Stardom - Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 in Summer (7/4/2021)

2. Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe & AZM) vs. Oedo Tai (Starlight Kid & Ruaka)

This was good tag team action, with timely momentum shifts and a well-executed finishing sequence. Starlight Kid adds an interesting variable to Oedo Tai, who have been gaining momentum with expanding membership. Her entrance and mannerisms were cool. And again, Ruaka has been showing such great improvement and feels so much more motivated than she was prior to joining Oedo Tai. 

***1/2

3. Future of Stardom Championship Tournament, Finals: Mina Shirakawa vs. Unagi Sayaka

This was a solid match, but I felt it was lacking in terms of tension and drama for a tournament final. They performed some cool looking moves with nothing in between to create meaning. Although I was impressed by Mina's performance. Her grounding wrestling and strikes were impressive.

***

4. Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Donna del Mondo (Giulia & Syuri) (c) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Koguma)

This was a great tag title defense. The action was very well-paced and the dramatic sequences were well constructed. Despite a six-year absence, Koguma has been doing excellent work since her return. She was given the spotlight and her genius really shined. Her German suplex from below the waist was Gary Albert level. Giulia's striking ability and steep head drops were as brutal as always. Also, Mayu and Syuri, who have a history at Yokohama Budokan, had a sweet callback to their feud.

****

5. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Tam Nakano (c) vs. Saya Kamitani

A confrontation between master and disciple. The strike battles weren't high level, but what they lacked in technique they made up for in unbridled emotion, and that is the kind of storytelling that is typical of the white belt. The pace felt a little off in the beginning, but they developed a good rhythm as the match progressed. Tam's body work and kicks were great. And Kamitani, who took a lot of damage head-on and yet refused to back down, was super compelling to watch. There was something reminiscent of Mayu Iwatani in her performance.

****