Utami Hayashishita Challenges Saya Kamitani, Ema Maishima Joins Neo Genesis and More at STARDOM in Sendai

By Noah Leatherland

STARDOM is on the road to THE CONVERSION later this month, stopping off in Sendai. The event in Sendai PIT brought some faction news and big challenges made that are sure to make waves in the upcoming STARDOM events.

The event kicked off with the first appearance of the Itoh Respect Gundan since becoming a trio. Rian has joined ranks with Maki Itoh and Kikyo Furusawa, and has also got new gear to match the faction’s black and red aesthetic.

The Itoh Respect Gundan picked up a win over two-thirds of the Artist of Stardom champions, with Rian scoring a pin on Hina. The newly expanded faction then made their intentions to claim the trios belts known:

Rian: The Itoh Respect Gundan won! Please let the three of us challenge for the Artist titles!

 

Hina: Hey, Rian. First of all, Rian, that costume looks incredibly good on you. You say you want to challenge for the Artist titles? It’d be a total waste not to face the Itoh Respect Gundan while they’re riding this huge wave of momentum right now. The answer is, of course, yes. Let’s fight with the belts on the line!

Ami Sohrei, Hina and Lady C are set to defend their titles on June 14th against the Cosmic Angels team of Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori and Aya Sakura. It has been confirmed that the winners of that title match will go on to defend the belts against the Itoh Respect Gundan at THE CONVERSION on June 20th.

Another faction gained a permanent member, as Neo Genesis officially brought Ema Maishima. Maishima had received invitations to join the faction and has been tagging with the various members over the past several STARDOM events. Here in Sendai, Maishima went one-on-one with Miyu Amasaki, with Amasaki emerging as the winner. Afterwards, words were exchanged and Maishima finally accepted the invitation:

Amasaki: Ema, you won the Rookie of STARDOM all on your own, you really are a rising star of anticipation. I felt that spirit of yours. Your path, the path you are walking, is still endless from here on out. But, I heard from someone that at the end of that walk, an infinite future is waiting for you. I have no intention of turning you into a doll, nor a bird in a cage. Walk the path you believe in until the very end.

 

Maishima: Please wait! Please wait! It’s true that I was afraid of change and afraid of changing myself, so I stayed completely frozen on my own for the longest time. But, by teaming up with everyone in Neo Genesis like this, and being able to fight you today, Amasaki-san, someone who grew stronger without fearing change, it made me realize that I want to grow together in Neo Genesis too! Thank you so much!

Utami Hayashishita’s return matches continued in four-on-four action, as she teamed with Hanan, Saya Iida and Matoi Hamabe to take on H.A.T.E.’s Natsuko Tora, Ruaka, Konami and Azusa Inaba. The match came to an end when Saya Kamitani ran in to interfere, helping Tora hit a double-team before Ruaka finished the job with a German suplex hold. This was Hayashishita’s first loss since coming back to STARDOM.

Kamitani entered the ring again to address her fallen rival, with Hayashishita taking the microphone to issue a challenge in response:

Kamitani: You know, you’ve been having singles matches with crappy rookies since last week and acting all buddy-buddy with your peers, is that why you came back to STARDOM? Get down on your knees and beg. Begg. If you do that, Saya-sama will fight you.

 

Hayashishita: Kamitani, you don’t have a clue what kind of feelings I had coming back here, or why I’m standing here right now. But… I don’t understand you at all either, Kamitani. There’s got to be… there’s got to be more than this, right? We spent so much time together, so there’s got to be more than this, right? I still have so many things I haven’t been able to tell you, Kamitani. June 20th, the Yoyogi show. Fight me, Kamitani.

(Quotes translated via meraWRESTLING on X)

Kamitani did not answer Hayashishita’s challenge, instead, turning and leaving the ring.

Anne Kanaya has also been looking to join a faction, namely the Cosmic Angels. In the Sendai main event, she successfully teamed with Saori Anou and Sayaka Kurara to defeat Xena, Akira Kurogane and Suzu Suzuki. In the post-match comments, Kanaya was offered an opportunity for the June 14th. Kurara will go one-on-one with her, to evaluate whether she is fit to join the Cosmic Angels. Kanaya excitedly stepped up to the challenge:

I’ll take that challenge. I’ve always wanted to have a singles match with Kurara-san. To be honest, you might think I’m not ready yet, but you never know what might happen in pro wrestling. I’m going to go head-to-head with you, so come and take me down. I’m going to take you down, Kurara-san.

(Quote translated via DeepL)

Here are the full results for STARDOM in Sendai, June 6th, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Maki Itoh, Kikyo Furusawa & Rian def. Ami Sohrei, Hina & Tomoka Inaba (10:26)
• Maika & HANAKO def. Starlight Kid & AZM, Saya Kamitani & Rina and Koguma & Waka Tsukiyama (7:12)
• Natsupoi, Yuna Mizumori & Aya Sakura def. Syuri, Lady C & Ranna Yagami (10:13)
• Miyu Amasaki def. Ema Maishima (9:33)
• Natsuko Tora, Konami, Ruaka & Azusa Inaba def. Utami Hayashishita, Hanan, Saya Iida & Matoi Hamabe (9:48)
• Sayaka Kurara, Saori Anou & Anne Kanaya def. Suzu Suzuki, Xena & Akira Kurogane (13:36)