Welcome back as we now focus on the second day of Stardom’s 5Star Grand Prix. We had a solid first day with both our respective blocks and the next shows going forward should be an interesting one.

Will anyone remain undefeated? Will the scoreboard start to become even?

All of this and more as we…dive right in.

Star Rating System:

• 0 Stars: Dave Meltzer
• 1 Star: Vince Russo
• 2 Stars: Tony Schiavone
• 3 Stars: Eric Bischoff
• 4 Stars: Bruce Prichard
• 5 Stars: Jim Cornette

Day 2 8/9/2020

5 Star Grand Prix Blue Stars Match
Maika vs. Saya Iida

Review: We have our first match for my block as we have Maika taking on Saya Iida. On the first show, Maika was able to make Momo Watanabe tap to get some points on the board while Saya lost to AZM. If Saya is able to get a win here, she could have a future match for the Future of Stardom Championship. Will Saya pull an upset or does Maika remain undefeated?

Wow, Saya is a lot shorter than expected when you see her face to face with someone like Maika. The two start to tackle each other to start the match off and Saya can hold her own despite being the shortest of the bunch. We all know Saya is here to take the pinfalls and potentially play a spoiler for one of the others but this is still a good learning experience for her since you can look at it as a test against more well seasoned people to help hone her skills for future shows. Maika does her job by playing a type of powerhouse in the match to stand her ground over her to show off her strength.

When Saya starts to make her little comeback, she chops the big girl down with chops until she has her falling down to the floor. Once she gets Maika down, she keeps on the assault by delivering multiple forearms. Saya delivers a Missle Dropkick and a Northern Lights Suplex onto Maika as she kicked out at two. Maika was able to apply the Sleeper Hold to try and get her to pass out as she quickly turned it into a Uranagi but Saya kicked out at two. Maika quickly picked her up as she hits a Straight Jacket STO and gets the pinfall victory to remain undefeated in the tournament.

Rating: Tony Schiavone and three quarters

5 Star Grand Prix Blue Stars Match
Momo Watanabe vs. AZM

Review: Time for our next match as we have two members of Queen’s Quest taking each other on with Momo Watanabe against AZM. AZM was able to get some points on the board when she defeated Saya Iida and Momo lost her first match to Maika when she tapped out. Still early to count Momo out as she just needs to win this match to have an average score. Will AZM defeat another grandma or does Momo get some points?

AZM trying to be slick when she tried to shake hands with Momo and attempts a Small Package, but Momo caught her before she could flip over. AZM had other ideas in mind as she flipped Momo around to show off her resiliency. This is a must better match compared to their matches on the first day since you have two of Stardom’s best going at it in this fast-paced type of match with great wrestling on top of it. AZM has been pulling off a lot of different moves on her while trying to get the submission victory over here, which she failed when Momo grabbed the ropes. I do like that they’re trying to go for the submission victory over each other since that’s what AZM does and Momo has been adapting to it lately in her arsenal, keeping her options open.

Momo would get a little comeback when she hits her Somato onto her as AZM kicked out. Momo applies the Crossface Chickenwing onto AZM to try and make her tap now but AZM quickly makes her way to the ropes, causing her to break the hold. Momo kicked her in the head after letting go and makes her way to the top rope to hit another Somato but AZM kicked out at two! AZM went for something a little bit risky when she held Momo’s arm in an odd angle and flipped over her to do a modified Rings of Saturn but AZM fails to get her to tap out. AZM transitioned it into a Fujiwara Armbar and Momo gets to the ropes. AZM jumped over her shoulders but Momo caught her and barely held her balance as AZM flipped over her for another pin as Momo kicked out at two. Momo kicked her in the head again and attempts the Tequila Sunrise but AZM flipped under her again to go for another pin as Momo kicked out again! AZM attempts another La Mistica but Momo rolled out of it and kicked her head again before applying the Crossface Chickenwing again, making AZM tap and giving Momo two points in a great match.

Rating: Eric Bischoff and three quarters

5 Star Grand Prix Blue Stars Match
Utami Hayashishita vs. Natsuko Tora

Review: We’re halfway done with day 2 as we have Utami Hayashishita taking on Natsuko Tora. Utami was able to get her first win when she defeated Jungle Kyona yet again to make her learn her place. Natsuko was unable to get a win when she got knocked out by Syuri but she has a chance to take down the Super Rookie. Will Utami stay in the lead or does the Leader of Oedo Tai get a win?

