Maika vs Konami<\/h3>\n
This match may be the toughest one to predict.\u00a0 Maika shocked everyone last year when she fought Utami Hayashishita to a draw in the cinderella tournament, but she has also shown that she can choke out anyone at any time during the 5STAR Grand Prix.\u00a0 Konami similarly is someone that can catch you in a submission at any point which makes her dangerous, although she generally tends to perform well in this tournament.\u00a0 We have a feeling this one goes to a draw or Konami wins, but Maika winning would not shock us at all.<\/p>\n With the departure of Bea Priestley, Oedo Tai is once again in need of rebuilding themselves as Priestley was far and away their strongest booked member.\u00a0 Faction leader Tora would be the best option of the bunch to make into a threat so pairing her off with Unagi Sayaka, who is a sympathetic and beatable babyface, seems to be setting Tora up for a big performance in this tournament.\u00a0 Expect Tora to win to kick off her push to the top.<\/p>\n In a match that is sure to feature some high-speed action, we give the edge in this match to Saki Kashima.\u00a0 Kashima has been on a roll with her Revival finisher earning her win after win recently and AZM is likely to be added to the list of Kashima’s victims.<\/p>\n One of the more unpredictable matches of the first round sees Momo Watanabe take on Starlight Kid.\u00a0 This match is a prime spot for an upset as Starlight Kid could easily eliminate Watanabe via over-the-top-rope elimination.\u00a0 Kid’s athleticism makes her the kind of wrestler that the Cinderella Tournament was made for as she can upset anyone at any time with the top rope elimination rule in play.<\/p>\n Mayu Iwatani may be primed for a first-round exit in the Cinderella Tournament.\u00a0 Death is a performer that can use her flash pinfalls to pin basically anyone in Stardom and this seems like a prime way to knock Iwatani out as she isn’t a contender to win the tournament given she and STARS are too busy with Oedo Tai to make use of the usual cinderella wish.<\/p>\n Giulia takes on Oedo Tai’s teenage recruit in the first round.\u00a0 Giulia goes into this one as the obvious favorite given she won the tournament in 2020 and is coming into this tournament off the back of a Goddess Of Stardom title win<\/a>.\u00a0 However, Ruaka has Oedo Tai on her side and Oedo Tai has become adept at cheating in recent times, including helping Ruaka win the Stardom Rumble.\u00a0 Ruaka eliminating Giulia over the top rope thanks to help from Oedo Tai is a result that wouldn’t shock us although it’s more likely Giulia wins here.<\/p>\n World champion Utami Hayashishita should have no problems putting away Mina Shirakawa in this one.\u00a0 Hayashishita may not win this tournament but her exit should serve some purpose and an exit at the hands of Shirakawa isn’t likely to lead anywhere in the future given Shirakawa’s lower placement on the card.<\/p>\n This match can go one of two ways.\u00a0 Saya Kamitani is a dark horse contender to win this tournament, if she defeats Nakano it’s hard to see Kamitani not winning the whole tournament and using her wish to challenge for the Wonder Of Stardom Championship.\u00a0 The other viable option is this match goes to a draw, eliminating both women and leading to Nakano defending against Kamitani.\u00a0 Based on recent interactions between these two its clear they’re on a collision path and this match may be the way to spark that confrontation to life.<\/p>\n Syuri is our favorite to win this tournament so it seems likely that she will defeat Natsupoi and move on.\u00a0 The chance of Poi pulling off a shock is there of course as she is the High Speed Champion and she has pulled some wins out of the bag in the past.\u00a0 But, Syuri is on the hunt for the World Of Stardom Championship and a tournament win is the clearest path for her to get that title shot.<\/p>\n Currently, the tournament favorite has to be Syuri.\u00a0 Syuri challenged Utami Hayashishita at Yokohama Dream Cinderella, to which Hayashishita responded by telling Syuri to win this tournament if she wants her shot.<\/p>\n Syuri’s Donna Del Mondo teammate Himeka is a dark horse option to win.\u00a0 Himeka has been booked strong in tournaments in the past and didn’t take the pin when she and Maika lost the titles at Yokohama.\u00a0 Himeka and Utami Hayashishita have been paired off in tag matches recently and could wrestle on the May 14th Korakuen Hall show to leave Syuri vs Utami available for Ota Ward.<\/p>\n The other viable dark horse that we could see winning is Saya Kamitani.\u00a0 Ever since her world title match with Utami Hayashishita Stardom has protected Kamitani, giving her this tournament win to kick off a feud with Tam Nakano over the Wonder Of Stardom Championship would be a great way to give her a big win and thrust her into a defining feud with the woman who trained her as part of the Stardom Idols project.<\/p>\n Stay tuned to the\u00a0Last Word on Pro Wrestling<\/a>\u00a0for 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 wanna see more from Stardom, you can check out their subscription service\u00a0Stardom World<\/a>\u00a0for all your wondrous Joshi needs.<\/em><\/p>\n![\"Maika](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/ztJ0Y86.jpg\" "\\"source:")
<\/a><\/p>\nUnagi Sayaka vs Natsuko Tora<\/h3>\n
Saki Kashima vs AZM<\/h2>\n
Momo Watanabe vs Starlight Kid<\/h3>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/mSAyHwa.jpg\" "\\"source:")
<\/a><\/h3>\nMayu Iwatani vs Fukigen Death<\/h3>\n
Giulia vs Ruaka<\/h3>\n
Utami Hayashishita vs Mina Shirakawa<\/h3>\n
![\"Cinderella](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/70H2yfZ.jpg\" "\\"source:")
<\/a><\/p>\nTam Nakano vs Saya Kamitani<\/h3>\n
Syuri vs Natsupoi<\/h3>\n
![\"Syuri](\"https:\/\/i.imgur.com\/r96Z1ND.jpg\" "\\"source:")
<\/a><\/p>\nWho’s Winning The Tournament?<\/h2>\n