Tag: maki itoh

Visa issues impact Stardom WrestleMania week show

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Visa issues have led to three wrestlers being pulled from Stardom’s WrestleMania week show in Las Vegas.

As part of Palms Slam Fest, Stardom is holding an event next Friday (April 17) at the Pearl Concert Theater. The card for the show is being adjusted with Stardom announcing that, due to an “unusually long visa process,” Maki Itoh, Yuria Hime, and Fuwa-chan will not be able to make the trip to the United States.

“Due to an unexpectedly long visa processing period for some athletes for the Las Vegas event in the United States, their visas were not issued in time for the scheduled matches,” the promotion said. “The updated match card will be announced as soon as it is finalized. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and concern caused to everyone who was looking forward to this event.”

Itoh added that all of her scheduled bookings in the United States this month have been canceled.

“Due to visa issues, I’ve had to cancel all of my US bookings this April. I’m really sorry to everyone who was looking forward to seeing me,” she wrote. “My team did everything we could to try and fix this, but it seems like the world is a bit complicated right now. But don’t worry I’ll definitely be back in the US!”

Stardom President Taro Okada noted that, while Stardom did everything they could on their end, the promotion will still look to strengthen its processes moving forward as Stardom aims to continue its international expansion.

The April 17 Stardom event, named American Dream 2026, is being headlined by Alex Windsor defending the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship against Saya Iida. Among the others set to compete on the show are Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Kris Statlander, and Mina Shirakawa.

Stardom announces signing of former AEW, TJPW wrestler

Posted on by Ian Carey

Maki Itoh has officially signed with World Wonder Ring Stardom.

At Stardom’s show at Korakuen Hall on Saturday, Itoh was revealed as the mystery woman behind a series of vignettes that had been airing. Stardom president Taro Okada announced the signing and presented Itoh with an official Stardom tracksuit to commemorate her becoming a full-time member of the roster.

Okada said on today’s show, “Today, Stardom has signed a contract with pro wrestler Maki Itoh.”

Itoh said, “After 9 years of professional wrestling, this is the first time I’ll be doing it as a part of this organization. I will be joining STARDOM. Nice to meet you!”

Itoh’s debut match with the promotion will take place on tomorrow’s show, also at Korakuen Hall. She will team with Saori Anou against Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara on the show.

Itoh left Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling in August 2025 after having been with the promotion since 2016. Outside of Japan, Itoh made several appearances with AEW from 2021 to 2023, with her last match having been on the June 14, 2023 show in Washington. She also regularly performs for GCW, with her last match for the promotion having been on the November 22 Dream On pay-per-view from New Jersey.

Update on Stardom mystery wrestler vignette

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Stardom continues to hype the arrival of a mystery wrestler — though it does not appear to be who fans initially thought it was.

The vignettes began airing during Christmas week and showed a mystery figure sitting in front of several screens. Initial speculation was that Stardom was hyping the return of either former WWE wrestler Dakota Kai or former NXT wrestler Stevie Turner, who both have been associated with video game streaming. But, as we’ve gotten a better look at the figure, that does not appear to be the case.

With the gear the mystery person is wearing in the latest video, fans are now speculating it to be Maki Itoh. She has been a free agent since departing Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling in August 2025.

Along with her work in Japan, Itoh has frequently wrestled in the United States and become popular with fans due to her foul-mouthed “Fired Idol” character, which is a reference to her real-life past as an aspiring pop singer. She is a regular for Game Changer Wrestling and also worked a match for House of Glory in November 2025, losing to Shayna Baszler.

Itoh has experience for AEW as well, having made appearances for the promotion from 2021-2023.

TJPW wrestler with AEW experience announces free agency

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Maki Itoh is now a free agent following the expiration of her contract with Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling.

Her final TJPW match took place on August 23, with Itoh posting a statement today thanking the promotion for the eight-plus years she spent there. Itoh did not say what her next step will be but confirmed she will continue wrestling.

“With the Korakuen Hall show on August 23, 2025, my contract with TJPW has come to an end,” she announced.

“Back when I was struggling as an idol, it was [Sanshiro] Takagi who discovered me. I wasn’t good at singing or dancing, and I was never that popular-but the one thing I was ever praised for was pro wrestling. Thanks to TJPW, I was able to spend 8 years and 7 months growing and living alongside this company. It’s all because of TJPW and everyone I’ve met along the way.

