Tag: Taro Okada

Thekla declares ‘death to Stardom’ for AEW Forbidden Door, president Taro Okada responds

Posted on by Josh Nason

Reigning AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla’s war with her previous employer Stardom will apparently continue at this month’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

During Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Thekla cut a in-arena promo alongside Skye Blue and Julia Hart where she recounted her hatred for Stardom, that she was the “Idol Killer there” and issued a reminder that she got fired.

She said now, they have to do it all over again and has her eyes set for Forbidden Door and whether the Stardom talent comes here or the Triangle of Madness goes there, she is “going to close that door for damn good.”

She then said, “I am not declaring war on Stardom. I am declaring death to Stardom.”

She then climbed a ladder next to the videoboard on the entranceway that had the Forbidden Door graphic up and spit on the the Stardom logo before flipping it off.

It didn’t take long for Stardom president and Thekla nemesis Taro Okada to respond on X, saying it was “A vulgar, cowardly, and shameful act. Unforgivable.”

She made her debut in AEW just over a year ago after a successful run in Stardom that ended with her storyline firing after she attacked Okada — an angle she said she got death threats over. During Stardom’s WrestleMania week show in Las Vegas, Thekla made a surprise appearance to torment Okada again.

The PPV is set for Sunday, June 28 from San Jose, Californai.

TV Asahi, Stardom’s Taro Okada comment on future of NJPW following ownership change

Posted on by Josh Nason

Following Wednesday’s surprise news that TV Asahi and CyberAgent had acquired the majority of shares in New Japan Pro Wrestling from Bushiroad, the Japanese broadcast outlet has spoken about the deal to Tokyo Sport.

In the story (translated into English), an unnamed spokesperson said the deal was made “to further strengthen cooperation in the development and rollout of content and IP, and to work together to create powerful content and IP with an eye toward global expansion, thereby further increasing the corporate value of both companies.”

Bushiroad, which oversaw NJPW through its 2010s revival and international expansion efforts, transferred all of its shares in the promotion to TV Asahi and CyberAgent, making the wrestling brand a consolidated subsidiary of the broadcaster with support from the massive entertainment company publicly traded in Japan.

In terms of how they are going to run it, the only comment relayed was from Tokyo Sport who wrote “it is highly likely that a new system will be established with TV Asahi as the main operator.”

The article also mentions Stardom and speculates as to the future of the women’s brand. It included a quote from Stardom president Taro Okada who said that “coordination between the two sides will start from here” but they would like to continue working together.

Both NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahashi and Bushiroad founder Takaaki Kidani issued positive statements about the change Wednesday.

We’ll have more on this story with Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez tonight on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Thekla makes surprise Stardom appearance to revive past rivalry

Posted on by Josh Nason

Just a few days after Alex Windsor pointed out she was fired from her job in Japan, AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla decided to antagonize the man she feels is responsible for that.

After defending her title against Windsor on Thursday’s Collision, Thekla made a surprise appearance during Friday’s Stardom American Dream event as part of WrestleMania week in Las Vegas to confront president Taro Okada.

She told Okada if she ever sees his face again, she would hunt him down, bring her girls and “kick his ass.” She then reconsidered and said, “Since I am already here…” which led to her taking off her belt to hit Okada with. A Stardom official jumped in to save Okada from any damage as he escaped. She gave chase as he ran away to the back.

Thekla was fired in storyline from Stardom for attacking Okada instead of joining the Cosmic Angels, followed by her signing with AEW last spring.

Stardom president addresses expansion efforts, Tokyo Dome ambitions

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Getting Stardom to the point where it can run the Tokyo Dome is a huge ambition for company president Taro Okada.

Okada, speaking with Japanese outlet Pro Wrestling Today, opened up about Stardom’s expansion efforts both domestically and internationally. Because of the costs involved, the promotion is not overly concerned with staging its own standalone international events. Instead, Stardom is focused on partnering with establish promotions overseas to showcase the talent in each organization.

“Regarding our international expansion, our policy is that, given the costs and risks involved in organizing events on our own, we should actively seek partnerships with local organizations,” Okada said. “Sending wrestlers to CMLL not only enhances their experience but also helps spread the name of Stardom worldwide. Conversely, when unknown top-tier wrestlers from overseas come to Japan, it serves as a major source of excitement for Japanese fans. Streamlining our respective businesses and strengthening our collaboration is essential to prevent the industry as a whole from shrinking.”

Okada also serves as a director for NJPW in addition to being Stardom’s president. In his Stardom role, he believes strengthening the promotion’s communications and advertising is an important step that needs to be taken. He ultimately wants to get Stardom to the Tokyo Dome because of how much value that stage holds in the entertainment industry.

“In the Japanese entertainment industry, the ‘Tokyo Dome’ brand is unrivaled,” he told Pro Wrestling Today. “Whether it’s an overseas artist performing in Japan or a comedian holding a live show, the fact that it took place at the Tokyo Dome is the ultimate status symbol and the most compelling argument to the public. Making the Tokyo Dome event a success — that is the proof of being number one in the Japanese pro-wrestling industry as a world-class entertainment business, and it will completely set us apart from the rest. I want to achieve this goal head-on, no matter what it takes.”

Saya Kamitani (who won MVP in the 2025 Tokyo Sports Awards) and new roster addition Maki Itoh have also mentioned a Tokyo Dome show as being among their Stardom goals.

Tony Khan meets with Stardom President Taro Okada ahead of AEW Big Business

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The heads of AEW and Stardom have officially met.

Tony Khan posted on X Wednesday that he has met with Stardom President Taro Okada ahead of AEW Big Business.

“It’s an honor to have @tokada_mh4e the President of @we_are_stardom here with us tonight at @tdgarden in Bosston for this evening’s Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite!,” he wrote.

Back in early February, Stardom parent company Bushiroad fired founder Rossy Ogawa after he was accused of attempting to poach wrestlers from the company to start a new promotion. Ogawa denied the accusations, but did say he is forming a new promotion.

Following Ogawa’s firing, Khan didn’t hold back his feelings on the matter.

Wednesday’s Big Business edition of Dynamite is expected to feature the debut of Mercedes Mone. After leaving WWE in 2022, Mone debuted for NJPW the following year, winning the IWGP Women’s Championship. She made appearances for both NJPW and Stardom before suffering an ankle injury that kept her out of action for the rest of 2023.