by JCH
We’re at Korakuen Hall for the monthly show headlined by my fave Arisa Hoshiki and Mayu Iwatani against Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita for the Goddesses of Stardom titles. We also have Hazuki defending the High Speed title against AZM and the reveal of the new Oedo Tai member, as she will team with Kagetsu against J.A.N.
Opening up is a 3-way tag team match.
Hanan & Starlight Kid vs Hina & Rina vs Leo Onozaki & Saya Iida.
No Ruaka presuming due to the injury. My money would be on Hanan and Kid, as Kid usually is a bit above these others.
4 of STARS and 2 J.A.N. Leo is returning after 3 months out.
I’ll be honest I had just been for a run and sort of fell asleep during this. I woke up as Kid hit the twisting frog splash on Iida to win the match.
Pink Dream Team vs Tokyo Cyber Patrol
Bobbi talks about how much they don’t like Bean Sprouts. People have been calling Kashima a Bean Sprout. Alex and Kashima talk about being in Pink. Hana and Bobbi have both won singles matches recently but have lost all 3 matches as a team. I think that ends tonight. I’m going for a win for the Tokyo Cyber Patrol.
Bobbi got a streamer, Hana and Alex got quite a few streamers. Kashima got ALL the streamers. Could be some serious STREAMER game today.
This match was pretty quiet until the closing stretch where some big double teams and kickouts had the crowd at a frenzy. Hana pinned Alex after the missile dropkick to pick up the win for the Tokyo Cyber Patrol.
Jamie Hayter vs Konami
As noted in the diaries Konami had a quiet month and I think the legend that is Jamie Hayter is on her way back to the UK soon so I will pick a Konami win to set herself up for a shot at one of the titles.
Jamie’s promo as usual is brilliant. Discussing her arm work and how she is prepared for
Konami’s submission finisher.
Konami agrees with me and says Jamie is a stepping stone to the title scene.
Big Shutout victory in the STREAMER battle for Konami.
Grappling for position at the start turns into some big back kicks. Konami hits an excellent running knee, Jamie returns the favour. Jamie brilliantly mocking the ref as he counts. Also mocking Konami as she shouts at the crowd. One of my favourite things about Jamie is her crowd interactions. She’s so good at it.
Jamie on top for a while, trying to take Konami’s knee out to stop her kicks, but she doesn’t do significant damage and when Konami comes back it is kick city. Then targeting the arm, looking for the dreaded Triangle lancer that Jamie discussed pre-match. Konami offence is either kicks or counters into arm submissions. Sensibly concentrating on one area.
Jamie with a back breaker/head kick/bridging back suplex for a near fall. Nice combo. Jamie is getting frustrated that she can’t put Konami away. Bridging German for another near fall. Jamie selling the arm as she hits repeated big knees.
Konami reverses the torture rack into (What I assume is) the triangle Lancer and Jamie taps immediately. Good match.
Jamie Hayter (if this is the end of her tour) has been a delight. She was one of the main reasons for me subscribing to Stardom world and hasn’t disappointed. I hope to see her in the ResGal next week at EVE, hopefully with merch. She did a great job here making Konami’s submission looks killer.
Be interesting to see which title Konami goes after, as theoretically Queens Quest could have all the single’s titles, except the big one, if AZM beats Hazuki next.
AZM vs Hazuki
AZM is up for it and confident
Hazuki with her more laidback attitude predicts a win inside 10 minutes.
AZM is all business, running the ropes. Hazuki with all the confidence in the world saunters to the ring like a moody teenager. Has a joke with Nao as she holds the ropes for her and then leaves the pre-match photo before Mr Expression has given the nod that it’s over. She don’t give a shit.
AZM has absolutely nailed the STREAMERS. Hazuki not quite as many, she also looks irritated she has to walk out of them.
AZM offers a handshake. Hazuki doesn’t even move towards her. Big Hazuki chant from the crowd to start. They go quick out of the blocks, but when Hazuki takes control she slows the pace. Methodical, patronizing and vicious. She taunts AZM by no-selling multiple strikes and then knocks her down with just one of her own.
AZM is a ball of energy on offence, running around at speed, coming in with kicks and working the arm. It’s a contrast, the methodical precision of Hazuki vs the frenzy of AZM. Hazuki realises she has to up her game if she wants to keep the title and she begins to raise her intensity, but AZM doesn’t give her a chance, she’s warmed up, she has the advantage and she wants to keep it. Constantly keeping Hazuki off guard with pin and submission attempts.
Is she tired though, one pause after a submission attempt allows Hazuki to catch her on the ropes and now she’s in control. Crossface broken by the ropes. Hurricanrana counter by AZM for long 2, but is that all she had left?
Big boot, and another, emerald fusion, delayed vertical and it is over. Hazuki wins. In under 10 minutes as well. That was a nice sprint. Really enjoyed the match. As mentioned AZM just didn’t stop. When she was on the ascendancy she looked to win at every chance. Then that one pause allowed Hazuki to get control back and it was it. Recommended viewing.
