Jungle Kyona Vs Momo Watanabe (Stardom World in Nagoya 3/3/2019)

I got into Stardom in May of 2019, roughly 2 months after this match happened and it was already being held up as an all-timer by fans I had come into contact with at the time…..it's not that.

Now, I could use this fact to go into a massive rant about the hype culture that I found nauseating in my time covering the promotion for the Stardomcast, and how annoying it is that people hold the latest great match as an all-timer the second it's over but I won't. I respect your time and I mention that issue in my Stardom video.

My issue with this match is one of structure. Early in the match Jungle goes after Momo's leg, and honestly mechanically this section is great. Momo sells the danger of the attack super well and Jungle is focused as this is clearly her game plan…until it isn't. The back half of the match drops the leg targeting for the standard bomb fest ending common to most Stardom main events. The one possible call back to the extended leg segment I recall is Momo not being able to hold a bridge after a Tequila Sunrise, but that played more as a back issue than a leg issue. This segment feels like it existed to fill time more than anything else and that's an absolute pet peeve of mine. Especially here where Momo's selling in the moment was so strong. If the same energy was put into targeting the back or neck it would have played much better for what the match became as most of Jungle's moves targets those areas. This isn't a problem exclusive to this match, it's a common issue with a lot of main event wrestling throughout history but it especially ircked me here.

This match is still great, don't get me wrong. I really enjoyed it and it highlights one of the biggest strengths of Stardom. That being their strong roster of personalities.

Jungle is the obvious one to praise here, being one of the most earnest babyfaces the promotion has ever seen outside of Mayu Iwatani. This is on full display in the pre-match promo. It's corny and kinda bad but in an endearing way, like she's just so amped to be getting this shot in her home town.

Her endearing nature extends to her in-ring work, where she's incredibly expressive without overdoing it and becoming melodramatic. This is the kind of babyface you'd want to see win a title in their home town meaning her moments on top shine and you root for her when she's behind despite her clear size advantage. Her bombs in the back half are also wonderful and she's explosive enough to back up the sentiment she inspires.

Jungle as the hometown babyface is perfectly paired with dominant champion Momo Watanabe, making her 11th defence of the Wonder of Stardom championship. Momo is much more stoic than her challenger. That isn't to say she's expressionless, far from it. When she's in trouble you can definitely feel it. But for her, this isn't really an emotional occasion. She's someone who even at 19 years of age feels like a massive deal and she acts like it.

The finishing stretch is great, it's hard not to buy into the nearfalls and the big bombs. Especially if you invest in the characters which as mentioned is a strength of both Stardom and Jungle.

There's enough here for me to call it great and worth your time, but it's a frustrating great. A great that could be more. Like the kid so clever that he sleepwalks through life. This would get a B, but it should be an A.