|
Please support Stardom World Welcome to the STARDOM 5 Star Grand Prix thread! The 5*GP is one of the best possible entry points for Stardom, showing off the large chunk of the roster in easily digestible bite-size chunks. The 5 Star Grand Prix is comparable (and likely inspired) by the NJPW’s G1 Climax. The Grand Prix however, is two 8-woman blocks, with a time limit of 15 minutes per match, so its not nearly as grueling to everyone involved. The winners of each block meet in a no time limit final to decide the winner of the Grand Prix, who gets a shot at the World of Stardom championship (known as the "Red Belt"). It will run 11 shows, from August 18 to September 30, with a few matches being uploaded every day. There’s no live streaming of events, but subtitles for promos are provided (but not ring announcers or in-ring trash talk, unless storyline/match relevant). Stardom storylines are generally simple, and there are pre-match promos establishing almost every match. Last year’s 5*GP was won by Toni Storm, defeating Yoko Bito in the finals, winning the Red Belt from Mayu Iwatani shortly after. Recent History of Stardom At the beginning of 2018, Oedo Tai, Stardom’s band of trickster heels, were down on their luck. After months of confrontations, matches, and bad blood between them and Queen’s Quest (Io Shirai’s team of super-talented wrestlers), Kagetsu (leader of Oedo Tai) challenged them to a match for the first big show of the new year: a 5v5 match between Oedo Tai vs Queen’s Quest, the losing team would lose a member. Unfortunately for Oedo Tai, they lost Tam Nakano, the former idol they had turned into a trickster villain. This, in addition to the loss of Kris Wolf due to legit visa problems, they were down to only three members. Kagetsu, ever the schemer, thought up a way to replenish her flagging faction: Have a faction draft. She was able to convince Stardom President Rossi Ogawa to let the three major factions split the roster into three groups: Oedo Tai, Queen’s Quest, and STARS, lead by Kagetsu, Io and Mayu Iwatani, respectively, with the winner of a 3-way match getting first pick. Oedo Tai had first pick in the draft, and Kagetsu took her core members, and then used her advantage to steal a core member of QQ: Over the next few weeks Team Jungle became more and more angry at their lack of respect, and eventually broke off from STARS with a few rookies, renaming themselves the Jungle Assault Nation (JAN). Hazuki, after initial resistance, eventually embraced her dark side, becoming a much more brutal, angry fighter than before. Io, leaving for WWE, passed the torch and the Wonder of Stardom championship (the secondary belt, the “White Belt”) to her QQ protege Momo Watanabe, losing in a hard fought match. Kagetsu won the World of Stardom title from Toni Storm, who had held it for about 9 months. Which brings us to the 2018 5 Star Grand Prix. Blue Stars Block
Red Stars Block
The Finals will take place September 24th. Please note that there is no live streaming of shows, but matches will be uploaded over the next week. All notable matches below are Youtube or Dailymotion links, many of which are from Stardom World itself. (This has been cleared with Jerusalem.) If you enjoy these matches, please support Stardom World. It’s the best $7 I spend on wrestling a month. Please note that I'm not going to upload any of the 5*GP, you've got to drop the cash for that. The official Stardom English twitter posts live results. Expect spoilers if you follow it. STARS STARS is the default good guy faction (called a seiki-gun in japanese) where good guys do generic good guy things. Full roster: It’s literally everyone not mentioned below here ok Mayu Iwatani (Blue Stars Block) The leader of STARS, former simultaneous holder of the Red and White belts, and one of Stardom’s Big Four. Idiot savant for wrestling. Generally awkward, unnaturally flexible and nearly completely indestructible. Professional neck bumper. Master of suplexes. Finisher: Bridging Dragon Suplex Notable Matches: Saki Kishima (Blue Stars Block) Recently returned to wrestling. Energetic and flashy. I feel like she watches a lot of Ring of Honor and NJPW Juniors. Currently tag champs with Mayu (Goddess of Stardom). Finisher: Unprettier Notable Matches:
Tam Nakano (Red Stars Block) Former idol, martial artist, obnoxiously cute. Formerly part of Oedo Tai, she lost a match against Momo Watanabe, where the loser had to leave their faction. Oedo Tai does not take defectors well, even unwilling ones. Kicks hard and has deathmatch experience. Finisher: Running Knee Strike Notable Matches:
