Rian & Furusawa Challenge for the New Blood Tag Titles at August 23 Ryogoku Show
During Kurara Sakura’s pre-show address, Rian and Furusawa made an unexpected appearance. Rian reiterated her recent victory over Sakura in Kyoto and officially threw down the gauntlet for the New Blood (NB) Tag Team Championship, demanding the match take place at the August 23 Ryogoku Kokugikan event.
Kurara: “Ryogoku? Honestly, we haven’t been able to defend these belts at all, so I’m incredibly happy you want to challenge for them. The NB Tag Titles have never been defended at Ryogoku before, so of course, we accept. Let’s do this!”
Sakura: “You guys came out here all fired up, but did you even decide on a team name?”
Rian: “We want to make a lot of money. ‘Many’ money. Ready, go!”
Rian & Furusawa: “MeniMani!”
Kurara: “But wait, this ‘Itoh Respect Army’ you two are claiming to be a part of… it’s completely unofficial, right? And you want to make money there? Everyone, think about it. No matter how you look at it, Cosmic Angels will make you more famous and get you way more money.”
Sakura: “We travel strictly in Green Cars (first-class), you know.”
Rian: “You guys are always riding the bus!”
Furusawa: “We are going to take those NB Tag belts and make the Itoh Respect Army official! MeniMani…”
Rian & Furusawa: “FOREVER!”
MeniMani stomped on Sakura’s foot before exiting the ring.
Sakura: “…What is with those brats? It pisses me off, but since we finally get to defend the NB Tag belts, everyone, you’re going to cheer for us at Ryogoku, right?”
Kurara: “Plus, the 5★STAR finals are at Ryogoku! Everyone, it’s going to be absolutely wild!”
1. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 1 (No Time Limit)
○ Starlight Kid [BLUE STARS B 3rd Place] (13:58, via Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu) HANAKO ● [BLUE STARS A 2nd Place]
During Kid’s ring introduction—on her actual birthday—HANAKO launched a sudden ambush, drawing massive boos from the crowd. HANAKO tossed Kid to the floor, hoisted her up, and drove her into the ring post, sparking a brutal ringside brawl.
Back in the ring, HANAKO’s relentless assault continued as she trapped Kid in a Boston Crab. Kid desperately crawled and managed a rope break. Kid fought back with elbows, igniting deafening “SLK” chants. Kid hit a crossbody to the outside, re-entered at the referee’s count of 8, and the intense back-and-forth resumed. Kid began punishing HANAKO with relentless leg work.
HANAKO caught Kid in a sleeper hold, and when Kid attempted a second-rope crossbody, HANAKO caught her mid-air and planted her with a brainbuster. Kid attempted her Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu (Black Tiger Leg Lock), but HANAKO powered out. Kid headed to the top rope, but HANAKO cut her off with an avalanche-style brainbuster for a near-fall.
Despite HANAKO’s onslaught, Kid weathered an Argentine Backbreaker attempt, countering it into a powerbomb. She locked in the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu again, but HANAKO found the ropes. A top-rope moonsault from Kid met HANAKO’s raised knees (kenzan), leaving both women down. HANAKO rallied with a lariat and a powerbomb for a two-count, but Kid evaded another Argentine Backbreaker attempt. Kid soared with a top-rope moonsault, followed immediately by the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu, finally forcing HANAKO to tap out and securing Kid’s spot in the second round.
▼ Backstage Comments HANAKO: “Ahhh! I lost! I promised I’d beat Kid, beat Ami Sohrei, and meet Maika in the finals… losing here is incredibly frustrating. I’m the first from the Reiwa 5 (2023) class to reach the finals tournament. But if I don’t win the whole thing, it means nothing! Next year, I’m going to be completely obsessed with results, and I will win it. All of you, just wait.” (Starlight Kid gave no comment)
2. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 1 (No Time Limit)
○ Saya Iida [RED STARS B 2nd Place] (10:22, via Vertical Drop Brainbuster) AZM ● [RED STARS A 3rd Place]
This was their first singles clash since their August 2024 5★STAR GP block match in Yamagata. The Korakuen crowd showered Iida with loud chants upon her entrance.
