September 12, 2026
Match 0: 15-Minute Time Limit ○ Lady C & Kiyoka Kotatsu (8:07, pinfall via Chokeslam Requiem) Saya Iida & Matoi Hamabe ●
Kotatsu seized the opening pace by wearing down Hamabe with submissions, but Iida cut in, giving Hamabe room to mount a counterattack. Tagging in, Iida backed Kotatsu into the corner with rapid-fire machine gun chops. Kotatsu retaliated with a barrage of her signature kicks, but Iida braced herself, absorbed the damage, and blasted her with a thunderous double chop. As Iida charged forward, Kotatsu hoisted her up and met her descent with a devastating knee strike before tagging out to Lady C.
Lady C looked for a giant swing, but Iida engaged her core to sit up and resist. Lady C muscled through regardless, forcing Iida into a 10-rotation giant swing. Tagging back in, Hamabe connected with a sunset flip and transitioned toward a cross armbreaker, but Lady C scrambled to the ropes for an escape.
Lady C set up for a chokeslam, but Hamabe countered with an ippon seoi shoulder throw. Hamabe and Iida attempted a coordinated tandem attack, but Lady C wiped them both out with a running double neckbreaker. She planted Hamabe with a facebuster, but when she followed with a big boot, Hamabe dodged and rolled her up in repeated pinning combinations. As Hamabe regained her footing, Lady C snuffed out the momentum with a flush big boot and drove her into the mat with the Chokeslam Requiem to put Hamabe down for the three.
Match 1: 3-Way Trio Battle (20-Minute Time Limit) ○ HANAKO, Waka Tsukiyama & Utami Hayashishita (8:00, pinfall via JP Coaster) Konami, Ruaka & Fukigen Death★ ● The third trio was Rina Yamashita, Itsuki Aoki & Saori Anou.
Fukigen entered holding an issue of Weekly Pro-Wrestling featuring Rina on the cover. Having failed a Face Wash attempt in a previous outing, Saori Anou found herself pressured by tag partners Yamashita and Aoki to try it again. With Yamashita setting up the target, Anou charged off the ropes, only for H.A.T.E. to yank her legs from the floor, cutting the move short.
Amidst the multi-woman chaos, Ruaka managed to hoist the towering HANAKO into the air and completed an emphatic brainbuster. Ruaka then attempted a German suplex on Tsukiyama, but Tsukiyama resisted and trapped Ruaka in an Aussie Suplex hold. HANAKO hoisted Tsukiyama onto her shoulders and hurled her onto H.A.T.E. at ringside. Back inside, HANAKO isolated Fukigen and drilled her with the JP Coaster to score the victory.
Match 2: 20-Minute Time Limit ○ Hazuki, Koguma & Fuwa-chan (8:30, Ha-Zukistral) Maki Itoh ●, Kikyo Furusawa & Rian
FWC targeted Maki Itoh with fluid tag-team combinations. Hazuki climbed to the top turnbuckle for a diving senton, but Itoh rolled clear. Itoh then leaped from the second rope, driving a double foot stomp straight into Hazuki’s neck. The Itoh Respect Army looked to execute a synchronized triple Stunner, but FWC and Fuwa-chan read the play and shut it down. Without missing a beat, Hazuki ensnared Itoh in the Ha-Zukistral to secure the flash pinfall.
Match 3: 20-Minute Time Limit ○ Bea Priestley (7:20, Queen’s Landing) Anne Kanaya ●
Despite having already secured her spot in the 5★STAR, Bea suffered a broken nose in a previous encounter with Kanaya and entered this bout burning for revenge. Bea blindsided Kanaya during her ring introduction to kick off the match, targeting Kanaya’s face with relentless cruelty. The contest quickly became a one-sided beatdown as Bea dismantled her with a modified backbreaker and stiff big boots.
Kanaya dug deep, firing back with a spirited forearm and a bulldogging headlock. Visibly fired up, Kanaya shoved away the referee as he attempted to step in and check on the action. Bea seized on the opening, dragging Kanaya to the mat into a crossface lock and brutally grinding her forearm into Kanaya’s face. Kanaya let out a breathless cry of pure agony.
