Stardom - Anybody Watching?

[Duke Mongoose]

Just curious if anyone else on here watches Stardom from Japan. I got into it at the beginning of the year and since they've suspended operations I've been working through some of the back catalog. I first looked into them when Kairi was brought into the Mae Young Classic, but beyond some YouTube clips I never really paid much attention. Then when I found out that practically the entire NXT UK women's division had worked over there as well as Io Shirai I again had my interest piqued. Stardom World is only like $8 a month and I think if you're into their style of wrestling it's definitely worth it. I'm a huge fan of creative (and legitimate looking) pinning combinations and bridging suplexes, and Stardom is loaded with them.

[Pirate Emperor Enyu]

How is the navigation? Is it English friendly?

[TeenyNorman]

I’ve heard of Stardom from Pulse on YouTube and seen that most of AEW and NXT’s women’s roster is from stardom

[Duke Mongoose]

May 7, 2020 20:48:46 GMT -5 Pirate Emperor Enyu said:

How is the navigation? Is it English friendly?

There is a drop down at the top of the page that translates it to English. I wouldn't have a clue what anything is otherwise. It's direct translations, so the English is dodgy in some spots, but you'll know what's what.

They also put English subtitles on all the pre-match interviews, and whenever there's any talking in the ring after a match. This is partly a reason why the shows on Stardom World don't get fully uploaded until about a week after they take place. It's my understanding that it's basically one guy doing the subtitles and uploading.

[Duke Mongoose]

May 7, 2020 21:14:44 GMT -5 TeenyNorman said:

I’ve heard of Stardom from Pulse on YouTube and seen that most of AEW and NXT’s women’s roster is from stardom

Pulse's beginner's guide 2019 got me interested enough to check out random Stardom YouTube stuff and then eventually sign up for Stardom World at the beginning of the year.

[Skullgore]

Stardom is probably my biggest wrestling passion now. I’ve been watching since the end of 2016. It is still crazy to me that their two biggest stars (Kairi and Io) left and the product managed to get better. Their roster is absolutely stacked. They are in my Goldilocks Zone as far as having the right balance of serious, heated contests and lighter, comedic matches. I went to the NYC show last year during Mania weekend and it was probably the most enjoyable wrestling show I’ve ever been to. I think joshi puroresu is the last great wrestling style that hasn’t gotten their full due in America yet. I know that is what Kenny Omega is aiming to give a spotlight to, much like WCW gave to Lucha Libre and cruiserweight wrestling in the mid-90s. Kairi and Io are always going to be great, but WWE’s style is too homogenized for them to show their full capabilities. Stardom World is a steal, is easy to navigate with Google Translate, and something I highly recommend any wrestling fan give a shot. The standard disclaimer for Japanese streaming services applies: regardless of when you sign up, you will always be charged on the 1st of the month. If you sign up near the end of a month, you will get charged again on the 1st. Like Bushiroad has done with New Japan during the pandemic applies to Stardom, too; they are currently not running any shows. There is plenty of content in their back catalogue to get acquainted with, though.

[Duke Mongoose]

I get what Kenny Omega is trying to do, and some of the most intriguing women's matches in AEW have involved Riho, Yuka Sakazaki, Emi Sakura, and Hikaru Shida. The problem is when they put these women against the Americans. American women are trained to wrestle like American men, which is better than when they were trained to wrestle like The Fabulous Moolah back in the day, but there's a distinct lack of "realness" to the matches, if that makes sense.

For example, when I watch a WWE or AEW women's match and there's a random cradle, roll up, or pinning combination, I don't expect that to be the finish, and it usually isn't. But when I watch Stardom, because of the presentation and "realness" of the competition, any pin attempt could be the end. Which is logical, because if wrestling is a shoot you'd be trying to win early and often.

EDIT: Also, almost all of their matches have a 15 minute time limit and they end under 10. I've long been an advocate for shorter matches across the board for all wrestling promotions. Why does a WWE or AEW TV match need to go two segments when there are no stakes?

[Duke Mongoose]

May 8, 2020 12:13:04 GMT -5 Skullgore said:

I’ve been watching since the end of 2016. 

Maybe you can answer a question I haven't been able to find anywhere online:

What's up with the ring introductions? I speak no Japanese and only recognize a few words and phrases, but it sounds like the male announcer says something like "the upcoming match between Natsuko Tora and Mayu Iwatani is one fall 15 minutes. First in the red corner Natsuko Tora. In the blue corner, Mayu Iwatani" Then after that they have the formal ring introductions by the female ring announcer.

Is that what's happening? If so, any idea why?

[themadness]

Never watched personally but I hear its the best female centered promotion going today.

[Ashe]

So uh. Just found out about Hana. Shit sucks man

[Pale Rider/Nikolai Ivanov]

Sucks real bad, at 22 as well

[Pierre The Enormous]

I need a Netflix account so I can watch Terrace House

[Duke Mongoose]

WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK? I'm on the edge of tears right now. I hate the internet.

[Pierre The Enormous]

Oh hi thanks for checking in social media's still a piece of garbage

[Ashe]

May 23, 2020 9:33:34 GMT -5 Duke Mongoose said:

WHAT THE ACTUAL F*CK? I'm on the edge of tears right now. I hate the internet.

while I personally never knew anything about her, I know what it’s like. Same response I had when Etika died.