Cross-Promotion Matches Between Stardom And AEW We'd Love To See
David Craig While AEW's women's division continues to evolve and grow, over in Japan, Stardom has grown into the best haven for women's wrestling in the world. A joshi promotion consisting of only women's wrestling, Stardom has become the premiere destination for those looking for great women's wrestling.
RELATED: 10 Most Underrated Women's Matches In AEW (So Far)
With "The Forbidden Door" being a term that is now thrown around on the regular, and with more and more companies working together, what if AEW and Stardom were to team up for a special cross promotion show with their wrestling stars facing off?
10 Nyla Rose vs. Natsupoi
Despite not always getting the recognition that she deserves, Nyla Rose has been a staple of AEW's women's division since day one of the company. More noteworthy is the fact that Nyla has often done her best work when paired up against smaller women, and most notably, joshi talent, like Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Yuka Sakazaki.
In a match against Stardom's Natsupoi, Nyla would not only have a smaller woman to throw around, who could sell exceedingly well for her, but she would also have a fast-paced joshi star that could use her energy to bounce well off of Nyla's slower, more power-based offense.
9 Riho vs. Himeka
Having spent some time in Stardom, Riho is already familiar with the roster and could be paired up against anyone. However, for this show her opponent would be Himeka, a former Tag Team and Trios Champion within Stardom.
With Himeka being a newer talent for Stardom, debuting in 2020, this match would let her be paired up against one of AEW's best women's wrestlers in the form of Riho, as well as being one of the most popular joshi talents currently wrestling.
8 Jamie Hayter vs Thekla
Since returning to AEW in the latter half of 2021, Jamie Hayter has left fans increasingly impressed with every outing in the ring. Similarly, after making her Stardom debut at the beginning of 2022, Thekla has made quite the positive impression on fans, most notably in her fantastic feud with Mina Shirakawa over the SWA Championship.
Hayter's history in Stardom could be used to build a story, with Thekla joining the company in early 2022, and filling the gaijin gap left by Hayter, Priestley, and Storm all leaving the company. Not only that, but the two would give each other hell between the ropes, leading to an exciting bout!
7 Kris Statlander vs. Hazuki
A potential show-stealing match, Kris Statlander battling Hazuki would certainly be a bout that fans of either woman would want to keep their eyes on.
Statlander has long been one of the more underrated stars within AEW, with great outings against many opponents, and Hazuki, while beloved by many, has yet to reach the top. A match between the two women could allow both to shine, giving Hazuki a chance to be seen by North American audiences, while Statlander could get a shot against a top joshi star!
6 Anna Jay vs. Tam Nakano
Anna Jay has been seemingly chosen by AEW as one of the future stars of the company, with her receiving a healthy push on television after being handpicked for The Dark Order by the late, great Brodie Lee. Since then, she has impressed on many occasions and looks to be heading in a promising direction.
Having "The Queenslayer" face off against one of Stardom's best talents in the form of Tam Nakano would not only be a test for Anna Jay, to see how she fairs against a talent at the level of Tam, but it would also give the rising AEW star some much-needed experience against someone of Tam's caliber.
5 Tay Conti vs. Starlight Kid
In terms of bright young prospects across the ecosystem of professional wrestling, the stars do not get much brighter than Tay Conti and Satrlight Kid. With the former being 26 years old, and the latter being 20, the two women are likely to be featured players in any company for years to come.
RELATED: Tay Conti & 8 Other Former WWE Wrestlers Who Have Been Used Better In AEW
Since joining AEW, Tay has shown significant improvement in nearly every match, opting to focus on a fast-paced, strike-centric offense. SLK has been proven to be one of the hottest prospects in joshi wrestling, currently holding the High Speed Championship. A match between these two would serve as a proper showcase of the future.
4 Britt Baker vs. Mayu Iwatani
Despite fans either loving or hating her, Britt Baker has become the face of the women's division in All Elite Wrestling, and with that being the case, it would only feel right to pair her against the face of Stardom. Being the Icon of Stardom, Mayu Iwatani would serve as a fantastic opponent for Baker in this situation.
While the D.M.D. has not always lived up to the level of push she has received in AEW, her best bouts have come against Riho and Hikaru Shida, two incredibly talented joshi stars. While not a guarantee, having Baker face off against Iwatani would not only be a marquee match between two huge names, but it would also be a satisying match for fans.
3 Serena Deeb vs. Giulia vs. Saya Kamitani
Since debuting in AEW, Serena Deeb has showcased her veteran skills in nearly every outing, standing out as one of the most talented women in the company, and showing why she deserves to be there. Her two opponents in this triple threat would be Stardom's Giulia and Saya Kamitani.
RELATED: Is Serena Deeb Actually The Best Women's Wrestler Today?
With Giulia and Saya being two of the best that Stardom has to offer, and Deeb being capable of working almost any style of match, a cross-promotional triple threat between the three women would be a surefire success, and a match that many would not soon forget.
2 Thunder Rosa vs. Utami Hayashishita
Thunder Rosa has proven to be a proper fan favorite since joining AEW full-time in 2021. Not only that, but she has a proven track record of delivering great work anytime she is in the ring, with her fast-paced, aggressive style. Meanwhile, Utami Hayashishita has been on the fast track to superstardom, quite literally in Stardom, as she is only 23 years old and is already one of the best in the world.
A match-up against Utami Hayashishita would be an instant classic among two of the best women's wrestlers in the world today, while also being an incredibly stiff, frenetic, joyride of a match.
1 Hikaru Shida vs. Syuri
With Hikaru Shida being one of the most liked women in AEW, and a former AEW Women's World Champion, and Syuri having risen to the top of Stardom as World of Stardom Champion, one could easily just pair the two together for a match, but the joshi stars have quite a bit of history.
With Syuri making her debut in Ice Ribbon, another joshi promotion, in 2011 against Shida, and the two having spent numerous years working together and against one another across several Japanese promotions, it would only make sense to have this match as the main attraction for a cross-promotional affair with AEW and Stardom.