Stardom Sunshine 2023 (6.25.2023) Review
A PPV that ended with one of the most beautiful stories in modern wrestling.
This weekend was an eventful one for wrestling as both AEW and Stardom put on excellent PPVs for June. This is my fourth Stardom PPV as I have previously watched All-Star Grand Queendom, Stardom Fukuoka Goddess Legend, and Stardom Flashing Champion. In this review, I’ll try to explain some elements and backgrounds of the wrestlers without giving away too much. I finally decided to write about one so let’s get into it.
Pre-Show Matches. Match #1 STARS (Momo Kohgo & Wing Gori (Hanan & Saya lida) vs Waka Tsukiyama, Yuna Mizumori & Sakura Aya
The opening match of the pre-show was a typical Stardom six-woman tag. It was filled with some comedic moments, fast-paced action, and creative tag team maneuvers. Momo, Hanan, and Saya are part of Stardom Icons, Mayu Iwatani’s faction, STARS while Waka, Yuna, and Sakura form a mixed group tag. This match helps showcase the fun, light-hearted side of Stardom.
Match Rating: 2/5
Match #2: Hanako vs Nanae Takahashi
This was the second pre-show match of the PPV, featuring a clash between the young up-and-comer Hanako and the veteran Nanae Takahashi. With less than a year of in-ring experience, Hanako needs all the matches she can get to help her grow. While this match may not have stood out, it provided valuable experience for Hanako. She managed to execute a good amount of offense, but Nanae maintained control throughout the match. Hanako still needs to work on her speed, smoothness, and decisiveness, but these skills will develop with more matches under her belt. Ultimately, Nanae secured victory by submitting Hanako with a crossface.
Match Rating: 2.25/5
Main Card
Match #1: Syuri vs Xena
The first match on the main card featured Syuri, a staple of Stardom and the leader of the faction God’s Eye, facing off against Xena, a member of the newly established faction Club Venus. Xena and many of the faction’s members are known as Gaijin (foreigner(s)), which boasts a plethora of international talent. This matchup served as a significant test for Xena, considering that Syuri is regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world.
The match provided an opportunity to showcase Xena, who had mainly competed in multi-women tag matches with Club Venus until this point. Xena’s performance was impressive, demonstrating her power, and strength, and displaying sharp, crisp offense alongside her in-ring charisma. Meanwhile, Syuri remained as tough as ever, drawing upon her background in MMA, which was evident in her vicious kicks, strikes, and submission moves.
Both competitors had their fair share of offense during the eight minutes of the match. The defining aspect of this match was Syuri’s focus on attacking Xena’s leg, employing multiple submission attempts. These strategic efforts paid off when Xena was ultimately forced to tap out, succumbing to a stretch muffler submission hold. Match didn’t have a ton of time or stakes which limited the ceiling of it.
Overall, it was a solid opening match that effectively set the tone for the rest of the event.
Rating 3/5
Match #2: Meltear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) + KAIRI Vs Maika, Suzu Suzuki, & Mei Seira
The second match was a multi-women tag featuring the pirate princess KAIRI who has aligned herself with the tag team of Meltear comprised of the World of Stardom champion (also known as the red belt) Tam Nakano and her tag team partner and Natsupoi. In Stardom, factions often form tag teams or trios, and Meltear was one such example. Tam Nakano is the leader of the Cosmic Angels and Natsupoi is a member of the faction but when they are in tag matches they go by the name Meltear.
On the other side, a mixed women’s team comprising Maika (a member of Donna Del Mondo), Suzu Suzuki, and Mei Seira had recently formed an alliance. Consequently, they were not strangers to the tag team environment. This match effectively showcased the strengths and personal styles of each participant, making them all look strong. Maika and Suzu Suzuki especially have had a good year in Stardom in 2023.
This match had everything you wanted out of one of these multi-women tag matches. It featured big highlight spots, chaotic moments, comedic elements, tag team maneuvers, and hard-hitting strikes, all of which are staples of Stardom’s style. The conclusion of the match unfolded in a sequence where Natsupoi pinned Mei with a straight-jacket German suplex after the two remained as the last competitors in the ring.
Maika was the MVP of the match to me. She delivered a memorable moment when she executed a double Samoan drop on both Tam and Natsupoi simultaneously, showcasing her incredible power. While these multi-women matches usually have a certain type of structure that can limit them, this particular match is my current favorite from Stardom this year.
Rating: 3.25/5
Match #3 Rose Gold (Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May) Vs The New Eras (Mirai & Ami Sourei) © for the Goddess of Stardom Tag Team Championship
Club Venus faction leader Mina Shirakawa and her faction member Mariah May formed a tag team called Rose Gold with the goal of challenging The New Eras for their championship. The match kicked off with Mirai and Mina in the ring. They engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of holds and transitions until Mina gained the upper hand over Mirai. Soon, both tag teams showcased their coordination with impressive tag team maneuvers.
