STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2020
Event Date: September 19, 2020 (11:30 JST)
matches published on Stardom World
City: Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan
Venue: Korakuen Hall
Attendance: 677
Series: 5★STAR GP
Commentary: none
Ring Announcer: Yoritaka Ando
Match 1
5★STAR GP Blue Stars Match
Maika (8 pts) (Artist & Future Champ) w/ Himeka vs Syuri (6 pts) (Artist Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Syuri wins via pinfall after a buzzsaw kick
Time: 9:20
Match Thoughts
Very good match. I’ve been looking forward to this match, and I’m glad it was made such an important part of the tournament. Syuri and Maiki are the only two people that have two round-robin tournament matches tonight, and they both had a chance of going to the finals heading into this match. With Utami Hayashishita at the top of the block with 9 points and one match left, that meant Syuri needed two wins and for Utami to lose her match, but Maika could win the block with one win if Utami loses her match later in the night.
As for this match, I thought loved it. Neither woman held back despite a potentially very long night for both of them. Syuri tended to gravitate towards her many kicks along with a few submissions, while Maika mostly concentrated on throws and holds. After a strong start from Maika, Syuri began to pile up the kicks and wear Maika down. Maika still hit some big throws, but she was having an increasingly difficult time as the match went on. Since both women are part of Donna del Mondo, we probably won’t see this match-up again any time soon, so I’m glad it was as good as it was.
Match 2
5★STAR GP Red Stars Match
Saya Kamitani (3 pts) (Goddess Champ) vs Starlight Kid (2 pts)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Saya Kamitani wins via pinfall after the Ki Crusher
Time: 6:31
Match Thoughts
Good match. Both Kamitani and Starlight Kid have been eliminated already, so this match was just for pride (and really, for the bottom of the block). Kamitani looked pretty good tonight, and she tended to overpower Starlight Kid. Kid used her speed and connected with a fair amount of attacks, but they just weren’t effective enough to wear Kamitani down much. I was a little disappointed that Starlight Kid didn’t do better in the tournament as far as points go, but matches have all been very entertaining. Kamitani has made some nice strides throughout the tournament, and she seems to have improved over the seven 5 Star GP matches she’s had.
Match 3
5★STAR GP Red Stars Match
DEATH Yama-san (4 pts) vs Giulia (6 pts) (Artist & Wonder Champ)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Giulia wins via pinfall with the Glorious Clutch
Time: 4:59
Match Thoughts
This was silly and fun. Giulia and Yama-san had both been eliminated, so neither of them took this match too seriously. Giulia said she had been working a few strategies to beat Yama-san tonight, and those strategies first involved a throat thrust (which had Yama-san playing dead ), and then involved Giulia trying to blind Yama-san by tying a t-shirt over her head. It was goofy, and everyone in the ring (including the referee) got blinded at one point or another, and I enjoyed it. Yama-san has been consistently fun throughout the 5 Star GP, and I think the tournament has shown us many different sides of Giulia. She’s been arrogant and dominant at times, she’s been angry and aggressive, and she’s been light-hearted and silly. I really think the tournament has allowed Giulia to grow quite a lot as a character within Stardom.
Ring Area
After the match, Giulia says she has a present for everybody. On October 3rd at the Yokohama Budokan, a new member (XXXX) will join Donna del Mondo!
Match 4
5★STAR GP Red Stars Match
Tam Nakano (8 pts) vs Mayu Iwatani (8 pts) (World Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Mayu Iwatani wins via pinfall with a bridging dragon suplex
Time: 9:21
Match Thoughts
Great match! Nakano and Iwatani went all-out right away. They started the match by trying to kick each other down, and the intensity just kept building up and up. They were countering a fair number of each other’s moves early on, but later in the match they were both taking and delivering some serious beatings. Neither wrestler was afraid to use the ropes to their advantage, and neither of them was going to back down. By the end of the match, They both some brutal sequences on each other, and it really came down to a battle of endurance and will. This was one of the best matches in the tournament.
Both women came into the match one point away from the top of the block. Even though the winner of this match would take the lead in the block for now, the match between Himeka and Konami later tonight will truly determine the red block winner, and that determination could very well involve some tie-breaking technicalities.
