We are back for round 2 of Stardom. Obviously I’m a little behind and I’ve had to mute Stardom on twitter even though I don’t follow them as people kept liking things that I haven’t seen yet. Again apologies for the what I'm sure are many, many mistakes. Anyway we have the big Future of Stardom championship match later between Starlight Kid and Utami and also a New Year’s battle Royal which will no doubt be fun even if it will be tough to cover. We kick off though with a handicap match.
HINA, RINA, HANAN & NATSUMI v MARY APACHE & SADIE GIBBS
Hina, Rina, Hanan and Natsumi vs Mary Apache and Sadie Gibbs - So Natsumi was with Queens Quest last show and the other 3 teamed up to lose to Viper. Mary and Sadie got a victory over J.A.N. I’m calling Mary and Sadie as the favourites. Pre match promo highlights - Hang on the trio from yesterday are telling me its a 6 woman tag not a handicap match. What is going on here? Mary says something which is unsubtitled, so I can’t help. Natsumi walks off. Then followed by Mary and Sadie. I’m a little confused.
The trio come out with Natsumi who joins in the choreographed gymnastics but she doesn’t know it, so is like a second behind. Fantastic. Its just 4 on 2 now. I still can’t tell you why but game on! The streamers thrown at Hina and Rina all go over their heads. Whilst they hit Hatsumi who was first and Hanan who was last. How did they just get bad at streamers in the middle, then get better again. The 4 rush Sadie and Mary at the start, Knock Mary of the apron and quadruple team Sadie. Double armbar with a figure four by the trio on Sadie as Nastumi ties Mary to the ropes.
Every time they tag another one of them goes and punts Mary of the apron. Nastumi catches a punch into a nice Hammerlock DDt. Then puts Sadie in a paradise lock and sits on her. They are still quick tagging and punting Mary off the apron. It's pretty funny. Sometimes one of them runs over to punt Mary and she hasn’t even got back up yet. Haha. Eventually Mary makes it back to the apron and Sadie fights them off long enough for the tag. Mary goes for a spinning back kick. Used to be my favourite X-Pac move on Smackdown 1.
It’s brilliant because as she turns her back on Hanan, Hanan just moves out the way and she nails the air. Mary then nearly done by a couple of counters into roll ups from Natsumi. All 4 in, but Sadie and Mary take them out and throw the, outside to set up the handspring Moonsault from Sadie. Rina and Hina thrown in, double clothesline by Mary and she pins both for the win.
Fun match. Loved the apron bashing from the 4, although the reffing was Roberts level badness, unless they operate under slightly different rules to tags I’m used to.
VIPER & BEA PRIESTLEY OF QUEEN'S QUEST v HANA KIMURA & BOBBI TYLER OF TURNED ON BY JAMIE HAYTER
Promo Highlights - Hana sings then bows then makes Bobbi bow as well. Bea says they’re gonna beat them, Viper adds “They’re a couple of Princesses but Princesses aint got nothing on Queens” Whilst she’s trying to open some tape. I continue to enjoy these pre match promos.
You blocked me on Facebook hits and out come Hana and Bobbi. Hana has a mask on that looks like it's the end of two hairdryers stuck together. Belt laden Viper comes out with Bea. Bobbi gets some streamers. Pretty sure that’s the first non-Japanese talent get streamers. Hana gets loads more streamers. No streamers for Bea, nor Viper. I love the crowd.
Match Highlights - Counters and reversals from Bea and Bobbi then Bea hits a nice running head scissors before repeatedly punting Bobbi in the back. Tide turns when Hana grabs Bea by the hair as she runs the ropes and Bobbi punches Viper of the apron. Bobbi works the arm before tagging Hana in and they perform a lovely double surfboard. I wonder how many muppets died to make Hana’s boots? Hana invites Bea’s strikes and no sells them before she decks her with a kick and Viper is in. Big running Senton. Bobbi makes the save. Hana and Bobbi thrown to corner, running clothesline takes out Bobbi, then Bea with big boot, running knee, Viper cannonball, all on Hana, for a nearfall.
Viper plants Hana with a headbutt but she bounces of the ropes with a big boot for a 2 count. Hana tries to lift Viper who reverses it, Hana then pushes Viper into a gut kick from Bobbi and catches her with a suplex. Nice! Bea and Bobbi in. Bobbi ducks two Bea kicks and hits a big cyclone kick for a nearfall. After some forearm strikes Bea hits a violent looking running knee. That was awesome.
