Stardom 2026 Cinderella Tournament Round 2: Backstage Comments & English Summaries

Miyu Amasaki poses in the ring during the 2nd round of the 2026 Stardom Cinderella Tournament

The second round of the 2026 Stardom Cinderella Tournament was held in Kouraken Hall yesterday. As always, the participants took to the mic after the show to give their thoughts on everything that went down. Here’s my best effort to convey what was said with the help of wonky translated subtitles (feel free to send in any corrections or updates!):

Tabata, India Sioux, Bea Priestley, Yuria Hime, and Momo Kohgo

First up were the team of Stars and the CMLL luchadoras. Tabata, India Sioux, Bea Priestley, Yuria Hime, and Momo Kohgo celebrated their win in the ten-person tag match. Momo said that Stars and Mexico took things international today. India talked about her ongoing feud with Hazuki over the CMLL Japan Women’s Championship, with a championship bout scheduled for the March 15 Cinderella Finals PPV.

Yuria said she is happy that Hanako is no longer overlooking her and that she’s happy to have a Future title match lined up for the March 11 Kouraken Cinderella quarterfinals show. She’s been waiting for it a long time and won’t be a simple pawn for Hanako. She says she’s going to take the belt.

Momo said she isn’t sure what India Sioux said (neither am I, it was in Spanish), but added the context that she thinks she said something like “I’m going to beat Hazuki and take the belt.”

Xena, Hazuki, Rina Yamashita, Hanako, and Akira Kurogane

The next comments came from the losing side of Xena, Hazuki, Rina Yamashita, Hanako, and Akira Kurogane. Hazuki noted that while they lost, there is some promise in the independent wrestlers like herself, Xena, and Hanako working together. Hazuki then talked about her upcoming title match with India Sioux on the 15th, saying she would win and then return to Mexico to defend the belt.

Hazuki said that since her time as Future Champion is running out, she wants to defend it at the next Kouraken show on March 11, which Yuria already mentioned as happening. She said that while their Cinderella Tournament match ended in a draw, that won’t be the case next time out.

Akira gave her some passive aggressive encouragement. She asked Hanako if she can promise that she will win. She said she wants another shot at Hanako so she wishes her the best in her match with Yuria.

Yamashita spoke next. She talked about the Cinderella tournament and thanked everyone on her team for their hard work before a bit of chaotic chatter that resulted in some pushing and shoving.

Fuwa-chan and the Itoh Respect Army

Fuwa-chan was seen chasing Saori Anou through the backstage interview area. With Kikyo Furusawa sitting down for her prom, Maki Itoh attacked Fuwa, throwing her into the interview backdrop and asked what she is planning. She told Fuwa-chan not to disobey her. Fuwa looked absolutely dumbfounded. Maki told her to calm down and act like a friend.

Itoh presented her with an Itoh Respect Army t-shirt. Fuwa tentatively held up the t-shirt and walked away looking puzzled. Maki declared Fuwa-chan as the alternate to Kikyo in the Itoh Respect Army.

Maki then asked who the cutest in the world is, and Kikyo yelled “Itoh Chan!” before they did the “Itoh Respect Army forever!” battle cry.

Aya Sakura and Yunamon

Aya Sakura and Yunamon took their turn next. Aya said that it looks like Yuna has been harassed by some loud people lately. Yuna said that must just be her fate. She said wrestling with Fuwa-chan for the first time was kind of fun.

Aya said that Fuwa-chan seems a little tropical, too. Yuna said she wonders if Itoh and Fuwa are interested in the High Speed Championship and that she’d like to investigate that further.

Aya said she still hasn’t got to face who she wants but will become a proper Cinderella so she can make that challenge.

Yunamon then shocked Aya by saying she’s cheering for Rian in the tournament. Sakura made a priceless face here as Yuna walked off.

Anne Kanaya

Poor Anne Kanaya (who fell to 0–39 in her professional wrestling career with her loss in the trios three-way) was next to speak. Anne said she was determined to win the Cinderella Tournament but let her naivety get the best of her. She said she wants to give it another shot next year and win the dress. She noted that she was happy to team with Saki Kashima and Lady C today. She will do her best to get in the ring with Saki again in the future.

Hanan

Hanan got her turn to speak next. She said it’s amazing to advance to the quarterfinals. She senses that she has the same momentum as she did when she wont the tournament in 2024. She said she has an unexplainable feeling of invincibility. She wonders if it’s just a feeling. She isn’t sure if it was just because she was new and her mind was on edge of if it’s real.

She said Yagami seemed to have similar momentum during their second-round match and she feared being swallowed up. It was a close call, but she managed to hit the bridging belly to back suplex and get the win.

