Former World of Stardom Champion Mayu Iwatani‘s year gained more momentum today, when she won this year’s 5★STAR Grand Prix Tournament, defeating impressive rookie Utami Hayashishita in the finals. Following her victory, she laid down the challenge to reclaim the World of Stardom title (“The Red Belt”) next month, facing current champion Kagetsu.
Mayu Iwatani won the 5★STAR GP 2018 by defeating Utami Hayashishita in the finals! Mayu said she will challenge for the Red belt next month at Korakuen Hall! pic.twitter.com/u2uG6Pr7X0
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2018
The win came one year to the day that Mayu Iwatani lost her World of Wonder title to Toni Storm, in a match that ended with a serious injury to Iwatani. She spent the next few months on the disabled list, before returning briefly at the Yoko Bito retirement gauntlet in December. She officially returned to the ring this January at the 7th Anniversary show at Korakeun Hall, before making her Ring of Honor debut in March, when she (along with a few other Stardom talents) entered the Women of Honor Championship tournament. She was knocked out in the semi-finals by Kelly Klein, but has appeared for ROH since (including a 6-woman tag match at Best In The World ’18 in June). This past June, she also won her second Goddesses of Stardom (Tag Team) titles, this time with Saki Kashima, which the duo still hold.
September 24 Korakuen Hall
5★STAR GP 2018
◆Finals
Mayu Iwatani pinned Utami Hayashishita pic.twitter.com/cEMa5NBEAE— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2018