Past the five-minute mark, Kanaya caught a charging Bea with a counter dropkick. She leaped onto Bea’s shoulders for a sunset flip roll-up, but Bea kicked out at two. Kanaya hit the ropes, but Bea flattened her with a counter elbow, followed by a vicious succession of strikes that sent Kanaya crumbling to the canvas. Bea spat directly into Kanaya’s face and drilled her with one final elbow before hoisting her up for the Queen’s Landing, picking up an emphatic, authoritative victory.
Bea continued to assault Kanaya after the bell. When members of COSMIC ANGELS rushed in to protect her, Bea looked down in disdain at the fallen Kanaya as her hand was raised.
Backstage Interview Kanaya: “I was dead set on getting my first win today. God, I hate you so much—relentlessly targeting my nose like that. I came in planning to do the exact same thing to you, so this stings… Having another singles match with Bea… at first, I was terrified. Honestly, ever since that day, my mind has been in total turmoil, and I was scared. I was genuinely a little afraid to wrestle. But at Ryogoku, Bea attacked me. And for some reason… knowing that Bea was still looking at me made me feel just a tiny bit, a tiny bit happy. Getting to have another singles match with Bea—even though I lost… I don’t know. Maybe she saved me a little. I have no idea what Bea is actually thinking, though. If the day comes where we get to fight again, I’m going to win next time, even if I have to snap your nose all over again to do it. No matter what, by any means necessary, I will win. I am not done. I’m going to hold my head high again. I will never, never, ever lose again. Just you watch me!”
Match 4: 20-Minute Time Limit ○ Syuri & Hina (8:38, pinfall via Ryuen) Rina & Azusa Inaba ●
Rina and Hina engaged in a ferocious exchange. Azusa drilled Syuri with a bicycle kick and set up for Rina’s signature Anegoshi, but Syuri shut her down with a sharp high kick. Syuri quickly transitioned into the Ryuen to put Azusa away for the victory.
Match 5: Future of Stardom Championship (15-Minute Time Limit)
○ Ranna Yagami (12:56, pinfall via Beat Strike) Akira Kurogane ●
14th champion achieves her 10th successful defense.
Akira had long made her intentions clear about capturing the Future of Stardom Championship. The question was whether she could dethrone Yagami and claim her maiden title.
Following the formal presentation of the belt and the ceremonial photos, the opening bell sounded and the two locked up. Yagami secured top position and locked in a chinlock, settling into deliberate mat grappling. A rope break forced a clean separation. Yagami transitioned from another chinlock into a technical wristlock exchange, making for a measured, calculating start. Yagami took Akira’s back, but Akira scrambled, leading back into an exchange of wrist control. Akira clamped on a side headlock, which Yagami reversed back to the canvas.
Both resets gave way to distance until Yagami charged with a running dropkick. Yagami targeted Akira’s left arm with precision before punctuating it with stiff kicks. A snapmare set up a kick to the spine. Clapping her hands to rally the audience, Yagami built momentum and drove another running kick into Akira’s back, securing a two-count. Trapping Akira in the corner, Yagami utilized the ropes to grind her boot into her face. Absorbing a forearm from Akira, Yagami taunted, “Come on!” and answered with a kick. Another snapmare transitioned into an arm crank, wrenching the joint until Akira forced a rope break.
Yagami charged forward again, but Akira caught her with a counter dropkick followed by a Kawazu Otoshi legsweep. When Akira looked for a vertical suplex, Yagami blocked the lift and threw forearms. The two traded heavy strikes in the pocket. Yagami fired off a flurry of elbows, and Akira matched her blow for blow. Yagami rocked Akira with kicks, utilizing feints to slip Akira’s guard before drilling a corner running kick and following with a penalty kick (PK) for a near fall.
Yagami locked in the Tae Rock, but Akira reached the ropes. Yagami continued her targeted assault, draping Akira’s left arm over the ropes to deliver another kick. Yagami unleashed another strike, but Akira caught it, hoisted her up, and rocked her with an elbow before landing a kick of her own. Draping Yagami against the ropes, Akira charged in with a dropkick. Akira followed with a half-hatch suplex for a two-count. Akira attempted a leg submission, but the hold was loose, allowing Yagami to force a rope break.
As Akira charged out of the corner, Yagami met her with a flush knee strike. Refusing to back down, Akira returned fire with a kick. Akira went for an armlock, but Yagami reached the ropes. Yagami cut off Akira’s advance with a counter kick. Akira caught Yagami’s leg, but Yagami shook free with an overhead strike, followed by a missile dropkick off the top turnbuckle for a close two-count. Yagami then leveled Akira with the Beat Strike, keeping her shoulders down for the three-count to retain.
