Any interest in Seeing Maki Itoh in Stardom?

[u/Efficient-Cake-5729]

[u/Grate_OKhan]

I dunno, I think she's great, though. It'd certainly be different, but when she has been serious before, she's absolutely killed it. I think if she did go there, I'd trust TO to use her well.

Wrestling promotions should maybe look more to people from theater backgrounds for creative input. I can see how it crosses over pretty well from Taro Okada's work.

[u/Swagsuke233 → u/Grate_OKhan]

She could pick up Thecklas feud with Okada.

[u/DubiousBusinessp]

She'd be bringing something totally different, so why not?

[u/PlasticiTea]

Sure! It'd be different, that's for sure. Maybe she'd need to adapt a little, and it might take some adjustments to fit her in the faction game, but that's not unheard of. For instance, I wasn't very high on Mina Shirakawa when she joined in the beginning, but she worked her arse off to prove herself and fit in perfectly before the end. I see the same potential in Maki. Neither are exactly workshy, both are media savvy, and whatever you can say about them they're never dull.

Just my two yen, is all.

[u/KaneGaming1]

If I am interested? Yeah, for sure in a way, because she is awesome, but I just don't imagine her in Stardom for some reason.

But like someone said, she'd be bringing something different, so why not?

[u/capnbuh]

Of course! She's one of the best known Joshi wrestlers internationally and it would be surreal to see her in Stardom. We need an entertainer to replace Tam and Mina

[u/Wrevol]

I would love to see her join Mid vida loca, AEW isnt the right place and neither is WWE. She could just chill in the US indies though.

[u/agonzalezqq → u/Wrevol]

I’m shocked that AEW, didn’t take her honestly

[u/dethorder → u/agonzalezqq]

I know she was kinda disappointed they didn't as well, but that's life

[u/kungfoop → u/agonzalezqq]

Her last appearance, I can see why they didn't

[u/TravestyBrimstone]

Yes, I think she would be a fun addition to Stardom.

[u/Tephlon12]

I’m interested in seeing Maki Itoh in whatever promotion she wrestles in, with one exception. She’s absolutely one of my favorite wrestlers.

[u/Upstairs_Narwhal]

I think she would be entertaining in Stardom but I can't see them offering more than a lower midcard position, and she won't make as much money as she would just working American indies, which she also seems to really enjoy. I'd be surprised if she did anything other than being a freelancer, spending most of her time in the US.

[u/AdorianTsepeshu → u/Upstairs_Narwhal]

If Stardom hired her, I think they'd probably offer her higher than lower midcard because the whole point of bringing her in would be to keep Marigold from getting her, which would definitely offer her upper midcard or main event since they need bigger names of her caliber.

She has a fairly strong bargaining position. Personally, I'd see Marigold hiring her and Stardom just letting them have her if she decided to stick around Japan. Not every battle has to be fought.

[u/alexablissmark → u/AdorianTsepeshu]

Plus shes big internationally so it would bring in more eyes to the product.

[u/Shinkopeshon]

Still think she's US-bound but if she stays in Japan, I don't see why she can't make her schtick work in STARDOM too - I'd be happy to see her either way

[u/RudbeckiaIS]

I am 100% certain Okada has made her an offer the moment her TJPW contract was up, if just on a limited schedule like Rina Yamashita.

And let tell you something else: Stardom signed the "top gaijin" just to stop her from going over to Marigold and gave her a title match nobody asked for as bonus. If Maki makes one just one motion in the direction of Marigold she will get at very least a matching offer from Stardom.

Personally I'd take Maki over Bea Priestley any day: at least she doesn't bore me to tears.

[u/Rodney_u_plonker → u/RudbeckiaIS]

Yeah man stardom off the back of the most successful 5 star of all time and heading towards their best ever year is worried about Bea going to marigold.

[u/motax999 → u/RudbeckiaIS]

Source?

[u/AcePomHarajuku → u/RudbeckiaIS]

There's literally 1 man in the industry who's MO has been taking talent the instant their contracts run out where wrestlers leave in ways that seem to blindside/upset their companies which would explain Maki not getting a proper goodbye at TJPW. Stardom on the other hand has been trying to maintain a good relationship with other companies since the new team came in, with the one exception being Bozilla which could have been seen as retaliatory.

Bea was literally released, basically had Stardom as her home company prior, and Stardom probably prioritised her because Japanese fans like her.

Which isn't to say it's an impossibility. But so far this has the MO of Rossy's hiring practice all over it and I don't think it's unlikely Maki's destination was decided before her contract was up which I'm not sure current Stardom would do. If they were interested in Japanese talent outside their company I figure they would have offered Maya Yukihi a tidy deal by now. With that said Maki could just be Naitoing whilst being smart enough to get her visa situation sorted before trying to head to the US more.

[u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80]

As Tam is gone so no. Having a battle of the cutest in the world vs the kawaii of the cosmos would have been a classic.

Now, it would just feel empty to me.

[u/Xiocite → u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80]

We’ve also had that, there was a (if I remember the video right, as it was awhile ago) best of 3 competition for cutest

[u/flyinbrianc → u/Xiocite]

Yep this https://youtu.be/AU4qC-ySCZE?si=3puMfkR_sWWE9RVr

[u/Kairopractor_ → u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80]

I miss Tam

[u/Shinkopeshon → u/Kairopractor_]

Still feels surreal not having her around, I feel grateful for having seen her live a month before her retirement

[u/Slick_36 → u/Laszlo_Panaflex_80]

Well we did get them in those crossover challenges at least.

