damagecontrolla

[damagecontrolla]

(x)

[damagecontrolla]

Heda will always belong to her people but Lexa will always belong to Clarke.

[damagecontrolla]

(insp)

[damagecontrolla]

Do you think after Clarke finally saw Lexa fight, and absolutely kick Roan’s ass she paused for a moment and thought of all the times she had clearly underestimated Lexa’s strength. She obviously knew Lexa was powerful from meeting her, but it was more the power that Lexa commanded than her personal skill. And now Clarke just has a moment where she remembers backing Lexa into a table, spitting in her face, holding a knife to her neck, and she realises just how badly that could have ended for her. So she has a little ‘oh shit’ moment… And then an even more profound ‘oh shit’ moment when she remembers all the times Lexa let her threaten her, never lifted a finger against her, and how much that says about Lexa’s feelings for Clarke.

[damagecontrolla]

Touching… 

[damagecontrolla]

I've been thinking a lot about the last moments I had with my dad. It was morning, and he was leaving for work. He said, "See y'all later." And I said nothing. I regret that. I could have said "Bye" or asked him for a ride. Or told him that I loved him. But I didn't. I barely noticed he left. So many times that I didn't notice my father. I hope he knew how much I loved him.

Young Sheldon | 7x13 “Funeral”

[damagecontrolla]

New Queens Quest content dropped on stardom's official tiktok 👑

[damagecontrolla]

Damn this match is just *Chefs kiss*

Utami Hayashishita vs Syuri

Here's the link

[damagecontrolla]

Cannot BELIEVE it took my this long to figure out I never uploaded the full entrance

AKA the best thing in 2022

Everything about this is so good

the horse wearing a mask

the way she pats the horse

the way she puts her hands in her pockets and still manages to walk all cool

the way she can’t get into the ring cos of the onsie

Honestly taking the Red Belt off both Utami and Syuri did wonders for them as it allowed them to be weird again :D

12.24.2022

[damagecontrolla]

Learning More About STARDOM!!!

So, to update from my last post, I'm still growing in my fandom. From interviews, YouTube and social media, I've gathered bits and pieces of context, all with the knowledge that I will likely never fully entirely understand every character or storyline completely. Nonetheless, some updates with more peeps I guess!

Saki Kashima

Probably the only wrestler I know to turn down a World Title shot, but still one of the coolest. A member of the heelish team Oedo Tai, she uses tricks and pins to win, but when she gets down to it, Saki in my estimation, is a pretty damn good wrestler! She is so relative to me, all she wants to do is sulk, and eat McDonalds, which makes her a Champion of the people. I want to see what comes next for her!

Waka Tsukiyama

Waka is an interesting character (side note, born in NY, woot woot!), in that she had a losing streak through much of her career in STARDOM for about three years, just breaking it at New Blood Premium. This was such a special moment for her, and definitely a gratifying moment for longtime fans especially invested to FINALLY see her win the big one!!! Watching her for a short time, I've seen her gain confidence as a member of Cosmic Angels, and learning their signature dance! Which leads me to...

Mina Shirakawa

I don't know if I'm meant to, but I get the sense that characterwise, something is a little off about Mina. A member of Cosmic Angels, and creator of its sub-faction Club Venus, she's employed Mariah May, Xia Brookside, Xena, and now Jessica Elaban into her group. Why am I suddenly thinking of Captain America: Civil War? Mina is talented and charismatic, someone I see becoming White Belt Champion. However, I also think she may stir up more than just the Title scene, and swaying Waka into Club Venus, and out of Cosmic Angels is one thought I've had in mind

Thekla

I don't know how to say this, Thekla, is just, fucking cool. A bad ass, a really cool moveset, currently besties w the Red Belt Champ in Giulia. SO EFFIN COOL. She's such a versatile wrestler and I enjoy her bouts with Mariah May, which is currently my Agenda™. I'm not sure her path, but a Tournament win would be nice to see!

Mariah May

A member of Club Venus, with a Tombstone deadlier than The Undertaker. Mariah, much like her faction mates is cool, charismatic and supes kawaii (but not Top Kawaii, because that's Tam). She's someone I've found gets better in every match and I love to see that! I'm excited for what this year holds for her and the rest of Club Venus. Dream Match, Mariah May vs Sexy Dynamite Princess.

Miyu Amasaki

Aka Kevin. Probably the least experienced member of Queen's Quest, whom Utami wants to see grow and step up, Miyu Amasaki recently had a Passion Injection match with Nanae Takashi, and called her shot, saying in one year's time, she would reach the top of the mountain. Miyu is interesting to me, as she is many times tested by her opponents who are veterans, and while she is talented, there is still so much potential for her growth, which will be great to see!

Hazuki

Recently faced Mercedes Moné for the IWGP Women's Championship, and Saya Kamitani for the White belt at New Blood. Hazuki is an INCREDIBLE talent, who's stat-line does not do her justice. While she just comes short in the big matches, it is my hope that this year, she wins big.

Momo Kohgo

Admittedly, I have not seen a lot of Momo Kohgo, but she seems to fit right in to STARS. She's also seemingly referred to as Komomo, and participated in the Press Conference for Mayu vs Mercedes as a translator, which I found cool and interesting! Momo is someone I wish to see more in STARDOM, as I've seem small bits of her wrestling and interacting with her faction mates.

