The best professional wrestling tournament of the year has arrived.
This Saturday, STARDOM’s 5STAR Grand Prix begins as 26 participants battle for a shot at glory. The 2022 5STAR Grand Prix will begin July 30 with a two-night doubleheader and last until the final day, October 1, where one woman will earn an opportunity at any championship they choose. After the 2021 tournament blew fans away with weekly top-tier matches highlighted by an all-time tournament run by none other than eventual winner Syuri, the 2022 5STAR Grand Prix is the most anticipated tournament in STARDOM’s history.
And the reason the tournament is so anticipated is because of the competitors who enter. Hazuki, Momo Kohgo, MIRAI, Risa Sera, SAKI, Mai Sakurai, Saya Iida, Hanan, Ami Sourei, and Suzu Suzuki are all new additions to the field, bolstering what was already a fantastic lineup one year ago. There’s so much going into the tournament this year as STARDOM has somehow loaded up every card of the 21-event schedule, making each show a must-see one way or the other. Much like the G1 Climax for puroresu fans, the 5STAR Grand Prix has become the event of the year for Joshi fans.
As many of these tournaments go, there are opportunities for champions to be beaten, challengers to be made, rivalries to be reignited, but ultimately for one person to come out the other side with their name in the history books as the 5STAR Grand Prix winner.
Below is your complete guide to the 5STAR Grand Prix, featuring each competitor and champion in the blocks, the full schedule, favorites, darkhorses, and the essential matches to check out as the tournament begins.
5STAR Grand Prix Blocks
Red Stars Block
- Syuri – World of Stardom Champion
- Utami Hayashishita
- Tam Nakano
- AZM – High-Speed Champion
- Koguma – Goddess of Stardom Champion
- Maika
- Himeka
- Momo Kohgo
- Unagi Sayaka
- Saki Kashima – Artist of Stardom Champion
- Mai Sakurai
- Risa Sera (Prominence)
- SAKI (COLOR’S)
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani
- Giulia
- Saya Kamitani – Wonder of Stardom Champion
- Starlight Kid – Artist of Stardom Champion
- Momo Watanabe – Artist of Stardom Champion
- Hazuki – Goddess of Stardom Champion
- Saya Iida
- Natsupoi
- Mina Shirakawa
- Hanan – Future of Stardom Champion
- MIRAI
- Ami Sourei
- Suzu Suzuki (Prominence)
5STAR Grand Prix Schedule
7/30(土),31(日)大田区
8/6(土)新潟
8/7(日)長野
8/11(木祝)後楽園
8/13(土)島根
8/14(日)岡山
8/20(土)大阪
8/27(土)後楽園
8/28(日)浜松
9/3(土)高松
9/4(日)広島
9/11(日)横浜
9/12(月)後楽園
9/17(土),18(日)大阪
9/19(月祝)名古屋
9/23(金祝)後楽園
9/24(土),25(日)高田馬場
10/1(土)武蔵野森 pic.twitter.com/utl9fD9xdg— スターダム✪STARDOM (@wwr_stardom) July 16, 2022
July 30*
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. AZM
- Maika vs. Risa Sera
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Himeka
- Unagi Sayaka vs. SAKI
- Momo Kohgo vs. Mai Sakurai
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Hazuki
- Mayu Iwatani vs. MIRAI
- Ami Sourei vs. Saya Iida
- Starlight Kid vs. Suzu Suzuki
July 31*
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Utami Hayashishita
- Tam Nakano vs. Himeka
- Koguma vs. Momo Kohgo
- Risa Sera vs. SAKI
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. MIRAI
- Saya Kamitani vs. Starlight Kid
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Momo Watanabe
- Ami Sourei vs. Suzu Suzuki
August 6
Red Stars Block
- Koguma vs. Saki Kashima
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Hanan
- Hazuki vs. Starlight Kid
- MIRAI vs. Natsupoi
- Saya Kamitani vs. Momo Watanabe
August 7
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Unagi Sayaka
- Koguma vs. Himeka
- AZM vs. Mai Sakurai
Blue Stars Block
- Saya Kamitani vs. Hanan
- Natsupoi vs. Ami Sourei
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Saya Iida
August 11
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Unagi Sayaka
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Risa Sera
- Tam Nakano vs. AZM
- Mai Sakurai vs. Saki Kashima
- Koguma vs. SAKI
- Himeka vs. Momo Kohgo
Blue Stars Block
- Starlight Kid vs. Momo Watanabe
- Hazuki vs. Natsupoi
- MIRAI vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Saya Iida
- Ami Sourei vs. Hanan
August 13
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Mai Sakurai
- Maika vs. Saki Kashima
- AZM vs. Momo Kohgo
Blue Stars Block
- Saya Kamitani vs. Natsupoi
- Hazuki vs. Mina Shirakawa
- Hanan vs. Momo Watanabe
August 14
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Momo Kohgo
