This is a part of my blog series covering the events in STARDOM (Japanese women's pro-wrestling organization)

STARDOM WEBSITE

STARDOM YOUTUBE

CONTENTS

• CINDERELLA TOURNAMENT 2025
  • Rules
  • Schedule
  • Participants
  • Opening Day Match Card (MARCH 8)
• MARCH 3 KORAKUEN RESULTS
• MARCH 4 PRESS CONFERENCE
  • STARLIGHT KID VS KONAMI
  • SAYA KAMITANI VS TAM NAKANO
• OUTSIDE STARDOM
  • ALL ELITE WRESTLING (AEW)
  • SENDAI GIRLS (SENJO)
  • WAVE
  • LUCHA FIESTA
  • OZ ACADEMY
  • BARB'S CRAZY FEST
  • SAREEE-ISM
  • STRONG STYLE PRO-WRESTLING (SSPW)

CINDERELLA TOURNAMENT 2025

The Cinderella Tournament is a single-elimination tourney where the winner comes out in a dress and is granted a "wish" (commonly title shots). This year, 16 wrestlers are involved mostly consisting of either younger or least experienced talent.

Rules

• 1st and 2nd round matches have a 15 minute time limit
• Semi-final and final matches don't have a time limit
• Normal rules with an additional option for over the top rope elimination
• Winner advances to the next while the defeated get eliminated from the tournament
• A draw eliminates both participants

Schedule

• 1st round matches = March 8 | 4PM JST (LIVE PPV/ SamuraiTV /delayed release on Stardom World)
• 2nd round matches = March 9 | 2PM JST (LIVE on Stardom World)
• Semi-final and final = March 15 | 4:30PM JST (LIVE PPV / SamuraiTV / delayed release on Stardom World)

Participants

• Sayaka Kurara (COSMIC ANGELS) = 2nd appearance
• Ruaka (H.A.T.E.) = 5th appearance
• Akira Kurogane = DEBUT
• Ranna Yagami (God's Eye) = 2nd appearance
• Aya Sakura (COSMIC ANGELS) = DEBUT
• HANAKO (E neXus V) = 2nd appearance
• Azusa Inaba (H.A.T.E./JTO) = DEBUT
• Rian (E neXus V) = DEBUT
• Hanan (STARS) = 5th appearance (2024 winner)
• Tomoka Inaba (God's Eye/JTO) = 2nd appearance
• Miyu Amasaki (NEO GENESIS) = 3rd appearance
• Lady C (God's Eye) = 4th appearance
• Rina (H.A.T.E.) = 4th appearance
• Yuria Hime = DEBUT
• Hina (God's Eye) = 3rd appearance
• Tabata (CMLL) = DEBUT

Opening Day Match Card (MARCH 8)

• Cinderella Tournament 1st Round Matches
  • Sayaka Kurara (COSMIC ANGELS) vs. Ruaka (H.A.T.E.)
  • Ranna Yagami (God's Eye) vs. Akira Kurogane
  • HANAKO (E neXus V) vs. Aya Sakura (COSMIC ANGELS)
  • Rian (E neXus V) vs. Azusa Inaba (H.A.T.E./JTO)
  • Lady C (God's Eye) vs. Miyu Amasaki (NEO GENESIS)
  • Yuria Hime vs. Rina (H.A.T.E.)
  • Hina (God's Eye) vs. Tabata (CMLL)
  • Hanan (STARS) vs. Tomoka Inaba (God's Eye/JTO)
• 5 Way Battle
  • Lluvia (CMLL) vs. Mei Seira (NEO GENESIS) vs. Koguma (STARS) vs. Waka Tsukiyama (E neXus V) vs. Fukigen Death (H.A.T.E.)
• 3 Way Tag Battle
  • Saya Iida & Hazuki (STARS) vs. Saori Anou & Yuna Mizumori (COSMIC ANGELS) vs. AZM & Suzu Suzuki (NEO GENESIS)
• Tag Match
  • Mayu Iwatani & Momo Kohgo (STARS) vs. Syuri & Saki Kashima (God's Eye)
• Tag Match
  • Maika & Mina Shirakawa (E neXus V) vs. Natsuko Tora & Thekla (H.A.T.E.)
• Special Tag Match
  • Tam Nakano (COSMIC ANGELS/Freelance) & Starlight Kid (NEO GENESIS) vs. Saya Kamitani & Konami (H.A.T.E.)

