AZM & Hanan introduce Stardom fans to New Rookies
Promotion: World Wonder Ring Stardom
Matches:
儛島エマ (Ema Maishima) vs AZM (Azumi)
古沢稀杏 (Kikyo Furusawa) vs 羽南 (Hanan)
Event: Stardom Nighter In Korakuen Hall (May 21)
Year: 2025
Before we kick into gear, I would like to thank @meraWRESTLING on X/Twitter. Without this account, I wouldn’t be able to get the information on the rookies for this article, so I give @meraWRESTLING a follow on the X platform.
Introductions to these rookies:
On the May 9th Stardom New Blood 21 show, company president, 岡田太郎 (Taro Okada) introduced two trainees that have passed their pro tests to become professional wrestlers. Their ring names and dates for their debuts weren’t decided until the May 11th Nighter In Korakuen Hall show.
But you might be wondering, what is a Pro Test? Well, I’m going to do my best to explain since I had to search for information for an unnecessarily long period of time.
In the realm of Japanese professional wrestling, a Pro Test is a formal evaluation that aspiring wrestlers must pass in order to be officially recognized as a professional wrestler by the promotion you trained in. You can think of it as a final step of a wrestler’s training in the dojo. This test is designed to focus on a trainee’s fundamentals, conditioning, ring awareness and… fighting spirit.
Trainers or senior wrestlers would assess these trainees to see if they are ready to debut or not. Passing means that the wrestler can officially compete in matches and is considered a professional wrestler. What happens if you fail? You can take the test again. Given the style of puroresu and how demanding it can be to your body, it’s not uncommon for aspiring pro wrestlers to fail their pro test a couple times before passing it.
Both of the new rookies would have tentative names of 松田マイ(Mai Matsuda) and 豊島あん (An Toyoshima).
(I would also like to mention in the first photo you see, Mai Matsuda is on the left while An Toyoshima is on the right.)
Tentative names are temporary ring names that trainees have before deciding on an official ring name, especially if the wrestler doesn’t want to use their real name. This is not uncommon in the world of wrestling for some wrestlers to use their real names. Japanese pro wrestling is no stranger to this, as they are wrestlers who use their real names or modify them to fit their persona.
The Debut Announcement
On May 13, Stardom would release the match cards for their next three shows on their official website. In the article, they announce the date for Mai Matsuda and An Toyoshima debut matches and who each will face. The statement goes:
“また5月21日(水)後楽園ホール大会では、練習生2人のデビュー戦が決定！1人(写真左)はAZMと、1人(写真右)は羽南を相手にデビュー戦！リングネームは別途発表いたします。”
Source: World Wonder Ring Stardom (STARDOM)
The English translation feature is botched, so I will explain it to those who don’t understand Japanese.
On the May 21 Nighter In Korakuen Hall show, both rookies had their opponent lined up for their debut matches. Mai Matsuda will face Artist Of Stardom Champion & NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion AZM (Azumi) while An Toyoshima will face Goddesses Of Stardom Champion 羽南 (Hanan).
The Official Ring Names Reveal:
On May 19th, STARDOM posted a video on their YouTube Channel. This video featured the company president, 岡田太郎 (Taro Okada), was in a ring with Matsuda and Toyoshima. This video announced their official ring names as you see in the picture. So here are the official names and bios for both of these rookies:
(Credit: @meraWRESTLING on X)
儛島エマ (Ema Maishima)
Ema Maishima is a 21 year old from Kashiwara City in the Osaka Prefecture. She stands at 156 cm (5’1”) tall and weighs 56 kg (123 lbs). She first became aware of pro wrestling in elementary school after watching DRAGONGATE, which her parents had been watching. During high school, while struggling with her future path, she was inspired by watching STARDOM and admiring AZM and Rina, which led her to pursue a career as a pro wrestler. In order to debut as a pro wrestler, Ema joined the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force for two years, saving up money and training her body. After moving to Tokyo, she spent 1 year and 2 months as a trainee before finally making her in-ring debut.
When she was asked by Taro Okada what fans would like to call her, she responded with Ema. I will be calling her Ema for her matches moving forward. Ema noted that her strength is that she is really good at dropkicks.
古沢稀杏 (Kikyo Furusawa)
Kikyo Furusawa is a 21 year old from Fujinomiya City in the Shizuoka Prefecture. She stands 160 cm (5’3”) tall and weighs 51 kg (112 lbs). Her interest in pro wrestling began when her parents watched New Japan Pro-Wrestling. As she started thinking more about her future career, she came across STARDOM’s Cinderella Audition, leading her to join the promotion in April last year. Her background includes playing tennis in her middle school club. For her debut match, she wore punk-rock-inspired attire, modeled after the manga NANA.
