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Yes my Stardom friends it's that time of year again. All global pandemic caveats aside, the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix is due to start on 31st July 2021, running through until the end of September (see Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2021 | Blocks and Full Schedule | English. (prowrestlingmusings.com) for the full schedule of matches).
It will be a gruelling battle between 10 wrestlers in each block (Blue and Red stars, for the uninitiated) aiming to win their group, go on to the final and attempt to follow in the footsteps of former winners Io Shirai, Kairi Hojo (Kairi Sane for any heathens reading) Toni Storm and the late, great Hana Kimura.
This year's tournament features exclusively Japanese wrestlers, but believe me when I say that it is more than packed with enough talent to create a scintillating two months of Joshi wrestling.
So below are the runners and riders for this year's festivities, and come back to prowrestlingmusings.com in the near future to get the views and predictions of some very learned beings.
I've added my own odds for each competitor...but please note that if you guess the correct winner I will be paying you absolutely nada.
Still the 'Ace' of Stardom, Mayu Iwatani continues to have a tough time of it in 2021. Having lost most of her STARS stable in the last 6 months, the 2018 5 Star GP winner will see this year's tournament as a welcome distraction. She has been picking up form recently and her 2021 singles record is still impressive, but will Mayu finally be able to see some light at the end of the 2021 tunnel.
Odds of Winning: 10/1
One half of the Goddess of Stardom Champions, and on a superb run of individual form, Giulia has to go into the tournament as one of the favourites. Matches against Donna Del Mondo stablemates Himeka and Natsupoi look tantalising, as does another go around with Mayu Iwatani after their time-limit draw in May.
Odds of Winning: 3/1F
With a fairly terrible recent record (albeit largely caused by self-inflicted Oedo Tai DQs) and a lack of singles action in 2021, it looks like it will be a tough block for Saki Kashima. Having said that she is now a relatively wily 5 Star GP veteran, so don't be surprised if she does pick up a few wins, particularly if her stable manages to assist without getting caught for once.
Odds of Winning: 500/1
The new Future of Stardom Champion, and one third of the Artist of Stardom Champions, it would still be a huge turn-up for the books if Mina Shirakawa troubled the top of the Red Stars block. Yet with recent tournament success (in the Future of Stardom Tournament) under her belt(s) perhaps she will surprise us all?
Odds of Winning: 100/1
A late replacement for the desperately unlucky Natsuko Tora, Fukigen Death will be looking to make the head of Oedo Tai proud. Unfortunately her 2021 singles record suggests that may be a bit too much to ask, but we can at least be guaranteed some entertaining 'sad clown' antics over the course of the tournament.
Odds of Winning: 5000/1
The most recent addition to the Stardom roster (albeit not her first go around in the promotion), Koguma has been putting in some impressive performance in tag-team matches with Mayu Iwatani recently. That said, her lack of singles experience suggests she'll struggle a bit this year, although watch-out for that match against her STARS mentor Mayu.
Odds of Winning: 1000/1
One of the most intriguing entrants in this year's tournament, Starlight Kid is now embracing her 'dark' side after her forced move from STARS to Oedo Tai. It hasn't helped her win/loss record at all, but others in the Red Stars block will do well not to underestimate the newly focused Kid. She also has a match for the White Belt with Tam Nakano ahead of the start of the tournament, so it could be a big few weeks for the former High Speed Champion.
Odds of Winning: 50/1
Momo Watanabe looked set to sweep all before her in last year's 5 Star Grand Prix, but as so often in her Stardom history she was eclipsed by another as her stable-mate Utami took the crown. Momo has quietly been racking up some decent results in tag matches, but if she continues her habit of drawing in singles matches (both Maika and Unagi have taken her the distance recently) then she may struggle. I still expect her to be there or there-abouts though.
Odds of Winning: 15/1
Natsupoi was having an absolutely stellar 2021 before picking up an injury, but the High Speed Champion is now back and raring to go in her first 5 Star Grand Prix. Her defeat earlier this year to Tam Nakano suggests she may not be quite at the elite level in Stardom yet, but a few big wins early on could quickly change that perception.
