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by Masami Kisaragi, December 5th, 1998 You'd be hard-pressed to prove that RINGST*RS doesn't have one of the best - if not *the* best - women's rosters of almost any Japanese promotion out there. Indeed, one can imagine without too much difficulty the ladies of RINGST*RS holding every major title out there. Some are already well on their way.... Which only complicates matters when one is attempting to decide the best candidate for the coveted ST*R Crown Championship. Being the first Women's Triple Crown World Title in recent memory [combining the 3WI, JNW, and WSIW Pacific Championships], the ST*R Crown is puroresu's crowning glory (forgive the pun); and whoever captures it is assured a very prestigious place in our sport. With a roster consisting almost solely of women under 25, RINGST*RS is setting a new standard of excitement for the 21st Century. Who will finally break from the pack and grab the gold ring in the sky when each and every woman currently in RINGST*RS is highly motivated and competent to say the least...? Let's have a look.... Samantha Bryant: Still a little rough around the edges, but at 5' 10" and 160 lbs., no one's going to say Sammy's not a contender. She's improving with every match, and her potential is vast. "The Purist" Mia Gaynor: Greco-Roman phenom - a little set in her ways, and not much in the charisma department, but she has experience, and certainly the ability to become a major star. I can picture her carrying RINGST*RS as champion, but not in the near future. Diamond Kenyuki: What can I say that hasn't already been said about puroresu's greatest superstar? No doubt about it - once she wins the ST*R Crown (never mind "if"), she'll deserve it. It's only a matter of time, believe me.... "The Arcane" Nina Miyagi: Former WSIW Pacific Champion. A truly tough competitor, who has demonstrated her considerable ring skills in just a handful of matches. She's definitely championship material, but I don't feel she has what it takes just yet. Soon, perhaps? Keiko Sakura: What can I say - the girl's got heart. And she's shown character by actually going out and using her talent instead of cashing in on her family name. The RINGST*RS staff hasn't given her a free ride either, and Keiko's displayed some legitimate ability in the process. However, in my opinion she needs to work even harder to establish her status as a "real" challenger. April "Coldfire" Shimoda: She's got the looks, the charisma, and the talent. Moreover, she has a real knack for marketing her own image, and despite her relatively young age [she turns 21 on December 27], April's already shown herself to be a world-class competitor. I can't imagine her without some sort of title before the year 2000. ST*R Crown material? Why not? Erin Solie: Wow. The Interim JNW Champ, and the one girl who's as unbeatable as you're likely to get. I can't think of a single weakness Erin has. Proof you can still be successful by remaining totally businesslike. Misae Suzuki: Ever heard "The Obvious Child" by Paul Simon? If there were such a thing as being "too" over, Misae's picture would be in the dictionary next to the definition. RINGST*RS' JNW Champion might be the best young star in wrestling today, period. Misae's almost guaranteed the ST*R Crown, but she has a lot of girls ready to pull ahead of her. The question is, can she outlast them all: and even then, can she hang on...? Holly Volley: Very fast, very agile, and very over - it also helps that she's cute. She seems to lack focus, however, and tries to be everything all at once. Other than that, Holly's sure to make her presence felt on the world title scene. Kenyuki, Solie, Suzuki, and their peers would be wise by not underestimating her. Princess Yamaguchi: Enjoyable gimmick. She's made a good entrance into RINGST*RS, which certainly isn't an easy thing to do; and no doubt she's got charisma. One of the smaller women, and hardly tested in the ring, so I guess I'll wait and see what develops. As you can see, not an easy decision by any stretch of the imagination. Director Yamada will certainly have her work cut out for her when deciding who'll carry women's puroresu into the next millennium. Can't say I envy her! When all is said and done though, there isn't a single woman in RINGST*RS who lacks the potential to capture - and successfully retain - the ST*R Crown. In my opinion, this means one of two things: one woman will possess the ST*R Crown for a very long time; or the title will change hands frequently. All important things to consider when the world championship is up for grabs.... Who's next? You tell me. 
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