Review: Stardom 5★STAR Grand Prix 2017 – Day 1 – 2017.8.19

Mari Apache, AZM & Natsuko Tora vs. Starlight Kid, Hanan & Shiki Shibusawa (Dark Match)
This was so much fun and a pretty much perfect dark match to get the crowd excited. AZM & Kid started and looked so good working together. The match kept it’s quality pretty much all the way through. Kid reversed a mean looking hold from Apache (it’s quite strange, but these two work great together two) into a hurricanrana. Natsuko Tora pinned Shiki Shibusawa for the win. 3/5

Kris Wolf vs. Xia Brookside
This match was fine. Brookside is obviously the least experienced of everyone in the tournament but worked smooth enough with Wolf that the match was competent. I do not like Brookside’s finisher though as it feels like the opponent has to do all the work. Xia Brookside pinned Kris Wolf. 2/5

Kay Lee Ray vs Konami
This was short but the quality was good. It started with a nice kick exchange before Konami delivered a great dropkick. Kay Lee Ray hit a great superkick to the chin and Konami delivered a nice German suplex. Konami kicked out of a powerbomb but was pinned after the Gory Bomb. I would like to have seen this go longer but what was there was good.  3/5

Tam Nakano vs. HZK
A very physical match with lots of big hits to the face. I continue to be impressed with Nakano (this is only her second match in Stardom). She worked stiff and smooth and hit a massive senton from the middle rope towards the end of the match. The match didn’t have any really big moments but was solid throughout. HZK won after Bombs Away. 3/5

Hiromi Mimura vs. Kagetsu
This was great and easily one of the best matches I’ve seen from Hiromi Mimura. Kagetsu dominated early with Mimura not getting in any offence for quite a few minutes into the match. Mimura played the babyface in peril well and took her chance for a comeback well with a couple of big DDTs. They then exchanged near pinfalls before Kagetsu submitted Mimura with a cross armlock. Very well-paced and fun. 3.5/5

Jungle Kyona vs. Toni Storm
This match felt a little flat which was surprising given the talent involved. Each had periods where they took control but just worked through their standard moveset until the finish which involved two headbutt spots (fortunately not shoot headbutts like the recent Kyona/HZK match) and a piledriver by Storm for the win. The match was fine but both have been in great matches lately so this was slightly disappointing. 2.5/5

Hana Kimura vs. Yoko Bito
The kicks in this match were insane by both wrestlers. Bito controlled most of the match throwing Kimura into the chairs at ringside. Back inside the ring they both worked very stiff and there was a multitude of fantastic kick spots. Hana Kimura won with some excellent kicks to the face after Kagetsu had brought Bito down. This was a fantastic match. 4/5

Io Shirai vs. Mandy Leon
A masterclass in selling by Io Shirai. Leon looked good throughout and they they fought in a good, technical style. The best part of the match was Leon targeting Shirai’s neck, using the real life story of Io’s neck problems to great effect. If there can be anything to criticise I would say the first half of the match the timing of some of the moves was a little off with a couple of jarring pauses as Leon got into position. Mandy Leon submitted Io Shirai with Havana Dreams. 3.75/5

Mayu Iwatani vs. Viper
This was good. I’m always glad when Viper matches don’t just revolve around the small girl struggling to make a dent on the much bigger Viper as she is capable of much more. She showed that here with a well worked match that included a nice transition from a hold to pin attempt via a headstand by Viper. The finish looked a little scary as Viper reversed an attempted frankensteiner from the middle rope into a Avalanche slam but her foot slipped, fortunately she protected Mayu well in the fall and got the pin. A very solid match. 3.5/5