wrestling / TV Reports
Pantoja’s STARDOM The Conversion Review
Image Credit: STARDOM
Loading...STARDOM The Conversion
June 20th, 2026 | Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Tokyo, Japan | Attendance: 2,844
Alright, with the 5STAR Grand Prix and G1 Climax (and I might re-up on Marigold for their tournament) on the horizon, I think I’m back in on wrestling. My ordering of this PPV and my likely purchase of Forbidden Door should cement that.
Matoi Hamabe vs. Yuna Mizumori
I believe these are pre-show matches though it’s hard to tell with how the presentation is for this early on. This was pretty standard stuff in that it was a simple match that felt like an exhibition. Matoi was there to show fire and continue to grow, while Yuna led things with her high speed style, even if the title wasn’t on the line. They kept it short and sweet. Matoi got a couple of close calls on flash pins before Yuna used a cradle to best her after 5:47. Inoffensive. [**]
Ema Maishima vs. Mei Seira
There’s some intrigue here as Ema is the newest member of Neo Genesis, so this is kind of like a test against a stablemate. This felt like a High Speed Title match as Mei’s signature style was all over this and Ema more than did enough to keep up with her. That was the crux of the entire match as they almost never let up, going hard to bell to bell. It was interesting that the first person to slow the pace was Mei, grounding Ema with a submission. The veteran wisely slowed things down and it worked in her favor. There was a small German Suplex/rollup exchange here that was very good. I came into this fully expecting a win for Mei, yet they got me to bite on near falls for Ema. The finish was anti-climactic as Mei hit a regular looking dropkick and got a three count, though Ema seemed to get her shoulder up in time. Even with that, this 9:10 match was a blast. [***½]
Anne Kanaya vs. Aya Sakura
We’re onto the main card now. Aya Sakura is in an interesting place as she’s tag partners with the World of Stardom Champion, so she can’t really compete in tag matches because Sayaka is busy. Like the previous two bouts, this was an exhibition of sorts with no animosity or anything like that going on. It got Aya a spot on the card and gave another chance for Anne to strut her stuff, as she has been quite good recently. They went out and had a good back and forth match that was kind of perfect as an opener. The crowd was into it and they never did too much to overshadow what comes later. Aya got the expected victory with a German Suplex in 7:19. Like I said, a good way to officially start the show. [***]
Akira Kurogane and Itsuki Aoki vs. Kiyoka Kotatsu and Ranna Yagami vs. Koguma and Maika
A Maika/Koguma pairing is different. This was kind of what you’d expect, as it’s a classic STARDOM multi-woman tag where fun is to be had. Koguma’s taunt gimmick played a big part early on and even the Mi Vida Loca girls were game to have a good time. Most of this match was basic wrestling and goofy personality antics. It didn’t overstay its welcome and was entertaining enough, though there wasn’t much to write about. Ranna continued her string of momentum by getting the win after hitting Akira with a series of kicks in 5:31. I can do with one of these per PPV. They’re decent fun. [**]
Artist of Stardom Championship: Ami Sohrei, Hina and Lady C [c] vs. Kikyo Furusawa, Maki Itoh and Rian
Maki Itoh is STUPID over. I’ve also been enjoying this run by the champs as they complement each other so well. This started with some solid back and forth as the teams were seemingly feeling each other out. Nobody gained a clear upper hand. Ami and Lady C gave their team the power advantage so the challengers responded by using their wits to find smaller openings. They also had the crowd behind them because, again, Maki is ridiculously over. They eventually got to that point of six woman tags where people are coming in and out at a rapid pace and there’s just a ton of action. It’s a formula that works for a reason. Rian, who I’ve often found quite bland, has started to sort of find herself in this trio. She came close to winning a couple of times and I believed it. The best came when it looked like Hina had it won with a Jackhammer, only for Rian to immediately turn the pin into one of her own. So well done. Soon after, Hina beat her with a Frog Splash in 16:02, capping a match that far exceeded my expectations. I’m so glad the Artist of Stardom Title is back to giving us good matches. [***¾]
STARDOM President Taro Okada spoke at ringside when AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla popped up behind him. She attacked and attempted to shave his head. She cut a short promo and went back to attacking him for firing her. Thekla attempted to spit on the STARDOM logo on the mat but Taro jumped over it to protect it. Thekla took off her belt and whipped him with it until Starlight Kid made the save. She sent Thekla packing and posed with the AEW Title.
