Stardom has announced that a former NXT Superstar along with a top CMLL Luchadora will take part in upcoming events in March.
Sareee, who competed as Sarray in NXT but is now signed with the unique ‘artistic’ Sukeban promotion in America, will be part of a showcase tag team match on Stardom’s March 9th Pay Per View event. Teaming with on/off rival Chihiro Hashimoto of Sendai Girls. Facing the Cosmic Angels duo of Wonder of Stardom Champion Saori Anou and Natsupoi, who is making her return from injury in the match. Natsupoi had faced Hashimoto in a match in Sendai Girls last year in a losing effort. While Sareee in media interviews in Japan had spoken of her interest in competing for New Japan’s IWGP Women’s Championship.
Many will speculate about Sareee being brought in after the removal of former Executive Producer Rossy Ogawa who has been critical in interviews about Sareee speaking about the IWGP Women’s Championship. Ogawa previously had booking power over the title in Stardom but with a new management team now in charge, and rumours of Stardom talents leaving to go to a new promotion Ogawa is forming, changes will no doubt continue in Stardom this year.
Meanwhile, CMLL Luchadora Stephanie Vaquer will challenge Giulia for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship on March 10th. Vaquer challenged unsuccessfully for the IWGP Women’s Championship at the NJPW Lonestar Shootout event in November of last year against Mayu Iwatani. However, Tokyo Sports in Japan has reported the ‘worst kept secret’ that Giulia will be leaving Stardom when her contract expires at the end of March. Alongside the rumours that this title match had been scheduled for the upcoming NJPW Strong Windy City Riot event but was cancelled when Giulia gave her notice of not resigning. So one would assume that a title change would happen in this event, especially with Vaquer and Stardom competitors AZM and Mina Shirikawa announced for the Windy City Riot.
Other matches announced for the March 9th PPV were the First Round Matches of the 2024 Cinderella Tournament, which this year has a heavy focus on underrated talents and those still early in their careers alongside top talents such as Starlight Kid, Saki Kashima and Natsuko Tora. March 10th will see Second Round matches with talents who received a bye such as two-time tournament winner MIRAI and 5-Star GP winner Suzu Suzuki.