Doesn’t affect Bobbi much tho. Viper and Hana fight on outside now. Bea with a kick and a back suplex for 2. Codebreaker held in position for a Viper Senton. Long 2 but Bobbi kicks out. Curb Stomp. 1-2-3. Bea pins Bobbi. Queens Quest win.
A good solid match with some really nice strikes from Bea. Liked the double surfboard a lot. Felt like Hana wasn’t in there very much which was a shame - as I liked what she had to offer.
STARS v QUEEN'S QUEST
Promo Highlights - Momo wants the win for Queens Quest going into her White Belt defense. Tam says they fought yesterday in an elimination match. Tonight will be a different outcome. She wants the white belt. Alex Gracia is teaming with them. Tam says ‘Nice to meet you Alex’. I feel that meeting now is not ideal preparation for the match. Alex looks slightly lost during the pre match pose. Probably a downside of never having met before.
Today Queens Quest have matching masks and baseball jerseys on. Except Momo who is rocking a rather nice robe with her mask. They have their names on the back of the baseball jerseys. Excellent! Alex gets streamers today! As does Tam, then Saki Kashima gets a shit load of streamers. Its AZM, Konami and Momo for QQ today. Streamers galore. The streamer shot on Momo is fantastic, As someone with a very poor record of throwing streamers at Matt Riddle, I am in awe at that accuracy .
Match Highlights - Ooooooh. Great start opposite of yesterday. Again STARS offer the handshake but this time when QQ go to shake them they take them away and walk off. Learning from yesterday. Good work. Tam and Momo start out. Nice sequence ends with a stand off. Then Tam punts Momo in the stomach. Tam then gets done by AZM’s leg sweep from the outside and huge dropkick by Momo to Tam seated in the corner. Liked that a lot. Momo then cleans out the two on the apron. They do that a lot. Anytime anyone is down the aggressor will smash people off the apron. Solid strategy really.
Big kick to the chest from Momo. Then some stamps. Her stuff looks super strong. AZM in. Lovely dropkick to Tam standing in the corner. Konami chokes Tam in the corner whilst Momo patronisingly grabs her by the hair. Then a sliding punt to the stomach from Konami. I would describe it as if you were doing a sliding tackle volley clearance. She absolutely punts her. Back of the net. Tam’s partners have not been much help here. Tam finally gets a tag and Gracia hits a crossbody off the top. Then a slight slip on a springboard crossbody which just about lands on both AZM and Konami for 2.
Head scissors on Momo then in comes Kashima, Butterfly(?) Suppler then a lovely double jump over the turnbuckle Ito a bulldog from the outside. My words do not do that justice. Konami back with big strikes, then a springboard kick off the ropes and a massive missile dropkick to the head of the seated Kashima. That was awesome.
Kashima with a nice flurry on Momo including a head scissors and a big face wash in the middle rope. Tag to Tam. Striking exchange. Momo just takes what Tam has then twats her back at another level. Tam catcher her with a big back suplex and a spinning head kick to a seated Momo. Long 2. Sidenote. Really wish suplex would stop auto-correcting to suppler. What is a suppler??? Momo catches Tam with a sort of reverse package driver thing (205 live reviewer Dom informs me Amazing Red called it Brain Damage, but Mike shows me video evidence of it being called a B Driver in Stardom. Pete is going with Dude Buster or scientifically ‘The cradle belly to back driver’. I’ll let you make up your own mind.). Looks painful anyway.
Then Tam reverses a dragon suplex attempt into a pinball. Kick out and as they’re both on one knee getting up they catch each other with head kicks at the same time. It was awesome. Momo tags in AZM who literally runs over the back of Tam to knock off her partners and stop the tag. Loved that. All 3 in on Tam. Triple Missile dropkick. Only a 2. Big Headkick from AZM, spins through into an armbar but finally the partners turn up. They clear out Momo and Konamj series of moves on AZM ends with Tam hitting a double knees from the top. 1-2-and Momo breaks it up at literally the last moment. Impeccable timing.
Running knee to the head of AZM and I want to say Tiger(?) Suplex with bridge for the 3 as Kashima hold Momo back from breaking it up. Celebrations from STARS. Tam and Momo stare down, Momo just laughs at her and pulls her in by the hair. I am looking forward to that match. Have enjoyed their interactions.
