Stardom Review And Analysis: January 14 at Korakuen Hall

Oedo Tai vs Hana Kimura, Sadie Gibbs, and Bobbi Tyler

Jamie Hayter led the charge in jumping the opposing team, clearly fitting in with the rule-breaking Oedo Tai in quick fashion. While Hana Kimura dragged Hazuki through the crowd of Korakuen Hall, Gibbs sent Natsu and manager Nao into the front row with a double clothesline and Hayter and Tyler worked one another over in the ring.

After a botched attempt at a tandem surfboard from Hana and Bobbi, Hana booed herself (I think?) as she recovered from the heap of twisted bodies. Aside from a bit of back and forth between former Oedo Tai partners Hana and Hazuki, the rest of the match was little more than a highlight reel for the impressive Gibbs who put her agility on display against Hazuki.

Despite a late-match triple team from Oedo Tai, Gibbs was able to recover enough to hit a crisp corkscrew Sasuke Special on everybody on the arena floor prior to rolling Natsu back in the ring for a twisting splash for the victory.

Thoughts: A bit rough around the edges with some sloppiness on the side of Tyler and Hana after the unfortunate attempt at the double surfboard.

Sadie Gibbs is an absolute beast and needs to be back on another Stardom tour sooner than later. Not only is she jacked, but she flies around the ring like someone half her size for a combination of power and speed that may go unmatched from anyone else on the roster.

STARS vs Queen’s Quest

Not only was this Mayu’s first match back from a knee injury which kept her off of recent shows, but it was also her 8th Anniversary Match!

With the recent announcement that she will be making her Ring Of Honor return at Bound By Honor, things are only looking up for one-third of the Artist of Stardom Champions. Before the match, Mayu and her STARS teammates delivered a super high-energy promo with Mayu saying that she wants to kick everybody’s butts in her return to the ring.

Mayu started the match off and she started off strong, not missing a beat as she and AZM fought for the advantage.

A kick to the back from Konami would leave an opening for all of QQ to focus on the damaged left knee of Mayu, leaving her vulnerable as they each took turns working her over. Mayu’s partners would save her from a Konami submission allowing her to make the tag to Saki Kashima and recover on the apron.

QQ dominated most of the match until Arisa was finally able to catch Bea off-guard and tag the reinvigorated Mayu back into the match. Mayu briefly succumbed to the familiar triple-team assault of Konami, AZM, and Bea, but refused to be put away by AZM’s pinfall or submission attempts. With Saki and Arisa taking Konami and Bea on the arena floor, Mayu found the opportunity to nail an insane top-rope moonsault to AZM for the win.

Thoughts: A great comeback match for Mayu who doesn’t look like she’s been slowed down whatsoever from the knee injury.

With a pair of appearances for ROH in February, Mayu has some time to work out any remaining kinks in her knee, if any actually exist. Everybody else looked great as well with AZM continuing to impress and the recently returned Arisa Hoshiki growing on me more and more with each show.