Koguma

I feel like Koguma is riduculously cool, because well... she gets a bear over. A fucking bear. It's sweet as all hell, and also, she's really fast! Everytime I see a Koguma match, I'm excited to see banter and how each character is going to react to the bear, because every member manages to keep it interesting!

[damagecontrolla]

It took Kevin and Sami over nine years to be on the same page and both babyfaces–here they take a moment to simply enjoy the fact they’re there.

[damagecontrolla]

Utami Bayley

🤝

Legend Killer Tour 2k23

[damagecontrolla]

“I am brain. This is chicken.”

Carve that on my fucking tombstone

(x)

[damagecontrolla]

RIP the one person in the hashtag who said “if they have her air guitar with him I’ll die”

If it’s any consolation, there are worse ways to go

[damagecontrolla]

That’s something I really love about the show, I can watch and be captured by their action, even if I don’t entirely know what’s happening, their emotions can translate perfectly! Also, they’ve a nice balance of humor and drama that I think is just lost in wrestling because people think it’s “silly”

Learning about STARDOM

Recently getting into STARDOM, trying to learn the ropes as you will, here are a few things I've picked up on some of the characters in this intriguing and compelling show.

Mayu Iwatani

The first and only wrestler from STARDOM that I ever have seen perform live at the G1 show at MSG in 2019. Mayu gives me John Cena vibes, in that she comes off as the face of STARDOM, someone intrinsically linked to the company. She is the ultimate babyface, the leader of STARS, the uber babyface group, and the epitome of "Never Give Up". While she comes off as silly and funny, once the bell rings, it's very clear she's one of the best to ever do it. Her persona may be ditzy or clumsy, but this absolutely does not translate to her wrestling as she is one of the most flexible and capable performers I have ever seen, (whom I liken to a human rubber band) and she has taken some of the roughest bumps I have seen a wrestler ever take with no signs of serious injury. Also, has a cheat code God mode? I see Mayu as the Ace of STARDOM, and it's heart. She is the most not serious but awesome performer, and I cannot wait for her to face Mercedes Moné.

Utami Hiyashishita

The first wrestler I was instantly drawn to after Mayu was Utami Hiyashishita. My first experience seeing her work was her match with KAIRI, in which I noted a disinterested, aloof disposition opposite a wrestler I was familiar with in KAIRI (whom I was able to see work as Kairi Sane in WWE). Her presentation was a poise, calm, rose bearer, a leader of her group Queen's Quest. Upon delving into her back story, I found some who disagreed heavily with her initial massive push to the top of the card, but also found a gem in UTAMI NAKANO.

Utami, while still the cool, royal leader of her faction now has a pretty neat role where she can be top of the card, and also show her playful, silly side. As an in-ring performer, I watched her evolve her powerhouse move-set to add some technicality, and pace herself. Her feud with Syuri, to me, established her as one to look for in the future, but also was a fine performance, and her creation of Utami Nakano to psychologically toy with Tam fleshed out her character, making her more endearing, in my estimation. Utami is quite possibly my favorite character to watch in STARDOM, as Queen's Quest comes off as a tweener stable more than heel/face, and the faction seems to focus on excellence and great wrestling. Utami to me, comes off poise and calm for her experience, is better chasing the Title, but I think her best is still yet to come, which excites me! My dream match to see would probably be her vs IYO Sky, someone she wanted to face, before she went to WWE.

[Side note: There really aren't heels/babyfaces in STARDOM, which rules. Characters have feelings and motivations that are real, and understandable. Another cool aspect of the program is the meaning of the belts, namely the red and white belts, the World of Stardom and Wonder of Stardom Titles. While in WWE programming there is a hierarchy to Titles, the World of STARDOM belt, or the red belt, tends to be worn by the best and most technical sound wrestler, and the white belt, or the Wonder of STARDOM Title, held by who is believed to be the heart and soul of STARDOM. The red belt would be considered higher on the hierarchy of Titles, but there are times when the white belt has been more important and Main Evented shows over the red belt. Idk, I just find that to be awesome.]

Tam Nakano

So, if I got this correctly, this is the TOP KAWAII, CUTEST IN THE COSMOS, and Leader of the Cosmic Angels, Tam Nakano! While I was drawn to her in her beefs with Utami, curious as to why in the world her berserker button would be being mocked, Tam is SERIOUS BUSINESS in the ring. It was interesting to learn she actually was a pop star, and transitioned to wrestling, as she is a natural entertainer and performer, and she DRAWS a person in with her personality. I found her to be deserving of an Academy Award after her wars with Giulia, and was even more drawn to her character seeing her matches with Natsupoi, and learning of their story through her Twitter. (I'm not entirely sure if this is true, but a few fans have suggested she would die for the white belt, and idk if that's true, but it certainly comes off as true in her Title matches, as if that's her motivation). Tam is someone I would consider who embodies the spirit of STARDOM, someone I think of when I think of STARDOM as a whole. I hope in the future she can win the big one, the red belt some day. Honestly, I would love to see what she and Mercedes could do in the ring, AND post match interactions.

Giulia

The current red belt champ and top gal, Giulia! My first experience seeing her was her Hair match vs Tam, and I was torn on how I perceived her. Was she a jerk, misunderstood? Apparently, the answer to this is Giulia is gonna Giulia, and everyone loves Giulia.