Utami Hayashishita (Red Stars Block) Debuting on 8/12/18, Utami is the daughter of a Japanese celebrity with 13 kids or some poo poo like that. Her pro test is the only pro test available on Stardom World. Queen's Quest Formerly led by Io Shirai, Queen’s Quest is the No Fun Club of Stardom. They’re serious wrestlers doing serious things. Currently leaderless, but with Momo the heir apparent (though rookie firebrand and future ace AZM [pronounced “Azumi”] would disagree), we’re yet to see exactly how QQ reforms itself without Io at the helm. Queen’s Quest’s official pattern is colored cheetah-print. Full Roster is: Momo Watanabe, AZM, and Konami with touring gaijin Viper, Bea Priestley, and Chardonnay Momo Watanabe (Blue Stars Block) One of Stardom’s Big Four. Current Wonder of Stardom champion, and a potential company ace. Strong all around, with absolutely MURDEROUS kicks. She’s only 18, but she’s already great and has infinite potential. Finisher: B-Driver / Tequila[ Sunrise Notable Matches: Konami (Red Stars Block) Trained by Kana (WWE’s Asuka), Konami is a solid striker and submission wrestler. A long-time freelancer who recently signed full time with Stardom, she was inducted into Queen’s Quest in the draft. Don’t gently caress with Konami. Finisher: Triangle Lancer (Overdrive into armbar) Notable Matches: Oedo Tai Everyone’s favorite rowdy, slacker heels, Oedo Tai is LIJ combined with Team Rocket. They dance, they cheat, they steal, and they don’t give a drat about your rules. Showing up drunk to press conferences, bringing toys (both weapons and literal toys) into the ring, and using their numbers to win, they’re the most unpredictable and dangerous faction in Stardom. Full Roster: Kagetsu, Hazuki, Sumire Natsu, Hana Kimura (touring Mexico), and Nao Yamaguchi (injured) with touring gaijin Session Moth Martina and Brandi Rhodes Kagetsu (Red Stars Block) World of Stardom champion, Leader of Oedo Tai, one of Stardom’s Big Four. She’s a dirty, ruthless cheater, and one of the best joshi around. Handpicked successor of joshi legend/maniac Kyoko Kimura, she’s proven herself to be a confident and powerful leader. If her backup doesn’t get you, her blue mist will. Finisher: Oedo Coaster (450 Splash) Notable Matches: Hazuki (Blue Stars Block) Formerly of Queen’s Quest, HZK was a mid-tier roster member, mostly tagging with AZM and doing a whole lot of nothing. Upon being drafted to Oedo Tai, Hazuki has come into her own, becoming meaner, more violent, and somehow even more cocky. Finisher: Bombs Away Notable Matches:
Sumire Natsu (Blue Stars Block) Oedo Tai’s diva, Natsu isn’t the best wrestler. A vain, cowardly heel, what she lacks in the ring, she makes up for with attitude, cruelty, and a leather lash. Her entrance theme is a club banger, though. Finisher: Bridging Scoop Suplex Notable Matches:
Jungle Assault Nation (JAN) Team Jungle, feeling (rightfully) unappreciated in STARS, split off on their own and rebranded. Dancing on the line between face and heel, they’ve got chips on their shoulders and something to prove. Pre-match, they yell “Jungle Jungle!” to psyche up, which is deeply embarrassing for anyone outside the group who may be tagging with them. Currently holding the Trios Championship (Artist of Stardom). Full Roster is: Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora, and joshi legend Kaori Yoneyama with rookies Leo Onogawa and Ruaka. Jungle Kyona (Red Stars Block) Leader of JAN and one of Stardom’s Big Four. A “power fighter” with a lot of upper body strength (a former shotputter), Kyona is still looking for her big breakout win. She’s had a number of good-to-great matches, and is now looking for the thing to finally put her over the top. (Fun fact: Her current gear was designed by Kairi Hojo/Sane) Finisher: Sitout Powerbomb Notable Matches: Tora Natsuko (Red Stars Block) With only two years of experience under her belt, Tora has a lot of untapped potential, and a LOT of simmering rage. If anyone goes Full Heel, it’s her. Will murder you with her spear. Finisher: Frog Splash Notable Matches: Touring Westerners Kelly Klein (Blue Stars Block) From Women of Honor, Kelly Klein is giant powerhouse striker. Don’t expect anything technical. This will be her second tour with Stardom, the first one tagging with Bea Priestley in a tag tournament. Notable Matches: Nicole Savoy (Blue Stars Block) The reigning champion of Shimmer and the Queen of Suplexes. Uses MMA-style matwork. This will be her second tour with Stardom Notable Matches: Rachael Ellering (Red Stars Block) Daughter of wrestler and legendary manager “Precious” Paul Ellering, Rachael is an accomplished powerlifter, taking a Bronze in the 2014 World Powerlifting Federation championships. A Lance Storm trainee. This is her 3rd(?) tour with Stardom. Notable Matches: Kimber Lee (Red Stars Block) An indie veteran, having held titles in 9 different promotions (5 of which concurrently), including Grand Champion of Chikara, Kimber Lee has made a name for herself everywhere. Coming off a DOA run in NXT, but we don’t talk about that. Notable Matches: Jamie Hayter (Blue Stars Block) A UK native and EVE regular. Finisher: Curb Stomp Notable Matches: Please support Stardom World Go RV! fucked around with this message at 16:18 on Aug 19, 2018 |
# ? Jul 31, 2018 22:03 |
|
|
# ? May 21, 2024 19:39 |
|
Thanks for this post! Going to sign up tomorrow but I think today I'll look through some of those linked matches.