J.A.N vs Oedo Tai
JK says they owe X and Oedo Tai some payback and it’s coming today.
Kagetsu is doing the promo with X. It looks weird.
Ruaka is out with a sling for the pre-match pose. Go on Ruaka!
Jamie is still selling the arm injury from Konami during the entrance. What a pro. X’s ring trousers are horrific. One just casual full-length leg and the other like a roman sandal?
X is Andras Miyagi. I don’t know who she is. She looks tall and has a Something about Mary haircut.
Kagetsu water spits Natsuko, then JK, then the Ref as Oedo Tai are in control. Miyagi grabs Natsuko by the head and basically makes her headbang with her. JK tries to take Miyagi on with shoulder blocks but loses that exchange.
JK shows off her strength though by double suplexing both members of Oedo Tai and J.A.N have control of Miyagi. Miyagi outsmarts JK and makes the tag and Kagetsu is on one here. Springboard double missile dropkick, springboard dropkick and now the armbar. JK counters with a powerslam before hitting a succession of sliding lariats for a 2.
A striking exchange sees both down and in come Miyagi and Natsuko. Natsuko hits about 20 forearms and then receives a big boot for her trouble. She goes for the spear but gets caught by Miyagi who plants her. Blockbuster, Missile dropkick off the top and JK saves the match.
JK and Natsuko take out Miyagi and then JK clocks Kagetsu in the face as she tries to come in for another springboard. J.A.N to the top rope. Stereo frog splashes!!!! Kickout. Natsuko then hits I’ve no idea what. Picked Miyagi up like a scoop slam but then sort of Rock Bottomed her from that position I guess???? No clue. But it needed Kagetsu for a last minute save to prevent the victory. Double vertical suplex by J.A.N. Frog Splash from Natsuko, then another.
Kagetsu spits mist in Natsuko’s face as she makes the pin. Ref thrown down. Mist to JK. Kagetsu with the sign to the head to Natsuko. Michinoku driver. It’s over. No. Kickout at 2. Miyagi to the top Swanton Bomb. Now it’s over. Oedo Tai win, thanks to Kagetsu Shenanigans. Good match that.
Kagetsu is on the mic. Introducing Andras and telling the locker room they are coming after all the belts.
Main Event Time
Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita vs Mayu Iwatani and Arisa Hoshiki
I am excited for kicks to the head.
Momo and Utami are both after Mayu and don’t care about Hoshiki.
The entrances are starting from backstage. Hoshiki has some big-time ring walk gear as well today! Mayu is now also the Women Of Honor champion. They have a weird picture in picture of QQ waiting in a corridor whilst AMA are in the ring. Momo has the flag because The Best Belt Machine has to carry all her belts.
Queens Quest turn down the handshakes. Hoshiki is ready to start, Momo points past her at Mayu. Hoshiki tells Momo she’s got this. QQ continuing to disrespect Hoshiki. Hoshiki standing up for herself. Kick her head off Arisa. They start off testing each other’s kicks. Hoshiki draws first blood. Blocking a Momo kick and flooring her with one of her own. Good start for AMA.
Now Mayu in to boot Momo. Hoshiki showing some extra aggression in the face today. Momo has pissed her off. Momo catcher her in a knee bar though and Hoshiki has to fight for the ropes. Utami gets the better of Mayu with a test of shoulder blocks. Mayu hits a Frankensteiner on Momo from the top rope. Huge forearm exchange between the two then a Hurricanrana for 2 from Mayu.
In comes Hoshiki. Punts Utami off the apron and goes to work on Momo. X-Factor on to the knee followed by a huge jumping knee for 2.
She misses the rope walk PK and Momo catches her with a Meteora for a nearfall. They double team Hoshiki and Momo hits the Belly to Back Cradle Driver which Mayu breaks up at the last possible second.
Momo setting up Hoshiki but out of nowhere Mayu hits a superkick. Hoshiki blocks a kick. Hits one. Then hits the delay roundhouse. It’s over 1-2- no. Utami in to break it up. Running double knees of her own for another nearfall. Mayu up top. Huge Crossbody. Hoshiki hits the ropewalk PK this time! Again, Momo kicks out. Hoshiki misses a head kick and Momo lands one of her own, bridging suplex. Mayu to the rescue at the death again. This is bloody good.
Utami takes out Mayu. Gotch style bridging Suplex on Hoshiki and this time it is over. Queens Quest retain. That lived up to my expectations.
Kicking’s in the head, knees to faces. Bridges. Hoshiki brought it, but it wasn’t enough Queens Quest continue to reign and Big Match Momo picked up the win. Recommended Viewing.
POST MATCH – Momo challenges JK to a White Belt title match in her home town. It will be Momo’s record breaking 11th defence and Jungle's home town will see her fail.
The shows are structured to climax with the best match and this one did again, but I really enjoyed the last 4 matches. AZM and Hazuki is definitely worth checking out and the main event was top stuff. Another enjoyable show.
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