Alright, it’s time for our 5STAR Grand Prix field reveal. The competitors are as follows.
Red Stars-A: Maika, Sayaka Kurara, Rina, Tomoka Inaba, Itsuki Aoki, AZM, and Natsuko Tora.
Red Stars-B: Konami, Saya Iida, Lady C, Azusa Inaba, Mei Seira, Rina Yamashita, Maki Itoh, and Utami Hayashishita.
Blue Stars-A: Aya Sakura, HANAKO, Rian, Hina, Miyu Amasaki, Ruaka, Bea Priestley, and Suzu Suzuki.
Blue Stars-B: Starlight Kid, Hanan, Yuna Mizumori, Koguma, Ami Sohrei, Saya Kamitani, and Momo Watanabe.
I’m guessing the two open spots in Red Stars-A and Blue Stars-B will be determined later. It’s also EXTREMELY clear that Blue Stars-A is the weakest block. In fact, that’s the weakest block I think I’ve ever seen in STARDOM. Also, the lack of Natsupoi, Syuri, Hazuki, and Saori Anou is deeply troubling, especially given the state of that Blue Stars-A block. I know some are going on excursion but I’d rather they be here to make this a great tournament.
Azusa Inaba, BMI2000 and Fukigen Death vs. Fuwa-chan, Hazuki, Natsupoi and Saori Anou
No members of this babyface quartet in the tournament feels like a swing and a miss. As much as I love that team, this HATE squad on the other side is far from my favorite. Fuwa-chan played the face in peril for the early portions of this. She took a beating from everyone and that worked because she’s a good babyface who can play the underdog well. I appreciate that the eventual hot tag went to Hazuki because I always want to watch her wrestle, especially after the show she put on a few days prior on Dynamite. From there, we got more of an even tag with people coming in and out and the action keeping up throughout, though there’s only so much you can do with BMI2000 and Fukigen Death. Speaking of Fukigen Death, she ate the pin on La Magistral from Poi in 8:19. About as good as you can get with some of the wrestlers involved. [***]
HANAKO vs. Xena
This is an unexpected singles match to have on a PPV. Nothing on the line and neither is exactly a big star. That said, I’m intrigued by it because HANAKO has gotten better and Xena has impressed in recent months. They played into their strengths here, having something of a hoss fight and I do appreciate those. HANAKO worked as the bigger wrestler, which made sense given her size but it also allowed Xena to showcase more of the speed game we’ve seen from her. Her chops were far less effective and loud against HANAKO than they were against Rian in Korakuen. HANAKO wore Xena down with her signature submission but Xena made it to the ropes. In the end, Xena escaped HANAKO’s grasp and used a tight pinning combination to score the victory at the 10:18 mark. A good match and nothing more. [***]
Post-match, Xena announced that she’s leaving Japan and her final STARDOM match will be on 7/8 in Korakuen. Curious to have her beat someone who is about to be in the GP on her way out.
02line, Starlight Kid and Utami Hayashishita vs. Bea Priestley, Konami, Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani
This is a big match since it gives us Utami and Saya facing off. The graphics ahead of Utami’s entrance showed her facing off with Saya Kamitani. That has been a focal point since Utami showed back up in STARDOM. It’s also Momo’s return. Saya and Utami teased starting against each other but Saya backed out to mess with Utami, who followed suit. Instead, we got the typical HATE stuff to start a match, though it’s a stronger combination of workers from that stable and high quality opponents, so it worked here. Once it got back to the ring, everyone got a chance to get in on the action, keeping up a great pace throughout. We got some Starlight Kid/Saya Kamitani, which is something I always enjoy. I thought Miyu looked great in there against Konami. When we finally got Saya/Utami, it was damn good but quite short. Clearly they’re saving stuff for later. They played into the finish as a pair of miscommunication moments between Saya and Momo led to Momo hitting her with a bat. Utami took advantage and delivered Crusade to pin her in 15:18. Pinning Saya is a big moment. This was a really good match that had a bunch of action and furthered the Momo/Saya story alongside Saya/Utami. [***¾]
Tension between Momo and Saya continued after the bell.
