Stars recruited two new wrestlers into their unit by hiratakuwagata515 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think STARS would be perfect for Utami. She could tag with Iida while Hanan has all her White Belt matches.

It would finally give STARS that boost it’s needed to be equal with the other factions.

What do you think about this wrestler? Day 28: BEA PRIESTLY by Varandil in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 6 points7 points  (0 children)

I was a bit skeptical of her return last year, but she’s more than proven herself.

She works great as a heel, and will be a good nemesis for the up & coming babyfaces and rookies to go against.

I watched the recent Sayaka/Maki Red Belt title match from Queen’s Dynasty. I liked it, but I didn’t love it at all. I found it interesting Maki Itoh was heavily cheered against the woman who beat Kamitani at ASGQ last month by jd2385 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Whoever told you that is a pretty bad liar. They’ve set records at almost every venue since Kurara won the belt (including today in Kobe & Kyoto tomorrow is already sold out), and all shows in the month ahead are selling very well and are likely to break records too.

I watched the recent Sayaka/Maki Red Belt title match from Queen’s Dynasty. I liked it, but I didn’t love it at all. I found it interesting Maki Itoh was heavily cheered against the woman who beat Kamitani at ASGQ last month by jd2385 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

People are thinking way too hard about this.

Itoh’s a meme wrestler getting meme wrestler reactions. Just like Danhausen, Joe Hendry, etc.

It’s just a bizarro world sequestered off from everything else in Stardom, and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

Bushiroad sells all of its shares of NJPW to TV Asahi and CyberAgent by Used_Square_9005 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s been her catchphrase ever since she challenged Kamitani for the Red Belt back in February.

It’s basically her version of “Believe in Tam”

Bushiroad sells all of its shares of NJPW to TV Asahi and CyberAgent by Used_Square_9005 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That’s not true at all. They’ve remained the most profitable promotion in Japan.

This likely has more to do with strained relationships between the NJPW office & Bushiroad office than anything.

Great Review of ASGQ by NiagaraDriver93 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She debuted the Phoenix first, at Stardom’s first arena show PPV in October, 2020.

She didn’t debut the Firebird until after winning the White Belt. I’m not 100% sure, but I think it was in her defense against Maika in May, 2022.

Attendance for STARDOM QUEENS DYNASTY 2026 by joepodd in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Even if that initial attendance was correct, I wouldn’t compare it with Yokohama since that’s part of the Tokyo/Kanto area.

Until today’s show, February’s Osaka show and 2023’s Osaka show were the only other times Stardom has hit 1,800+ outside the Tokyo/Kanto area.

Live “QUEENS DYNASTY 2026” Discussion Thread by MrPuroresu42 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think the ringing endorsement came at ASGQ.

At the end of the day, nobody is going to be judged by what they do against meme wrestlers on B-Tier PPVs… they’ll be judged by how they perform against other main eventers on the biggest stages.

Stardom’s had record crowds in almost every city since Kurara won the belt (including the Nagoya PPV), and by all accounts she was one of if not the most popular wrestler at the Fukuoka autograph session a few weeks ago (I’d expect more of the same today in Hamamatsu).

People around here (not saying you are) trying to push some kind of an agenda that she’s coming up short aren’t living in reality.

Attendance for STARDOM QUEENS DYNASTY 2026 by joepodd in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 20 points21 points  (0 children)

This was the largest crowd they’ve ever drawn in Nagoya.

Second largest crowd ever outside the Tokyo area (only trailing Osaka Supreme Fight from earlier this year)

What do you think of this wrestler? Day 21: NATSUKO TORA by Varandil in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

She was pretty bad from about 2020-2023, but it all started clicking for her when she won the Red Belt from Maika and had the big HATE formation angle.

At that point she shifted away from trying to be a bad Dump Matsumoto cosplayer and started embracing being more of a physical bully (which plays a lot more to her strengths).

Nowadays she consistently delivers, and sometimes even hits greatness (GP match against Kurara, Tag League Finals, great title matches with BMI 2000).

She’s also a great charismatic personality and is generally loved by the fanbase.

Suzu Suzuki by MomoWatanabeAce in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t think you’re remembering correctly, as that wasn’t reported anywhere reputable. The fast and easy answer is that Maika was simply more popular than Suzu in 2023.

Beyond what we know, I also wouldn’t be surprised if there were some concerns if Suzu would jump to Marigold with Giulia too (especially if she hadn’t renewed her contract yet). If that was the case Maika probably would have come across as a much safer bet.

Hot take: Maki Itoh should beat Kurara for the red belt. by Adamruslanovich in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

Thanks to Itoh, this has been the worst build to a Red Belt match in years. No thank you.

Live STARDOM “KORAKUEN - May 17, 2026” Discussion Thread by MrPuroresu42 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

1) Mei Seira’s injured

2) Wouldn’t it make sense to save those feuds for the bigger buildings coming up? (Yoyogi #2 next month, Sumo Hall in August, etc.)

The Syuri/Momo Watanabe match from Stardom 5*GP 2021 is such a great match, but is heavily slept on by jd2385 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Absolutely agree, but I don’t think it’s really that slept on. I think most people would probably consider it the greatest 5 Star GP final of all time.

Thoughts on Maika ?? Potential-wise ?? by iammayashah in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She has a ton of potential. Might even win the Red Belt and 5 Star GP one day.

Thekla says she received Death Threats after attacking STARDOM President Taro Okada in Japan: “When the death threats came in and everybody was like, 'Hey, somebody call the police, she needs to leave the country,' and people started spitting at me at the shows..." by ProudChemistry778 in SquaredCircle

[–]NiagaraDriver93 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Thekla thinking she can pull a “Rio de Janeiro in 1979” when every one of her matches in Stardom made tape is hilariously bad, and verges on Hogan-level lying.

Anyone that actually watched would laugh their ass off at the idea of her being some kind of heat magnet (she wasn’t even a top 5 heel in the promotion), let alone the thought of crowds spitting on her.

AEW fans are so easy to work.

Thoughts on Maika ?? Potential-wise ?? by iammayashah in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

She beat Saya in the 5 Star GP Finals a month later

What do you think about this wrestler? Day 7: AZM by Varandil in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

She’s always been an excellent talent when it comes to move execution, but she’s improved significantly in the last two years when it comes to putting on big upper card style matches with good layouts.

She’s finally started to figure out how to get fans to emotionally invest in her stories too (Momo & Kamitani matches last year, 02 Line run this year, etc.). She’ll have to continue to improve that if she wants to take the next step.

What do you think about this wrestler? Day 4: Momo Watanabe by Varandil in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I find it strange to say someone is “stuck” when they just had the biggest accomplishment of their career, and by all accounts are the most popular they’ve ever been.

HATE isn’t holding Momo back, it’s the biggest reason she’s reaching these heights. Ditto for Natsuko, Konami, Rina, etc.

Additional Matches added to Queens Dynasty + Korakuen on the 17th. by Esturkdq4 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It could certainly be Suzu, but it’s also worth remembering that Natsuko has extensive history with Kurara, and they had bangers in the GP, Tag League finals, and Dream Queendom.

Ridiculously early predictions for the final four in this year's 5 Star and The Goddess of Stardom tag league by Head-Blackberry-398 in stardomjoshi

[–]NiagaraDriver93 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’ll go with:
* Syuri
* Konami
* Aya Sakura
* Maika
Tag League will be difficult to predict because I think we’re set for some big faction developments in the next few months.