The latest edition of the Fightful Joshi Journal releases one day early to analyze the major weekend STARDOM had as GOLD RUSH saw them continue their success with another memorable show while NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over marked a new mountain for the promotion to climb following the monumental main event between Mayu Iwatani and KAIRI.
Mayu Iwatani vs. KAIRI Highlights STARDOM's Greatness on Biggest Stage as KAIRI Walks Away as Inaugural IWGP Women's Champion
With all eyes on you and nowhere to hide, can you deliver? If this was a question being asked to Mayu Iwatani and KAIRI on Sunday night, the only answer would have been “absolutely.” These two put on a genuine classic in what can go down as arguably the biggest STARDOM match of all time. The IWGP Women’s Championship is a title with the hope of having as memorable of a legacy as the IWGP Heavyweight Championship. Hence, it was only right that you had two wrestlers who almost perfectly summarize the history of STARDOM to a tee battling it out for the gold.
The entrances, the feelings before the match, the promos they cut and the interviews they delivered before it even started, everything. There was no way for STARDOM or NJPW to build this match up more perfectly and oh, you happened to have the built in history of two-thirds of the Threedom group to work off as well.
Mayu Iwatani knew she was the underdog heading into the match. The big-time, former WWE superstar KAIRI was going to get all the attention heading in for fans who may not be followers of STARDOM. It’s the truth. And she worked that into the match and story to not only better it but make this match one of the very best of the year and in STARDOM’s history.
The gear they wore to the ring speaks volumes. KAIRI dawning her newer look but bringing out the famous pirate ship wheel and hat, something she did the opposite of the night prior in her match against Saya Kamitani. It was that match she went darker with the Kabuki Warrior-like look. Then there was Iwatani who wore her red, World of Stardom Championship gear. Something she hasn’t touched since losing the belt to Utami Hayashishita back in 2020. This was important to both of them and they even dressed for the occasion.
Once the bell rang, everyone should have taken a step back because that was history in the making. History on its way to being made. And STARDOM changing forever. They were no longer just the “sister promotion” of NJPW to the worldwide audience who wasn’t paying attention until now — they’re STARDOM, the best women’s wrestling promotion in the world and FRANKLY in the discussion as the very best promotion going right now in pro wrestling. Men, women, it doesn’t matter. After taking that step back, fans saw Mayu Iwatani and KAIRI do what they have done for years and that’s put on an absolute show.
Iwatani was on her game and brought every bit of passion and drive she had to the match. No one in history has done what Iwatani has done in STARDOM. “The Icon” stayed when the “Pirate Princess” left. “The Icon” held down the fort when the “Genius of the Sky” Io Shirai went to take on a challenge in America. And she did it again and again in the good times and the bad because she is and always will be STARDOM’s ace. The side of her you saw early on was this overpowering, confident competitor that we've only seen a handful. She may have thought she was the underdog going in but made sure she wrestled as though she was the top dog because, in reality, she is.
KAIRI, who was coming off a 30-minute draw the previous day, seemed stunned by the violence of her friend and former partner. She was fighting her way back but kept the confidence to get back into the fight as you'd expect from the "Pirate Princess."
For 25 minutes and 28 seconds, they battled. They fought. They crushed one another with everything in their arsenal. Iwatani survived an Insane Elbow. KAIRI managed to get her foot on the rope after Mayu hit the Dragon Suplex Hold. The best shot was hit by both but it was going to take one more. "The Icon" was eventually caught by what had to be the sixth or seventh Spinning Backfist KAIRI hit, crashing down to the mat before being hit by an Insane Elbow for the three count.
KAIRI was the new IWGP Women's Champion, a result that many believed would happen and one that makes a whole lot of sense.
But that doesn't mean it's easy to just move on. After everything Mayu Iwatani has done for STARDOM, it felt like being the first IWGP Women's Champion was her destiny. Her birthright. What she deserved and what she earned. But it sadly wasn't her day when it was all said and done as KAIRI will be going onto Wrestle Kingdom and beyond to defend the IWGP Women's Championship as the inaugural champion. This is the reality and so we move forward.
KAIRI now goes on to help continue creating the worldwide legacy of STARDOM with the IWGP Women's Championship. Her first defense will be against Tam Nakano at Wrestle Kingdom 17 which will be the first Joshi singles match to ever be on one of the cards.
A special match, a special show, and an extra special moment. There was love between these two as they embraced once the match was over and that, more than anything else, was the most special moment for long-time fans of STARDOM.
The present has been bright but the future for STARDOM is much brighter. Historic X-Over closed the latest chapter of their story to becoming one of the top promotions in the world in the eyes of pro wrestling fans and now they will get to start the next chapter with their signature yearly event, Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29. Do not miss it.
Syuri, Utami Hayashishita Add Another Classic To Their Rivalry at GOLD RUSH
Challenging Syuri and Utami Hayashishita to one-up their previous performances is silly at this point because they're going to go out there and try to do it anyway.
In the seventh chapter of their rivalry, Syuri successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship in her best defense yet by getting her win back from the 5STAR Grand Prix by taking down Hayashishita. On the surface, that was always expected with Syuri vs. Giulia being the likely main event of Stardom Dream Queendom but when you see the match, you saw everything Hayashishita has improved on to come close to finally beating Syuri with the championship on the line.
Not only did she believe in her power but she had the wherewithal to believe in herself. Syuri was one the ropes and survived Hayashishita's signature BT Bomb that beat her two months ago, meaning "The Red Queen's" only chance of taking down Syuri will be to think of something new or simply hit again. That's what Syuri did a year ago when she replaced the Ryuen as her finish with the Syu-sekai, which is what she won with here.
Words do not do this match justice as it was not only the best of the year for Hayashishita but can be in the conversation as the best of Syuri's also.
These two can and should wrestle forever because somehow they might have even better than what we have seen so far. They're that special against one another and we can't wait to see it once again whenever that may be.
Matches Worth Checking Out (11/22/22)
- STARDOM
- AZM vs. Momoka Hanazono
- Maika & Himeka vs. Nanae Takahashi & Yuu
- Saya Kamitani vs. KAIRI
- Syuri vs. Utami Hayashishita
- Mayu Iwatani, Koguma & Hazuki vs. Giulia, Thekla & Mai Sakurai
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Utami Hayashishita vs. Hirooki Goto & Maika
- Mayu Iwatani vs. KAIRI
Notable results from the week:
Sendai Girls Queen of the RING (11/20/22)
- Tomoka Inaba def. Yurika Oka
- Aiger def. Sakura Hirota
- Aiger def. Sakura Hirota
- Aja Kong, Hiroyo Matsumoto & Nina Samuels def. Millie McKenzie, Miyuki Takase & Ryo Mizunami
- Manami def. Kohaku
- Mike Iwata vs. Saori Anou ended in a 15-minute draw
- Team 200kg (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) def. Unagi Sayaka
- ASUKA & Jun Kasai def. DASH Chisako & Isami Kodaka in a Hardcore Match
Check out our latest Joshi interviews with Maya Yukihi and Maria.
