Stardom, aka World Wonder Ring Stardom, is a women’s wrestling promotion that is considered the top current joshi promotion in Japan. It was created in 2010 by former All-Japan Women co-producer Rossy Ogawa, current wrestler Nanae Takahashi and then-just-retired wrestler Fuka (Fuka Kakimoto) and was initially built around former gravure idol (pinup model) Yuzuki Aikawa, one of the most acclaimed models of all time. who had started training to be a pro wrestler and became the face of the promotion. Unlike most other joshi promotions, Stardom places more of an emphasis on a “WWE Divas” style of presentation, emphasizing looks and sex appeal and also having its wrestlers do a lot of pinup-style modeling outside the ring. The in-ring style places a heavy emphasis on martial arts and strikes.
Stardom’s first event was held in January 2011 in Tokyo, holding their first several events in a “seasons” format. In July 2011 they ran Korakuen Hall for the first time, with a card featuring Haruka, a 9-year-old girl, competing against DDT wrestler Kenny Omega, in a match that garnered over 1 million views on YouTube, and Aikawa crowned the first Wonder Of Stardom Champion, a secondary title to the top World Of Stardom Champion. Stardom also inherited the High Speed Championship, an independent title contested for across many promotions and imported from the defunct NEO promotion, from Natsuki*Taiyo. Later on the promotion received a boost from appearances by top freelancer Kana (now Asuka in WWE) and the Shirai sisters-Mio & Io (Io is now Iyo Sky in WWE). However, Shirai ran into legal problems in 2012 when after visiting Mexico, she and her then-boyfriend (former wrestler NOSAWA Rongai) were arrested on drug smuggling charges after being set up by a fellow wrestler.
More big changes came at the end of 2013 when Aikawa retired from wrestling but remained with the promotion as she transitioned into entertainment activities outside of modeling & wrestling, hosting a monthly TV show for the promotion that ran for nearly 2 years. In 2015 turmoil engulfed the promotion when a match between Act Yasukawa & Yoshiko turned into a legit fight, with Yoshiko severely injuring Yasukawa’s face. This resulted in face punches being banned, major pay cuts for Ogawa & Fuka and a ringside doctor assigned to every match. Near the end of 2015 the promotion made it’s US debut with a pair of events in Los Angeles, CA. In 2016 the promotion launched Stardom World, its own online streaming service, which started on YouTube but is now a standalone service and is available worldwide.
In October 2019 the promotion was purchased by Bushiroad Corporation, the owner of New Japan Pro Wrestling, with Rossy Ogawa remaining on as lead producer. This opened the door to co-promotion between the two, with Stardom hosting the first-ever women’s match in New Japan at the Tokyo Dome on January 4, 2020 on the pre-show of the annual WRESTLE KINGDOM event. However, 2020 saw dark clouds over the promotion between the coronavirus pandemic shutting everyone down and also the death of popular wrestler Hana Kimura in May 2020 by suicide after incidents of cyberbullying.
In November 2022, as things slowly got back to normal in Japan, Stardom ran the first co-promoted event with New Japan, featuring the introduction of the new IWGP Women’s Heavyweight Championship, which is planned to be competed for in both New Japan and Stardom, then in 2023 another huge upshot came when Mercedes Mone, formerly Sasha Banks in WWE, signed to make several appearances for Bushiroad in both New Japan and Stardom. But as of May 2023 any future plans for Mone are on hold due to injury.
In February 2024 the promotion abruptly fired Rossy Ogawa as lead producer amidst rumors he was poaching talent for other promotions, including WWE, which came shortly after Kairi Hojo/KAIRI returned to WWE (as Kairi Sane) and widespread reports that Giulia was being heavily pursued by WWE. This led to a potential talent exodus to a new promotion Ogawa started once contracts expired in March 2024 (called Marigold and launching in May 2024), with the exception of Mayu Iwatani (whose contract will not expire then) and Tam Nakano among others.
In April 2024 it was announced that, effective June 28, 2024, Bushiroad Fight-the parent branch of Stardom-would be fully acquired by New Japan Pro Wrestling, bringing Stardom under the NJPW umbrella and likely opening the door to more cross-promotion between the Bushiroad-owned promotions. Bushiroad Fight will be renamed Stardom Co. Ltd. at that time.
Stardom currently has 8 titles: World Of Stardom (aka the red belt), Wonder Of Stardom (aka the white belt), Goddesses Of Stardom (tag team), Artist Of Stardom (trios/6-woman), Future of Stardom (for yoonger, less experienced wrestlers only), High Speed, SWA Undisputed Women’s World Championship, New Blood Tag Team Championship. A 9th title, the IWGP Women’s Championship, is shared with New Japan Pro Wrestling but is sometimes defended in and, also being under the Bushiroad umbrella, is recognized by Stardom.
Current roster:
Mayu Iwatani
Saya Iida
Hanan
Koguma
Hazuki
Momo Kohgo
AZM
Saya Kamitani
Hina
Lady C
Miyu Amasaki
Natsuko Tora
Saki Kashima
Rina
Ruaka
Fukigen Fukigendesu ⭐️⭐️ (Inactive-injured)
Starlight Kid
Momo Watanabe
Maika
Thekla
Tam Nakano
Natsupoi
Syuri
Ami Sohrei
Mina Shirakawa
Waka Tsukiyama
Sayaka Kurara
Gina
Sayaka Unagi (Independent/Freelancer but still signed with promotion)
Yurie Kozakai (ring announcer)
Yuzuki Watase (ring announcer)
Rin Tateishi (ring announcer)
Titles & History:
World Of Stardom Championship
Wonder Of Stardom Championship
Goddesses Of Stardom Championship
Artist Of Stardom Championship
Future Of Stardom Championship
High Speed Championship
SWA World Championship
New Blood Tag Team Championship
How to watch:
Stardom World-Stardom’s online streaming service. Includes on demand broadcasts of many events dating back to the beginning (2011) and a variety of other special content. In March 2024 they began testing live broadcasts and are currently live streaming an average of 2 events per month. Available worldwide for 920 Japanese yen/month (around $6.15/month).
YouTube-Stardom’s YouTube channel broadcasts portions of events live (and on occasion a full live event) and a variety of highlight packages, backstage comments and other content. The channel also livestreams the quarterly New Blood events in their entirety. For live events they normally broadcast the first match live. Available free worldwide.
In Japan-some TV channels including Samurai! TV broadcast various content.
PPV-Some events are broadcast live on PPV via Pia Stream (Japan, but available worldwide) or other providers. Their April 2024 event in the USA is also available on demand for purchase on Triller/FITE.
Official website (Japanese):
https://wwr-stardom.com/