Backstage Interview Akira: “Aagh… Damn it!” Yagami: “Hey, Akira.” Akira: “What do you want? You’ve got some nerve walking up to me right now.” Yagami: “Whoa, relax. I just have something to say. I just walked out of there with my tenth successful defense—how does that feel to you?” Akira: “Pisses me off! What do you think?!” Yagami: “Tell me, do you finally understand what I meant back in June when I told you, ‘Now isn’t the time’? Did you come into this title match today truly understanding that?” Akira: “Of course I did… Of course I understood. But I lost today. That’s your answer, isn’t it?” Yagami: “Look, I believe Akira cares about this belt more than anyone, and I think you care about me, Ranna Yagami, more than anyone. But you’re still not there. Honestly, I was a little disappointed. I thought Akira would have transformed a lot more heading into today. Don’t get me wrong, you fought hard, and I could see your growth. But to take this Future belt from Ranna Yagami, you’ve still got a long way to go… It burns, doesn’t it? Well, it burns for me too. Because I truly believe Stardom is the greatest ring in the world. I want every single junior wrestler in Stardom to be the best in the world. That’s why I need Akira to stand at the forefront, put in even more work, and fight like hell with reckless abandon. I have high expectations for you.” Akira: “Hey, Champ. Don’t go getting too full of yourself, alright? You’d better polish that Future belt real nice, because I’m the one who’s going to take it from you. And what’s this about the juniors elevating the Future scene together? Stardom’s future is already brighter than ever. You know why? Because I’m here. Keep your eyes on me, you idiot!” (Akira storms off) Yagami: “Well, Stardom is going to get a lot more interesting from here on out, don’t you think? Personally, as the 14th Future of Stardom Champion, reaching my tenth defense is a massive milestone. My mentor, Syuri-san, defended the World of Stardom Championship ten times, so reaching that ten-defense mark makes me incredibly happy. There are still rookies I haven’t faced yet, and there’s that certain someone I went to America with who’s been on my mind. Keep your expectations high for the Future title going forward.”
Match 6: Artist of Stardom Championship (30-Minute Time Limit)
Thekla, Julia Hart & ○ Skye Blue (13:32, pinfall via TKO) Aya Sakura ●, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori
37th champions achieve their 1st successful defense.
Unable to sit idly by while the Artist of Stardom Championship migrated over to AEW, COSMIC ANGELS’ “Cosmic Carnival” stepped up to challenge Triangle Madness, determined to bring the gold back home to the promotion.
Following the belt return and ceremonial photographs, the opening bell rang, triggering an immediate ringside brawl. The champion trio battered the challengers with blistering knife-edge chops before hurling them into the spectator seating. Julia Hart mounted a fierce offensive on Mizumori with forearm strikes, but Sakura intervened with a save. When the challengers attempted a double-team move, Skye Blue cut them off. Thekla and Julia utilized the ring ropes to lock Sakura and Mizumori into their signature Spider trap. Julia planted Mizumori with a DDT for a two-count, then rattled her with an elbow that sent her reeling. Mizumori responded with a flying crossbody before tagging out to Natsupoi.
Natsupoi connected with a diving body press for a two-count. Skye entered the fray, but Natsupoi caught her with an arm drag, sending her tumbling to the floor. Julia cut off the momentum and tagged in Thekla, reigniting a clash between former Donna del Mondo stablemates. Thekla offered a handshake and Natsupoi moved to accept, only for Thekla to crack her across the face with a vicious slap. Natsupoi fired back with a slap of her own, sparking a stiff striking duel of forearms and kicks. Thekla broke the stalemate with a spear.
Sakura and Skye tagged in. Skye evaded Sakura’s kick and drove an elbow into her jaw, but Sakura reversed the momentum into a roll-up for a two-count. Julia rushed in to assist Thekla as the duo connected with a double brainbuster for a near fall. Skye hoisted Sakura into a fireman’s carry, but Sakura slipped free, leaving Skye disoriented by tandem offense from Natsupoi and Mizumori, which set up a missile dropkick from Sakura. Sakura unloaded rapid-fire forearm strikes. Skye ducked a shot, allowing Julia to step in, and the two lifted Sakura up before slamming her face-first into the canvas.
