August 23, 2026 | Tokyo • Ryogoku Kokugikan | Attendance: 5,004
Pre-Show: Rian Absent; NEW BLOOD Tag Match Canceled
Before the event began, President Taro Okada addressed the crowd regarding the scheduled title match.
President Okada: “Thank you all very much for coming to Ryogoku Kokugikan today. It is an honor to host the 5★STAR GP Finals here, but before we begin, I have an announcement and an apology. As we have already shared on social media, Rian missed the meet-and-greet and will also miss her match. We checked continuously right up until the end to see if she could compete, but her condition simply does not allow it. Therefore, Rian will be absent today, and the NEW BLOOD Tag Championship match is canceled. I sincerely apologize.
Honestly, amidst the panic of figuring out what to do, one wrestler volunteered, saying, ‘Please let me go out there.’ I would like to invite her out to say a few words.”
Ranna Yagami, returning from her American excursion, made her entrance to address the crowd.
Yagami: “I’m home, Japan! After a 40-day American excursion, Ranna Yagami is back. Hearing that Stardom was in a pinch today, I couldn’t just sit still, so I rushed over. As you can see, I am ready to wrestle anytime. I know many of you were looking forward to the NEW BLOOD Tag Championship today, but Ranna Yagami, along with the wrestlers competing today, will put on a match so hot it rivals any title bout, I promise you that! So, Ryogoku, are you ready to make some noise? Let’s go!”
Match 1: BLUE STARS Representative Decision Match
○ Starlight Kid (16:56, Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu) Suzu Suzuki ●
Entering the 5★STAR GP as the World of Stardom Champion, Suzu Suzuki cruised through Blue A in 1st place without a single loss. In the August 18 Korakuen Hall tournament, she settled her score with Ruaka—the only wrestler she drew with in the league—to advance to the finals, aiming for her second tournament victory since 2023.
Meanwhile, Starlight Kid narrowly escaped Blue B in 3rd place, but fought her way up by defeating HANAKO (Blue A 2nd place) and Ami Sohrei (Blue B 1st place) to reach the representative match.
Amidst deafening cheers, Kid struck first, landing a Boomerang Attack. Suzu immediately fired back, shouting, “Today I’m playing catch by myself!” before hitting a hair-whip. After a fierce elbow exchange, Kid looked for a counter, but Suzu caught her, executing a corner powerbomb followed by a running knee for a two-count. Suzu hyped the crowd with an “SLK” chant of her own before hitting a standing moonsault press.
Kid shifted the momentum with a headscissors whip, dropping a 619 and a diving body attack. When Suzu kicked out, Kid slammed her with a knee crusher and returned the favor with a standing moonsault press. Kid quickly hit the ropes, but Suzu intercepted her with a stiff elbow.
Suzu draped Kid over the bottom rope and charged from the outside, but Kid dodged and landed a diving foot stomp to the knee. Kid aimed for the Kuro Tora Tenbatsu on the apron, but Suzu reversed into a piledriver setup. Kid evaded again, hitting a low dropkick and a devastating apron knee crusher!
Taking control, Kid locked in the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu (Stretch Muffler), but Suzu reached the ropes. Kid transitioned into a Shiranui setup, but Suzu planted her feet and countered with a massive lariat. A striking rally ensued before Suzu attempted a Tequila Shot. It missed, and Kid capitalized with a Kuro Tora Tenbatsu into a moonsault press for a near-fall. She immediately went for a Tiger Suplex, but Suzu escaped and nailed the Tequila Shot for a close two.
Suzu unleashed a barrage of low kicks, but Kid seized an opening to lock in the Stretch Muffler. Suzu barely escaped, executing a release German suplex, then crushed a rising Kid with a superkick. Battling on the top turnbuckle, Kid pulled off the Eternal Foe for a shocking two-count. She immediately locked the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu back in, but Suzu was right near the ropes.
Fifteen minutes elapsed. Suzu caught Kid climbing the turnbuckle and launched her with an avalanche release German suplex! Suzu followed up with two more consecutive German suplexes for a two-count. On the third attempt, Kid rolled through and locked the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu dead in the center of the ring. Unable to move, Suzu had no choice but to tap out.
