Stardom - Stardom New Year Stars 2022 in Korakuen Hall (1/8/2022)
AZM vs. Momo Watanabe
Solid match that didn't reach its full potential. Momo may still be figuring out her new character and AZM isn't consistent in showing her emotions which made her performance underneath not so compelling. There were some cool counters from both, with Momo using her power and control over the smaller opponent, and AZM her speed and technique. ***1/4
GakePro - Gake No Fuchi Joshi Pro Wrestling - Clockwork Gake No Fuchi 2022 ~ Gake No Fuchi vs. Prominence ~ (1/4/2022)
Hardcore: Chris Brookes vs. Suzu Suzuki
As someone who is not particularly a fan of death or hardcore matches, I was thoroughly entertained by this match. The manner in which they went spot to spot felt smooth unlike a lot of weapons matches I've seen in Japan, and there were some wicked bumps. Brookes seemed to not be holding anything back and that produced a great underdog story with Suzu rallying from underneath. ****
6. International Princess Championship: Hikari Noa (c) vs. Maki Itoh
This was a great match that showed the potential of the green belt. Itoh's expressiveness was great and she dictated the flow of the match. Hikari still needs to work on showing more personality, but her wrestling was good. There were some great exchanges that led to hot near-falls and the finish was well set up. ****
7. Princess of Princess Championship: Miyu Yamashita (c) vs. Mizuki
I didn't think this match was as cohesive as their more recent singles matches, particularly due to some weird decisions and pacing issues in the middle, but the match steadily improved as it progressed, and the exchanges and drama at the end were amazing. Also, for what felt like the first time in a while, Miyu really nailed the Crash Rabbit Heat. ****
These are my top 30 favorite joshi puroresu bouts of 2021.
4. Giulia vs. Konami
From the bell this had the aura of a special match and lively crowd support. It was a really fun match for Giulia's return and Konami's farewell, with tributes to TCS and Hana. Giulia's condition seemed better than ever in her return, and both seemed like they were having fun. ****
6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Tam Nakano vs. Saya Kamitani
It started slow, but once it got going, it was off to the races. Very well paced with the big and dramatic moments nicely arranged. Tam once again brought the emotion, physicality and desperation. And Kamitani seemed to do something amazing every time she took the initiative, which made the match one you couldn't take your eyes off of. ****1/4
7. World of Stardom Championship / SWA World Championship: Utami Hayashishita vs. Syuri
The culmination of Syuri's journey this year. An epic clash between monsters of incredible stamina and durability. I don't think the action peaked as often as their first title match, but the story and emotion were much stronger this time around. ****1/2
4. Thekla vs. Suzu Suzuki
This was the 15th anniversary dojo event, and it seemed like they were working even harder than they usually do on events of this scale. Thekla is on the smaller side among the foreign competitors in Japan, but her all-around skill more than makes up for it. Grappling, submissions, striking, heel work; she's amazing in every way. And Suzu is similarly versatile. This match was filled with dynamic action, high-paced back and forth exchanges, and some great near falls. ****
5. Tsukasa Fujimoto, Risa Sera & Akane Fujita vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto, Yukihi Maya & Maika Ozaki
I'm always a sucker for a stacked prelude tag match. This one was a preview for Fujimoto-Hiroyo and was a loaded 30-minute epic in the Ice Ribbon dojo. It had a catchy ebb and flow to it, and the big moves were well distributed over its long duration. Each performer shined as they showed their great chemistry and familiarity with each other both as partners and opponents. The key encounters had plenty of depth to them. ****1/2
5. Rika Tatsumi vs. Yuki Arai
A great showcase of Yuki Arai that had a nice build and pace to it, thanks to Rika's craftsmanship. Arai's facial performance shined and she showed great timing in her comebacks. ***1/2
6. International Princess Championship: Hikari Noa (c) vs. Miu Watanabe
This was a great match. Both of them showed the EXP they've gained since their last match over a year ago. Miu's growth has been the more noticeable of the two, with an improved physique and an expanding moveset. However, Hikari has sharpened her core weapons and learned how to use them more effectively. On commentary, Chris Brooks compared Hikari to a fighting game player who spams the same move over and over, which I thought was a good description of her style. I couldn't help but feel they had more to explore, but they put together an exciting match for the time given. ***3/4
7. Princess Tag Team Championship: Magical Sugar Rabbits (Mizuki & Yuka Sakazaki) (c) vs. 121000000 (Maki Itoh & Miyu Yamashita)
An amazing all-star tag team main event, with the elite four of the promotion putting on their best performances. It was also a nice hidden prelude to 1.4, with Miyu and Mizuki building up a singles match in a hot finishing stretch. Itoh and Yuka were also a great combination. ****1/2