Match 5
5★STAR GP Red Stars Match
Himeka (9 pts) w/ Giulia vs Konami (8 pts)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Himeka wins via pinfall after a running powerbomb
Time: 10:02
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Unless this match went to a draw, the winner of this match would win A block (if Konami won then she would win the block in a tie-breaker with Iwatani, and in a draw Mayu Iwatani would win in a tie-breaker with Himeka). Himeka relied on her power and went about the match the she usually does, but Konami was very effective with her kicks and submission attempts. Konami had Himeka down quite a lot throughout the match, and that hampered Himeka’s abilities to use her size and strength. Himeka is only ever a few big moves away from a pinfall though, so the tension was built up nicely throughout the match. This and the match right before it made for a very good finish to A block competition.
Match 6
5★STAR GP Blue Stars Match
Maika (8 pts) (Artist & Future Champ) w/ Giulia vs AZM (4 pts) (High Speed Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: AZM wins via pinfall with AZM Sushi
Time: 6:56
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Maika was able to prevent a good amount of AZM’s high speed offense by keeping her in holds or on the mat a lot. AZM would break free from time to time though, and that was always dangerous for Maika. As far as the narrative of the match went, it felt like Maika might have been a but fatigued after her tough match with Syuri to begin the show. I think if Maika had been completely fresh, the match might have gone differently. Regardless, this match ended a nice, strong run for both women in the tournament.
Match 7
5★STAR GP Blue Stars Match
Natsuko Tora (6 pts) w/ Saki Kashima vs Saya Iida (0 pts)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: Saya Iida wins via DQ after Saki Kashima and Bea Priestley attack Iida and Natsuko Tora hangs Iida by the neck with a chain over the top rope
Time: 4:56
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. This was really more about Oedo Tai than the match itself. However, seeing Iida get super aggressive and relentlessly attack Tora was pretty great. Iida attacked Tora before the bell and didn’t let up until an unfortunate slip off the top rope. Iida recovered, but there was a small sequence where she struggled a bit. Overall though, this was a very fun performance from Iida. That is, until Saki Kashima ushered in the return of Bea Priestley, and the two of them got involved in the match. Tora’s chain once again played a role in the finish of another tournament match.
Ring Area
After the match, Tora, Kashima, and Priestley continue to attack Iida. The rest of Stars try to fight off Oedo Tai, but they don’t have much luck. After a few seconds, Jungle Kyona enters the ring, and Oedo Tai finally backs down and leaves. Kyona helps Iida up and ushers her over to the rest of Stars who are at ringside.
Match 8
5★STAR GP Blue Stars Match
Jungle Kyona (6 pts) vs Momo Watanabe (7 pts)
(referee: Barb Sasaki)
Result: the match ends in a No Contest when Oedo Tai attacks both wrestlers
Time: 4:53
Match Thoughts
This a a very good match for what it was, but it was cut way short by an attack from Oedo Tai (Tora, Kashima, and Priestley). Neither Kyona nor Watanabe could win the block anymore, so even though ending it this way might have disappointing because it could have been a great match, it was a good way to build up Oedo Tai.
Ring Area
After the match, a brawl continues involving Oedo Tai, Queen’s Quest, and Tokyo Cyber Squad. Everyone settles down after a few seconds, and Kyona gets on the mic. Kyona is frustrated and angry, and she vows to force Oedo Tai to disband. Smugly, Tora says that Tokyo Cyber Squad only has ten days left.
Momo Watanabe doesn’t care about any of that. What she does care about is that Bea Priestley is back. Watanabe wants Priestley at the Yokohama Budokan show. Priestley seems to agree.
Match 9
5★STAR GP Blue Stars Match
Syuri (8 pts) (Artist Champ) w/ Giulia, Maika vs Utami Hayashishita (9 pts) (Goddess Champ)
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Time Limit Draw
Time: 20:00
Match Thoughts
Great match! This match would decide blue block. Utami could win the block with a victory or a draw, but Syuri needed a full two points to win the block. Despite already having a match tonight, Syuri was more than ready for this match. Utami tried to use a lot of power moves, but Syuri tended to use lots of kicks to wear Utami down. When Utami started slowing down, Syuri mixed in some slams and a lot of submission attempts, but she never stopped kicking. Utami was fading, and as the clock became a factor as the match went on, it felt like Utami was just trying to survive so she could push it to a draw. Syuri was worn down by that point too, so every movement became more and more agonizing the the seconds slipped away.
