STARDOM is Plagued By Injuries. Here’s a Recap.

STARDOM’s Injury List: Who is sidelined and who is returning soon?

By: James Carlin

Since the beginning of this year’s 5STAR GP tournament, numerous performers have been taken out of action as STARDOM’s injury list continues to stack up as they get closer to their end of year PPV, Dream Queendom.

With the recent announcement that Mayu Iwatani and Waka Tsukiyama will be out of action, it’s time to look at all the people who have been injured or pulled from shows since the start of the summer.

Previously, NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Giulia brought up the desire to lessen calendar dates in the 5STAR GP tournament when she was at the NJPWxSTARDOM Business Strategy Presentation, and executive producer of STARDOM Rossy Ogawa has spoken on SNS about improving conditions for performers to better tackle potential injuries moving forward, saying: “In the past wrestlers continued with their matches even with injuries, but now we have taken the steps to ensure that they are allowed to rest and focus on treatment if something looks to be wrong during a match.”

Author’s Note: Injuries are listed from latest to oldest, based on the closest date known of their injury.

Mayu Iwatani – 11.14.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: December 29th, 2023
Most Recent Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Stephanie Vaquer for the IWGP Women’s Championship (11.10.23)

The Icon of STARDOM was announced to have been pulled from November 18th’s Gold Rush PPV due to a dislocated pinky finger. It is not known how long she will be out for. Iwatani will be replaced by fellow STARS stablemate Saya Iida in the one day Moneyball Tournament.

Update: Iwatani will return to the ring at Dream Queendom on December 29th at Ryogoku Sumo Hall.

Waka Tsukiyama – 11.14.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: January 20th, 2024 (Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa) vs. HANAKO and Maika
Most Recent Match: Moonlight Venus (Waka Tsukiyama & Mina Shirakawa) vs. Oedo-Tai (Momo Watanabe & Natsuko Tora) (11.12.23)

On the same day that Iwatani was announced to be pulled from Gold Rush, it was also revealed that Waka Tsukiyama will be missing time due to lumbar hernia.

Saki Kashima – 11.10.23

Injury Date: November 10th, 2023
Return Date: December 23rd, 2023
Most Recent Match: God’s Eye (Syuri & Saki Kashima) vs. Mafia Bella (Giulia & Thekla) (11.10.23)

Announced by STARDOM as being injured on November 10th, she will undergo neck treatment and will miss Gold Rush on November 18th.

Update: Saki Kashima will return on December 23rd, teaming with HANAKO against Mina Shirkawa and Yuzuki.

Hanan – 11.9.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: November 18th, 2023

The Young Lioness was pulled from shows on November 9th after contracting acute appendicitis. She will return on November 18th at Gold Rush as she was only scheduled to miss three shows, including the Tag League finals.

Koguma – 11.1.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: Unknown
Most Recent Match: Classmates (Koguma, Hazuki, Saya Iida) vs. Megan Bayne, Maika & Suzu Suzuki (10.28.23)

Koguma was pulled from shows on November 1st after missing the Halloween Dark Night PPV, and Fukuoka Double Crazy forfeited the rest of their Tag League matches whilst precautions were taken to make sure her injury doesn’t get worse.

Tam Nakano – 10.9.23

Injury Date: October 9th, 2023
Return Date: Unknown
Most Recent Match: Tam Nakano (c) vs. Natsuko Tora – World of Stardom title (10.9.23)

Injuring her knee right at the end of her Red Belt defence against Oedo-Tai’s leader, the champion has not been in active competition since, and has withdrawn from her title defence against Suzu Suzuki on November 18th, with her challenger calling for the Top Kawaii of the Cosmos to vacate the championship. The situation continues to be a mystery with little information given by official STARDOM channels or the champion herself on social networking sites.

Update, 11.20.23: Tam Nakano has vacated the World of Stardom championship.

Natsupoi – 10.2.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: Unknown
Most Recent Match: Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi, Saori Anou, Tam Nakano & Yuna Mizumori) vs. Oedo-Tai (Momo Watanabe, Natsuko Tora, Rina & Ruaka) (10.1.23)

Pulled out of action on October 2nd, she is currently healing from a cervical herniation. The current Goddess of Stardom champion said on SNS that it was not caused by an acute injury, but was a condition that continued to worsen over time, with the company and Cosmic Angels stablemates convincing her to take time off when she didn’t want to.

Update, 11.20.23: The Goddess of Stardom titles were vacated.

Lady C – 9.12.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: September 29th, 2023

Lady C was absent from shows to treat an injury following the announcement on September 12th alongside Miyu Amasaki and Momo Kohgo, and returned at New Blood 11, losing to the Freezer Bomb Girl, Ruaka.

Miyu Amasaki – 9.12.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: September 29th, 2023

Her absence for injury treatment was announced on September 12th, but she returned to the ring later that month, unsuccessfully challenging for Bloody Fate’s New Blood Tag Team titles, which was won by Wing Gori.

Momo Kohgo – 9.12.13

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: Unknown

Announced on September 12th, Momo Kohgo has been out of in-ring action since. The Peach Star continues to be active on SNS, and has done commentary for Waka Tsukiyama’s produce show MOONDOM during her recovery period.

Starlight Kid – 9.10.23

Injury Date: September 10th, 2023
Return Date: November 18th, 2023
Most Recent Match: Bloody Fate (Starlight Kid & KARMA) (c) vs. 02Line (AZM & Miyu Amasaki) vs. Wing Gori (Hanan & Saya Iida) (9.29.23)

The Dark Sky Tiger was pulled from shows following an unsuccessful defence of the New Blood Tag Team titles, but her injury was agravated in a 5STAR GP match against Syuri after initially being injured in her Dream Tag Festival match where she teamed with AZM against Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima.

She will return at Gold Rush on November 18th against Suzu Suzuki and AZM.

Utami Hayashishita – 9.21.23

Injury Date: Unknown
Return Date: November 28th, 2023
Most Recent Match: Queen’s Quest (Utami Hayashishita & AZM) vs. STARS (Mayu Iwatani & Hazuki) (9.18.23)

Announced on September 21st, Utami Hayashishita was pulled from shows without a reason given for her injury. There is no known date for her return, but she will be on commentary at Gold Rush on November 18th.

Update, 11.20.23: Hayashishita will return to action on November 28th at Korakuen Hall.

Saya Kamitani – 7.23.23

Injury Date: July 23, 2023
Return Date: November 28th, 2023
Most Recent Match: Saya Kamitani vs. Tam Nakano, 5STAR GP Opening Round

The Golden Phoenix was the first person to suffer a major injury this year, having dislocated her elbow and suffering ligament damage. The most recent update from Kamitani came on October 13th in an interview with Tokyo Sports detailing her recovery.

Update, 11.20.23: Saya Kamitani and her AphroditE partner Utami Hayashishita will return on November 28th at Korakuen Hall.

All photos in this article were taken by Masahiro Kubota.