August 24, 2026 | Tokyo • Bushiroad Headquarters
On the 24th, Stardom held its “5★STAR GP 2026” post-tournament press conference at Bushiroad headquarters. In attendance were President Taro Okada and Rina, who captured her first tournament victory to become the youngest 5★STAR winner in history at just 19 years old.
Having finished as the runner-up in both last year’s and this year’s Cinderella Tournaments, and ending last year’s 5★STAR GP in the final four, Rina expressed her joy: “I’m glad I never let the bitterness take over. I’m so glad I stuck with pro wrestling.”
Additionally, regarding ringside photography, President Okada announced that while the company continues to work on improving photography guidelines, he urged fans to refrain from attacking individual photographers and to direct any opinions or concerns to the company’s official contact channels.
September Event Card Announcements
President Okada revealed the finalized cards for the upcoming September events:
President Okada: “At Korakuen Hall on September 6, we will hold the High Speed Championship match between Yuna Mizumori and Koguma. On September 12 at Yokohama Budokan, we will feature Suzu Suzuki vs. Natsuko Tora for the World of Stardom Championship, Hanan vs. Ami Sohrei for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, AZM & Miyu Amasaki vs. Saya Kamitani & Momo Watanabe for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship, Ranna Yagami vs. Akira Kurogane for the Future of Stardom Championship, and a special singles match between Anne Kanaya and Bea Priestley.”
Press Conference Comments & Q&A
Rina: “I am the Pink♥Devil, Rina, the youngest 5★STAR GP 2026 winner in history. Even though it just happened yesterday, it feels like a long time ago. My body and my legs are battered and aching, but right now, more than anything, I think I’m truly happy.
“I was the runner-up in the Cinderella Tournament both last year and this year, and I only made it to the final four of last year’s 5★STAR. It was incredibly frustrating not being able to produce the results I wanted. Losing in the finals of this year’s Cinderella, in particular, took a really heavy toll on me emotionally. As the days piled up where I couldn’t reach the absolute top, there were times when I lost sight of what I was doing. But looking back, I’m glad I never let the bitterness take over and just kept fighting.
“I traveled to the US and Mexico entirely on my own and gained so much experience. I’m also thrilled that I could carve my name into Stardom history as the youngest 5★STAR winner ever. I genuinely thought to myself, ‘I’m so glad I became a pro wrestler.’“
Interviewer: “After a night’s sleep, has your state of mind changed?”
Rina: “To me, winning the 5★STAR doesn’t just mean earning the right to challenge for some belt. I believe it holds far more value than that. Obviously, going after a championship is a given, but my ultimate goal isn’t just a belt; it’s much higher. I want to properly show the world that ‘Stardom isn’t just Kamitani.’ I want to be someone who can elevate not just Stardom, but the entire joshi puroresu scene, and the wrestling industry as a whole.”
Interviewer: “Are you keeping the ‘Red Belt’ (World of Stardom Championship) in your sights?”
Rina: “I’m keeping absolutely everything in my sights. But since I’ve claimed the ultimate prize, my message is, ‘You guys better not let your guard down.’ I captured the trophy that the champion couldn’t, so I think I’ve earned the right to talk my talk. So, to them I say: just wait.“
Interviewer: “What did the fans say to you after the match, and how did it make you feel?”
Rina: “A lot of people were telling me things like, ‘You did incredible out there.’ I could really feel the weight of their expectations, and I believe I properly answered them. Also, if we’re talking about what made me happy, it was the gold streamers. Up until now, I was always just on the viewing end as a second at ringside, so when I finally got showered in them myself, I thought, ‘Wow! So this is what it feels like!’“
Interviewer: “What did you gain from your US and Mexico excursions?”
Rina: “My mental fortitude became completely unshakeable. I was given the opportunity to compete in so many massive events for MLW and CMLL, and it gave me this fierce confidence of, ‘If I can overcome this, and stand where I am today, I can overcome absolutely anything.’ I think that was my greatest takeaway from the overseas tour. I’m glad I went completely solo.”
Interviewer: “Were you traveling alone the entire time over there?”
Rina: “I was the only wrestler sent, so even before matches, I was entirely alone. But it was a good thing. I’m glad I did it, even though I was definitely anxious at first.”
Interviewer: “What was the reasoning behind sending her on a solo overseas excursion?”
