[9.0] "Fucking incredible match. The way Shirakawa focused on Kamitani's leg was beast, probably one of the most brutal ways I ever saw, she act like Kamitani was Yoshihiko, the toy, like, her goal was to take the leg off of Saya's body and I can't respect her more than this. The action was incredible with a lot of emotion and also a great work by Saya doing one of the most impressive Phoenix Splash I ever saw that I need to replay it by myself, something I don't usually do because I hate replays. Impressive, really impressive match. My only problems with that match was the way the referee was counting and how much he sucked at two specific moments and how bad Saya sold her leg after all the agressive work Mina did, but besides that? That was super dope. A excellent match to suggest for someone that never watched any joshi match or just got bored."
[9.0] "Awesome match! I was bored and i decided to watch this just out of curiosity and my gosh Mina is FABULOUS! - i would never say she was just 4 years into her pro career during this match, her in-ring skills and presence are very impressive. Saya of course was amazing as well but i think we all know this already. I didn't know the story but from what i learn it was personal and you could feel it while watching the match. Shirakawa instantly focused on Kamitani's knee and she kept torturing it for the rest of the match. They told beautiful in-ring story, i love when Saya hesitated to hit Phoenix Splash or when she desperately tried to get out of figure 4 - the selling was top notch. Mina won and finally became Wonder Of Stardom Champ ending Saya's historic reign - magical moment. Overall i highly recommend this, i would have never expected that this would be that good. ****, 5"
"One of my favorites examples on why pro-wrestling is such an interesting form of entertainment. The match itself is great of course, but what elevates it is all the story behind and all the little moments innit. Mina anger towards Saya, Saya apprehensiveness when trying to go for the phoenix splash, the moment where she finally gets the courage to do it and, of course, when both woman look at eachother, bailing their eyes out, you can see in Minas face that she finally forgave Saya, and that maybe Saya forgave herself... Man, and people say wrestling isnt real"
[9.0] "A near perfect match. Building directly off the prior defence where the botched Phoenix Splash took Mina out of action for a while, so emotions are already running high and you feel immediately inclined to root for Mina. However, Kamitani has always been so good and proved it again here, ultimately her compassion reluctance to hit the kill shot being what causes her to lose, and Mina takes every advantage she can from this. An emotionally fuelled conflict and probably the best match on an already fantastic show and a perfect way to end Saya's historic reign. This rating is closer to a 10 than an 8."
[7.0] "A match based around Mina targeting Kamitani's leg, and a match with some emotion behind it. Saya hesitating on the phoenix splash was simple but brilliant storytelling, and Mina winning after everything was the logical call. I will say Saya's leg selling overall is questionable at best, but there are some great moments of her making you feel like she's in real pain, and some obvious moments where she's completely forgotten. 3.75 Stars."
[8.0] "The storytelling in this one was fantastic, all stemming from the legit jaw injury Mina suffered from Saya during a botched Phoenix Splash in their previous bout. Saya's hesitation to perform another Phoenix Splash, Mina kicking out when Saya later finally DOES perform the move, Mina's raw anger at Saya during the match, both women's emotional reactions at the end of the match, and Saya helping Mina put on the belt out of respect -- all incredible storytelling beats in an overall very good match"
[9.0] "Another match on this card that made me cry, Mina deserved every bit of this. Himeka in the crowd waiting to congratulate her, you can't beat this stuff."
[9.0] "Doesn't quite top their Kinsai Stardom white belt match for drama but makes up for that in the sheer level of happiness the result creates. Mina gets what she deserves and takes home the white belt (and has a touching moment with her real-life good friend, Himeka). And Saya, to her credit, sells losing the white belt like the worst thing that has ever happened to her after delivering not only a great performance but a genuinely affecting one too (that wobble and scream on the top turnbuckle was utter kino). The decision to go shorter in this match was a nice and original touch as well seeing how re-matches nearly always go longer."
[10.0] "Mina Shirakawa and Saya Kamitani finish their story in a remarkable display of storytelling and great in-ring action, Mina Shirakawa delivers her best performance yet (no one would have expected her to reach this level less than a year ago) and Kamitani's historical white belt reign ends in the best manner. Everything was delivered almost perfectly, Mina targeting Say's leg just like during their previous match, her hard hitting strikes and raw emotional performance, while Saya delivers one of her most complete performance, not just on her usual athletic and technical side but also on her selling (usually one of her weak points) and emotional investment. Her hesitation with the phoenix splash after hurting Mina with hit during their previos encounter until she finally hits hit and Mina kicks out, was expected and nonetheless so satisfying. Just one of the moment in wrestling this year."