Kikyo would note that her strength is her facial expressions, which is strange on the surface, but a good strength for versatility.
The Opponents
I know that I should write about their debut matches, but I want to take some time for you guys to learn about their opponents. Usually I would not dive into these things, but I will out of respect.
AZM (Azumi)
⅓ of Artist Of Stardom Champions (with Wonder Of Stardom Champion Starlight Kid & Miyu Amasaki as Neo Genesis)
NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion
In 2011, Azumi would be part of the Stardom Dojo in the company’s first year of existence alongside other trainees Arisa Hoshiki, Eri Susa, Kairi Hojo (Kairi Sane), Mayu Iwatani, etc. She would train under former pro wrestler and current producer for Dream Star Fighting Marigold, Fuka. She made her debut on Stardom’s Season 14 Goddesses In Stars on October 6, 2013 at the young age of 12. In 2017, Azumi became the newest member of Queen’s Quest and that is where the official AZM name was born.
Most of her great work was in Stardom. My first exposure to AZM was her matches against long time rival and stablement, Starlight Kid online. AZM would claim her first in wrestling by winning the Artist Of Championships (trios/six woman tag) three times as part of Queen’s Quest. Two of these reigns were with HZK (aka Hazuki) & Io Shirai (aka IYO SKY) and the third reign would be with Utami Hayashishita & Momo Watanabe. She has the moniker of the High Speed Bomb Girl for a reason as she is synonymous for being in Stardom’s High Speed division. She has the second most combined days as High Speed Champion with just two reigns as her longest reign being 458 days. AZM has the most combined defences as High Speed Champion with 16 successful defences.
AZM would make loads of appearances in New Japan Pro-Wrestling. The first appearance would be on night 2 of Wrestle Kingdom 15. She would team with Utami Hayashishita & Saya Kamitani against Maika, Himeka & Natsupoi. Her biggest appearance for NJPW to date is when she challenged Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Championship.
AZM has been making waves overseas in recent years. Even though her most famous ones are from All Elite Wrestling, SPARK Joshi Puroresu Of America and New Japan’s American Brand, NJPW STRONG, AZM would make her first overseas appearance in Singapore for the promotion, Grapplemax as part of Stardom’s tour of Singapore. She would be part of a Stardom Showcase match at Ring Of Honor’s Supercard Of Honor XV in 2024. She teamed Saya Kamitani & Tam Nakano to face Maika, Mina Shirakawa & Mei Seira.
Last year at Stardom The Conversion, Queen’s Quest fell short against Oedo Tai in a 10 woman tag team elimination match. Given the stipulation, Saya Kamitani was the only person to remain in Queen’s Quest as she was eliminated last in the match (and the faction would eventually end when Kamitani turned into a villain and joined H.A.T.E., but I digress). AZM, Hina, Lady C and Miyu Amasaki would be forced to leave and all would join different factions following this.
After that debacle, Starlight Kid, Mei Seira & Suzu Suzuki would offer them spots in their new stable which AZM & Miyu Amasaki accepted. The name of the stable would be revealed as Neo Genesis on the July 28 Sapporo World Rendezvous.
AZM currently has two championships at her disposal. She would win the Artist Of Stardom Championship for the 4th time along with Neo Genesis teammates’ Wonder Of Stardom Champion Starlight Kid and Miyu “Kevin” Amasaki. They defeated Cosmic Angels’ Tam Nakano, Natsupoi & Saori Anou at Stardom’s Supreme Fight show on February 2 of this year. That didn’t stop AZM from singles success as she captured her second championship, the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship by defeating Mercedes Moné and Mina Shirakawa in a three way at NJPW Resurgence.
羽南 (Hanan)
½ Goddesses Of Stardom Champion (with Saya Iida as wing★gori)
Hanan… is a very interesting case. If you are a regular Stardom viewer, you will know who Hanan is. Since she isn’t known for being at the top of the card or impressing fans overseas, she isn’t going to be recognizable for those who don’t watch Stardom. So being the idiot who can’t seem to escape the feminist allegations, I will try to give a background.
Hanan would also be trained by Fuka and debuted at the age of 13 on Night 5 of Stardom Grows Up Stars tour in 2017. She is a founding member and currently, the leader of the STARS faction alongside Saya Iida and Momo Kohgo.
(Zero’s thoughts here: Given STARS has been a faction that had 19 people come and gone especially with the blow of Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki & Koguma leaving, I am very surprised that there are only 3 people now. Honestly, I am worried about them, but given the new rookies arriving in the Stardom scene, I have hope for the faction.)
