Saya Kamitani, also known as the Golden Phoenix, is a name that is now synonymous with the legend of World Wonder Ring Stardom's Wonder of Stardom Championship, often referred to as the White Belt. When I first dived into the world of Stardom (no pun intended) in 2022, one of the competitors that stood out to me immediately was Kamitani. Only a few months into her title reign at that point, her presentation coupled with her drive to show fans that she is capable of bearing the responsibility of the White Belt quickly made her one of my favorites.
I would argue that Kamitani was one of the best wrestlers on the planet during the year 2022, and she more than proved herself to Stardom fans around the world. So, what inspired me to do this? Well, I had been planning to do something very similar to my Cagematch reranking for quite some time, but, never had the chance to do so. Also, though I had started watching Stardom in the middle of her title reign, there were still a few defenses that I had not watched due to my inconsistency with the promotion (and their questionable episode release schedule).
But, now that I have the time, I thought there would be no better ranking to do than the White Belt Champ with the most successful title defenses in Stardom history, Saya Kamitani. As this happens to be my longest piece yet (I apologize in advance), whether you skim through or read this in its entirety, your support is much appreciated.
*Note: I will only be ranking/discussing title defenses, so her victory to claim the White Belt and her loss to Mina Shirakawa will not be on here.
**Second Note: I watched and wrote everything in chronological order, so I may refer to matches as such even though the ranking is in a different order.
#15: V8 - vs SAKI (July 24, 2022)
Per usual, after her encounter with Starlight Kid (see v7), Saya Kamitani was confronted by SAKI who wanted to challenge for the White Belt. Kamitani would accept as she is always open to the prospect of new challengers. In the press conference leading up to the event, SAKI would question how someone only in their third year of professional wrestling could be the face of such a prestigious title and company (especially since SAKI at the time was in her 10th year). Kamitani wanted to show SAKI the current state of Joshi wrestling and why she is at the forefront.
I am going to be very honest with you guys... this was certainly a match that happened. This is not to say that it was bad, quite honestly with the talent involved it would be very hard for that to happen. But, it really didn't move me nor did it seem to move anyone in the crowd. There were a few good spots and the opening sequence with SAKI locking in submission moves was really good, but otherwise, there was nothing really notable about this and it never felt like the title was in danger. Overall, I think this suffered massively due to a few factors which is unfortunate considering the quality of the previous title defense.
#14: V1 - vs Unagi Sayaka (January 29, 2022)
After beating Tam Nakano for the White Belt at Stardom Dream Queendom 2021, Saya Kamitani's first challenger would be Unagi Sayaka. Even though she was a part of Cosmic Angels with Nakano, this wasn't anything of a grudge match for Sayaka or an attempt to seek vengeance for her faction leader. Sayaka stated that she simply did not want to wait around, possibly for years, hoping that an opportunity for the White Belt would come by. Sayaka ultimately wanted to stake her claim immediately and jump the ranks of the promotion. Kamitani, on the other hand, would say that she wanted to raise the prestige of the White Belt during her title reign hoping to one day surpass the Red Belt. And with that, the scene is set for the first title defense of many.
Honestly, I did not go into this match expecting much but it was a very solid showing from both competitors. The reason I did not expect too much was because this was a bout between two competitors still finding their feet in the wrestling world, both having only been wrestling for about three years at the time of the match. It was also Kamitani's first-ever singles title defense, so she was probably feeling a lot of pressure heading into it.
There isn't a ton to say in regard to the match, but again, it was a very solid contest. Kamitani dominated the opening of the match, stomping at Sayaka's neck and back. Sayaka would then shift the momentum in her favor after stringing Kamitani over the top rope and then hitting a blade runner onto the floor outside the ring. Unagi would maintain control of the match for quite some time before a big dropkick from Kamitani would transition things into a more back-and-forth contest.
A really strong final stretch saw Kamitani put Sayaka away with a Star Crusher and Phoenix Splash for her first title defense. It was a much stronger showing than I expected, but you could tell both competitors were still a little rough around the edges in this match. Overall, it was a decent match but far from Kamitani's best.
