Mayu Iwatani vs Syuri (STARDOM All Star Grand Queendom 4/27/2025)
An end of an era. Mayu Iwatani’s final STARDOM match. And man, what a way to go out.
These two always had great chemistry. I mean, think about their match last year. It didn’t make my year-end list but it was a good top 30 pick. The one thing I thought about their last singles match was that they had a better match in them which is insane to think about with how great that match was last year. And wouldn’t you believe it? They did it!
Man this ruled. Syuri’s been on fire this year after that amazing 30 minute draw with Sareee in March and she brought an even better performance to this one. Mayu on the other hand had that great Tokyo Dome match with AZM and a fun part of the Sumie Sakai retirement match. Even without knowing that this was gonna be Mayu’s last match in Stardom there was still that odd vibe from the moment Mayu’s music played. Mayu kind of just holding onto the IWGP title for a minute knowing what we know now makes a bit more sense. And skipping a bit, even at the end as Syuri’s crying with Mayu after the match also ties in with what we know now.
All killer no filler, man that's what these two are all about. Keeping it hot bell to bell. The match keeps it at a peak and doesn't get too slow or at the point of where you just want to get it over with. The opening sprint that ends with a jousting with kicks holding Mayu the winner was pretty cool. Syuri’s spinning DDT off the apron, and even that avalanche arm bar was just nothing but insanity. The strikes from both women boom through Yokohama Arena, every forearm, every kick echoing through the building. They don’t hold back either, man. Syuri rocks Mayu with every kick she gives her and Mayu gives the same energy back.
I know everything's been all about Mayu after her departure but we need to talk about the Syuri performance in this match. The IWGP title meant so much to Syuri, she cried about losing to Mayu at a presser before the Sareee match. Syuri made it her goal to win that belt and losing that challenge last year did a toll on her. After she lost the red belt she had nowhere else to go and decided the IWGP belt is the next best thing, she can make that her belt. And Syuri does everything she did that gravitated me towards her in my first couple STARDOM shows I watched. She didn't hold back and she wouldn't give up. Not just to show Sareee that she's not who Sareee thinks Syuri is, she wants to achieve that goal and let go of all the weight that she carried on her shoulders. And she finally did it.
The only thing that kinda bothers me and it might just be me was the mess up from Mayu on the poison-rana which I can excuse with a bit of head canon – I mean she did just get her legs and arms stretched out by Syuri a couple minutes earlier. But it also opened up an opportunity for Syuri to finish off Mayu because that's usually Mayu’s kill move. Because if Mayu hit that she would’ve gotten the win. Mayu played all the hits too. The frog splash, moonsault, even the two-step dragon. All she needed was the poison-rana and she’d still be champ. But she messed up – and it costs her. Syuri hits her weird one winged emerald flowsion finish for the win and finally wins the IWGP Women’s title after just coming short last year.
Knowing what we know now, this is the best “final match” that Mayu could possibly have in Stardom. Most of her greatest opponents are either gone or retired. Kagetsu isn’t wrestling anymore, Iyo and Kairi are in WWE, who knows where Yoshiko is, all that was really left was Syuri. That’s not a bad thing though and this match proves it. Syuri joins those people that I’ve named in the list of Mayu’s greatest opponents. And if this is gonna be the last match that these two ever have, they ended on the greatest note they could’ve. It only gets brighter for Syuri. Sareee’s waiting in the horizon for that rematch. And for Mayu… she has a field of wrestlers to fight now. Visiting old foes and meeting new ones.
Wrestling Soulmates.
My Final Thoughts: I’ve seen a lot of my friends give this a full 5 and some 4¾’s and I can see where they lie on that but as much as I do love this match there are still a few of the flaws I named in the review. But this could end up being my MOTY, if not definitely top 5. I think I like Senka/Aja from Mania weekend just a little bit more than this match but there’s still 7 more months to think over it and a lot more wrestling on the way. I’ve already watched this 3 times and it still hits.
Rating: ****1/2