JPN
The Ito Respect Army has finally gained a new member! At "STARDOM in KYOTO 2026 May." held at KBS Hall in Kyoto on Sunday, May 31st, Maki Ito, Kian Furusawa, Wakana Tsukiyama, and Rian faced Ami Sorei, Hinami, Lady C, and Kiyoka Koryu in an 8-person tag team match
Ito, who disappeared after the May 26 Korakuen Hall event, was finally found safe at the May 30 Kobe event after much commotion. However, he was fighting listlessly in his pajamas, far from a full recovery
The following day, she appeared in her costume at the tournament, but she was clearly not in top form. Her eyes were vacant, and her mind seemed elsewhere. Everything she did was a beat too slow
Everything went well until he landed a flying body attack on Lady, but he froze midway through his "world's cutest knuckle" attack. This was because he was beginning to doubt the fact that he was "world's cutest."
Conversely, when Toraryu slapped him and said, "Cheer up! Everyone's waiting for you," Ito seemed a little more motivated and retaliated with a powerful headbutt. He then teamed up with Furusawa to deliver a combined facebuster to Hinami
The match ended with Rian being defeated by Hinami's modified Jackhammer, but a big surprise awaited her afterward. Hinami, the Artist of Stardom champion, called out to Rian, "The cutest Ito Maki in the world? She looks like the most dejected person in the world. I have a suggestion for you: if the Ito Respect Army is all together and Ito Maki makes a full recovery, please come and challenge us."
With a dazed expression, Ito continued to wander around the ring. That's when it happened! Rian said, "Ito-san! When you disappeared, you apparently left this ribbon behind, and I've been keeping it safe. Please let me work here with you!" Tsukiyama's face turned pale upon hearing these words
Lately, Rian's circumstances had been extremely turbulent. She had once decided to follow Tsukiyama, her tag team partner in "Ganshara Fantasy," but as soon as they started working together, both of them were subjected to a series of misfortunes, including a pay cut
It seems that she gradually began to think that she couldn't make money working with Tsukiyama. With her distrust still lingering, she and Tsukiyama lost to Hamabe Matoi by double pinfall at the May 30 Kobe tournament. After the match, Rian expressed her anger, saying, "I will never forgive Tsukiyama."
At the same time, there were events that revealed Rian's wavering emotions. At the Korakuen Hall event on May 26, she picked up the ribbon that Ito had thrown into the ring, and at the Kobe event on May 30, she put it on herself before entering the ring
Upon hearing Rian's words, Ito burst into tears, regardless of who was watching. Furusawa and Rian embraced Ito and gently placed a ribbon in their master's hair. It was a deeply moving scene that brought tears to everyone's eyes
Then, a look of sanity returned to Ito's eyes! The charismatic figure, now completely recovered, shouted, "Listen everyone! These three are the Ito Respect Army, and the Ito Respect Army is the light of Stardom! Ito Respect Army, forever!"
Backstage after the match, Ito reintroduced Rian, saying, "A new member has joined the Ito Respect Army!" When asked, "What do you want to do with the Ito Respect Army going forward?", Rian answered without hesitation, "I want to make money!"
To this, Ito applauded, saying, "That's wonderful! Keep making money and selling well. The Ito Respect Corps is capitalist, so please do your best." All eyes are now on the future of the Ito Respect Corps, now down to three members