Ayako Hamada Makes Emotional Return to Japan at VENY Produce BLOOM

By: Noah Leatherland

Ayako Hamada, a living joshi legend, made her return to Japan to face one of her pupils. In the main event of Korakuen Hall, Hamada faced VENY in the latter’s produce event in a match packed with emotion.

Ayako Hamada made her debut back in 1998, becoming a big name in the joshi scene of the late 90s and 2000s for the likes of ARSION and GAEA Japan. Hamada was one of the final women to hold the WWWA World Championship, and also became a prominent figure in Mexico and the USA. Hamada remained a big name on the joshi scene into the 2010s, holding the top championships in Pro Wrestling WAVE and Sendai Girls.

In 2018, Hamada’s career was turned upside down. Hamada was arrested for possession of methamphetamine. Pro Wrestling WAVE terminated her contract, and she was stripped of the Sendai Girls World Title. She announced her retirement, but returned to the ring a year later in Mexico, where she has been based since.

For VENY’s 11th anniversary, she wanted to face her trainer in the main event of Korakuen Hall, and booked the match against Ayako Hamada. As they stood across the ring from one another, Hamada competing in a Japanese ring for the first time in over eight years, both women were very visibly emotional. Back in Korakuen Hall, the venue where she became the third Queen of ARSION back in 2000, Hamada wound back the clock and gave VENY her very best.

Just shy of the 25 minute mark, VENY finally put her trainer away with a tiger suplex. Taking to the microphone after the bout, VENY shared just how much she adores Hamada:

While Ayako-san was away, I’ve actually risen to the very top of women’s pro wrestling… Even someone as tough as me is left with this much damage—Ayako-san is so cool, her timing is incredible, and even though she’s gotten a little bigger, she’s still a beauty. She’s still my idol… I really hope she’ll return to compete in Japan again.

(Quote translated via DeepL)

Addressing the audience herself, Hamada spoke from the heart about her own career, and of her father, the late Gran Hamada:

To be honest, I thought I would never step foot in a Japanese ring, at Korakuen, or in front of fans again. Lastly, please don’t forget my father. My father wanted to come back to Japan, so next year, the year after next, someday, please let me hold a show for my father. Please.

(Quote translated via meraWRESTLING on X)

In her backstage comments, VENY shared that she very much wants to face Hamada again:

There’s no doubt that Ayako Hamada is the one I’ve always looked up to, but after all, I’ve been competing in Japan for 11 years, so I came out on top today. I hope my mentor will work hard so she can beat me again.

Afterwards, Hamada shared a message for fans on social media:

Thank you so much for coming to today’s independently produced VENY show. We hope you’ll continue to support VENY now and in the future. And thank you so much for waiting for Ayako Hamada.

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

Here are the full results for VENY Produce BLOOM:

• Itsuki Aoki & Ryo Mizunami def. Rina Amikura & Yuki Kamifuku (10:50)
• Hayato Mashita, Ikuto Hidaka & Takuya Sugawara def. Hyo Ogawa, MAO & Naoya Akama (7:55)
• Makoto, Mima Shimoda & Nagisa Nozaki def. Chanyota, Maria & Rina (10:13)
• Jaguar Yokota & Yumiko Hotta def. Selene Misora & YUNA (11:40)
• Aja Kong & Chihiro Hashimoto def. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Rina Yamashita (15:47)
• VENY def. Ayako Hamada (24:29)