Today it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you all to the reigning World of Stardom Champion, Big Daddy’s Third Daughter, Utami Hayashishita. If you’ve been following this series so far then you pretty much know what to expect. I’m gonna tell you a bit about Utami then get into dream matches that I have for her. So without further ado, Utami Hayashishita!
Utami Hayashishita is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, where she is the current World of Stardom Champion in her first reign. Since making her debut on August 12, 2018, she became a two-time Goddesses of Stardom Champion, one-time Artist of Stardom Champion, one-time Future of Stardom Champion and one-time SWA Undisputed World Women’s Champion, while also having won the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League in 2018 and the Trios Tag Team Tournament in 2019. Hayashishita is also a former one-time Pro-Wrestling: EVE International Champion.
Utami was born on September 14, 1998 making her 22 years old as of this writing. Her nickname comes from being the third child born to her father, “Big Daddy” Kiyoshi Hayashishita. From 2006 to 2013, Hayashishita was featured in a reality show that documented her 12-person family. Hayashishita reportedly first got interested in professional wrestling during her days when she was in her third year of junior high school after watching TAJIRI when he was at WWE with her family. After graduating, she would take auditions in the Stardom dojo while also paying school expenses for her sisters by working in a restaurant. Utami holds a black belt degree in Judo.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2018–present)
After attending Yoshihiro Tajiri’s homecoming show, Hayashishita began to train at World Wonder Ring Stardom in March 2018. On August 12, 2018, Hayashishita debuted at Stardom when she wrestled Jungle Kyona to a time-limit draw. On August 18, Hayashishita entered the 5★Star GP tournament. Hayashishita managed to win her way to the finals where she lost to Mayu Iwatani. After winning the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League with Momo Watanabe on November 4, Hayashishita won her first title where she and Watanabe defeated J.A.N. (Kyona and Natsuko Tora) to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship on November 23. Hayashishita joined afterwards to Watanabe’s unit “Queen’s Quest”.
On January 3, 2019, Hayashishita defeated Starlight Kid to win the Future of Stardom Championship. On January 5, Hayashishita, along with fellow Queen’s Quest members Bea Priestley and Viper, won the one-day Trios Tag Team Tournament. On January 14, Hayashishita defeated Viper to win the Pro-Wrestling: EVE International Championship and the SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship, making her a quadruple champion. On April 5, Hayashishita participated in Stardom’s first event at the United States in New York City where she unsuccessfully challenged her tag team partner Watanabe for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. On June 30, during Pro Wrestling: Eve’s Wrestle Queendom 2, Hayashishita lost the International Championship to Jamie Hayter in a three-way elimination match, which also involved Nina Samuels, ending her reign at 167 days.
On July 15, Hayashishita and Watanabe lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Tokyo Cyber Squad (Konami and Kyona), ending their reign at 234 days with six successful title defences. As Hayashishita competed in the annual 5★Star GP, Stardom announced on September 7 that Hayashishita won’t compete in the tournament any longer after suffering a finger injury. Hayashishita returned on November 15 where she teamed with Leo Onozaki, as both unsuccessfully challenged Oedo Tai (Hazuki and Tora). On November 23, Hayashishita, along with AZM an Watanabe, defeated Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu and Natsu Sumire) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.
On January 19, 2020, on the 9th Anniversary show of Stardom, Hayashishita was unsuccessful to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship from Arisa Hoshiki. On January 26, Hayashishita lost the SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship to Jamie Hayter and on February 8, by teaming up with AZM and Momo Watanabe, she lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Donna del Mondo (Giulia, Maika and Syuri). On February 16, after successfully defending the Future of Stardom Championship against Saya Kamitani, Hayashishita vacated the championship in order to pursue the Wonder of Stardom and the World of Stardom Championship. While Hayashishita and Watanabe were unable to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship from Oedo Tai’s (Jamie Hayter and Bea Priestley) on March 8, Hayashishita did win the title with Kamitani on July 26 at Cinderella Summer in Tokyo. On September 19, Hayashishita won the 5★Star GP after defeating Himeka in the finals.
On November 15, Hayashishita won the World of Stardom Championship after defeating Iwatani. Hayashishita had her first successful title defense on December 20 against fellow Queen’s Quest member Watanabe. On December 27, Hayashishita and Kamitani lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Konami and Priestley, ending their reign at 153 days. At Stadrom 10th Anniversary Show on March 3, 2021, she successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship against her Queen’s Quest stablemate Saya Kamitani. A month later at Stardom Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 which took place on April 4, Hayashishita scored a victory over Bea Priestley, therefore successfully defending her championship in the latter’s last match for the promotion. On the first night of the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2021 from April 10, she defeated Mina Shirakawa in a first-round non-title match, however she lost to Syuri on Night Two, May 14th.
Then, of course, she had the absolutely insane and unbelievable title match against Syuri, the same Syuri who knocked her out of the Cinderella tournament, on June 12th which ended in a double knock out at 43:19. A match that many think should catapult women’s wrestling into even more prominence and is a fight of the year candidate.
She has also appeared for NJPW, on January 5, 2021, at the second night of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)’s Wrestle Kingdom 15. Hayashishita made her first NJPW appearance where she, alongside AZM and Saya Kamitani, defeated Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi in a dark match.