#13: V13 - vs Ami Sourei (January 8, 2023)
After her match with Haruka Umesaki (see v12), Saya Kamitani claimed that she would "keep this new generation shining more and more" and nominated the Future of Stardom Champion, Ami Sourei, as her next opponent. Though she did want to help the next generation and believed that this would be a useful experience for Sourei, she asserted that Sourei would be nothing more than a stepping stone on her way to setting the White Belt title defense record (ouch).
This was a very good match between one of Stardom's top champions and, well, the future of Stardom. Kamitani's overconfidence came back to bite her as Sourei dominated the opening portion of the match, working on Kamitani's lower back. Kamitani would then fight back into the match, landing a dropkick and a combination in the corner. The match would become a very physical contest as the pair traded strikes and suplexes for the remainder of the match, though, Ami Sourei does go back to the submission game. Another interesting thing to note is that Kamitani still refused to go for the Phoenix Splash (see v10) and actually won with the Firebird Splash. Overall, this was a really good contest that saw Saya Kamitani finally tie the White Belt title defense record.
#12: V12 - vs Haruka Umesaki (December 29, 2022)
Amongst Saya Kamitani's title defenses, this is another rare bout that does not seem to have much going for it in regards to a storyline. For many fans, Haruka Umesaki challenging Saya Kamitani for the White Belt was a very interesting choice, especially at one of Stardom's biggest shows of the year. Umesaki was still relatively fresh in the pro wrestling scene, worked mainly under World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana, and this would only be her first singles match with Stardom (though she had worked on some of their New Blood shows previously). There were a lot of questions being asked surrounding this bout, and the competitors had to make sure they responded accordingly.
To keep things brief, this was an unexpectedly very solid bout between the competitors. There were a lot of split opinions regarding this match so I was worried heading into it, but overall, it was pretty good. Kamitani looked very dominant for most of the bout which makes sense against another young challenger who has never held world championship gold (at that time) and never crossed paths with her.
What stuck out to me here is that Kamitani never went for the Phoenix Splash but attempted the Firebird Splash multiple times. I'm not sure if that was a part of her self-doubt over the move (see v10) or just how the match played out, especially since she attempted a Phoenix Splash against KAIRI (see v11). It was also an interesting decision to have Kamitani win via roll-up, but I digress. Despite that, it was a pretty solid match that is worth checking out especially since it is one of her shorter title defenses.
#11: V6 - vs MIRAI (May 28, 2022)
Honestly, there was not much to this match in regard to the story. MIRAI was the winner of the 2022 Cinderella Tournament and challenged Saya Kamitani for the White Belt. The two had never faced in singles competition before, but they promised to have a bout of "Full power vs spirit".
I'd like to preface this by saying that I was eating while watching this match, so, my notes are a bit more sparse than usual. Nonetheless, these two had a very solid bout that further solidified Kamitani's impressive reign. From the beginning, you could tell that it was quite unlikely that MIRAI would win (however, fans at the time knew the monster push that she was getting) but she put up a great effort in her fight for the White Belt.
The action in-ring was very solid as one would expect, but it just felt like this match lacked a bit of heat. It's sort of hard to put into words but there was no urgency, it sort of just felt like two competitors having a match (again, I'm not entirely sure I can explain what I'm trying to say very well). The best way I might be able to explain it is that it felt like a very standard Saya Kamitani match. The two had never met in the ring in singles competition and MIRAI was still finding her feet in the company as she moved up the card. The match was solid, but it didn't really pick up until about the last five to seven minutes when they really started to go at it. I think with a little more story or intensity in this bout it could have placed higher on this list, but, it is still a really solid match nonetheless.
#10: V9 - vs Himeka (August 21, 2022)
After her match against SAKI, Saya Kamitani finally vowed to overtake the previous White Belt defense record of 13 (which was set by Momo Watanabe). Initially, the match for this event was supposed to be Saya Kamitani vs KAIRI, but, KAIRI would be sidelined with Covid-19 which opened the door for Himeka to step through and challenge for the title.
God, I miss Himeka. I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this match since it was an impromptu bout due to unforeseen circumstances. So, with no build, it was quite obvious Kamitani would retain but I did not expect the match to be this damn good. To start, Saya Kamitani and Himeka locked into a test of strength that Kamitani was never truly going to win; however, she transitioned beautifully into a roll-up pin attempt. Himeka then took control of things with a body slam to the outside and a slam onto the ring post. Early in the match, Himeka was really working Kamitani's lower back. Kamitani would pull back some momentum with a tijeras on the outside, causing the match to become a brutal back and forth as the pair traded forearms.
