JPN
[Press Conference Afternoon] 4/27 "Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez presents ALL STAR GRAND QUEENDOM 2025" Kanagawa Yokohama Arena Tournament
On Tuesday, April 28th, a press conference was held at the Stardom office the day after "Cardfight!! Vanguard Divinez presents ALL STAR GRAND QUEENDOM 2025" (April 27th, Yokohama Arena). Five tournament participants took to the stage to look back on the previous day's matches and comment on their future plans
(MC: Ichikawa Katsuya)
▼President Taro Okada
First of all, I would like to thank everyone who came to the event yesterday and everyone who watched via live streaming. The attendance was the highest in Stardom history at 7,503 people, and the PPV viewing figures are currently close to the previous figures, so I think the archive viewing figures will also be the highest ever
As for Tam Nakano, who lost yesterday, he will retire immediately, without a ceremony or commemorative tournament, as per his wishes. As such, he will not be attending today's event. I believe that fans did not want him to quit, and so do we. However, we would like to respect the decision of both players
I would also like to state that it is clearly not the case that the company decided or forced them to hold the loser's retirement match. The company bears responsibility, but it was not something that someone forced them to do, as is the case in the dramas that are being made out in the streets. I would like the determination and will of the two to be respected
Sayaka Kure (challenging Saya Kamitani for the World of Stardom Championship at Korakuen Hall on May 11th)
(Signing the title match contract) I asked for a challenge as a wish for winning the Cinderella Tournament. At first, I had a different wish in mind, but then I thought that wish would trample on the resolve and feelings of many people, so I made this wish
Both Tamu and Kamitani are special to me, which is why I think it's meaningful to fight against them. But Tamu disappeared yesterday like a dream, like an illusion, so yesterday I cried a lot, thought a lot, and decided that I will pick up the pieces of the Stardom dream that Tamu left behind, and make that Stardom dream come true. My current resolve is to challenge for World of Stardom. I would like to convey this resolve to Kamitani. And I will prove to Tamu that I will create a future for Stardom that I can be proud of
▼Starlight Kid
"Yesterday, I successfully defended my title for the third time, and I also became the leader of NEO GENESIS. Yesterday's event at Yokohama Arena had the largest audience in Stardom history, 7,503 people! Thank you so much for coming in such large numbers. I was incredibly happy to be able to defend my title against AZM in the semi-final. Did you enjoy the ultimate fight? I thought it was fun to fight against the best opponent in the world, and I would like to fight her again and again. But right now, I want her to be by my side. She accepted my rose and we hugged. We are next to each other now, but as long as we are the Eternal Four, I would like to play singles matches from time to time. I wonder what belt will be at stake the next time we do singles matches. Our fight will continue forever, so I hope you will continue to watch SLK vs AZM
There was a lot going on yesterday. But no matter what happens, we want to continue to prove that Stardom will be fine as long as we keep fighting, and that's what I wanted to convey most
Also, can I mention (Nakano) Tamu-chan? Tamu-chan, even though we're only on screen, thank you for all your hard work. We've teamed up about three times recently in the preliminary matches, and I still hold a grudge that you didn't keep the promise you whispered to me. But because Tamu-chan has such love for Stardom, I believe that you will continue to watch over Stardom from now on. I do feel a bit sad, but thank you for everything from your time in STARS until now
▼Starlight Kid vs. Hanako (May 21st, Korakuen Hall, Wonder of Stardom Championship Match) Signing Ceremony
HANAKO: "I won the Rumble yesterday and earned the right to challenge for the belt, but I chose to challenge Shirakawa. The reason is that Mina (Shirakawa) was wearing it. Now that Mina is gone, it's not Gina, Tsukiyama, or Rian, but I, who will step up to (Shirakawa's) position and lead E neXus V and Stardom. Starlight Kid, this is the first time we've had a singles match since we fought at the New Japan Pro-Wrestling Taiwan tournament a year ago. I'm not the same person I was back then. I will definitely beat you."
Kid: "I haven't been able to clear my head since yesterday (laughs). Hanako is the biggest in Stardom. I felt it was a shame that she had her greatest weapon. My impression of Hanako now is that she's just a big girl who's doing her best and speaking in thick Kansai dialect. There may be a difference in our physiques, but I have no intention of losing even a millimeter, Hanako."
Kid: (Takes off his shoes and faces her) Hanako, can you do it? Wonder of Stardom
HANAKO: "Of course."
Kid: "I'm not looking forward to a Hanako who is trying her best, but rather a Hanako who will naturally explode. I said I'm different from the one I was in Taiwan a year ago, but I'm a Wonder Champion now. I'm completely different from the one I was a year ago. I'm looking forward to the preliminary matches."
▼Maika
"I will be taking an extended break. The reason is that I had to undergo reconstruction surgery on the medial collateral ligament in my elbow, which has been injured for some time. I have been suffering from the injury for the past three or four years, and even though the doctor told me to rest, I didn't take any time off, and it has gotten so bad that it has gotten this bad. I thought I would be fine, and that sitting out was out of the question. But after my fight with Chihiro Hashimoto yesterday, I realized that truly strong fighters are strong both physically and mentally. In the end, I think I was afraid of sitting out. I was worried that if I sat out, I would lose my place. But then yesterday's fight with Chihiro Hashimoto gave me a huge push
Due to my own selfishness, I will be absent until the Fukuoka tournament on May 6th. The doctor said I will be absent for six months to a year, but with my healing ability, I think I may be able to return sooner than that. It's not a negative absence. I want to return as a new, stronger Maika, and I've told my company to give me loads of work. It's not like you won't be able to see me at all. Please give me work (laughs)."
▼Iwatani Mayu
Okada: "First, let me explain. As of today, April 28th, Mayu Iwatani will be leaving Stardom. I have been consulting with her about this matter on a regular basis. Her current motivation is the IWGP Women's Championship, and she has been working hard with all her heart. Both Iwatani and I were prepared for what would happen if she lost this belt, and after yesterday's result, we discussed it again yesterday and today, and we have decided to terminate her contract. We respect this decision and would like to send her off in a proper manner."
Iwatani Mayu "Today I will be leaving Stardom. Um... I was trying not to cry, but tears are coming out. We have been discussing whether or not to leave Stardom since about two years ago. I decided to stay in Stardom because I felt that Stardom needs Iwatani Mayu, that Stardom would no longer be Stardom, and that I had to protect Stardom at all costs. Since then... how can I put it... I'm glad I stayed in Stardom, I've put everything into the IWGP, but every time I defended the belt I felt like I would quit if I lost it, but I fought with the thought that I absolutely couldn't lose... what should I do, I can't find the words to describe it! Up until now I've been relying on Stardom to a certain extent. My love for Stardom will continue to remain the same. But I feel like there's nothing left undone. I feel like I've done everything I could at Stardom. I was betting on IWGP, so if I lost it, that would be the end of Iwatani Mayu as a Stardom member. Is that okay? Have you got it all together?"
Okada: "It's not like 'quit' or 'I don't want to, I'm leaving'. The final decision was that it might be okay for her to 'run away' for once. I started working with Stardom with 'The Runaway Wrestler' and I feel like the runaway wrestler project has now come to an end. My emotional decision was that it's okay to run away from home. It's okay to leave the nest, and I want to send her off with the feeling in my heart that if she ever feels lonely, please come back."
Iwatani: "Mayu Iwatani, I'm ending my 14 years and 3 months with Stardom. From now on, I'll be an icon of women's professional wrestling."