Hanan said that Cinderella’s story is very harsh. She said it’s a long time since she’s had a singles match that feels fun and satisfying. She addresses her next tournament opponent, Maki Itoh. She said she is the type of woman who is lucky to have made it to the quarterfinals due to having a bye. She said that Maki will not be overwhelm her and she will simply stick to the game plan. She wished Stars unit mate Yuria Hime luck going forward and said that she is rooting for Ranna Yagami.

Ranna Yagami

Yagami said that she had the same result as last year in the Cinderella tournament. She won’t be Cinderella this year, but that is only a temporary roadblock. She was determined to beat Hanan, but Hanan was too strong and powerful. She’s disappointed, but was impressed by Hanan’s performance. She said she’s frustrated, but she will grow from it. She is ready to switch gears and take one step at a time and make a steady climb to the top.

Rian

Rian said she’s fought Natsupoi many times, but never once beaten her until now, when she managed to get an over-the-top upset win over the veteran. She said that next she will take on Aya Sakura and will do whatever it takes to make it to the semi-finals, then the finals, then challenge Yunamon for the High Speed title.

Natsupoi

Natsupoi mocked Rian for saying beating her is a dream come true. She said she is frustrated. She sees that now that it’s come to this, she wants Rian to win the Cinderella tournament no matter what. After that is looking forward to Rian challenging for the High Speed title.

Poi said she’s frustrated and also sad that she can’t reveal her feelings in public anymore, but that she really sohuldn’t talk about money. She’d rather perform quietly in her own way. She congratulated Rian and walked away with her signature, “Bye Poi!”

Hina

Hina mocked Azusa Inaba for calling her an ‘old hag’ and noted that they are only one year apart. She said that one year makes a huge difference, as you can see from the match result. She said it was good to fight her, and they’ve had occasional clashes in tag matches, but this was the first proper singles match and it was a good experience. She’s made it past the second round, but there’s still a long way to go. She is looking forward to facing her next opponent (Miyu Amasaki.)

Azusa Inaba

Azusa Inaba said she lost to Hina, but nothing is finished between the two. She thinks this is just the beginning. She said it’s a bad loss, but she will definitely win next time. Inaba is disappointed that she got a mediocre result in the Cinderella this year. While she’s not affiliated with Stardom, it’s a company on the rise. While she’s just a supporting character, she still wants results in a Stardom ring. She’s not going to shy away from Stardom and that next year, she will be Cinderella.

Sayaka Kurara

Sayaka Kurara stumbled into the interview area on her injured leg. She said that to be honest, she was very wary of Inaba as an opponent as she’s lost to her leg-based offense before, but she can’t stop here. Kurara wants consecutive victories. She said she has more to show. Now, she will continue on in the tournament, by believing in herself and only herself.

Tomoka Inaba

Inaba was disappointed to have lost. She said she’s so frustrated. She said one thing in her career that she regrets is never having a singles match with Tam Nakano. Inaba said that today, while wrestling Kurara, there were a few moments that reminded her a lot of Tam. She said she doesn’t know if she has the same kind of genes or discipline as Tam. She doesn’t accept it. She doesn’t want to admit that she lost, even though she lost. She said she will never lose to Kurara again. She sees why she is so popular and she knows that Kurara has momentum, but she will never beat her again. The Cinderella tournament may be over for Inaba, but she will keep fighting to the top.

Rina

Rina talked about how her matchup with Ami Sohrei was a close call, but that she made it through. She said she was last year’s runner up and barely missed out on winning. It’s cruel and there are some things that you have to experience to understand. She aid coming in second left her with regrets, and that this year she is determined to win. She can’t lose in the second round.

Rina said it seems like everyone in the tournament is pretty mid, so she should win and set the stage for the future of Stardom.

Ami Sohrei

An exhausted Ami Sohrei lamented her early elimination in this year’s tournament. She said even if she didn’t win the Cinderella, she will still shine with her own strength.

Miyu Amasaki

Miyu Amasaki celebrated her win against Saya Iida. The lone member of Neo Genesis in the tournament says that for four years, she’s only experienced loss and frustration, but that won’t stop her. She wants to win the Cinderella tournament and meet her potential.

Saya Iida

Saya Iida apologized to those who wanted to see her win. She doesn’t know what the future holds next year but hopes that fans look forward to it. The Cinderella tournament is over for her, but she won’t give up and she is sure she’s got some gas in the tank. She said the kids at the venue said the same thing. “If you give up, that’s the end.” The words resonated with her, so she will continue to move forward with great success.