At the bell, AZM politely asked for a handshake, but immediately initiated a rapid-fire sequence culminating in a dropkick and brutal soccer ball kicks. AZM mercilessly targeted Iida’s left arm, wrapping it around the ropes and kicking her in the face. Iida battled back with an elbow exchange, but AZM continually disrupted her rhythm with feints, kicks, and a hammerlock chop. AZM trapped Iida in the corner with machine-gun chops, but Iida dodged and AZM launched a missile dropkick to her back.
Past the five-minute mark, Iida reversed a Canadian Destroyer attempt into a backdrop and countered AZM’s Mystica attempt, though she still ate a brainbuster. The two traded brutal maneuvers: Iida hit a second-rope elbow drop for a near-fall, and AZM countered a Vertical Drop Brainbuster attempt into a spectacular Canadian Destroyer. AZM locked in the Numero Uno, but Iida desperately rolled her up, getting her foot on the ropes. AZM went for another Destroyer, but Iida nearly decapitated her with a lariat.
Past ten minutes, Iida hit two consecutive Vertical Drop Brainbusters to finally put AZM away.
▼ Backstage Comments Iida: “First round of the championship tournament. I knew AZM wasn’t going to go down easy. Even though I had to sacrifice my left arm, I managed to break through. Next up is Maika. No matter what happens to this arm, I will absolutely beat her and win the 5★STAR!”
AZM: “In my head, I planned to beat Iida and start mentally preparing for Maika, but I lost. Last year, I made it to the finals and was crushed when I lost. This time, I came in with the mindset that reaching the finals was an absolute requirement. It hurts, and I learned firsthand that this means nothing if you don’t win the whole thing. But… even though I lost in the first round today, my heart feels a little lighter than it did last year. It’s proof that I didn’t just stumble my way here; I’ve learned step-by-step. I lost, but I feel like I’ve grown a little since last year. I’m not giving up, so keep your expectations high for what I do next.”
3. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 1 (No Time Limit)
○ Ruaka [BLUE STARS A 3rd Place] (11:27, via Daruma-style German Suplex Hold) Hanan ● [BLUE STARS B 2nd Place]
A battle of generational peers in the first round. Hanan hit a shotgun dropkick at the bell, but Ruaka responded with a tackle and immediately threw Hanan out of the ring, launching her into the rows of seats.
Hanan fought back from the apron, hitting a Fameasser on the floor, followed by a second-rope plancha. Back in the ring, Hanan locked in a crossface. A grueling war of attrition followed. Ruaka crushed Hanan’s blockbuster attempt with her sheer weight and locked in her own crossface. Hanan countered Ruaka’s second-rope body press with a guillotine drop, but Ruaka muscled through into a fisherman’s suplex.
A fierce elbow exchange erupted on their knees, continuing as both women fought to their feet. Hanan managed a DDT using her legs to trap Ruaka’s head, transitioning into her Deadfall. With the referee distracted by Natsuko Tora on the outside, Ruaka struck Hanan with her signature black box, followed by a Neck Hanging Bomb. Hanan resiliently kicked out at one, popping the crowd and sparking “Ruaka” chants as the heel surprisingly garnered support.
At the ten-minute mark, Hanan hit a step-up enzuigiri. She attempted her signature Seventeen, but Ruaka reversed it. Hanan hit the ropes, but Ruaka caught her from behind with a German Suplex, maintained the waist-lock, and folded Hanan up with a deadlift Daruma-style German Suplex Hold to win the generational clash. Loud “Ruaka” chants echoed as the match concluded.
▼ Backstage Comments Hanan: “I lost to Ruaka! It’s so frustrating. I lost to her at Korakuen again. Even though I’m a champion, my 5★STAR ends here. But I did everything I possibly could in this tournament. I have no regrets. Even though I lost to that German suplex again, I have no regrets. Ruaka and I can always fight with my belt on the line next. I can see a fun future ahead. So please look forward to the rest of my road as the White Belt Champion!”
