Stardom - New Years Stars 2018 (1/3/2018)

2. Hiromi Mimura vs. Kaori Yoneyama

This was boring during Yoneyama's control segment, per usual with Yoneyama matches, but once they start getting into the shouto stuff it gets really good.

**1/4

5. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu, Kris Wolf & Sumire Natsu) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, HZK, Io Shirai & Momo Watanabe)

This was enjoyable, a lot of fun. Nothing in joshi puroresu comes close to the intimacy of Stardom's 1stRING shows.

***

Stardom - Goddesses of Stars 2017 (12/10/2017)

1. Kaori Yoneyama & Ruaka vs. Natsuko Tora & Starlight Kid

**1/4

2. Rookie of Stardom 2017: Hanan vs. Shiki Shibusawa

***

3. Chibis (Hiromi Mimura & Konami), Jungle Kyona & Mary Apache vs. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu, Kris Wolf & Sumire Natsu)

***

4. Bea Priestley, Chardonnay & Scarlett vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, HZK & Momo Watanabe)

**1/2

5. Wonder of Stardom Championship Match: Io Shirai (c) vs. Kelly Klein

Another solid filler defense for Io. The builds and set-ups were good. Klein came across better here than she has in any of the other matches I've seen her in. Io hits a moonsault off of a truck because she can, and shows off her strength with a tombstone piledriver counter.

***

6. Gauntlet Match: Yoko Bito vs. AZM, Hanan, Hiromi Mimura, Hiroyo Matsumoto, HZK, Io Shirai, Jungle Kyona, Kagetsu, Kaori Yoneyama, Konami, Kris Wolf, Mayu Iwatani, Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora, Ruaka, Shiki Shibusawa & Starlight Kid

***

Stardom - Goddesses of Stars 2017 (12/3/2017)

1. Hiromi Mimura vs. Ruaka

Hiromi's shouto gimmick is the best. Early in the year, I wondered if she would ever find what she needs and here it is. Her growth is what joshi puroresu is all about. Solid stuff here. Ruaka's a solid worker, I was impressed with what I saw.

**1/2

2. Hanan vs. Konami

It's been a while since Konami has had a singles match. Hana has bandages on her lower back, I hope she's doing okay. Hanan hit her throws. Konami worked the leg, her offense looked crisp and painful. She wins with a vicious knee bar. Couple of awkward spots, but this was a decent little match.

**

3. Mari Apache vs. Shiki Shibusawa vs. Starlight Kid

**1/4

4. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu & Sumire Natsu) vs. Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora) & Yoko Bito

Oedo Tai are on such a great run right now, loved this.

***1/2

5. Elimination: Bea Priestley, Chardonnay, Kelly Klein & Scarlett vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, HZK, Io Shirai & Momo Watanabe)

This was an enjoyable main event. Momo was the last survivor on her team and got a good spotlight. The ending was super awkward, there seemed to be timing issues between Momo and Kelly. It's unfortunate because Kelly was supposed to be put over like a monster here heading into her match with Io, but the awkwardness made her look like a goof. Fun match overall, though.

**3/4

Stardom - Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2017 (11/12/2017)

2. Shiki Shibusawa vs. Starlight Kid

What you'd expect from this match-up, but maybe a little bit better. Shiki was blasting the hell out of Starlight Kid with those dropkicks. There were a couple of awkward moments, but I thought this was a fine junior match.

**

4. New Chibis (Hiromi Mimura & Konami) & Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora) vs. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu, Kris Wolf & Sumire Natsu)

This was a fantastic debut for Sumire, she fits so well alongside the colorful characters in Oedo Tai. Hiromi is a perfect target for her, their heat-building was brilliant. Hana and Tamu are not getting along with the newest addition to the stable so there was also a relevos increibles element to this match that was amusing. Hot crowd, quality brawling and comedy.

***1/4

5. Four on Three Handicap Match: Bea Priestley, Kelly Klein & Yoko Bito vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, HZK, Io Shirai & Momo Watanabe)

Man, this turned out to be really great. Mari had some travel issues so it was made a 3-on-4 handicap match. Bito's team was at a disadvantage, but they were putting up one hell of a fight. The Bito-Io segments were smashing; Io's answer to the B Driver was neat. Fantastic main event.