At the Stardom Dream Queendom event in 2021, Hanan would capture her first championship in her career. She defeated Ruaka to the Future Of Stardom Championship, a title where either you must be under 20 years old or (regardless of age) have less than three years of experience to challenge for. It was a nice full circle moment as she won the first title in her career by defeating the woman (Ruaka) who defeated her in her very first match.
Fun Fact: Hanan has two younger sisters that are also wrestlers in STARDOM as well. Their names are 吏南 (Rina) and 妃南 (Hina). Rina is part of the faction, H.A.T.E. while Hina is part of God’s Eye and is the current Future Of Stardom Champion.
Hanan has currently been a staple of the Goddesses Of Stardom division (tag team division). In 2023, she and Saya Iida as wing★gori would capture the NEW BLOOD Tag Team Championship on the 11th Stardom NEW BLOOD show. In 2024, wing★gori would win the Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League, an annual tag team round robin tournament. At that year’s Dream Queendom event, they would defeat H.A.T.E. Supreme (Momo Watanabe & Thekla) to capture the Goddesses Of Stardom Championships.
Hanan and Saya Iida are still the champions till this day.
The Matches
So with that being said, from one of the most iconic wrestling venues, Korakuen Hall. We see the debuts of Ema Maishima and Kikyo Furusawa to the pro wrestling world.
儛島エマ Ema Maishima vs. AZM (Azumi)
Both women shook hands before the bell rings as it is sportsmanship. The match begins with a brief collar and elbow before Ema goes for the wrist. AZM reversed it immediately and both women exchanged wristlocks. AZM switched things up with a headlock and really wrenching it in. Ema tried the gut punches. Then she realised that her arms have no power as the new girl, so Ema escaped by sending AZM to the ropes. AZM hops over the drop down, ducks under the leapfrog and keeps moving. Ema snaps her down with Arm Drag, but AZM immediately gets up and hits her Arm Drag. Both women sweep each other’s legs for pin attempts before they kip up together.
Ema kept trying to do the punches and even did a running dropkick. For AZM, that offence was about as impactful as a sandwich, so the double champ just dropkicked her once and Ema went crashing down. AZM snapmares and kicks Ema in the back twice. AZM had her foot on the right shoulder of Ema in the corner and let go before the 5 count. Ema kept swinging for the fences, but AZM just casually knocked her down again. AZM sends Ema to one corner to the opposite corner and hits the back elbow. AZM sends her back and hits the dropkick in the corner.
AGAIN, Ema went for the punches. I’m just thinking, “Why? Why are you doing this again?” And AZM is egging it on which makes this even worse especially when her forearm came soaring at Ema’s chin. AZM sends her to the corner and Ema jumps over her slide before running to the ropes. She did a Tierras and hit the dropkick for a two count. Ema tried and failed in attempting the bodyslam, so she got bodyslammed. AZM Irish whips her to the ropes and goes for the clothesline. Ema ducked under two lariat attempts and hit a running dropkick on AZM. Ema is on the apron and does a springboard high crossbody onto AZM for a two count.
Both women in a strike exchange with AZM rocking her down. AZM runs across the ropes and catches Ema’s attempt of a big boot. AZM sweeps the legs, penalty kicks and double foot stomps her. AZM went for the Vertical Suplex, but Ema reversed it into a Small Package for a two count. Both women had a pin exchange with Ema getting the closest two count. Ema ducks the roundhouse and does a rollup for a two count. AZM traps her in the Numero Uno (Seated Double Leg Nelson Scissored Armbar).
AZM realised that Ema was close to the ropes, so she rolled her back into the centre of the ring. Ema manages to use her right leg to get to the rope. AZM dragged her to a specific point, so she climbed up to the top turnbuckle. Ema moved out of the way of the double foot stomp and did innovative rollups for a two count. Both women would run the ropes with Ema hitting the dropkick on AZM. AZM applies a Fujiwara Armbar on Ema. AZM hits a vertical suplex on Ema for a two count. Ema struggles to even realise where she is before AZM kicks her in the head for a close two count.
Ema is just trying to find her bearings. AZM kicked her in the head again and used the AZM Sushi (Grounded Cross Armbreaker Into a Cradle) to get the win.
古沢稀杏 (Kikyo Furusawa) vs 羽南 (Hanan)
Before we start, I just want to say, I really like Hanan’s theme song. It’s like a sweet melody that makes me feel like I’m being heard or something. I feel like someone is cutting onions.
