Review: Stardom – 2017.09.24

Natsuko Tora vs. Starlight Kid vs. AZM
A fun opener from three of Stardom’s brightest stars of the future. It was fast-paced, well executed and only had a couple of minor mistakes. AZM pinned Starlight Kid for the win. 2.5/5

Shiki Shibusawa & Konami vs. Xia Brookside & Mandy Leon
A very simple but okay match. Xia has improved rapidly since the beginning of her Stardom tour and looked fine throughout this match. Mandy Leon really didn’t do too much in this match other than a cannonball off the apron near the end. Konami also wasn’t involved much. Shiki Shibusawa has been steadily improving but her selling was particularly bad during this match, reacting awkwardly during several hits. Xia Brookside pinned Shiki Shibusawa for the win. 2/5

Hiromi Mimura vs Mari Apache (High-Speed Title)
I really enjoyed this. Hiromi has deserved a title shot based on her work over the past few months and putting her against someone with the skill and experience of Mari Apache resulted in a great match. Hiromi was the underdog throughout and survived the Mexican surfboard and a brutal clothesline. She got in some nice offense of her own as she reversed a bodyslam into a nice DDT. Though Mari Apache hit a Michinoku Driver & senton atomico for the win. 3.75/5

Jungle Kyona vs. Yoko Bito (Wonder of Stardom Title)
This was hard-hitting throughout and a good flow though I think both are capable of a little more. I loved Jungle Kyona’s powerbomb and as usual some of Bito’s kicks were breathtaking. As a title match I would have liked to have seen something new and different from both of these though. Don’t get me wrong, it was a good match, it just never developed into anything more. Yoko Bito pinned Jungle Kyona after a second B-Driver. 3.75/5

Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Kris Wolf & Tam Nakano) vs. Queen’s Quest (Io Shirai, HZK & Viper) (Artist of Stardom Titles)
During Oedo Tai’s dance before the match there was a good amount of pyro which was really cool to see (and something WWE doesn’t even do anymore). Oedo Tai again started this match by handcuffing Viper to the ring post.  Tam Nakano threw HZK directly into the crowd and Kagetsu hanged Io by her neck using a jacket. The rest of the match was little less crazy but also really fun. Viper was eventually freed after Io put an end to Oedo Tai playing with the keys by moonsaulting off the ropes to the outside. There was a very nice section with Kris Wolf & Io Shirai fighting one-on-one with Kris walking the ropes nicely and Io showing her acrobat skills countering Kris’s attempts at takedowns. HZK & Tam Nakano also had a great sequence together before Queens’s Quest isolated Kagetsu and each performed their top rope move on her before Viper covered her for the win. 4/5 

Toni Storm vs. Mayu Iwatani (World of Stardom Title)
This was incredibly upsetting to watch. For those that do not know about two minutes into this match while attempting a dropkick Mayu Iwatani fell awkwardly onto her arm and dislocated her elbow. The video footage is incredibly graphic and the sounds of Mayu in pain is heartbreaking.  However, credit must go to the referee for very quickly stopping the match and the entire Stardom roster for supporting Mayu and carrying her out of the venue where she was taken to hospital via an ambulance. Special mention must also go to Toni Storm who in very difficult circumstances held it together to deliver a speech thanking the crowd and immediately stating that she wants a rematch.

After Toni’s speech Fuka invited everyone into the ring to do the traditional Stardom end-of-show farewell. Fuka delivered a nice speech before Jungle Kyona said a few words that both respected Mayu and lightened the mood a little. In spite of all the tragedy it was truly nice to see all the Stardom family come together and support each other. Hopefully Mayu will be able to return as quickly as possible (the estimate is 3-6 months) and I’m sure her return show will be special.

Due to an injury stoppage so early in the match no score will be given.