I looked deeper into this, because I was very much confused. Giulia can be seen as a polarizing performer, a grey area, as the leader of her faction Donna Del Mondo. Not the good guy, not the bad guy, just here for some chaos. Upon delving deeper into her character, trying to figure out what's her endgame outside of being Champion, I found something relative in her interviews. She wants to elevate STARDOM as a whole, though means questionable, and she thinks she's the person to do it. I'm not sure if she cares about fans hating or loving her, just that she wants to make an impact, moments that or memorable and that matter. A rebel, but with a cause. Giulia is very striking, her ring gear and entrance is stunning and definitely presents her as a cool badass, a spectacle. Her matches with Tam Nakano and Syuri elevated STARDOM to that next level, and I believe her defenses will show the world exactly who she is. From what I have seen, Giulia is unconventional, and comes off as someone disrespectful, but she cares a lot. She seems to respect someone who can beat her, and has a desire to be in control, at all times. I find Giulia's character to be one of the most interesting as I watch the shows, and were I to put her in a match, I'd have to say, in time, I would love to see what she could do with a challenger, and a tested Utami.

Syuri

Does anyone else hear Sephiroth music when they see Syuri, or is it just me? I'm just gonna get this out of the way, Syuri is intimidating as FUCK. I've seen Brock Lesnar in person, and she still scares me more than him, I believe she could snap me in two by just blinking in her presence. In just her entrance, I can get a big fight feeling, like whoever her opponent is, just met the FINAL BOSS. Utami and Syuri fought some battles of endurance and the leader of her faction, God's Eye, managed to test Utami's mettle and stamina and finally win their rubber match to win the red belt. Syuri is someone who actually trained and fought in MMA, adding, again, to the believability that she CAN and WILL fuck someone up. Her style can be smooth and striking, as she uses takedowns and knee strikes, aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But she can get down and gritty, which I think separates her from other performers, and makes for amazing match-ups because of the distinction. Her matches with Utami were marathons of endurance, wars of attrition, displays of power, but comparable to her matches with Giulia, those were spectacles and one upmanship, with some holy shit moments included. (Though I've gotta ask, WHY is a badass like her trying to play mindgames with Utami by kissing her? I never got that part...? And then Himeka kissed her and she no sold it, THAT seemed more realistic a reaction from her, but maybe someone can provide context?)

Syuri is someone who, upon her entrance, is the real deal. When she comes out, matches feel important, and it's very hard to consider her losing. Something I've noted is she doesn't seem to bully her opponents, or toy with them, she tests their endurance, and seems to want to see who is the better competitor. Her journey to defeating Utami, being to honor her recently passed mother is honorable, and humanizing. Syuri's faction, God's Eye, like Queen's Quest, appears to respect skill, and seeks excellence in wrestling. Were I to pick a dream match, I'd go for a big match with Saya Kamitani, former white belt holder, and someone I think could be the future face of STARDOM.

From here on out, I really can't name any dream matches, because I'm still really green and learning about each of these characters. I would love to learn more about ALL of them, and while I gravitate to some, if anyone could send a match recommendation, or a clip, or even a kind correction/fact check something I said wrong, or worded poorly, I am open to hearing it! I'm rather excited about this new experience with this promotion (if this long post is any indication).

Saya Kamitani

Saya Kamitani just exudes chill, and gives me the girl next door vibe. Able to pull off a Phoenix Splash, wrestle an all around style, I think the future is bright for someone I see as 3rd in command of Queen's Quest after AZM. I honestly don't know much about her character outside of the running gag that she cannot keep a secret to save her life (which is honestly, a mood), and apparently tries to vie for Utami's approval/affection, only to be rebuffed. As a team member, Saya can put on a great match, and be placed in the Main Event and fare perfectly well. Her match against KAIRI was fun as hell, I couldn't pick a match I want for her at this time, because while I'd like to see an intra-faction match with Utami, I also want to learn more about her character to give a more informed choice, and to also find more characters to consider.

Natsupoi

The Ring Fairy, and one half of Meltear with Tam Nakano, Natsupoi! Natsupoi is one I have know very little lore about, who I'm really trying to figure out. She's athletic as hell, but also elegant, fitting for a member of Cosmic Angels. To this day, I've no idea why she rebelled so hard against Tam after losing a few times, and then choosing to join her, but it was still cold as hell, and I'll never forget Tam hitting a MASSIVE German Suplex on Natsupoi that had her seeing double. I'm still learning about characters, but Natsupoi is someone I find myself rooting for to be an Ace of STARDOM and do some really cool shit, like win the white belt in the future. If anyone has match recommendations of hers, please pass them along!

AZM

So, I VERY quickly learned, that this is the Next Big Thing in STARDOM. VERY QUICKLY, which is apparently a descriptor of how she wrestles. AZM has officially challenged Mercedes Moné to a match, and I found myself immediately scared for one of my longtime favorite wrestlers.