|
# ? Jul 31, 2018 22:18 |
|
Awesome thread. I'm very excited to see Konami kick people in the head for two straight weeks. I wish Hana wasn't making terrible hair decisions in Mexico during the tournament though.
|
# ? Jul 31, 2018 23:04 |
|
What was her horrible decisions other than just hanging out with Sexy Star
|
# ? Jul 31, 2018 23:06 |
|
I just finished Kagetsu/Mayu and I'm already mad at myself for not getting into this sooner. God drat it.
|
# ? Jul 31, 2018 23:06 |
|
RealFoxy posted:What was her horrible decisions other than just hanging out with Sexy Star https://www.instagram.com/p/BlwmApHAg0e/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=bb23vnf66zke Also, wasn't it not actually Sexy Star she was hanging with?
|
# ? Jul 31, 2018 23:08 |
|
Fantastic OP - the time period in question is pretty busy for me but I'm going to do my best to try to get in on this, as it sounds like a perfect post-G1 treat.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 00:25 |
|
This is the push I needed to finally sign up, fantastic OP.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 01:08 |
|
Last year's 5* was pretty good but didn't get a lot of buzz. Great fuckin OP. Here's last year's show. IIRC Tam Nakano's performance is worth a look. http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/8-19-2017-shinkiba/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/8-20-2017-shinkiba/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/8-26-2017-osaka/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/8-27-2017-hamamatsu/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-02-2017-yokohama/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-03-2017-niigata/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-10-2017-shinkiba/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-16-2017-takaoka/ http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-18-2017-korakuen-hall/ coconono fucked around with this message at 01:52 on Aug 1, 2018 |
# ? Aug 1, 2018 01:46 |
|
Aww shucks, thanks. Stardom deserves more attention than it gets, so I hope this gets some more people watching.coconono posted:http://www.stardom-world.com/2017-2/9-10-2017-shinkiba/ Make sure you check out the three Oedo Tai vs Oedo Tai matches. Both Kris Wolf matches are very fun, and Kagetsu vs Hana is great.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 02:04 |
|
Charles Gnarwin posted:Also, wasn't it not actually Sexy Star she was hanging with? It was not. My Stardom watching has fallen far by the wayside lately so I'm looking forward to jumping back in with the 5*! Thanks for the thread.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 04:55 |
|
I'm glad I know ahead of time that the tournament matches have a 10 minute time limit. If I didn't know that beforehand I think I'd be confused and a little bummed as to why the matches were all so short. Plus, as much as I love the G1, it'll make everything much easier to watch and digest.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 05:02 |
|
Go RV! posted:Io, leaving for WWE, passed the torch and the Wonder of Stardom championship (the secondary belt, the “White Belt”) to her QQ protege Momo Watanabe, losing in a hard fought match. Fun fact: I appear in this footage. I'm the gray blob in the second row behind the guy wearing blue. I shouted Io a couple times, yeah. Anyway, I want to see one or more of these matches live but I'm not quite sure which one to go to yet.
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 05:13 |
|
Konami's ring gear looks 100% better since joining QQ even if it's just cheetah spots added to bits of her old gear. Don't remember her using her finisher until recently too. Hope she goes far. Also loving Hazuki Violence Mode a lot. Please support Stardom guys!