Throughout the majority of the match, Mina remained the legal woman, but when Mariah entered the ring, she brought fiery energy. Mariah’s offense was smooth, crisp, and driven. The match effectively highlights her improvements, abilities, and natural charisma. Her moments in that match seemingly garnered the most fan support.
While the champions, Mirai and Ami, had their moments, they were unable to maintain complete control over Mina or Mariah as they executed their game plan. The tide turned after a series of impactful high spots when Ami found herself caught in a figure-four submission held by Mina. Mirai attempted to rescue her partner but was held at bay by Mariah, who also applied for a submission hold on Mirai. After enduring the submission for about three minutes, Ami was considerably weakened.
The match would continue with some good back-and-forth offense, highlights, and false finishes from both teams. Neither Ami nor Mirai could gain control as Rose Gold isolated Ami as the legal woman in the match. Mina hits her finisher on Ami for the win. A good match that went about 16 mins. A big moment for Club Venus as they captured their first tag team championship and Mariah May captured her first championship in Stardom. That helps boost the rating of this match for me.
Rating: 3.5/5
Match #4: Baribari Bombers (Giulia, Thekla, & Mai Sakurai) © vs STARS (Mayu Iwatani & FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) In a 6-woman tag team steel cage match for the Artist of Stardom Championship
This was the semi-main event and another championship match, featuring the Artist of Stardom Championship, a trios championship held by Donna Del Mondo, led by Giulia, and STARS, led by Stardom icon Mayu Iwatani. This match was unique and new for me because of the introduction of a steel cage in a six-woman tag format, something I had never seen before. In this match type, the only way to secure victory appeared to be through the escape of all women from their respective teams, rather than by pinfall or submission.
The match began with Mayu Iwatani immediately attempting to flee the confines of the steel cage, seemingly wanting nothing to do with the steel cage. While it provided a lighthearted moment, I’m uncertain if it would resonate with everyone, considering the seriousness and tone of a championship match. The first storytelling moment unfolded when Thekla and Giulia were faced with a decision: to save Mai or escape the cage, leaving her behind in a three-on-one situation. Demonstrating loyalty and remarkable leadership, Giulia and Thekla refused to abandon their fellow faction member, despite Giulia’s initial struggle with the decision.
The match then continued with some fun choreographed maneuvers and highlight moments. Both teams displayed impressive teamwork, showcasing a plethora of creative tag team maneuvers. Thekla became the first person to escape the cage, utilizing her remarkable athleticism and flexibility to maintain balance as she threw Hazuki down with a suplex and climbed to freedom. This left Giulia and Mai at a disadvantage of three-on-two. They held their own until Hazuki executed a senton off the top of the cage onto Giulia. Hazuki became the second person to successfully escape. After wrestling for a few more minutes, Giulia made another escape attempt, only to be stopped by Hazuki, who loudly popped a balloon near her ear, causing her to fall back into the ring. Eventually, Giulia locked both Mayu and Koguma in a submission hold, allowing Mai to seize the opportunity and escape. Giulia valiantly fought both opponents until a double-team maneuver and a top-rope moonsault from Mayu left her down, paving the way for Koguma to make her escape from the cage.
Finally, it boiled down to Mayu versus Giulia, leader versus leader. Their one-on-one clash injected drama and unpredictability, as nobody knew who would make the next successful escape. After exchanging their signature offense, Giulia gained the upper hand with a Glorious Driver on Mayu. Giulia then attempted another escape, only to be met by Mayu at the top of the cage. Once again, Giulia emerged victorious, delivering a kick that sent Mayu off the cage and back into the ring, before finally securing her own escape for the victory. The champions retained their titles.
Overall, it was an enjoyable match, although at times it leaned a bit too heavily on comedy for my taste considering the steel cage structure. One of its strongest aspects was the effective storytelling, particularly concerning the personal relationship between Giulia and her faction members, highlighting her unwavering commitment to Mai, refusing to leave her to fight alone against three opponents.
Rating: 3.25/5
Main Event: Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita, AZM, Saya Kamitani, Lady C, Hina, Miyu Amasaki) vs Odeo Tai (Natsuko Tora, Saki Kashima, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Ruaka, & Rina) in a Loser Leaves Unit Steel Cage Match.
This is the main event of Stardom Sunshine 2023, a ten-woman steel cage match featuring two of the oldest and most significant factions in Stardom. To fully grasp the significance of why I love this match, a brief explanation is needed, as it has been months of storytelling in the making. Utami Hayashishita, the leader of Queen’s Quest, has been spiraling out of control. Over the past few months, she has lashed out at her faction members, particularly Saya Kamitani, fighting her own tag team partners, and even walking out and not celebrating with them after matches. Queen’s Quest has also lost all of its championships as both Saya and AZM respectively have lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship and the High-Speed Championship in the past two months. Utami’s behavior has eroded the trust and confidence her faction once had in her leadership. Recognizing an opportunity, Natsuko Tora, the leader of the villainous unit Odeo Tai, challenged Queen’s Quest to this match, hoping to further fracture the faction.