Ruaka: “I won. I actually won. I beat the White Belt Champion, which means next is the Red Belt Champion! I’m facing the ‘Harikiri (Try-Hard) Champion,’ so if I beat her too, doesn’t that practically make Ruaka the strongest in Stardom? I’m one step closer to being the strongest. I’ll do my best in my next match. Actually, I might not make it… No, I can do this. I have to try hard!”
4. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 1 (No Time Limit)
○ Rina [RED STARS A 2nd Place] (11:22, via Jackknife Hold) Rina Yamashita ● [RED STARS B 3rd Place]
The battle of the Rinas. The Korakuen crowd was entirely behind Yamashita, chanting her name at the bell. Yamashita offered a handshake, but Rina slapped it away, spat in Yamashita’s face, screamed, “You shitty Rina!” and stomped a mudhole in her in the corner.
Yamashita retaliated with brutal kicks and locked in a Boston Crab, forcing Rina to frantically crawl to the ropes. Yamashita blocked Rina’s trademark whip attack and nearly took her head off with a lariat. Rina managed to lock in an Octopus Hold (Manji-gatame), but Yamashita casually walked her to the corner and smashed her into the turnbuckle to break the hold.
The match devolved into a heavy-hitting brawl, culminating in a fierce elbow exchange in the center of the ring. Rina locked in her Hydrangea submission, followed by a missile dropkick. Yamashita went for a splash, but Rina got her knees up.
After a chaotic sequence of pin reversals, Yamashita hit a devastating German Suplex for a near-fall. The crowd rallied behind Yamashita again. Yamashita set Rina up for the Splash Mountain, but Rina slipped out and trapped Yamashita in a sudden, inescapable Jackknife Hold for the three-count.
▼ Backstage Comments Yamashita: “My 5★STAR is over! Honestly, it feels pretty refreshing. Hey! You beat me to advance, so if you don’t go on to win the whole thing, I’m seriously going to come after you, you bastard! It’s not like I’m cheering for Rina. I am absolutely not cheering for her. But… but you better win! That’s what I’m saying. I’m not cheering for you, but you better win the whole damn thing, you little brat!” (Rina gave no comment)
5. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 2 (No Time Limit)
○ Starlight Kid (12:16, via Star Suplex Hold) Ami Sohrei ● [BLUE STARS B 1st Place]
Sohrei, who returned from a year-long knee injury in June 2025, entered this match hot off a four-match win streak to top her block. Kid charged her before the bell even rang, launching a diving body attack, but Sohrei caught her in mid-air and mercilessly tossed her out of the ring to start a floor brawl.
Back in the ring, Sohrei locked in a torturous Argentine Backbreaker, placed Kid on the turnbuckle, and leveled her with a lariat. She followed up with a deep Boston Crab, bending Kid at a sickening angle. Kid managed to hit a 619 to Sohrei’s legs, but Sohrei’s power advantage was staggering. When Kid attempted a slingshot attack, Sohrei plucked her out of the air and spiked her with a Brainbuster on the ring apron.
Past the five-minute mark, Sohrei hit a Blue Thunder Bomb, but Kid instantly countered into a roll-up. Kid hit the Shiranui, but her bodyslam attempt failed as Sohrei crushed her under her own weight. A top-rope battle saw Sohrei hit a terrifying avalanche-style Blue Thunder Bomb for a close two-count.
At ten minutes, Sohrei lined Kid up for a lariat, but Kid kicked out at two. Sohrei went for her finisher, Ikazuchi no Gotoku (Like Lightning), but Kid countered it mid-swing into a DDT. Kid hit a moonsault press, slightly losing her balance but still connecting. Finally, Kid locked her arms, bridged perfectly, and hit the Star Suplex Hold (Tiger Suplex Hold) to secure the pinfall and punch her ticket to the Ryogoku semi-finals.