HOLY FUCK IS AZM FAST. Moving around faster than I can normally blink, AZM has the quickness of her youth, and the ring savvy of a veteran, about 10 years in the game. When she calls my fave "gramma", and mocks her age, I may not be able to handle it. AZM comes off as the second in command in Queen's Quest, holding the aptly named High Speed Championship. I imagine after her match with Starlight Kid, we will see if she defends the belt against Mercedes, Mercedes defends her IWGP Title, or it's an all or nothing ordeal. AZM is cool, sassy at times, and fun to watch. She is a fantastic wrestler both in terms of technique and ring psychology from what little I have seen of her, though I have not seen much character work of hers. I would absolutely call her a prodigy in the ring, and I am STOKED to see what magic she and Mercedes can make April 8th.

Starlight Kid

So, Starlight Kid is a cool as FUCK ring name, I'll say, right off the bat. Starlight Kid wears a mask, but I find at times her expressions come off very well, something I think is great about her character. I don't know a lot of her lore, I've watched her matches with AZM, and maybe it's my bias, but I just see her breaking out as a babyface. From the bits and pieces, I've gathered that Starlight Kid was in the group STARS, but was selected to join Oedo Tai after a match took place where the winner could select a member from another group. After going to the dark side, (and I guess she liked it there?) she began to recruit members, and now we have Evil SLK.

At the moment, I am still learning about SLK, and find some similarities to what seems to be a great rival in AZM. Anyone have match recommendations for her?

KAIRI

The Pirate Princess, and one of the most complete wrestlers I can think of. I was rather fortunate to see KAIRI have some success in WWE, under the name Kairi Sane, winning the NXT Women's Championship, and to be 1/2 of the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka. In watching some of her returning matches with Saya, Mayu, and Utami, honestly, it soured me to her WWE experience and treatment. KAIRI, in either promotion captures me with her presence, ability, and sheer likeability, no matter her alignment. In my estimation, she can pull off mega babyface, heel and tweener, as she's able to connect with an audience in such a transcendent way.

STARDOM has a true gem back, and I look forward to KAIRI's work, as she was an excellent choice for the first ever IWGP Women's champion. I'm listing her here, because while I've seen her more recent matches, I'm not familiar with pre-WWE KAIRI, and wanted to ask recommendations for matches to watch.

After these characters, I honestly do not know much about several talent, aside from a few fun facts, and some performances. I devised this super long post to introduce myself to the fandom, and kindly ask for any wisdom, tidbits, or anything anyone would like to share. In a really short span of time, I've found myself really liking STARDOM and preferring it to mainstream WWE/AEW (though I keep tabs on my favorites). Sorry for the long ass post, it's been quite a while since I've been excited for wrestling like this.

[damagecontrolla]

Hiya!!! And feel free to!!!

Learning about STARDOM

Recently getting into STARDOM, trying to learn the ropes as you will, here are a few things I've picked up on some of the characters in this intriguing and compelling show.

Mayu Iwatani

The first and only wrestler from STARDOM that I ever have seen perform live at the G1 show at MSG in 2019. Mayu gives me John Cena vibes, in that she comes off as the face of STARDOM, someone intrinsically linked to the company. She is the ultimate babyface, the leader of STARS, the uber babyface group, and the epitome of "Never Give Up". While she comes off as silly and funny, once the bell rings, it's very clear she's one of the best to ever do it. Her persona may be ditzy or clumsy, but this absolutely does not translate to her wrestling as she is one of the most flexible and capable performers I have ever seen, (whom I liken to a human rubber band) and she has taken some of the roughest bumps I have seen a wrestler ever take with no signs of serious injury. Also, has a cheat code God mode? I see Mayu as the Ace of STARDOM, and it's heart. She is the most not serious but awesome performer, and I cannot wait for her to face Mercedes Moné.

Utami Hiyashishita

The first wrestler I was instantly drawn to after Mayu was Utami Hiyashishita. My first experience seeing her work was her match with KAIRI, in which I noted a disinterested, aloof disposition opposite a wrestler I was familiar with in KAIRI (whom I was able to see work as Kairi Sane in WWE). Her presentation was a poise, calm, rose bearer, a leader of her group Queen's Quest. Upon delving into her back story, I found some who disagreed heavily with her initial massive push to the top of the card, but also found a gem in UTAMI NAKANO.

Utami, while still the cool, royal leader of her faction now has a pretty neat role where she can be top of the card, and also show her playful, silly side. As an in-ring performer, I watched her evolve her powerhouse move-set to add some technicality, and pace herself. Her feud with Syuri, to me, established her as one to look for in the future, but also was a fine performance, and her creation of Utami Nakano to psychologically toy with Tam fleshed out her character, making her more endearing, in my estimation. Utami is quite possibly my favorite character to watch in STARDOM, as Queen's Quest comes off as a tweener stable more than heel/face, and the faction seems to focus on excellence and great wrestling. Utami to me, comes off poise and calm for her experience, is better chasing the Title, but I think her best is still yet to come, which excites me! My dream match to see would probably be her vs IYO Sky, someone she wanted to face, before she went to WWE.

[Side note: There really aren't heels/babyfaces in STARDOM, which rules. Characters have feelings and motivations that are real, and understandable. Another cool aspect of the program is the meaning of the belts, namely the red and white belts, the World of Stardom and Wonder of Stardom Titles. While in WWE programming there is a hierarchy to Titles, the World of STARDOM belt, or the red belt, tends to be worn by the best and most technical sound wrestler, and the white belt, or the Wonder of STARDOM Title, held by who is believed to be the heart and soul of STARDOM. The red belt would be considered higher on the hierarchy of Titles, but there are times when the white belt has been more important and Main Evented shows over the red belt. Idk, I just find that to be awesome.]

