Wikipedia

AZM (wrestler)

AZM, shortened from Azumi (あずみ, born October 1, 2002), is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a member of Neo Genesis.

AZM
AZM in 2023
Born (2002-10-01) October 1, 2002 (age 22)[1]
Tokyo, Japan[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)AZM[3]
Azumi[4]
Mini Iotica[5]
Billed height155 cm (5 ft 1 in)[6]
Billed weight53 kg (117 lb)[2]
Trained byFuka Kakimoto[7]
DebutOctober 6, 2013[2]

AZM is a former three-time Artist of Stardom Champion and two-time High Speed Champion.[8] She was also a member of the Queen's Quest and its Third and assumed de facto leader during the Post Watanabe era until Hayashishita took the leading role. She was in the faction for a total of seven years, having joined the group in February 2017 when she was brought in by Shirai and being part of it until getting kicked out in June 2024 after losing an elimination tag match against Oedo Tai.

Professional wrestling career

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World Wonder Ring Stardom (2013–present)

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Early career (2013-2017)

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AZM in February 2014 aged 11, five months after her professional wrestling debut

AZM made her professional wrestling debut under the ring name Azumi at Stardom's Season 14 Goddesses In Stars 2013 on October 6, 2013, in a time limit draw against Passion No. 2.[4] She was 11 years old at the time. At Mask Fiesta 2014 on October 26, 2014, AZM wrestled under the ring name Mini Iotica and defeated Green Yuki, Kairian and White Yuki.[5] AZM continued to perform under the Mini Iotica name at Mask Fiesta events throughout the 2010s.[9][10] At New Years Stars 2016 on January 3, 2016, AZM competed in a 15-woman battle royal where she faced other Stardom wrestlers such as Evie, Kellie Skater, Kris Wolf and Haruka Kato.[11] In February 2016, AZM formed a new stable called Azumi's Army, which was led by herself and Kaori Yoneyama.[12]

Queen's Quest (2017-2024)

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Following a match involving Queen's Quest members Io Shirai and HZK on February 11, 2017, AZM came into the ring and requested to join Queen's Quest, to which Shirai accepted. Following this, AZM adopted AZM as her ring name.[3] AZM won her first title, the Artist of Stardom Championship, at Grows Up Stars 2017 on April 15 alongside HZK and Io Shirai by defeating Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, La Rosa Negra and Kagetsu).[13] AZM, HZK and Io Shirai lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo and Konami at Golden Week Stars 2017 on May 6, ending their reign after 21 days.[14] AZM won the Artist of Stardom Championship again with HZK and Io Shirai at Shining Stars 2017 on June 4 by defeating Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo and Konami.[15] AZM, HZK and Io Shirai lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto, Jungle Kyona and Kaori Yoneyama) on June 17, ending their reign after 13 days.[16]

AZM won the Artist of Stardom Championship a third time at Goddess Of Stars 2019 on November 23, 2019, when she teamed up with Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita to defeat Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu and Natsu Sumire).[17]

At The Way to Major League on February 8, 2020, AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Maika and Syuri), ending their reign after 77 days.[18] AZM won the High Speed Championship on July 26, at Cinderella Summer in Tokyo, by defeating Riho and Starlight Kid in a three-way match.[19] In October and November, AZM and Momo Watanabe teamed up as MOMOAZ to win the 2020 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.[20] On November 14, AZM and Momo Watanabe unsuccessfully challenged AphrOditE for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[21]

 
AZM in 2021

At Go To BUDOKAN! Valentine Special on February 13, 2021, AZM unsuccessfully challenged Syuri for the SWA World Championship.[22] On February 21, the tenth night of New Year Stars 2021, AZM participated in a Stardom rumble match won by Ruaka.[23] At All Star Dream Cinderella on March 3, AZM lost the High Speed Championship to Natsupoi, ending her reign after 220 days and four successful defenses.[24] AZM participated in the 2021 Cinderella Tournament, but was eliminated in the first round by Rina.[25] In July through September, AZM competed in the Blue Stars block of the 2021 5 Star Grand Prix, in which she scored a total of eight points.[26] At the 10th Anniversary Grand Final Osaka Dream Cinderella on October 9, AZM, Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani unsuccessfully challenged MaiHimePoi for the Artist of Stardom Championship.[27] At Kawasaki Super Wars on November 3, AZM unsuccessfully challenged Syuri for the SWA World Championship and World of Stardom Championship challenge rights certificate.[28] At Osaka Super Wars on December 18, AZM teamed up with her Queen's Quest stablemates Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita and their leader, Momo Watanabe, to battle Oedo Tai (Konami, Ruaka, Saki Kashima and Starlight Kid) in an elimination tag team match. While down to Watanabe versus Starlight Kid, Watanabe betrayed Queen's Quest by attacking AZM with a steel chair to get herself disqualified so she could join Oedo Tai.[29] Following this, AZM became the most senior member of Queen's Quest, having been recruited by the original leader Io Shirai, and was therefore assumed to be the de facto leader of the unit. At Dream Queendom on December 29, she unsuccessfully challenged Starlight Kid and Koguma in a three-way match for the High Speed Championship.[30]

 
AZM as the High Speed Champion on the second night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 on March 27.

