Maki Itoh Reflects On US Wrestling Run, Returns To Japan

Maki Itoh wrestled three matches while in the USA, including one for AEW.

Maki Itoh
AEW

Maki Itoh has returned to her native Japan after a brief United States excursion encompassing three matches across two weeks.

The Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling International Princess Champion was Britt Baker's surprise opponent on the 18 May episode of Dynamite, falling to the eventual tournament winner in the Owen Hart Cup's first round. Prestige Wrestling hosted her next two matches, with Itoh facing current IMPACT star Mia Yim and frequent TJPW opponent/partner Miyu Yamashita at the two-night Roseland event on 28 and 29 May.

Now, Itoh is heading home.

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The 26-year-old reflected on her journey on Tuesday, calling her experience in the US "invaluable." This is despite losing her phone and credit cards during the trip:-

Itoh's latest trip was her third time wrestling in the States. She had previously competed in the company over WrestleMania 35 weekend (April 2019), working DDT's Coming to America event and a WrestleCon show in New York City. Two years later, she fought on a run of AEW shows after debuting in the promotion's Women's Title Eliminator Tournament.

12 June's Cyberfight Festival (a collaborative event uniting all three promotions under the Cyberagent banner: TJPW, NOAH, and DDT) hosts Itoh's next big match, as she teams with Yamashita and Juria Nagano to face Hikari Noa, Suzume, and Yuki Araia in Saitama, Japan.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.