Kid (Backstage): “I am the Blue Stars Representative, Starlight Kid. A tap-out victory over the World of Stardom Champion, Suzu Suzuki. This is a definitive win. She tapped out of her own free will. Whether Maika or Rina makes it out next, I will put on the greatest match possible. After proving that Stardom is No. 1, I will win this tournament. I want to win and see the landscape that lies beyond. I’m going to grab my dream with my own hands!”
Suzu (Backstage): “High-Energy Champion here! Damn, what hurts, hurts. My right knee is shattered. (The red belt she propped on the table falls over) Bad omen! The High-Energy Champion couldn’t get a High-Energy Victory, but Starlight Kid is the real deal. We used to be in the same unit, and despite how she looks, she’s a relentless type, so she must have studied me hard. Seeing right through me, that damn tiger! I didn’t get the tournament win, but I’ll keep bringing the energy, so please keep supporting me.”
Match 2: RED STARS Representative Decision Match
○ Rina (16:51, Hydrangea) Maika ●
Maika advanced from Red A in 1st place, while Rina took 2nd. During the August 18 Korakuen rounds, the seeded Maika defeated Saya Iida to reach the decision match, aiming for her second tournament win. Rina tore through Rina Yamashita and Konami to secure her spot. Their previous league encounter on August 8 in Sapporo ended in a time-limit draw, adding sudden-death tension to this rematch.
They traded elbows the moment the bell rang. Maika tossed Rina out of the ring, taking the fight to the floor. Rina turned the tables, wrapping Maika’s arm around the steel ring post and striking it with a chair. She followed up with a shoulder armbreaker, rolled Maika back inside, and went for the cover. When Maika kicked out, Rina immediately transitioned into a Fujiwara armbar until Maika reached the ropes.
Rina relentlessly targeted the arm using the ropes. When Referee Murayama reprimanded her, she spat at him. Maika tried to counterattack, but her arm had no strength left. Smelling blood, Rina isolated the limb further, hitting an armbreaker. Rina ran the ropes, but Maika caught her with a desperation powerslam, dodged a corner attack, and hit two running lariats.
Rina answered with an octopus hold (Manji-gatame). When Maika powered out, Rina hit a middle-rope missile dropkick and a diving double knee drop. She went for another, but Maika caught her on the top rope, sparking an elbow exchange. Maika won the brawl and hit an avalanche brainbuster. She aimed for a lariat, but Rina countered with a judo hip toss (harai-goshi). Maika immediately returned fire with a delayed brainbuster.
Ten minutes elapsed. Maika caught Rina climbing the turnbuckle again, but this time Rina executed a top-rope armbreaker, seamlessly transitioning into a diving double knee drop. She followed with another double knee drop directly onto Maika’s injured arm! “I got her!” Rina shouted, locking in the Hydrangea (modified armbar). Maika collapsed into the ropes to break it.
Maika fought back with her uninjured left arm, hitting a lariat and then launching Rina with a massive avalanche brainbuster from the top turnbuckle. Rina popped right back up, only to eat another left-arm lariat. Rina frantically applied a jackknife pin. Maika kicked out, charged, and planted Rina with a counter Michinoku Driver II. She quickly hit a standard Michinoku Driver II, but Rina kicked out at two. Maika went for a modified Michinoku Driver, but Rina reversed it into a cross-arm submission, which Maika countered into a pin. Rina kicked out and instantly trapped Maika in the Hydrangea. Unable to move, Maika finally tapped out.
Maika (Backstage): “Ah… I thought I made every single match a total blast, the ultimate summer festival, but at the very end… admitting defeat myself, huh. Ah, it’s frustrating. It’s pathetic. Well, there’s no use moping about it, but wrestling you really is fun, Rina. My condescension probably pisses you off, but I’d wrestle you again any day. I’m going to take this frustration, refresh myself in Mexico, and come back to Japan powered up even more. Next year for sure, I’ll win.”
(Rina offered no comment.)
Match 3: 4-WAY Tag Battle
○ Koguma & Matoi Hamabe (4:40, 120% Schoolboy) Yuna Mizumori ● & Anne Kanaya
(Other teams: Konami & Fukigen Death★, Mei Seira & Ema Mashima)
A chaotic four-way tag involving COSMIC ANGELS (Mizumori & Kanaya), H.A.T.E. (Konami & Fukigen), NEO GENESIS (Seira & Mashima), and the STARS-adjacent duo of Koguma & Matoi Hamabe.
