Photo Credit: STARDOM
By: Lewis Carlan
On November 3rd at STARDOM CRIMSON NIGHTMARE 2025, Saya Kamitani will defend her World of STARDOM & NJPW STRONG Women Titles against the winner of the 5 STAR Grand Prix 2025 tournament Momo Watanabe. Both Kamitani and Watanabe are members of the STARDOM faction H.A.T.E. which adds intrigue to this championship bout.
Watanabe made her challenge for Kamitani’s titles back on Sept. 27th after Kamitani defeated AZM to win the NJPW STRONG Women’s title and become a double champion.
Traditionally, when a champion and challenger have a confirmed bout, there are a number of preliminary tag team matches in which each are on the opposite side. This is generally done so the champion and challenger can have a feeling out period, looking for strengths and weaknesses they may be able to exploit ahead of their championship bout. It also generates fan interest and could increase attendance at the venues.
Both Kamitani and Watanabe have had seven tag team matches that they have both been involved in since Watanabe issued her Sept. 27th challenge. Only one of those matches has seen Kamitani and Watanabe on opposite sides of each other as opponents.. The other six matches placed them on the same team as they joined forces with other H.A.T.E. unit members.
On Oct. 26th, Kamitani and Watanabe delivered a post match backstage interview as they teamed with Konami fell in defeat to Starlight Kid, Mei Seira & Miyu Amasaki. They both expressed frustration in the lack of preliminary matches between the two as well as going at it verbally over a purported kick during the bout by Kamitani on Watanabe.
Momo Watanabe: “Hey, there’s not much time left until the title match. When are we gonna set up the preliminary matches? We’ve only done one so far. So, I don’t know if that’s why, but Kamitani, you kicked me on purpose today. Right?”
Saya Kamitani: “No, no, no, it wasn’t on purpose.”
Momo Watanabe: “It was on purpose.”
Saya Kamitani: “It wasn’t on purpose.”
Momo Watanabe: “It hurt! It really hit me hard.”
Saya Kamitani: “Besides, weren’t you the one who did it on purpose?”
Momo Watanabe: “Why would I?”
Saya Kamitani: “We weren’t even in sync or anything.”
Momo Watanabe: “Huh?”
Saya Kamitani: “Besides, it’s all Okada’s fault for not setting up the preliminary matches! Where the hell is he?”
Momo Watanabe: “Seriously. Stop messing around. Set them up already. We’re not fighting just to have these lame arguments. Right?”
Saya Kamitani: “On November 3rd, the one who’s gonna win this ultimate battle is the super-hot Saya-sama.”
Momo Watanabe: “Well, that’s fine. Go ahead and get cocky. I’m going to show you a nightmare.”
Kamitani responded to the STARDOM WORLD X post by laying blame to President Okada again while while tagging him.
From Saya Kamitani:
“This is all Taro Okada’s fault. Now that it’s come to this, whether we’re side by side or not, we’ve gotta go at it. I mean, the title match is just a week away, right ? There’s no way I can just sit still!!!!!”
There are two STARDOM events left before the showdown between H.A.T.E faction members Saya Kamitani and Momo Watanabe on Nov. 3rd. They will be teaming once again on Oct. 27th and the matches for the Nov. 1st event have not yet been made available.
While Kamitani and Watanabe are heading for a collision course on Nov. 3rd, it’s a bit confusing as to why there has been a lack of preliminary bouts between the two superstars which is the norm for a champion and challenger.
(H/T goes to meraWRESTLING for all English quote translations)
Date:
October 27, 2025
Category:
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