Before the match would begin, Natsuko would attack Utami once she was about to get into the ring and would continue her little sneak attack for a brief period until Utami fought her off. Aside from a couple of solid moves done during the beginning, the match falls apart pretty easily and I really cannot get behind Natsuko as a leader. Also, with the Oedo Tai name slapped on it without people like Kagetsu and Hazuki, it just doesn’t feel the same. If they had a different unit name, it would’ve been different maybe but I’m not 100% behind Natsuko being the leader, but I guess it could change over time. I can’t stop looking at Utami’s new gear, looks amazing.

The referee takes a terrible bump to be knocked out for a bit, I really hate how they handle their ref bumps majority of the time. Natsuko would grab her chain and hits her with it, which actually looked cool, so I’ll let her have that one. Natsuko grabs a bunch of chairs and places them on Utami before climbing to the apron to hit a Senton with the chairs on her. Natsuko rolls into the ring and Utami almost gets counted out until she made it back into the ring. Natsuko would wrap her chain around her neck to choke her but the referee doesn’t stop her this time. Utami was able to get behind her and hits a German Suplex right onto the chain to have one of the best spots on the night with how well that was executed. Utami has her up for the Torture Rack until Natsuko goes to the ropes to go over and chokes her while the referee calls for the bell, disqualifying Natsuko to give Utami the win. Least favorite match on my block and tournament so far.

Rating: Tony Schiavone

5 Star Grand Prix Blue Stars Match
Jungle Kyona vs. Syuri

Review: Time for our final match of my block as Jungle Kyona takes on the deadly Syuri. Syuri has a chance to catch up with Utami and Maika if she can win this match and remain undefeated. Jungle was unable to secure a win when she fell to Utami’s power but has a chance to bounce back. Will Syuri be apart of the undefeated club or does Jungle get on the right path?

Before the match begins, you see Mayu sitting in the crowd so she could pay attention to her opponent for her title match next week, Syuri. I see Jungle’s arm is still taped up and Syuri found her target for the match as she went for it during their chain wrestling sequence. So for my block, we had different types of matches with powerhouse/brawl, fast-pace, whatever Natsuko tried, and now we have a technical match. Might be in the minority here and I do love Giulia, but I think Syuri is the better wrestler out of DDM, she’s just more well-polished and crisp compared to the others. Jungle has been on top of her game lately and her last two matches in the Grand Prix have been showing that. Nice selling done by Jungle in this match with Syuri being tactical with her moves and working the injured arm like a predator attacking its prey.

Syuri charged right at Jungle as Jungle would punch her square in the jaw to knock her down. Jungle attempted a Lariat but Syuri ducked and threw her for a German Suplex, making Jungle get up right away and hits the Lariat this time around. During an attempted Suplex from Jungle, Syuri caught her neck for a Guillotine hold to try and choke her out, but Jungle fought it off and picked her up again to hit the Suplex this time around. Jungle goes to the top rope to hit the Splash but doesn’t have the strength to pin her. Syuri attempted a Roundhouse Kick as Jungle caught it to hit a Dragon Screw. Jungle attempts the Muscle Buster but Syuri wiggles around to move herself to choke her out till she lands on her feet, knees her face, and applies the Cross Armbreaker. Syuri shifted her body around to apply the Armbar till she lets go and kicks her chest in. Syuri ran towards Jungle but gets caught into a Powerbomb as she kicked out at two! Jungle attempted the Jungle Bomb but Syuri fought it off and lifted her onto her shoulders to hit the Gutbuster. Syuri applies the Armbar again and moved herself to grab both her arms and wrung them together, causing her to scream in submission. The message has been received to Mayu loud and clear.

Now on Stardom World! Syuri battles Jungle Kyona on day 2 of the 5★STAR GP2020 from August 9 at Korakuen Hall! https://t.co/q8dHnF58vW pic.twitter.com/QtQzTGrJeM

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) August 12, 2020

Rating: Bruce Prichard

Overall: The second day was a much better event compared to the first day. Despite the bad match between Natsuko and Utami, we had two great matches with AZM and Momo, and Kyona and Syuri. Day three got postponed but very much looking forward to when they do the next set of matches.

Favorite Match: Jungle Kyona vs. Syuri

Least Favorite Match: Utami Hayashishita vs. Natsuko Tora

Score: 7.25/10