Kikyo Furusawa & Rian Win NEW BLOOD Tag Team Titles at STARDOM Nighter

By: Noah Leatherland

The NEW BLOOD Tag Team Championships changed hands at the latest STARDOM Nighter in Korakuen Hall. Itoh Respect Gundan members Kikyo Furusawa and Rian unseated Sakurara, claiming the gold in the main event.

The pair of Aya Sakura and Sayaka Kurara were getting close to the one year mark as NEW BLOOD champions, having won the belts back in October 2025. However, this was just their third title defence. Furusawa and Rian took the fight right to champions, eager to bring some hardware home to their faction.

Rian was the one that scored the deciding pinfall, clinching it after hitting Sakura with the Hanaguruma. As emotions ran high, with Maki Itoh there celebrating with her mentees, Rian was the first to take the microphone:

I’m not very good at showing my emotions or putting them into words, but I was able to win this title. I was the last to make my debut among the 2023 class, and I was also the last to win a title, but I’m really happy that I was able to do it.

The, Furusawa addressed the crowd, feeling similar elation:

I was the last of the 2025 group to make my debut, but I was the first to win the belt… I’ll get even stronger, and I’ll definitely win in our next title defense.

Despite being on the losing side, Sayaka Kurara took the microphone and congratulated the new champions:

I think the two of you can do it. Since you took the title from Sakura-ra, please make the NB Tag division even more exciting.

Then, it was Maki Itoh’s turn to speak to Furusawa and Rian:

I’m so glad I believed in the two of you, and I’m incredibly happy that you both followed me. I’m truly proud of you. Congratulations… Since it’s Ito Respect Gundan, I wanted the three of us to achieve something together. So, how about the three of us deliver results and then bring up the idea of making the faction official with the company?

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

The trio closed the show with a united cry of ‘Itoh Respect Gundan, Forever!’ before heading backstage. In the post-match comments, each of them looked ahead to the upcoming Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. Despite just winning gold together, Furusawa and Rian will form new teams for the tournament. Rian asked to team with Natsupoi, who accepted the request. Then, Furusawa declared that she will be teaming with Kiyoka Kotatsu. Then, Maki Itoh’s quest to find a partner was finally completed, as Starlight Kid announced that she would form a team with her.

The Goddesses of Stardom Tag League kicks off on November 1st in Korakuen Hall.

Elswhere on the card, more championship matches were made. Azusa Inaba challenged Ranna Yagami for the Future of Stardom Championship, and that clash has been set for November 27th.

Here are the full results for STARDOM Nighter in Korakuen Hall:

• HANAKO def. Matoi Hamabe (10:14)
• Rina & Azusa Inaba def. Saya Iida & Yuria Hime (9:26)
• Maki Itoh, Rina Yamashita & Itsuki Aoki def. Ami Sohrei, Lady C & Kiyoka Kotatsu and Hazuki, Fuwa-chan & Waka Tsukiyama (8:47)
• Syuri, Hina, Tomoka Inaba & Ranna Yagami def. Natsupoi, Saori Anou, Yuna Mizumori & Anne Kanaya (10:55)
• Suzu Suzuki & Akira Kurogane def. Starlight Kid & Ema Maishima (10:52)
• Saya Kamitani, Konami & Ruaka def. Hanan, Maika & Utami Hayashishita (10:57)
• NEW BLOOD Tag Team Titles: Kikyo Furusawa & Rian def. Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara (c) (16:32)