Dream Slam Weekly (Vol. 18): Just Tap Out’s Tomoka Inaba Joins God’s Eye at New Blood 4

Stardom has a busy week between New Blood 4, Historic X-Over match announcements, and the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament dates!

August 27, 2022 Karen Peterson Exclusives, NEWS, RECOMMENDED
Photo Courtesy: Stardom

Dream Slam Weekly (Vol. 18): Just Tap Out’s Tomoka Inaba Joins God’s Eye at New Blood 4

Even in Florida, the summer heat waves are starting to give way to cooler evenings… either that or there is a tropical storm rolling in that I am not yet aware of. As August winds down, more and more women’s promotions are beginning to unfurl their plans for the remainder of 2022 as well as preparing their paths to the Year’s End and New Year.

I was floored when NJPW x STARDOM not only released their first three mixed match announcements for the inaugural IWGP Women’s Championship but announced that the first match of qualifying tournament action would take place on night two of Royal Quest 2 at the Crystal Palace Indoor Arena in London, England. I never thought I would be celebrating my one-year anniversary at POST and my coverage of STARDOM, by watching the finals of the Five Star Grand Prix 2022 from my hotel in London. As fate would have it, on Night 2 of Royal Quest, an INTERNATIONAL QUALIFIER with “A BIG International Name” was also announced, so while I may not be able to get into Japan by the holidays for Historic X-Over and likely Wrestle Kingdom 17, I at least get to experience a part of the history-making tournament. 

Talent has yet to be announced for the tournament (see STARDOM below), and it is also uncertain if those already announced for the NJPW mixed tags will be permitted a chance to participate in the qualifying matches. The dream of Stardom going abroad with NJPW is also becoming a reality with the Rumble of 44th Street in NYC at Palladium Times Square (October 28th). You can bet your bottom dollar that I will be there as well because when Stardom had their last show during Mania Week 2019, I missed out due to a double booking. Participants for this show will likely be announced after the conclusion of the Five Star in October.

Special Interview: The Road to NJPW & STARDOM’s Historic X-Over with Kevin Kelly

This past week, New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom had their first match announcements with regard to their first co-branded show on November 20 at Ariake Arena. Along with the formal announcement of the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament, including international talent and the belt design being unveiled via Tokyo Sports, it’s been a busy week in the Bushiroad building. Fresh off his month-long tour in Japan for the G1 Climax 32, I got some face time with NJPW’s lead commentator for some perspective on this event.

The entire interview is close to two hours, but covers many topics aside from Stardom, its sibling relationship with NJPW, the ideal logistics for Historic X-Over, and how the introduction of English consisten English commentary and corporate coverage could significantly boost Stardom’s signal internationally. The time stamp takes you to the Stardom-specific conversation. I would love to hear everyone’s thoughts!

International Excursions & Adventures

This Autumn!

Round-up (alphabetical)

DIANA

Next SHOW (8/28) Post Di Amistad

  • Tag Match (1/20): Kakeru Sekiguchi & Madeline vs. Nanami & Miran
  • 3-Way Match (1/20): Jaguar Yokota vs. Deborah K vs. HIMIKO
  • Singles Match (1/20): Ayako Sato vs. haruka Umesaki
  • Singles Match (1/20: Kyoko Inoue vs. Miyuki Takase

Upcoming Guest Appearances

  • (10/16): Unagi Sayaka (STARDOM)

Dramatic Dream Team (DDT) Pro-Wrestling

DDT/GanbarePro Sangeria (8/21)

  • Tag Match: HARUKAZE & MAO defeated Onryo & YuuRI (11:27)
  • Tag Match: Moeka Haruhi & Yuna Manase defeated Nao Kakuta & Yoshiko Hasegawa (10:34)

Gatoh Move/Choco Pro-Wrestling

  • Choco Pro Live #249 

Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit COLOR’S
Next Big Event: Yes, My Way (Vol. 4) Announced for October 7th! SAKI will defend the COLOR’s Championship in a four way against Yumiko Hotta, Rina Amikura & Momoka Hanazono!