Thekla followed with a spear for a near fall before the pin was broken up. Skye trapped Sakura in a modified sleeper hold, but Natsupoi broke the hold with a kick. Sakura, Mizumori, and Natsupoi then delivered a synchronized triple dropkick, clearing all three opponents. Sakura laid in stiff kicks; Skye looked for a counter, but Sakura charged in with another kick. Julia entered to assist, only to be cut off by a kick from Natsupoi. Thekla charged in targeting Mizumori, but both Thekla and Skye were leveled by a double lariat.
Skye hoisted Sakura into a fireman’s carry, but Sakura countered into a crucifix roll-up for a close two-count. With Julia distracting the referee, Thekla struck Sakura with the championship belt. Skye added a belt shot of her own, setting up a combination attack alongside Julia for a near fall. Skye finally hoisted Sakura up and dropped her with the TKO, securing the three-count.
Following the match, Fuwa-chan and FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) stormed the ring. Fuwa-chan: “Bring those belts back to Stardom! (In English) We are your next challengers!” Thekla: “(In English) We don’t have time for you. Get out!”
Thekla: “(In Japanese) Otsukaresama-desu, Stardom! We’re back again. Sorry about everything! (In English) We are your forever champions, so sorry, but you can’t get rid of us that easily! (Spots President Taro Okada) Okada~! Look~! We took it again~! Taro, get in here. Come on! Come on, get in the ring! Come on, punk!” At that moment, FWC and Fuwa-chan hit the ring. Fuwa-chan: “Bring those belts back to Stardom! (In English) We are your next challengers!” Thekla: “(In English) Get out of my ring! (In Japanese) We’re too busy! (In English) We don’t have time for you. Get out! (In Japanese) Bye-bye! You’re not challengers! (In English) We’re holding these belts forever!”
Backstage Interview
Julia: “(In English) This is my house of madness. It feels so good to be back and beat everybody’s ass.”
Thekla: “(In English) Beat their ass, beat their ass, beat their ass… just keep beating them down. Right, Skye?”
Skye: “(In English) Did you really think we were going to let this go any other way? Let me tell you something: we’re never letting go of these titles. Never.”
Thekla: “(In English) We were flawless again today. We’re never giving up the Artist of Stardom belts, and we’re not handing the top of this business over to anyone. Did you see that, Okada? We are your eternal Stardom champions! How do you like that? Exactly what you expected, right? Obviously.”
(Fuwa-chan and FWC storm the backstage area)
Fuwa-chan: “(In English) You don’t deserve to wear those belts! Those are Stardom’s belts. Hand them over!” (An all-out six-woman brawl erupts)
Sakura: “Natsupoi-san, Mizumori-san… I’m so, so frustrated. I was determined… I was determined to win today, become the Artist champions, and step up to lead Cosmic Angels and become a figurehead for the babyfaces in Stardom. But I lost… I’m so sorry.” Natsupoi: “Sakura, you’re already a wonderful captain, and you’re leading us just fine. Thank you.” Mizumori: “Yes.” Natsupoi: “I think… this was probably our last shot at these belts as Cosmic Carnival. But even after I retire, I don’t want you to give up on winning the belts as Carnival. Never give up on that. Promise me you’ll win them, okay?” Sakura: “Of course Carnival will continue even after you retire, Natsupoi-san, but I want to become Artist champion together with you and Mizumori-san—the three of us. That’s why I want to fight together one more time. Just one more time!” Mizumori: “Yes!” Natsupoi: “Thank you… thank you. I’m ready to keep challenging as many times as it takes until the very end. I hear you loud and clear, so let’s keep challenging. The three of us. Thekla, it’s been a while… I don’t know if we’ll ever cross paths again after this, and maybe today was our final battle. But if this really was the end, it feels so unfinished… Thekla, I don’t want to say ‘Bye-poi’ to you just yet.” Sakura: “We will not let our Carnival end!”
Match 7: Goddess of Stardom Championship (30-Minute Time Limit)
○ AZM & Miyu Amasaki (22:45, Numero Uno) Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe ●
37th champions achieve their 3rd successful defense.
Utami Hayashishita accompanied the champions as their second. As the ring announcements concluded, the challengers ambushed the champions, dragging the fight to the floor as the opening bell sounded. Kamitani and Momo dished out heavy punishment ringside. On the outside, Kamitani fired a front kick aimed at Amasaki, but Amasaki ducked, causing the kick to blast Hayashishita instead. Once back inside, Kamitani retrieved a Queen’s Quest flag, which Konami defaced by coating it in black spray paint.