After a rapid-fire sequence of roll-ups, the ring cleared out leaving Koguma and High Speed Champion Yuna Mizumori. Mizumori attempted her Tropical☆Yahoo Press, but Koguma dodged and trapped her in a 120% Schoolboy for the flash pin!
Suddenly, a mysterious figure appeared and blindsided Anne Kanaya! Grabbing a microphone, it was revealed to be Bea Priestley, issuing a declaration of war: “You broke my nose. At Yokohama on September 12, I’m going to break your face!”
Koguma (Backstage): “It’s been a while since we teamed, huh? Well, I’m STARS, and you’re STARS. We mesh well, so I’d love to tag again sometime. Today, I got the 3-count on Yunamon, the High Speed Champion. Before, I said I wanted her to make me shine, but since I easily got the 3 today, maybe she doesn’t need to do anything for me. I think I can just take it. Look forward to it.”
Kanaya (Backstage): “Bea! I don’t know what kind of summer you’ve had, but I’m frustrated I couldn’t be in the 5★STAR either. Bea, I’m going to get my first win off of you in Yokohama. I’m definitely paying you back.”
Mizumori (Backstage): “I love that fiery glare of yours, Anne. Throw it at her. As for me… I lost today. Here at Ryogoku, the brightest stage for the High Speed division, I lost as the champion. Koguma, you were the 9th High Speed Champion back in 2015—yet you are still called the ‘High Speed Genius.’ You are the wall that I, the current champion, must overcome. We are absolutely doing Koguma vs. Yunamon. Enjoy playing it cool while you still can.”
Match 4: 10-Woman Tag Match
○ Ami Sohrei, Hina, Lady C, Tomoka Inaba, & Sayaka Koryu (8:31, Gotoku no Rai) AZM, Miyu Amasaki, HANAKO ●, Maki Itoh, & Waka Tsukiyama
NEO GENESIS’s AZM & Miyu Amasaki (the Goddesses of Stardom Champions) teamed up with the unit-less trio of HANAKO, Maki Itoh, and Waka Tsukiyama to face God’s Eye.
Late in the match, HANAKO caught Ami Sohrei with a massive lariat, and Sohrei fired right back with one of her own. God’s Eye swarmed with a combined flapjack. AZM tried to break it up with a diving foot stomp but accidentally hit HANAKO. Sohrei immediately capitalized with a corner lariat, followed by Gotoku no Rai (Like Lightning) to secure the pinfall over HANAKO.
Sohrei (In-Ring): “God’s Eye takes the win! Our teamwork is incredible as always! But right now, Ami Sohrei’s momentum as a singles competitor is massive. And there’s someone I want to fight right now. Hanan! (Hanan appears holding the White Belt) Kept you waiting, Hanan. Do you remember the promise we made in Utsunomiya? Let me challenge for that white belt.”
Hanan (In-Ring): “I’ve been waiting for you. The person I wanted to fight most with this belt on the line… is Ami Sohrei. Let’s have a Wonder-ful battle.”
Sohrei (Backstage): “The white belt match against Hanan is finally set! Coming off the 5★STAR, my singles momentum is through the roof. Fighting Hanan at this exact moment is going to make me even stronger, and my confidence that I can wear that belt is overflowing.”
AZM (Backstage): “My mistake! My mistake, but hey, wasn’t our tag work pretty good today?”
Itoh: “Are we DDT friends now? If we can be friends…”
HANAKO: “No, absolutely not.”
Itoh: “We’re good, sorry.”
Match 5: 6-Woman Tag Match
○ Natsuko Tora, Ruaka & Azusa Inaba (10:10, Death Valley Bomb) Rina Yamashita, Itsuki Aoki ● & Akira Kurogane
Mi Vida Loca took on H.A.T.E. in a chaotic brawl. Toward the climax, H.A.T.E. distracted the referee, allowing Natsuko Tora to strike Itsuki Aoki with a steel chair before planting her with a Death Valley Bomb for the 3-count.
Despite the match being over, Natsuko violently attacked Akira Kurogane, hitting her with a Death Valley Bomb and raising a chair to strike again… until World of Stardom Champion Suzu Suzuki rushed the ring.