“I’ll continue wrestling, so I’m sure we’ll meet again somewhere down the road! I’ll never forget the gratitude I feel toward everyone who has supported me, and I’ll keep treasuring the experience and knowledge I gained here as I move forward. From the bottom of my heart, thank you f*ck you all!”

TJPW also posted its own statement saying that a decision not to renew Itoh’s contract was made after thorough discussion with her.

Along with her work in Japan, Itoh has been popular with U.S. audiences with her foul-mouthed “Fired Idol” character, which is a reference to her real-life past as an aspiring pop singer. She regularly competes for Game Changer Wrestling and worked some matches for AEW from 2021-2023, though it’s now been more than two years since she wrestled in an AEW ring.

Itoh’s final TJPW match was a loss to Yuki Arai at the August 23 event.

Mickie James to face Maki Itoh at WrestleCon Supershow

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Fans attending WrestleMania week in Las Vegas will be able to see Mickie James in action at the 2025 WrestleCon Supershow.

James is returning to the ring for a match against Maki Itoh at this year’s Mark Hitchcock Memorial Supershow on Thursday, April 17. The event has a start time of 3 p.m. Pacific and will stream live via Highspots.TV.

When she faces Itoh, the 45-year-old James will be wrestling her first match in seven months. She only wrestled a few times in 2024 and has not competed in the ring since September. She is currently featured as a coach on “WWE LFG (Legends & Future Greats),” a reality-competition series that airs on A&E. The show has been renewed for season two, but Michelle McCool is listed as a coach for the new season instead of James.

WrestleCon has also announced that James will be appearing at their convention on the Friday (April 18) and Sunday (April 20) of WrestleMania week.

James vs. Itoh is a first-time-ever matchup. Itoh, who has become popular with international audiences through her social media presence, regularly competes for Tokyo Joshi Pro in Japan and GCW in the United States. She worked some matches for AEW from 2021-2023 as well.

The Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas is hosting this year’s WrestleCon Supershow. There have now been two matches confirmed:

  • Minoru Suzuki vs. Butterbean (with Dan Severn as special guest enforcer)
  • Mickie James vs. Maki Itoh

Maki Itoh to make MLW debut at Fury Road

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Maki Itoh is coming to MLW for the first time ever.

Itoh will make her MLW debut against B3CCA at Fury Road in Philadelphia on September 3. The winner will be in line for a shot at the MLW Women’s Featherweight Championship, which is held by Delmi Exo.

While Itoh is a failed pop idol, B3CCA’s character is that she sings badly but claims to be an “international pop star.”

Itoh competes for Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling in Japan and has become a popular act on indies in the United States. She’s also made several appearances for AEW over the past two years.

Itoh was in action for Defy Wrestling in Seattle this past weekend. Vert Vixon defeated Itoh to retain the Defy Women’s Championship.

Fury Road is being held at Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena and will air live on Fite+. Here’s the updated lineup for the show:

MLW Fury Road (Sunday, September 3) —

  • MLW World Heavyweight Champion Alex Kane defends against Willie Mack
  • Matt Cardona makes his MLW debut
  • Maki Itoh vs. B3CCA (winner becomes number one contender to MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion Delmi Exo)
  • Kevin Blackwood makes his MLW debut

AEW Rampage & ROH spoilers from Washington, DC: United Empire vs. CHAOS

Posted on by F4W Staff

The following are spoilers for this Friday’s AEW Rampage in Washington, DC, in addition to one dark match taped before the show.

AEW Rampage:

  • Mark Briscoe, Papa Briscoe, and Aubrey Edwards defeated Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, and Karen Jarrett. The finish had Edwards submit Karen Jarrett with a figure four leglock.
  • Taya Valkyrie defeated Trish Adora
  • The United Empire (Will Ospreay, Jeff Cobb, and Kyle Fletcher) defeated Best Friends and Rocky Romero
  • Konosuke Takeshita defeated Bandido

Dark match:

  • Riho, Maki Itoh & Abadon defeated Nyla Rose, Marina Shafir & Emi Sakura. This was both the first match for Riho and Itoh in AEW since April while it was just the second AEW match for Abadon since last November.

Additionally, a match for ROH television aired, with Komander, El Hijo del Vikingo, and The Lucha BRos. vs. Serpentico, Kip Sabian, The Butcher, and The Blade.

AEW will next head to Chicago for the debut episode of AEW Collision this Saturday, featuring the return of CM Punk to the promotion. They will follow that up with more shows in Chicago next Wednesday at the Wintrust Arena for AEW Dynamite and Rampage.