Kamitani and Momo maintained firm control. Weathering the storm, Amasaki spiked Momo with a DDT to tag in AZM. AZM operated at blinding speed, confounding the challengers and turning the tide. AZM zeroed in on Momo’s left arm. Kamitani executed a blind tag to enter the match, wiping out AZM with a springboard crossbody. However, AZM and Amasaki utilized seamless tandem maneuvers to prevent momentum from slipping away. Kamitani and Momo answered by planting Amasaki with a double dropkick.
Kamitani and Amasaki engaged in a stiff forearm duel. Kamitani pushed forward with heavy strikes, but Amasaki retaliated with a high-angle DDT. Amasaki scaled the turnbuckle, but Kamitani cut her off, countering with a suplex before transitioning into rolling fisherman suplexes. Amasaki answered back with a tornado DDT followed by an Exploder suplex, allowing both to tag their respective partners.
Momo and AZM clashed in a forearm battle. Momo laid in stinging kicks and looked to execute the Three Amigos, but AZM reversed the third attempt. Momo quickly answered with a vertical suplex and locked in a chickenwing facelock. AZM scrambled to the ropes for an escape. As Momo climbed the corner, AZM brought her down with an avalanche arm drag. When AZM and Amasaki set up a combination attack, Kamitani broke it up. AZM dropped Momo with a release German suplex. Momo countered AZM’s momentum and slammed her with the Hitodenashi Driver. Momo unleashed a flurry of elbows, a high kick, and a release Tiger suplex.
Assisted by a kick from Kamitani, Momo blasted AZM with a Buzzsaw Kick for a near fall. AZM ensnared Momo in the Amethyst Storm, but Momo reached the ropes. AZM connected with a diving double foot stomp for a two-count. In a chaotic four-way scramble, AZM hit a Canadian Destroyer followed by the Azumi Sushi for another close two-count.
H.A.T.E. seconds hopped onto the apron, and as Kamitani restrained AZM, Momo struck with a baseball bat. Kamitani and Momo then connected with a tandem double knee strike out of the corner. AZM and Amasaki weathered the barrage, firing back with their signature offense, including a double Tensei. AZM then took Momo down from an avalanche setup and aggressively torqued her arm in the Numero Uno, finally forcing the tapout submission.
Following the match, Hayashishita climbed onto the apron, but neither the champions nor the challengers made another move, and they departed the ring.
Backstage Interview AZM: “Third defense successful! Kamitani and Momo might not have extensive accolades as a regular tag team, but their singles track records are incredible, and they are phenomenal wrestlers. Beating the two of them is something we can be truly proud of, and it gave us massive confidence, right?” Amasaki: “It really did. This is our third defense, but honestly, is there anyone tough left to challenge us? Stardom alone can’t contain us anymore. Should 02line set our sights overseas?” AZM: “Let’s go overseas! Japanese Stardom wrestlers are welcome to step up if they have the confidence, but let’s take this international. So please keep supporting 02line!”
Kamitani: “Look, I threw away the QQ flag a long time ago. We might have lost on paper today, but I still haven’t acknowledged AZM or Miyu. And honestly, what was with that person? Utami Hayashishita was out there in their corner—what was she thinking? Is she completely delusional? She’s the one who abandoned Queen’s Quest. The Goddesses Tag League is starting soon, and I haven’t given up. We will definitely get our revenge.” Momo: “I haven’t given up either. AZM… weren’t you a little different from when we fought in the finals last year? Have you gotten stronger? Well, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re a trash champion. We’re entering the Tag League together, and we’re definitely taking that belt off you.”
Match 8: Wonder of Stardom Championship (30-Minute Time Limit)
○ Hanan (16:52, wrist-clutch backdrop hold) Ami Sourei ●
26th champion achieves her 3rd successful defense.
A deliberate, measured opening. Following an exchange of forearms, Hanan drove Sourei down with a backdrop suplex. Hanan maintained the pressure outside the ring, spiking Sourei on the floor mats with a DDT. Back inside, Hanan continued to control the tempo. Caught on the defensive, Sourei intercepted Hanan as she dove off the apron, catching her mid-air and slamming her onto the concrete floor. Sourei hoisted Hanan into an Argentine backbreaker on the apron, then shoved her against the turnbuckle and crushed her with a body avalanche.
