extended sequence, and that led to a lot of near falls that had Giulia on the defensive. Donna del Mondo is very strong as a team though, and they showed that again tonight.
Ring Area
After the match, Giulia tells Tam Nakano that she is irritating. She also says that the Wonder of Stardom title should be decided in a match between the two of them.
Nakano smiles and gets in Giulia’s face, so Giulia slaps her. Nakano yells and says she’ll never forgive Giulia for the black eye she gave her. Nakano also says she also made a promise to Arisa Hoshiki about the Wonder Title, so Nakano will never let Giulia have it.
Natsuko Tora comes out to the ring. Tora violently takes the mic from Nakano and says she was supposed to be next in line for a Wonder title shot. She never got her match, so how can Giulia and Nakano just decide who gets to fight for it? Giulia suggests a three-way match for the title, but Konami enters the ring. Konami says it would be better to have a tournament with her in it. The fans in attendance seem to like her idea, and Konami leaves.
Tora then attacks Giulia, and the two women have to be pulled apart. Giulia tells Tora and Nakano to leave, so they slowly walk away. Giulia likes the idea of a tournament. After all, she won the last one (the Cinderella Tournament). Giulia says she’ll win this tournament too and will stay undefeated. Himeka and Maika remind Giulia that she lost last night, so Giulia bops them on their heads. Giulia then closes the show.
Show Impressions
Tonight’s show was better than last night’s (even though both were very entertaining). Tonight’s show had better matches overall, and it did more to build up some upcoming matches and shows. I like where things are headed right now.
Match of the Night
Konami vs Momo Watanabe vs Mayu Iwatani
This was great. I think the Kyona/Iida match was my second favorite, but this three-way match had a lot of really great stuff in it. It also continued to build up some potential challengers for Iwatani’s World title.
Official Results (Japanese): https://wwr-stardom.com/news/20200712-2/