Reviews Stardom Top Stories

Review: Stardom 5★STAR Grand Prix 2017 – Day 5 – 2017.9.2

Kris Wolf vs. Hanan vs. Ruaka
A really fun opener. There wasn’t too much in terms of actual wrestling but most of the comedy in the match worked thanks to Kris Wolf’s antics. Ruaka & Hanan did their parts too with no major mistakes. Kris Wolf pinned Hanan for the win. 2.5/5

Jungle Kyona helps Natsuko Tora reverse a B-Driver by Yoko Bito.
Jungle Kyona helps Natsuko Tora reverse a B-Driver by Yoko Bito.

HZK & AZM vs. Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa vs.  Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora vs. Mari Apache & Yoko Bito
There was so much creativity in this. From AZM’s great taunts to start the match to Jungle Kyona using a clothesline to help Natsuko Tora reverse an attempted B-Driver into a pin attempt on Yoko Bito. Really well put together and fun to watch. Yoko Bito pinned Natsuko Tora after a B-Driver for the win. 3.25/5

Viper breaks the ring as she powerbombs Xia Brookside.
Viper breaks the ring as she powerbombs Xia Brookside.

Xia Brookside vs. Viper
This was by far Xia’s best match of the tournament. A good back and forth match with great power moves from Viper (including a powerbomb that damaged the ring) and some nice displays of athleticism by Xia Brookside with her repeated headscissor takedown attempts. Viper won with a Michinoku Driver. 3/5

Konami & Tam Nakano trade kicks.
Konami & Tam Nakano trade kicks.

Konami vs. Tam Nakano
This match was all about the kicks. Both Konami & Tam Nakano have some of the best kicks in Stardom and they were on full display here as they traded them throughout the match. I continue to be impressed by Tam Nakano, not just her ring work but also her character work. Her passion really draws you into the match. Tam Nakano pinned Konami after a big roundhouse kick. Konami is left without a single point. I do hope there will be at least a good story for Konami if she fails to win any match (maybe a heel turn?). She is one of the best of the current midcard and added a lot to this match. 3.5/5

Hiromi Mimura hits a great tornado DDT to Mayu Iwatani.
Hiromi Mimura hits a great tornado DDT to Mayu Iwatani.

Mayu Iwatani vs. Hiromi Mimura
One of my favourite moment from this whole tournament happened before this match started as Horomi Mimura pushed Mayu Iwatani during her introduction and stole her streamers. The match was very good too as it mixed some good comedy spots (Hiromi as the naive wannabe-babyface who uses some heel tactics is excellent) as well as some actual good wrestling including a great DDT by Hiromi that might have just been the best sell of a DDT I have ever seen by Mayu. Mayu Iwatani pinned Hiromi Mimura after a frog splash from the top rope. 4/5

Luckily this didn't end in a serious injury.
Luckily this didn’t end in a serious injury.

Toni Storm vs. Mandy Leon
I really did not like this match. The pace was incredibly slow throughout, so much so that some moves looked like they were in slow motion. There was no feeling of high-stakes. This was a match of supposedly the two best gaijin in Stardom and it never felt like a battle for supremacy and felt more like it was just going through the motions. Worst of all though was an incredibly dangerous botch by Mandy Leon as she attempted a superplex. The move collapsed and Toni Storm hit the mat hard. This could easily have resulted in a very serious injury. Mandy Leon pinned Toni Storm for the win. 1.5/5

Io Shirai vs. Kay Lee Ray was brutal.
Io Shirai vs. Kay Lee Ray was brutal.

Io Shirai vs. Kay Lee Ray
As opposed to the last match, this really did feel high-stakes. Kay Lee Ray put on a really powerful, passionate performance making her frustration seem believable. The wrestling was ferocious and everything had real impact, especially the chops from Kay Lee Ray (Io posted this picture after the match of the damage they caused).  Kay Lee Ray also sold damage to her knee well throughout the match and Io Shirai managed to submit her for the win. 4.25/5

 

Review

Kris Wolf vs. Hanan vs. Ruaka
HZK & AZM vs. Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa vs.  Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora vs. Mari Apache & Yoko Bito
Xia Brookside vs. Viper
Konami vs. Tam Nakano
Mayu Iwatani vs. Hiromi Mimura
Toni Storm vs. Mandy Leon
Io Shirai vs. Kay Lee Ray

Good

Other than one match, this was a very good, well balanced show.

To top