Tam Nakano

So, if I got this correctly, this is the TOP KAWAII, CUTEST IN THE COSMOS, and Leader of the Cosmic Angels, Tam Nakano! While I was drawn to her in her beefs with Utami, curious as to why in the world her berserker button would be being mocked, Tam is SERIOUS BUSINESS in the ring. It was interesting to learn she actually was a pop star, and transitioned to wrestling, as she is a natural entertainer and performer, and she DRAWS a person in with her personality. I found her to be deserving of an Academy Award after her wars with Giulia, and was even more drawn to her character seeing her matches with Natsupoi, and learning of their story through her Twitter. (I'm not entirely sure if this is true, but a few fans have suggested she would die for the white belt, and idk if that's true, but it certainly comes off as true in her Title matches, as if that's her motivation). Tam is someone I would consider who embodies the spirit of STARDOM, someone I think of when I think of STARDOM as a whole. I hope in the future she can win the big one, the red belt some day. Honestly, I would love to see what she and Mercedes could do in the ring, AND post match interactions.

Giulia

The current red belt champ and top gal, Giulia! My first experience seeing her was her Hair match vs Tam, and I was torn on how I perceived her. Was she a jerk, misunderstood? Apparently, the answer to this is Giulia is gonna Giulia, and everyone loves Giulia.

I looked deeper into this, because I was very much confused. Giulia can be seen as a polarizing performer, a grey area, as the leader of her faction Donna Del Mondo. Not the good guy, not the bad guy, just here for some chaos. Upon delving deeper into her character, trying to figure out what's her endgame outside of being Champion, I found something relative in her interviews. She wants to elevate STARDOM as a whole, though means questionable, and she thinks she's the person to do it. I'm not sure if she cares about fans hating or loving her, just that she wants to make an impact, moments that or memorable and that matter. A rebel, but with a cause. Giulia is very striking, her ring gear and entrance is stunning and definitely presents her as a cool badass, a spectacle. Her matches with Tam Nakano and Syuri elevated STARDOM to that next level, and I believe her defenses will show the world exactly who she is. From what I have seen, Giulia is unconventional, and comes off as someone disrespectful, but she cares a lot. She seems to respect someone who can beat her, and has a desire to be in control, at all times. I find Giulia's character to be one of the most interesting as I watch the shows, and were I to put her in a match, I'd have to say, in time, I would love to see what she could do with a challenger, and a tested Utami.

Syuri

Does anyone else hear Sephiroth music when they see Syuri, or is it just me? I'm just gonna get this out of the way, Syuri is intimidating as FUCK. I've seen Brock Lesnar in person, and she still scares me more than him, I believe she could snap me in two by just blinking in her presence. In just her entrance, I can get a big fight feeling, like whoever her opponent is, just met the FINAL BOSS. Utami and Syuri fought some battles of endurance and the leader of her faction, God's Eye, managed to test Utami's mettle and stamina and finally win their rubber match to win the red belt. Syuri is someone who actually trained and fought in MMA, adding, again, to the believability that she CAN and WILL fuck someone up. Her style can be smooth and striking, as she uses takedowns and knee strikes, aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But she can get down and gritty, which I think separates her from other performers, and makes for amazing match-ups because of the distinction. Her matches with Utami were marathons of endurance, wars of attrition, displays of power, but comparable to her matches with Giulia, those were spectacles and one upmanship, with some holy shit moments included. (Though I've gotta ask, WHY is a badass like her trying to play mindgames with Utami by kissing her? I never got that part...? And then Himeka kissed her and she no sold it, THAT seemed more realistic a reaction from her, but maybe someone can provide context?)

Syuri is someone who, upon her entrance, is the real deal. When she comes out, matches feel important, and it's very hard to consider her losing. Something I've noted is she doesn't seem to bully her opponents, or toy with them, she tests their endurance, and seems to want to see who is the better competitor. Her journey to defeating Utami, being to honor her recently passed mother is honorable, and humanizing. Syuri's faction, God's Eye, like Queen's Quest, appears to respect skill, and seeks excellence in wrestling. Were I to pick a dream match, I'd go for a big match with Saya Kamitani, former white belt holder, and someone I think could be the future face of STARDOM.

From here on out, I really can't name any dream matches, because I'm still really green and learning about each of these characters. I would love to learn more about ALL of them, and while I gravitate to some, if anyone could send a match recommendation, or a clip, or even a kind correction/fact check something I said wrong, or worded poorly, I am open to hearing it! I'm rather excited about this new experience with this promotion (if this long post is any indication).

Saya Kamitani

Saya Kamitani just exudes chill, and gives me the girl next door vibe. Able to pull off a Phoenix Splash, wrestle an all around style, I think the future is bright for someone I see as 3rd in command of Queen's Quest after AZM. I honestly don't know much about her character outside of the running gag that she cannot keep a secret to save her life (which is honestly, a mood), and apparently tries to vie for Utami's approval/affection, only to be rebuffed. As a team member, Saya can put on a great match, and be placed in the Main Event and fare perfectly well. Her match against KAIRI was fun as hell, I couldn't pick a match I want for her at this time, because while I'd like to see an intra-faction match with Utami, I also want to learn more about her character to give a more informed choice, and to also find more characters to consider.

