Mayu Iwatani’s STARS stable has taken another hit with the defection of Ruaka to Oedo Tai.
Having seen Tam Nakano depart to form her own stable, The Cosmic Angels, alongside Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka earlier in the year, Iwatani’s troubles took a surprising turn when 16 year old Ruaka turned during the February 20th show.
The once prolific STARS stable is now somewhat threadbare, with mainly younger talent such as Starlight Kid and Saya Iida remaining to support ‘The Icon of Stardom’.
Ahead of what promises to be a physical encounter with Seadlinnng star Yoshiko at Stardom’s upcoming All Star Dream Cinderella show, this is inopportune timing for Mayu to say the least.
Feb 20 Shinkiba 1st RING
◆Oedo Tai defeated STARS. Saki Kashima pinned Mayu Iwatani, after Ruaka turned on Iwatani. pic.twitter.com/sPsxrSzvUa— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) February 20, 2021
For Ruaka, now aligned with the villainous Oedo Tai stable (which features former AEW star Bea Priestley) there were near immediate dividends from her actions when on the following night, she emerged as the unlikely winner of a Stardom Rumble match.
That her final elimination was of former STARS stablemate, and current Future of Stardom Champion, Saya Iida, could indicate that a title shot may be in Ruaka’s near future.