STARDOM
GOLD RUSH
November 19, 2022
Edion Osaka Arena 1st Stadium
Osaka, Japan

Watch: See @We_Are_Stardom for PPV Link

Miyu Amasaki & Lady C vs. Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo vs. BMI2000 (Natsuko Tora & Ruaka)

A preshow match show that isn’t guaranteed to air on PPV, there’s not much here to grab onto. With Natsuko Tora and Ruaka not only having momentum so far in the Goddess of Stardom Tag League but also being the only duo that is currently entered makes them the easy favorites to win here. Prediction: Natsuko Tora & Ruaka

Goddess of Stardom Tag League: Blue Goddess Block
MaiHime (Maika & Himeka) (4) vs. 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi & Yuu) (3)

One of the most important matches of the Goddess of Stardom Tag League arrives Saturday as MaiHime takes on 7Upp. These two teams are the heavy favorites in the Blue Goddess Block and this match could very well decide who wins the block. MaiHime suffered their first loss this past weekend against BMI2000, leaving them in need of turning themselves right back around as two losses could limit their chances of winning. Nanae Takahashi and Yuu have been dominant in their first two matches but a draw against The New Eras stalled their momentum.

It’s as much a coin toss as any in the whole tournament but MaiHime feels like the team of destiny. If they lose, they could be effectively out. Prediction: Maika & Himeka

Goddess of Stardom Tag League: Red Goddess Block
Black Desire (Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid) (1) vs. We Love Tokyo Sports (Saki Kashima & Fukigen Death) (2)

Well, this is unexpected. Black Desire enters their matchup with We Love Tokyo Sports with one whole point. One. That came from a draw against Karate Brave and since then it’s been all downhill. The former Goddess of Stardom Champions have dropped back-to-back matches to AphroditE and meltear this past weekend (not including the title match loss to meltear at Hiroshima Goddess Festival) so it’s now or never to turn their bad luck around. The Oedo Tai vs. Oedo Tai aspect is always intriguing as it’s not a question as to who will cheat but instead who will cheat better?

Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid should be walking away with this match but a Fukigen Death or Saki Kashima surprise pin should never be doubted. Prediction: Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid

Moneyball Scramble Tournament Match One: First Round
Giulia, Thekla & Mai Sakurai vs. Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & Waka Tsukiyama

The Moneyball Scramble Tournament will be a follow-up to the one-night money tournament STARDOM did in December of 2021. Instead of the finals being a Ladder match, however, it will complete in the first-ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match in STARDOM history. The four factions involved will be Donna del Mondo, Cosmic Angels, STARS, and God’s Eye.

The first tournament match will see the DDM team of Giulia, Thekla, and Mai Sakurai take on Tam Nakano, Natsupoi, and Waka Tsukiyama of Cosmic Angels. There’s no secret in this one as to how much bad blood is between these two teams. Giulia and Nakano are forever rivals but it’s Natsupoi who all of Donna del Mondo will have problems with. As much as I’d like to act like this match could go either way, Waka Tsukiyama still has yet to win a match. It’s a no-brainer in who wins this one. Prediction: Giulia, Thekla & Mai Sakurai

Moneyball Scramble Tournament Match Two: First Round
Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma vs. Tomoka Inaba, MIRAI & Ami Sourei

The second first-round match of the Moneyball Scramble Tournament should be a doozy as STARS’ Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, and Koguma faces off with the God’s Eye trio of Tomoka Inaba, MIRAI, and Ami Sourei. This exact STARS trio is the one that advanced to the finals of the tournament last year so it’ll be tough to bet against them. What is fun about this is that this will be the first chance to see Tomoka Inaba team with her other God’s Eye remembers MIRAI and Ami Sourei. Since joining the faction, she’s only teamed with her Karate Brave partner and World of Stardom Champion, Syuri.