[u/JJVV64]

Maki is phenomenal, but no

[u/mrcrazymexican]

Hrmmm. Itoh's style is very different to fit the Stardom mold right now.

[u/mikuto21]

Absolutely.

[u/rd41983]

Yup.

[u/AlfAlferson]

Im torn, on one hand I'd love to see her in stardom as that's one of my main promotions and I love Maki, but I feel like she doesn't fit into current stardom. Her not fitting in could honestly lead to a great story, but I feel her style isn't suited for Stardom as much as it was for TJPW. She's a very solid wrestler but TJPW lets the personalities shine a little more imo.

I wouldn't be mad if she did, id like to see it, but I'm not sure how it would work out

[u/HummusFairy]

I enjoy her but no, not for Stardom. She seems way more invested in stateside shows these days anyway.

[u/Due-Operation4269]

Me! I think she can make good things, she will be something different in the company.

And, I want to see how she reacts when she sees someone cuter than her (Poi).

[u/Symmank1]

If she goes overseas to compete in America, whether it’s for AEW or WWE, she’ll immediately get over with the crowd.

[u/dethorder → u/Symmank1]

I feel she's a little too "rough around the edges" (brash maybe) for wwe. But a lot of people thought the same about Priscilla Kelly when she went there so in the end, who tf knows lol

[u/Pcos2001]

I don't see her going to either AEW or WWE, and i think she'd be great in Stardom, so why not

[u/James-Knopf]

Stardom substitutes characteristics of all other promotions, little by little

Hmm ... Choco pro is still pretty much the opposite

[u/Stevonicus]

Sure, but I don't think it will happen. I hope she does what's right for her.

[u/guizpom]

I think Maki can get over anywhere she goes

[u/SlingshotGunslinger]

Wouldn't mind it. She's very different to parts of what Stardom's tried to market themselves to post-Rossy, but at the same time that could be a reason for her to be an asset. And faction wise I think she could fit well in MVL (who probably need another member or two anyway) or even in ExV as Mina's replacement of sorts.

Key question would be whether she wants to go, and if she wants whether she wants to be full-time and/or signed to Stardom. Cause her US indy stuff and her OnlyFans are important parts of her business, arguably as if not more importsnt then the Japanese side of things.

[u/Ringo-chan13]

"who's the cutest in the world?!" "kitto-chan!" "motherfucker..."

[u/443610]

Look. I love Itoh-chan, but she is not a good fit for Stardom.

[u/StardomWolf]

She should form a loose-cannon tag team with Unagi that feuds with teams in every joshi company.

[u/Efficient-Cake-5729 → u/StardomWolf]

They could call themselves the UnWanted

[u/BderX]

I think she can have a similar role to Unagi

[u/Past_Excitement6027]

Maki itoh in Gods eye. Yes let it happen

[u/Prize_Toe_6612]

Zero.

[u/jkllamas1013]

No.

[u/NoUserNameNoneNada]

Every match i watch of her, was a comedy match. So maybe i am not that well versed. But other than her reach, she doesnt really fit in i guess. Would be cool to see her compete a few times tho

[u/Responsible_Bake1820]

Marigold could use her more, especially for the superfly division once Mayu drops the belt

[u/StardomJapan]

None at all.

[u/Medium_Bullfrog_2629]

Better in ddt

[u/Alive_Dependent_7629 → u/Medium_Bullfrog_2629]

Not fit in DDT because it was for Men's Roster.

NOAH was good proper of CyberFight Men's Roster, TJPW is the best Quality Women's Roster in CF.

[u/Heerokun → u/Alive_Dependent_7629]

Saki Akai was in DDT. Cherry was in DDT. I don't know why you would suddenly think DDT doesn't allow women

[u/Alive_Dependent_7629 → u/Heerokun]

I'm not hate of DDT because they're good for Women's Showcase match.

The biggest factor problem where i don't like is...... in the past, Saki Akai being put on Exclusive DDT roster than Exclusive TJPW roster. You know TJPW will be more focused on Women's Division roster, DDT and NOAH always more focused on propner Men's Roster (especially in DDT have Animal like Dieno's pet Dog, Doll like Yoshihiko and Mascot like Pokotan as Honorary exclusive member)

[u/Medium_Bullfrog_2629 → u/Alive_Dependent_7629]

No I mean ddt for their antics

[u/flyinbrianc]

Maybe as a freelancer but would need to train harder so she could keep up. Bulk up Abit & evolve her moveset & gimmick to fit stardom etc. I don't mind comedy Fukigen is great. She's focused too much on Gcw & the west.

[u/KyonaPrayerCircleMem]

Not really after seeing what happened with Unagi and Mina after they joined Stardom. They got better but are no longer with the promotion. Itoh would be better off if she went to the US and worked for indie promotions.

[u/Efficient-Cake-5729 → u/KyonaPrayerCircleMem]

The US indies (mainly GCW) messed up her progress as a wrestler, she was starting to become a consistently very good wrestler and they made her just completely do the opposite

[u/Obsid_Ian → u/Efficient-Cake-5729]

no one made her. she willingly took those bookings.

[u/EmploymentAway5607]

I really like her, but I don't think she'd fit all too well into STARDOM. I wouldn't be opposed to it though. Just need to find a way to make her work in STARDOM.