Suzu (In-Ring): “Calm down, calm down! You were being so energetic that I brought this (points to the red belt) out for you, though?”
Natsuko (In-Ring): “I have to go this far just to get you out here, don’t I? The four of us fought for this belt. You said it then: if you win it, let me be the first challenger. I’ve been thinking non-stop about how to force you to come out here today. A tactical victory. We finally meet. So do it. Fight me.”
Suzu (In-Ring): “You’re cute. I figured you wanted this so badly that I came out here myself. Of course. Let’s do it.”Aoki (Backstage): “Natsuko using weapons at the end… Next time, use whatever you want, and I’ll still beat you as many times as it takes. I lost today, but bring out anything you’ve got.”
Suzu (Backstage): “She totally had me dancing in the palm of her hand. I came out here all triumphant thinking she wanted to fight me, but it was her strategy all along. My first challenger? Finally! The thing with Utami felt more like a reverse-nomination. Mi Vida Loca is strong no matter what happens! You just wait, Natsuko, you bastard.”
Natsuko (Backstage): “Finally, Suzu Suzuki shows up. I said it before Suzu even won it: ‘If you win the red belt, let me be your first challenger.’ And she said yes. But this company… the moment Utami Hayashishita returns, they try to give it to her instead. So if I didn’t call Suzu out here today, Suzu might not even have the red belt by the time my turn came around. The red belt is important, but who I fight for it, who holds it—that’s the most important thing to me. So this is my tactical victory.”
Match 6: Ranna Yagami Return Match
○ Ranna Yagami & Kian Furusawa (15:11, Beast Buster) Aya Sakura ● & Kurara Sayaka
With the NEW BLOOD Tag Championship match canceled, Ranna Yagami stepped in to team with Kian Furusawa against the champions, “Sakurara” (Aya Sakura & Kurara Sayaka), in a non-title bout.
After surviving a flurry of offense from Sakurara, Yagami landed a brutal Brazilian Kick to Sakura’s head and finished her off with the Beast Buster.
Yagami (In-Ring): “I’m back! I defended this belt (Future of Stardom) three times during my 40 days in America. But one thing became absolutely clear to me over there: Stardom’s ring is the best in the world. Anyone who wants this belt, get in here!”
(Furusawa, Ema Mashima, Matoi Hamabe, Anne Kanaya, and Akira Kurogane enter the ring. Yagami chooses Kurogane.)
Yagami: “The first one to bite was Akira. You want to put this belt on the line? Akira, who fought in the best ring in the world, versus me, who fought in rings across the globe. Let’s show them what we’ve got.”Yagami (Backstage): “I wasn’t even scheduled to be here today, but with my fellow rookie class member out, there was no way I couldn’t rush over! I nominated Akira today because she was the only one who bit at me backstage previously. She should go look at my scores from the last two 5★STAR GPs before running her mouth. Ranna Yagami got battered and bruised in America, and I’m currently going through an explosive growth spurt. Look forward to the new Ranna Yagami.”
Furusawa (Backstage): “I was originally supposed to challenge for the NEW BLOOD Tag titles today. But as soon as Rian-san recovers, we are going straight after Sakurara’s titles, we’re winning them on our first try, and we are going to create the era of MeniMani!”
Sakura (Backstage): “I worked so, so hard all summer long in Stardom! I had confidence in that, which makes losing to Ranna fresh off her American tour incredibly frustrating. It was a non-title match, but if it had been for the belts, we would have lost them. As soon as Rian is healthy, let’s do the title defense immediately!”
Match 7: Special Tag Match
○ Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe (12:44, Spinning Star Crusher) Hanan & Saya Iida ●
The second half kicked off with STARS’ wing☆gori against H.A.T.E.’s Kamitani and Watanabe. The duo’s relationship had been rocky since Watanabe’s return, but they seemingly reconciled during their August 3 draw.
Late in the match, Kamitani took out Hanan with a Star Crusher to isolate the STARS team. Kamitani and Watanabe followed up with a vicious diving double knee strike on Iida, before Kamitani finished her off with a Spinning Star Crusher.
Kamitani (In-Ring): “You all know exactly what we want to do, right? Goddesses Champions, get out here. (AZM & Amasaki enter) You two playing best buddies and wearing those belts… do you think they’re just accessories? This Goddesses belt will have way more value if we wear it.”
