1. Naniwa Roulette: Mayu Iwatani vs. Saki Kashima vs. Natsupoi vs. Tam Nakano vs. Natsuko Tora vs. Yuna Mizumori vs. Mina Shirakawa vs. Momoka Hanazono vs. Momo Kohgo vs. Mai Sakurai vs. Thekla vs. Mariah May vs. Waka Tsukiyama vs. Miyu Amasaki vs. Billy Ken Death
A long but entertaining match with standout matchups of Mayu vs. Tam, Mina vs. Natsupoi, and Natsuko vs. Hanazono. Hanazono, a young comedy wrestler from Osaka, showcased her strong fundamentals and stability in her match against Natsuko. With her youth and unique aura, Hanazono has serious potential to become a standout talent if given the right opportunities. I hope to see her involved in Stardom more, especially with Natsuko; they have a compelling dynamic. ***1/2
4. MIRAI vs. Chihiro Hashimoto
This level of pure, competitive spirit is something that has been missing from the pro-wrestling landscape lately. The match was all about athleticism, but with added elements of provocation (face slaps, fouls) to heighten the tension and avoid the feeling of an exhibition match. The outcome was never in doubt, but that only made MIRAI's performance more compelling, as it became a question of how she could make her mark against the formidable Chihiro Hashimoto, regardless of the predetermined outcome. This is what makes pro-wrestling so interesting! The competitiveness between the two was evident in every phase of the match, from the standup, to the ground, to the ropework, to the elbow and lariat trades. It felt like a throwback to the intense and cutthroat Showa era of Japanese pro-wrestling, with each trying to assert their strength as pro-wrestlers. MIRAI's impressive bumping technique underscored the power of Hashimoto's offense, making it all the more remarkable when she managed to kick out. Chihiro Hashimoto is often said to be "without equal" in the world of joshi pro-wrestling, but that is not necessarily a desirable quality in a professional wrestler. The greatest pro-wrestlers are those who have intense rivalries and exciting feuds, and it is great that Chihiro now has the opportunity to compete on a larger stage with many worthy opponents. ****1/2
5. Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Nanae Takahashi & Yuu (c) vs. Maika & Himeka
Nanae Takahashi and Yuu are a force to be reckoned with. They have breathed life into Stardom's tag division, which has lacked excitement for some time. Fan favorites Maika & Himeka are also special. Maika's urgency and fighting spirit exploded when Himeka was injured after a jumping knee from the apron to the outside. Despite her injury, Himeka still fought hard to support her partner at crucial points. They were at a huge disadvantage against competition that would have already been tough under normal circumstances, which made their offensive breakthroughs all the more thrilling. The sense of trust, teamwork and love between Maika & Himeka was incredible, and the crowd was going nuts for them. Stardom has something special with MaiHime and I hope to see them rewarded eventually. ****1/4
6. Wonder of Stardom Championship: Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Momo Watanabe
A generational clash with historic implications as Saya Kamitani aimed to reach V14 and break Momo Watanabe's record for most defenses with the white belt. Kamitani was also seeking revenge against the Queen's Quest traitor and to show her debut opponent how much she had grown. Despite some rough moments, the action was mostly engaging, with Momo's lawless tactics giving Kamitani room to show some Kota Ibushi-level insanity with a wooden table. Emotions ran high as the match reached its climax, especially from Momo, who originally didn't seem eager to fight Kamitani. Great title match between young dojo graduates at the anniversary event. ****
7. World of Stardom Championship: Giulia (c) vs. Suzu Suzuki
Fantastic V1 for Giulia against sister-turned-rival Suzu Suzuki. The match was expertly paced with intense moves throughout without ever feeling premature. Giulia had the early advantage, provoking Suzu to come at her harder with stinging attacks to the challenger's ailing shoulder. When Suzu picked up the pace of her offense, the match went into high gear. Suzu's offensive blitzkrieg and perverted facial expressions were matched by Giulia's exceptional bumping and tenacity. Both wrestlers had taped shoulders and didn't hesitate to exploit each other's injuries, showing how far they would go to win. It all came to an explosive, satisfying climax as the two went head-to-head with their most formidable techniques. Despite being the away challenger, Suzu's name was chanted by the crowd and she declared after the match that her new goal was to win the red belt. ****1/2