Himeka then transitioned into a few submissions as she continued to work Kamitani's lower back, wearing down the champ and dominating in the process. Kamitani would soon connect with a spinning heel kick to get her back into the match. The pair have a great sequence with Himeka landing a really nice Rainmaker on Kamitani. Kamitani would retort with a Star Crusher and Firebird Splash, but it wasn't enough to put away the challenger. Things would eventually end up on the top rope where Himeka would plant Kamitani with a nasty avalanche powerbomb (God bless neck bumps).
Himeka would continue to brutalize Kamitani before she countered with a poisonrana and a surprise roll-up for the victory. As I said before, this was truly a surprisingly good bout. That is not to discredit the competitors, but this was only their fourth-ever singles encounter in nearly three years of competing under the same company. Add to that the fact that it was put together last minute, and I feel like I cannot help but be blown away. Overall, this was a really solid match between the Golden Generation's Golden Phoenix and Jumbo Princess.
#9: V2 - vs Natsupoi (February 23, 2022)
Coming off the heels of her first White Belt title defense, Saya Kamitani and Stardom would see the return of KAIRI (otherwise known as Kairi Hojo or Kairi Sane). This seemed to add a spark to both competitors as Kamitani would interact with KAIRI, who told her to "do [her] best" in her title defense(s). Furthermore, Kamitani wanted to wipe clean the painful memories she suffered as an idol in the Aore Nagaoka (the building where the match took place) by leaving the arena as champion.
Natsupoi would wear an updated set of gear during this match that was gifted to her by KAIRI. Not only did she want to win the White Belt, but she wanted to show KAIRI how far along she has come. With someone as synonymous with the White Belt as KAIRI spurring both competitors on, the "passion" title would see a very good bout.
The bout started off very strong with a back-and-forth encounter between Kamitani and Natsupoi. However, a well-timed dropkick from Kamitani would see her take the upper hand. Kamitani dominated the match for quite some time before Natsupoi caught Kamitani with a German suplex onto the ring apron. From here, the match begins to sway back and forth as both competitors put their best foot forward to stand tall as champion. Natsupoi comes very close as she hits an avalanche German suplex followed by a Fairial Gift for a near fall. A well-timed counter from Kamitani would allow her to follow up with a Star Crusher and a Phoenix Splash for the victory.
This was a much stronger match than Kamitani's previous title defense, and can likely be attributed to the clash of styles between the competitors. Natsupoi's high-speed style meshed very well with Kamitani and brought about a very compelling match. This bout may only place lower on the list due to the lack of drama/story directly between the competitors.
#8: V3 - vs Utami Hayashishita (March 26, 2022)
Following her match against Natsupoi a month prior, Saya Kamitani nominated her Queen's Quest stablemate Utami Hayashishita as her opponent at Stardom World Climax 2022 (Day 1). For Hayashishita, this match was about her goal to claim every belt Stardom has to offer. She had previously held the Future of Stardom Championship and was the World of Stardom Champ (otherwise known as the Red Belt) for over a year (holding the fourth-longest reign in Stardom history).
Kamitani, on the other hand, was looking to prove herself against her faction leader. Hayashishita had beaten her previously in bouts for the Future Championship and the Red Belt, but now the roles were reversed with Kamitani entering as the champion. Ever since her debut, Kamitani's goal has been to defeat Hayashishita and it was finally her opportunity to do so.
Hayashishita took control of the match early on, showing the difference in experience and ability between the competitors. She worked Kamitani's lower back throughout the match, likely hoping to prevent her from hitting her trademark Phoenix Splash. However, Kamitani would once again connect with a well-timed dropkick to pick up some momentum. Honestly, there is a lot to say about this match but I want to keep things pretty brief. Hayashishita caught Kamitani attempting to go for a springboard and continued to work her lower back, but, Kamitani would go for another springboard and connect with a hurricanrana. A fantastic closing stretch ensued with the pair trading submission holds, suplexes, and strikes (oh my).
