JPN
The World of Stardom Championship match took place on Tuesday, June 30th at "STARDOM NIGHTER in KORAKUEN 2026 June" (Korakuen Hall, Tokyo), where champion Suzu Suzuki successfully defended her title for the first time against challenger Utami Hayashishita
Just 10 days after taking the belt from Sayaka Kurei at Yoyogi on June 20th, she faced a title defense match. Her opponent was a formidable opponent who had previously held the World Championship and had won the Pro Wrestling Award's "Women's Pro Wrestling Award." Having returned to the Stardom ring after about two years, and having officially joined the promotion on June 22nd, the champion had deliberately challenged her, resulting in this emergency title match
The match, which began with a stare-down, turned into a battle of wills and pride between the two fighters. The champion, whose neck was locked in a camel hold, was taunted with a kick to the head and the words, "So, what's wrong?"
This flipped a switch in Suzuki, who took the fight outside the ring and struck her with a folding chair. She then mercilessly threw it into the audience and sprayed bottled water on her opponent. As a champion who excels in hardcore matches, this kind of thing is child's play for her
From this point on, the offense and defense shifted back and forth. The champion attacked with a top-rope Frankensteiner followed by a running knee, but Utami fought back just as fiercely. After exchanging elbows and lariats, they each landed two German suplexes, resulting in a brutal exchange where both were counted down
Even after taking a Torture Rack Bomb, the champion refused to allow a three-count. Amidst deafening chants of "Suzu" and "Utami," she blocked the Hijack Bomb. She had been clearly targeting Utami as she charged in at a crucial moment. After landing a counter Tequila Shot, she followed up with two German Suplexes. When Utami kicked out of those, she finished off the grueling 17-minute and 51-second battle with a final Atomic Drop
After the match, she honestly praised her challenger, saying, "Shimi, you're too strong!"
She continued, "But when you came back to Stardom, the fans and wrestlers were all in a welcoming mood, and I said, 'Aren't you relieved?' But you weren't relieved, were you? I think Utami felt that the most. All of you who came here today can say those words, right?" She then addressed the audience and shouted, "Welcome back!!"
Tears welled up in Utami's eyes. "I'm back! Suzu, you're strong. I'm strong too, though. You were strong and cool. Fighting you today made me realize again how strong Stardom is, and how amazing Suzu Suzuki is. You're really crazy. Thank you!" she replied. With Suzuki's call of "Speaking of which, we're in the same generation, so let's be friends," the two exchanged a warm embrace
"As long as Suzu Suzuki is the champion, these kinds of exciting things will continue. The 5★STAR GP (starting July 18th in Ota Ward) will begin now, so I, the enthusiastic champion Suzu Suzuki, will win the tournament while still the champion!" Suzuki concluded the highly successful Korakuen Hall event. There seem to be no weaknesses in her quest for her second championship in three years