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OCT.13.2022

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Karen Peterson’s Historic X-Column: The History of STARS & Cosmic Angels

Get a primer to STARDOM before Historic X-Over with a new column series

As we approach Historic X-Over on November 20 in Ariake Coliseum, Karen Peterson will be providing a fortnightly introduction to the world of STARDOM, its factions, and its history. In this debut column, a look at a history of crossovers before the Ariake Pay Per View was announced. 

Watch Historic X-Over LIVE IN ENGLISH on NJPW World pay per view November 20!

Previously, we discussed the brief, yet blossoming partnership between New Japan and STARDOM, and the journey so far toward Historic X-Over on November 20th at Ariake Arena. This week, let’s start with a little background on two of the six primary factions with STARS and COSMIC ANGELS.

STARS (est. 2018)

STARS (left to right): Hazuki, Mayu Iwatani, Saya Iida, Hanan, Koguma and Momo Kohgo

 In recent years,  STARDOM’s core fan favourite group STARS has been in flux, but at the center is the one constant: Mayu Iwatani, STARDOM’s Icon. One of the STARDOM originals, Iwatani’s career has grown entirely within the company, from a humble debut on the first STARDOM event to main card appearances at Madison Square Garden and the Tokyo Dome. After several big departures in 2020, including Saki Kashima defecting to Oedo Tai, Saya Kamitani joining Queen’s Quest, and Tam striking out on her own, STARS’ Saya Iida and Hanan would be the only two remaining members in early 2020, before Iida would be sidelined with a knee-injury in April. 

 Yet the following year would see a revival. At STARDOM’s tenth anniversary show, Hina Matsuri All-Star Cinderella, Koguma made a cameo appearance in the Cinderella Rumble. She had retired in spring 2015, but returned full-time in May 2021, coming to the aid of STARS in their battle against Oedo Tai. Then, during the 2021 Five Star Grand Prix, Hazuki appeared and declared her intention to return to the company after eighteen months away. Her biggest impetus for returning was STARDOM’s focus on outside talent since her retirement, and her desire to bring the spotlight back to the talent born and bred in the STARDOM Dojo. Hazuki’s return match would be a Reunion of Destiny against her dojo class mate and fellow returning prodigal daughter, Koguma. In autumn 2021, the pair would win the Goddesses Tag League as Fukuoka Double Crazy and go on to have two reigns as Goddesses Tag Champions.

 While Hazuki, Koguma and Mayu are all young veterans of STARDOM, Hanan, the older sister of a family of teenage wrestling prodigies, shows the future is just as bright as the present for STARS. At just seventeen, Hanan defeated her forever rival in Oedo Tai’s Ruaka at STARDOM Dream Queendom to become the Future of Stardom Champion. Currently the longest running Future Champion with ten successful defenses she even ended her Five Star GP debut this year with a signature win over teammate Iida!

 

In January 2022, Momo Kohgo announced her arrival in STARDOM, but it would be several weeks before she appealed to Iwatani, Koguma and Hazuki to join STARS. While STARS typically consists of STARDOM originals, the group accepted Kohgo with Iwatani tasking Hazuki as “The Peach Star’s” trainer. Then, after nearly eleven months, Saya Iida returned at New Blood 1 after knee surgery to tag with Hanan.

 

Iwatani, Koguma and Hazuki and Queen’s Quest members AZM, Utami Hayashishita, and Saya Kamitani would make history together in June 2022 by participating in one of the company’s first ever cage matches, highlighted by Koguma’s death defying leap to the outside in victory. With their full complement healthy and back in action, they’re quickly reminding the world what STARDOM is all about.

 

Cosmic Angels (est. 2020)

Teamwork makes the STARDOM Dream Work! COSMIC ANGELS x COLOR’S

Front Row (left to right): Hikari Shimizu, Tam Nakano, & Waka Tsukiyama
Back Row (left to right): Yuko Sakurai, SAKI, Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka

Formed in 2020, Cosmic Angels is a relatively new group, but with their origins in STARS, has base popularity that’s only grown over the last two years under founder Tam Nakano. During her time in STARS, Nakano rapidly grew in popularity before bringing in Mina Shirakawa to tag as DREAM H in the 10th Annual Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. At that time, Unagi Sayaka also joined, and established themselves as a subgroup known as Cosmic Angels. However, the arrival and cohesive teamwork between Tam and her new friends did not go unnoticed by Iwatani and STARS. What started as friendly competition for the Artists of Stardom contendership, turned into a fracturing within the unit. With the coining of the name Cosmic Angels and their subsequent winning of the trios belts, their first defense would be against STARS, including Iwatani, Starlight Kid and Gokigen Death. With their first successful defense, Nakano announced CA’s departure from STARS and their plans moving forward as a singular unit. 

The new year brought a fresh start for Cosmic Angels. During the group’s early stages, Tam challenged Giulia for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, but ultimately fell short. Nakano chased both Giulia and the Wonder of Stardom Championship into STARDOM All-Star Dream Cinderella, where they stole the show in a hair-versus-hair match, with the CA leader toppling her rival to finally claim the White Belt. Cosmic Angels would see singles success for both Shirakawa and Unagi as each would hold the Future of Stardom Championship for a brief time in summer 2021.

 Cosmic Angels would shoulder the Artists of Stardom championships for the first half of 2021, losing them to Donna del Mondo’s MaiHimePoi (Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi) just before the Five Star Grand Prix. However, it would be during that time that Mai Sakurai and Waka Tsukiyama would join the company. Both would have their skills assessed by then Future of Stardom Champion Unagi Sayaka, and by the tournament’s end, Sakurai and Tsukiyama would both be members of the rapidly growing faction. Sakurai’s time in CA would be cut short in January 2022, when she defected to DDM, citing a need to be a wrestler and not a pop idol and wanting to follow Giulia. 

 Cosmic Angels would continue to bolster their numbers with the freelance group, Girls’ Pro-Wrestling Unit COLOR’S (SAKI, Yuko Sakurai, Hikari Shimizu and Rina Amikura) in June 2022, when the groups competed with the stipulation that the losing unit would join the other as rookies. While Cosmic Angels defeated COLOR’S in the match, they agreed to move forward together as equals. SAKI competed in this year’s Five STAR and will tag with Mina Shirakawa in the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League as KAWILD VENUS.

Earlier in the summer, Tam participated in one of STARDOM’s first ever cage matches against Natsupoi in a vicious twenty-five minute bout, followed by an additional singles match shortly after at Korakuen Hall, where Natsupoi evened the table with a win over Tam. However, there would not be a blow-off match between them. Instead, Natsupoi would deal a devastating blow to DDM just before the Five Star Grand Prix, by serving up Giulia and the win in an elimination match to Tam. Shortly after, Tam and Natsupoi would defeat STARS’ Fukuoka Double Crazy to become the Goddesses of Stardom Tam Champions, welcoming everyone to their new Revolution, and continuing that of Cosmic Angels.

 

Karen Peterson is a freelance wrestling writer and content creator. Follow her on social media here. 

 

Watch regular STARDOM events on demand, with subtitled interviews and comments on STARDOM World!

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