Cinderella Swansong: Battle Grid

Remember when I wrote down every single participant in this year's Cinderella Tournament? Yeah. Me too. So at the time of writing this, the tournament bracket was announced. I am just doing this as I just collected every single match that has been announced in this tournament, so wish me luck when it comes to these predictions. This will be less of a hassle since I am talking about each match as supposed to each wrestler. I am gonna feature some people and I hope someone reads this like usual since I am kinda on the chopping block at the moment. Enough rambling (not really), let's get into it.

Cinderella Tournyament - First Round Matches:

As this year's tournament has 32 wrestlers, the format will be 2 brackets with 16 wrestlers each. The first two days which are March 6th & 7th will feature both the first and second round matches in one night for each side's date. Then the third round will happen on March 8th for both sides and the Quarterfinals will be on March 11. Much like all of the Stardom tournaments, the Semifinals and the Finals will happen on the last day on March 15th. 

March 6th:

Hanan [STARS] vs Momo Kohgo [STARS]:

• Winner faces Waka Tsukiyama or Ranna Yagami

The first match announced is the battle of the STARS teammates as it will be 2024 winner Hanan facing Momo Kohgo. Given the next match will be later, it seems like Hanan will be beating Momo Kohgo in this one. There are many upset that can happen, but it's not gonna happen here. Or maybe, it is Taro Okada booking this tournament.

• My Prediction: Hanan 

Waka Tsukiyama vs Ranna Yagami [God's Eye]:

• Winner faces Hanan or Momo Kohgo 

This one is an interesting bout due to both women's standing this year and it will be the first time that both women will face each other one on one. This can go either way given the recent tag team wins that Waka has had alongside Rian (who I'll mention later) and God's Eye have had less than stellar momentum in tags and some three ways. But I hope they maximise the minutes that they will get.

• My Prediction: Ranna Yagami

Kawaii Of Kawaii Champion Maki Itoh [Itoh Respect Army] vs Silver Of Kawaii Champion Kikyo Furusawa [Itoh Respect Army]:

• Winner faces Saori Anou or Fuwa-chan 

The most shocking first round match announcement coming from the press conference is that Silver Of Kawaii Champion Kikyo Furusawa will be facing Kawaii Of Kawaii Champion Maki Itoh. Given that these two are Itoh Respect Army teammates, a lot of people including myself were shocked that they are facing each other in the First Round match. Am I mad at it? Yes (not personally), especially given Maki Itoh is really lit a fire in STARDOM and Kikyo Furusawa is one of the top prospects in the company. I don't want them both to lose, but only one can remain.

• My Prediction: Kikyo Furusawa

Saori Anou [Cosmic Angels] vs Fuwa-chan:

• Winner faces Maki Itoh or Kikyo Furusawa

Fuwa-chan has really made a big impression since joining the promotion on a full-time basis in November. As much as I like Fuwa-chan... Saori Anou is definitely winning this. Logic aside, if Anou was able to scare the shit out of me by just looking at her, she gets my vote.

• My Prediction: Saori Anou

NEW BLOOD Tag Team Champion Aya Sakura [Cosmic Angels] vs Artist Of Stardom Champion Fukigen Death [HATE]:

• Winner faces HANAKO or Yuria Hime 

The battle of the tag champions are gonna commence as it will be Aya Sakura taking on Fukigen Death. Given that I have displayed my displeasure for HATE, I can't hate Fukigen Death regardless of what she does. Aya Sakura is someone I've shown love to on my posts about her. But since Fukigen Death is still a HATE member, my vote goes to Aya Sakura.

• My Prediction: Aya Sakura

Future Of Stardom Champion HANAKO vs Yuria Hime [STARS]:

• Winner faces Aya Sakura or Fukigen Death

HANAKO faces Yuria Hime in the First Round of the Cinderella Tournament. The current Future Of Stardom Champion enters the tournament she successfully defended the Future Of Stardom Title against Akira Kurogane to secure a V3. There is an interesting stake to this in a sense that Yuria Hime could win to gain a title shot for later down the road. And you might find my prediction a bit underwhelming. 

• My Prediction: Yuria Hime

High Speed Champion Yuna Mizumori [Cosmic Angels] vs Rian:

• Winner faces Natsupoi or Tabata 

The battle of two crowd favourites as High Speed Champion Yuna Mizumori and Rian in the First Round. This has the potential to be hidden gem in the tournament depending on the time that they are given on March 6th. I will be cheering for both of them to go through, but like I said before, only one can remain.

• My Prediction: Rian 

Natsupoi [Cosmic Angels] vs Tabata [CMLL]:

• Winner faces Yuna Mizumori or Rian

To cap off the First Round matches for March 6th will be co-leader of Cosmic Angels, Natsupoi taking on CMLL's Tabata. Tabata is in STARDOM on another excursion from CMLL and this will be her second time in the Cinderella. Natsupoi has something to prove here so let's see if these two will have a competitive match between each other.