- Koguma vs. Maika
- Himeka vs. AZM
- Unagi Sayaka vs. Saki Kashima
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Hanan
- MIRAI vs. Hazuki
- Natsupoi vs. Momo Watanabe
August 20
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Saki Kashima
- Momo Kohgo vs. Risa Sera
- Koguma vs. Mai Sakurai
- Maika vs. SAKI
Blue Stars Block
- Hazuki vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Starlight Kid vs. Hanan
- Giulia vs. Saya Iida
- Ami Sourei vs. Momo Watanabe
August 27
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika
- Tam Nakano vs. Koguma
- Himeka vs. Risa Sera
- AZM vs. SAKI
- Unagi Sayaka vs. Mai Sakurai
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Starlight Kid
- Natsupoi vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Mina Shirakawa
- MIRAI vs. Ami Sourei
- Hazuki vs. Hanan
August 28
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Koguma
- Tam Nakano vs. Mai Sakurai
- Himeka vs. Saki Kashima
- Maika vs. AZM
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Ami Sourei
- Giulia vs. Natsupoi
- Saya Kamitani vs. Hazuki
- MIRAI vs. Hanan
- Saya Iida vs. Momo Watanabe
September 3
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Maika
- Tam Nakano vs. Saki Kashima
- Himeka vs. Mai Sakurai
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Saya Kamitani
- Giulia vs. Mina Shirakawa
- Starlight Kid vs. Ami Sourei
September 4
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Himeka
- Tam Nakano vs. Maika
- Momo Kohgo vs. Saki Kashima
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Natsupoi
- Saya Kamitani vs. Saya Iida
- Hazuki vs. Ami Sourei
- MIRAI vs. Momo Watanabe
September 11*
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. AZM
- Himeka vs. SAKI
- Unagi Sayaka vs. Risa Sera
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Giulia
- Saya Kamitani vs. Suzu Suzuki
September 12
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Mai Sakurai
- Syuri vs. Momo Kohgo
- Tam Nakano vs. Unagi Sayaka
- AZM vs. Risa Sera
- Saki Kashima vs. SAKI
Blue Stars Block
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Hazuki vs. Saya Iida
- Natsupoi vs. Hanan
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Ami Sourei
September 17
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. SAKI
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Saki Kashima
- Mai Sakurai vs. Risa Sera
- Maika vs. Unagi Sayaka
Blue Stars Block
- Natsupoi vs. Starlight Kid
- Saya Iida vs. Suzu Suzuki
- MIRAI vs. Mina Shirakawa
September 18
Red Stars Block
- Tam Nakano vs. Risa Sera
- Koguma vs. Unagi Sayaka
- Mai Sakurai vs. SAKI
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Ami Sourei
- Saya Kamitani vs. MIRAI
- Momo Watanabe vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Starlight Kid
September 19
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. SAKI
- Koguma vs. Risa Sera
- AZM vs. Unagi Sayaka
- Tam Nakano vs. Momo Kohgo
- Maika vs. Mai Sakurai
Blue Stars Block
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Suzu Suzuki
September 23
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Tam Nakano
- AZM vs. Koguma
- Saki Kashima vs. Risa Sera
- Momo Kohgo vs. SAKI
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Momo Watanabe
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Hazuki
- Saya Kamitani vs. Mina Shirakawa
- MIRAI vs. Starlight Kid
- Natsupoi vs. Saya Iida
- Hanan vs. Suzu Suzuki
September 24
Red Stars Block
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Tam Nakano
- Himeka vs. Unagi Sayaka
- Maika vs. Momo Kohgo
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Saya Kamitani
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe
- Starlight Kid vs. Saya Iida
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Hanan
September 25*
Blue Stars Block
- Saya Iida vs. Hanan
October 1*
Red Stars Block
- Syuri vs. Risa Sera
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Koguma
- Maika vs. Himeka
- Tam Nakano vs. SAKI
- Unagi Sayaka vs. Momo Kohgo
- AZM vs. Saki Kashima
Blue Stars Block
- Giulia vs. Suzu Suzuki
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Starlight Kid
- Saya Kamitani vs. Ami Sourei
- Hazuki vs. Momo Watanabe
- Natsupoi vs. Mina Shirakawa
- MIRAI vs. Saya Iida
Final
- Red Stars Block Winner vs. Blue Stars Block Winner
* Potential live PPV
Notable Stats & Facts Heading Into 2022 Tournament
- Yuzuki Aikawa won the first-ever 5★STAR Grand Prix in 2012.
