STARDOM
Fight in the Top
June 26, 2022
Nagoya Congress Center Event Hall
Nagoya, Japan

Watch: N/A

Unagi Sayaka vs. Waka Tsukiyama vs. Ruaka

Stardom Fight in the Top is set to be their smallest PPV card in terms of matches in some time as there are only six matches set for the card and only one involves a championship being on the line. The show will kick off with Unagi Sayaka taking on former Future of Stardom Champion Ruaka and the win-less Waka Tsukiyama in a triple threat match. Seeing Sayaka and Tsukiyama are in Cosmic Angels, it’d be smart for them to work together but as we’ve seen in the past, Sayaka will have her mind on winning and nothing less. It should be an easy win for Sayaka in the end but the Cosmic Angels not being on the same page could present an opportunity to Ruaka to steal this one. Let’s go with the safe bet. Prediction: Unagi Sayaka

Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo vs. Lady C & Miyu Amasaki

Saya Iida and Momo Kohgo will represent STARS while Lady C and Miyu Amasaki represent Queen’s Quest as the remainder of their factions head into a Cage for the main event. Perhaps whoever is able to win this match can gain some momentum for their team in the main event. All four competitors have also been competing in the 5★STAR Qualifying League. Lady C has a win over Iida and Amasaki has her lone win against Kohgo, so they have the edge in that respect. That being said, Iida and Kohgo have worked together more than the other two, giving them an overall edge for this tag team match. Prediction: Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo

Himeka vs. Mina Shirakawa

Former friends turned… not-so-much friends? The story here is their careers went different ways. Himeka decided to join Donna del Mondo when she came to Stardom. Mina Shirakawa, on the other hand, became one of the three main members of the Cosmic Angels. They’ve rivaled one another with their respective teams in their (many) battles for the Artist of Stardom Championship and now they want to destroy each other. At least the press conference between them told us that. It’s not really a question as to who will win this match but more so how much of a chance does Shirakawa have to pull off the upset? Not a big one and if she brings back her “joker” character she promised to never bring back then she’s even more likely to lose based on its success in the past. Prediction: Himeka

Artist of Stardom Championship
Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid & Saki Kashima (c) vs. Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sourei vs. Giulia, Maika & Mai Sakurai in an Elimination Match

Stardom Fight in the Top will see multiple “first-time-ever” scenarios starting with this match. The Artist of Stardom Champions has never had to defend the gold in a triple threat until this match. The only time they were ever contested in a triple threat trios match was back in 2015 when the Hyper Destroyers won the vacant championship. An interesting note is that Momo Watanabe did compete in that match and even though she came up short, the elimination stipulation on this match has given them a fighting chance to retain.

However, looking across the ring will result in seeing a daunting two trios ready to take the gold. God’s Eye, led by World of Stardom Champion Syuri, has never lost as a trio. They currently sit at 5-0-2 and are riding dominance into their first title match as a unit. It’s hard to doubt them but the likely (not confirmed) over-the-top-rope rules could be detrimental to them in the end.

And the third team, of course, is Giulia leading Mai Sakurai and Maika into battle. It’s been an odd couple of months for Giulia especially. She’s challenged for the Goddess of Stardom Championship with two different partners (Thekla and Sakurai) and seemingly has the entire roster ready to fight her. Yet she also feels a bit more directionless than we are used to with her. A win here could change that for her and Donna del Mondo, who don’t have championship gold in their faction which isn’t something they’re used to. This match can see anyone come out of it as the winner. Prediction: Syuri, MIRAI & Ami Sourei

Tam Nakano vs. Natsupoi in a Cage Match

The first of a two-match series between Tam Nakano and Natsupoi will be part of the double main event on this show. Not only will it be part of a double main event, but it’ll also be the first Steel Cage match in Stardom history. What was originally supposed to be a normal singles match became a Cage match at the demand of Nakano, whose heated relationship with Natsupoi has led to this “prove it” series between them. Their meeting at the press conference resulted in them stuffing food in each other’s faces but don’t let that deter you from what should be a fantastic match between these two. The most interesting factor, obviously, will be how they utilize the Cage to their advantage and make the match their own.

Once the bell rings, Tam Nakano vs. Natsupoi will be the first Joshi Steel Cage match since August 23, 2005 — when Kumiko Maekawa defeated Yumiko Hotta at the T-1 Grand Prix freelance show. The Steel Cage has a special place in the history of Joshi and there’s a great opportunity for Stardom to follow what AJW did with the match starting at Fight in the Top. Nakano and Natsupoi will compete two days later at Korakuen Hall but this will be the one you’ll want to win. Prediction: Tam Nakano

Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma vs. Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM in a Cage Match

The main event of Fight in the Top will see the top STARS trio of SWA World Champion Mayu Iwatani and the Goddess of Stardom Tag Team Champions FWC face-off with the Wonder of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani, Utami Hayashishita, and High-Speed Champion AZM. There’s little rhyme or reason to this other than AZM and Koguma being sick of chasing each other around ringside because everyone else has been dragged into the mess. We won’t complain though as these six wrestlers make up two of the best trios in Joshi and wrestling overall. The question at hand other than who will win is simple — who is going to jump off the cage? That’s the biggest question heading into this PPV.

After all, both Mayu Iwatani and Koguma dove off the ladders in Stardom’s one and only ladder match in December as Iwatani hit a picture-perfect moonsault and Koguma jumped from the top down to the floor on MaiHime Poi and pretty much everyone else ringside. Oh, and then there is Saya Kamitani. Kamitani, despite her unbelievable athleticism, has made it clear she’s afraid of heights but that doesn’t feel like it’ll be stopping her from shining the brightest. No matter who may be diving off the top, there has to be a winner. Both sides are stacked with champions and a win for any participant could also earn a future title match in the process. It should be one of the most exciting matches all year! Prediction: Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani & AZM

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