{"id":52407,"date":"2019-08-16T12:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-08-16T16:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprowrestling.com\/?p=52407"},"modified":"2019-08-16T08:47:57","modified_gmt":"2019-08-16T12:47:57","slug":"star-gazing-utami-hayashishita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2019\/08\/16\/star-gazing-utami-hayashishita\/","title":{"rendered":"Star Gazing: “The Big Rookie” Utami Hayashishita"},"content":{"rendered":"

Star Gazing<\/a> is our new series which will add to our already growing coverage of <\/span>World Wonder Ring Stardom <\/b><\/a>(Also known simply as Stardom) and the Joshi scene where we will get you up to speed with members of the Stardom roster. Today we will be focusing on the Big Rookie, Utami Hayashishita.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Well known for having one of the best rookie years in wrestling history, Utami Hayashishita<\/strong> is a 20-year-old Joshi Star from Kagoshima, Japan. Uta r<\/span>ecently celebrated her first wrestling anniversary on August 12th, a fact that is hard to believe about such a skilled power wrestler. So, let’s take a look at what made the “Big Rookie” a true Supernova in the world of Joshi Wrestling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Utami Hayashishita Before The Ring<\/b><\/h3>\n

Utami Hayashishita, born on September 14th, 1998, was the sixth child of what would become a 12-person family. This led to her family having their own recurring reality show in Japan from 2006 to 2013. The immensely popular show was Japan\u2019s first time seeing Utami, but it certainly wasn\u2019t the last.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Utami was first introduced to wrestling when she went to Yoshihiro Tajiri<\/strong>\u2019s homecoming show with her family. Amazed by the atmosphere and intensity, Uta became obsessed with the sport and had a great desire to do what she saw the athletes do within the ring. This came as a surprise to her family, but not in the way you may think; The physicality wasn\u2019t the issue, as Utami had been a Judoka from a young age, rather Utami suffered from severe social anxiety that she dealt with from a young age. As she grew older this anxiety started to lessen, and in March 2018, Utami took a major step towards her dream by approaching Stardom<\/strong> to start training in their dojo.<\/span><\/p>\n

Future Shock<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Throughout Spring and into the Summer of 2018, Utami trained nonstop for over five hours every day. During this time Utami started to design her first set of gear in her minimal free-time in anticipation for her first match. After consistent hard work in her training, Utami successfully passed her pro-test on July 5th, 2018, and was set to make her debut a month later.<\/span><\/p>\n

Despite being someone who idolized rudos like <\/span>Tetsuya Naito<\/b> and Yoshihiro Tajiri, Utami was well aware of the fact that she was not a heel by nature. Raised in a respectful family, Uta was not accustomed to being rude or impolite. So, by the time of her debut on August 12th, 2018, Utami chose a sort of middle road. With the promise to become the top power wrestler in Stardom, Uta challenged the current top power wrestler <\/span>Jungle Kyona<\/b>. After various insults to her senior, Utami fought the established star to a time limit draw, shocking many viewers. Due to her amazing performance in her debut match, Utami was allowed entry into the <\/span>2018 5 STAR Grand Prix<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

The opportunity to compete in arguably the biggest Joshi Wrestling tournament in Japan was not lost on the Big Rookie, who went all out in all of her matches. She once again shocked the world when she was able to win the Blue Stars block with 10 points, suffering only one loss against current World of Stardom Champion, <\/span>Kagetsu<\/b>. With a 4-1-2 record, Utami entered the finals with heaps of momentum, only to lose to Stardom Icon <\/span>Mayu Iwatani<\/b>. Despite ultimately losing the tournament, her impressive showing proved to the world that her early success was no fluke, but rather a sign of things to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/fiCnrYUhMls<\/a><\/p>\n

The Red Queen<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"Utami<\/p>\n

Now, throughout her time in the 5*, Utami was known as a lone wolf among the 4 factions in Stardom. She would team up with different factions when necessary but was not yet affiliated to any of them exclusively. This continued into the <\/span>2018 Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League<\/b>, where she teamed up with <\/span>Queen\u2019s Quest<\/b> member and leader, <\/span>Momo Watanabe<\/b>. While QQ was 100% ready to accept the rookie with open arms, Utami resisted, stating after every successful match that she was still not apart of QQ. After winning the Tag League with a block record of 4-1 and a finals win over Queen\u2019s Quest members <\/span>Bea Priestley <\/b>and <\/span>Chardonnay<\/b>, Utami needed to make a decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

Winning Tag League meant a Goddesses of Stardom Tag Team Championship match for the new team of Momo and Utami. So, on November 23rd, 2018, just over 3 months after her debut, Utami gained her first championship belt pinning none other than Jungle Kyona. After the match, Utami said the infamous words that would go on to fuel her newborn feud with Jungle Kyona: \u201cPlease be my stepping stone again.\u201d Along with this declaration of war on Kyona, Utami would go on to be officially inducted into Queen\u2019s Quest by their 16-year-old Commander, <\/span>AZM<\/b>.<\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/youtu.be\/05fSe-sTH7M<\/a><\/p>\n

Utami continued to dominate into the end of 2018, winning the <\/span>2018 Rookie Of Stardom Gauntlet Match<\/b> by outlasting fellow rookies <\/span>Hina<\/b>, <\/span>Rina<\/b>, and <\/span>Natsumi<\/b>. She did, however, fall on the losing side of an attempt at the Artists of Stardom Championships against members of <\/span>STARS<\/b>, teaming up with Momo and newfound stablemate <\/span>Konami<\/b>. This loss would soon be won back when she and Momo successfully defended their tag team championships against STARS members Mayu Iwatani<\/span> and <\/span>Saki Kashima <\/b>to close out the year 2019.<\/span><\/p>\n

Golden Armor<\/b><\/h3>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Going into 2019, Utami Hayashishita was riding on a metric ton of momentum. The Big Rookie was named Rookie of the Year by <\/span>Tokyo Sports<\/i><\/b>, as well as being named runner-up for the same category by the <\/span>Wrestling Observer Newsletter<\/i><\/b>. Utami, however, was determined not to let 2018 be her best year. Stating her intention to capture as many belts as possible on the first show of 2019, It didn\u2019t take her long to make well on her promises. In fact, no more than 24-hours after this vow, Utami captured the Future of Stardom Championship from champion <\/span>Starlight Kid<\/b>, becoming a double champion a mere five months into her career.<\/span><\/p>\n

Utami wasn\u2019t finished though, as she challenged fellow Queen\u2019s Quest member <\/span>Viper<\/b> to a match for both the SWA World Championship and <\/span>Pro-Wrestling EVE<\/b> International Championship at the upcoming Korakuen Hall show. As a prelude to their match, both women worked alongside Bea Priestley to win a one-day <\/span>Trios Tag Tournament<\/b>, adding yet another accomplishment to Utami\u2019s already impressive resume. Then, on January 14th at <\/span>Stardom\u2019s 8th Anniversary Show<\/i><\/b>, the unthinkable happened; Utami won both championships from Viper and walked out of Korakuen Hall a quadruple champion.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Utami Hayashishita: Goddesses of Stardom Tag Team champion, SWA champion, Pro Wrestling Eve International champion and Future of Stardom champion. pic.twitter.com\/sNA2R8WPLG<\/a><\/p>\n

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) January 14, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n