AEW Dark Elevation results: Emi Sakura, Maki Itoh in action

Posted on by Jon Rogers

It’s Monday and you know what that means: an four-match episode of AEW Dark Elevation from Long Island, New York, with Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.

Maki Itoh defeated Ashley D’Amboise

Itoh made her way to the ring singing as she always does. I think she might have showed the most charisma out of anyone tonight. She flicked off D’Amboise and started driving her right hand into her head. The whole match was just Itoh going for her headbutt off the ropes and D’Amboise avoiding it. Itoh finally hit it and locked in a single-leg Boston crab which she converted into a Texas Cloverleaf to win the match.

Jericho Appreciation Society (Angelo Parker, Jake Hager & Matt Menard) defeated Jack Tomlinson, Mike Magnum & Zack Clayton

Menard exited the desk area and walked over to meet his teammates, immediately starting off the match with Tomlinson. The JAS kept mocking the other team with Parker proclaiming he has the best hair in the business and then slapping Magnum around. Tomlinson entered with Magnum and tried to take on Hager by themselves. Not only did it not work, but referee Aubrey Edwards let it happen.

Clayton was not impressed so he got in the ring and clotheslined both his teammates. He hopped out of the ring and the former 2point0 hit the double DDT onto Tomlinson to get the win.

Hardy Party (Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy) defeated Bobby Orlando & Brett Gosselin

Of course, there was no Ethan Page with Hardy and Kassidy this week after the recent split. Hardy grabbed a mic and led the crowd in a “delete” chant followed by Kassidy moaning.

Orlando (from Beyond Wrestling and other Northeast indies) started with Kassidy, but most of the moves were of the double-team variety that included Hardy. Gosselin tried to get involved, but they rid of him quickly. Hardy got the tag and hit the Deletes in the corner and a Side Effect. This set up the swanton bomb and win by Kassidy, surely intentional with the return of Jeff Hardy even though he returned after this was taped.

Emi Sakura defeated Mizuki

Mizuki, like Itoh, is from Japan’s TJPW. I actually saw this exact same match in Raleigh at DPW last year. This was obviously not as good as that one, but still fun.

Mizuki was just a Sakura punching bag for the start of this match. Mizuki finally ducked a chop and rolled her up for a near fall. Mizuki followed with a double stomp to the outside, but Sakura countered with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.

After Mizuki hit another double stomp, they went back in the ring and went back and forth for a little bit until Mizuki tried to roll up Sakura, which she countered with her own roll-up for the win.

AEW announces four matches for Dark: Elevation

Posted on by Ian Carey

AEW has announced the lineup for Dark: Elevation. 

Monday’s show will feature four matches taped on April 5, 2023, from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York. 

Maki Itoh will face Ashley D’Amboise on this week’s episode. D’Amboise is coming off a loss to Athena in a proving grounds match on ROH TV last week. For Itoh, this was her first match in AEW this year. She’s back in Japan now and wrestled on a TJPW show this weekend. Also on that TJPW show was Princess of Princess Champion Mizuki, who will face Emi Sakura in her AEW debut on Dark: Elevation tonight. 

Matches involving The Jericho Appreciation Society, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy are also scheduled to air. 

AEW Dark: Elevation 4/17 lineup:

  • The Jericho Appreciation Society (Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, & Jake Hager) vs. Mike Magnum, Jack Tomlinson, and “The Reality” Zack Clayton
  • Emi Sakura vs. Mizuki
  • Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs. Brett Gosselin & Bobby Orlando
  • Maki Itoh vs. Ashley D’Amboise

Death Triangle, Maki Itoh part of nine-match AEW Dark: Elevation lineup

Posted on by Ian Carey

AEW has announced nine matches for Dark: Elevation. 

This week’s episode was filmed on Wednesday, August 17 from the Charleston Coliseum in Charleston, West Virginia. 

Ahead of their first-round match in the Trios tournament Wednesday in Cleveland, Death Triangle will be in action on Monday’s show. They will face Rosario Grillo, Manscout, & Dean Alexander. 

Maki Itoh will return to AEW for the first time since May on Dark: Elevation this week. She’ll team with Emi Sakura to face Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue. 

Ruby Soho will also team with Ortiz to take on Aminata & Mikey Midas in mixed tag action. 

Tony Nese, Josh Woods, Julia Hart, Anna Jay, Dante Martin, Serena Deeb, and the Dark Order are all scheduled for the show as well. 

