Utami Hayashishita Reclaims Queen’s Quest Flag Following STARDOM TO THE WORLD

By: Noah Leatherland

Old wounds were opened at STARDOM TO THE WORLD as Saya Kamitani, Momo Watanabe and Konami spray-painted a Queen’s Quest flag in the middle of the ring. However, in a video posted to the STARDOM social media accounts, Utami Hayashishita was shown later reclaiming that flag.

Hayashishita was ringside for the Goddesses of Stardom title match at the Yokohama Budokan, receiving an unprompted boot to the face from Kamitani. From there, Kamitani and Watanabe unveiled the Queen’s Quest flag. Watanabe restrained AZM and Miyu Amasaki while the referee held Hayashishita back from entering the ring. Konami soiled the flag with her trademark black paint.

02line went on to successfully retain the Goddesses of Stardom titles, with the post-match seeing them, their challengers and Hayashishita exchanging looks, each of them at one time a member of Queen’s Quest.

In her post-match comments, Kamitani commented on the Queen’s Quest drama:

(Quotes translated via DeepL)

Queen’s Quest was formed back in 2016 by Io Shirai. Momo Watanabe assumed the position of leader upon Shirai’s departure in 2018. She led the group until being forced to leave Queen’s Quest after losing a wager against Oedo Tai in 2021, with her fellow members on the losing team being Kamitani, Hayashishita and AZM. After a period under AZM’s de facto leadership, Hayashishita led Queen’s Quest until her own departure from STARDOM in 2024. Kamitani took on the responsibility of leader, being the faction’s final one. Another lost wager against Oedo Tai saw AZM, Amasaki, Hina and Lady C all forced to leave the Queen’s Quest, leaving Kamitani as the sole member. Just over a month later, Kamitani dissolved the group and formed H.A.T.E.

In the footage posted by STARDOM recapping the events at the Yokohama Budokan, Hayashishita was shown finding the discarded Queen’s Quest flag backstage, picking it up and walking away with it. Since returning to STARDOM earlier this year, Hayashishita has not alligned herself with any faction in the company. Perhaps she has a restoration of Queen’s Quest on her mind.

Here are the full results from STARDOM TO THE WORLD, courtesy of purolove.com:

• Lady C & Kiyoka Kotatsu def. Saya Iida & Matoi Hamabe (8:07)
• Utami Hayashishita, HANAKO & Waka Tsukiyama def. Saori Anou, Itsuki Aoki & Rina Yamashita and Konami, Ruaka & Fukigen Death★ (8:00)
• Hazuki, Koguma & Fuwa-chan def. Maki Itoh, Kikyo Furusawa & Rian (8:30)
• Bea Priestley def. Anne Kanaya (7:20)
• Syuri & Hina def. Rina & Azusa Inaba (8:38)
• Future of Stardom Title: Ranna Yagami (c) def. Akira Kurogane (12:56)
• Artist of Stardom Title: Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue (c) def. Aya Sakura, Natsupoi & Yuna Mizumori (13:32)
• Goddesses of Stardom Title: AZM & Miyu Amasaki (c) def. Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe (22:45)
• Wonder of Stardom Title: Hanan (c) def. Ami Sohrei (16:52)
• World of Stardom Title, No DQ Match: Suzu Suzuki (c) def. Natsuko Tora (22:52)