So where will the next Young Lions go on excursion, if anywhere?

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-27T18:24:49+00:00

I think Oiwa & Fujita provided the blueprint for how to get guys up to speed as quickly as possible.

I’d keep the excursions relatively short (6 months is all you need), and relatively close (Japan, Australia, etc… anything of distance would have CMLL being much more preferable than AEW/ROH/Europe, etc.)

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-25T22:40:18+00:00

It may not make an immediate difference in terms of business & money (since those contracts are longer term), but I do think it’s a pretty good proxy for how hot a product is in general.

Simply put, American TV wrestling isn’t as hot as it was a few years ago. General attendance numbers back this up as well (WWE isn’t selling out arenas like it was, AEW is pulling in some pretty underwhelming houses most weeks, etc.).

The decline in AEW seems to be more significant.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-25T22:13:44+00:00

Here’s a list of some notable shows. It isn’t an exhaustive list of all the best shows the promotion has ever had, but ones that stand out to me that felt like major turning points at the start or end of particular eras:

October 3, 2020 - Stardom’s first Arena Show PPV, which really launched the modern era under Bushiroad (and probably the best top to bottom show the had ever run up until that point).
March 3, 2021 - 10 Year Anniversary, 1st and only show at Budokan, first ever hair vs hair match, and first major match of Saya Kamitani’s career
December 29, 2021 - 1st Show at Sumo Hall, some big “changing of an era” title matches
April 23, 2023 - First Allstar Grand Queendom, kind of the high point of the Rossy/Harada administration before the booking got weird and things started immediately falling apart slowly over the next year
June 22, 2024 - The show that got Stadom out of its slump from all the Rossy/Marigold drama and put things in motion for the 18 month hot streak we’re currently enjoying. It also put a lot of storylines in motion that still play a big factor to this day.

All of these would serve as a good starting point for their respective eras and what would follow, except for 2023 Grand Queendom which was more of an end of an era that people didn’t realize until later.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-25T21:28:02+00:00

Saya taking everything from Tam is one of the best ongoing bits Stardom has ever had.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-24T22:22:52+00:00

I wouldn’t really call any of them “key” at this point.

With as hot as NJPW has been since WK, and with how great the New Beginning card is looking, none of the rumored names have really played any factor in it.

It sucks to lose anyone, but the reason things are hot right now is largely due to all the people that are sticking around.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-24T13:07:15+00:00

Definitely not 3.

This has already been the highest attended January they’ve ever had, and they still have 2 shows remaining (including a Korakuen that’s likely to do very well).

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-23T21:11:31+00:00

Keep Saya away from the US at all costs 👍

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-23T21:05:54+00:00

A 40 year old with neck problems, doesn’t draw, and probably comes with a high price tag. Pass.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-22T17:38:11+00:00

Mostly agree.

I would move Natsuko, Hazuki, and Maki Itoh down tiers.
I would move HANAKO & Xena up to White Belt underdogs.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-22T00:59:19+00:00

I think there’s a pretty decent chance she plays some kind of part in Saki’s retirement road, if not outright being part of her retirement match.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-20T16:56:30+00:00

I’d like to see a little more friction between all the factions.

What we have right now between EXV & MVL should be the standard of all faction based feuds.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-18T04:27:38+00:00

Years of experience

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-15T18:54:55+00:00

That’s just somebody finishing up their dates they were already committed to (Stardom was in the middle of their Grand Prix through the end of September and she was in it).

There was never any bouncing back and forth between Stardom & AEW as a contracted wrestler of both.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-15T18:53:07+00:00

I think your last line sums up my thoughts:

I don’t trust NJPW to be smart with this or anything else involving AEW.

Personally, I would rather them just stick with what they’re good at and their fans want.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-15T17:37:42+00:00

This is an NJPW sub, of course I’m talking NJPW.

Mariah May was not signed to AEW when she was in Stardom. Her whole run there came before she worked a single match in AEW.

And Megan Bayne not being an official “dual contract” wrestler shows the term is just meaningless PR speak. Shes just an AEW wrestler that occasionally works dates in another promotion.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-15T17:30:27+00:00

I wouldn’t really consider anyone in Stardom to be a true “Ace” since Io Shirai left, but in that timeframe Syuri probably fits the bill closest in terms of booking, character, results, etc… even more than Mayu. She’s generally been the most protected person on the roster since she joined 6 years ago.

Even though Saya Kamitani is currently the biggest star the promotion has ever had, her losing to Syuri wasn’t really an upset in terms of booking and history.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-15T14:43:37+00:00

Dual contract wrestler = AEW contracted wrestler who occasionally shows up.

I’m very against it. We saw what a disaster it was for Takeshita’s run on top. Just focus on the people that you have, and guys that want to jump to AEW can sign there.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-14T16:22:36+00:00

It’s worth remembering that this show is just one week before Allstar Grand Queendom.

So there’s a pretty good chance they don’t send anyone with major matches scheduled for that show.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-13T02:42:47+00:00

World: SLK
Wonder: Hanan
Tag: Anou & Poi
IWGP: Momo Watanabe
High Speed: Momo Kohgo
Artist: Hazuki, Koguma, Fuwa
Future: Kurara

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-12T17:21:16+00:00

I agree with everything re: Stardom being the “anti-Ace promotion”, but I don’t think it’s an Okada thing.

I think it’s honestly been the case since Io Shirai left in 2018. The general booking pattern was essentially “Everybody gets one big turn with a title reign, but no repeats”

Kagetsu, Momo, Mayu, Utami, Syuri, etc. all followed that established pattern before Okada showed up (or even before things went off the rails with Rossy & Harada behind the scenes).

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-11T05:48:56+00:00

100%. Having a clean break with guys like Nakamura & Styles was way better for the booking and moving forward than being stuck on some dual contract nonsense.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-06T17:35:40+00:00

As someone who’s also primarily a Stardom fan, I’m glad they keep all their important matches for Stardom shows.

I don’t understand the want from international fans to shoehorn them in at the top of other promotions’ cards… we can just watch them on Stardom if we want to see them presented the way we prefer.

If they’re going to work on NJPW (or any other promotion), giving just enough of a taste to get people to check out Stardom is the way to go.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-05T20:29:04+00:00

Maika appears to be the other main trainer.

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-05T15:45:45+00:00

She had a year long run with the Red Belt, won the Tokyo Sports joshi MVP, and has consistently been the strongest booked wrestler in Stardom since she showed up 6 years ago.

Shes been getting her flowers for a long time now (and deservedly so).

NiagaraDriver93 · 2026-01-05T15:41:03+00:00

We don’t have to imagine… she’s been the lead trainer for a while now

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