STARDOM
Hiroshima Goddess Festival
November 3, 2022
Hiroshima Sun Plaza Hall
Hiroshima, Japan

Watch: PPV (TBD)

Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo vs. 02Line (AZM & Miyu Amasaki) vs. Lady C & Waka Tsukiyama

The opening match of Hiroshima Goddess Festival will feature triple-threat tag team action. There’s not much to say here other than 02Line is the only team in this contest that is currently competing in the Goddess of Stardom Tag League so it’s best to give them the edge. Waka Tsukiyama may never win a match so let’s not count on her now. Prediction: AZM & Miyu Amasaki

FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) vs. Saki Kashima & Ruaka

Originally part of the match, FWC will now face the Oedo Tai duo of Saki Kashima and Ruaka in a normal tag team bout. It’ll be odd to see Hazuki and Koguma teaming on a PPV in such a low position as they’ve spent the better part of the last year in the Goddess of Stardom Championship picture. One thing is for sure is that they’ll still bring it and should secure an easy win here but the possibility of Kashima shocking everyone is never out of the question. Prediction: Hazuki & Koguma

Himeka vs. Yuna Mizumori

In what was a surprise, Yuna Mizumori will get a chance to showcase her talent in a singles match with Himeka on this show. If you have had the chance to see Mizumori outside of STARDOM and wrestling to her strengths then you know this match could be an eye-opener for many. Mizumori will get to use her powerhouse style against one of the very best powerhouses in Joshi. Since leaving Gatoh Move last month, she has taken advantage by appearing in a number of other promotions but it does feel this could be a final tryout before she potentially joins STARDOM. No matter what she decides, expect this match to rise above expectations as a true hoss fight. Prediction: Himeka

Konami, Ami Sourei & MIRAI vs. Giulia, Thekla & Mai Sakurai

Konami is back! The preview for this match doesn’t need much more than that but since STARDOM is in Hiroshima, Konami is happy to come and compete with God’s Eye once again. As of now, this is just a one-off before she goes back to enjoying her life outside of wrestling but as we have seen in the past, her placement in God’s Eye is perfect. This will be the first time, however, that she competes in the group without Syuri being in the match so it will be interesting to see the dynamic between her and the Ami Sourei/MIRAI duo. Taking on a Donna del Mondo trio of Giulia, Thekla, and Mai Sakurai makes sure that this match will be a good one to watch. Konami is undefeated this year and should be expected to keep it that way with her team. Prediction: Konami, Ami Sourei & MIRAI

Utami Hayashishita vs. Natsuko Tora

“The Revenge Match” has arrived. After being injured in her championship challenge against Utami Hayashishita last summer, Natsuko Tora has been stewing to get back and get this match. Tora made a statement to Hayashishita after she lost her final 5STAR Grand Prix match to Koguma, laying out the former World of Stardom Champion with a gnarly Death Valley Driver. We’ve only had the chance to see Tora in action twice since coming back from injury and it’s clear there’s still rust there when it comes to her movement. If Hayashishita is smart, she will take advantage of that and make it her plan of attack.

Based on what we saw out of Hayashishita during the 5STAR Grand Prix and the IWGP Women’s Championship tournament, it feels as though “The Red Queen” has found her championship form again which could spell trouble for the returning and revenge-driven Tora. Oedo Tai is guaranteed to be involved so hopefully, Queen’s Quest is there to even the odds. Prediction: Utami Hayashishita

SWA Undisputed Championship
Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Alpha Female

The age of the Neo Stardom Army continues as Alpha Female gets a shot at Mayu Iwatani and the SWA Undisputed Championship at Hiroshima Goddess Festival. It was Iwatani who Alpha Female named when Neo Stardom Army revealed themselves, as “The Icon” is the one they’ve placed the blame on for there not being enough “passion” in STARDOM. An egregious statement since Mayu Iwatani has shown more passion in her career than Alpha Female, Nanae Takahashi, and Yuu combined but hey, who is counting? There’s a chance here that Iwatani, despite being in the finals of the IWGP Women’s Championship tournament, loses this match and her SWA Undisputed Championship. If Neo Stardom Army is planning to be an actual force, they need a big win (sadly). Expect some cheating. Prediction: Alpha Female