At Nagoya Supreme Fight on January 29, 2022, AZM teamed up with Utami Hayashishita in a grudge match against Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid which they lost.[31] At Cinderella Journey on February 23, AZM defeated Starlight Kid to win the High Speed Championship for the second time in her career.[32] On the second night on March 27, AZM successfully defended the High Speed Championship against Koguma and Natsupoi.[33] At the 2022 Cinderella Tournament, AZM reached the second round, where she was defeated by Hazuki on April 10.[34] On the last night of the event from April 29, she successfully defended the High Speed Championship against Mei Suruga.[35] On May 15, Queen's Quest elected Utami Hayashishita as the new official leader after she won a five-way match against AZM, Saya Kamitani, Lady C and Hina, meaning AZM was no longer the defacto leader.[36] At Flashing Champions on May 28, AZM successfully defended the High Speed Championship against Thekla.[37] At Fight in the Top on June 26, AZM teamed up with Utami Hayashishita and Saya Kamitami in a losing effort against Stars (Mayu Iwatani, Koguma and Hazuki) in one of the first ever six-woman tag team steel cage matches promoted by Stardom.[38] At Mid Summer Champions in Tokyo on July 9, AZM successfully defended the High Speed Championship against Momo Kohgo.[39] At Stardom in Showcase vol.1 on July 23, she defeated Koguma, Tam Nakano and Momo Watanabe in a four-way falls count anywhere match.[40] At Mid Summer Champions in Nagoya on July 24, AZM successfully defended the High Speed Championship against Rina.[41] In July through October, AZM participated in the Red Stars block of the 2022 5 Star Grand Prix.[42]

On March 4, 2023, AZM had her tenth successful title defense, where she retained her High Speed Championship against Starlight Kid, setting a record for most title defenses of the title.[43] On May 27, at Flashing Champions, AZM lost the title to Saki Kashima in a three-way match, which also involved Fukigen Death, ending her reign at 458 days.[44]

Independent circuit (2017, 2019-2021)

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At the August 8, 2017 house show of the Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling promotion, AZM teamed up with HZK to defeat New-Tra (Rin Kadokura and Takumi Iroha).[45] At Estrella Executive Committee/Stardom/Tokyo Gurentai , a cross-over event produced by World Wonder Ring Stardom in partnership with Tokyo Gurentai on March 14, 2019, AZM competed in a four-way elimination tag team match, where she teamed up with Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita as Queen's Quest, falling short to Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Hazuki and Kagetsu), JAN (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Saya Iida) and Stars (Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid and Tam Nakano).[46] AZM competed at Kagetsu Retirement Show ~ Many Face, a freelance event which portraited the last match of Kagetsu from February 24, 2020, where she defeated Kaho Kobayashi and Mei Suruga in a three-way match.[47]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021–present)

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AZM worked in an exhibition match for New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15, which took part on January 5, 2021, where she teamed up with Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita as Queen's Quest to defeat Donna Del Mondo's Himeka, Maika, and Natsupoi in a six-person tag team match.[48] On November 20, 2022, AZM participated in the first NJPW and Stardom collaboration event, Historic X-Over, where she alongside Kamitani and Lady C, representing Queen's Quest, defeated Himeka, Mai Sakurai and Thekla, who represented Donna Del Mondo.[49][50]

On April 8, 2023, at Sakura Genesis, AZM challenged the IWGP Women's Champion Mercedes Moné for the title in a three-way match that also involved Hazuki, but was unsuccessful.[51]

On April 12, 2024 at Windy City Riot, AZM unsuccessfully challenged Stephanie Vaquer for the Strong Women's Championship.

Ring of Honor (2024)

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On April 5, 2024, at Supercard of Honor, AZM made her Ring of Honor (ROH) debut, teaming with Saya Kamitani and Tam Nakano, in a losing effort against Maika, Mina Shirakawa, and Mei Seira.

All Elite Wrestling (2024)

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On the April 13, 2024 edition of AEW Collision, AZM made her All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut, in a losing effort against AEW Women's World Champion "Timeless" Toni Storm.

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "AZM/Personal Data". cagematch.net (in German). Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c World Wonder Ring STARDOM. "AZM - Stardom Wrestling Profiles". Retrieved July 23, 2023.
  3. ^ a b World Wonder Ring Stardom [@we_are_stardom] (February 11, 2017). "Azumi asked to join Queen's Quest" (Tweet). Retrieved July 24, 2023 – via Twitter.
  4. ^ a b Purolove (October 6, 2013). "World Wonder Ring Stardom - "SEASON 14 ~ GODDESSES IN STARS 2013" Shin-Kiba 1st RING". purolove.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 26, 2014). "Stardom Mask Fiesta 2014 ~ Halloween Party". Cagematch. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  6. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "AZM • General Information". wrestlingdata.com (in German). Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  7. ^ Fain, Thom (December 21, 2022). "Rossy Ogawa's Storied History, and the Revolution of Joshi Puroresu". Monthly Puroresu. Archived from the original on September 1, 2023. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  8. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "AZM - Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  9. ^ Kevin (November 6, 2016). "Stardom Mask Fiesta Halloween Party on 10/23/16 Review". Joshi City. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  10. ^ Pageot, Harley (November 6, 2019). "10/27 STARDOM MASK FIESTA report: Annual Halloween show where the entire Stardom roster is replaced by mysterious masked luchadoras". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  11. ^ Purolove (January 3, 2016). "Stardom "NEW YEAR SPECIAL 2016", 03.01.2016 Shin-Kiba 1st RING". purolove.com. Retrieved April 19, 2021.
  12. ^ Murray, Dylan (November 29, 2020). "Star Gazing: AZM". Last Word on Sports. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
  13. ^ Joshi City (April 15, 2017). "Stardom "Grow Up Stars" on 4/15/17 Review". joshicity.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  14. ^ 2017年5月6日　GoldenWeek Stars2017. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). May 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved July 28, 2023.
  15. ^ Joshi City (June 6, 2017). "Stardom "Shining Stars 2017" on 6/4/17 Review". joshicity.com. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
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