Odds of Winning: 50/1
Last year's beaten 5 Star Grand Prix finalist, Himeka hasn't been able to fully capitalise on that great tournament run in 2020. But you cannot ignore the fact that she's easily the most powerful competitor in the Red Stars block, and her singles form in 2021 has remained very solid. Plus, having won her block last year, she will be champing at the bit to go one step further this time around.
Odds of Winning: 25/1
Whilst she is currently one-third of the Artist of Stardom Champions, Unagi will be hurting after failing to capture the Future of Stardom Championship from Cosmic Angels stable-mate Mina Shirakawa. She also has A LOT of singles defeats on her resume going into this tournament. However she has had good records in both tournaments in 2021 to date and will see the 5 Star Grand Prix to really see if she can join the top table.
Odds of Winning: 100/1
The wildcard of the entire tournament. Takumi Iroha comes into the 5 Star Grand Prix from outside of Stardom entirely (she is part of the Marvelous promotion) and has also wrestled just once in 2021. But anyone who saw her decimate Mayu Iwatani in February 2020 will know how dangerous Iroha can be and there certainly won't be many of the Blue Stars looking forward to facing her.
Odds of Winning: 10/1
With 13 singles losses on her dance-card in 2021 it looks as if Ruaka may well be the 'whipping-girl' of the Blue Stars block. Her main hope of success may come in potential Oedo Tai shenanigans, but as her record in the last 10 matches shows this rarely helps the former member of STARS.
Odds of Winning: 5000/1
The 2019 5 Star Grand Prix losing finalist, Konami has had a fairly forgettable time since losing that match to Hana Kimura. In 2021 she has lost to Natsupoi, Syuri and Maika in one-on-one competition and was probably heading into the tournament without a lot of enthusiasm. Two recent draws with both the White Belt and Red Belt holders though show Konami can still be a force, and with Natsuko Tora injured, Oedo Tai's chances seem to rely on Konami.
Odds of Winning: 15/1
The Stardom prodigy goes into the 5 Star Grand Prix without a title having lost her High Speed belt to Natsupoi earlier this year. But with experience of two previous 5 Star campaigns already, AZM will see this as an opportunity to take a step-up, and even if she doesn't win the block, she may well have a big say in who does.
Odds of Winning: 50/1
Maika has stalled slightly after losing the final of the Cinderella Tournament to Saya Kamitani, but she will look to her fantastic debut performance in last year's 5 Star Grand Prix for confidence. As with AZM, the strength of the block means it will be tough for her to come out on top, but she will undoubtedly pick up a few big scalps on the way.
Odds of Winning: 50/1
The force of nature that is Syuri will again go into a tournament as one of the favourites, and who could bet against her taking the crown in 2021? She holds a win and a draw over Red Belt holder Utami and there will be plenty hugely looking forward to their encounter as part of the Blue Stars block. It would be very surprising if Syuri isn't in the running come the final round of matches, where she is slated to meet Takumi Iroha in what will undoubtedly be a bone-jarring affair.
Odds of Winning: 5/1
Can the Cinderella Tournament winner add a 5 Star Grand Prix to her list of achievements? It's certainly not unthinkable, but certainly a tall order for Tall Saya. Her defeat to White Belt holder Tam Nakano off the back of the Cinderella Tournament win, coupled with a defeat earlier in the year to Utami, shows that Kamitani has a bit of a way to go yet. But this will be valuable experience for a wrestler destined for bigger things in the near future.
Odds of Winning: 25/1
Tam is having a wonderful 2021. Part of the all conquering Cosmic Angels Artist of Stardom Champions, Tam has also captured the White Belt from nemesis Giulia and held onto it in two tough defences against Natsupoi and Saya Kamitani. This is also Tam's 5th entry into the 5 Star Grand Prix and she has come close to winning her block before. It's a very tough block, but Tam's form certainly suggests she will be one of the front-runners.
Odds of Winning: 10/1
The holder of the 5 Star Grand Prix. The holder of the Red Belt. The holder of what is becoming an increasingly impressive list of title defences. Utami Hayashashita is one of the best champions anywhere in wrestling today. She will have been disappointed to win her match with Natsuko Tora due to injury, but moving forward she will know she is a target for everyone in the Blue Stars block. Will she finally be able to topple Syuri? Will she leave herself open to future challengers with any defeats? Will she go back-to-back winner for the first time in Stardom history? Anything is possible with Utami.
Odds of Winning: 5/1