Maki Itoh Vows To Leave STARDOM If She Loses to Aya Sakura at STARDOM SUPREME FIGHT IN OSAKA 2026

By: Lewis Carlan

Back on Jan. 10th, Maki Itoh debuted with STARDOM and officially signed with the company following weeks of speculation. After competing in numerous tag team matches, Itoh is set for her first singles bout for STARDOM as she faces Aya Sakura on Feb. 7th at STARDOM SUPREME FIGHT IN OSAKA 2026.

Photo Credit: STARDOM

Both Itoh and Sakura have been verbally going back and forth on who the “cutest” STARDOM wrestler is as both lay claim to the title. The two of them came face to face a press conference that took place in Tokyo on Jan. 27th.

Sakura made a valiant attempt at looking cute by appearing at the press conference with white x’s under eyes and holding an open umbrella at the press conference.

Photo Credit: STARDOM

At the press conference, Sakura claimed that Itoh can’t achieve anything in STARDOM and will be fired from the company.

From Aya Sakura:

“I am Aya Sakura of Cosmic Angels, and I will be challenging for the ‘Kawaii of Kawaii’ title. There’s only one reason I want this belt: because it represents being ‘strong and cute.’ I am confident that I will become the cutest champion in the long history of this belt. I want many people to know Aya Sakura, without being crushed by these feelings, this history, and the pressure. I want to win this belt, and I believe that if I become champion, I can make this belt even more famous. And when I become the ‘Kawaii of Kawaii’ champion… Maki Ito. Never again will you dare to claim to be the ‘cutest in the world’ in this STARDOM ring! And Maki Itoh, who can’t achieve anything in STARDOM, will be fired from STARDOM! ‘Kawaii of Kawaii,’ this belt, and the title of ‘cutest in the world,’ will all be mine. That’s all!”

Itoh for her part didn’t take the “being fired” comment seriously as she responded to Sakura by calling her ridiculous. A confident Itoh even stated that if she loses, she will leave STARDOM and give up on being the cutest in the world but if she wins, Sakura has to do what she says.

From Maki Itoh:

“I’m Maki Itoh, the first ever ‘Kawaii of Kawaii’ champion, the cutest in the world. My challenger this time, Aya Sakura, the cutest in Kobe, doesn’t stand a chance against me. Because I, Maki Itoh, am the cutest in the world! And this talk about ‘If Itoh loses, she’ll be fired from STARDOM’… Don’t be ridiculous! I’ve only been here for half a month! I haven’t even made any friends yet! That absolutely cannot happen! I will definitely earn money here, make friends, and absolutely defend this title! If I win, Aya Sakura, you’ll have to do whatever I say. That’s all. Of course, if I lose, I’ll leave STARDOM and give up on being ‘the cutest in the world.’ But I’m going to win, so it’s fine. Let’s do this. That’s all.”

【2.7大阪大会記者会見生配信中‼️】

伊藤麻希「初代かわいい・オブ・かわいい選手権チャンピオン、世界一かわいい伊藤麻希です。負けたらスターダムをクビになる？ふざけるな！伊藤はまだここに来て半月しか経ってない。友達も出来てない。伊藤が勝ったら伊藤の言うことをなんでも聞いてもらおう」… pic.twitter.com/khGd7mZ5ou

— STARDOM WORLD (@stardomworld) January 27, 2026

Itoh seems very sure of herself that she will emerge victorious over Sakura on Feb. 7th in Osaka. One can only hope she isn’t underestimating Sakura, who is the current co-holder of the New Blood Tag Team Championship and a former Sendai Girls Junior Champion.

We will find out on Feb. 7th who will earn the right to be called the “cutest in the world.”

(H/T goes to meraWRESTLING for the English quote translations)