***1/2

Stardom - Mask Fiesta 2017 (10/29/2017)

1. Bear Cat (Hanan) vs. Kikimaru (Ruaka) vs. Starlight Kid

**

2. Nightmare Demon (Bea Priestley) & Lady Punk (Kelly Klein) vs. Sweet and Spicy (Chardonnay) & Spindra (Scarlett)

This match was fun, it helped that they were playing wacky characters.

**1/4

3. Fairy God Jungle (Jungle Kyona), Shiki Melody (Shiki Shibusawa) & Viola Tiger (Natsuko Tora) vs. Gakirou (Kris Wolf), Gekkimaru (Kagetsu) & Kikahime (Hana Kimura)

Jungle Kyona is doing a Fairy Nipponbashi gimmick where she has a magic wand that flips people and stops time -- she was fucking amazing here. It gives you a sense of just how charismatic she is. There's a hilarious moment where she beats the hell out of P-Chan and Tamu's too busy distracting the official to notice.

***

4. Aloha Bito (Yoko Bito), Masked Wan-chan (Konami) & Shout Woman (Hiromi Mimura) vs. Chupa Panda (HZK), IOTICA (Io Shirai) & Mini IOTICA (AZM)

Good and fun vibes everywhere, I loved every second.

****

Hiromi Mimura vs. Momo Watanabe vs. Natsuko Tora (Stardom, 11/23/2016)

Stardom - Goddesses of Stars (11/23/2016)

Hiromi Mimura vs. Momo Watanabe vs. Natsuko Tora

This was Momo's first match after turning and becoming a member of Queen's Quest. It's interesting to see the change in character while she's still wearing her face gear. Match was alright... I miss Hiromi's old attire.

**1/4

Stardom - Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2017 (10/14/2017)

5. Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2017: Oedo Tai (Kagetsu & Hana Kimura) vs. Chibis (Konami & Hiromi Mimura)

Chibis got a lot of shine, and they did some double team stuff. Hiromi's charge-up dropkick is a fun spot. Hana's selling during the closer was good and her submission finisher always looks vicious.

**3/4

6. Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2017: Queen's Quest (Io Shirai & HZK) vs. Yoko Bito & Jungle Kyona

Solid main event. Proper cohesion, double maneuvers, etc. It goes without saying that Io is a genius of the ring, she worked hard to make this feel special. The heated interactions between HZK and Jungle were also very good.

***1/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP 2017 x Champions (10/1/2017)

3. Mari Apache & Hiromi Mimura vs. Yoko Bito & Konami

***

4. Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora vs. NEW-TRA (Takumi Iroha & Rin Kadokura)

It's nice to see Iroha back in Stardom. I actually thought this was one of her better performances even though the match itself was nothing special.

**3/4

5. Queen's Quest (Io Shirai, HZK & AZM) vs. Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Hana Kimura & Tam Nakano)

**3/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 x Champions (9/24/2017)

3. High Speed Championship: Mari Apache (c) vs. Hiromi Mimura

This was solid, probably one of the better HS matches I've seen recently. Mari's offense looked deadly, and Hiromi did good too.

***

4. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Yoko Bito (c) vs. Jungle Kyona

Good. There's continuity to this match (that neither competitor mentions) since Kyona won the tag belt from Bito the last time they were in Nagoya. They put on an engaging performance, and it's Kyona's hometown so the crowd was hot.

***1/2

5. Artist of Stardom Championship: Queen's Quest (HZK, Io Shirai & Viper) (c) vs. Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Kris Wolf & Tam Nakano)

There were some timing issues/awkwardness here, but nothing too bad. I love this feud between HZK and Nakano, they had a good segment here.

**3/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (9/18/2017)

4. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Kris Wolf

Hana used a variety of meats to distract Kris, and things got heated between them. Fun little match, loved the aggression Hana-chan showed.

