Stardom - 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 (7/31/2021)

 2. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Natsupoi vs. Koguma

Could have easily been wrestled for the High Speed title. There were fun pin-scrambles and a good amount of struggle in the finishing stretch.

***1/2

3. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Giulia vs. Starlight Kid

The roles were reversed from their match earlier in the year with SLK being the aggressor this time around, having joined the heel unit Oedo Tai. This was a good, energetic back and forth, with SLK showing her aggressive side, especially during the strike exchange. It didn't come close to their title match, but there's potential with this new dynamic.

***1/2

4. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Unagi Sayaka

A slow and steady match that built to a big finish, which is Nakano's forte. Nakano's work on top was excellent, she was dominating Unagi with heavy strikes. And Unagi did a swell job working underneath, with lush selling and smart, well-timed counterattacks. Unagi's new finisher has a complicated started up so her performing it as fast as she did was impressive and I was convinced by her victory. Great champion vs. champion intra-unit match.

****

5. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Saya Kamitani vs. Syuri

An amazing match, especially when you consider that this was the first time they've met in singles. There was a special chemical reaction between these two and they felt like a natural pairing. Those slap exchanges were wicked. I've always thought Syuri was a narrow, one-pattern type of wrestler, but she has opened up lately and has become a diverse performer. Kamitani upped the ante in the striking department and firmly stood against a monster in Syuri.

****1/4

6. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Momo Watanabe

Another excellent match from this time-tested duo. They exchanged many hard kicks, with Momo being a particularly surly aggressor and Mayu doing her usual impeccable sell job. The build to Momo's devastating new finishing move, which resembled Naruki Doi's Muscular Bomb, was well done.

****1/4

7. 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 Blue Stars: Utami Hayashishita vs. Maika

Maika has grown since her last match against Utami and she showed some qualities that were not present in their past matches. This was another amazing match between these two, possibly the best one they've had against each other yet. Suplex and lariat battles, and a dominant finish from Maika.

****1/4