Review: Stardom – 2018.03.31 – Dreamslam Day Two

Hanan, Natsumi & Starlight Kid vs. Leo Onozaki, Nao Yamaguchi & Ruaka
A fairly standard opener but featuring all of the rookies that debuted during March. It was pretty messy at times but there was nothing too bad. Starlight Kid pinned Nao Yamaguchi for the win. 1.75/5

Saki Kashima vs. Natsu Sumire vs. Shiki Shibusawa
Despite a couple of nice comedy spots, including Natsu spitting water all over the front row, this was poor. There was so much hesitation and awkward looking moves it felt like at any second there would be a huge botch. The only thing in terms of wrestling I liked was Saki Kashima’s finsher, she used a Kill Switch and pinned Shiki Shibusawa for the win. 1.75/5

Team Jungle (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora & Kaori Yoneyama) with Konami vs. Queen’s Quest (HZK, AZM, Momo Watanabe & Viper)
This was an elimination tag match as was the first good match on the show. Viper, Konami, Jungle Kyona and Natsuko Tora all impressed. Viper first eliminated Kaori Yoneyama by reversing Kaori’s pin attempt into one of her own. Viper then pinned Natsuko Tora, after Natsuko had put up a great fight, with a huge crossbody. Jungle Kyona and Viper fought next and ended up eliminating each other over the top rope. That left Konami against three of QQ. She also put up a great fight with some brilliant kicks and managed to pin AZM but the double team of Momo and HZK was too much for her and she was pinned after Momo Watanabe hit the B-Driver for the win. 3.5/5

Xia Brookside & Toni Storm vs. Mayu Iwatani & Tam Nakano
There was some good work in this but it all felt a little flat and for Toni & Mayu it seemed that they were saving themselves for their title match at the next show. Xia took most of the punishment in the match, followed by Tam. Toni and Mayu were involved at times but did not really do anything out of the ordinary. Mayu Iwatani pinned Xia for the win. 3/5

Bea Priestley vs. Io Shirai (Wonder of Stardom Title)
A couple of nice spots but this was a fairly average Io match (of course an average Io match is still very good). Highlights included Io performing a superplex from a the tree of woe position and Bea reversing an attempted piledriver into a submission hold. Bea looked very solid throughout but I felt Io was not quite at her best, collapsing during an another attempted piledriver and in general just not quite doing anything to make the match special. Io Shirai pinned Bea Priestley after a piledriver and moonsault to win and retain the Wonder of Stardom title. 3.5/5

Mari Apache & Faby Apache vs. Kagetsu & Hana Kimura (Goddesses of Stardom Titles)
This was great. Kagetsu, in particular, was on fire as she repeatedly managed to lift Mari Apache, performed a lot of her best offence and sold the Apache sisters moves spectacularly. After an early trip outside the ring with a lot of the standard running into chair spots, the match settled into a pattern of the Apache sisters dominating with Oedo Tai occassionally making comebacks. The Apaches performed a great double cannonball off the apron and were great throughout. Mari hit a brutal looking Michinoku Driver towards the end to Kagetsu but Hana just managed to break up the pin in time. At the end Kagetsu spat blue mist in the face of Mari Apache before delivering the Oedo Coaster to get the pin and retain the Goddesses titles. 4/5