**3/4

5. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Tam Nakano

The crowd was lively for this one. Tam is green, but she makes up for that with her charisma. Kyona's leg gives out when she lifts Tam for her powerbomb finisher and the move falls apart. She doesn't know how to lift. She needs to work on lifting!

***

7. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: HZK vs. Io Shirai

Good! The best of HZK's tournament (for what that is worth). She went toe-to-toe with Io in counters and kicked out of the moonsault.

***

8. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Viper vs. Yoko Bito

Viper ambushes Bito, and they're just going back and forth with big moves. Viper's offense could have looked better... I wasn't really into this until Bito's comeback.

**1/4

9. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Mayu Iwatani

Kagetsu tries to murder Mayu by pushing the entrance gate on top of her. Mayu's neck ends up sandwiched between the structure and a guardrail, it looked horrific. This was good, these two obviously have amazing chemistry and they put on a fresh installment to their feud.

***3/4

10. 5★STAR GP - Finals: Toni Storm vs. Yoko Bito

bad

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (9/16/2017)

1. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Konami

This started off strong with Konami hacking away at Kyona with kicks, and they kept an exciting pace, but it becomes pretty conventional as it unfolds. Still solid.

***

2. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Mandy Leon vs. Tam Nakano

*

3. Toni Storm, Kay Lee Ray & Xia Brookside vs. Mari Apache, Tora Natsuko & Shiki Shibusawa

**

4. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Kris Wolf

**

5. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Viper

I enjoyed how Hana approached this, trying to knock the bigger wrestler off of her feet with big boots and dropkicks, and she manages to brainbuster Viper. Sugoi stuff.

**1/2

6. Queen's Quest (Io Shirai, HZK & AZM) vs. Mayu Iwatani, Yoko Bito & Hiromi Mimura

**1/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (9/10/2017)

4. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kris Wolf vs. Yoko Bito

***

5. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Mayu Iwatani vs. Xia Brookside

**1/2

6. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai vs. Tam Nakano

Tam looked strong with her dragon sleeper and near-fall. Love the somato Io has been using lately. Good match, the crowd reaction was strong.

***1/2

7. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: HZK vs. Jungle Kyona

This was easily HZK's best match of the tournament so far. Loved the callbacks.

***

8. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Kagetsu

This was a strong performance for Kagetsu, she gets the crowd into the match with her shenanigans. 1stRING was eating this up. The in-ring was solid and the story was very compelling.

***3/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (9/2/2017)

1. Hanan vs. Kris Wolf vs. Ruaka

***1/4

2. Queen's Quest (AZM & HZK) vs. Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona & Tora Natsuko) vs. Yoko Bito & Mari Apache vs. Shiki☆d (Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa)

***

3. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Viper vs. Xia Brookside

**1/2

4. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Konami vs. Tam Nakano

Very good match between these GPS girls. Konami was the aggressor, and Tam was selling those kicks. This had a feel of tension and urgency, and I was impressed with the raw emotion/conviction coming from Nakano.

***1/2

5. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hiromi Mimura vs. Mayu Iwatani

***1/4

6. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Mandy Leon vs. Toni Storm

DUD

7. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai vs. Kay Lee Ray

***

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (8/27/2017)

2. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Xia Brookside

Good match. The pacing was there, the counters were neat and well-timed. It was interesting to see Hana try to out-grapple Xia as that isn't her usual style of wrestling, I'm liking the brutality of her octopus hold.

***

3. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Konami vs. Toni Storm

**1/4

4. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: HZK vs. Kay Lee Ray

**1/2

5. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hiromi Mimura vs. Yoko Bito

**

6. Jungle Kyona, Mary Apache & Mayu Iwatani vs. Mandy Leon & Queen's Quest (AZM & Io Shirai)

***1/2

7. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Viper

***1/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (8/26/2017)

1. Konami & AZM vs. Shiki☆d (Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa)

**1/2

2. Mandy Leon & Kay Lee Ray vs. Mari Apache & Tora Natsuko

*1/4

3. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: HZK vs. Toni Storm

**

4. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kris Wolf vs. Viper

**3/4

5. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Hiromi Mimura

I enjoyed Hana's control segment in this. The heel work was amazing, and she was very aggressive throughout, really laying in those strikes. Hiromi's the perfect target for bullying.