GLEAT 

G-ProWrestling Ver 32 (9/3; Umeda Stella Hall, Osaka)

  • LIDET UWF Rules: Maya Fukuda vs. Michiko Miyagi

202-2023 Schedule

  • 2023! GLEAT ver. 5 Announced! (1/8; Edion Arena, Osaka) 
  • 2023! New Venue! Gorilla Hall Osaka (3/21) 

Ice Ribbon

IR #1223 (8/27) IR Dojo

  • Singles Match (1/15): Yura Suzuki (Alma Libre) vs. Saran
  • Tag Match (1/15): Asahi & Yuko Sakurai (COLOR’S) vs. A~Min (Rina Amikura; COLOR’S) & Kaho Matsushita
  • Singles Match: Dalys (CMLL) vs. Sumika Yanagawa (JTO)
  • Tag Match: Saori Anou & Ibuki Hoshi vs. Stephanie Vaquer (CMLL) & Nao Ishikawa

Next Show (8/28) Ryogoku KFC Hall

  • Mexico Excursion Qualifier Tournament (1/15): Hikari Shizimu (COLOR’S) vs. Kaho Matsushita
  • Mexico Excursion Qualifier Tournament (1/15): Tae Honma vs. Nao Ishikawa
  • Tag Match (1/20): Rina Amikura (COLOR’s) & Sumika Yanagawa (JTO) vs. NATSUMI (Super Hanabi) & Saran
  • Tag Match (1/20): Ram Kaicho (Triple 6) & Maya Yukihi vs. Asahi & Misa Kagura (JTO)
  • Singles Match (1/20): Stephanie Vaquer (CMLL) vs. Ibushi Hoshi
  • 8-Woman Tag Match (1/30): Hamuko Hoshi, Makoto, Cherry & Rina Yamashita vs. Dalys (CMLL), SAKI (COLOR’S), Totoro Satsuki & Yuna Manase
  • ICE x Infinity Championship Match (1/30): Saori Anou © vs. Maika Ozaki

ICE RIBBON 2022 Schedule

  • Full schedule through RibbonMania (December 31, 2022) at link above

Just Tap Out

TakaTaichiDespy Mania Tomoka Inaba & Aoi (JTO) vs. Stardom’s Maika (Donna del Mondo) and MIRAI (God’s Eye) – While MIRAI originated in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling, Maika got her start in Just Tap Out before she was scouted by Giulia as the first member of DDM. MIRAI would leave TJPW and join DDM at the beginning of 2022, only to depart when Syuri struck out on her own after becoming World of Stardom Champion. With the increase of crossover between Stardom and NJPW, it is a logical matchup between JTO and Stardom as JTO’s talent has also been prominently presented on Stardom’s New Blood series, with Inaba even getting a Future of Stardom Championship match against current champion, Hanan.   

Marvelous

Marvelous 2022 Calendar

  • Tochigi (9/4) Oyama City Culture Center, Tochigi Prefecture 
  • Oita (9/11) Nakatsu Sports Center, Oita Prefecture
  • ShinKiba 1st Ring (9/16)
  • Chiba (9/23) TKP Garden City

OZ Academy

Bad Moon Rising (9/11) Shinjuku FACE  

  • Singles Match (1/20): AKINO vs. Ram Kaicho
  • Tag Match (1/30): Aja Kong/Kaori Yoneyama vs. Tsubasa Kuragaki/Momoka Hanazono
  • 8-Woman Tag Match (3/30): Yuu, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Itski Aoki & Rina Amikura vs. OZAKI-GUN (Mayumi Ozaki, Yumi Ohka, Maya Yukihi & Saori Anou)
  • Main Event Tag Team Championship: Hiroyo Matsumoto/Rina Yamashita vs. Sonoko Kato/Ryo Mizunami

OZ Academy 2022 Calendar 

  • Bad Moon Rising Osaka (9/18) 176BOX
  • Battle Big Bonus in Okinawa (10/16)
  • Nagoya Diamond Hall (11/27)
  • Bad Moon Rising Osaka (12/11) 176BOX

PURE-J

Asakusa (9/4) Hana Yashiki

  • Tag Match: Chie Ozora & Rico Kaiji vs. Aiger & Kaori Yoneyama
  • Tag Match: KAZUKI & Momo Tani vs. Leon & Cherry
  • Singles Match: Hanako Nakamori vs. Ryo Mizunami
  • POP Championship: CREA © vs. Yuko Sakurai (COLOR’S)
  • PURE-J Openweight Championship Number One Contender: Rydeen Hagane vs. AKARI