Notable Matches:
- September 24th, 2018 vs. Mayu Iwatani
- November 4th, 2018 with Momo Watanabe vs. Bea Priestley and Chardonnay (tournament win)
- November 23rd, 2018 with Momo Watanabe vs. Jungle Kyona and Natsuko Tora (title win)
- January 14th, 2019 vs. Viper (title win)
- April 5th, 2019 vs. Momo Watanabe (title challenge)
- August 10th, 2019 vs. Bea Priestley (title challenge)
- November 23rd, 2019 with AZM and Momo Watanabe vs. Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu, and Natsu Sumire (title win)
- January 19th, 2020 vs. Arisa Hoshiki (title challenge)
- June 12th, 2021 vs Syuri (title defense)
Championships Held: World of Stardom Championship, SWA Undisputed World Women’s Championship, Stardom Goddesses of Stardom Championship, Stardom Future of Stardom Championship, Artist of Stardom Championship, and the EVE International Championship
Tournaments Won: Stardom Goddesses of Tag League (2018), 5★Star Grand Prix Winner (2020)
Awards Won: Tokyo Sports Rookie of the Year (2018), Stardom Best Tag Team Award (2018), and the Stardom Outstanding Performance Award (2018)
Dream Matches!
As I said above, Utami has only been wrestling professionally since 2018, so she is still -really- green as far as experience goes. However, you wouldn’t know that while watching her in the ring. She is freaking amazing in the ring and with that in mind, I am going to give you my five dream matches for Utami Hayashishita. A little side note, I really wish she would adopt the nickname “The Red Queen” because she really does rock the red on that belt.
5. Asuka – WWE
So I am well aware that I have used Asuka before in some of my dream matches, but the former WWE Women’s Champion would be an epic encounter for Utami. The 17 year veteran may be nearing her 40’s but she has been a stalwart for WWE since her debut. She carried the women’s division on her back for the vast majority of the Pandemic Era. The best part about it is that despite her years in the ring, she hasn’t lost a step at all.
She’s easily one of the best female performers that WWE has, despite them often feeding her to Charlotte Flair for some god damn reason. The Empress of Tomorrow has never competed for Stardom and there are a plethora of matches there that I would love to see for her. However telling you them will come another time. Suffice it to say, there aren’t many people who could potentially rival the match Utami had with Syuri, and Asuka is near the top of that list.
4. Dakota Kai – NXT
Captain Kota comes in today at number four. Dakota Kai is a thirteen year veteran and had a stint in Stardom before coming to WWE, but that was before Utami’s time. Dakota has huge potential to be a great champion in the future. Kai has an all-rounder wrestling style who typically prefers to using kicks or anything that requires using her legs to cause damage towards her opponents – this style helps considering she is quick on her feet and knows how to adapt to a pace of a match.
Dakota can find good chemistry with almost any of her opponents who she has faced. The Kairopractor move (highly creative) which she uses is one of the most coolest moves if sold correctly by the opponent. Given how well she does in the ring with damn near anyone, she would be a perfect opponent to the relatively inexperienced Utami Hayashishita.
3. Thunder Rosa – AEW
Our third entry today is Thunder Rosa! Not only is Thunder Rosa one of the very best women wrestlers in North America today, she may be one the best freelancers. That said, she did just recently sign with AEW. An exceptional ring general who can direct matches against greener opponents but also deliver solid gold when in the ring with similarly matched opponents.
She is also extremely nurturing of the next generation of women wrestlers as she serves as a trainer (she co-trained promising up and comer Jazmin Allure who has made a few appearances on AEW Dark) and a promoter of Mission Pro Wrestling in Texas. What’s most remarkable is Thunder Rosa has only been wrestling since 2014, but she works like a seasoned 10+ year veteran. This underrated performer would be an excellent opponent to the less experienced Hayashishita.
2. Sarray – NXT
Sarray comes in at number two for me. The 10 year veteran is currently signed to the NXT brand but she has earned a reputation in her young career and some even put her into the same category as Aja Kong, Meiko Satomura and Kyoko Inoue. The user of Japanese Strong Style, Sarray has some stiff offense and lethal kicks, which would make her some great competition for Utami.
She can be credible against much bigger opponent with her huge strikes, which is good since she stands at a mere 5’2” tall. Sarray has never competed for Stardom, like Asuka and Thunder Rosa, so there is a ton of matches there that I would love to see but out of them all, Utami Hayashishita vs Sarray is near the top.
My top dream match for Utami Hayashishita is a tie.. So here we are!
1-A. Hazuki (HZK) – Retired
My first top dream match is someone who, while competing in Stardom, never had a singles match against Utami Hayashishita. One of my all-time favorite Oedo Tai members, the incomparable Hazuki. HZK unfortunately retired on December 24th, 2019 after just five years in the ring but she left a legacy with Oedo Tai, and Kagetsu, that the current members of the unit are trying hard to live up to.
Alongside her former stablemate Kagetsu, Konami and Fukigen Death, HZK came out of retirement for one final match at the Hana Kimura Memorial Show back on May 23rd. She looked absolutely amazing in the ring still, despite not competing in over a year, and I believe she could easily come back into the ring if she had the urge to. A single’s match against Utami Hayashishita is long overdue, much like her partner for my top dream matches..
1-B. Kagetsu – Retired
Unlike her former stablemate, Kagetsu has had only one one-on-one match against Utami Hayashishita, back in 2018, and that is absolutely criminal. Kagetsu is an absolute legend in the Joshi scene, one of the all-time best to ever step foot in a Stardom ring, and it is a damn shame that she and Utami never went one-on-one more than the one time.
Kagetsu is someone that Utami probably idolized at some point while trying to get into the business and she is someone who’s name will live on in history. Like HZK, Kagetsu returned from retirement for Hana Matane and competed twice on the show. Her single’s match against Asuka (Veny), was absolutely phenomenal and it showed that the legend still had a lot left in the tank should she decide to return to the ring.