Watanabe (In-Ring): “Exactly. We are the strongest, and we’re always ready. September 12 at Yokohama Budokan. Let’s do it.”
AZM (In-Ring): “Playing best buddies, you say? Weren’t you two just having a heated singles match and passionately hugging each other? A challenge? Fine, of course we’ll do it. We don’t need any emotional nostalgia for this.”
Watanabe (In-Ring): “Shut the hell up! Because you spout boring crap about ’emotional nostalgia,’ pathetic ghosts keep piling up around here!”Hanan (Backstage): “I thought that by holding this belt, I’d weakened H.A.T.E.’s power a bit… but it’s incredibly frustrating that we still can’t fully take down Saya Kamitani and Momo Watanabe.”
Iida (Backstage): “Hey, Kamitani! I have absolutely zero intention of ever being chummy with you. But we’re chasing the exact same thing, aren’t we? I absolutely do not consider myself beneath you. I’m standing right beside you, and I will surpass you.”Kamitani (Backstage): “Hey, Iida! So, on some TV show you were called my ‘best friend’ or whatever? I have never, not even once, thought of you as a friend! Don’t get it twisted.”
Watanabe (Backstage): “What we want to do… obviously, it’s the Goddesses titles. As a tag team, we are heading straight to the top. And as for that pathetic, dark history known as QQ (Queen’s Quest). Those ghosts of QQ are lingering all over the place, so we’re going to erase them completely.”
Match 8: Special Singles Match
○ Natsupoi (25:32, Made in Ja-poi) Saori Anou ●
Having announced her retirement for January 3, 2027, Natsupoi faced her long-time partner Saori Anou, marking the beginning of her “Bye-Poi Road” retirement tour. The two debuted together in Actwres girl’Z in 2015, capturing the Goddesses of Stardom titles together in 2023.
The match was an emotional, grueling 25-minute epic that saw them throw everything at each other—including Natsupoi’s signature Poi-sute (Littering) German Suplexes and Kansakiwari (Crown Splitter). In the final stretch, with less than 5 minutes remaining, Natsupoi finally planted Anou with the Made in Ja-poi to secure the 3-count.
Natsupoi (In-Ring): “Saori… I’m not crying.”
Anou (In-Ring): “I’m crying.”
(Natsupoi, unable to speak, buries her face into Anou in a deep hug)
Anou (In-Ring): “My partner is a crybaby, but she’s so strong. Natsumi… pro wrestling is so fun. Let’s keep wrestling together. Don’t retire. Please, stay by my side… But I know that once you make a decision, you never back down. So for the next four and a half months until you retire, please, let me stay right next to you.”
Natsupoi (In-Ring): “Of course you will.”Anou (Backstage): “We really are idiots. We just hate losing to each other so much. With this ‘Bye-Poi Road,’ I thought that by fighting her first, I could push her forward. Instead, I’m the one who got pushed. Somewhere deep down, I think a part of me didn’t want to accept her retirement. But fighting her today… I accept it. For the remaining four and a half months, I will stand by her side and protect her back. Natsupoi is my greatest rival, and my ultimate partner.”
Natsupoi (Backstage): “Yeah… it’s over. The words… they just won’t come out. I made this decision myself, but… I didn’t want this fight to end. I found myself wishing it could just keep going on forever. But just like Saori said, I’m stubborn, so my decision won’t change. For the next four and a half months, I want Saori right next to me. And even after I retire, I will always, always be right next to Saori. No matter what happens, I’m on your side. Keep pushing forward. I’m not crying. I’m not crying. Saori, thank you. Let’s keep this going. Bye-poooi!”
Match 9: STARDOM 5★STAR GP 2026 Finals
<RED Rep STARS> ○ Rina (27:03, Pink♡Devil) Starlight Kid ● <BLUE Rep STARS>
The finals of the “5★STAR GP 2026” pitted Starlight Kid against Rina—both fighting for their first tournament victory. For Rina, the match held historic weight: a victory would make her the youngest winner in tournament history at just 19 years old.
The match was an exhaustively physical 27-minute war of attrition. Kid threw her entire arsenal at the teenager, hitting everything from a Moonsault Press to the Momo☆Latch, the Kuro Tora Kyakusatsu, and a Canadian Destroyer. Rina absorbed tremendous damage to her leg but refused to stay down.