These women put everything on the line to show who is at the top of Queen's Quest. Hayashishita clung to every bit of strength she had left to prove that she was still among the best in the company and continue her conquest for all of Stardom's gold. Meanwhile, Kamitani fought valiantly to show that she was now capable of beating the formerly unstoppable Red Queen and standing among the company's best. Once again, this match would see Kamitani put away her opponent with the Star Crusher and Phoenix Splash. A great match that was boosted by a good story, this is definitely a match I would recommend you check out. With each passing match, it seems as though Kamitani is beginning to fit the mold of the White Belt more and more.
#7: V5 - vs Maika (May 5, 2022)
The story between Maika and Saya Kamitani dates back to the Stardom Cinderella Tournament Finals 2021, which would see Kamitani claim victory and begin her chase for the White Belt. A year later, Maika wants to rectify her defeat. The pair would also battle in the 2022 Cinderella tournament in which both competitors were eliminated after fighting to a draw. Now, Maika wanted to steal everything from Kamitani including her finishing move, the Phoenix Splash, and... her lips?
First and foremost I'd like to shout out Maika's entrance here, truly special and gave this a big fight feeling. Anyways, the match opened up with a solid ground exchange which was a nice change of pace from Kamitani's usual opening test of strength. Maika soon took control, though, before the match headed outside the ring. Maika would beat Kamitani down before Kamitani baited her into hitting a clothesline on the ring post. This would turn the tides of the match and see Kamitani begin to work Maika's right arm.
Throughout this early-middle section of this match, I would argue that this is the most dominant Saya Kamitani has looked in her title reign thus far. The match continues to flow mostly in Kamitani's favor before Maika absolutely smashes her on the apron with a powerbomb then follows up with a suplex. My one major gripe with this match is that, around this time, Maika completely stopped selling her right arm injury and actually uses it a lot when hitting forearms and clotheslines.
Nonetheless, the two end up trading strikes which eventually wakes up Murder Maika. A passion injection spot ensued and I was out of my seat. The pair began trading all types of suplexes and powerbombs, and then PASSION INJECTION NUMBER TWO. *ahem* The finale to the match would see Kamitani hit a Star Crusher, Firebird Splash, AND a Phoenix Splash for the victory. This was a great match that saw Saya Kamitani do everything in her power to chip away at her much more powerful opponent, Maika. Maika also fought tooth and nail to put away her Golden Generation rival and claim the White Belt, but it wasn't meant to be.
#6: V11 - vs KAIRI (November 19, 2022)
I apologize in advance, but, this is going to be a long one. Three months after their initial encounter was supposed to take place, KAIRI and Saya Kamitani finally crossed paths at Stardom Gold Rush 2022. The build-up to their match in August is a bit hard to explain so I suggest you take a look at the transcript from the press conference if you have the time.
But, to explain as best as I can, Kamitani is fighting to surpass KAIRI and her legacy with the White Belt. This is arguably her biggest test yet as champion and she is unsure how she will fare. KAIRI, on the other hand, feels like Kamitani's feelings aren't genuine. She believes that Kamitani says a lot of emotional things, but there is no emotion behind it. Additionally, she feels like Kamitani always crying and displaying her emotions is a symbol of weakness and is not becoming of a champion.
Now, three months later, Saya Kamitani has not forgotten the words KAIRI said. KAIRI also said that Kamitani did not face her opponents head-on, but just 24 hours after her White Belt match, KAIRI will be challenging for the IWGP Women's Championship. So, what does that make her if this can almost be seen as a throwaway match regardless of the result?
She came back and didn't face Saya Kamitani immediately, but she dove head-first into a tournament for a brand-new title. KAIRI then questioned if Kamitani could still fly due to the incident in her previous defense against Mina Shirakawa. Kamitani asserts that she can, and, "if [she] quit flying now, that would also mean ignoring Mina Shirakawa’s feelings, and it would mean lying to the fans, [herself], and [the White] belt with [her] pro wrestling".
This section is already very long, so I am going to keep this brief and just recommend that you go watch the match. It was a very good encounter that would see Saya Kamitani and KAIRI battle it out in a back-and-forth, time-limit draw duel for the White Belt. The best thing I can say here is that Kamitani never looked out of her element or played too much into how big of a competitor KAIRI is. She understood the difficult opponent facing her and threw everything she had at her to win, but she didn't come across like a weak champion as KAIRI insisted she was.
