JPN
The "Rookie of Stardom 2026" tournament, which determines the strongest rookie, held its two semi-final matches at "STARDOM NIGHTER in KORAKUEN 2026 Apr." (April 8th, Korakuen Hall), with Emma Mashima and Kian Furusawa advancing to the finals (April 11th, Korakuen Hall)
First-round bye Emma Tamashima faced Yuria Hime, who had defeated Anne Kanaya in Osaka on April 4th. After a fierce elbow exchange, Tamashima pressed her advantage with a reverse figure-four leglock and mounted elbows. She ultimately secured the victory with a modified spinning cross armbar
"There was a lot of talk about Akira and Yuria winning, but Emma is also in the Reiwa 7th year group! I'm glad I got to compete against Yuria directly. The winner is Emma Mashima!"
Similarly, Furusawa Kian, who also received a bye in the first round, faced Tetsu Akira, who had defeated Hamabe Matoi in Hamamatsu on April 5th. Seizing an opportunity with a concentrated barrage of precise attacks on Tetsu's left leg, she followed up with an ankle lock. She withstood Tetsu's fierce onslaught and landed a low dropkick, then caught him in a leg roll ankle lock and forced him to tap out
As a result, the final match at the Korakuen Hall event on the 11th will be between Mashima and Furusawa
Furusawa roared, "I didn't have much confidence in myself before, but now I feel confident. I'm going to unleash this confidence and my strength to make Emma give up and become the Rookie of the Year. I've won!" Her eyes gleamed with determination for the decisive battle three days later