• My Prediction: Natsupoi

March 7th

Saki Kashima [God's Eye] vs 2025 Winner & NEW BLOOD Tag Team Champion Sayaka Kurara [Cosmic Angels]:

• Winner faces Tomoka Inaba or Anne Kanaya 

The most intriguing match to be made for the First Round of the Cinderella Tournament as it's "The Ace Of The Kishikaisei" Saki Kashima taking on last year's winner and current NEW BLOOD Tag Team Champion Sayaka Kurara. The intriguing part is in the fact that Saki Kashima can pull a surprise her since most people expect Sayaka Kurara to advance to the next round. Given how things are being in a place for Kurara at the moment, I have a fun prediction here.

• My Prediction: Saki Kashima 

Tomoka Inaba [JTO/God's Eye] vs Anne Kanaya:

• Winner faces Saki Kashima or Sayaka Kurara

Tomoka Inaba faces Anne Kanaya to see who faces Kashima or Kurara... Yeah, I'm picking Tomoka Inaba to win this bout. It's not because I made a blog on her or Mihaawk threatened me to. It's mainly due to how Tomoka's stock has risen since last year. I like Anne Kanaya, but there is a long way to go for her.

• My Prediction: Tomoka Inaba

Akira Kurogane [Mi Vida Loca] vs Artist Of Stardom Champion Rina [HATE]:

• Winner faces Bea Priestley or Ami Sourei 

This is going to be potentially one of the standout bouts in this year's Cinderella Tournament as Mi Vida Loca's Akira Kurogane takes on Artist Of Stardom Champion Rina of HATE. This bout is probably one of the more predictable bouts in the tournament, but that doesn't matter here. Sometimes you want to sit back and watch two people beat the shit out of each other in 15 minute time limit span. However, since Rina is a HATE member...

• My Prediction: Akira Kurogane

Bea Priestley [STARS] vs Ami Sourei [God's Eye]:

• Winner faces Akira Kurogane or Rina

The next bout is STARS' Bea Priestley facing God's Eye's Ami Sourei. This might sound like a massive stretch, but I think Bea Priestley will win this match and advance to the next round. Like I said about Ami Sourei before, I don't know much about her, but I think that she is gonna lose to Bea Priestley. The reason for it is Bea is probably gonna lose to Kurogane or Rina in the second round of the tournament later in the show. 

• My Prediction: Bea Priestley

Hina [God's Eye] vs Xena:

• Winner faces Lady C or Azusa Inaba 

Talk about a full circle for the next bout in this tourney. 3 years ago, Xena made her STARDOM debut in the Cinderella Tournament. Who did she face at the time? Hina. Now it's 3 years later, Hina's stock has risen dramatically three years later. Hina is probably gonna win this which would make sense as a full circle moment. But it is nice trivia that I found on TG's X/Twitter page if you really are a fan of trivia. 

• My Prediction: Hina

Lady C [God's Eye] vs Queen Of JTO Champion Azusa Inaba [JTO/HATE]:

• Winner faces Hina or Xena

It's time to be very sad panda or a very happy panda depending on how you feel about this next one. It will be God's Eye's Lady C versus Queen Of JTO Champion Azusa Inaba of HATE. Lady C has had a terrible 2026 so far as she has become the BUSHI of God's Eye in terms of how many times she eats pins in tags. Azusa Inaba has been getting wins in tags given the HATE shenanigans. This will be the second singles bout as the first time they faced off was in last year's 5STAR with Lady C beating Azusa Inaba. In 2026, it seems like Azusa Inaba might get her win back. However, since she is a HATE member and I'm sorry Mihaawk...

• My Prediction: Lady C

Miyu Amasaki [Neo Genesis] vs Rina Yamashita [Mi Vida Loca]:

• Winner faces Saya Iida or Kiyoka Kotatsu

The next match in the First Round features Kevin taking on Rina Yamashita. Given the Cinderella Tournament has been the tournament to elevate the young wrestlers, I could see Amasaki taking this. But since that I am making the predictions, and not everyone else...

• My Prediction: Rina Yamashita 

Saya Iida [STARS] vs Kiyoka Kotatsu [God's Eye]:

• Winner faces Miyu Amasaki or Rina Yamashita 

Yeah... Saya Iida is getting my vote and that's it.

• My Prediction: Saya Iida

Post: So I think that is all of the first round matches covered for this addition of the tournament, I hope my ramblings were fun to read through given everything that has happened and the tournament is less than 48 hours from now. I am actually going to try and watch the Press Conference, but there are also loose ends I need to tie up first. And trust me, it's not only Dynamic Thunder Connection that is a bit of loose end. But you'll have to find out next time.

YEE HAW!!!!!!!

ZERO (or Archer)