Returning to the ring, Sourei drilled Hanan with a sliding lariat and laid in heavy knife-edge chops. Sourei scored with a counter Blazing Chop and planted Hanan with an inverted brainbuster in a display of sheer power. Under heavy fire, Hanan found an opening with a counter backflip. She climbed to the top turnbuckle and soared to the floor with a crossbody press onto Sourei. Back inside the ring, Hanan used the ropes to drive Sourei down in a modified piledriver, followed immediately by Dead Fall.
Sourei answered with a counter Scrap Buster, leading to a kneeling elbow exchange. Hanan pressed forward with forearms, but Sourei met her with a short-range lariat. Hanan connected with a jumping knee strike, only for Sourei to respond with another lariat. Sourei hoisted Hanan onto the top turnbuckle. The two fought on the ropes until Hanan executed an avalanche backdrop. As Hanan climbed the ropes once more, Sourei intercepted her and drove her down with an avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall.
Sourei looked for the Rai no Gotoku, but Hanan countered. Sourei still managed to blast Hanan with another short-range lariat, but Hanan fired back with a backdrop suplex. Both warriors traded a Blue Thunder and a blockbuster hold, each kicking out defiantly at the count of one. Countering another Rai no Gotoku attempt, Hanan locked in a wrist-clutch backdrop hold to finally shake off the tenacious Sourei and seal the three-count.
In-Ring Confrontation & Promos Hanan took the microphone. Hanan: “Ami Sourei… you truly are my greatest rival. You really are so strong. But today, the one who defended this belt was Hanan. The story that started between us back then… let’s keep writing it together, full of fierce clash and sparkling passion. Thank you.”
Hanan offered a handshake, but Sourei walked away without taking it. Hanan addressed the crowd again: “I’ve completed my third defense, but there are still so many people I want to face. There are people I want to call out myself…”
Just then, Ruaka strode down the entryway and stepped through the ropes. Ruaka: “First off, congrats on the defense~! I’m sure you remember, but Ruaka beat Hanan in the 5★STAR tournament. Plus, I worked super hard this summer and took home the Technique Award, so now I find myself really wanting that white belt! So… how about giving me a title shot?” Hanan: “I’ve been waiting for this! Of course I will. We’re from the same debut class… (overcome with emotion) I’m just so happy! Our singles matches always used to be locked in the opening match. Let’s put this belt on the line and do it. Let’s make it happen!”
Ruaka acted as though she was going to accept Hanan’s extended hand, only to abruptly drop her with a release German suplex. Ruaka raised the championship belt high in a defiant pose before strolling backstage amidst loud boos. Still on the mat, Hanan grasped the mic once more: “We’re doing this title match, so company, please book it somewhere! I ended up getting beat down again today, but thank you all so much!” With that, she exited the ring.
Backstage Interview Hanan: “I defended my belt against Ami Sourei, marking my third successful defense! She really is Ami Sourei—truly my ultimate rival, absolutely incredible. I think that was probably our longest singles match ever. I ended up having so much fun out there. Please look forward to the continuation of my rivalry with Ami Sourei. And now my next challenger is set: Ruaka. It was taken for granted that Ruaka and I would always be the opening match—even when we fought for titles, it was always Match 1. So for her to step up on her own and challenge me for this white belt makes me beyond happy. I didn’t expect to get completely overwhelmed and break down like that in the ring, though. Oh well, it’s fine! We haven’t set the date yet, but Ruaka is locked in as the next challenger. Please look forward to the story of two classmates and peers from the same generation.”
Sourei: “It hurts. But looking up at the venue ceiling at the end today, it was so beautiful… It felt completely different from how I felt during the Cinderella Tournament. Even though I’m frustrated, I honestly thought to myself, ‘I wish this moment would never end.’ In the end, I couldn’t get my shoulder up, and I couldn’t bring myself to take Hanan’s hand when she reached out. It’s not that I don’t want to fight those hard-hitting, sparkling battles with her. It’s just that I want the next time we shake hands to be when I win. That’s the only reason I walked away. Hanan, let’s keep having those hard-hitting, sparkling wars.”
Match 9: World of Stardom Championship No DQ Match (30-Minute Time Limit)
○ Suzu Suzuki (22:56, German suplex hold) Natsuko Tora ●
22nd champion achieves her 2nd successful defense.