▼ Backstage Comments Kid: “I’ve made it to the final four of the 5★STAR GP! Winning on my birthday against HANAKO, and then taking down Ami Sohrei… slaying two giants to advance is the best feeling in the world. Seriously, I can’t get enough of this. But honestly, that first match against HANAKO was brutal; the power disparity was insane. It took everything I had to lock in that Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu. Carrying that damage into a match with Ami Sohrei was daunting, but I won purely on willpower. Plus, against Sohrei—who beat me last time when my leg work completely failed—I changed my strategy, and it paid off perfectly. I’m going to watch very closely to see who makes it out of the other bracket. I really feel like this momentum… no, not just momentum, this skill can carry me all the way. I’m going to win my first 5★STAR, and I’m already looking past that. I will achieve the first true Grand Slam. But first, the tournament victory. Everyone, I will absolutely be standing in the main event at Ryogoku Kokugikan, so come watch me! I’ll be waiting!”
Sohrei: “Ahhh! Losing to someone you’ve already beaten is the most frustrating thing in the world! But even though I lost, and even though I’m frustrated, I can’t shed a single tear. Really. Hearing so many people chant ‘Ami! Ami!’ today… my biggest regret is not being able to answer those voices with a win. Right now, a lot of people in Stardom are retiring. I’m not thinking about that at all yet, but you never know when you won’t be able to wrestle someone anymore. So I’m going to cherish every single match going forward, and next year, I will definitely, definitely win the 5★STAR! Starlight Kid, you better climb straight to the top and win this thing!”
6. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 2 (No Time Limit)
○ Maika [RED STARS A 1st Place] (12:49, via Pinfall/Wrist-Clutch Michinoku Driver II) Saya Iida ●
Maika requested a handshake, which Iida accepted with both hands. They clashed instantly at the bell. Maika ruthlessly targeted the right arm Iida had injured in her earlier bout with AZM, dragging her to the mat and torqueing it in a brutal armlock. Iida fired back, dodging a charge and hitting the ropes with a defiant “Don’t mess with me!” tackle, drawing huge “Iida” chants.
Maika cut her momentum short, locking the arm again. A brutal lariat exchange ensued. They collided four times without either budging, before Maika finally overwhelmed her with a flurry of strikes. Maika hoisted Iida to the top rope for an avalanche brainbuster, then signaled for a second one. Iida fought out, slipped under, and hit an avalanche brainbuster of her own on Maika!
The two traded hellacious strikes—Iida throwing ultra-stiff chops and Maika throwing forearms. Iida hit a spinebuster, a sliding lariat, dropped the straps of her singlet, and launched an Iida Rocket from the top rope.
Past the ten-minute mark, Maika hit a Michinoku Driver II, followed immediately by another, but Iida kicked out, blowing the roof off the venue. When Maika went for the wrist-clutch, Iida chopped her way out and transitioned perfectly into her Iidabashi bridging pin for a breathtaking near-fall. The two traded simultaneous lariats until Iida finally hit a Vertical Drop Brainbuster. She went for a second, but Maika reversed it into a Vertical Drop Brainbuster of her own! Iida kicked out at one! Maika hit a rolling lariat, then a standard Michinoku Driver, and Iida kicked out again, sending the crowd into an absolute frenzy.
As “Iida” chants deafened the arena, Maika finally locked in the wrist-clutch Michinoku Driver II. The crowd groaned in dismay as Maika spiked Iida to the mat to secure the three-count. After the bell, the two shared a firm handshake and a fist bump.
▼ Backstage Comments Maika: “Iida! When was the last time we fought, the Future title? No, ever since I came to Stardom, we’ve been going at it, head-to-head. The fact that we could have such a hot, intense match in this grueling tournament is all because you made it to this round today. It was so much fun. It might frustrate you to hear this, but I absolutely love wrestling you. So, getting a win over that version of Iida… I don’t know who’s next yet, but since coming back from my elbow surgery, I haven’t left a mark yet. I want to win the 5★STAR and go to Mexico. So if I win, I want my title match to be at Ryogoku Kokugikan at the end of the year. Let’s make it happen. I’m going to make Ryogoku go crazy, so look forward to it!”
