4/21 STARDOM GLORY STARS evening report: Momo Watanabe & AZM vs. Jungle Kyona & Konami, Kagetsu & Andras Miyagi vs. Hana Kimura & Rebel Kel

STARDOM GLORY STARS
APRIL 21, 2019
OSAKA, JAPAN AT OSAKA WORLD PAVILION
AIRED ON STARDOM WORLD
REPORT BY HARLEY R. PAGEOT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Onozaki said this was her first time teaming with Priestley as part of QQ. Kid said this was also her first time teaming with Iida since the latter joined Stars. Iida said her feelings were complicated about facing her former JAN friend in Onozaki.

(1) QUEEN’S QUEST (Bea Priestley & Leo Onozaki) vs. STARS (Starlight Kid & Saya Iida)

Priestley instructed Onozaki not to shake hands before the match. The JAN members started for their teams. Priestley took some gum out of her mouth and stuck it in Iida’s mouth while she had her in a chinlock. QQ double-teamed Kid while the referee admonished them. Iida got her bridging pin on Priestley for a three-count but Onozaki broke it up at three and a half and the referee held his count to wait. Priestley hit a nice double-stomp off the ropes but Iida kicked out in a surprise. A curb stomp to Iida ended it.

WINNERS: Queen’s Quest in 9:07.

-Priestley kicked Iida out of the ring.

(Pageot’s Perspective: Priestley has definitely been wrestling more heelish lately, blowing off the code of honor, kicking her opponents out of the ring post-match, and throwing the F-word around frequently. I don’t know if this is a sign of QQ as a whole moving further to the dark side of the spectrum to allow for Tokyo Cyber Squad taking a more babyface alignment. Oedo Tai are obviously the most heelish and Stars the most babyface.)

-Kashima said this was her first singles match against Sumire but Sumire always sings Kashima’s theme song. It’s really annoying. Sumire cut her promo as if she were a pop star introducing her debut music video on MTV. Her single (Kashima’s entrance theme, naturally) is called “Emblem.”

Cut to Sumire in the ring, singing along to Kashima’s theme. Andras Miyagi stood at ringside with the lyrics on a cue card for her. Kashima walked partway down the aisle before wanting to leave. Starlight Kid convinced her to follow through with the match so Kashima hit the ring and attacked Sumire mid-song.

(2) ARTIST OF STARDOM CHAMPION SAKI KASHIMA vs. NATSU SUMIRE (w/Andras Miyagi)

Kashima put Sumire in a camel clutch and held the microphone for her. Sumire started to sing again so Kashima let go and stomped away at her instead. Sumire brought her whip into the ring. The referee yelled at her so she shoved him through the ropes. With the ref down Miyagi handed Sumire a bottle of water. She poured it on her face and blamed Kashima. The ref didn’t seem to believe her or care. After a tussle Sumire shove Kashima into the ref in the corner. Sumire charged, Kashima moved, and the ref was inadvertently low blowed by Sumire. Sumire hit her bridging northern lights suplex on Kashima but he was down and couldn’t count. Sumire and the ref bickered and Kashima got a small package for two. Kashima with a bridging suplex for two. Top rope double-stomp but Sumire kicked out. Sumire kicked Kashima between the legs, grabbed her whip, and started unloading on Kashima. The referee yelled at her so she kicked him between the legs. He went down and called for the very rare Stardom disqualification.

WINNER: Saki Kashima in 6:12 by disqualification.

-Kashima went after Sumire, who hid under the ring. Kashima chased her to the back with Miyagi following behind.

(Pageot’s Perspective: Very interesting. This is the first match all year to end in a DQ as the referees are notoriously lenient in Stardom and will let people routinely brawl into the crowd and use chairs while only receiving a light scolding. Granted, nobody else has straight up just kicked the ref between the legs this year. Is Sumire acting up because she was picked last by Oedo Tai in the draft? Or is this, combined with them losing their dance, a sign that Oedo Tai too are going full heel again?)

-Tora said she’s teaming with her favorite person who she respects, Hauzki. They’ll do their half-assed best. Hoshiki said their opponents are pretty irritating. She said she wants to make a great team with Nakano. Nakano claimed to see a shooting star (indoors) and ran off after it, avoiding Hoshiki.

(3) OEDO TAI (High Speed Champion Hazuki & Natsuko Tora) vs. STARS (Artist Of Stardom Champion Tam Nakano & Arisa Hoshiki)

Hoshiki and Hazuki started. Nakano bodyslammed Hoshiki onto Hazuki, then stood on top of both of them for the pin. Hazuki kicked out and Hoshiki returned the favor by bodyslamming Nakano but Hazuki moved and Hoshiki ended up just bodyslamming her partner onto the mat. There was some more miscommunication between the faces throughout the match. In the end Hazuki would crack the Oedo Tai placard over Nakano’s head and Tora hit her swinging side slam for the pin.