AEW Dark: Elevation airs beginning at 7 p.m Eastern time on YouTube. The announced card for the show is as follows:

  • Death Triangle (Penta Oscura, Rey Fenix, & PAC) vs. Rosario Grillo, Manscout, & Dean Alexander
  • Tony Nese & Josh Woods vs. Andrea Guericio & Logan James
  • Julia Hart vs. Hayley Shadows
  • Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue vs. Emi Sakura & Maki Itoh
  • Ruby Soho & Ortiz vs. Queen Aminata & Mikey Midas
  • Anna Jay vs. Nikki Victory
  • Dante Martin vs. Jackson Drake
  • Serena Deeb vs. Megan Meyers
  • The Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds, John Silver & Ten vs. D’Mone Solavino, Alexander Apollo & RC Dupree

Maki Itoh to make GCW debut this August

Posted on by Joseph Currier

A fan-favorite wrestler is set to make her Game Changer Wrestling debut this summer.

GCW has announced that Maki Itoh will debut for the promotion at their Homecoming weekend this August. Opponents for Itoh haven’t been announced.

The GCW Homecoming weekend events are taking place at the Showboat Atlantic City in Atlantic City, New Jersey on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14. The shows will air live via Fite TV.

Itoh competes for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling in Japan. She’s also made multiple appearances for AEW over the past two years.

In 2021, Itoh was a participant in the Japan bracket of AEW’s Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament. She also was in action at the pre-show for Revolution 2021, teaming with Britt Baker in a victory over Riho & Thunder Rosa.

Itoh returned to AEW for a surprise appearance last month, losing to Baker in the women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.

Maki Itoh appears as Britt Baker’s mystery opponent on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Maki Itoh returned to AEW on Dynamite, appearing as the Joker mystery opponent for Britt Baker in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. 

Itoh lost to Baker by Lockjaw submission in her first AEW appearance since March 2021. 

Itoh had teamed with Baker in her last match in AEW on the March 10, 2021 Dynamite, which the two played off of in their Tournament bout. Baker and Itoh hugged, then Baker asked Itoh to lay down and allow her to make the cover for the victory. Itoh appeared to go along with the idea, but then cradled Baker for a near fall. 

Baker will face Toni Storm in the semifinals of the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. The other semifinal bout will feature Ruby Soho vs. the winner of Red Velvet vs. Kris Statlander, which is set for the Rampage episode airing this Friday. 

The finals of the Tournament will take place at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 29.

Change made to AEW Dynamite six-woman tag team match

Posted on by Bryan Rose

There has been a change to the six-woman tag team match set for AEW Dynamite.

A video posted this afternoon on social media showed Britt Baker telling Tony Schiavone that Rebel would be unable to be cleared by both herself and the Jaguars team doctor for their match on Dynamite. She then introduced her new partner, Nyla Rose. It will now be Rose, Baker, and Maki Itoh against Hikaru Shida, Ryo Mizunami, and Thunder Rosa.

Itoh appeared on last night’s Revolution Buy-In pre-show, replacing Rebel in a match where she and Baker defeated Thunder Rosa and Riho. Later on pay-per-view, Rose, Rebel, Itoh, and Baker attacked Shida and Mizunami after Shida successfully defened the AEW Women’s title against Mizunami. Rosa then came for the save.

Also announced for this Wednesday is TNT Champion Darby Allin vs. Scorpio Sky for the title, Matt Jackson vs. Rey Fenix, and a Inner Circle war council meeting following MJF and Jericho’s loss at Revolution.

Maki Itoh teams with Britt Baker on AEW Revolution Buy-In

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Maki Itoh appeared on tonight’s AEW Buy-In pre-show, replacing Rebel as Britt Baker’s tag team partner.

Itoh appeared as Baker’s partner, taking on Thunder Rosa and Riho. Britt Baker told Tony Schiavone in a video posted on social media that Rebel would not be able to compete due to being injured at the hands of Nyla Rose. Baker then came out before the match, saying that Rebel got a doctor’s note from a Jacksonville Jaguars doctor after Tony Khan rejected her original doctor’s note. She then introduced her tag team partner, who ended up being Itoh.

Itoh and Baker won their tag match, with Rebel hitting Rosa with her crutch. Baker then covered Rosa for the win.

Regularly appearing for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, Itoh was a part of the Women’s title eliminator tournament, taking part in the Japan bracket. She lost to the eventual winner of the tournament, Ryo Mizunami, in the first round that aired on February 15.