OEDO TAI v JAN
8 person tag, just thinking this is now the 9th match I’ve watched and I’m yet to see a singles match. Anyway Oedo Tai vs JAN. Hoping for an eating promo again!
Promo Highlights - The J.A.N girls all say pretty much the same as yesterday. We’ve got Natsuko, Ruaka, Kaori Yoneyama and Jungle Kyona. Jan is together for the first time in 2019. Kyona is facing Kagestu for the Red Belt so she is focused on her. They are good to win. JUNGLE JUNGLE
Oedo Tai have different matching jackets today. No food. Booo. Kagestu is leaving this one to their new member Jamie Hayter. Jamie says it will be easy and they’ll have a drink after. Great attitude Jamie.
Kagetsu makes sure the crowd are clapping to their entrance by looking threatening and clapping near them with her knife/sword. Jamie doesn’t join them for the choreographed dance entrance (which again is ace). Probably as she hasn’t learnt it yet. Take note Natsumi. She comes out to her own music with the sheet metal logo!
J.A.N have matching scarfs! They get annoyed when one of the Oedo Tai girls tries to join in with their entrance. Jamie laughs. Jungle Kyona goes into the Oedo Tai corner when she’s announced and all the streamers miss her. Jamie, Natsu, Hazuki and Kagetsu are going for Oedo Tai today. I’m presuming it’s Nao Yamaguchi accompanying them again,
Match Highlights - Natsu stalls by wishing every side of the ring Happy New Year and leading the crowd in We Will Rock You again. She is very enthusiastic and the crowd love it. She tries another song but is attacked by Kaori to Boooooos. They then do some joint crowd singing exchange a handshake and both tag out. Wonderful.
Hazuki hits continued face washes on Natsuko. There is also a big back kick from Kagetu then a a springboard stomp from Hazuki who holds Natsuko in the ropes and Kagestu hits a springboard stomp to take her down. Patronising head slaps whilst leading more chants from Natsu followed by a very aggressive bronco buster. We then get all four of them beating up Natsuko in the ropes and they’re joined by Nao Yamaguchi for the photo pose.
Of course there is continued apron punting to the other J.A.N members during this beatdown. Big Spinebuster on Hazuki and now the apron bashing is reversed. Running sexton dropkick combo from Kaori on Natsu and Hazuki is nice. Back to back spears from Natsuko on Hazuki get a near fall. She then just pummels her with forearms before Hazuki catches her coming off the ropes into a codebreaker and follows it up with a big boot to Natsuko in the ropes. I enjoyed that. Kagetsu calls for Jungle Kyona who obliges.
Big strike exchange won by Kyona after a huge shot as Kagetsu comes off the ropes. Kyona powerbombs out of the armbar triangle but is then hit with a Michinoku driver and a big kick,.she then catches Kagestu coming off the ropes with another big powerbomb. Not much success for people hitting the ropes in this match. Ruaka tags in with Jamie and goes for the crossbody. Jamie moves leaving Ruaka looking like Trent Seven.
They all beat up Ruaka including Natsu whipping her in the face with what seemed to be a piece of ribbon. Stereo triple boots to the head get a near fall but its broken up. Hazuki and Kagestu hit a double tope to the outside onto a lot of people then Kyona springboards out on to everyone. Jamie left in the ring and is hit by a top rope senton by Kaori and an assisted front flip by Ruaka only for Hazuki to break up the pin with a springboard double stomp. Excellent. Jamie and Ruaka left in the ring and Nao Yamaguchi smashes Ruaka in the back with the sheet metal as she hits the ropes. Big flying knee by Jamie and it's over. Oedo Tai win!
Kagetsu and Jungle Kyona are brawling outside and everyone has to separate them. Kagetsu gets the mic and wants to settle it now. Jungle says she will settle things on January 14th and the both grab each other by the hair before Kagetsu leaves. I like this Oedo Tai a lot. Hazuki has some good stuff and Natsu is great!
STARLIGHT KID v UTAMI HAYASHISHITA
Match 5 and we have my first Stardom singles match, Its Starlight Kid defending the Future of Stardom Championship against Utami Hayashishita.