With both competitors requesting it and management granting approval, the World of Stardom Championship bout was sanctioned as a No DQ match. Tora debuted a new gown and ring gear. Steel chairs and a ladder were placed inside the ring. Before the bell even rang, Tora grabbed a chair. Suzuki grabbed one as well. At the opening bell, they collided in a chair duel. Suzuki got the better of the clash, but Tora charged forward with chair in hand and bowled her over.
The action spilled to the outside, where Tora hurled Suzuki into the crowd. Tora snatched an umbrella from an audience member and cracked it across Suzuki’s body. Suzuki tried to fight back with forearms, but Tora raked her eyes and struck her with the umbrella once more. Suzuki wrested the umbrella away and lashed out with a frenzied flurry of strikes before dumping Tora into the seats. Grabbing a barbed-wire baseball bat, Suzuki carved into Tora’s forehead. She then retrieved a table from beneath the ring.
Suzuki laid Tora across the table, but H.A.T.E. seconds interfered to halt the attack. Tora hurled a chair at Suzuki and crushed her with a senton on the ringside mats. Placing Suzuki on the table, Tora shouted, “Here I go!” and dove off the second rope through the table, striking a theatrical kabuki pose for the crowd. Tora shredded Suzuki’s forehead with the barbed-wire bat and tossed her back into the audience. Returning to the ring, Tora drove closed fists into Suzuki’s bloody forehead. Yet Suzuki’s eyes gleamed with wild intensity.
Suzuki fired back with forearms. Tora answered with forearms of her own, knocking Suzuki down. Undeterred, Suzuki propped Tora in the corner, drilled her with a running knee, and slammed a chair into her lower back. Tora retaliated with a crossbody and an immediate senton. As Tora climbed the turnbuckle, Suzuki sprang up and executed an avalanche frankensteiner.
Ten minutes elapsed. A brutal forearm exchange broke out. Tora fired repeated strikes, but Suzuki absorbed them and struck her signature spirited (“harikiri”) pose. Suzuki fired off a barrage of elbows, but Tora mocked her, hijacking Suzuki’s trademark catchphrase: “That didn’t hurt at all!” The crowd erupted.
Suzuki produced a staple gun and stapled a sheet of paper directly into Tora’s right arm. She then offered the stapler to Tora, who promptly stapled paper into Suzuki’s right arm. The two traded the stapler back and forth, firing staples into each other in an utterly unhinged spectacle. They charged each other with simultaneous lariats, colliding in a stalemate. Suzuki rebounded and threw a lariat; Tora rose and threw one right back. Both charged across opposite corners and threw lariats at full speed, wiping each other out.
Both brought chairs into the ring. They battled for suplex position until Tora won the struggle, violently driving Suzuki onto the steel chair. Tora followed up with Bear Bears.
Fifteen minutes passed. Tora soared off the top rope with a Swanton Bomb, but Suzuki evaded and snapped her back with a release German suplex. Suzuki attempted a German suplex onto a pile of chairs, but Tora resisted. Blasting Suzuki with poison mist, Tora nailed a lariat. Tora positioned Suzuki and hit a Swanton Bomb from the top rope, but Suzuki kicked out at two. Tora set up a ladder and began climbing, but Suzuki rose and hurled a chair at Tora atop the rungs. Suzuki scaled the ladder and executed an avalanche brainbuster. Holding Tora by both wrists, Suzuki hammered in repeated headbutts; Tora fired headbutts right back, leaving both reeling.
Twenty minutes elapsed. As Tora charged in, Suzuki caught her from behind with a release German suplex. Suzuki threw a steel chair with full force directly at Tora. As Tora screamed and raised her head, Suzuki clocked her with another chair shot and followed with a Buzzsaw Kick. However, as Suzuki closed in, Tora caught her with a Death Valley Bomb. Tora wrapped a steel chain around her fist and swung, but Suzuki ducked and executed the Tequila Shot. Suzuki followed with two consecutive German suplexes, bridging on the second for a near fall. Suzuki heaped a mountain of chairs in the center of the ring. Dropping Tora directly onto the pile of chairs with a bridging German suplex hold, Suzuki scored the three-count to retain.
In-Ring Promo Suzuki: “Natsuko… a war like this is something I could only ever have with you. Everyone probably figured if Natsuko Tora and Suzu Suzuki fought, it’d turn out like this, but we’re the only ones crazy enough to tear the house down like this in a World of Stardom Championship match. Nobody before us, and nobody after us could ever pull this off. Hey, what? You want to talk? Aren’t you being a little pushy?”