Goddess of Stardom Championship
meltear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) (c) vs. Black Desire (Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid)

The Goddess of Stardom Championship will be on the line as meltear defends their belts for the second time against former champions, Black Desire. We’re already in the midst of being spoiled for tag team wrestling as the Goddess of Stardom Tag League has been off to a hot start but now we get to see two of the very best teams in the world go head-to-head. Tam Nakano and Natsupoi have been nothing but perfect with one another since Natsupoi left Donna del Mondo to join Nakano and the Cosmic Angels. Natsupoi’s comfort in the group and alongside Nakano has allowed her to bring out a side of her that fans only got to see a handful of times. There’s confidence in her abilities which has made meltear an unstoppable team to this point.

But here’s the one thing going against them in this match — Black Desire may very well be the tag team of the year. Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid began teaming up after Watanabe left Queen’s Quest for Oedo Tai and they couldn’t have been a more perfect pair. Their run with the Goddess of Stardom Championship ended prematurely at the hands of FWC earlier this year but the work they’ve put in as a tag team and as a trio with Saki Kashima has added to both of their “Wrestler of the Year” résumés. It’s unlikely they win as meltear is far from done as champions but it’s hard to pick any match on the night being better than this one. It should be special. Prediction: Tam Nakano & Natsupoi

Wonder of Stardom Championship
Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa

Mina Shirakawa had the match of her career in the 5STAR Grand Prix to earn an opportunity at Saya Kamitani and the Wonder of Stardom Championship. This marked the second-straight year for Shirakawa doing such a thing but let’s hope she doesn’t channel what she did last year in her Wonder of Stardom Championship match when she faces Kamitani. There’s no denying that Shirakawa has utilized the 5STAR Grand Prix to improve her overall game and this has been, without a doubt, the best she’s ever been as a professional wrestler. But the unfortunate part of all this for her is that she very well may be fighting the best wrestler in the world when she challenges Thursday.

Saya Kamitani has done nothing but deliver in her run as the Wonder of Stardom Championship, surpassing some of the greatest reigns the title has ever seen with no end in sight. The only knock on her right now is that she did lose to Shirakawa. That does play a factor. The Cosmic Angel has an advantage as she knows what it takes. If Kamitani wants to head into Stardom Dream Queendom 2022 as champion, she needs to figure out how to win this time around. It has felt like a long while since we’ve seen the Phoenix Splash. Perhaps that is what it will take for her to capture the victory. This could be another special match in the reign of “The Golden Phoenix.” Prediction: Saya Kamitani

World of Stardom Championship
Syuri (c) vs. Maika

We have yet to see the best of Syuri and Maika and the main event Thursday should be our chance to finally see it. When I say we haven’t seen the best, it’s not because they haven’t had great matches against each other. They have. But it’s because there’s another level for them to step into and the World of Stardom Championship should lift them to that spot. Syuri defeated Maika in last year’s 5STAR Grand Prix while Maika was able to get the win back this year and in turn earned herself this title match. Their relationship is a deep one with the Donna del Mondo ties but it’s interesting to think about. Maika was noticeably angry when Natsupoi left the group but we never really got to see her feelings or thoughts when Syuri left and created God’s Eye.

Syuri was very protective of Maika when they were in Donna del Mondo together but as we’ve seen with any challenger, Syuri does not care if you are a friend or foe. Nothing stands between her and the World of Stardom Championship. The main event of Hiroshima Goddess Festival promises to be a good one as this could be the match of Maika’s career. The winner, of course, will have to prepare themselves for Giulia at Stardom Dream Queendom. Maika will have her moment in the sun but this is not that time. Prediction: Syuri

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