Passing the 25-minute mark, a desperate striking exchange ended with Rina intercepting Kid with a brutal front kick. She launched a missile dropkick, and when her Tiger Lily was kicked out of, she finally hoisted Kid up and drilled her with the Pink♡Devil for the historic 3-count!
Rina (In-Ring): “Hey, Kid! I know I’m annoying no matter what I say, but thank you for today. (Kid shakes her head and exits) I am the 5★STAR… 19 years old… youngest winner in history! I haven’t thought about anything past winning this tournament, so I don’t know what comes next yet. But I’m going to do things that will shock you, things that will make your eyes pop out of your heads, so don’t you dare look away from me! Stardom isn’t just Saya Kamitani. I’m going to make Stardom the number one promotion in the world, so from here on out, follow me and follow Stardom. That’s all!”
Rina (Backstage): “I won the 5★STAR! And the youngest in history to do it. Finally. Finally. People will say it’s too soon for me, but to me, it’s about damn time. I kept missing the top spot over and over, and I feel like I’ve finally captured the biggest, most valuable prize there is. Champions, top-tier wrestlers—everyone enters the 5★STAR. Isn’t this the most valuable prize? So I think from here on out, I can say whatever I want. I’m going to keep taking everything I can get my hands on.
My opponent in the finals? Kid… We entered the dojo at the same time, we’re both 7th Generation. A long time ago, back when we were in Oedo Tai together, when absolutely no one was paying attention to me, Kid was the only one who named me as a ‘wrestler to watch.’ I mean, I hate her now, so it feels weird saying this, but facing Kid in the finals… it felt deeply emotional to me. I’m glad it was her. To everyone currently sitting cross-legged at the top of Stardom resting on their laurels—this is reality. Nineteen-year-old me just won the tournament. That’s it. Yes! I won! Yosha!”
Kid (Backstage): “I wanted to win. I wanted to see the scenery on the other side. I’ve tasted so much frustration up until now, and in my 11th year, I finally made it this far… only to lose to my classmate Rina in her second appearance. This is a loss that leaves a lifetime of regret. I am so incredibly frustrated, but I will absolutely go out and grab my dream with my own two hands again. To everyone who supported my 5★STAR GP, thank you so much.”
President Okada’s Recap & Update on Rian’s Absence
President Okada: “Thank you all very much for today. Across the entire 5★STAR GP, we undoubtedly set a new record for total attendance. While we unfortunately didn’t achieve a complete sellout here at Ryogoku Kokugikan today, we opened the arena up to 4 sides rather than our initially planned 3, which allowed us to exceed that 3-sided capacity. The fact that fans gathered today without even knowing who would be facing who in the finals proves that the individual popularity of our wrestlers is growing, and there is deep trust in the Stardom brand. The winner is Rina, of course, but I believe this tournament’s success is a victory earned by every Stardom wrestler.
(On Rian’s condition) She is here at the venue today, but it is an issue with her physical condition. After examinations by our doctors regarding whether she was fit to wrestle, it was decided she should not compete. She had the desire to wrestle, but her body was in a state where she couldn’t. It was a joint decision by the doctor and the company. Because of this, the NEW BLOOD match is temporarily canceled. We apologize to the fans for this incredibly late notice.
(On the main event) They did something unbelievable out there. I can say with my chest puffed out that Stardom is the highest-level, most exciting promotion in the world right now, and they wrestled a match that proves it. They shaved away at their bodies, matched technique for technique, and it was a main event I am genuinely proud of.
(On having the youngest winner in history) Being the youngest is amazing. But in her case, she started her career very early, so she’s experienced a lot and tasted a lot of frustration. She has steadily leveled up. Still, accomplishing something like this at her age is truly incredible. Regardless of age, this was a 5★STAR where everybody thrived.”
Translator’s Notes:
- Poi-sute German (ポイ捨てジャーマン): Natsupoi’s signature release German Suplex is a pun; Poi-sute translates to “littering” or tossing something away.
- 02line & QQ Ghosts: Kamitani and Watanabe mocked AZM and Amasaki (02line, named for their 2002 birth years) by calling them the “ghosts of QQ” (Queen’s Quest), referencing the historic faction that Kamitani and Watanabe both famously betrayed.