Saya Iida Discusses Importance of Wonder of STARDOM Title Ahead of No. 1 Contender’s Match

By Noah Leatherland

Saya Iida has a chance to become the Wonder of STARDOM Champion, with a No. 1 Contender’s match against Ami Sohrei scheduled for December 8th. Iida spoke to Tokyo Sports on how important the white belt is to her personally, as she looks to challenge Konami for it at Dream Queendom 2025.

Iida has never challenged for the Wonder of STARDOM Championship before. The wait has only made Iida even more hungry for the opportunity, saying:

I’ve been building up my feelings for the white belt all this time. But no matter what I did, I could never get a title shot; it’s like the white belt has been avoiding me. This chance came from Konami, who is Hanan-san’s enemy, but I can’t let this chance slip away. I will wear that belt at Ryogoku!

Iida also spoke on her experience with Wonder of STARDOM champions in the past. In February 2021, Iida faced off against the then reigning champion Giulia. Iida reflected on that match, and how that encounter framed the white belt in her mind:

Back then, I had just won the Future title, and after the match where I was beaten badly, Giulia told me, ‘Let’s do this someday, with the White Belt on the line.’ At that time, the White Belt seemed so far away for me, but that made me think, ‘Even someone like me can aim for the White Belt,’ and that’s when I started thinking about that White Belt.

The Wonder of STARDOM title holds much more personal significance to Iida. Iida has links to the white belt through her mentor, Jungle Kyona, dating back to Iida’s very first days with STARDOM. Iida’s recent match with Kyona has instilled her with even more desire to take the belt from Konami:

The first time I saw STARDOM live was at Io Shirai-san’s send-off show at Korakuen in June 2018. That day, my mentor, Kyona-san, was challenging Momo Watanabe for the Wonder Title. Since debuting in STARDOM, I’d heard about my mentor’s desire for the Wonder Title, and after our singles match recently, I felt like I had returned to my roots. After the match, she encouraged me by saying, ‘Let me challenge for the belt you hold someday,’ so I must take that belt from Konami. This chance for the White Belt that I’ve wanted for so long… I will use my powerful latissimus dorsi muscles to pull it in!

(Credit to meraWRESTLING on X for the quote translations)

Iida faces Ami Sohrei on December 8th, with the winner of that bout going on to challenge Konami at Dream Queendom on the 29th.