MARCH 3 KORAKUEN RESULTS

• Tag Match
  • Aya Sakura & Akira Kurogane defeats HANAKO & Yuria Hime
• 6 Person Tag Match
  • Suzu Suzuki (NEO GENESIS), Lluvia, Tabata (CMLL) defeats Hazuki, Koguma, Momo Kohgo (STARS)
• 8 Person Tag Match
  • Konami, Ruaka, Rina, Azusa Inaba (H.A.T.E.) defeats Natsupoi, Saori Anou, Yuna Mizumori, Sayaka Kurara (COSMIC ANGELS)
  • Natsupoi seemed to have been limping before the match started. Afterwards, H.A.T.E. completely targeted her leg by locking it into a chair and hitting it. She is now out of action for the time being.
• 6 Person Tag Match
  • Syuri, Saki Kashima, Hina (God's Eye) defeats Mayu Iwatani, Hanan, Saya Iida (STARS)
  • Saki Kashima flash pinned Hanan, ending the match at 35 seconds. Syuri & Saki Kashima could be the next challengers for wing☆gori.
• 6 Person Tag Match
  • Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Thekla (H.A.T.E.) defeats Maika, Waka Tsukiyama, Rian (E neXus V)
  • H.A.T.E. attacks E neXus V after the match. Mina Shirakawa returns and attempts to save her faction mates.
• High Speed Title Match
  • Mei Seira (NEO GENESIS) defeats Fukigen Death (H.A.T.E.) to retain = V5
    • 1st Fall = Mei Seira
    • 2nd Fall = Fukigen Death
    • 3rd Fall = Mei Seira
• Artist Of Stardom Title Match
  • Starlight Kid, AZM, Miyu Amasaki (NEO GENESIS) defeated Lady C, Tomoka Inaba, Ranna Yagami (God's Eye) to retain = V1
• Loser Leaves STARDOM Match
  • Saya Kamitani (H.A.T.E.) defeated Tam Nakano (COSMIC ANGELS)
  • Kamitani gives Tam one more chance to fight her. Tam proposed to put her career on the line and Kamitani did the same. They will now have a World Of Stardom title career vs career match for All Star Grand Queendom on April 27. Tam is now a freelancer.

MARCH 4 PRESS CONFERENCE

STARLIGHT KID VS KONAMI

The Wonder Of Stardom title match between Starlight Kid and Konami has been confirmed for the last day of the Cinderella Tournament on March 15.

Konami has been taking SLK into memory lane recently. Telling stories from their rookie days about having to get their own cold spray in the drug store, rushing to spray her with it when she loses, and training together in the dojo. She even brought some tea and a piece of bread that SLK really liked from the bakery.

However, SLK's memories show a different light. She remembered a traumatic incident from June 9th of 2018, where Konami kicked her right on the face.

Calling her a psychopath who is just playing with her head. Bashing Konami by bringing up her limited success in singles competition, not having won a title despite both starting at the same year. Konami then started spraying her with party spray cans while congratulating her for being a champion.

Also telling her to be careful this time, so her nose doesn't break off. SLK tried to retaliate with her right, but got boiled tea on it instead. Walking out unclean from a press conference for the 2nd time in a row as champion.

This will be their third singles encounter. An opportunity for Konami to finally win with her 5th shot and Starlight Kid to get her 1st win on her.

SAYA KAMITANI VS TAM NAKANO

The aftermath of the loser leaves STARDOM has concluded into a World Of Stardom title match where the loser has to retire in ALL STAR GRAND QUEENDOM on April 27. No one will be allowed at ring side to assist Tam nor Saya. For the time being leading into this match, Tam (who is now a freelancer) will still be taking part in STARDOM shows with a few exceptions until ASGQ (from my understanding of Okada's statements).

Tam was speaking emotionally about these turn of events and apologized to the fans whom have been saddened. STARDOM was her livelihood. Now that it has been taken away from her, she has decided to put her existence as a pro-wrestler on the line to fight one more time and rise back up. Intending to do what it takes to sign another STARDOM contract if she survives.

Lots of people were wondering why Saya also decided to put her career on the line along with the red belt. Since Tam put hers on the line as she gave her one "last chance", as someone who has devoted their life to this industry, it was fair for her to do so as well. She also thought that the "loser leaves STARDOM" match wasn't enough to the job. Aiming to send Tam further down into levels where she could never recover from and continue her mission to spread pro-wrestling in her own evil way.

The last time a match of this type occurred in Japanese women's pro-wrestling was back in 1979 in a WWWA World title bout between Jackie Sato and Maki Ueda of the very popular Beauty Pair. The predecessors to the Crush Gals (Lioness Asuka & Chigusa Nagayo).

As Tam said, one will fall down to the depths of hell, while the other reaches heaven.

OUTSIDE STARDOM

Most of this has been copy-pasted from the previous blog with a few updates.

ALL ELITE WRESTLING (AEW)

Momo Watanabe is scheduled to face against Mercedes Mone in AEW's Revolution PPV on March 9 for the TBS Championship.

Last time they 1 on 1 was back in August for the NJPW Strong Women's title during Capital Collision. Since then, Momo Watanabe has won the International Women's Cup during Wrestle Dynasty while Mone has been on a roll as a dominant multi-crown champion.