Natsupoi

The Ring Fairy, and one half of Meltear with Tam Nakano, Natsupoi! Natsupoi is one I have know very little lore about, who I'm really trying to figure out. She's athletic as hell, but also elegant, fitting for a member of Cosmic Angels. To this day, I've no idea why she rebelled so hard against Tam after losing a few times, and then choosing to join her, but it was still cold as hell, and I'll never forget Tam hitting a MASSIVE German Suplex on Natsupoi that had her seeing double. I'm still learning about characters, but Natsupoi is someone I find myself rooting for to be an Ace of STARDOM and do some really cool shit, like win the white belt in the future. If anyone has match recommendations of hers, please pass them along!

AZM

So, I VERY quickly learned, that this is the Next Big Thing in STARDOM. VERY QUICKLY, which is apparently a descriptor of how she wrestles. AZM has officially challenged Mercedes Moné to a match, and I found myself immediately scared for one of my longtime favorite wrestlers.

HOLY FUCK IS AZM FAST. Moving around faster than I can normally blink, AZM has the quickness of her youth, and the ring savvy of a veteran, about 10 years in the game. When she calls my fave "gramma", and mocks her age, I may not be able to handle it. AZM comes off as the second in command in Queen's Quest, holding the aptly named High Speed Championship. I imagine after her match with Starlight Kid, we will see if she defends the belt against Mercedes, Mercedes defends her IWGP Title, or it's an all or nothing ordeal. AZM is cool, sassy at times, and fun to watch. She is a fantastic wrestler both in terms of technique and ring psychology from what little I have seen of her, though I have not seen much character work of hers. I would absolutely call her a prodigy in the ring, and I am STOKED to see what magic she and Mercedes can make April 8th.

Starlight Kid

So, Starlight Kid is a cool as FUCK ring name, I'll say, right off the bat. Starlight Kid wears a mask, but I find at times her expressions come off very well, something I think is great about her character. I don't know a lot of her lore, I've watched her matches with AZM, and maybe it's my bias, but I just see her breaking out as a babyface. From the bits and pieces, I've gathered that Starlight Kid was in the group STARS, but was selected to join Oedo Tai after a match took place where the winner could select a member from another group. After going to the dark side, (and I guess she liked it there?) she began to recruit members, and now we have Evil SLK.

At the moment, I am still learning about SLK, and find some similarities to what seems to be a great rival in AZM. Anyone have match recommendations for her?

KAIRI

The Pirate Princess, and one of the most complete wrestlers I can think of. I was rather fortunate to see KAIRI have some success in WWE, under the name Kairi Sane, winning the NXT Women's Championship, and to be 1/2 of the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka. In watching some of her returning matches with Saya, Mayu, and Utami, honestly, it soured me to her WWE experience and treatment. KAIRI, in either promotion captures me with her presence, ability, and sheer likeability, no matter her alignment. In my estimation, she can pull off mega babyface, heel and tweener, as she's able to connect with an audience in such a transcendent way.

STARDOM has a true gem back, and I look forward to KAIRI's work, as she was an excellent choice for the first ever IWGP Women's champion. I'm listing her here, because while I've seen her more recent matches, I'm not familiar with pre-WWE KAIRI, and wanted to ask recommendations for matches to watch.

After these characters, I honestly do not know much about several talent, aside from a few fun facts, and some performances. I devised this super long post to introduce myself to the fandom, and kindly ask for any wisdom, tidbits, or anything anyone would like to share. In a really short span of time, I've found myself really liking STARDOM and preferring it to mainstream WWE/AEW (though I keep tabs on my favorites). Sorry for the long ass post, it's been quite a while since I've been excited for wrestling like this.

[damagecontrolla]

Learning about STARDOM

Recently getting into STARDOM, trying to learn the ropes as you will, here are a few things I've picked up on some of the characters in this intriguing and compelling show.

Mayu Iwatani

The first and only wrestler from STARDOM that I ever have seen perform live at the G1 show at MSG in 2019. Mayu gives me John Cena vibes, in that she comes off as the face of STARDOM, someone intrinsically linked to the company. She is the ultimate babyface, the leader of STARS, the uber babyface group, and the epitome of "Never Give Up". While she comes off as silly and funny, once the bell rings, it's very clear she's one of the best to ever do it. Her persona may be ditzy or clumsy, but this absolutely does not translate to her wrestling as she is one of the most flexible and capable performers I have ever seen, (whom I liken to a human rubber band) and she has taken some of the roughest bumps I have seen a wrestler ever take with no signs of serious injury. Also, has a cheat code God mode? I see Mayu as the Ace of STARDOM, and it's heart. She is the most not serious but awesome performer, and I cannot wait for her to face Mercedes Moné.

Utami Hiyashishita

The first wrestler I was instantly drawn to after Mayu was Utami Hiyashishita. My first experience seeing her work was her match with KAIRI, in which I noted a disinterested, aloof disposition opposite a wrestler I was familiar with in KAIRI (whom I was able to see work as Kairi Sane in WWE). Her presentation was a poise, calm, rose bearer, a leader of her group Queen's Quest. Upon delving into her back story, I found some who disagreed heavily with her initial massive push to the top of the card, but also found a gem in UTAMI NAKANO.