The only detractor from this match is that it never really felt like it hit that third gear in my opinion. There are flashes of it, but it never really goes full throttle. This would be fine if there was a follow-up match, but the two never cross paths again. This just made this whole bout and feud feel inconclusive and kind of pointless to me since, even though she was able to hold her own, Saya Kamitani never truly beat KAIRI. Nonetheless, it was a very strong bout only hindered by a weak finish and follow-up on the match.
#5: V14 - vs Momo Watanabe (February 4, 2023)
To become the new defense record holder for the White Belt, Saya Kamitani nominated none other than the one who set the record, Momo Watanabe. As many Stardom fans know, Watanabe was not only a former member of Queen's Quest, but she was the faction's leader. Her betrayal and alignment with Oedo Tai was a shock to many and left QQ disheveled.
But, this was not merely a means of revenge for Kamitani, she wanted to also beat Watanabe to set that record and further embarrass her. Watanabe, on the other hand, was not all that interested in the match as her sights seemed to only be on challenging for the Red Belt (I mean, if I was a record-setter for a title why blemish that history, right?). However, Watanabe would not take Kamitani's disrespect and vowed to embarrass her and take her precious title.
Man... this match had me on my feet. The bout opened up fast with a knockdown kick and pinfall attempt from each competitor. They then traded blows but no one truly got the upper hand. Well, at least not until some shenanigans on the outside of the ring from Oedo Tai gave Watanabe control of the match. As the action returns to the ring, Momo Watanabe proceeds to kick the shit out of Saya Kamitani. Kamitani is eventually able to halt Watanabe's momentum, though, and lock in a submission.
Throughout this match, there was just a fire, level of aggression, and tension that was palpable which really elevated this match to the next level. As Kamitani went for a springboard dive to the outside, Watanabe caught her with a flying suitcase (I'm sorry this had me in tears). Oedo Tai continues their heel antics and sets up a table on the outside for Watanabe to use, but instead, Kamitani reverses the slam attempt and hits a hurricanrana off the table. Then, Kamitani places Watanabe on the table (still on the outside of the ring) and hits a diving stomp from the top rope (and at this point I am convinced Kamitani's legs are made of titanium cause she has taken some wild landings to her feet during this reign).
As the match progresses, Kamitani hits a beautiful backflip reversal off the top rope as Watanabe goes for a suplex. However, Watanabe catches her and proceeds to kick the shit out of Kamitani again before we get a PASSION INJECTION. *ahem* Watanabe then hits three (I think?) Peach Sunrises but cannot put away the champ. There is then a strike exchange before Saya Kamitani now kicks the shit out of Momo Watanabe. To close the match, Kamitani hits a big FU to Watanabe with her own Peach Sunrise followed by a spinning Star Crusher and Firebird Splash for the win (still no Phoenix Splash :0).
Guys, this match was excellent and there truly could have been no better way for Saya Kamitani to break the title defense record. I'm not sure where this match will end up in my final ranking, but it will likely coast into the top three (or about there). Anyway, go check this match out a million times, and then do it again because why not?
#4: V10 - vs Mina Shirakawa (November 3, 2022)
During the 2022 5 Star Grand Prix, Mina Shirakawa would shake Stardom up with a new attitude and move set that left fans in awe of her rapid progression as a performer. In the process, she would beat Saya Kamitani during the tournament. This would set up the match to take place on November 3rd. For Shirakawa, it has been a very tough road to the top. She was always looked down upon, never truly taken seriously, and was an unfortunate victim of her good looks.
However, through many tough times and a lot of hard work, she flipped things around and quickly became a viable threat to one of Stardom's top stars. For Saya Kamitani, she was touted as one of the Golden Generation, one of the few who would lead the company for many years. As Shirakawa explains, Kamitani had high expectations and had fulfilled them thus far; but, there were never really any expectations for herself and now she had the chance to take the company by storm.
The match started with a really strong back-and-forth sequence that ended in Shirakawa taking out Kamitani's right leg which would be worked for the remainder of the match. For the opening portion of the bout, it seemed that Shirakawa had an answer for every move or counter Kamitani attempted. However, a spinning heel kick from Kamitani would halt the challenger's momentum before she swiftly recovered and continued to work the leg. The match would progress for some time before Kamitani countered a couple of pin attempts into submissions, really good transitions here.