IWGP Women’s Championship: Syuri [c] vs. Rina Yamashita
Yamashita is someone I haven’t seen much of in singles action. They went right after each other from the opening bell with intense grappling. They mixed in some strikes and kicks and it was clear that their styles mesh well. I believe they’ve had bouts in the past. The early portions felt like a true struggle and that is so my shit. Yamashita was the first to gain a clear upper hand and even when Syuri seemed to start a rally, Yamashita caught her with a powerbomb on the floor. Still, Syuri did rally and it led to something of a pendulum swinging match where the momentum kept shifting. Syuri slowed the pace with a knee bar before the two just started trading shots in the middle of the ring, daring the other to hit them harder. They kept up that kind of fight the rest of the way as this came across like a true war where both the title and their pride were on the line. Eventually, a nasty kick to the head set up a Stretch Muffler for the finish in 21:18. Awesome match, though the finish was odd as that’s kind of Starlight Kid’s finisher. Still, this ruled and was the best work I’ve seen from Yamashita. [****¼]
After the match, Natsupoi came out and issued a challenge for the IWGP Women’s Title. It looks like the match will happen on 7/18, which doesn’t bode well for their chances of being in the Grand Prix. Poi/Syuri should be sick, though.
Wonder of Stardom Championship: Hanan [c] vs. Saya Iida
These two are former partners in wing*gori, which was quietly one of the best tag teams of the past few years. Right off the bat, their knowledge of each other was clear. It was some good back and forth action, with neither gaining true control and playing into their past. The stuff they did was quite good, yet this never felt like it truly got into third gear. Even when they got past the niceties and started hitting each other with forearms, it just lacked something. Maybe it’s because both are still friendly babyfaces. Again, this was good stuff, with crisp, evenly matched wrestling that saw both play to their strengths, it was just missing something to grab me emotionally, which is what you need to make something great. Saya had a few close calls late but I never really bit on them and then Hanan retained with a pinning combination at the 19:36 mark. Good, yet never sniffed greatness. [***¼]
World of Stardom Championship: Sayaka Kurara [c] vs. Suzu Suzuki
It’s the second title defense for Sayaka Kurara. She wants to prove that her win over Saya Kamitani wasn’t a fluke, while Suzu is out to claim the title that has eluded her over the years after several attempts to win it. Right off the bat, it felt like Suzu was a shark smelling blood. It’s like she knew that Sayaka was vulnerable given her lack of experience and she pounced. She hit a piledriver on the apron early, though that’s a spot I’ve never liked because it looks extremely clear that the person taking move is taking no damage. The same thing happened when AEW did it with Will Ospreay. The fight spilled outside where Suzu held serve, as brawling is her forte. Suzu was in control for a while, though she started getting too cocky and it opened the door for Sayaka’s hope spots. Her comebacks included a dive outside and a rear naked choke to wear down the challenger. It’s the kind of stuff that served Sayaka well against Saya Kamitani but this time she’s not fighting for Tam and doesn’t have any kind of psychological edge. That allowed Suzu to withstand her comeback and batter her with stuff like an avalanche German Suplex. Suzu got a near fall on a Tequila Shot that I bit on. After that, Sayaka took wild swings but her heartfelt comeback wasn’t to be on this night. Suzu won the title after a few German Suplexes in 21:32. You’ll see matches that are filled with more action, yet this told a story that I was completely hooked on. They executed it perfectly and the end result was a surprising but very well earned title win. [****½]
