Stardom is following up their last PPV, Kawasaki Super Wars, with another really big event. This time, it’ll be the Tokyo Super Wars and the stakes seem to be just as high, if not higher, than in Kawasaki. Stardom is gifting us eight really intriguing matches this time around so let’s jump right into it.
Future of Stardom Championship: Ruaka (c) vs Mai Sakurai vs Waka Tsukiyama
Last month in Kawasaki, Mai and Waka battled in the dark match which saw Mai picking up the victory. However, it was overshadowed by a masked attacker who took both members of the Angels out afterwards. I’ll get into my theories about who that was soon. Later in the night, both Waka and Mai came out and challenged Ruaka for her Future’s title. Stardom is giving both women the chance today and the odds may seem stacked against the youngster Ruaka. However, you can never count a member of Oedo Tai out. Especially when they usually have the numbers advantage at ringside. I can see OT getting involved a few times here, but there is also the chance that the masked attacker makes another appearance to help Ruaka retain. There are just too many ways this match could go down but the only thing I can predict is that there will not be a new champion in this match.
Prediction: Ruaka Retains
Tag Match: MomoAZ (Momo Watanabe & AZM) vs Unagi Sayaka and Lady C
This one almost seems like a filler match to me, but MomoAZ are pretty much an established team who are on the verge of winning their second Goddess of Stardom tournament. Then you have Unagi Sayaka, who just lost her bid for the Wonder title, teaming with the upstart Lady C. Both of these women have risen in popularity this year and both have improved greatly in the ring. The only problem I really see for them here is that Momo and AZM are just on another level. They work extremely well together and they put on phenomenal matches each time they are in the ring. Lady C has yet to choose a faction to join, and it seems unlikely that she will join the Angels, but it is something to keep in the back of your mind.
Prediction: Momo Watanabe and Azumi
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
Faction Six-Woman Tag: STARS vs Oedo Tai
Representing STARS in this match are Mayu Iwatani, Hanan and the newest member of the group Hazuki. They will be facing off against STARS mortal enemy in Oedo Tai, represented by Rina, Saki Kashima and Fukigen Death. Getting Hazuki to join STARS was a huge moment for Mayu and the company. They were floundering, losing members left and right, and they seemed to be heading towards certain ruin. However, Koguma convinced Hazuki to join their ranks and Mayu said that she hoped Saya Iida returned soon. Given this new momentum boost for STARS, it’ll be tough for this combination of Oedo Tai members to actually pick up the win. Rina also made the challenge that if Oedo Tai wins, Hazuki has to change up how she does her make-up. I guess it’s because she is doing it like how she used to before she retired and was a member of Oedo Tai still but I digress. This one should be fun but has a chance to go to a time limit draw.
Prediction: STARS
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
Wonder of Stardom #1 Contenders Triple Threat Match:
Saya Kamitani vs Natsupoi vs Himeka
This is going to be an interesting match. It features two members of Donna del Mondo in Natsupoi and Himeka with one member of Queen’s Quest in Saya Kamitani. All three women are going at it for the chance to challenge the winner of Tam Nakano vs Mina Shirakawa for the Wonder of Stardom Championship at a later date. You’ve got two high flyers and one powerhouse here so it’s really hard to say which direction things will go. Himeka has been a beast since her return to the ring and cannot be counted out, however, the odds of her winning this match are slim at best in my opinion. There is too much upside in having either Natsupoi or Saya win this match and Stardom knows this. That said, I believe that there is a very real chance that Saya Kamitani walks out the victor this time around and earns herself another shot at the Wonder title.
Prediction: Saya Kamitani
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
High-Speed Championship: Starlight Kid (c) vs Koguma
Since joining Oedo Tai, Starlight Kid has had the best run of her Stardom career. She’s earned the High-Speed Championship, in a highly competitive match against Natsupoi, and nearly won the Red Block in this year – 5 Star Grand Prix. Momentum is on her side as she steps into the ring against her former teammate and friend Koguma. Koguma, who came out of retirement on March 3, is trying to take the title from SLK and show her that she was better off in STARS. Koguma has the best chance right now of being the one to dethrone Kid, but I think it is just too soon for that to happen. As I said, Kid is in the midst of the best run of her career so far and she has a lot of potential feuds still to come. Like a continuation of her match against Momo Watanabe or even more matches against Mayu Iwatani. Koguma got the best of Kid in the 5★Star GP, but this one is where I think Kid gets her win back.
Prediction: Starlight Kid
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
SWA Title Match w/Briefcase on the line: Syuri (c) vs Konami
*The briefcase has the contract for a 12.29 World of Stardom title match, which Syuri received for winning the 5★Star GP.*
Konami looks to make her return from illness in a bid to wrest the SWA Championship away from Syuri, who has held that belt for a long time. I love that Stardom is giving her this chance. Konami has been severely under-rated her whole career and deserves to actually rise above the mid-card gatekeeper role she is in. She also defeated Syuri during the 5★Star GP. Then you have Syuri who is on the best run of her career and seems to be the one poised to dethrone Utami Hayashishita for the World of Stardom Title later this year. Given that Stardom has too much to lose if Hayashishita vs Syuri 3 doesn’t happen, I cannot see Konami picking up the victory here. Which, I’m gonna be honest, is a damn shame. If the briefcase wasn’t on the line then I could see Konami picking up the victory, she more than deserves it. Konami’s time will come, unfortunately, it just won’t be here. Syuri either wins after one of the toughest matches of her career, or this match goes to a time limit draw. I’m hoping for the latter.
Prediction: Time Limit Draw
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
Wonder of Stardom Championship: Tam Nakano (c) vs Mina Shirakawa
I have to give Mina some credit here. She stepped up to the plate and challenged Tam, not wanting to be outdone by unit mate Unagi Sayaka, whom Tam had just defeated before the challenge. Mina’s had a really good, if not unlucky, 2021 thus far and she hopes to be the one who finally dethrones Nakano. For her credit, Tam Nakano has been a phenomenal champion. She’s taken on all comers, had an absolutely killer match not long ago against Mayu Iwatani and has even defeated the current Wonder of Stardom Champion Utami Hayashishita during the 5★Star GP. I would love to see Tam be the one to dethrone Utami, but we all know Syuri is likely getting that honor. This match is truly hard to predict, given that I can see each woman earning the victory. That said I also don’t think this match will go to the draw. Tam defeated Unagi clean and I think that she will retain here again. Mina will give her a fight, there is no doubt about that, but Tam is on another level right now.
Prediction: Tam Nakano
Tokyo Super Wars 2021
World of Stardom Championship: Utami Hayashishita (c) vs Maika
Maika is the latest to step up to the plate and try to dethrone the Red Queen, Utami Hayashishita. 2021 hasn’t exactly been the kindest year to Maika, she’s had some injury issues and she didn’t quite perform up to her standard in the GP, but she did earn this match through sweat and hard work. Utami has had an almost legendary run as champion. She’s taken out every challenger, except Syuri, who has stepped up and has gotten more dominant with each defence. With that said, I don’t think she can utterly dominate Maika like she has a lot of her other challengers. Maika can match Utami for strength and speed, pretty much negating the Champion’s advantages. The one area Utami has over Maika is experience, though only by a year. I think this is the match where Maika proves that she belongs in the main event scene and cements herself as a future single’s champion for Stardom. I just don’t see her being the one to dethrone Utami to this day. As I said earlier, Stardom has too much to lose if Hayashishita vs Syuri 3 doesn’t happen for the World of Stardom title in December. That no time-limit grudge match will have a definitive winner after two time-limit draws back to back.
Prediction: Utami Hayashishita