Stardom Tokyo Dream Cinderella Special Edition 5/12/2021 - Utami Hayashishita vs Syuri

Stardom Tokyo Dream Cinderella Special Edition 5/12/2021 - Utami Hayashishita vs Syuri 

My hand was forced into reviewing this after another overhyped Dave Meltzer rating.

The first 15 minutes were pretty much a waste of time that didn't lead to much of anything. They teased working the arm and leg.

Syuri did a back bump onto the floor from the apron and took an air raid crash on the apron after 20 minutes then Syuri botched a headscissors on the floor. Syuri then took a nasty wheelbarrow german on the apron edge which was a dangerous spot that should have ended the match. Syuri got right back up though 20 seconds later and kicked out of a top rope dropkick from Utami. Syuri hit a sloppy tornado ddt after that and tried another armbar.

They started counting down the time early here and the announcers made it very obvious that the time was going to play a facto here. Syuri then was sitting on the top rope and was german suplexed. Syuri no sold it and then traded slaps with Utami seconds later. Syuri then takes a schwein and is as good as new 15 seconds later. They go to a draw and like a moron, Utami decides to continue this instead of going home and getting the easy defense.

They announce more time and they flurry each other with forearms. Utami gets lawn darted into the buckle then planted with a DDT for 2. Syuri then goes for the armbar again. Utami hits a bounce back german then starts slapping her and Syuri returns fire. They trade forearms and then Syuri puts her in a deem stretch muffler at 35 minutes. Syuri hits a stiff straightjacket sitout powerbomb for 2.

They go up top and Syuri hammerlock suplexes her up there and then hammerlocks her but Utami hits the ropes. Utami comes right back up soon after and germans her then spinning torture rack bombs her for 2. Syuri comes back and armbars her and Utami hits the ropes. Syuri hits an emerald flowsion on Utami's head at 40 minutes but Syuri kicks out at 2. Syuri gets her kick blocked and is powerbombed. Utami then hits the spinning razor's edge and Syuri hits the ropes. Utami hits some bolo punches and they trade strikes.

They then GO TO ANOTHER DRAW as neither girl gets up in time for the ten count and that's it. Total bs finish here. Does Utami not want to fight anymore now after wanting to extend it earlier?

Overall thoughts: The early part of the match was a waste of time. They telegraphed the 30 minute time limit draw. There was little selling here and rating this so high with that ending really doesn't seem right at all. Why would Utami not extend this after doing so at 30 minutes? She wanted to prove something by continuing it, right? I liked the strike exchanges and I wish they would have focused more on that instead of the other stuff. It was better than I expected and despite the length, the match didn't drag as I expected. I'm not seeing anywhere even close to 5 1/2 stars on this though.