5. Blue Stars: Mina Shirakawa vs. Utami Hayashishita
Utami Hayashishita's return from her overseas trip brought her back in her familiar form, but not without a few fresh moves in her arsenal. Meanwhile, Mina Shirakawa opted for an "offense is the best defense" approach, maintaining high intensity to halt Utami's momentum, which also put over the lethality of the former red belt champion's power. ***3/4
6. Blue Stars: MIRAI vs. Momo Watanabe
A balanced blend of technical grappling and high-impact dynamism. Sheer density of action packed into under 10 minutes was nothing short of astounding. MIRAI showed her vitality as a babyface while Brapi seamlessly incorporated heel tactics without disrupting the flow. ****
7. Red Stars: Syuri vs. Suzu Suzuki
Magical first encounter between Syuri and Suzu Suzuki. Two wrestlers with starkly different styles and disciplines meshed organically and developed an insatiable rhythm, it was something like the Super J Cup Final's Wild Pegasus and Great Sasuke. Suzu's perverse enthusiasm and Syuri's unwavering willingness for ukemi created a thrilling fusion. The on-going generational struggle added a nice underlying theme to the proceedings. ****1/2
8. Red Stars: Mayu Iwatani vs. Hazuki
STARS members Mayu Iwatani and Hazuki convey their bond through pure shonen wrestling. Mayu brought boundless energy and a carefree spirit, while Hazuki displayed unwavering tenacity. The match was bright, intense and full of guts. The high familiarity and trust between them allowed for unusually hard hits and mesmerizing harmony. ****1/4
9. Red Stars: Giulia vs. Saori Anou
A 15-minute spectacle that seamlessly presented two contrasting halves. The first was filled with intense Showa-style hardcore brawling and bloodshed, while the second impressed with highly skillful Reiwa exchanges. Giulia's masterful manipulation mind-broke the cool Saori Anou, revealing her emotional depths. Riveting from start to finish. ****1/4
