STARDOM returns to PPV this weekend with STARDOM Sunshine 2023. The first of back-to-back PPV weekends for the company, STARDOM Sunshine 2023, is the penultimate stop before the STARDOM 5STAR Grand Prix 2023 begins in mid-July. While the show this weekend only features two championship matches, it could prove pivotal in changing faction dynamics heading into the Summer’s Hottest Tournament.
STARDOM Sunshine 2023 Full Card:
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- Hanan, Saya Iida and Momo Kohgo (STARS) vs. Aya Sakura, Yuna Mizumori and Waka Tsukiyama
- Passion Injection Match: Nanae Takahashi vs. HANAKO
- Special Singles Match: Syuri vs. Xena
- Goddesses of Stardom Tag Team Championship Match: MIRAI and Ami Sohrei (THE NEW ERAs)(c) vs. Mina Shirakawa and Mariah May (Rose Gold)
- Tam Nakano, Natsupoi and KAIRI vs. Maika, Suzu Suzuki, and Mei Seira
- All Out Warfare Loser Leaves Unit Hardcore Cage Match: Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM, Lady C, Hina and Miyu Amasaki (Queen’s Quest) vs. Natsuko Tora, Saki Kashima, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Ruaka and Rina (Oedo Tai)
- Artist of STARDOM Championship Cage Match: Giulia, Thekla, and Mai Sakurai (Bari-Bari Bombers)(c) vs. Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, and Hazuki (STARS Triple Crazy)
This Sunday, June 25, it’s Stardom in Sunshine LIVE on PPV! 2 big cage matches! 2 big title matches!
4PM JST🇯🇵
3AM Eastern🇺🇸
Midnight Pacific🇺🇸
8AM BST🇬🇧Order now!https://t.co/JtJxpfSjoy pic.twitter.com/Y8cCCN6nOC
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) June 22, 2023
Can Club Venus Rebound at Ami & MIRAI’s Expense?
When Club Venus firmly separated from Cosmic Angels last April, the group was at the top of the world with their leader, Mina Shirakawa, winning the Wonder of Stardom Championship a week later.
However, in recent weeks the group has struggled immensely mere months into existence. With Jessie returning to America in early June and Mina quickly losing her title to Tam Nakano at the end of May, STARDOM’s newest faction is looking to bounce back with some championship gold at STARDOM Sunshine 2023.
That won’t be an easy task, though, as Mina Shirakawa and Mariah May, now known as Rose Gold, will be tasked with defeating THE NEW ERAs on June 25th. While they were able to defeat the championship duo at Korakuen Hall earlier this month, Ami Sourei and MIRAI are known to be nearly undefeatable when the titles are on the line.
Return of the Angel Killer?
In a match that could prove monumental depending on the outcome, The recently-aligned trio of Maika, Suzu Suzuki, and Mei Seira will meet Tam Nakano, Natsupoi, and KAIRI in trios action.
With the recent turmoil that has arisen following ReSTART’s loss of the Artists of Stardom Championships last month, it is unknown what the state of KAIRI’s relationship is with both Natsupoi and Saori Anou. On the other hand, KAIRI has long been frenemies with Tam Nakano, and with the Kozuen leader now holding both the top championships in STARDOM, KAIRI may be on the hunt for one of her old treasures.
On the other side of things, Maika has been on a tear in recent months, having not been pinned nor submitted this entire year. With her recent partnership with Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira elevating Maika even more, this match could put Maika in contention for Nakano’s Red Belt ahead of the 5STAR Grand Prix.
Furthermore, considering the fact that Suzu, Mei, and Maika have become one of the biggest threats to any other trio in the company, an Artists of Stardom Championship opportunity could be awaiting them if they win their match at STARDOM Sunshine 2023.
Utami’s Fallen Queendom
The presumed semi-final of STARDOM Sunshine 2023 will pit Queen’s Quest against Oedo Tai in a hardcore cage match with the faction membership on the line. In the 6v6 bout with cage escape rules, the last remaining member of the losing team inside the cage must leave their faction, and for Queen’s Quest, this match could not come at a worse time.
The Utami Hayashishsita-led faction is currently beltless for the first time since mid-2020, and turmoil is rampant amongst its top members. While the issues began between Saya Kamitani and her AphroditE tag team partner, AZM has recently also questioned Utami’s leadership capabilities in recent weeks. Considering that Oedo Tai is highly proficient in these faction-altering matchups, QQ is at an undeniable disadvantage in this bout.
Can QQ’s top trio resolve their issues for the betterment of the group, or will Natsuko Tora and her soldiers do severe damage to Utami and her Queendom on June 25th?
Art of the Cagematch
The Artists of Stardom Championships will be on the line in the second half of the double main event at STARDOM Sunshine 2023. STARS’ top tier members of Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki, and Koguma, collectively known as Stars Triple Crazy, will challenge DDM’s Bari Bari Bombers for the titles inside of a steel cage.
This will be the second year in a row that STARS competes in a 3v3 cage match, hoping to go back-to-back after winning their bout against QQ on June 26th, 2022. This will also mark merely the second time that this constellation of STARS will challenge for the Artists of Stardom Championships, with their first coming nearly two years ago when they faced MaiHimePoi in a ladder match.
While STARS has an undeniable advantage in special match types, the new champions are unlikely to waver due to the stipulation. While all three women will be competing in their first-ever cage match on June 25th, They enter the cage with the utmost confidence and plan to prey on Mayu Iwatani’s hesitation and unwillingness to compete in another match of this kind.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. If you want to see more from Stardom, you can check out their subscription service Stardom World for all your wonderous Joshi needs.
