Hanan Reclaims White Belt, Pins Ruaka Before Title Defense

Hanan got her championship belt back and pinned the woman who had taken it. At STARDOM’s Silver Week Tour finale in Maibara on Sunday, September 27, the Wonder of Stardom champion caught Ruaka with Seventeen for a direct three-count in a ten-woman tag, two days before their title match at Korakuen Hall.

Their feud had spilled well beyond the announced defense. Ruaka took the physical white belt after the September 23 show in Shimonoseki, and H.A.T.E. attacked Hanan again after Saturday’s event in Osaka until Maika, Waka Tsukiyama, HANAKO and Utami Hayashishita came to her rescue. Hanan then requested a late card change: Tsukiyama and Hayashishita replaced her STARS stablemates Saya Iida and Matoi Hamabe, putting all four rescuers beside her in Maibara against Ruaka, Natsuko Tora, Bea Priestley, Azusa Inaba and Hanan’s own sister, Rina.