Promo Highlights - Utami ‘ I will easily win Tonight’s Future match’ - That’s it. Simple and effective. Starlight Kid says its her 6th defence and she will stop Utami’s momentum. She has more of a happy to be here exuberance, whilst Utami seems more serious. Utami out with the big Queens Quest flag poses on the top rope with the mask and the QQ pose. I’m pretty sure Io Shirai was in this faction based on the masks and pose. We get a solemn looking man in a blazer and a pork pie hat to hold the belt between the two and then raise it up. Good streamer haul for Utami matched by Starlight Kids. I wonder if they only have one outfit so they know which streamers to bring for which wrestler or they just bring massive amounts of all the colours. I’m presuming the former. Kid offers the handshake, Utami ignores it from the corner and here we go.
Match Highlights - Utami gives a clean rope break early doors. Then Starlight hits a succession of kicks to the right knee. 6 kicks, including one in the ropes and 3 double stomps all to the knee before locking in a figure four. Utami eventually makes the ropes but Kid goes right back to the knee. Utami hobbling on one leg goes for a dropkick misses and lands on her bad knee, that’s just poor strategy Utami. Come on.
Kid gets caught going for a 619 but reverses into a crucifix pin for 2. Utami is selling the knee, but it also seems to be a big part of her offence, maybe that’s why Starlight Kid went after it from the off. Every offensive move leaves Utami in pain. She has to work out is she doing more damage to her opponent or herself. Til-a-whirl DDT, 6-1-9 and standing moonsault gets a 2 for Starlight. Utami again hobbles to the corner and tries to run but Kid meets her with a dropkick right to the bad knee.
Sliced bread gets a near fall. All Starlight Kid so far. Striking exchange with Utami basically on one leg but she has the power advantage. Kid then hits whatever Nikki Cross’s finisher is called followed by a middle rope frog splash and a top rope frog splash for a near fall. She gets up top again but Utami picks her up only for her knee to give way before hitting a move. Hurricanrana for 2 from Starlight. The early strategy really paying off as she’s all over the one legged Utami, but she can’t put her away.
Looks to go for a destroyer maybe but Utami pusher her off and hits a big lariat. Utami perhaps unwisely on one leg goes to the middle rope and comes off with a dropkick. Again landing on her bad knee causing herself pain. Starlight fights out of a deadlift German but runs into a sort of Samoan Drop but with a throw instead of the Drop. Samoan throw? Utami struggles to make the cover with her leg and still gets a long 2 count!
Sleeper from Utami, then the torture rack and Starlight taps. Its over. New Champion! Utami collapses to the floor grasping her knee as some STARS come in to tend to Starlight Kid. Hat and blazer is back to present the belt and a big trophy. He has no facial expression at all. Imagine getting presented your cup winners medal by him. What a barrel of laughs. Utami limps up the ramp with her Belt and big trophy. She won the match, but at what cost to her leg. Interesting match where the smaller seemingly more babyface Starlight Kid of the 2 had most of the offence and Utami overcame the adversity of the and knee to win.
I could have just read the face/heel dynamic completely wrong though. Enjoyable and another belt for Queens Quest.
MAIN EVENT BATTLE ROYAL
The Main event is a Battle Royal. I wonder if we’ll get Pre Match Promos for this. I may struggle to keep up if they all start in the ring at the same time.
No pre match promos. Boooooo.
Ok. So all of STARS are out first including Starlight Kid, who just lost like minutes ago. Next out come J.A.N. I don’t think Natsuko is there. Oedo Tai out next but no Natsu. Double Booooo. Sadie Gibbs, Bobbi Tyler and Alexia Gracia out sort of together. Then comes Queens Quest and then Mary Apache last. Everyone goes under the bottom rope and fights outside. A woman in a blue hoodie shouts from the crowd. She’s sat next to Charismatic belt man. Kagetsu just stays in the ring and lies down. Hoodie keep getting the camera to point at her.
There is some poor camera work of the outside of the ring. Oedo Tai beat people up as they get back in the ring. They pile 7 of Stars in the corner and then take it in turns to run at them knocking them over. Oedo Tai then clean out Queens Quest. Kagestu is eliminated I think by AZM and blue hoodie woman laughs. Viper pins Rina and Hina. Which eliminates them. Then destroys Alexia with a Michinoku Driver to pin and eliminate her. She then Eliminates Bobbi Tyler before all of STARS gang up on her. Queen's Quest fight them off set up all the STARS in the corner again. Viper misses the Cannonball and she is pinned by about 6 people to be eliminated. Queen's Quest really dropped the ball on that one.