[10.0] "Saya Kamitani's performance in this match called to mind a quote from her KAIRI feud, "what's wrong with showing your weakness? " Her brilliant technique was complemented by her expressive vulnerability, from the anxiety of executing the Phoenix Splash to selling the threat of the figure four. A genius who can shine even in moments of weakness. Shirakawa also had an impressive performance. When she first debuted, she wrestled in a way that didn't quite suit her body type. Last year, however, she took a new approach and developed a more appropriate fighting style, focusing on classical techniques, hard limb attacks and the figure four. This new style has reinvigorated her game and the results were evident in this match. The bout was characterized by precise, focused action and escalating drama. It was the kind of match where various elements converge to create a unique and unforgettable experience, the injury incident from their previous meeting serving as catalyst. ****1/2"
[8.0] "A great match but i didnt like the result at all, Saya is one the best in the company and i just dont get what people see in Mina. Hence not being to keen on her winning the belt"
[10.0] "Got into wrestling recently via Twitter mutual, this match is one of my favourite moments in sporting history all time. Shirakawa's will to continue fighting and Kamitani's emotional outbursts after grabbing her knees was one of the rawest experiences I've ever watched with my own two eyes. Would rate it a 10 if I could"
[10.0] "What a fantastic story! I have to praise Mina for doing interviews immediately after having a smashed jaw and several teeth broken. That in itself gave a bump to this storyline. The whole Phoenix Splash storyline was great, of course someone would hesitate after seriously damaging someone. The emotional moment between them after the match was very powerful."
[9.0] "Das Wonder Of Stardom Title Match war ein weiters highlight. Ein gutes Match mit super Storytelling und einem emotionalen ende wie man es sich bei jedem großen Titelmatch nur wünschen kann (**** 1/4)"
[9.0] "Great match here overall, not my favorite of the night but well worthy of praise. Told a good story even if Saya's selling was inconsistent at best. Mina was especially impressive though."
[10.0] "I agree with Uncle Dave, almost five stars. This was an epic match with a fantastic non stop action and their desire to outclass each others was palpable. The big flaw of this match Is Kamitani's terrible leg selling. Shirakawa destroyed it so deeply but probably Saya didn't give a fuck of that; It wasn't cool and It's the reason this match Is not a full score. ****3/4"
[6.0] "Mina Shirakawa looked so awesome in this match, she was busting out crazy moves left and right. Tall Saya was decimated but she hasn't impressed me in a bit, between this match and the Hazuki match she's been ragdolled with slight comebacks. It's unfortunate because it looked like she was going to be a trendsetter but she's kinda gone stale. Mina though is refreshing. She is exactly what the white belt needs, she's the most improved wrestler over the last year and I think she'll continue to improve and have a great reign."
[9.0] "This match shouldn't work, right? Mina Shirakawa, seeking reprisal for broken teeth and a shattered jaw, and decidedly the underdog, spends the first half of the match ruthlessly attacking Saya Kamitani's right knee. That's obviously practical, and serves the notion that Mina has been stewing on her injury and planning retribution against Saya since November, but for a match story that's about her ascent out of a dark time in her life, a story in which Shirakawa is undeniably playing the protagonist, that's pretty classically heelish. The entire dynamic of the first half of the match should undermine the whole thing. And yet... I adored this match. Shirakawa is one of the most-improved wrestlers on the planet over the last twelve months, and this match highlighted that beautifully. That electric chair dragon screw had people talking for days, and can you blame them? I could sing the praises of a number of other specific points in this match, but that would just be listing spots, and either you've seen this match and that benefits you not at all, or you're thinking about watching this match and I wouldn't want to lay out exactly how it plays out beat-by-beat. That would serve nobody. A match that worked in spite of its own layout just based on high emotion and the crisp work that defines modern Joshi. Up there in the conversation for match of the night. ****.5 at minimum, depending on the day I'd go as high as an even *****"
[9.0] "An amazing title run by Kamitani with some incredible highs and some sad lows comes to an end in the best possible way. Loved that Electric Chair Dragon Screw. Brilliant booking and Mina absolutely deserves it."
[9.0] "Sensationell wie gut die Shirakawa geworden ist, Kamitani ist ja schon lange Top. Dazu kam die großartige, schlüssige und konsequent durchgezogene Story um das und in dem Match. Finish auch sehr geil. MOTYC! 9/10 Brote"
[9.0] "A simple story but an extremely effective one, as both women show the mental effects of their match several months ago. Saya is still struggling to get over the phoenix splash, while Mina has bounced back from her injury and is determined to surpass her performance from late last year. The way Saya and this belt have been so strong, and Mina's real-life journey to get to this point, makes this a cathartic, goosebumps-inducing match."