- There has never been a two-time winner in the history of the tournament. Utami Hayashishita, Mayu Iwatani, and defending champion Syuri are the three previous winners entering this year’s tournament.
- Toni Storm is the only wrestler in STARDOM history to win the Cinderella Tournament and 5STAR Grand Prix in the same year. MIRAI has an opportunity to do the same in her first GP.
- In the tournament’s history, only 3 of 9 winners have gone on to win the championship they’ve decided to challenge for with the win. Toni Storm, Utami Hayashishita, and Syuri all chose and successfully challenged for the World of Stardom Championship following their tournament victory.
- Io Shirai used her tournament win to challenge for the Goddess of Stardom Championship in 2014.
- Mayu Iwatani used her tournament win to challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Championship in 2018.
- The 2022 event will have the largest field in the tournament’s history with 26 participants. The previous high was 20 in 2021.
- Utami Hayashishita and Yoko Bito are the only participants in 5STAR Grand Prix history to be runner-up one year and win the tournament in another. No other runner-ups have ever gone on to win.
- Yoko Bito is also the only wrestler to be in the finals back-to-back years, winning in 2016 and losing in 2017.
- The 2022 tournament will feature eight competitors making their tournament debuts (Risa Sera, SAKI, Momo Kohgo, MIRAI, Hanan, Suzu Suzuki, Ami Sourei, and Mai Sakurai).
STARDOM 5STAR Grand Prix: Favorites and Darkhorses
Favorites
The favorites for the 5STAR Grand Prix this year are few and far between. It feels like a one-person competition ahead of the tournament, but it would be wrong to count out one of the most prominent wrestlers in the world who is ready to get started at any time. Here’s a look at the favorites.
Giulia
There is no one more primed and ready to become the World of Stardom Champion than Giulia. It has almost felt like a waiting game for Giulia, who dropped the Wonder of Stardom Championship in March 2021 and has been doing all she can to battle back to the top of STARDOM.
2021 was a year of ups and downs for the Donna del Mondo leader. Giulia had her head shaved after losing the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Tam Nakano and saw herself starting over. Teaming with Syuri to form ALK was only step one and being Goddess of Stardom Champions was nice but simply not enough. She wanted that World of Stardom Championship and the 2021 5STAR Grand Prix looked to be the opportunity to get there. As we know, injury struck and gone was the hope of main eventing Stardom Dream Queendom with a chance to become World of Stardom Champion.
Instead, Giulia watched her tag team partner Syuri storm through the 5STAR Grand Prix and ultimately win the World of Stardom Championship by defeating Utami Hayashishita. It was a destiny-type moment for Syuri. There’s no doubt about that. But Giulia winning the World of Stardom Championship is a destiny that has been undeniable since the moment she walked into STARDOM. Yet almost three years later, she has come up short as she watches her circle around her begin to fall apart.
Donna del Mondo is not as strong as it was even to start this year. They had gold up and down their group before the feud between Syuri and Giulia started for the World of Stardom Championship. Syuri made it apparent that due to what they would do to each other at Stardom World Climax, she would be leaving Donna del Mondo. Giulia lost to Syuri in what may be Syuri’s most physical defense to date and was left having to start over again. MIRAI would leave Donna del Mondo next, MaiHime Poi would lose the last bit of gold the group had, and most recently Natsupoi turned her back on Giulia and the group to join the Cosmic Angels. Giulia’s world is crumbling around her. How can she fix it? Winning the 2022 5STAR Grand Prix.
The heavy favorite to win the 5STAR Grand Prix this year is Giulia. She was the favorite for many fans a year ago but this year? It feels like Giulia against the rest in terms of favorites. There are other names to consider but all of these ups and downs have led to this moment. How else will she get to the World of Stardom Championship? Especially with Syuri holding it and having already beaten her. There’s no one more deserving and more ready for such a run. The lineup she has to go through features rivalry after rivalry for her. Starlight Kid, Momo Watanabe, Natsupoi, MIRAI, and Suzu Suzuki all have legitimate problems with Giulia. If she can make it through them along with Mayu Iwatani and Giulia as the other top names in the tournament, she is winning.
