Quoted By:
>Maika vows to reclaim the world title by the end of the year. For the time being, "I'll be free to go wild."
>Maika of the women's professional wrestling organization Stardom is already plotting to reclaim the world title before the end of the year.
>She became the first ever undefeated champion in this summer's league tournament, "5STAR GP," and challenged fellow champion Tam Nakano at the Osaka tournament on the 14th. However, she lost after a fierce battle that lasted more than 20 minutes. In an interview, Maika looked relieved as she reflected, "It's a given that I'm frustrated. But it's been a while since I've properly lost, so it feels refreshing. When (Tora) Natsuko took the belt from me, I felt more like I'd been betrayed by (Saya) Kamitani than that I'd lost. I realized once again that victory and defeat are just a hair's breadth apart."
>After coming in second at last year's 5STAR, she was so depressed that she even considered retiring, but that's not the case now. "I lost to Suzuki Suzu in the 5STAR deciding match last year and couldn't win, but then I won the red belt (World Championship) and won the 5STAR tournament. I'm not depressed now because I'm strong enough to have risen to this point after experiencing rock bottom," she emphasized.
>Since finally achieving her long-cherished dream of winning the title for the first time at the Ryogoku tournament at the end of last year, she has been through a series of hardships. In March of this year, she was hit by the departure of five wrestlers. However, because she is proud of having led the Stardom mat as the highest champion at a time of transition, she said, "When I first started the year with the belt, I was surprised at how many bitter memories I had. I want to end this year with the belt, and next year I want to smile and be the champion that I am."