Utami, while still the cool, royal leader of her faction now has a pretty neat role where she can be top of the card, and also show her playful, silly side. As an in-ring performer, I watched her evolve her powerhouse move-set to add some technicality, and pace herself. Her feud with Syuri, to me, established her as one to look for in the future, but also was a fine performance, and her creation of Utami Nakano to psychologically toy with Tam fleshed out her character, making her more endearing, in my estimation. Utami is quite possibly my favorite character to watch in STARDOM, as Queen's Quest comes off as a tweener stable more than heel/face, and the faction seems to focus on excellence and great wrestling. Utami to me, comes off poise and calm for her experience, is better chasing the Title, but I think her best is still yet to come, which excites me! My dream match to see would probably be her vs IYO Sky, someone she wanted to face, before she went to WWE.

[Side note: There really aren't heels/babyfaces in STARDOM, which rules. Characters have feelings and motivations that are real, and understandable. Another cool aspect of the program is the meaning of the belts, namely the red and white belts, the World of Stardom and Wonder of Stardom Titles. While in WWE programming there is a hierarchy to Titles, the World of STARDOM belt, or the red belt, tends to be worn by the best and most technical sound wrestler, and the white belt, or the Wonder of STARDOM Title, held by who is believed to be the heart and soul of STARDOM. The red belt would be considered higher on the hierarchy of Titles, but there are times when the white belt has been more important and Main Evented shows over the red belt. Idk, I just find that to be awesome.]

Tam Nakano

So, if I got this correctly, this is the TOP KAWAII, CUTEST IN THE COSMOS, and Leader of the Cosmic Angels, Tam Nakano! While I was drawn to her in her beefs with Utami, curious as to why in the world her berserker button would be being mocked, Tam is SERIOUS BUSINESS in the ring. It was interesting to learn she actually was a pop star, and transitioned to wrestling, as she is a natural entertainer and performer, and she DRAWS a person in with her personality. I found her to be deserving of an Academy Award after her wars with Giulia, and was even more drawn to her character seeing her matches with Natsupoi, and learning of their story through her Twitter. (I'm not entirely sure if this is true, but a few fans have suggested she would die for the white belt, and idk if that's true, but it certainly comes off as true in her Title matches, as if that's her motivation). Tam is someone I would consider who embodies the spirit of STARDOM, someone I think of when I think of STARDOM as a whole. I hope in the future she can win the big one, the red belt some day. Honestly, I would love to see what she and Mercedes could do in the ring, AND post match interactions.

Giulia

The current red belt champ and top gal, Giulia! My first experience seeing her was her Hair match vs Tam, and I was torn on how I perceived her. Was she a jerk, misunderstood? Apparently, the answer to this is Giulia is gonna Giulia, and everyone loves Giulia.

I looked deeper into this, because I was very much confused. Giulia can be seen as a polarizing performer, a grey area, as the leader of her faction Donna Del Mondo. Not the good guy, not the bad guy, just here for some chaos. Upon delving deeper into her character, trying to figure out what's her endgame outside of being Champion, I found something relative in her interviews. She wants to elevate STARDOM as a whole, though means questionable, and she thinks she's the person to do it. I'm not sure if she cares about fans hating or loving her, just that she wants to make an impact, moments that or memorable and that matter. A rebel, but with a cause. Giulia is very striking, her ring gear and entrance is stunning and definitely presents her as a cool badass, a spectacle. Her matches with Tam Nakano and Syuri elevated STARDOM to that next level, and I believe her defenses will show the world exactly who she is. From what I have seen, Giulia is unconventional, and comes off as someone disrespectful, but she cares a lot. She seems to respect someone who can beat her, and has a desire to be in control, at all times. I find Giulia's character to be one of the most interesting as I watch the shows, and were I to put her in a match, I'd have to say, in time, I would love to see what she could do with a challenger, and a tested Utami.

Syuri

Does anyone else hear Sephiroth music when they see Syuri, or is it just me? I'm just gonna get this out of the way, Syuri is intimidating as FUCK. I've seen Brock Lesnar in person, and she still scares me more than him, I believe she could snap me in two by just blinking in her presence. In just her entrance, I can get a big fight feeling, like whoever her opponent is, just met the FINAL BOSS. Utami and Syuri fought some battles of endurance and the leader of her faction, God's Eye, managed to test Utami's mettle and stamina and finally win their rubber match to win the red belt. Syuri is someone who actually trained and fought in MMA, adding, again, to the believability that she CAN and WILL fuck someone up. Her style can be smooth and striking, as she uses takedowns and knee strikes, aesthetically pleasing to the eye. But she can get down and gritty, which I think separates her from other performers, and makes for amazing match-ups because of the distinction. Her matches with Utami were marathons of endurance, wars of attrition, displays of power, but comparable to her matches with Giulia, those were spectacles and one upmanship, with some holy shit moments included. (Though I've gotta ask, WHY is a badass like her trying to play mindgames with Utami by kissing her? I never got that part...? And then Himeka kissed her and she no sold it, THAT seemed more realistic a reaction from her, but maybe someone can provide context?)