Kikyo seemed more enthusiastic about this one as she and Hanan shook hands. Both women start with a collar and elbow and Kikyo immediately struggles to push her back to the ropes. Hanan was definitely fun as she pushed her to the ropes so easily. Kikyo realised that grappling her wasn’t working, so she did a switch and began striking her repeatedly. Hanan reverses an Irish whip only for Kikyo to rebound back with a dropkick. Kikyo must’ve understood that Hanan wasn’t going to be knocked off her feet, so she continued with the dropkicks. As she went for the 4th dropkick, Hanan just dropkicked her like a bug. She gets a two count off a bodyslam and syncs in the Camel Clutch. Given that I have seen some old Joshi matches from the 90s, I noticed that Hanan was practically sitting on Kikyo’s back. After seeing Mima Shimoda sitting on Manami Toyota’s head in their 1995 match, this felt like nothing. Hanan was being a complete troll, because she is spinning around with Kikyo in the camel clutch like she’s a Power Star.
Kikyo gets placed on the second rope as Hanan did a middle rope attack for a nearfall. Kikyo staggers to her feet due to some pain on her lower back as she strikes her. Like the first match, each strike was about as impactful as a sandwich. After a back elbow from Hanan, Kikyo ducks under a lariat that could’ve taken her head off and finally dropkicks Hanan off her feet. Kikyo tries to lift her up for a bodyslam and it doesn’t work since her lower back is affected. Hanan tries to counter with bodyslam which ends up with Kikyo escaping. In the element of surprise, Kikyo rolls under another lariat and dropkicks Hanan’s left knee. She followed up with an ankle lock and Hanan rolled out of it easily. Kikyo caught her lacking with a drop toe hold and she did the neck twist on her ankle. That move is usually meant to be for the head, so it was unique seeing it being used on a different body part. Kikyo didn’t realise that in doing the mover, her lower back is still affected given she has to twist her own body for the move to work.
Hanan got out of the bodyslam position, but since her knee has taken a lot of punishment, she was staggered. Kikyo just kicked her in the knee. Both women reversed each other’s Irish whip, and Kikyo did a cartwheel victory roll into a side leglock on the Goddesses Of Stardom Champion’s badly hurt leg. Hanan managed to reach for the ropes. Kikyo tries to bodyslam her, but Hanan drops her body weight to make it difficult for her to be bodyslammed. That only left the knee exposed, so Kikyo kept whacking at it like Trevor Phillips smashing a beer bottle on Johnny Klebitz’s head. After an amount of failed pin attempts, Kikyo switches back into the ankle lock. Hanan rolls out of it again and countered with a Harai Goshi. She would clutch her knee as she put all the weight from Harai Goshi on her left leg.I don’t know why I’m so focused on limps in this match. Hanan was going for a rebound attack and Kikyo applied a Cobra Twist on her. She really had Hanan struggling and switched to rollup for a two count. Kikyo was striking Hanan repeatedly with some damage. And Hanan cuts her running attack off with a jumping leg drop on Kikyo.
Hanan applied the Boston Crab and sat on her back in the centre of the ring. Kikyo somehow managed to reach the ropes. Hanan dragged her back into the centre and it seemed like Kikyo was dead weight. Turns out, it was a ruse as Kikyo surprise rolled up Hanan for a two count. Hanan immediately answered back with an Uppercut. Hanan throws her with a fallaway slam and locks in another Boston Crab. She noticed that Kikyo was close to the ropes, so Hanan immediately dragged her back to the centre. In the end, Kikyo couldn’t take it anymore and tapped out.
Hanan has won the match. Both women bowed to the crowd and went to the back together.
Backstage Comments
Ema Maishima: “I think I’ve worked hard throughout this long period of training for this one day. Thank you AZM for the match! I’ll keep growing and getting stronger, so let’s fight in a singles match again.”
AZM: “Every year, the quality of the newcomers at Stardom gets higher and higher, and as a senior at the company, I’m really happy about that. I’ve heard rumors that she wants to aim for high speed, so I think in the near future she’ll surpass my record for the most title defences. I’m looking forward to that.”
Kikyo Furusawa: “Everyone’s cheers gave me strength, and I had so much fun that I was moved to tears, but I was disappointed that I lost by tapout. I want to beat Hanan by tapout one day.”
Hanan: “That’s great! What should we do… Right now there are only three of us in STARS.”
The Conclusion
I hope you all enjoyed my way of explaining the debuts of Ema Maishima and Kikyo Furusawa. It was fun watching two matches especially since it’s available on their YouTube. I was more impressed by Kikyo because she did surprise me at certain moments, even had Hanan struggling. If you want to read more from the clubhouse, go to the contributions page as they are great to read from loads of writers.