***

6. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Xia Brookside

The middle part of this could have been better, but I thought it otherwise flowed well and they were throwing awesome strikes. Best match of Xia's career.

**3/4

7. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai vs. Jungle Kyona

Io's injured neck is the MVP of this tournament! I'm liking the matches being built around it so far. Kyona brought her wild energy as the aggressor. Io was bumping hard, and there were nifty spots, like the tombstone counters and Io's springboard dropkick sequence. 

***3/4

8. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Mayu Iwatani vs. Yoko Bito

***1/2

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (8/20/2017)

1. Queen's Quest (Viper and AZM) vs. Mari Apache & Tora Natsuko vs. Xia Brookside & Ruaka vs. Shiki☆d (Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa)

**1/2

2. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hiromi Mimura vs. Kris Wolf

**3/4

3. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Kay Lee Ray vs. Tam Nakano

**

4. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: HZK vs. Konami

I've been waiting for this match all year, and when it's finally booked it's only 4 minutes! I got some enjoyment out of this. I always enjoy HZK, and Konami too, but I wish they had worked quicker.

**

5. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Jungle Kyona vs. Mandy Leon

**1/4

6. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Mayu Iwatani

Mayu has been wearing a more revealing attire lately, so this became something of a sexy battle, and Hana nailed it with her character work. The boob-targeting is classic Stardom.

***

7. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Kagetsu vs. Yoko Bito

This is easily the best Beatrice has looked since returning from injury. She messes Kagetsu up with those deadly kicks. They worked a fast paced. Very good sprint.

***1/2

8. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai vs. Toni Storm

Toni is the unbeatable superwoman, and Io is in a vulnerable state due to her neck injury. They play up the danger of the Strong Zero piledriver that caused the injury and it led to intense moments. Io does this counter to the piledriver that was stunning.

***1/4

Stardom - 5★STAR GP2017 (8/19/2017)

7. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Hana Kimura vs. Yoko Bito

This was hurt by timing issues/awkwardness, but there are still things to be enjoyed here, like Hana's octopus hold, and the impact of Bito's kicks. The closing segment where Hana destroys Bito with relentless boots was awesome.

**3/4

8. 5★STAR GP Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai vs. Mandy Leon

***

9. 5★STAR GP Red Stars Block: Mayu Iwatani vs. Viper

Viper's offense works well with Mayu's ragdoll selling; her body attacks and slams looked destructive, especially that finish (!).

***

Arisu Nanase & Momo Watanabe vs. Hiromi Mimura & Starlight Kid (Stardom, 6/5/2016)

Stardom - Premium Star Wars in Nagoya (6/5/2016)

Arisu Nanase & Momo Watanabe vs. Hiromi Mimura & Starlight Kid

Jesus Christ... what went wrong here. The match derails completely. Alice looks lost; this is only her third match, but man... the crowd is laughing at her awkwardness, and the official counts the fall when she clearly kicked out at 2!

DUD

Stardom - Shining Stars 2017 (7/2/2017)

2. Gabby Slays & Shanna vs. Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura & Kagetsu)

Shanna has moments of awkwardness, and should stop doing that standing moonsault before she hurts herself.

**3/4

3. Queen's Quest (AZM & HZK) vs. Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora)

Awesome slugfest. AZM connects gnarly kicks and puts on her best performance yet. HZK brings the hate, Kyona brings the explosiveness, Tora continues to look impressive -- great match!

****

4. Hiromi Mimura & Mayu Iwatani vs. Konami & Yoko Bito

***1/4

Stardom - Shining Stars 2017 (6/28/2017)

2. Hana Kimura vs. Gabby Slays

*1/4

3. Kagetsu vs. Shanna

**3/4

4. Hiromi Mimura & Mayu Iwatani vs. Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto & Natsuko Tora)

***1/2

5. Konami & Yoko Bito vs. Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona & Kaori Yoneyama)

Damn good main event. I love this kicker team of Bito and Konami. Yoneyama was putting in work here, which I feel she doesn't do often in Stardom. It was great to see.

****