>>16183090At the Sendai Women's Pro Wrestling Tournament on July 15th at Korakuen Hall, Watanabe lost a hardcore match against Chisako. However, the match was highly praised and became the catalyst for Watanabe to move to other organizations.
>"I suggested that we become hardcore, but I cut the back of my head and bled. It wasn't much, surprisingly. I guess it looked like a lot because I was blonde. But when I got all booed, I thought it would be better to go to another organization (laughs). As Watanabe Momo of Stardom, I also thought it would be more fun to go to another organization. Going into another organization and beating people up is the best thing for a heel to do (laughs). I actually had a singles match with Chisako just once after my debut, but it was the first time we'd both grown up. The Hardcore Queen was true to her name, her mind was blown. I think she just wanted to put on an artistic match. I don't care if she bled or not (laughs), but I felt like she took pride in her artistry, or rather, that she took her own pride in hardcore."Then, on August 31, New Japan's "Capital Collision" was held in Washington DC, USA. The main event of this PPV event was given to Watanabe, who challenged STRONG Women's Champion Mercedes Monet (AEW).
>"It was my first match against Monet, and although she was slim, she was surprisingly strong, with a power different from Japanese people. I went alone and came back alone, but I felt like I was carrying Stardom on my shoulders when I fought overseas. I was the main event at an overseas PPV, ahead of all the other big name wrestlers... I thought that my match could affect the reputation of Stardom. Well, I'm not really thinking about that (laughs)." 