donsem43 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 If they space the debuts apart enough they might. Kairi Sane is front and center with anything the WWE has done so far with the MYC. If Asuka moves up to the main roster in the fall they can move Sane over to NXT then probably introduce Io a few months later. The three of them act/work differently enough that you would think that the WWE would trust fans to be able to tell the three of them apart. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted July 31, 2017 Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 If they space the debuts apart enough they might. Kairi Sane is front and center with anything the WWE has done so far with the MYC. If Asuka moves up to the main roster in the fall they can move Sane over to NXT then probably introduce Io a few months later. The three of them act/work differently enough that you would think that the WWE would trust fans to be able to tell the three of them apart. Full confidence in the fans to handle both or all 3 of them. Don't have quite the same confidence in the company to see things that way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted July 31, 2017 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2017 More curious than anything. I'm shocked at how front and center Kairi Sane has been for the MYC. I wasn't expecting that. I don't think Asuka will do any better than Nakamura on the main roster, probably worse. I do think that Io's style will translate well to WWE. She's had a couple of really good short matches so far this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAC Posted August 3, 2017 Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 I've heard secondhand that Meltzer is reporting that Io Shirai was medically cleared to return to wrestling, but WWE rescinded their contract offer. This is presumably because of their aversion to signing wrestlers with neck and concussion issues. Hence her return to Stardom for the 5-star Grand Prix. Selfishly, I'm happy that she'll be around to enjoy in Stardom. But it's lousy for her. While she'll have great matches in Japan, she's really accomplished everything imaginable in Stardom. There's nothing else to do with her there. To me, she deserves a shot at wrestling for a larger audience in WWE (even though I have zero confidence in their ability to use her properly). I'm curious to see whether the WWE makes a new offer next year if her health is good (which must be difficult given her incredibly physical style). I'm not giving up on my impossible dream of Io and Kairi main eventing a WWE PPV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted August 3, 2017 Report Share Posted August 3, 2017 Selfishly, I'm happy that she'll be around to enjoy in Stardom. But it's lousy for her. While she'll have great matches in Japan, she's really accomplished everything imaginable in Stardom. There's nothing else to do with her there. To me, she deserves a shot at wrestling for a larger audience in WWE (even though I have zero confidence in their ability to use her properly). I'm curious to see whether the WWE makes a new offer next year if her health is good (which must be difficult given her incredibly physical style). I'm not giving up on my impossible dream of Io and Kairi main eventing a WWE PPV. Exactly. She's absolutely one of my favorite wrestlers and I'm thrilled to see her in a position that likely takes full advantage of her work. But it has to be a setback for her. Here's hoping she is in fact and stays healthy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted August 7, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2017 The lineup for Stardom's 5*GP: Red Stars Block: Mayu Iwatani Yoko Bito Hiromi Mimura Kagetsu Hana Kimura Viper Xia Brookside Kris Wolf Blue Stars Block: Io Shirai Jungle Kyona HZK Konami Tora or Nakano* Toni Storm Kay Lee Ray Mandy Leon * Natsuko Tora and Tam Nakano will have a qualifying match on August 13. While the Red Block will have good matches, I don't get why you would put the current champ in the same block as four of the women who have had title shots against her in the last two months. Viper vs. each Oedo Tai member should fun, as well as Oedo Tai facing off with each other, but other than that they are just recycling matchups they just did. Even if you took Io out, the Blue Block looks really fun. You have the younger stars of Stardom (Kyona, HZK, Konami) and two of Stardom's best foreigners (Storm, KLR,) that alone creates a lot of interesting matchups. Putting Io in mix makes it even better. The only negative is that it makes it very unlikely that either Kyona or HZK get the push that both need to help establish them higher up the card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimmas Posted August 11, 2017 Report Share Posted August 11, 2017 The lineup for Stardom's 5*GP: I signed up for Stardom World like a week ago and have already watched every Kourakaen Hall main event, plus everything else that looked cool from 2017. I am loving this promotion, great characters and variety and awesome matches with logical booking. Subtitled promos and no announcing are other huge pluses. Very pumped to follow this tournament along. Lots of fun potential matches, and it will be neat that the entire heel stable is all in one block. Going to be wild. Lots of different ways to go with booking, but I'm hoping for a Mayu vs Toni Storm finals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted August 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 So, Io Shirai lost to ROH's Mandy Leon via submission. Some people are upset but it sets up a major storyline for the tournament and establishes some unpredictability early on in the tournament. For the long term, Jungle Kyona losing to Toni Storm was a worse decision. I hope Kris Wolf gets a WWE tryout for putting over Robbie Brookside's daughter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aguakun Posted August 19, 2017 Report Share Posted August 19, 2017 It seems the story of the match was Mandy targeting Io's injured/recovering neck. She wasn't 100%. I think the idea of putting Mayu with wrestlers she has already beaten is that one of them will probably challenge for and win the White Belt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted August 20, 2017 Report Share Posted August 20, 2017 Can't wait to catch up on Stardom when I get back from vacation and the 5*GP as it gets posted. Very much agree that Storm over Jungle is more egregious booking than Shirai dropping a fall here. The latter won't mean much and she can put over anyone at any time. Hopefully she was able to carry Mandy to something solid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jushin muta liger Posted September 18, 2017 Report Share Posted September 18, 2017 I'm on my phone typing this so I can't put spoiler tags but I'm intrigued by the person who the 5 Star GP tonight cause there are so many implications if she goes on to beat Mayu for the World of Stardom title. Also, Sareee leaving Seadlinnng to go back to Diana is a head scratcher. