Saya Iida

Saya Iida
Iida in March 2022
Born (1997-05-19) May 19, 1997 (age 27)[1]
Kashiwa, Chiba, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Saya Iida[1]
Super Strong Stardom Machine
Billed height145 cm (4 ft 9 in)[1]
Billed weight54 kg (119 lb)[1]
Billed fromKashiwa, Chiba, Japan[1]
Trained byKagetsu[2]
DebutJanuary 14, 2019[1]

Saya Iida (飯田沙耶, Iida Saya, born May 19, 1997)[1] is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is one half of the current Goddesses of Stardom Champions alongside Hanan and a member of Stars. Iida is also a former one-time New Blood Tag Team Champion with the latter and a former one-time Future of Stardom Champion.[3][1]

Professional wrestling career

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2019–present)

Iida made her debut at World Wonder Ring Stardom on January 14, 2019, at Stardom's 8th anniversary show where she faced Natsuko Tora in a losing effort.[4] After the match, Iida joined "J.A.N." (Jungle Assault Nation), a unit consists of Jungle Kyona, Kaori Yoneyama, Ruaka, and Tora.[4] On March 10, Iida received her first title match when she challenged Utami Hayashishita for the Future of Stardom Championship, but was unsuccessful.[5] On April 14, during the annual draft, Kyona lost to a five-way against four other faction leaders where the loser of the match must disband their own unit, therefore, J.A.N. was forced to disband.[6] Mayu Iwatani, the leader of "Stars", chose Iida to join her unit.[6]

On February 24, 2020, Iida faced her trainer and former World of Stardom Champion Kagetsu in a losing effort during Kagetsu's retirement show, which took place outside of Stardom.[7] On July 17, Iida faced Maika and Saya Kamitani in a three-way match for the vacant Future of Stardom Championship, which was won by Maika.[8] On November 15, Iida challenged Maika for the Future of Stardom Championship, but was unsuccessful.[9] After the match, Iida indicated she wanted one more match for the title, thus continuing her rivalry with Maika.[9] On December 20, Iida defeated Maika to win the Future of Stardom Championship in a three-way, which also involved Kamitani.[3]

On January 17, 2021, on Stardom's 10th anniversary show, Iida had her first successful title defense, when she defeated Unagi Sayaka to retain the Future of Stardom Championship.[10] On May 10, The championship was vacated after Iida suffered a torn ACL and LCL injuries.[11][12]

After a ten-month injury hiatus, Iida returned at Stardom New Blood 1 on March 11, 2022, where she teamed up with Hanan to defeat JTO's Tomoka Inaba and Aoi.[13] At Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2022, Iida made it to the quarterfinals where she got defeated by Koguma.[14] At New Blood 11 on September 29, 2023, Iida and Hanan, together as wing★gori, became the New Blood Tag Team Champions by defeating Bloody Fate.[15]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "飯田沙耶". World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese).
  2. ^ Murray, Dylan (February 4, 2020). "Closing The Kagetsu Story". Deadlock. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Richards, Alex (December 20, 2020). "Stardom Osaka Dream Cinderella News Roundup (12/20/20)". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
  4. ^ a b Richards, Alex (February 2, 2019). "Stardom 8th Year Anniversary Review". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  5. ^ 2019年3月10日 Grow up Stars 2019. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). March 10, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  6. ^ a b 2019年4月14日 ドラフト会議2019. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). April 14, 2019. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  7. ^ Wilson, Kevin (March 7, 2020). "Kagetsu Retirement Show ~ Many Face on 2/24/20 Review". Joshi City. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  8. ^ Lindsey, Philip (July 17, 2020). "Stardom crowns a new Future of Stardom Champion". Bell To Belles. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
  9. ^ a b Richards, Alex (November 23, 2020). "Stardom Sendai Cinderella (November 15) Results & Review". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved December 29, 2020.
  10. ^ Richards, Alex (January 26, 2021). "Stardom 10th Anniversary (January 17) Results & Review". Voices of Wrestling. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
  11. ^ Richards, Alex (May 11, 2021). "Preview: Stardom – Cinderella Tournament Round 2 (5/14/21)". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. ^ Richards, Alex (April 7, 2021). "Saya Iida Out With Reported Torn ACL & LCL Injuries". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 20, 2021.
  13. ^ Richards, Alex (March 11, 2022). "Miyu Amasaki Joins Queen's Quest". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
  14. ^ Thompson, Andrew (April 17, 2022). "Konami returning to STARDOM". postwrestling.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  15. ^ a b Edwards, Scott (September 29, 2023). "STARDOM NEW BLOOD 11 (9/29/23): Hanan, Starlight Kid, Mei Seira & More". Fightful. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  16. ^ Internet Wrestling Database. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 250 Female for 2024". profightdb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
  17. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom (January 8, 2023). 2023年1月8日 『TRIANGLE DERBY I in Nagoya ～名古屋来てちょうよスターダム～』. wwr-stardom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Black, Ethan (December 29, 2022). "Stardom Dream Queendom Results – December 29, 2022". pwmania.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
  19. ^ Thompson, Andrew (January 22, 2023). "STARDOM announces 2022 award winners". POST Wrestling. Retrieved March 11, 2023.
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