New Details On Maki Itoh's AEW Future
Here's what's going on with TJPW's Maki Itoh, who last wrestled for AEW in March.
Neither AEW nor WWE has offered Maki Itoh a contract yet.
This is according to Itoh herself, who conducted a live stream over the weekend. Pointing out that she was Pro Wrestling Tees' top merch seller at one point last week, Itoh audibly wondered why she hadn't received an offer, dipping into kayfabe to say that every promotion should come to her with a deal as she's going to be a star:-
Maki Itoh confirmed neither AEW or WWE have offered her a deal.
AdvertisementShe was #1 for sales on Pro Wrestling Tees this past week. She’s literally money. Please don’t let her slip through AEW’s hands @TonyKhan pic.twitter.com/fUyCank120
— Sonny (@SonnyTheJobber) July 4, 2021
Itoh caught considerable attention from American wrestling fans earlier this year, when she appeared as part of AEW's Women's World Title Eliminator Tournament in her native Japan. Put out by Ryo Mizunami, the eventual winner, in the first round, Itoh was nonetheless brought over for a surprise appearance at Revolution 2021 a few weeks later.
Maki worked her last AEW date on 10 March, teaming with Britt Baker and Nyla Rose to face Mizunami, Hikaru Shida, and Thunder Rosa. She left the United States soon after this, saying that while a return date hadn't been confirmed, she hoped to come back someday.
Currently active in her home promotion, TJPW, Itoh mounted an unsuccessful challenge for the group's Princess of Princess Title in April.