HANAKO and Waka Tsukiyama Retain at STARDOM New Blood 23, Momo Kohgo Suffers Another Setback

By: Pep S. Caro

Empress neXus Venus duo defeats Yuria Hime and Momo Kohgo in latest blow to wrestler who lost mentor Mayu Iwatani to rival promotion

HANAKO and Waka Tsukiyama successfully retained their championship at STARDOM New Blood 23 yesterday, defeating the team of Yuria Hime and Momo Kohgo in a match that highlighted both triumph and continued adversity for the competing wrestlers. The victory represents another significant step forward for the powerhouse HANAKO while providing a feel-good moment for the diminutive Tsukiyama.

The defeat marks another painful setback for Momo Kohgo, who continues to struggle following the devastating loss of her senpai Mayu Iwatani to rival promotion Marigold. Kohgo’s inability to capture championship gold compounds the emotional blow of losing her mentor and training partner to the competing organization.

HANAKO’s retention further establishes her position as one of Japan’s strongest women’s wrestlers, showcasing the technical prowess and physical dominance that has made her a standout performer in STARDOM’s competitive landscape. Her partnership with Tsukiyama demonstrates the effective combination of power and agility that has made Empress neXus Venus a formidable faction.

For Waka Tsukiyama, the victory provides a much-needed morale boost following her own mentor’s departure. The fan favorite has been working to establish her trajectory after losing Mina Shirakawa to American promotion All Elite Wrestling, making yesterday’s championship retention a significant confidence builder.

Both Kohgo and Tsukiyama face the difficult task of continuing their careers after losing influential mentors to other promotions. The parallel situations highlight the current competitive landscape in women’s wrestling, where talent movement between promotions has created both opportunities and emotional challenges for emerging wrestlers.

Kohgo’s struggle to find success without Iwatani’s guidance represents the broader challenge facing wrestlers who must transition from apprentice to independent competitor. Her partnership with Yuria Hime, while promising, has yet to yield the championship success that might help fill the void left by her departed mentor.

New Blood Concept Continues with 23rd Iteration

The match took place within STARDOM’s New Blood series, events that mainly focus on matches where rookie wrestlers, usually with three or fewer years of in-ring experience, evolve. The series has been held since 2022 and slowly became a developmental sub-brand of the promotion, providing a crucial platform for emerging talent to develop their skills and gain experience.

The concept gives a bigger platform for less experienced Joshi wrestlers, with wrestlers from other promotions also invited to join, giving the events a unique feel and separating it from their normal events. This cross-promotional element creates opportunities for wrestlers to face different styles and gain exposure beyond their home promotions.

The New Blood series serves as STARDOM’s primary developmental vehicle, allowing younger wrestlers to gain valuable experience in a less pressure-filled environment than the promotion’s major events. Besides wrestlers from Stardom, various superstars from multiple promotions of the Japanese independent scene are invited to compete in bouts, creating a diverse competitive environment.

The series has expanded beyond Tokyo, with events like New Blood West bringing the developmental concept to different regions of Japan. STARDOM went west for the first time with their brand NEW BLOOD, giving the young wrestlers of tomorrow a chance to showcase themselves at NEW BLOOD WEST 1 in Osaka.

For wrestlers like HANAKO, Tsukiyama, Kohgo, and Hime, the New Blood series represents crucial stepping stones in their careers. The platform allows them to refine their skills, develop their characters, and build fan following in a supportive environment designed specifically for wrestler development.

The series also provides STARDOM with a systematic approach to talent development, ensuring that emerging wrestlers receive adequate ring time and experience before graduating to the promotion’s premier events. This developmental pathway has become increasingly important as the women’s wrestling landscape becomes more competitive and talent movement between promotions accelerates.

Yesterday’s championship match exemplified the New Blood series’ dual purpose: providing championship opportunities for developing wrestlers while creating compelling storylines that resonate with fans following these wrestlers’ journeys from apprentices to independent competitors.