Tora: “Aaargh, up we go… (sitting up) I’m pissed off. But what pisses me off the most is that even though I lost, I had a blast out there. (Crowd applauds) I’m practically a regular in No DQ matches, but from beginning to end, Suzu Suzuki, having a match with you is the most fun I’ve ever had.”
(Suzuki beams with a wide smile)
Suzuki: “Thank you for the confession! I don’t care if you’re a heel. I wholeheartedly accept your pure feelings of love. The pleasure is all mine!”
(Suzuki offers a handshake. Tora hesitates, then accepts. Suzuki shakes her hand and lunges in for a hug, but Tora shoves her away and storms out.)
Suzuki: “Oh man, I might be the happiest person alive! This is crazy. I never imagined things would turn out like this. The Red Belt is popular, but Suzu Suzuki is pretty damn popular too! Natsuko, and you know who else… you watched this, right? Starlight Kid, you watched this from Mexico, didn’t you? I won, exactly like you wanted. Get back to Japan safely. With that said, did everyone have fun today?! Were you watching this match with all your spirit? This is the era of Suzu Suzuki as World of Stardom Champion. Every single one of you better keep up with me and stay spirited!”
(In-ring aside: “I think Natsuko and I might have fallen in mutual love today. Up next: Starlight Kid. Get your ass over here quick so I can humiliate you.”) (Tora aside: “That was the most fun I’ve ever had. If H.A.T.E. and Mi Vida Loca just keep doing the same old thing, it’s just going to get stale. Maybe it’s time for something new around here.”)
Backstage Interview Suzuki: “The spirited champion has made her second defense! Well… maybe I got a little too spirited out there. Look, Itsuki brought me my trophy—!” Aoki: “Congratulations!” Suzuki: “Thank you! Because it was a war against Natsuko Tora, this spirited champion got a little carried away, but I think everyone finally realized it today: Natsuko Tora is totally in love with Suzu Suzuki. And honestly, today I think our feelings became completely mutual. Yep, I think we’re in mutual love. From now on, I might be thinking about Natsuko every single day, and she might show up in my dreams every night! Well, that aside, since I defended successfully and this spirited champion is in high demand, lots of people are going to want to challenge for this. But like I said earlier: Starlight Kid. She was doing her little thing over there, wasn’t she? Well, she’s got a sharp nose for this stuff, so she always bites down immediately on whatever is tasty. So Starlight Kid, hurry up and get over here so I can embarrass you! Man, this is insane, this spirited champion is so happy right now. So everyone, please keep supporting this spirited champion as I keep staying spirited!”
Tora: “No way, no way in hell… (examining the staple marks) What the hell is this? This hurts like a bitch. I’ve been in all kinds of No DQ matches throughout my career, but nobody has ever carved their mark into my body like this. Seriously. Just like I said in the ring, it was the absolute most fun I’ve ever had. And that’s what pisses me off the most, honestly. But look, whether it’s H.A.T.E. or Mi Vida Loca, if we just keep doing things the same way moving forward, it’s just going to get stale. So I was thinking maybe it’s fine for something to change around here… Wait, no, I feel like Suzu Suzuki is messing with my head. Aaargh, whatever! I’m going home. That’s it!”
Translator’s Notes
- Harikiri (はりきり / はりきりチャンピオン): Suzu Suzuki’s catchphrase and persona motif, translating to being full of energy, high-spirited, enthusiastic, or pumped up. Her in-ring “harikiri pose” and catchphrase “That didn’t hurt at all!” (Zenzen kikimasen!) are staples of her character.
- Bachi-bachi & Kira-kira (バチバチでキラキラ): A recurring phrase in the Hanan and Ami Sourei rivalry. Bachi-bachi denotes hard-hitting, stiff, realistic strike exchanges, while kira-kira references the glittering, radiant, idol-like aesthetic traditional to the Wonder of Stardom (“White Belt”) championship lineage.
- Anegoshi (姉超): Rina’s signature pump-handle reverse STO/slam, meaning “surpassing the older sister” (referencing her older twin sister Hina and eldest sister Hanan). Azusa Inaba attempted the move here against Syuri.
- Bye-poi (バイぽい): Natsupoi’s signature sign-off catchphrase, combining “bye-bye” with her moniker “Poi.”