[8.0] "A carry job for the ages, worst than Shirakawa leading a faction is her beating a champion that defeated some of the best up and comers in the company, Kamitani looked great as usual, but losing to such a mid wrestler in a company with so many options is a bad look. The match itself was good, Mina's best so far, but she doesn't look convincing at all most of the time and Saya is the one making everything look like a million bucks."
[6.0] "Once again, I didn't like Kamitani's match, which everyone else liked. It can be seen that she is trying to win back and quite technically conducts everything. But it still looks fake and does not cause any emotions. To be honest, Shirakawa didn't remember anything specific. The match is not bad, just too mediocre."
[7.0] "Not a big fan of the old 'sell the leg, but do all the moves anyway' get out clause, but they managed to take the match beyond that (and the dodgy Phoenix to the legs) & fashion a compelling climax ***1/2"
[2.0] "There were some fun moves and the finish was good but the story of this match was utterly nonsensical. Saya's confidence has been hurt so much it's up in the air whether she can hit her finishing move because last time she attempted it she injured her opponent. Isn't that what a finisher is supposed to do. Stupid stuff that drags everything else down. *"
[10.0] "Awesome match, maybe my favourite one in Saya's reign. They just did everything right. Everyone understood that Mina would kill Kamitani's legs, and Saya would try to hold the Phoenix Splash. And they used these two things to the maximum, playing on the feelings of the fans. What I liked the most was that Mina's targeting really continued to the very end this match, instead of being stopped in the middle of a match, as is often the case in wrestling."
[9.0] "A very wild match between Kamitani and Shirakawa right here which was a thing of beauty to watch from start to finish, never a dull moment and action that never stops, they never blew and never let us blow too so it's notifiable. The action was really great, energetic, rhythmic and just incredibly good simply because they are two great wrestlers who simply did great wrestling for almost twenty minutes for our greatest pleasure. Mina's leg work was very good but what was magical here was obviously her big moment, she deserved this title more than anyone. Beautiful win, beautiful match and thanks to Saya for this legendary title run."
[10.0] "Shockingly great. Don't get me wrong, was expecting a really good match but this one scratched an itch that isn't often touched by Stardom with the relentless, slow and methodical working of Saya's leg to the extent that it became uncomfortable to watch.The electric chair dragon screw was crazy and innovative but it was almost more of an American match in style early on before the electric final few minutes. While the semi-heel turn from Mina may have been imperfect from a story perspective, I feel like it may have been the best thing from a match perspective because pure babyface Mina doesn't have quite as good a match in my opinion. Besides, I still popped huge for the win. She deserved it"
[10.0] "Mein persönliches Matches des Abends. Du hast an Saya schon gesehen ihr erst Phoenix Splash ziemlich sloppy aus deswegen traute (Wegen letzten Jahr). Bei Mina dachte ich erst " Wenn sie Stableleadrin von Club Venus ist dann müsste Mina doch over gehen" Ach ja Shirakawa der Implant DDT vom Top Rop. Mina Shirakawa geht verdient over und ihr bisher größter Erfolg bei Stardom. Nebenbei haben wir eine Saya Kamitani die den Wonder Title soviel Prestige gegeben, ja okay es gab lowlights wie zum z.B: Himeka, Momo Watanabe."
[9.0] "This was a terrific way to end an awesome and long title reign. Kamitani and Mina played off of their last match with Shirakawa's legwork and Saya's struggles to hit the Phoenix Splash. Their chemistry was even more incredible than it was last time. The fans were also hotter for this match than any other on the card, as they wanted to see Mina win so badly and were ecstatic when she did. If there is one significant critique to be had about this match, it is that it felt like they were rushing a bit to hit a time constraint, even though they had 18 minutes. This probably would have been even better had they gotten another three minutes. At least ****1/2"
[9.0] "Great match for Mina to finish her story. It kind of had everything, Storytelling beats, great selling, and a really compelling finishing sequence. They were pulling out some crazy moves they cooked up in the lab just for this match. Saya crying after losing her title really brought home the emotions and took it to another level."
[9.0] "So proud of Mina Shirakawa. She is ready for the next level, and the next level is the Wonder of Stardom Championship. I am so amazed, impressed, and proud of her improvement. She is one of the most improved wrestlers in the world. She even innovated a couple of new moves: The Electric Chair Dragon Screw Legwhip, & her finisher, which somewhat reminded me of Hiromu Takahashi's Time Bomb II. Mina Shirakawa's performance in this match also somewhat reminded me of Kana/Asuka as well. What a way to bring a close to Tall Saya's incredible run with the Wonder Title."