SEAdLINNNG

ShinKiba Night! (8/31) ShinKiba 1st Ring 

  • Tag Match (1/20): Miyuki Takase & Yuu vs. Satsuki Totoro & Nao Ishikawa
  • High Speed Single Match (1/20): Leon vs. Kakeru Sekiguchi
  • 6-Woman Tag (1/20): Ayame Sasamura (2AW), Amazon & Rico Kaiju vs. Kaori Yoneyama, Hanako Nakamori (PURE-J) & Misa Kagura (JTO)
  • Main Event: Tag Match (1/30): ASUKA/Makoto vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto/Itsuki Aoki

SEAdLINNNG 2022 Calendar

  • Shinjuku FACE (9/22)
  • Korakuen Hall (10/19)
  • Yokohama Flash 2022 (11/12) Yokohama Radiant Hall
  • SEAdLINNNG of the Year 2022 (12/28) Korakuen Hall

Sendai Girls

UPDATED Next Event: Summer Heat (9/3) ShinKiba 1st Ring – Full Card 

  • Tag Match (1/15): Manami & Dalys (CMLL) vs. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Stephanie Vaquer (CMLL)
  • Singles Match (1/15): Dash Chisako vs Ayame Sasamura (2AW) 
  • Tag Match (1/20): ASUKA & YUU vs. Mika Iwata & Miyuki Takase
  • Main Event SenJo World Championship (1/30): Chihiro Hashimoto © vs. Ryo Mizunami – The Tenth Champion’s Fifth Title Defense

SenJo 2022 Calendar

  • SenJo (9/14) Miyagino Ward Cultural Center
  • SenJo x Punch Tahara’s 30th Anniversary Show (9/20) Shinjuku FACE
  • SenJo Keep Burning (10/10) Shinjuku FACE
  • Women’s Pro-Wrestling BIG SHOW in Niigata (10/30) Niigata City Gymnasium
  • SenJo Queen of the Ring (11/20) Korakuen Hall 11:30AM

Stardom 

Next 2022 5★GP22: Korakuen Hall (8/27) & Shizuoka (8/28)

5★GP22 Red Stars Block Points

  1. Saki Kashima [4] – Next Matches (8/28) vs. Himeka
  2. Risa Sera [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Himeka
  3. Koguma [6] – Next Match (8/27) vs.Tam Nakano & (8/28) vs. Syuri
  4. Utami Hayashishita [8] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Maika
  5. Himeka [6] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Risa Sera & (8/28) vs. Saki Kashima
  6. Mai Sakurai [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Unagi Sayaka & (8/28) vs. Tam Nakano
  7. Syuri [4] – Next Match (8/128) vs.Koguma
  8. SAKI [4] – Next Match (8/28) vs. AZM
  9. Tam Nakano [2] – Next Match (8/28) vs. Mai Sakurai
  10. Momo Kohgo [0] – Next Match (9/4) vs. Saki Kashima
  11. AZM [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. SAKI
  12. Unagi Sayaka [2] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Mai Sakurai
  13. Maika [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs.Utami Hayashishita & (8/28) vs. AZM

5★GP22 Blue Stars Block Points

  1. Mayu Iwatani [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Mina Shirakawa & (8/28) Ami Sohrei
  2. Hazuki [12] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Hanan & (8/28) vs. Saya Kamitani
  3. Saya Iida [0] – Next Match (8/28) vs. Momo Kohgo
  4. Hanan [0] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Hazuki & (8/28) vs. MIRAI
  5. Saya Kamitani [6] – Next Match (8/28) vs. Hazuki 
  6. Natsupoi [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Suzu Suzuki & (8/28) vs. Giulia
  7. Mina Shirakawa [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Mayu Iwatani 
  8. Giulia [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Starlight Kid & (8/28) vs. Natsupoi
  9. MIRAI [6] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Ami Sohrei & (8/28) vs. Hanan
  10. Ami Sohrei [6] – Next Match (8/27) vs. MIRAI & (8/28) vs. Mayu Iwatani
  11. Momo Watanabe [6] – Next Match (8/28) vs. Saya Iida
  12. Starlight Kid [4] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Giulia
  13. Suzu Suzuki [0] – Next Match (8/27) vs. Natsupoi

