Maika Wins World of Stardom Championship

The Crimson Empress has proved the doubters won by becoming the new World of Stardom champion

By: James Carlin

Today at STARDOM’s final show of the year, Dream Queendom, Maika defeated Suzu Suzuki to win the vacant World of Stardom championship. The Empress has been involved in many title challenges for both the Red Belt and the White Belt, always coming short. But now she is finally proven everyone wrong who thought she would never be able to win either belts, as STARDOM enters 2024 under the domain of the Empress.

Backstage, her former tag team partner Himeka greeted her following her title win against Suzu Suzuki.

Prior to winning the title, Maika had unsuscessfully challenged for the belt three times – twice against Utami Hayashishita (in January and November 2021) and once against Syuri (November 2022).

Following the retirement Himeka in April at Yokohama Arena earlier this year, Maika had the opportunity to show a new side of herself, becoming more aggressive, hostile and competitive as the year went on. She won this year’s Goddess of Stardom Tag League with Megan Bayne, but the duo were unable to capture the vacant Goddess of Stardom titles in November against the returning AphroditE, who became three-time champions by defeating Maika and Bayne.

Maika admitted that she comtemplated retirement after losing in the 5STAR GP finals to Suzu Suzuki; she powered through the sadness and pushed and climbed her way to the top of the company, where she can proudly proclaim herself as World of Stardom champion.

All photos by Masahiro Kubota. Copyright Monthly Puroresu LLC.