WINNERS: Oedo Tai in 10:37.

-Tora hurled Hoshiki to the mat next to Nakano and the heels kicked away at them while Kid and Iida tried to intervene.

(Pageot’s Perspective: Another good one. The tension between Nakano and Hoshiki is helping draw some personality out of Hoshiki and it’s unclear where this is going. Nakano seems frustrated with Stars as a whole but especially Mayu Iwatani’s loyalty to Hoshiki over the rest of them. What is her breaking point?)

-Kimura blew her bangs out of her face. Kagetsu and Miyagi motioned to the camera with their hands.

(4) OEDO TAI (World Of Stardom Champion Kagetsu & Andras Miyagi) vs. TOKYO CYBER SQUAD (Hana Kimura & Rebel Kel)

Kimura and Miyagi started. The teams brawled to the floor and Kimura hit Miyagi with the Oedo Tai placard. Kagetsu tried to pin Kel with her feet on the ropes but the referee caught her. In the end Kagetsu spit water in Kel’s face, Miyagi hit a Samoan drop, and Kagetsu followed with the Oedo Coaster to pin Kel.

WINNERS: Oedo Tai in 10:27.

-Kimura and Miyagi went face to face and had a headbang off. Miyagi fled in frustration. Kimura and Kel also left.

Bea Priestley showed up. She spoke in broken English. Kagetsu won the red belt ten months ago and wrestled Toni Storm and Viper but not her. She asked if Kagetsu was afraid. Priestley grabbed the red belt and declared herself top gaijin. Bow down to the queen. Kagetsu said everyone wants to challenge for the red belt. She said she respects Priestley and agreed to a match. They shook on it, then Kagetsu kicked her in the stomach. Priestley threw a punch but Kagetsu cleared her to the floor. Kagetsu called her stupid and said she just turned all of Osaka against her. (Osaka is Kagetsu’s hometown.)

(Pageot’s Perspective: A fine match. Further establishing that Kel is the new fall girl for TCS and giving Kagetsu another win ahead of her next defense. Priestley definitely doesn’t win. It’s likely just her being used to put over the champ before going off to AEW for a while.)

-Konami told QQ to fuck off again and Kyona laughed. Kyona said they don’t have Kimura with them tonight but they still want to fuck up QQ. She always wanted to team with Konami and hugged her but Konami pushed her off and said that’s gross. Watanabe said she had mixed feelings because of Konami.

Watanabe and AZM both offered handshakes to their former friend Konami but she just stood in the corner and stared at them. When Kyona walked forward to shake, the QQ members turned their backs on her and went to their corner.

(5) QUEEN’S QUEST (Wonder Of Stardom/Goddess Of Stardom Champion Momo Watanabe & AZM) vs. TOKYO CYBER SQUAD (Jungle Kyona & Konami)

Kyona and Watanabe started. QQ worked over Kyona while periodically knocking Konami off the apron. Konami tagged in for the first time at 6:55. She stacked AZM on top of Watanabe and put them both in an armbar. AZM with the octopus to Kyona at 10:40. Kyona went up top but Watanabe kicked her in the head and AZM threw her off. Kyona and Konami hit The New Day’s Midnight Hour on AZM. Konami tackled Watanabe to the floor. AZM springboarded into a crossbody but Kyona caught her. Kyona transitioned into a hammer throw and splash on AZM for the win.

WINNERS: Tokyo Cyber Squad in 14:21.

-Kyona said she won in the main event in Osaka! Also she had a little help from her tag partner Konami. What happens in a week? The Cinderella Tournament. The day Kyona finally wears that dress. She asked President Ogawa to order a plus-size dress. Konami said it’s her against Watanabe in the first round. It’s not about who you believe in. Believe in the winner and Konami will be the one who decides who wins.  Kyona said everyone thinks she’s kind, even Kimura. She doesn’t want to change who she is just because she’s joined TCS. She thinks pro wrestlers are both gentle and strong. Don’t make a mistake. She is not below Kimura.

Kimura told her to close the show. They made the fans stand up. Kyona yelled “Tokyo Cyber Squad” while Kimura, Konami, and the fans saluted and responded “yes sir!” Everyone is different, everyone is good.

(Pageot’s Perspective: So much cursing lately.  I guess the draft upset a lot of people.  Good main event but I would like to hear an explanation as to why Konami suddenly hates QQ so much. With Tora and Oedo Tai it’s clear that Kagetsu is good at brainwashing the people she brings into the group. But QQ didn’t reject Konami. She was just scooped up by Kimura first. Still, her and Kyona are coming together nicely as a team and I could definitely see them taking the tag titles from Watanabe & Hayashishita once the latter is back from injury. I think Kimura wins the Cinderella Tournament and Kyona takes the longer path back to victory by winning the 5Star Grand Prix this summer.)