Review: Stardom 5★STAR Grand Prix 2017 – Day 4 – 2017.8.27

Natsuko Tora vs. Shiki Shibusawa vs. Starlight Kid vs. Kris Wolf
This went as expected. Good character work by Kris Wolf, some smooth but basic ringwork by Starlight Kid & Natsuko Tora and some slight signs of inexperience but glimpses of potential from Shiki Shibusawa. As a four-way this was a bit chaotic and messy but it worked fine. Kris Wolf pinned Starlight Kid for the win. 2/5 

Xia Brookside vs. Hana Kimura
This was pretty poor for a Grand Prix match and the dead crowd did not help. Both wrestlers tried in vain to get the crowd involved but the lack of any pace or real quality spots resulted in them never getting into the match. Xia’s hurricanrana did look good though and it would be unfair to overly criticise her as she has improved steadily over her Stardom run so far. Hana Kimura is having a great tournament other than this match and won via submission. 2.25/5

Toni Storm vs. Konami
A really good, long mat-based opening to the match. Both traded holds and worked well to reverse and apply their own holds. Once on their feet they traded some nice strikes before Toni Storm got the pin after a piledriver. A really nice, slow build match that showed different talents form the two competitors. 3.5/5

Kay Lee Ray vs. HZK
This is another match in this tournament that I wish had more time, barely making it past the 5 minute mark. HZK & Ray worked really well together and the whole 5 minutes was good… but it was just 5 minutes. I did love the finish with HZK smoothly reversing the attempted Gory Bomb by Kay Lee Ray into a pin for the win.  3.5/5

Hiromi Mimura vs. Yoko Bito
A slightly scrappy & flat match. It didn’t really have any story or great purpose. The wrestling was fine apart from a rather large botch on the finish by Yoko Bito as she dropped Hiromi in an attempted sitdown powerbomb before trying again and just barely hitting it for the win. 2.5/5

Io Shirai, AZM & Mandy Leon vs. Mayu Iwatani, Jungle Kyona & Mari Apache
Everytime I watch AZM I have to remind myself she is only 15. Her brief opening to this match with Mayu showed ability that some wrestlers twice her age do not possess. The short Io vs. Mari Apache was great too. There was a lapse in pace as Mandy Leon entered the ring but things picked up fast with some great exchanges between Io & Mayu. Everyone was involved in the lead up to the finish with AZM working nicely with Apache and Mayu doing a huge crossbody from the top rope to the outside. Mari Apache submitted AZM with a great torture rack. A really fun match. 4/5

Kagetsu vs. Viper
I’m still a little confused why Stardom decided to have Viper betray Oedo Tai for Queen’s Quest but at least we got this great match from it. Both worked incredibly hard and there were some huge moves by both including a standing fireman’s carry takeover by Kagetsu & a great clothesline by Viper. Viper won after interference by Oedo Tai went wrong. A really good match. 4/5