President Okada: “More than anything, I wanted her to experience the world. She has spent her entire career in Stardom, possesses solid experience for her age, and is a wrestler who genuinely knows how to connect with the audience. However, she hasn’t spent much time wrestling in ‘away game’ environments, so I absolutely wanted her to see that side of the business. For Rina specifically, I didn’t want her traveling with a group; I wanted her to go alone. From observing her everyday actions, I felt that her perspective was a bit different from others—she’s always looking toward higher goals. She expressed a desire to go, so we sent her at this specific timing.”
Interviewer: “Did you bring back exactly what was expected of you?”
Rina: “I brought back much more than that.”
Interviewer: “When you look back at your pro wrestling career so far, what stands out in your mind?”
Rina: “I place the highest value on the feeling of ‘frustration’ that I’ve experienced at critical moments in my life. The very first time that emotion truly blossomed in me was during the Stardom Draft years ago. I wasn’t picked until the very end. Looking at where I am now, I want to scream, ‘Look at me now, all of you!’ I honestly believe my rebellious spirit is the sole reason I made it this far. I have a personality that feels frustration deeper than anyone else, and I think I was finally able to take all that pent-up anger and make it explode in this 5★STAR. The biggest catalyst was not being chosen by anyone in that Draft. My drive to ‘prove everyone wrong’ has now manifested into tangible results. So I’m glad I kept going; I’m glad I never let the bitterness win.”
Interviewer: “What are your thoughts regarding Hana Kimura?”
Rina: “My feelings for Hana-san will absolutely never fade, for as long as I live. She drafted me, we were in the same unit, and my entire foundation as a wrestler is completely built upon Hana-san. She is my base. But the person who clawed her way to this spot is me, and I believe I did this with my own power. There is immense meaning in the fact that I won with the finishing move that brought me all the way here at the very end, and I believe I was able to showcase my entire way of life as a pro wrestler in this 5★STAR.”
Interviewer: “What specific experiences did you gain overseas?”
Rina: “Over there, matches are literally booked at the very last minute. There were times when I didn’t even think I was on the card, and suddenly a singles match was thrown together. You have to go out there and deliver your absolute best performance even when you aren’t mentally prepared for it. That’s an experience you rarely get in Stardom. Being able to put on my best performance under those sudden circumstances really linked back to my current confidence.”
Interviewer: “What was your intent behind saying ‘Stardom isn’t just Kamitani’?”
Rina: “During the first three days of my month-long overseas excursion, I spent time with Kamitani in the US. I realized that Kamitani wasn’t just thinking about herself; she was thinking about Stardom and the entire pro wrestling industry as a whole, and that heavily inspired me. Since we’re in the same unit, I know exactly how insanely busy she is and how much she handles outside of the ring. As the 5★STAR winner, I have to step up and do just as much. It was exactly because she inspires me so much that I made the ‘not just Kamitani’ comment. I made that statement because I want to make Stardom the number one promotion in the world, and I will.”
Interviewer: “A wrestler from H.A.T.E. has now won the tournament two years in a row. How did your stablemates react?”
Rina: “Everyone was so happy for me. Fukigen was actually in a really ‘Gokigen’ (cheerful) mood for the first time in a while, which made me happy. After I did my lap around the audience, I went over to where H.A.T.E. was waiting, and they all welcomed me. I really do think H.A.T.E. is the absolute best unit. I honestly think we’re so dominant that it makes me want to tell the other units to ‘try a little harder.’ We may not have all the belts right now, but when it mattered most in the 5★STAR, H.A.T.E. was in the main event. I knew right then that the Era of H.A.T.E. is going to continue.”
Translator’s Notes
- “Fukigen” and “Gokigen” pun: Rina’s stablemate is a clown-themed wrestler named Fukigen Death (フキゲンです). The word fukigen (不機嫌) means “bad mood” or “grumpy” in Japanese. In her post-match comments, Rina jokes that Fukigen was actually feeling gokigen (ご機嫌)—meaning “in a good mood” or “cheerful.”
- The Draft & Hana Kimura: Rina references a deep piece of Stardom lore: the 2019 Stardom Unit Draft. During this draft, a young Rina was left unpicked by the faction leaders until the very end, when the late Hana Kimura took her into Tokyo Cyber Squad (TCS). Rina credits this perceived rejection by the rest of the roster as the birthplace of her “rebellious spirit,” while continuing to honor Kimura, whose signature octopus hold variation, Hydrangea, Rina inherited and still uses as a finishing move to this day.
- “Gold Tape” (金テープ): In joshi puroresu, fans traditionally throw colored paper streamers into the ring during championship or tournament-winning introductions. Being showered in golden streamers is an aesthetic milestone signifying that a wrestler has officially reached the top of the mountain.