Kamitani would start to pick up some momentum here with a beautiful locomotion, but, Shirakawa would then transition her worrisome situation into a figure 4 leg lock. Kamitani is able to eventually break the hold and hit a poisonrana on the challenger. The pair then engage in a strike exchange before Shirakawa hits a very nice-looking combo. The match then ended up on the top rope where Mina Shirakawa would nail the champ with an avalanche implant DDT followed up by another for a near fall. Shirakawa then went back to the figure four in an effort to continue working Kamitani's leg and, at this point, it really looked bleak for Saya Kamitani.
Kamitani would escape the hold before hitting a nice frankensteiner and a schoolboy suplex, but she cannot hold the bridging pin attempt due to her damaged leg. Kamitani then hits a Star Crusher, but Shirakawa kicks out at one!! A short exchange follows before Kamitani hits another Star Crusher followed by a Phoenix Splash... kinda. Kamitani accidentally whiffs the first Phoenix Splash attempt, but, she goes again as one must do in this business. However, on the second attempt, Kamitani doesn't complete the full rotation and lands way too high up causing her to completely lay her heel right into Shirakawa's mouth. It was truly an unfortunate way to end such a good match and you can tell it rattled Kamitani a bit, but it does not take away from the preceding 20 minutes. Overall, it was a really solid match that would end up being the setup for the end of Kamitani's reign.
#3: V4 - vs Tam Nakano (March 27, 2022)
Merely 24 hours after her bout with Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani would put her White Belt on the line against the former champ, Tam Nakano. Kamitani had just beaten Nakano for the title three months prior, which is why it came as a surprise to many (Nakano included) that a rematch would be happening so soon. Nakano had been feeling as though a curse was placed on her since she lost the title as she had been struggling since she lost it (this is very important to another feud of hers). Add to that the betrayal of her former stablemate, Mai Sakurai, and it is clear to see that 2022 had not been so kind to Tam Nakano. Kamitani, though, was looking to solidify her status at the top of the company by beating two of (arguably) her biggest hurdles in back-to-back nights.
The match began with a very good test of strength between the competitors, leading to a very nice double bridge spot. Kamitani is dominated in the opening stretch of the match, once again, as Nakano comes out of the gate very aggressively in an attempt to regain her title. Kamitani is then able to gain momentum and works Nakano's lower back like Hayashishita did to her the previous night. Nakano catches Kamitani with a sweet cutter as she begins to use a lot of submissions to wear down Kamitani.
From this point forward, the match is a high-level passion injection bout. Saya Kamitani hit Tam Nakano with a Frankensteiner from the top rope all the way to the ringside area, Nakano dove from the stands onto Kamitani, and then they proceeded to beat the shit out of each other in the ring. Kamitani would get the upper hand and hit a Star Crusher, but Nakano rolled out of the way of the Phoenix Splash. Nakano would connect with a Tiger Driver and Violet Screwdriver but it was not enough to keep the champ down.
The final moments of the match would see Kamitani steal a victory by reversing a roll-up pin attempt from Nakano. This truly felt like the match I had been waiting for and was a testament to the ability of both competitors, as well as what they were willing to do to win the White Belt. This is a fantastic match and the first real feather in the cap for Saya Kamitani's title reign.
#2: V7 - vs Starlight Kid (July 9, 2022)
Immediately following her match with MIRAI, Saya Kamitani would come face to face with her next challenger, Starlight Kid (who I will refer to as SLK to make life easier). SLK would talk about how it took her seven attempts to win the Artists of Stardom Championship and eight attempts before she won the High Speed Championship, but she does not plan on taking that long for the White Belt as this next attempt will be her third.
However, in the press conference leading up to this match, Kamitani would bring up how she had beaten SLK in their previous bouts in the 5SGP and the Cinderella Tournament as well as in the Tokyo Dome. There was a genuine disdain between these two as SLK wanted to breathe new life into the White Belt, remove the tired, old Phoenix from her perch, and seek vengeance for her previous defeats. Kamitani, on the other hand, "is the one that will devour the black tiger, and [will] turn [her] back into the pitiful Starlight Kid that couldn’t do anything at all".
