At tonight’s Stardom 5-Star Grand Prix event in Japan, Toni Storm added another feather in her cap of 2017 by capturing the World of Stardom Championship, Stardom’s top title, from Mayu Iwatani. But in tragic news, it came at the expense of the former champion injuring herself early in the match.
New World of Stardom champion, Toni Storm. pic.twitter.com/GXE5s9lzjd
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
BREAKING: Toni Storm New Stardom Champ, Iwatani Injured
Stardom broke the news themselves following the two minute title match, when the referee called for a stoppage of the match when Iwatani apparently injured herself on a botched dropkick. Due to the match being called, Toni Storm was awarded the title. Mayu Iwatani, at age 24, is one of the future stars of Japanese wrestling, often considered part of the Stardom Three – Iwatani, Io Shirai and NXT’s Kairi Sane (formerly Kairi Hojo in Stardom) – whom many consider the top three female wrestlers in the world.
Iwatani is currently being evaluated at a Tokyo hospital, but Stardom reported she was indeed stretchered out and taken by ambulance. Toni Storm definitely didn’t want to win the title this way and the two are expected to have a rematch once Iwatani is healthy.
Due to a referee stop, about 2 minutes into the match, Toni Storm is awarded the World of Stardom title.
New champion.— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Mayu missed a dropkick and rolled out of the ring. Referee stopped the match. Mayu was just stretchered out.
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Toni says she didn’t want to win the title this way, but that she wants a rematch with Mayu in the future.
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Please send warm thoughts, prayers or wishes to Mayu. She was in a lot of pain. We’ll give an update when we can.
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Mayu went to the hospital via ambulance. We don’t want to make any guesses, so we’ll wait to give word on her status when we know for sure.
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
No one wants to win the World Title this way, but Toni Storm is more than deserving. She will be a great champion, just as Mayu was.
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Stardom’s main Japanese Twitter states the injury is the dislocation of both arms.
5★STAR GP X Champions in Nagoya
9月24日（日）名古屋国際会議場
◆ワールド・オブ・スターダム選手権試合
〈挑戦者〉トニー・ストーム（2分20秒、岩谷が腕の脱臼→レフェリーストップ）（王者）岩谷麻優※トニー・ストーム、第10代目王者となる pic.twitter.com/Vc3xgS8Lig
— スターダム✪STARDOM (@wwr_stardom) September 24, 2017
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery for Mayu Iwatani.
UPDATE:
This morning Stardom updated Iwatani’s situation and it turns out it was just one arm that was dislocated.
Mayu is leaving the hospital now. She is in a lot of pain, but her spirits are high. pic.twitter.com/aNFe6Vynq3
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
Correction, Mayu’s elbow dislocated. It wasn’t compound. https://t.co/vzrd5ucdgQ
— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) September 24, 2017
