STARDOM
STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023
June 23, 2023
Tokyo National Yoyogi Stadium Second Gymnasium
Tokyo, Japan
Watch: PPV (see @we_are_stardom)
STARS (Hanan, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo) vs. Yuna Mizumori, Waka Tsukiyama & Aya Sakura
The opening match of STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023 is likely to be featured on the preshow rather than the main card. The basis of who will walk out of this one with the victory is simple — STARS is a unified team while Yuna Mizumori, Waka Tsukiyama, and Aya Sakura are not. Hanan qualified for the 5STAR Grand Prix this past weekend and should be the one earning her team the victory. Prediction: Hanan, Saya Iida & Momo Kohgo
Nanae Takahashi vs. HANAKO
Nanae Takahashi is back with the latest match in her Passion Injection series against the young wrestlers of STARDOM and this time, it’s HANAKO stepping up.
HANAKO is in a unique spot as the rookie has shown great promise early on in her career. She’s still very green in the ring with only a handful of matches to her name but there’s no denying that STARDOM has high hopes for her. The biggest test of her career comes in this match where Takahashi, as we’ve seen in all the Passion Injection bouts to this point, won’t take it easy. If HANAKO can rise to the occasion against Takahashi, this could be her case to soon join a faction and find some proper footing in the promotion. The winner in this match isn’t in doubt but there’s hope here that HANAKO again shows her potential against the 27-year veteran. Prediction: Nanae Takahashi
Syuri vs. Xena
An exciting first-time singles match is set for STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023 as Xena has the opportunity to show what she’s got against Syuri in the final match of her current tour. It’s never a bad thing to see Syuri in a singles match and it’s all the more exciting when there’s a showcase for her opponent. If you’ve been watching Xena since she first turned up in STARDOM, you’ve seen her gain more confidence each and every match as she’s settled in as a member of Club Venus. Her overall skills in the ring match up well with someone like Syuri, making this match a darkhorse to be the best of the night.
With Xena not taking part in the 5STAR Grand Prix and likely on her way back to Australia, this is unquestionably going to be a win for the God’s Eye leader who is trying to get back on track heading into the annual tournament that she won two years ago. This is her first real test as a singles competitor since losing the World of Stardom Championship back in December, after all. She’ll be in top form. Prediction: Syuri
meltear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) & KAIRI vs. Suzu Suzuki, Maika & Mei Seira
There’s no way this is just going to be a trios match and everyone moves on from it… right? Yeah, from the moment it was scheduled, I’ve been looking forward to the post-match as much as the match itself. KAIRI teaming with meltear is rather unique as she does have the connection to Natsupoi via REstart but for anyone who has paid attention, she was caught eyeing Tam Nakano and the World of Stardom Championship at the end of All Star Grand Queendom. This match feels like we are leading to a makeup rematch between Nakano and KAIRI after their five-minute sprint at Wrestle Kingdom earlier this year.
KAIRI has that win over Nakano to demand a World of Stardom Championship opportunity and that’s what I expect to see. The trios match scheduled, however, should be excellent. Six of the best going head-to-head is never a bad thing and as we’ve seen with Suzu Suzuki, Maika, and Mei Seira — they have more chemistry as a trio than you’d expect for those not in the same faction.
Maika has been as successful as anyone in STARDOM this year. Dominant doesn’t give her recent run justice. She has a huge 5STAR Grand Prix run ahead of her and if she’s able to lead her team to a win here, that would go a long way.
That all said, my expectation is that the Double Champion continues to ride the wave of success and gets the win with her tag team partner and KAIRI. Prediction: Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & KAIRI
Goddesses of Stardom Championship
THE NEW ERAS (MIRAI & Ami Sourei) (c) vs. Rose Gold (Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May)
Can THE NEW ERAS earn their third successful defense to continue proving their tag title reign isn’t a fluke? I don’t think so.
