The Five Star Radar is the Five Star Network’s weekly series highlighting the best matches from all of pro wrestling throughout the week. This week’s edition looks at AEW, Marvelous, STARDOM, and TJPW!
Nanae Takahashi & Yuu vs. Natsuko Tora & Ruaka – STARDOM (3/10/23, PUBLISHED: 3/12/23)
7Upp and the Five Star Radar have become a perfect fit. That remains this week as their latest defense against BMI2000 was a brilliant highlight for the Korakuen Hall show of STARDOM last Friday. After being published on Sunday, it was a lock to make the list with the performance of Ruaka being the main reason for its placement on the list.
There are few tag teams in the world of professional wrestling operating on the level that 7Upp has over the past five months. Their triumphant Goddess Tag League run was magnificent, their victory over meltear at STARDOM Dream Queendom was one of the best matches meltear has had to date, and their championship defenses since then, coupled with a strong showing alongside Yuna Mizumori in the Triangle Derby have helped prove to the world that Yuu and Nanae Takahashi two of the best wrestlers in the world today.
This status as top tier performers makes 7Upp having a stellar match against BMI2000 inside Korakuen Hall relatively unsurprising. However, I do think that many were surprised to walk away with the opinion that Ruaka was the one who stole the show.
Ruaka, one of the youngest members of the STARDOM roster, has often been (wrongfully) considered the weakest member of the all-woman promotion in recent years, with many questioning her upward trajectory and overall potential in comparison to her generational rival Hanan. In fact, when Ruaka and Natsuko Tora laid out the challenge to 7Upp last month, plenty of fans were quick to write the match off, something I would deem a fool’s errand, especially with the power of hindsight.
In a match where Yuu was not even at the peak of her abilities, Ruaka delivered a performance fitting of a top-tier professional wrestler, excelling with incredible physicality and stellar character work. Ruaka was capable of showing off the height of her abilities, and it put her firmly on the same level as her older, more experienced opponents. While everyone obviously had their own positive contribution to the match, 7Upp vs. BMI2000 was a true coming-out party for Oedo Tai’s
KappaMonster; If you didn’t know, now you know. – Dylan Murray (@XXIchiban)
WHERE TO WATCH: Stardom World
Mio Momono vs. Chihiro Hashimoto – Marvelous (3/14/23)
The Five Star Radar was made for Mio Momono. Okay, maybe it was made for all the great wrestling throughout the world but we can’t deny that Momono deserves every bit of this spot when she gets her time to shine. The match against Chihiro Hashimoto this past week was the best of Momono’s run since returning from injury.
It channeled the beauty of their feud heading into GAEAISM and picked up where they left off. Many believe Momono getting a win over Takumi Iroha is where the story should be leading but her finally beating Hashimoto wouldn’t be all too bad either. A great match between two of the best on the Joshi independent scene.
David meets Goliath, except Goliath is an agile powerhouse with olympic-level mat wrestling skills while David is a speedster doused in pink and ready to fight for his life.
The match largely unfolded how you’d expect with Hashimoto doling out a beating and looking pretty untouchable for large parts of the match.
But, Mio Momono was not about to let the show be stolen by someone else. Her performance in the latter half of this match was nothing short of exceptional, I, in my chair, thousands of miles away from the action itself, was brought to life seeing Mio headbutt her monstrous opposition before trying to pound Hashimoto into the dirt with everything she had. That moment sparked the match into top gear as Mio was no longer just a passive member of the match, but instead a fighter.
To close out we had an excellent stretch where Mio visibly fought for her life to avoid getting hit with the same German Suplex that has bested her every time she’s taken on Hashimoto. There was so much energy and desperation in Momono’s attempts to avoid defeat that it was tough not to root for her to avoid defeat time and again. Ultimately, Momono couldn’t hang on any longer and succumbed to a German Suplex, but not before making sure the Joshi world was put on notice that THE Mio Momono is back. – Alex Richards (@LWOSPWAlexR)
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Rey Fenix – AEW (3/17/23)
The first title defense for Powerhouse Hobbs as TNT Champion was a huge success as his match with Rey Fenix on Rampage this past Friday gave us a great glimpse into what Hobbs can do as the champion. Mixing the powerhouse work of Hobbs with the high-flying lucha style of Fenix made it an excellent clash.
Hobbs’ TNT title reign is off to a flying start after an awesome first defense against Rey Fenix. Despite being a former Tag Team and Trios champion, Rey was largely completely manhandled in this, dominated by Hobbs’ powerhouse offense and his new nerve-hold submission. There were a couple of nice creative Spinebuster counters in this too! Fenix got just the right amount of offense in and put forward a fantastic babyface performance.
If the matches continue like this, Hobbs’ TNT reign will be a hoot! – Amy Hay (@amyhay___)
Yuka Sakazaki vs. Mizuki – TJPW (3/18/23)
The Grand Princess ’23 main event saw Mizuki finally become Princess of Princess Champion by defeating Yuka Sakazaki. As you’d imagine, the Magical Sugar Rabbits colliding was as emotional as you’d expect with Sakazaki having to realize she needed to bring it to Mizuki if she wanted to keep her title. Even when she did, however, it was too late as the determination of Mizuki would be the force that would win in the end.
Another great match for Tokyo Joshi Pro and all their fans.
The latest installment in TJPW’s most engaging fairy tale, this hard-hitting and emotional match between tag team partners is a fantastic experience from start to finish. Sakazaki’s love for her partner conflicting with her pride as a champion and Mizuki’s desperate desire to prove herself are portrayed with such emotional rawness that it’s difficult not to tear up a little at points.
That excellent story is supported by some of the most brutal moves seen in recent wrestling as the two women try to tear each other apart by any means available to them.
For anyone who enjoys emotional matches, this one is an absolute must. – Kay (@KaysQuest)
WHERE TO WATCH: WRESTLE UNIVERSE
Just Off The Radar: Honorable Mentions
- Miku Aono vs. Kouki – Actwres girl’Z (3/12/23)
- Nominated by Alex Richards
- Naruki Doi vs. Rising Hayato – AJPW (3/14/23)
- Nominated by Sondre Bjorn
- Kento Miyahara vs. Yoshiki Inamura – AJPW (3/14/23)
- Nominated by Sondre Bjorn
- Shota Umino vs. Zack Sabre Jr. – NJPW (3/19/23)
- Nominated by Scott Edwards
- Miu Watanabe vs. Rika Tatsumi – TJPW (3/18/23)
- Nominated by Sondre Bjorn
- Kzy & Big Boss Shimizu vs. Masaaki Mochizuki & Mochizuki Jr. – DRAGONGATE (3/18/23)
- Nominated by Amy Hay
Check out last week’s Five Star Radar here.
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