New Blood 4 (8/26) Shinagawa Intercity Hall

  • Singles Match: Tomoka Inaba (JTO) defeated Hina (10:50)
  • 3-Way Battle: Ruaka defeated Lady C via Freezer Bomb/pin (7:02) Chie Koishikawa (Gatoh Move)
  • Tag Match: Rina & Ram Kaicho defeated Waka Tsukiyama & Momo Hanazono (15:01) with Rina pinning Waka with Pink Devil
  • Tag Match: Mai Sakura & LINDA defeated Momo Kohgo & Saya Iida (6:37) with MPR
  • Tag Match: MIRAI & Ami Sohrei defeated Haruka Umesaki & Starlight Kid (12:07)
  • Future of Stardom Championship: Hanan defeated Aoi (JTO) (9:25) – Hanan’s 10th successful defense; Ami Sohrei challenges for New Blood 5
  • Supernova Challenge Series 2/5: Tam Nakano defeated Miyu Amasaki (14:00)

Key Takeaways from NB4:

  • AZM Proposes Falls Count Anywhere Match – After Ram Kaicho & Rina defeated Waka Tsukiyama & Momoka, AZM came out searching for opponents for another Falls Count Anywhere Match for the next Stardom in Showcase (9/25)
  • JTO’s Tomoka Inaba joins God’s Eye – After the tag match, MIRAI and Ami were attacked, and naturally, God’s Eye leader & World of Stardom Champion, Syuri, but what surprised many around the Stardom World, was the involvement of JTO’s Tomoka Inaba also coming to the rescue.

5★GP22 Yokohama Budoukan (9/11) Title Matches Added; Results in 9/17 DSW

  • Artists of Stardom Championship: OedoTai (Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe) vs. STARS (Hazuki, Koguma & Hanan)
  • Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Cosmic Angels (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) © vs. God’s Eye (MIRAI & Ami Sohrei)
  • 5★GP22 Red (1/15): Utami Hayashishita [X] vs. AZM [X]
  • 5★GP22 Red (1/15): Himeka [X] vs. SAKI [X]
  • 5★GP22 Red (1/15): Unagi Sayaka [X] vs. Risa Sera [X] 
  • 5★GP22 Blue (1/15): Mayu Iwatani [X] vs. Giulia [X]
  • 5★GP22 Blue (1/15): Saya Kamitani [X] vs. Suzu Suzuki [X]

IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament – First Update!

  • First Round: Royal Quest 2 (10/2) – International Bracket Alpha Female vs. Ava White (RPUK) 
  • First Round: Korakuen Hall (10/22) – Stardom JPN Bracket – X1 vs X2 – see below
  • First Round: Korakuen Hall (10/22) – Stardom JPN Bracket – X3 vs X4 – see below
  • Semi-Finals: Arena Tachikawa (10/23) – International Bracket – Winner Alpha/Ava vs X3 TBA on 8/28 show; Big International Name  
  • Semi-Finals: Arena Tachikawa (10/23) – Stardom JPN Bracket – Winner X1/X2 vs. Winner X3/X4
  • Finals: Ariake Arena (11/20) – Inaugural Champion to be crowned at Historic X-Over 

UPDATED! Royal Quest 2 Night 2 IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament Participants Announced!! Alpha Female vs. Ava White set for qualifying match!

Stardom Participation via drawing straws. Each unit had one person as a representative, and they drew in trios. If someone picked the blank straw, they were not selected to participate. This happened after I had already sent off this week’s installment, so more details will come out later once Stardom releases the details. Final matchups TBA. The finalized participants from each unit will be decided based on their performance in the Five Star Grand Prix. Names listed are the representatives for the lottery only.

  • First Draw: Mayu Iwatani (STARS), Utami Hayashishita (QQ), Giulia (DDM) & Starlight Kid (OET) 
  • Blanks: Syuri (GE)- History repeats itself! & Tam Nakano (CA)

Oh, and a wild Rina Yamashita showed up to save Giulia from an OedoTai beat down! She gave Giulia a fist bump, but the details are vague! Could be something for the Stardom in Showcase, but we’ll have to wait and find out. However, it’s looking like Giulia & Rina Yamashita versus SLK & Momo Watanabe in a Hardcord Match?!

NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over (11/20) – Ariake Arena, Tokyo

  • Mixed Tag Match: Syuri & Tom Lawlor vs. Giulia & Zack Sabre, Jr.
  • Mixed Tag Match: Maika & Hirooki Goto vs. Utami Hayashishita & Hiroshi Tanahashi
  • 8-Person Tag Match: Tam Nakano, Natsupoi, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru vs. Starlight Kid, Momo Watanabe, El Desperado & DOUKI
  • IWGP Women’s Championship: X vs XX 
  • Full Card TBA

Medical Updates

  • Thekla – No updates. However, she’s been posting training photos, looking strong and healthy! 
  • Natsuko Tora – No announced in-ring return yet. It’s  been one year since her World of Stardom match with Utami, in which she hurt her knee. 