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted September 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 According to Stardom's twitter, Mayu Iwatani suffered an arm injury (Google translate had dislocation) just two minutes into her World of Stardom title match with Toni Storm. Storm was awarded the title but said that she wanted a rematch with Iwatani. Mayu lost the Wonder of Stardom title the day before to Yoko Bito. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted September 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 So Iwatani will be out at least three weeks with a dislocation. Looks like she will just do rehab then be reevaluated after that. I imagine Toni Storm's current run will be up by then so I wouldn't expect a rematch till probably December at the earliest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JAC Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 In kayfabe and IRL, a brutal week for Iwatani. Getting screwed out of a berth in the 5-star finals by Kagetsu, losing both titles and getting hurt. Poor Mayu! I was really enjoying her run on top, although I figured she was going to lose the Red Belt to Toni anyway because thats where the booking seemed to be leading. Im not high on Bito, but given where they want to position her, it made sense for her to get a run with the White Belt. I dont really like Storm much (I know Im a huge outlier in that regard), but I assumed that they wanted to get the Red Belt on her eventually to set up another match with Io where Shirai would finally go over. Im guessing that match will happen in December or January. Its tricky putting the Red Belt on a foreigner who cant stay around full time. It means they either have to get it off Toni before she leaves Japan or put up with having an absentee champion until Storms next tour. I dont think it will happen, but Id love to see Mayu get back on top once shes healed. I think theres still lots more they can do with her as champ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aguakun Posted September 24, 2017 Report Share Posted September 24, 2017 Toni is not booked for the next tour as of now. I'd rather see the title go vacant than have an absentee champion (esp. when that champion is Toni Storm). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WingedEagle Posted September 25, 2017 Report Share Posted September 25, 2017 Very unfortunate break for Mayu and perhaps Stardom. The decision to award Storm the title on the spot seems quite rushed but we'll see how its handled on subsequent shows. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted September 26, 2017 Author Report Share Posted September 26, 2017 October is typically Stardom's slowest month in terms of the number of shows they run. They will also have their tag league going in the fall so that will probably fill up the schedule for a bit. The big Korakuen Hall shows lineups will be interesting, since the worst drawing ones usually have only a couple of title matches. In positive news, Chihiro Hashimoto actually retained the Sendai Girls title beating Meiko Satomura. They also drew over two thousand for the show, which has been a nice run of drawing good crowds to their big shows the past few years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jushin muta liger Posted October 8, 2017 Report Share Posted October 8, 2017 I fully recommend the Chihiro Hashimoto/Meiko Satomura rematch. It might be the joshi MOTY. I loved it so much cause Chihiro isn't green like last year. Thought they built a great story with Chihiro solidifying herself as the ace of Sendai. Better to me than how Reigns and Cena told that story. I freaked out when Chihiro kicked out of the Scorpion Rising/DVD combo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah's_Savior Posted October 29, 2017 Report Share Posted October 29, 2017 Yoshiko defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto for the Oz Academy Openweight title and I'm assuming anti-Yoshiko western fans are taking that well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted November 18, 2017 Author Report Share Posted November 18, 2017 Everyone should make an effort to watch the Best Friends vs. Avid Rival series from August if they can. Just three terrific matches between two great teams. Honestly, Best Friends have strong an argument as anyone for being the best tag team in all of wrestling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donsem43 Posted December 16, 2017 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2017 Just finished watching Rina Yamashita vs. Misaki Ohata from WAVE's 10/9 show. This match isn't just the best match joshi match from this year, or the last few years, it's one of the best in post-peak AJW ('97 pre-exodus) era. I know WAVE Network is a terrible value for a wrestling streaming service but it's a real shame that people are missing out on the great year that Yamashita, Ohata, and Ryo Mizunami are having. All three should be in the discussion with Hiroyo Matsumoto for being joshi wrestler of the year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah's_Savior Posted December 25, 2017 Report Share Posted December 25, 2017 Tsukushi is having her re-debut at Ribbonmania on December 31. Wonder how the fans respond to her when she walks past the curtain at Korakuen Hall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin Posted December 28, 2017 Report Share Posted December 28, 2017 Not sure if Kandori has a death wish or not, but she's scheduled to fight Gabi Garcia tomorrow at RIZIN, but Gabi missed weight by 26 lbs and the weight limit was 205 lbs... Kandori stormed off the stage and was irate. Nobuyuki Sakakibara and Nobuhiko Takada said they were going to see what they could do about the fight, so I'm guessing they'll probably reach a different weight for NYE possibly. Gabi's a horrible striker, but she's way bigger than Kandori a legit BJJ black belt who can destroy Kandori easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noah's_Savior Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 Match got canceled, Gabi got in the ring to apologize, and the show continued. I imagine Sakakibara and Takada are miffed since the last year on Fujiyama Fight Club, Fuji TV's weekly mma show, they've been running skits building Kandori & LLPW-X vs Gabi Garcia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edwin Posted December 30, 2017 Report Share Posted December 30, 2017 That was the most embarrassing thing I've seen in a while. Takako Inoue and Yumiko Hotta were the wrestlers accompanying Kandori ringside. The fight was rescheduled for a future event. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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