All signs point to this match being the better of the two first-round bouts with STARS likely walking away with the victory. It’s important to remember that this was MIRAI’s plan after all so maybe, just maybe they can pull off the upset. Prediction: Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma

High-Speed Championship
AZM (c) vs. Momoka Hanazono

For the first time since September 24, AZM will defend her High-Speed Championship. It’ll be freelancer Momoka Hanazono, known to many STARDOM fans as the “bubble girl,” taking on the challenge in Osaka. Hanazono has shown in STARDOM that her bubbly personality hides what is an incredibly impressive professional wrestler. Fiery, passionate, and talented, Hanazono presents a bigger threat to the incredible reign of AZM than almost anyone else. The challenger follows Mei Suruga as a non-STARDOM talent to challenge AZM for this championship.

AZM has the longest title reign since Riho and with the win could push 300 days as champion by the time Stardom Dream Queendom arrives. There is zero doubt as to how talented AZM is as champion but if she wants to keep writing her name in the STARDOM history books, this is a must-win. While the double main event is likely to lead the way, this is a true dark horse for the match of the night. Prediction: AZM

Moneyball Scramble Tournament: Finals
Winner of Match One vs. Winner of Match Two in a Tables, Ladders, and Chairs Match

The winners of the first-round matches will head to the finals of the Moneyball Scramble Tournament. As noted prior, the finals of this tournament will take place in a STARDOM first-time-ever Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. With the predictions that the final will be between Donna del Mondo and STARS, we’d think the Big 3 STARS trio finally earns themselves a major, meaningful victory. Of all the locks in this tournament, however, it is that Donna del Mondo will be in this match. Thanks, Waka. Prediction: Winner of Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma vs. Tomoka Inaba, MIRAI & Ami Sourei

Wonder of Stardom Championship
Saya Kamitani (c) vs. KAIRI

It’s here. We’ve made it. The match is actually happening. Saya Kamitani will defend the Wonder of Stardom Championship against KAIRI in a match months in the making. Previously set for STARDOM x STARDOM, we will get to see if Kamitani can fend off KAIRI and all the statements KAIRI has thrown at her since questioning “The Golden Phoenix” as champion. The latest insults have been KAIRI wondering if Kamitani is in her own head after hurting Mina Shirakawa in her last title defense. KAIRI’s use of mind games isn’t the only idea playing against Kamitani but rather the fact KAIRI has been unbeatable since returning to STARDOM.

KAIRI is a completely different challenger from everyone Kamitani has faced. The star power, the presence, and the confidence are unmatched. There’s no doubt that the doubleheader KAIRI is dealing with this weekend should affect her too but as a former World of Stardom Champion and two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, this is a weekend she has been made for. If Saya Kamitani wants to keep up what looks to be a record-breaking title reign, this is the career-defining win she needs.

Not only should this match be special but it is a match of the year candidate that’ll finally happen. Prediction: KAIRI

World of Stardom Championship
Syuri (c) vs. Utami Hayashishita

VI. Seven. One more time.

Syuri and Utami Hayashishita will collide for the seventh time in the unbelievable rivalry that shot STARDOM into superstardom. After Hayashishita finally defeated Syuri in the 5STAR Grand Prix, it became inevitable that the World of Stardom Champion would be defending against “The Red Queen” before Stardom Dream Queendom.

Syuri has been unstoppable in her STARDOM career. No one has been able to have her number and Hayashishita knows that firsthand. The reigning World of Stardom Champion holds a 2-1-3 record against Hayashishita, a meaningful record seeing these two know each other so well. She has the record but the challenger has the fall in the most recent match which does matter.

It’s been a quiet year for Utami Hayashishita and everyone has taken notice. That said, she’s done all she can to improve her overall game so when she could find momentum, she’d be ready to topple the mountain that has been Syuri in her career. She did it once (convincingly), so why not think she can do it again? We’re on our way to the seventh match between these two rivals so no matter who wins the match, the fans win getting to see it yet again.

Predicting who will win feels easier than you’d hope for when these two face off but as I’ve said before, all roads point to Giulia being the woman to uncrown Syuri as the World of Stardom Champion. Prediction: Syuri

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