After Mina Shirakawa lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship last month, the question instantly became what’s next for the Club Venus leader — we seemingly have the answer. Mariah May has stepped up in recent months, becoming a viable number two to Shirakawa’s one in the group. It was this past weekend that May booked her ticket to the 5STAR Grand Prix so why shouldn’t she ride that momentum into her first title in STARDOM? At the June 4 Korakuen Hall show, it was the Rose Gold duo that defeated THE NEW ERAS to earn their shot at these titles. They can beat them again.
There’s a chance that MIRAI is focused on the Wonder of Stardom Championship one week later at MidSummer Champions 2023, and that allows Rose Gold to steal the win and become champions. With Jessie heading back to the United States and Xena finishing up her tour, Club Venus needs this big win to stay in a prominent spot.
Shirakawa and May are the team to defeat MIRAI and Ami Sourei. Prediction: Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May
Artist of Stardom Championship
Bari Bari Bombers (Giulia, Mai Sakurai & Thekla) (c) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma) in a Steel Cage Match
The Steel Cage is back in STARDOM and it will play a factor in the STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023 double main event. For the first time in STARDOM history, titles will be on the line as the Bari Bari Bombers make their first defense against the top STARS trio of Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, and Koguma. The rules are much like the trios match from last year’s Steel Cage match as the winner of the match must have all three of their competitors escape to win.
There’s something exciting and terrifying about Giulia entering that Steel Cage because she’s as violent as they come outside of it so you can only imagine how crazy it’ll get when she has the cage to work with. Last year, this same STARS trio escaped, getting the win in the main event over Queen’s Quest at Fight In The Top. Iwatani’s fear of the cage is what will likely result in her doing her best to get out as soon as possible.
With this being the first defense of the Bari Bari Bombers, it makes this match more difficult to predict than maybe any other bout on the card. This STARS trio has been destined to be Artist of Stardom Champions but a Steel Cage match could be what holds them up from getting those belts yet again. Prediction: Giulia, Mai Sakurai & Thekla
Loser Leaves Unit
Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM, Hina, Lady C & Miyu Amasaki) vs. Oedo Tai (Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Ruaka, Rina & Saki Kashima) in an All-Out War Steel Cage Match
Queen’s Quest is on their heels and Utami Hayashishita might be losing her faction. All belief in the leader has seemingly disappeared with the rest of Queen’s Quest walking out on her multiple times over the past few weeks. It all started when Saya Kamitani blamed Hayashishita for her recent skid and it’s been all downhill from there. Little did we know that it wasn’t just Kamitani who had problems with Hayashishita, but the entire faction.
Oedo Tai is the worst faction to face when a team isn’t united. No faction in pro wrestling works together better as a unit than Oedo Tai. They may not have the most success of any faction in STARDOM, but under Natsuko Tora’s reign, they’ve always worked well together. The All-Out War aspect of this match has been taken to another level after Hayashishita agreed to weapons being allowed in the match, which again benefits Tora’s Oedo Tai rather than Queen’s Quest.
Whoever the final competitor is that is left in the Steel Cage will be forced to leave their unit, giving this match bigger stakes than any other on the night. Momo Watanabe turned her back on Queen’s Quest the last time these two factions competed against one another with a member on the line. That’s not to say anyone in this match will do the same, but everyone needs to worry when it comes to Queen’s Quest.
There are scenarios of someone like Lady C or Miyu Amasaki having to leave the faction but perhaps it will be one of the top three members of Queen’s Quest who are ultimately left in the ring and are forced out. The problems between AphroditE will be the main focus of this match for me and if it comes down to those two, there’s no doubt it’d be the most interesting finish to the match that you can imagine.
What type of leader will Utami Hayashishita be when her group needs her the most at STARDOM SUNSHINE 2023? Will she leave other members in the ring to fight for themselves? Or go down with the ship to try and reunite Queen’s Quest? That’s what we are going to find out. Prediction: Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Ruaka, Rina & Saki Kashima
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