As the match begins, SLK tries to end things quickly with a Tiger Suplex and a submission attempt on Kamitani. The action eventually spills out to the entrance ramp where SLK connects with a hurricanrana. SLK then hits Kamitani's right leg with a chair (while the ref was distracted by Oedo Tai) which sets up the story for the rest of the match. As the action gets back into the ring, SLK continues to target Kamitani's right leg as she just toys with her. Kamitani is able to briefly fight back, hitting a springboard crossbody to the outside followed up by a northern lights suplex. Saya Kamitani picks up a little bit of momentum before she is cut off by SLK and hit with a Tiger Suplex on the apron and a springboard moonsault to the outside.
SLK tortures Kamitani throughout this match and does some really great limb work throughout the bout. It lulled a bit at the beginning, but after that, the action really picked up and flowed well throughout. For the first time (at least upon rewatching) it really felt like Kamitani was at risk of losing her title. SLK threw everything at the Golden Phoenix to finally claim one of the top prizes in the promotion, but, the Black Tiger just could not handle the full power of the champion. Ultimately, Saya Kamitani would hit the Phoenix Splash on SLK to claim the victory in arguably her best bout yet.
#1: V15 - vs Hazuki (March 4, 2023)
Well, here we are, the grand finale. Always the bridesmaid but never the bride, Hazuki had challenged for the White Belt four times prior to this encounter and never won. Hazuki had only ever won singles gold once in Stardom, which was a High Speed Championship reign back in 2018. Hazuki stated that, even after retiring briefly, the voices telling her to chase for the White Belt never ceased. She knew that this would be no simple task, but, in her own words, "[she] has nothing to lose".
As the old saying goes, we saved the best for last. This was the bout I had the most recollection of prior to rewatching, but damn I didn't remember it being that good. This isn't to take anything away from my initial perception of the match either, I actually had it in my top ten matches of the year for a decent period of time; but, as time progressed, it slipped further out of my mind and further down the list.
Despite that, this was a treat to rewatch. The bout started with a ground grappling exchange for control, but no one truly came out on top here. They then traded strikes before Kamitani ended up on the outside and catching a tope suicida from Hazuki. The match started off hot and they really never let off the gas. Hazuki sort of toys with Kamitani for a bit, hitting her patented kicks on the rope before locking in a crossface submission.
However, Kamitani soon fights back with a dropkick followed by another after a knee in the corner. Kamitani then hits a dive to the outside of her own onto Hazuki. As the action returns to the ring, these two start bicycle kicking the shit out of each other because... why not... and eventually hit a double knockdown. Side note, it was great to hear the crowd so loud and active after having to listen to clap crowds for the majority of this project. As I said before, though, these two never let off of the gas and eventually battle to the top rope where Hazuki hits a shoot headbutt followed by an avalanche suplex.
Hazuki keeps the pressure on, locking in a nasty double-arm trapped crossface. At this point of the match, you would think it's over because Saya Kamitani's eyes fade to the back of her head like the Undertaker. Alas, Kamitani breaks the hold with a rope break and the match continues. Hazuki eventually hits a corner-trapped lungblower on Kamitani followed by a diving senton for a near fall. Hazuki then hits a mean brainbuster but once again gets a two-count. The crowd was roaring for Hazuki, but it just didn't happen to be her night once again.
This is getting long so let's wrap up this play-by-play. Kamitani eventually is able to slow down Hazuki's momentum before hitting a spinning Star Crusher (man, this has become one of my favorite moves in wrestling ). This doesn't put Hazuki away, so, Kamitani hits another Star Crusher followed up by a Firebird Splash (still no Phoenix Splash), but Hazuki still won't stay down. Kamitani then says fuck it and hits two Star Crushers to claim the victory.
This brought a tear to my eye. Remembering how badly the crowd wanted Hazuki to finally win the White Belt all for it to get swept away really hurt. Quite frankly, if it wasn't for the conclusion to Kamitani's title reign being Mina Shirakawa (which was a must, all things considered), I would have loved to see even a short transitional reign from Hazuki. Nonetheless, this was a fantastic match and I truly cannot speak highly enough of it. It was a phenomenal final title defense from, dare I say, one of the greatest champions in Stardom's history.