Here is the match video of the main event from STARDOM's Dec. 29 Korakuen Hall show. It was World of STARDOM Champion Io Shirai vs JWP Open Weight Champion Arisa Nakajima. Though the match is very good, I have a couple of big problems with it. Though I understand why STARDOM owner Rossy Ogawa would have this match on his year end show, title vs title matches in joshi are pointless because neither title will change hands. Fans aren't stupid. They know that politics won't allow a title change. So I'm sure you won't be surprised that this match was a thirty minute draw. Some might argue that it's a dream match between two young champions. A promoter might have been able to get away with that in the 90s but not today. Ogawa knows that fans are cynical but he does nothing to change that. The other problem was that both of these girls are babyfaces and there was no real rivalry to this match other than the double championship angle. Since that is flawed, Ogawa needed to figure out another angle. That's when politics gets in the way. JWP owner Commando Bolshoi won't let Arisa turn heel. She does try to be heelish during the match but she isn't very good at it. Would the previous JWP Open Weight Champion Kana have been a better opponent? Well, she knows how to be a heel. But she's freelance and there would be concern that she might go into business for herself. So with all those politics aside, the match is very good. I think Io is a better wrestler than Arisa right now. But they both get in their trademark spots and I think most fans will enjoy it. There were plenty of near falls at the end. But the end result was a foregone conclusion and that's hurts the match for me. Enjoy the video!
World of Stardom Title vs. JWP Openweight Title by cmrankin
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