This match shares some similarities with the semi-main event but adopts a more serious tone and incorporates weapons such as ladders and tables. At times, the match becomes vicious, with Odeo Tai utilizing everything at their disposal. It begins with all ten women engaging in a fierce battle, providing each participant with a chance to showcase their offense and execute tag team maneuvers. The first highlight moment occurs when Ruaka drives Lady C through a table with a big splash from the top rope. Rina from Odeo Tai becomes the first person to escape the cage, followed closely by Hina from Queen’s Quest, eliminating the two youngest members from their respective factions.
The eternal rivals, Starlight Kid and AZM demonstrate the fast-paced offense of the Stardom High-Speed division as they go head-to-head for a minute. Their brief exchange ends with AZM striking Starlight Kid in the face with a briefcase, only for Starlight Kid to retaliate with a dropkick using a steel chair. Utami then comes to AZM’s aid, assisting her in climbing to the top of the cage in an attempt to help her escape. This ultimately fails as Starlight Kid thwarts their plan, setting the stage for Utami’s storyline within the match. Lady C delivers a thunderous chokeslam, followed by AZM delivering a double foot stomp from the top of the cage onto Starlight Kid, creating a highlight moment. AZM takes advantage of the chaos and swiftly escapes. Utami continues her beautiful storytelling by then deciding to help Miyu escape by directing Lady C and Saya to hold members of Odeo Tai in submission holds while Miyu makes her way to freedom. With Queen’s Quest now in a four-on-three situation, they face brutal punishment from Momo and Natsuko, who mercilessly punish them with bats. Utami falls victim to a spine buster on a chair delivered by both Momo and Natsuko. Momo subsequently escapes, leaving Starlight Kid to strike Lady C with a steel chair before awkwardly executing a moonsault from the top of the cage (not her best moment) and escaping herself. The match now stands at three-on-three.
Ruaka introduces a ladder into the match, but it backfires when Natsuko misses a cannonball in the corner and crashes into the ladder spine-first. The ladder’s inclusion leads to several impactful spots, mostly led by Queen’s Quest. Utami once again demonstrates her leadership skills, assisting Lady C in her escape by acting as a human step stool, which made a heartfelt moment. Saya engages in a fierce battle with Ruaka in the middle of the cage, but Ruaka gains the upper hand. Utami attempts to save Saya but accidentally strikes her with a briefcase, a symbolic reminder of the problems and miscommunications that have plagued their partnership for months, resulting in countless losses. Saki tries to escape the cage, but AZM sprays her with a fire extinguisher from the outside, causing her to fall back in. Utami capitalizes on the opportunity by executing a top-rope Air Raid Crash on Saki. While everyone else remains incapacitated, Ruaka successfully escapes from the cage, leaving only the final two members of each team.
After battling against Natsuko, Utami instructs Saya to escape and employs a ladder to assist her in climbing out of the cage. Enraged, Natsuko engages in a brutal showdown with Utami in the middle of the cage, with Saki still incapacitated. Their fight escalates when both try to escape the cage, resulting in Natsuko striking Utami in the head with a bat. Utami plummets from the cage back into the ring, blood streaming from her head — an uncommon sight in Stardom but one that intensifies the stakes of the match and the situation. Utami engages in a fierce clash with Saki, overpowering her and executing her finisher, the Torture Rack Bomb. Bloodied and bruised, Utami makes another attempt to escape the cage, with Momo and Saya meeting her at the top. Momo attempts to persuade Saya to betray Utami by striking her with a bat but Saya makes the ultimate choice to save Utami, opting to hit Momo instead. In a beautiful moment, Saya grabs Utami’s hand and assists her in descending the cage, securing a victory for Queen’s Quest.
This was a five-star storytelling wrestling match, as Utami repaired months of lost trust in a single night, playing a vital role in her faction members’ escapes from the cage. The match also showcased the contrasting leadership styles between Utami and Natsuko, as Natsuko abandoned Saki to face Utami one-on-one, while Utami selflessly sacrificed herself multiple times to ensure her members could escape. The post-match promo evoked tears from me as Utami apologized to her Queen’s Quest members, with a particularly heartfelt moment between Utami and Saya. Saya expressed her love and respect for Utami, and the entire Queen’s Quest faction embraced in a touching display of unity. It was a beautiful match befitting one of the best stories in modern wrestling and stands as my match of the year.
Rating: 5/5
Overall this was a short but good PPV for Stardom. It was led by the Main Event’s beautiful storytelling which boosted the entire PPV. Even if the whole PPV wasn’t great matches one phenomenal match plus that match being the main event can elevate the whole PPV. This was one of the better PPVs this year.
PPV rating: 8/10. Good, Memorable PPV.