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 07:46 |
|
i am rooting for savoy and tam
|
# ? Aug 1, 2018 22:46 |
|
Hazuki is winning.
|
# ? Aug 2, 2018 00:32 |
|
Good op, let's go
|
# ? Aug 2, 2018 02:01 |
|
Update: The official match schedule has been released. Go RV! fucked around with this message at 23:47 on Aug 3, 2018 |
# ? Aug 3, 2018 23:29 |
|
Now that the G1 is winding down, its time to bump this with some news. The last participant in the 5*GP has been revealed at today's show: The newly debuted Utami Hayashishita is the final participant in the Red Block. e: added her to the OP Go RV! fucked around with this message at 06:35 on Aug 12, 2018 |
# ? Aug 12, 2018 06:24 |
|
Tonight's the last night of G1, so 5 Star Grand Prix seems like a pretty good way to jump in while chasing more of that sweet, sweet round-robin tournament high.
|
# ? Aug 12, 2018 06:32 |
|
Go RV! posted:Now that the G1 is winding down, its time to bump this with some news. Check out her debut match with Jungle Kyona. They uploaded it early instead of Mayu/Kagetsu. It was maybe the best debut match I've seen. They've also put her front and centre in the new front page image, so they're clearly really high on her.
|
# ? Aug 13, 2018 10:36 |
|
GEORGE W BUSHI posted:Check out her debut match with Jungle Kyona. They uploaded it early instead of Mayu/Kagetsu. It was maybe the best debut match I've seen. They've also put her front and centre in the new front page image, so they're clearly really high on her. Yeah, apparently she's only had like four months of training, but has a strong Judo background and a genuine love of wrestling. The fact she's a minor celebrity means public performance isn't new for her, either. She's got some real potential.
|
# ? Aug 13, 2018 12:34 |
|
I guess the judo background would explain her transitions between moves already being so good maybe, I don't really know. Her selling was also way too good for someone only four months in. She's clearly been prepared well in other aspects too. Like compare her gear to someone like Leo's (lmao). She's also got all her hand signs and stuff down.
|
# ? Aug 13, 2018 12:51 |
|
The GP starts this weekend! The matches should be up over the course of the week next week. Also, quick correction: I am an idiot, the time limit is 15 minutes, not 10.
|
# ? Aug 15, 2018 23:02 |
|
GEORGE W BUSHI posted:I guess the judo background would explain her transitions between moves already being so good maybe, I don't really know. Her selling was also way too good for someone only four months in. I watched the match and while I wasn’t floored by it, I didn’t realize she was only 4 months in. That was an amazingly impressive showing. Most people 4 months in would trip over their own bootlaces.
|
# ? Aug 15, 2018 23:55 |
|
Who is going to win.
|
# ? Aug 16, 2018 02:27 |
|
I got Mayu vs Kagetsu in the finals with a coinflip to decide it. I’d like to see Kagetsu get the nod.
|
# ? Aug 16, 2018 03:10 |
|
I've got Kyona beating Hazuki, personally. It's Kyona's time to shine.
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 02:27 |
|
So if you subscribe to STARDOM's streaming service are the shows live or on demand?
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 17:06 |
|
On demand, TJPW is the only joshi promotion with live shows to my knowledge
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 17:25 |
|
https://twitter.com/we_are_stardom/status/1030416868056555520
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 17:44 |
|
SalTheBard posted:So if you subscribe to STARDOM's streaming service are the shows live or on demand? on demand. each match opens with subtitled promos from each of the contestants so Stardom is by far the most accessible of the japanese promotions.
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 18:11 |
|
Dancing entrances are great. Look at Fuego and Kraneo
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 18:59 |
|
9/24 is going to be a very sad day.
|
# ? Aug 17, 2018 20:26 |
|
You know, thinking about it now, I did just binge on the G1 so maybe getting another service and watching ANOTHER tournament is a bit much. Time to rein it in a bit and be fiscally respo- nevermind
|
# ? Aug 18, 2018 00:11 |
|
Stardom’s English twitter is tweeting match results so if you’re trying to catch the matches cold, best to avoid.
|
# ? Aug 18, 2018 17:16 |
|
Generally just block Stardom's Twitter if you care about spoilers and want to follow Stardom.
|
# ? Aug 18, 2018 23:09 |
|
Hey so I'm dumb as gently caress. When I go to the Stardom World page I don't see any sign-up option?
|
# ? Aug 19, 2018 00:33 |
|
Jerusalem posted:Hey so I'm dumb as gently caress. When I go to the Stardom World page I don't see any sign-up option? The first block match is already up btw
|
# ? Aug 19, 2018 00:43 |
|
|
# ? May 21, 2024 19:39 |
|
GEORGE W BUSHI posted:
Ahaha, I was clicking the link in the OP which goes to the home page which doesn't have those buttons, I feel so loving dumb now
|
# ? Aug 19, 2018 00:47 |