Maika Opens Up About Struggles Faced Over Her Absence with Injury

By Noah Leatherland

Maika has been out of action with injury since May. Having been out of action for over six months, Maika spoke to Tokyo Sports about the struggles she has faced during her time away as she gets ready to return.

Maika had taken time off to recover from an elbow injury that had been bothering her for quite some time. Maika underwent surgery in June, but the road back to the ring has not been smooth:

While hospitalized, I tried to escape my room three times and was stopped by the nurses… After I was discharged and the 5★STAR GP started, I was a guest commentator, but I truly felt the worthlessness of being the previous year’s winner and not being able to stand in the ring, and for the first time in my life, I felt mentally ill. After the 5★STAR GP ended, I couldn’t even watch pro-wrestling anymore, and even after the cast came off, I couldn’t use my right hand properly, and with all these stresses piled up, I was drinking four liters of alcohol every day… I had no choice but to drown myself in it.

(Credit to meraWRESTLING on X for the quote translation)

Maika also spoke about seeing Saya Kamitani’s success during her absence, with Kamitani having a stellar year in the ring as well as regularly featuring on the TV show Love It!:

I think Kamitani’s success is a good thing. But precisely because we’re rivals from the same generation, I couldn’t help comparing it to when I was World Champion and hated myself, thinking, ‘I really have the worst timing,’ and I also thought the part of me that feels that way is ugly. I kept watching Love it! so I wouldn’t forget that frustration.

(Credit to meraWRESTLING on X for the quote translation)

During her time off, Maika also attended WWE recent SuperShow in Japan. Maika shared with Tokyo Sports the effect that attending that show had:

It became a chance to think about what I should be aiming for and what I want to become, and it felt like going back to my roots. I also met Giulia and got inspired.

(Credit to meraWRESTLING on X for the quote translation)

Maika concluded her interview with Tokyo Sports with her perspective on the current STARDOM landscape and a promise of the future.

I stepped away thinking they’d manage without me, but now HATE’s become the undisputed top dog. Why aren’t the babies saying anything? I’m disappointed in all three of ExV and the current babies too. That’s why I need to get back quickly and stop HATE, and Kamitani. Honestly, I’m in a rush now, so I’m cranking up the training and taking a lot of defensive moves. I’ll become Stardom’s hero!

(Translated with DeepL)