It is Giulia’s time and she should be walking out as the winner of the 5STAR Grand Prix.
Utami Hayashishita
The only other favorite to enter this tournament is none other than former 5STAR Grand Prix winner and former World of Stardom Champion, Utami Hayashishita. Since losing the title to Syuri at the end of 2021, “The Red Queen” has not been all that successful. Her pay-per-view record this year is 1-8-1 and while she hasn’t been the one taking the falls as the majority have been tag matches, it’s still odd to see Hayashishita doing so little. The 5STAR Grand Prix is where she has a chance to catch fire after what has been a wasted year to this point. If you look at her block, she will have some tough competition with Syuri and Tam Nakano jumping out the most but other than that, it could be a clear way for her to the final.
Most have been awaiting Hayashishita’s turnaround and there’s no better way to get back on track than the first weekend of her tournament. Night one will be a rematch of the 2020 5STAR Grand Prix Finals against Himeka before she reignites her feud with Syuri on night two. Walking out undefeated would be a dream but exactly what she needs to get back on track. Even only having a one-win weekend would be beneficial to Hayashishita who just needs the spark to get back to being the benchmark of STARDOM.
If Giulia isn’t winning this tournament, then it’s Utami Hayashishita’s time to make some history as the first-ever two-time winner of the 5STAR Grand Prix.
Darkhorses
Nearly every year, the 5STAR Grand Prix final has a finalist who was a favorite heading into the tournament and a finalist who wasn’t necessarily seen in that conversation but was elevated by fighting their way to the final. The darkhorses this year fit the category but could also pull off a surprise victory in the end. Here’s a look at the three top darkhorses.
Maika
Maika is ready and waiting. Talking about Giulia’s 5STAR chances, the major point was that Donna del Mondo needs to find themselves some footing here in the tournament. Maika has shown more than once she is capable of winning the big matches, having beaten Utami Hayashishita for two straight years in the 5STAR Grand Prix. Her title match challenges haven’t been nearly as successful with her past two years featuring two World of Stardom Championship failures and one unsuccessful challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Championship most recently. Yet there’s no doubt the talent and potential are there for Maika to get to the top of STARDOM. Her winning the tournament may be tough to believe right now but her making the finals? Now that feels incredibly possible this year. Maika has a shot.
Risa Sera
The world is talking about Suzu Suzuki and her upcoming tournament. There’s a good reason for that, but let’s put some respect on the name of Risa Sera. Sera challenged Syuri for the World of Stardom Championship at Flashing Champions and had one of the best efforts against the World of Stardom Champion to this day. She entered with a mindset of any means necessary and made it as physical as possible. Obviously, she was unable to bring home the championship that night, but it made STARDOM’s roster and the fans realize how much of a threat the leader of Prominence is to the field.
Sera was a two-time ICExInfinity Champion during her time in Ice Ribbon as her second reign with the championship lasted a year. The majority of her focus has changed to deathmatch wrestling over the years but as we saw in the Syuri match, she’s got no problem bringing out her title-caliber skillset at any time. Entering the Red Stars Block, Sera will have a chance to compete with the likes of Syuri, Tam Nakano, and Utami Hayashishita to show where she stands with the premier talents of STARDOM. I expect her to show she belongs in the conversation and since she faces Syuri on the final night, who knows. Maybe she could beat the champion and get herself into the finals. The potential of Risa Sera in this tournament is nearly limitless.
Suzu Suzuki
All eyes are on the 19-year-old pro wrestling prodigy heading into the 5STAR Grand Prix. Suzu Suzuki has done nothing but shine since stepping into STARDOM and going after Giulia. Each match she has in STARDOM displays why she is already one of the very best in the world. Currently the Regina di WAVE Champion, Suzuki will enter the 5STAR Grand Prix for the first time in her career and has as good a shot at winning this tournament as anyone else. The final day matchup against Giulia could be a sign of Suzuki being in contention when that night arrives with the winner winning the Blue Stars Block. She’s going to have so many first time matches against some of the best of the best and for that reason alone, she is at least a favorite to be the MVP of the 5STAR Grand Prix.