Syuri is someone who, upon her entrance, is the real deal. When she comes out, matches feel important, and it's very hard to consider her losing. Something I've noted is she doesn't seem to bully her opponents, or toy with them, she tests their endurance, and seems to want to see who is the better competitor. Her journey to defeating Utami, being to honor her recently passed mother is honorable, and humanizing. Syuri's faction, God's Eye, like Queen's Quest, appears to respect skill, and seeks excellence in wrestling. Were I to pick a dream match, I'd go for a big match with Saya Kamitani, former white belt holder, and someone I think could be the future face of STARDOM.

From here on out, I really can't name any dream matches, because I'm still really green and learning about each of these characters. I would love to learn more about ALL of them, and while I gravitate to some, if anyone could send a match recommendation, or a clip, or even a kind correction/fact check something I said wrong, or worded poorly, I am open to hearing it! I'm rather excited about this new experience with this promotion (if this long post is any indication).

Saya Kamitani

Saya Kamitani just exudes chill, and gives me the girl next door vibe. Able to pull off a Phoenix Splash, wrestle an all around style, I think the future is bright for someone I see as 3rd in command of Queen's Quest after AZM. I honestly don't know much about her character outside of the running gag that she cannot keep a secret to save her life (which is honestly, a mood), and apparently tries to vie for Utami's approval/affection, only to be rebuffed. As a team member, Saya can put on a great match, and be placed in the Main Event and fare perfectly well. Her match against KAIRI was fun as hell, I couldn't pick a match I want for her at this time, because while I'd like to see an intra-faction match with Utami, I also want to learn more about her character to give a more informed choice, and to also find more characters to consider.

Natsupoi

The Ring Fairy, and one half of Meltear with Tam Nakano, Natsupoi! Natsupoi is one I have know very little lore about, who I'm really trying to figure out. She's athletic as hell, but also elegant, fitting for a member of Cosmic Angels. To this day, I've no idea why she rebelled so hard against Tam after losing a few times, and then choosing to join her, but it was still cold as hell, and I'll never forget Tam hitting a MASSIVE German Suplex on Natsupoi that had her seeing double. I'm still learning about characters, but Natsupoi is someone I find myself rooting for to be an Ace of STARDOM and do some really cool shit, like win the white belt in the future. If anyone has match recommendations of hers, please pass them along!

AZM

So, I VERY quickly learned, that this is the Next Big Thing in STARDOM. VERY QUICKLY, which is apparently a descriptor of how she wrestles. AZM has officially challenged Mercedes Moné to a match, and I found myself immediately scared for one of my longtime favorite wrestlers.

HOLY FUCK IS AZM FAST. Moving around faster than I can normally blink, AZM has the quickness of her youth, and the ring savvy of a veteran, about 10 years in the game. When she calls my fave "gramma", and mocks her age, I may not be able to handle it. AZM comes off as the second in command in Queen's Quest, holding the aptly named High Speed Championship. I imagine after her match with Starlight Kid, we will see if she defends the belt against Mercedes, Mercedes defends her IWGP Title, or it's an all or nothing ordeal. AZM is cool, sassy at times, and fun to watch. She is a fantastic wrestler both in terms of technique and ring psychology from what little I have seen of her, though I have not seen much character work of hers. I would absolutely call her a prodigy in the ring, and I am STOKED to see what magic she and Mercedes can make April 8th.

Starlight Kid

So, Starlight Kid is a cool as FUCK ring name, I'll say, right off the bat. Starlight Kid wears a mask, but I find at times her expressions come off very well, something I think is great about her character. I don't know a lot of her lore, I've watched her matches with AZM, and maybe it's my bias, but I just see her breaking out as a babyface. From the bits and pieces, I've gathered that Starlight Kid was in the group STARS, but was selected to join Oedo Tai after a match took place where the winner could select a member from another group. After going to the dark side, (and I guess she liked it there?) she began to recruit members, and now we have Evil SLK.

At the moment, I am still learning about SLK, and find some similarities to what seems to be a great rival in AZM. Anyone have match recommendations for her?

KAIRI

The Pirate Princess, and one of the most complete wrestlers I can think of. I was rather fortunate to see KAIRI have some success in WWE, under the name Kairi Sane, winning the NXT Women's Championship, and to be 1/2 of the Kabuki Warriors with Asuka. In watching some of her returning matches with Saya, Mayu, and Utami, honestly, it soured me to her WWE experience and treatment. KAIRI, in either promotion captures me with her presence, ability, and sheer likeability, no matter her alignment. In my estimation, she can pull off mega babyface, heel and tweener, as she's able to connect with an audience in such a transcendent way.

STARDOM has a true gem back, and I look forward to KAIRI's work, as she was an excellent choice for the first ever IWGP Women's champion. I'm listing her here, because while I've seen her more recent matches, I'm not familiar with pre-WWE KAIRI, and wanted to ask recommendations for matches to watch.

After these characters, I honestly do not know much about several talent, aside from a few fun facts, and some performances. I devised this super long post to introduce myself to the fandom, and kindly ask for any wisdom, tidbits, or anything anyone would like to share. In a really short span of time, I've found myself really liking STARDOM and preferring it to mainstream WWE/AEW (though I keep tabs on my favorites). Sorry for the long ass post, it's been quite a while since I've been excited for wrestling like this.