September 2022 5★GP22 Schedule – Results in Dream Slam Weekly

  • Kagawa (9/3)
  • Hiroshima (9/4)
  • Yokohama Budokan (9/11)
  • Korakuen Hall (9/12)
  • Osaka (9/17-18)
  • Nagoya (9/19)
  • Korakuen Hall (9/23)
  • Tokyo Bell Salle Hall (9/24-25)

Stardom 2022 Calendar

  • 5★GP22 Special in Yokoyama Budoukan (9/11) – Results in 9/17 Dream Slam Weekly
  • TAKATACHIDESPEMANIA (9/12) – Maika/MIRAI vs Aoi/Tomoka Inaba – Yoyogi National Gym
  • Stardom in Showcase 2 (9/25) – Tokyo Belle Salle Hall; Results in 10/1 Dream Slam Weekly
  • Five Star Grand Prix 2022 Finals (10/1) – Musashino Forest Sports Center
  • Hiroshima Goddess Festival (11/3) – Hiroshima Sun Plaza
  • Stardom Gold Rush 2022 (11/19) – Osaka Edion Arena
  • STARDOM x NJPW (11/20) – Ariake Arena

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW)

Go Girl 4 Exclusive Female Fans Only Show (8/28) Korakuen Hall

  • Tag Match: Nao Kakuta & Mahiro Kiryu vs. Moka Miyamoto & Juria Nagano
  • Tag Match: Suzume & Arisu Endo vs. Pom Harajuku & Neko Haruna
  • Singles Match: Hyper Misao vs. Raku
  • Singles Match: Maki Itoh vs. Yuki Aino
  • Singles Match: Saki Akai vs. Hikari Noa
  • Singles Match: Yuki Arai vs. Yuki Kamifuku
  • 6-Woman Tag Match: Shoko Nakajima, Rika Tatsumi & Miu Watanabe  & Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki & Miyu Yamashita

TJPW 2022 Calendar

WAVE

Upcoming Shows

  • PHASE 2 Reboot 3rd NAMI 1 SEP ‘22 (9/1) Shinjuku FACE
  • WAVE 15th Anniversary: CARNIVAL WAVE WEST (9/18) Osaka 176BOX
  • SAPPORO WAVE NAMARA 8 (10/9)
  • ASAHIKAWA WAVE (10/10)
  • KARIYA WAVE vol. 2 (10/30)
  • TBA WAVE 11/6 Korakuen Hall
  • TBA WAVE 11/12 Osaka 176BOX

YMZ Gokigenna Wrestling!

Results: Gokigenna Kawasaki 23 (8/26) Post di Amistad, Kawasaki

  • Tag Match: Kaori Yoneyama & Yuna Mizumori defeated Makoto & Matsuzawa-san (10:35)
  • Singles Match: Daiki Shimomura vs. Shigehiro Irie (10:00) – Time Limit Draw 
  • Tag Match: Ayako Sato & Hikaru Sato defeated Kengo Mashimo & Yuu by DQ (13:52)

YMZ 2022 Calendar

  • YMZ Autumn Festival 2022 (9/28) ShinKiba 1st Ring

Announced Event: Tsubasa Fiesta! Tsubasa Kuragaki’s 25th Anniversary Show will be held at ShinKiba 1st Ring on November 13th (Sunday).

Meanwhile in the USA

WWE

  • Mandy Rose vs. Meiko Satomura vs. Blair Davenport in a NXT Women’s Championship Unification Match (link)

Match Selection

This week, I just wanted a fun match, and as someone newer to TJPW, I missed Mina Shirakawa’s time with the company in its entirety. With the Five Star moving along, I’m still cheering for Shirakawa, but I also wanted to take a few minutes to check out some of her earlier work to see how she’s progressed.

 

Promotion: TJPW 

Event: Winter High Score

Date: 1/26/2019

Result: Mizuki defeated Mina Shirakawa (8:24)

Venue: Itabashi Green Hall

Commentary: N/A

About Karen Peterson 108 Articles
Occasionally drops by wrestling podcasts, but remains rather elusive. Joined the Japanese wrestling fan scene in summer 2017, and continues to work on bridging the language gap between fans. Outside of wrestling, she’s a dog mom, perpetual Japanese learner, and when conditions permit, world traveler. Never skips dessert.
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