5. Blue Stars: Mina Shirakawa vs. Mariah May
The first ever Club Venus intra-unit singles match was physically and emotionally charged, as intra-unit matches often are. After all, the best opponents are generally those who have a high degree of trust. Mina Shirakawa's strong match composition and Mariah May's incredible explosive power matched up well. The pacing was easy to get into and did a good job establishing heat. May's rapid integration into Stardom's ring style is remarkable. She can be called a blue-eyed "jyoshi" of the highest order. ****
7. Red Stars: Tam Nakano vs. Mayu Iwatani
Mayu Iwatani and Tam Nakano's first singles bout since their Osaka-Jo Hall classic (2021). The match echoed previous encounters while weaving in fresh elements. The impact of the strikes told the whole story. They hit with such blistering intensity and each big hit resonated with emotion. The spin kick counter by Tam and the thrust kick return by Mayu at the end was simply amazing. Korakuen Hall was filled with a super palpable tension from start to finish. To encapsulate such a grand sense of magnitude within 15-minutes is masterful. ****1/2