Iida: “Damn it. My path to the finals is cut off. Damn it. Defeated in the second round. This is where I am right now. But man, how many years has it been since I had a singles match with Maika? If memory serves, it was back when we fought for the Future title. I don’t remember exactly how long it’s been, but time passed, and we finally got to fight again. Honestly, it was incredibly fun. But… there’s no point if I don’t win. Facing Maika after all these years, I had to win. Damn it. My dream of the 5★STAR finals is dead, I lost to Maika, and I’m being forced to face a very cruel reality right now. But do you think I’m going to let this break me? I’m Saya Iida. I know what I need to work on now, and next year’s 5★STAR, I’m going to show you a leveled-up ‘Iida Spirit.’ Along with these muscles.”
7. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 2 (No Time Limit)
○ Suzu Suzuki [BLUE STARS A 1st Place] (10:13, via German Suplex Hold) Ruaka ●
Suzu dragged Ruaka out of the ring immediately after the bell, throwing her into the spectator seating. Back inside, Suzu continued the assault, stomping Ruaka in the corner and peppering her with kicks.
Ruaka responded with a crossbody and a tight crossface submission. A heavy elbow exchange led to a double-lariat collision. Ruaka hit a German Suplex; Suzu popped up and hit one right back. After a double down, Suzu hit a Fisherman’s Suplex, but Ruaka fired back with her Freezer Bomb splash from the top rope.
Suzu caught Ruaka on the turnbuckle, hitting an avalanche-style Frankensteiner, followed by her Tequila Shot for a near-fall. Ruaka tried to swing her black box, but Suzu snatched it away and struck Ruaka with it instead! Suzu immediately capitalized, bridging into a beautiful German Suplex Hold for the three-count, advancing to the semi-finals.
▼ Backstage Comments Suzu: “The Harikiri (Try-Hard) Champion breezes through the quarterfinals! Well, it’s the obvious result. I was looking forward to seeing how Ruaka would dance in the palm of my hand, but seriously, weren’t you guys chanting ‘Ruaka’ a little too much? She’s supposed to be a heel! Normally, she’d be getting booed. I didn’t hear a single chant for the Champion. Give me a Harikiri call! At this rate, the World of Stardom Harikiri Champion is just going to win the whole tournament outright, so I kind of want to face someone a bit tougher next!”
Ruaka: “Ruaka’s summer is over! The Red Belt Champion is too strong! I mean, obviously. But I really felt myself grow this summer. Good job, me! Ruaka did so well. I can’t do this anymore. My body is battered, so I’m taking a break!”
8. 5★STAR GP 2026 Final Tournament Round 2 (No Time Limit)
○ Rina (17:17, via Tiger Lily) Konami ● [RED STARS B 1st Place]
Konami threw an elbow at the bell and immediately took the fight to the floor, tossing Rina into the seats. Rina returned the favor, but Konami took control, hitting a Northern Lights Suplex on the thin floor mats.
Back in the ring, Konami relentlessly targeted Rina’s left arm, stomping on it even when Rina reached the ropes. Rina fired back with elbows, but Konami goaded her on, raking her eyes before returning to arm-work.
Past ten minutes, Konami rained high kicks and went for an armbar, but Rina countered with her Pink♡Devil for a near-fall. Rina locked in the Hydrangea, but Konami reversed the pressure to force a pin attempt, which Rina held on to. Konami found the ropes and hit a missile dropkick. She attempted her Package Piledriver/Tiger Lily combo, but Rina countered with a back body drop. Konami immediately transitioned into a sleeper hold, turning it into a sleeper suplex.
