#207: Syuri vs. Himeka, STARDOM Cinderella Tournament Finals (4/22/2022).
This is for Syuri’s World of Stardom Championship.
At this point in her reign, Syuri has just defected from Donna del Mondo and started her own stable, God’s Eye, bringing along Ami Sourei and MIRAI. Himeka is looking to get back at Syuri for abandoning their group, and to also bring the World of Stardom Title back to DDM.
The bell sounds, and we start with a hard lock up. Himeka gets Syuri against the ropes, and we get a clean break. They lock up again, and Himeka blocks an arm drag, and gives one to Syuri. She blocks a kick, and we have a stalemate. Syuri gets a takedown off, and immediately goes for an arm bar. Himeka is able to get her long legs to the rope to break the hold. Himeka tries for a takedown, and she’s able to get a front face lock applied.
Syuri escapes, but ends up getting her arm hammerlocked. Himeka with a side headlock, and Syuri applies one of her own. Himeka locks in a Sleeper Hold, and grapevines her legs around the midsection. Syuri is able to slip free and take top position, before trying for an arm bar again. Himeka slips free and puts Syuri in a Half Crab, and Syuri quickly transitions to top position. She backs away, and we get a clean break.
Syuri kicks low, then executes a snap mare into some hard kicks to the back. She follows that up with a hard one to the chest that gets a near fall. Syuri goes into an arm bar attempt next, and Himeka is able to get to the ropes. Himeka comes back with a clothesline in the corner, followed by a shoulder tackle for a 2 count. Himeka turns Syuri over into the Half Crab again, and Syuri is able to get to the ropes. Drop toe hold by Syuri, followed by a kick to the back and a running knee.
Himeka rolls to the floor, while Syuri goes to the apron. She flies off with a hurricanrana to Himeka! She tries for a powerbomb, but Himeka counters with a back body drop. She keeps the momentum on her side with a clothesline. Himeka scales the top rope, and hits a crossbody to the outside onto Syuri. Back inside the ring, Himeka traps Syuri in a torture rack for a moment, until Syuri escapes and hits a double arm suplex for a 2 count.
Syuri goes to the top rope, but is quickly cut off by Himeka. She grabs Syuri and hits a top rope Samoan Drop to the mat below! She’s only able to get a 2 count off of it. Himeka goes back to the Half Crab. She drags Syuri away from the ropes, and applies the full Boston Crab. Syuri crawls again, and she’s able to break the hold. Himeka hits a sit out Burning Hammer of sorts, and Syuri immediately reverses into a roll up for 2.
Out of that, Syuri applies the Arm bar again. Himeka gets her foot on the ropes to break it. Himeka with a knee to the midsection, while Syuri connects with a kick to the stomach. They each run the ropes, and Himeka connects with a knee to the head. Syuri is back up, and they begin throwing forearms. V Trigger by Syuri, followed by a lariat by Himeka. Both ladies sit on their knees, and begin throwing hard elbows.
Himeka’s strength gives her the advantage, as she drops Syuri, and follows with another lariat! Sliding lariat connects, and Syuri kicks out. Syuri blocks a powerbomb attempt into a roll up for 2. She then hits a running knee, and Himeka kicks out again. Implant DDT from the top rope is hit flush, and Himeka still kicks out. Syuri with some hard kicks to the chest. She goes for a hurricanrana, but Himeka catches her and plants her with a powerbomb.
Himeka with a diving Jumping Knee from the top rope to Syuri, which only gets a 2 count. She whips Syuri into the turnbuckle, then connects with a clothesline to the back of the head. Running powerbomb out of the corner and across the ring, and Syuri just barely gets her shoulder up! Himeka places Syuri against the ropes, and hits multiple lariats against her chest. Syuri catches her running and applies the Dis-Arm-Her, Becky Lynch style!
Himeka escapes, but can’t block the Roundhouse Kick to the side of the head! Syuri covers, and Himeka kicks out! She goes back to the arm bar, She’s wrenching back hard, and Himeka’s shoulder looks fucked! Both arms are trapped, and Syuri grabs at Himeka’s leg, completely trapping her in the ring! Himeka uses her only free limb, her other leg, to touch the ropes. Himeka is back up and hits the Rainmaker out of nowhere! Syuri won’t go down, and kicks her in the head, then follows with a soccer kick to the face! She covers, and Himeka will not stay down!
German Suplex by Syuri, and she then kicks Himeka in the face on the top turnbuckle. She lifts her up for Syu-Sekai, and that’s enough to put the Jumbo Princess away for good. That was an awesome match! It still stands as one of my favorite matches from Syuri’s reign and STARDOM in general. It was a crazy back and forth struggle, as Himeka didn’t make Syuri’s road to victory easy in any way. The final five minutes of the match were incredible, as both men gave and took offense. Himeka at one point seemed like she was going to take this match, but Syuri’s championship experience gave her the edge, as well as her razor sharp striking skills.
Had the audience been allowed to cheer, I bet they would’ve been loud as hell during this match. Alas, their silence didn’t take away from this battle of attrition.