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KAIRI RETURNS TO THE RING: 3/26 STARDOM 'WORLD CLIMAX 2022: THE BEST' REPORT FROM TOKYO, JAPAN

STARDOM "World Climax 2022 ~The Best ~" from Tokyo, Japan at Ryogoku Kokugikan on 3/26/22 live on PIA pay-per-view:

https://ticket.pia.jp/piasp/inbound/stardomwc22-engpls.jsp

Stewart Fulton and STARDOM World translator Sonny Gutierrez are the English broadcast team. Haruo Murata and Makoto Oe are over on the Japanese side with actresses Maho Tomita and Aina Aiba as special commentary guests. Himeka will join them later in the show.

Future of STARDOM Champion Hanan pinned Rina with a Backdrop Hold in 7:05. Third successful defense for Hanan. She will defend against Mai Sakurai on tomorrow’s show.

MIRAI beat Saya Iida by submission with the MiraMare arm lock in 10:23. 

The Trios Tag Team Gauntlet Match is up next with Himeka, Natsupoi, and Mai Sakurai vs. Mina Shirakawa, Momo Kohgo, and Waka Tsukiyama vs. Saki Kashima, Fukigen Death, and Ruaka vs. AZM, Lady C, and Miyu Amasaki.

Mina Shirakawa, Momo Kohgo, and Waka Tsukiyama vs. Saki Kashima, Fukigen Death, and Ruaka started it off. Kashima pinned Tsukiyama after My Emblem in 4:09… AZM, Lady C, and Miyu Amasaki are the next team out… AZM pinned Kashima with a bridging pin in 2:39… Himeka, Natsupoi, and Mai Sakurai are the last team out… Himeka pinned Lady C with the JP Coaster in 3:11 to win the match for Donna Del Mondo.

Risa Sera and Suzu Suzuki (Prominence) beat Thekla and Maika (Donna Del Mondo) when Suzuki pinned Thekla with a German Suplex in 10:27. Suzuki got on the mic and gloated about the win. Maika told her to shut up and they all got into another wild brawl to the backstage.

Starlight Kid and Momo Watanabe beat Goddesses of STARDOM Tag Team Champions Hazuki and Koguma to win the titles when Watanabe pinned Koguma with the Peach Thunder in 15:08. The other members of Oedo Tai were at ringside and they interfered to lead to the finish. One of them hit Hazuki over the head with a chair and she fell to the floor. They distracted the referee to allow Kid to drop kick a chair into Koguma’s face. Hazuki and Koguma were “out cold” after the match. Kid and Watanabe mocked them and poured bottles of water over their heads to wake them up. Kid faces KAIRI on tomorrow’s show.

KAIRI and Mayu Iwatani beat Tam Nakano and Unagi Sayaka when Iwatani pinned Sayaka after a Moonsault set up by KAIRI’s Insane Elbow in 17:36. This was KAIRI's first match back with the company since June 2017 when she, Hiromi Mimura, and Konami lost the Artists of STARDOM Titles to Io Shirai, HZK (aka Hazuki), and AZM. She debuted with WWE in July 2017 in the Mae Young Classic. She would go on to win the MYC against Shayna Baszler in the finals on 9/12/17. Her last match in WWE, and up to this point, was on 7/20/20 winning a match against Bayley on WWE Monday Night Raw. She was written off of WWE Television a week later after being attacked by Bayley in an injury angle. She was then given the PR role of “WWE Ambassador” to Japan up until her WWE contract expired last month. Her return to STARDOM was officially announced in a press conference on 2/18/22. During the press conference, she was first verbally confronted by Sayaka and Nakano and later jumped from behind by Starlight Kid, Natsuko Tora, and Momo Watanabe to set up her return matches at these 3/26 and 3/27 ppvs.

After the match, Iwatani got on the mic and welcomed KAIRI back. KAIRI said she was so excited to be back and told the crowd that she really had no words. In English she said, “Ladies And Gentleman, Welcome To STARDOM World!” She said she was glad to be back and couldn’t wait to see everyone’s faces after 5 years away. She put over Iwatani. She said she would be closely watching the next two title matches on the show.

Wonder of STARDOM Champion Saya Kamitani pinned Utami Hayashishita after the Phoenix Splash in 27:11. Third successful defense. She will defend against Tam Nakano tomorrow and Hayshishita will take on MIRAI. Nakano came out to confront Kamitani afterwards and she had an incredibly strained voice on the mic from feeling the effects of the earlier tag match.

Syuri came out with Ami Miura as her mystery bodyguard for the main event. 

World of STARDOM Champion Syuri pinned Giulia in 26:54. Second successful defense. Tomorrow Syuri defends against Mayu Iwatani. Giuila will join Himeka, Maika, and Thekla against Prominence in an 8-man tag. After the match, Syuri said she’s leaving Donna Del Mondo and forming her own unit. She said Ami Miura is the first member. Giuila said it is not easy to be a leader of a group and warned her she’s coming for the belt one day again. Giuila left the ring with Thekla and other DDM members. Syuri called out Iwatani. They had a bit of a face off to hype tomorrow’s show. Iwatani said nobody has held the World Title three times but she will do it. Syuri said “Tomorrow, let’s have a great fight!” Syuri thanked the crowd and said they will come back with passion to do it all over again tomorrow. 

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