At the fifteen-minute mark, a chaotic sprint saw Rina evade Konami’s punt kick and trap her in a Jackknife pin for two. Rina hit another Pink♡Devil, but Konami survived. Finally, Rina hit a missile dropkick and executed a perfect Package Piledriver into the Tiger Lily to secure the momentous upset victory and advance to the Ryogoku semi-finals.
Post-Match: The Final Four Assemble
The four semi-finalists—Rina, Maika, Suzu, and Kid—stood in the ring.
Rina grabbed the mic to roaring “Rina” chants.
Rina: “I made it to the final four two years in a row! Konami, I’m so glad I got to wrestle you in the main event of a sold-out Korakuen Hall! I’m going to go win this whole thing!”
Konami: “Rina, I’m looking forward… I’m really looking forward to seeing you win this!” Konami flashed the TCS (Tokyo Cyber Squad) hand sign and exited to loud cheers.
Rina: “I cried my eyes out, but I’m not done yet! We have Ryogoku. I was the Cinderella Tournament runner-up two years in a row, and I stopped at the final four here last year. I don’t need to be ‘almost there’ anymore! Everyone who made the top four, get out here!”
Kid, Suzu, and Maika join Rina in the ring.
Rina: “My semi-final at Ryogoku is against Maika. We went to a 15-minute draw in Hokkaido. Look forward to the sequel.”
Maika: “Rina, I’m looking forward to it too! But I’m not going to let you win easily. And Suzu! If you make it to the finals, it’ll be our first 5★STAR match in three years. Don’t think it’ll end the same way it did back then! And Starlight Kid… you really want a singles match with me, huh? If you advance, it’ll be our first-ever singles match, but… I’m going to be the one who wins the tournament.”
Kid: “I seized my spot in the final four on my birthday. I can go all the way! I have to! It might be early to say, but I’m going to win my first tournament, take the Red Belt that lies beyond it, and seize my dream of a true Grand Slam. And my semi-final opponent, Suzu. I’ll be the one to hand you your first loss in this 5★STAR.”
Suzu: “You’re all talking way too long. The World of Stardom Champion is standing right here, which means the Champion is obviously going to win! What else would the Champion do? Plus, they say nobody has ever won the 5★STAR while holding this belt. And nobody has ever won the 5★STAR twice in a row, either. Which means I have no choice but to win! So, the Champion will be energetically taking this victory. Thank you all in advance.”
Rina: “The one who won the main event in this sold-out arena today is me, the Pink♡Devil! (To the other three) I won’t tell you to leave. Want to close the show together? At Ryogoku, we are going to prove that Stardom is the number one promotion in the world, with the best ring in the world! We’ll be waiting for you all at Ryogoku! That’s all!”
▼ Backstage Comments
Rina: “I did it. Best four, two years in a row. Like I said in the ring, I was the Cinderella runner-up this year and last year, and I stopped at the best four in last year’s 5★STAR. Last year was supposed to be the ‘Year of H.A.T.E.,’ but I couldn’t really get involved in the title picture. I thought I just needed to channel all the frustration of that year into this 5★STAR, and I think I’ve done exactly that. I beat Konami and Rina Yamashita. Now that I’m here, there’s nothing left but to win the whole thing. Next is Maika. We had a 15-minute draw in Hokkaido; I couldn’t beat her, but I never thought I’d lose either. I’ll prove through you that everything I’ve done over the past year wasn’t a waste! At 19 years old, I’m going to be the youngest winner in history and carve a new chapter into Stardom’s history books. Be ready, all of you.”
Konami: “Today’s match brought back a lot of memories. Well, it’s not ‘good’ at all, but for my final match in this year’s 5★STAR, I think I’m glad it was Rina who beat me. Even though it wasn’t good for me! I wanted to go to the finals of this 5★STAR, and I really wanted to win it this year. But Rina is carrying my feelings and a lot of other emotions on her back now. As Rina herself, I absolutely want her to win this 5★STAR, and next time, I want to properly support her as her second. I want to watch Rina win it all at Ryogoku.