[9.0] "Mina's second attempt at winning the White Belt from Saya, after the first one ended with Saya messing up the Phoenix Splash twice and breaking Mina's jaw. Mina's comeback and the story of her getting to this rematch have been well done. There wasn't much to the first half of the match, a bunch of moves and none of it really meant anything. Mina went after Saya's leg, but Saya didn't do a great job of selling outside of limping a couple times, not changing any of her moves or affecting her mobility in any way. Saya hesitated doing the Phoenix Splash, costing herself a good chance to win. Later on, that hesitation goes away as Saya hits it (taking great care not to hit Mina anywhere near her face), which Mina kicks out of. The last five or so minutes of this were great. Mina did a Figure Four that Saya was barely able to get out of it, but it did enough damage to allow Mina to take over and get the win. Saya's way too long reign comes to an end to the right person. Mina has improved a lot over the years and come a long way for this moment. 8.5/10"
[10.0] "Tremendous! What an absolutely magnificent match, my guy! The storytelling here is on a whole other level, both of them knew exactly they were doing for eigtheen minutes straight. Mina Shirakawa's leg work was phenomenal, she looked damn tough and a real threat to Saya Kamitani, who sold everything flawlessly and was turning the crowd on with her awesome psychology and inspiring resilience. Kamitani being afraid to hit her Phoenix Splash at first was a great touch, and then, when she's afraid once again, it's just the ultimate level of storytelling, especially when this is the reason why she lost. This match is a love story being told and it WILL you get you heavily emotional. Tremendous. ****1/2"
[9.0] "The story of the match was Saya's inability and fear of the Phoenix Splash, not doing it after the first Mina match MONTHS ago. Mina comes back, has a slightly shoddy return but now has her own group in Club Venus, didn't betray Tam and Cosmic Angels, and the crowd absolutely loved her. What a fantastic title win for Mina, who has transformed into someone more than just her breast size. ****1/4"
[10.0] "This was unironically the match of the night and I expected it to just be "good" but this was absolutely astonishing. The final five minutes were hand on heart some of the best wrestling you will see this year in any promotion. Happy for Mina to finally have won the big one."
"Classic matchup between a confident champion who hasnt lost in over a year and a challenger looking for revenge after a severe injury. Match was perfect storytelling and one of the best matches of the year."
[8.0] "8, The begining wasn't at the level of the second half the turning point is when Saya hit the phoenix splash and the Figure-4 Leg Lock of Mina."
[7.0] "saya is so bad, thanks god for Mina to carry her to a good match - storytelling bullshit from Saya she doesn't want to use the phoenix splash because she is scared to hurt her opponent."
[9.0] "Mina has finally done it and it's so deserved. She has worked so hard, improved so much and it's so nice to see hrr rewarded. The match was really great with Saya hesitating to hit the Phoenix Splash at first, then hitting it and Mina kicking out. Saya kicking out of the first Glamorous Driver and reaching the ropes on the figure 4 were both great spots, I thought she was gonna tap there. Excellent stuff. ****1/4"
[10.0] "I was really looking forward to this match, as Mina has shown so much improvement in recent months and I felt she deserved a shot at the White Belt. Mina took control of the match early on and stuck to her usual game plan of targeting Saya's leg, which became a key storyline throughout the match. I loved the moment when Saya hesitated before attempting her Phoenix Splash, only to later hit it and have Mina kick out. The match built to a really exciting finish and kept me guessing until the end. Overall, it was an awesome match that showcased both wrestlers' talents.What a feel good moment to see Mina with the title and Himeka coming to hug her."
[9.0] "Epic pro wrestling with the right person finishing her story. Incredible hardhitting sequences performed by two epic wrestlers. 9/10 / SOTM(Spot of the Match): The epic Implant DDT of the top from Mina"
[9.0] "First half of the match was pretty good but it could be said that it was a little flat. But it built tremendously and managed to make both performers appear to have achieved their goals. Saya may have lost but seems to have regained her belief in herself after hitting the Phoenix Splash. Mina fought through the pain to fulfil her dream."
[9.0] "My goodness, what a match. I disliked a lot of Saya's reign, but this match was awesome and the finish was perfect. It was a tense, emotional match, with great storytelling and a crowd that was really into it. Thankfully Mina went over in the end. She deserves this, her faction too and it was the perfect way to end Saya's long reign. The aftermath with Himeka was beautiful too. Some quips about the near falls aside, this was phenomenal."
[9.0] "In their last meeting, Saya Kamitani broke Mina Shirakawa's jaw with the Phoenix Splash, which actually affected Kamitani more because she had a fear of doing the move after that, and it angered Shirakawa. While Kamitani overcame her fear and hit the Splash for the first time since the last match, she couldn't overcome a vengeful Shirakawa who just wanted it more. Incredible storytelling on both sides."