Momo made an appearance during AEW Grand Slam Australia sitting in the front row as Mone fought Harley Cameron. Also scouting ROH Women's World Champion Athena whom she pinned in Wrestle Dynasty.

Days later on Dynamite, Momo sent her official challenge at Revolution to "stop the Mone train". Mone insisted that she should show up next Wednesday and say it to her face.

And she did.

Even sent a message thru Billie Starkz later on Collision.

But before Momo fights Mone, she will first go against Serena Deeb on tomorrow.

The Revolution PPV can be purchased via Triller TV. A bundle for Revolution and the upcoming Dynasty event is also available for purchase.

SENDAI GIRLS (SENJO)

Hai High Mate (Maika and HANAKO) have challenged the SENDAI GIRLS Tag Team champions Red Energy (Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase) for March 19th's "The Top Of Joshi Wrestling" which will be streamed live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE (6:30 PM JST).

Both appeared on screen with a pre-taped video calling them out and stated that since they have beaten 200Kg (Chihiro Hashimoto & Yuu) recently, so they are qualified to challenge for the belts.

Maika & Natsupoi recently teamed up to take on Chihiro Hashimoto & Manami on March 1st. Hashimoto went to STARDOM's show in Sendai on Feb 22 to challenge Hai High Mate for a match right as Maika was talking about winning in SENJO and even giving the best of luck to Aya Sakura who will be facing Chi Chi once again for their Junior title.

However, HANAKO was not available for March 1st because of the title match in New Blood 19. As a result, Natsupoi voluntarily stepped in as Maika's partner. Poi herself has fought Hashimoto in both SENDAI GIRLS and STARDOM before already.

The VOD for March 1 can be viewed in WRESTLE UNIVERSE.

WAVE

Saya Kamitani made her 2nd defense of the Regina di Wave title against Yumi Ohka on March 2nd. Ohka was the first person to ever hold the title back in 2013.

Shin Sakura Hirota came out as Meiko Satomura and attempted to be the next challenger. GAMI already decided on POP Wrestling Champion Honoka for Kamitani's next defense for April 1 before her 2nd anniversary since her debut.

She will then face Shin Sakura Hirota next on April 5.

Mei Seira teamed up with Star Fox partner Kohaku in a WAVE Tag Team title match against champions Yuki Miyazaki & Yuko Sakurai.

The full VOD has been released on Confetti as a 7-day rental PPV and will be available for purchase until April 23. The Regina di Wave and tag team title matches should be up on STARDOM World in a few weeks.

LUCHA FIESTA

Mei Seira will be participating in a tag match for Lucha Fiesta #3 on March 1. She will be teaming up with Tabata (CMLL) against Chanyota (P.P.P. TOKYO) & Saran. The full VOD for this show can be viewed in WRESTLE UNIVERSE. The Mei match itself may possibly get a STARDOM World release in the future.

OZ ACADEMY

On February 9, FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) made their 1st successful defense of the OZ Academy Tag Team championship against AKINO & Kohaku.

Their next title defense is scheduled for OZ Academy's Shinjuku FACE show on March 9 against Momoka Hanazono & Itsuki Aoki who will go by the team name "OWC (Osaka Double Comedy)".

Stay tuned on their official website for the PPV link.

BARB'S CRAZY FEST

On March 10, referee Barb Sasaki will hold his own wrestling produce show commemorating his 25th anniversary as a referee called "CRAZY FEST". The show will be available as a PPV on NJPW WORLD for $22 USD (3500 JP yen).

Suzu Suzuki will face Rina Yamashita in a "no Disqualification TLC (Tables, ladders, and chairs)" match.

STARS and NEO GENESIS are also set to clash in a "bring your weapon falls anywhere" trios tag match.

Wrestlers from NJPW (New Japan Pro Wrestling), BJW (Big Japan Pro Wrestling), DDT, 666, FREEDOMS, DOVE, BASARA, 2AW, GLEAT, etc will also be involved in the rest of the card. More info can be seen on their official Twitter page.

SAREEE-ISM

Syuri will face Sareee in the main event of Sareee-ISM Chapter VII. This match is currently treated as a possible #1 contendership for Mayu Iwatani's IWGP Women's title based on the comments made in the press conference.

As a replacement for Natsupoi, Saori Anou will take her place in the singles match against Miku Kanae.

The PPV will be streamed live on Sareee's website and will be available as an archived VOD for a limited time. The ticket costs 4000 yen. Later re-broadcasts on Samurai TV will be done starting on March 18.

STRONG STYLE PRO-WRESTLING (SSPW)

On March 13, Starlight Kid will be teaming up with Jaguar Yokota against Tiger Queen & Nagisa Nozaki. I'm assuming a digest of the whole show will be released on the Tamagawa channel the day after. You can find more about this show via this article.