World Wonder Ring Stardom (Stardom) hosted its annual Cinderella Tournament on Tuesday from Korakuen Hall in front of 538 people. The promotion took precautions before the event by taking the temperature of every fan before they were allowed into the arena, provided masks for everyone in attendance, did not sell merchandise, and canceled post-event meetings. However, with Tokyo seeing increasing outbreaks, the event was a bit risky.
Stardom streamed the preliminary match (dark match in regular circumstances), and the first round matches of the tournament live on YouTube.
The preliminary match of the night saw Natsu Sumire (Odeo Tai) defeat Hina (Queen’s Quest), Itsuki Hoshino (STARS), and Rina (Tokyo Cyber Squad) in a light-hearted affair that played to Natsu’s party gimmick. The match delivered several comedic moments and was used to warm up the crowd for the Cinderella tournament.
Cinderella Tournament matches had a 10-minute time limit besides the finals (30 minutes), and wrestlers could be eliminated by being thrown over the top rope.
Momo Watanabe (Queen’s Quest) defeated Starlight Kid (STARS) in the opening match of the Cinderella Tournament. Starlight stood out for the glaring progress she has made over the past several months of her career, going toe to toe with Watanabe in several high-level chain wrestling exchanges.
The fluidness involved with their work was impressive, especially in a match that went 4 minutes and 54 seconds. The match length wasn’t indicative of the quality of wrestling on display from both athletes. Watanabe’s victory meant she would go on to wrestle the winner of Giulia and Jungle Kyona.
The first round of the Cinderella Tournament can be seen below.