I really like both of these wrestlers and would have loved to see either of them win the whole tournament, but with what Syuri’s been through personally over the past few weeks and by setting her up with having to win two matches in one night to win the block, I was fully behind Syuri in this match. I was invested, and that heightened the already superb drama of this match.
Match 10
5★STAR GP Final Match
Utami Hayashishita (Blue Block Winner) (Goddess Champ) vs Himeka (Red Block Winner) w/ Maika, Giulia
(referee: Daichi Murayama)
Result: Utami Hayashishita wins via pinfall after a torture rack bomb
Time: 10:19
Match Thoughts
Great match. With the matches both wrestlers have already had tonight, this was a grueling battle. Both of them went full speed ahead right at the bell, and they slammed into each other a few times to start the match. This was power versus power, but Utami was able to incorporate some wear down moves in-between her power moves to wear Himeka down quicker. That led to Himeka having a difficult time throwing Utami around in the later stages of the match. Plus, Himeka’s arm was hurting after her match with Konami earlier in the night, so that just exacerbated her problems. Utami wrestled a very smart match though. She was tired after wrestling Syuri just prior to this match, but she was able to conserve her energy with her wear-down moves, thus allowing her to hit some big power moves at the right times. It was great watching her plan come together.
Ring Area
After the match, Rossy Ogawa presents Utami Hayashishita with a cape, a crown, and a trophy. Ogawa then presents the rest of the trophies (results down below). After all the winners pose for pictures, Utami is left alone in the ring.
Utami gets emotional as she talks about finally winning the 5 Star GP in her third attempt. Utami challenges the winner of the upcoming World of Stardom title match between Mayu Iwatani and Syuri on October 3rd. Utami calls out Syuri and Mayu who both come to ringside.
Syuri congratulates Utami, and she accepts Utami’s challenge. Mayu also congratulates Utami on her win, and she also accepts Utami’s challenge. Despite not winning any trophy in the 5 Star GP, Mayu is confident that she’s going to successfully defend against Syuri. Mayu and Syuri leave, and Utami closes the show with the rest of Queen’s Quest.
Show Impressions
This was a great show. It was easily the best overall show of the tournament. I had a lot of favorites competing in the 5 Star GP, so I would have been happy with a lot of winners, so yeah, I’m happy with the results. I’m happy with how pretty much everyone did in the tournament. The only thing that springs immediately to mind that I would’ve liked was to see Starlight Kid get a few more points, but her block was so stacked that would’ve been difficult.
Match of the Night
Tam Nakano vs Mayu Iwatani / Syuri vs Utami Hayashishita
Both great matches. They’re from different blocks, so I think it’s fair to pick two tonight.
Standings After Event 8
Red Stars
| Wrestler | Points | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Himeka - BLOCK WINNER | 11 | 5 | 1 | 1 |
| Mayu Iwatani * (World Champ) | 10 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| Konami * | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Tam Nakano * | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Giulia * (Wonder & Artist Champ) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Saya Kamitani * (Goddess Champ) | 5 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| DEATH Yama-san * | 4 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| Starlight Kid * | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
* = numerically eliminated
Blue Stars
| Wrestler | Points | Wins | Losses | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utami Hayashishita (Goddess Champ) - BLOCK & OVERALL WINNER | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| Syuri * (Artist Champ) | 9 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Maika * (Future & Artist Champ) | 8 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Momo Watanabe * | 8 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
| Jungle Kyona * | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| Natsuko Tora * | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| AZM * (High Speed Champ) | 6 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| Saya Iida * | 2 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
* = numerically eliminated
Trophies
Overall Winner: Utami Hayashishita
Runner-Up: Himeka
Outstanding Performance: Konami
Best Technique: AZM
Fighting Spirit: Maika
Best Red Match: Guilia vs Tam Nakano
Best Blue Match: Syuri vs Utami Hayashishita
Official Results (Japanese): https://wwr-stardom.com/news/20200919korakuen/