But is she a favorite to win the tournament? We wouldn’t go that far. But she, much like her stablemate Risa Sera, wouldn’t surprise anyone if she did manage to win the whole thing. The former ICExInfinity Champion has what it takes. STARDOM is one of many happy to have her as a part of their roster. She’s a darkhorse because she is an outsider. If Suzu Suzuki signed with STARDOM tomorrow, she might as well be as much of a favorite as Giulia. It’s unlikely a freelancer wins this coveted tournament but if someone were to break the mold, Suzuki would be the one to do it.
5 Matches Everyone Should Go Out of Their Way To See
If you’re not me and don’t plan to watch every single match of this year’s tournament, I have you covered. Here are five matches you should make sure to check out, as well as honorable mentions. Each match qualifies as a first-time match, big rematch, or one STARDOM fans have been waiting some time for.
Utami Hayashishita vs. Himeka (Day 1, 7/30/22)
This is the only 5STAR Grand Prix finals rematch we have in the 2022 tournament. Utami Hayashishita and Himeka haven’t faced off in a one-on-one match since the 2022 finals, making this a must-see battle between two of the best powerhouses in STARDOM. It could very well be the best match of Day 1.
Syuri vs. Utami Hayashishita (Day 2, 7/31/22)
What is there to say that needs to be said? Syuri vs. Utami Hayashishita. Their first matchup since Syuri won the World of Stardom Championship at Stardom Dream Queendom. Syuri has been untouchable since the classic with Hayashishita that set the pro wrestling world ablaze. And Utami has been anything but since losing the title to Syuri at the end of 2021. This is incredibly important for both of them. It’ll be interesting to see what they can do within the 15-minute time limit.
Mayu Iwatani vs. Saya Kamitani (Day 11, 9/3/22)
Mayu Iwatani and Saya Kamitani went one-on-one in the 2020 5STAR Grand Prix. It’s fair to say Saya Kamitani was nowhere close to where she is now as the Wonder of Stardom Champion. The potential this match has two years later is out of this world. Iwatani is going to bring her A-Game as she always does. Kamitani is going to try and continue her Wrestler of the Year case. If they do what we know they can, this might be the best match of the tournament.
Giulia vs. Momo Watanabe (Day 18, 9/23/22)
March 24, 2020. Giulia defeated Momo Watanabe in four minutes and 37 seconds as part of the Cinderella Tournament. That match is the only time Giulia and Watanabe have ever had a singles match and let’s be honest — it barely counts. One year ago, Giulia and Watanabe were scheduled to face off against one another on the final night of the 5STAR Grand Prix but Giulia’s injury resulted in that being impossible. So finally on Sep. 23, Giulia and Momo Watanabe will bring their hate towards one another into singles action and every second of the match should be tremendous. If you’re looking for a matchup to be the match of the tournament that isn’t on a live show, this has a chance to be the one. Expect violence, violence, and more violence.
Giulia vs. Suzu Suzuki (Day 21, 10/1/22)
The Match. If you asked 100 fans to name one match they’re most looking forward to in this tournament, I bet at least 75% of them would answer Giulia vs. Suzu Suzuki. There’s no story in STARDOM better than the one between Giulia and Suzuki. They were like sisters before Giulia left Ice Ribbon for STARDOM. She left Suzuki and everyone behind, never really saying goodbye in the process. So all these years later, Suzuki is back and she has one goal in mind — destroy Giulia. These two have showcased where they’re willing to go in multiple tag team encounters now but the singles match? It’s going to be special. Giulia has a lot of enemies but none of them have as personal of a story as Suzuki does with her.
I said expect violence for Giulia vs. Momo Watanabe. Well, expect violence and even more when Giulia and Suzu Suzuki finally clash one-on-one. Oh, and when the match happens, it should have the highest of high stakes on the match with it being the final day of the 5STAR Grand Prix. There’s no doubt about it — this match is going to be special.
Honorable Mentions
- Giulia vs. Hazuki (Day 1, 7/30/22)
- Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika (Day 9, 8/27/22)
- Syuri vs. Maika (Day 11, 9/3/22)
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Giulia (Day 13, 9/11/22)
- Mayu Iwatani vs. Suzu Suzuki (Day 14, 9/12/22)
- Hazuki vs. Momo Watanabe (Day 21, 10/1/22)
The 5★STAR Grand Prix begins July 30 at 4:30 a.m. EST on pay-per-view. Here’s a link to follow along on the tournament’s results, updated standings, and more: 5★STAR 2022 Tracker
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