Stardom - Shining Stars 2018 (Afternoon Show) (5/27/2018)

3. Io Shirai vs. Starlight Kid

Another great generational struggle in Osaka, following Kagetsu/AZM early in the year. Good back and forth, Starlight Kid displayed a "killer instinct" with several, impactful additions to her moveset.

***3/4

4. Artist of Stardom Championship Tournament - Round 1: J.A.N. (Jungle Kyona, Kaori Yoneyama & Natsuko Tora) vs. STARS (Saki Kashima, Shiki Shibusawa & Tam Nakano)

This was fun. Saki, Shiki & Tamu held their own without Mayu, and Tamu and Natsuko reignited their feud from last year in a great segment.

***

5. Artist of Stardom Championship Tournament - Round 1: Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Hazuki & Kagetsu) vs. Queen's Quest (AZM, Konami & Momo Watanabe)

Kagetsu using the brass knuckles on AZM - how extreme! Fun trios to close the noon show. The feuding between Hazuki & Momo and Konami & Kagetsu were the highlights. 

***

Riho, Sawasdee Kamen & Baliyan Akki vs. Emi Sakura, Masahiro Takanashi & Golem Thai (Gatoh Move, 4/29/2018)

Gatoh Move - Japan Tour・353 (4/29/2018)

Riho, Sawasdee Kamen & Baliyan Akki vs. Emi Sakura, Masahiro Takanashi & Golem Thai

Another doozy of a trios from GM. This was a ton of fun, showcased Baliyan and Golem Thai, who I'm not familiar with, and had a great Riho-Emi sequence.

****

Stardom - Gold Star 2018 (5/23/2018)

2.  Session Moth Martina vs. Zoe Lucas

I was surprised at how involved the crowd was in this match, the reaction sounds so much better with the north side opened up. Enjoyable showing by these two.

**1/2

3.  Queen's Quest (Konami & AZM) vs. J.A.N. (Jungle Kyona & Natsuko Tora)

Tremendous match with QQ being little shits and getting demolished by the J.A.N. powerhouses. Simple, effective storytelling.

***3/4

4.  2 out of 3 Falls: Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Hazuki, Hana Kimura & Sumire Natsu) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani, Saki Kashima, Tam Nakano & Shiki Shibusawa)

This ruled! What a wild ride! 3 falls of amazing action and bumping, and once again I have to mention the crowd reaction on this show, it was electric and made everything feel special. 

****1/4

5. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Io Shirai (c) vs. Momo Watanabe

This is a match that perfectly represents the epic main event style only found in Stardom. Io's performance was mesmerizing, when she wasn't savagely beating the shit out of Momo, she was making the challenger's offense look like death. Massive moment for Momo.

****1/2

Tokyo Joshi Pro - The 5th Tokyo Princess Cup (6/3/2018)

4. Tokyo Princess Cup - First Round: Nodoka-oneesan vs. Yuna Manase

This was surprisingly good! I thought it would be a snoozefest because it's not an attractive match on paper, but it was well wrestled. Nodoka's selling, emotes, offense were all on point here

***

5. Tokyo Princess Cup - First Round: Hyper Misao vs. Saki-sama

It was established out the gate that this match could end via fuckery which made it harder to predict who would win. Fun and thrilling contest

**1/2

7. Tokyo Princess Cup - First Round: Miyu Yamashita vs. Maki Ito

Great match. I liked dickish Miyu. Thought Ito gave a strong, focused performance. This was Ito's best bout. Not even Riho could get this out of Ito, not Rika, not Yuu, not Danshoku Dino, not Nonoko (who I hold in high regard in the ring). Miyu is second to none in carrying Ito.

***1/2

8. Tokyo Princess Cup - First Round: Reika Saiki vs. Yuu

Yuu and Reika have grown since their last encounter and it showed in this main event. Yuu chops were horrific as always, and there were great counterattacks.

***

Yoshiko vs. Sonoko Kato (OZ Academy, 4/15/2018)

OZ Academy - Mysterious Flowers (4/15/2018)

OZ Academy Openweight Championship: Yoshiko (c) vs. Sonoko Kato

Kato exhausted her artillery trying to keep the monster down, and Yoshiko's swift and brutal comeback showed how dangerous she is when on the offensive. Performances like this is why Sonoko Kato is my favorite obachan, truly one of the underrated wrestlers of modern joshi.

****

Stardom - Shining Stars 2018 (5/20/2018)

1. Team Jungle (Natsuko Tora & Leo Onozaki) vs. STARS (Starlight Kid & Shiki Shibusawa)

Leo's Team Jungle debut so she was spotlighted. I liked the bullyish control segment from Shiki☆d on Leo, there is a mean streak behind their cuteness.

**1/4

2. Candyfloss & Zoe Lucas vs. STARS (Tam Nakano & Hanan)

Great showing from Zoey in her Stardom return match. She's one of the cutest gaijin of all time, so it's nice to see her making strides in the ring.

**1/2

4. 3 on 2 Handicap: Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona, Kaori Yoneyama & Ruaka) vs. Oedo Tai (Kagetsu & Sumire Natsu)

Good match, Yoneyama seems to be having a lot of fun lately. Dug the Kyona-Kagetsu exchange and Sumire being possessed by the spirit of Nao. Never thought I'd see brass knuckles in a Stardom ring (courtesy of Kagetsu). 

***

5. Queen's Quest (Io Shirai & AZM) vs. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & Konami)

Another great Queen's Quest in-fight, with Momo looking strong heading into her white belt match against Io at Korakuen. AZM refusing to tag out when Momo demanded to fight Io was an awesome moment.

***3/4

NEO Biishiki-gun (Saki-sama & Azusa Christie) vs. Yuu & Yuki Kamifuku (Tokyo Joshi Pro, 4/15/2018)

Tokyo Joshi Pro - Let's Go To Osaka In The Spring, Together With Your Friends! (4/15/2018)

NEO Biishiki-gun (Saki-sama & Azusa Christie) vs. Yuu & Yuki Kamifuku

I skipped out on this when I watched this show, but I went back and checked it out. Kamiyu's character work added some freshness to Bii-gun's usual formula, the interactions between her and Azusa were very cute.

***3/4