Bea Priestley murders Hanan with a step up curb stomp to eliminate her. Queen's Quest have stars in what I can only describe as a 6 woman teddy bear roll leg submission and Mary Apache surfboard someone in the middle of it. As she’s doing the surfboard all of J.A.N run in and pin her whilst in mid surfboard. There are some creative eliminations in this match. Great fun.
The remaining STARS and JAN team up to put all the Queen's Quest members, I think it is Momo, Bea, AZM, Konami and Utami in the Paradise Lock. Blue hoodie cheers from ringside, I feel blue Hoodie is someone important and I’m going to look stupid for not knowing who it is.
AZM accidentally kicks Bea when Kashima ducks and Kashima quickly rolled up Bea to eliminate her. Then Jungle eliminates Kashima with a power bomb to the apron then a clothesline to knock her off. Sadie and AZM square off, then AZM slides under the bottom rope and gets the crowd to encourage Sadie to do her Handspring moonsault over the top rope Sadie does it. Looking good but stupidly eliminating herself. How did she fall for that?
Jamie runs at Ruaka misses then J.A.N bridge the rope to eliminate Jamie. Tam boots AZM then hits a German with a beautiful bridge to eliminate her then a cutter does for Ruaka. Oedo Tai are eating in the crowd Nao is giving Jamie Hayter a corndog. Tam gets knocked off the apron by Utami. Jamie signals that the CornDog is alright.
I’m not sure who’s left as there is hardly anyone in the ring at anytime. I think not eliminated are Starlight Kid, Momo, Utami, Jungle Kyona and Kaori for J.A.N. Pretty sure Hazuki is still in but she’s having a picnic with Oedo Tai at the moment. Is Konami still in as well? Who knows.
Its Jungle and Utami in the ring anyway. Joined by Kaori and Momo.
Kaori goes up top to dive on Momo and Utami but Konami appears and drags her on to the apron. They all try and push her off and Jungle runs at them, to save Kaori. They move and she bridges herself over the top rope. Muppet. They’re both on the apron but a triple missile drop kick knocks them both off. Down to 5? Maybe?
Hazuki, having finished her picnic comes in to take on the QQ trio. Shot to rest of Oedo Tai still eating, Jamie has nearly finished the corn dog. Hazuki and Konami go at it. Momo is up top to jump on Hazuki who boots her off the top rope. Cracking. Momo is hanging on. Hazuki is half over the rope trying to pry her fingers off the ropes and Konami boots her over.
Now they’re both hanging on whilst Konami tries to kick Hazuki off. Konami runs at Hazuki who catches her and drops her onto the apron. Now its Momo and Konami hanging on. Hazuki is trying to back heel them off. Eventually she gets in kick Momo off but Konami catches her.
So then she boots Konami off and they are both out. That was frantic. Starlight and Hazuki are now fighting on the red carpet, forcing the Oedo Tai picnic to move. Apparently this doesn’t count as the floor. Hazuki tries to dump Starlight who catcher her in the ropes in a head scissors and manoeuvres her out to eliminate her running the Oedo Tai picnic. We’re left with Starlight and Utami again. They battle for a while and are on the apron when Starlight boots her in the stomach to win.
Blue hoodie is happy and points at Oedo Tai, who are mocking someone. Blue hoodie and Kagetsu compare corndogs. Starlight celebrates with STARS in the ring!
Starlight Kid says she may have lost the Future belt but she will come back and win the High Speed Belt on the 6th. Guessing this was a No.1 contender for the High Speed belt Battle Royal.
Hazuki takes the mic and says she’s not giving Kid the High Speed belt then she slags off Kid and throws the mic at her and gets back to the picnic.
Kid says she will win and wants to close the show with STARS. Believe now and Shine Tomorrow. Kagestu is now feeding something to blue hoodie. She doesn’t seem too impressed. Starlight Kid checks on blue hoodie and brings her into the ring. All the faction do their poses in different areas then blue hoodie squirts a bottle in Kid’s face, before Nao and Hazuki come after her with bottles. Everyone leaves whilst Kid dries herself with a towel before one last STARS pose.
That ended another fun, easily watched Stardom show. There hasn’t been any absolute banger matches yet, but I’m starting to learn who most people are and it has definitely been entertaining.
JCH top 3 faves of Stardom so far...
1. Natsu
2. Jamie Hayter
3. Hazuki
Defo enjoying Oedo Tai.
Until next time.
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