Maki Itoh (伊藤 麻希 Itō Maki, born July 22, 1995) is a Japanese female professional wrestler, actress, model, and idol, who wrestles for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, where she is a former two-times International Princess Champion.
Professional wrestling career[]
On December 11, 2016, at the DDT Pro-Wrestling event "Road to SUPER SAND-Dramatic Dream Tonkotsu-" in Fukuoka Hakata Star Lane, Itoh made her official professional wrestling debut, where she was defeated by Miyu Yamashita. On March 13, 2017 at At This Time, Get Excited In Nerima! Itoh was defeated by Mil Clown in a three-way match also featuring Maho Kurone.
After her dismissal from the idol group LinQ, Itoh stopped using the group's song Calorie Nante as her entrance theme, instead choosing to perform an on-the-spot acapella version of the Noriyuki Makihara song Mou Koi Nante Shinai. This continued until the beginning of October 2017, when she began entering to Setsunairo by Tokiwoikiru.
In July, Itoh participated in the "Tokyo Princess Cup" held at Shinjuku Mura Studio. In the first round, she fought against Shoko Nakajima, but was eliminated.
Maki made her US debut at DDT Coming to America where she wrestled Miyu Yamashita. The next day she appeared at Joey Ryan's Penis Party event organized by Joey Ryan where she fought in a multi-man match for the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship, but was defeated by the champion Yoshihiko.
In 2019, Itoh's long-standing tag team with her partner Mizuki, Itoh Respect Gundan, was officially disbanded after a singles match between the two. Itoh later recruited British wrestler Chris Brookes to replace Mizuki, renaming the team to "NEO Itoh Respect Gundan". After leaving his tour of Japan and returning to the United Kingdom, Brookes continued to represent the Neo Itoh Respect Gundan by wearing the team's official T-shirt and using Itoh's trademark kokeshi headbutt during shows. On August 15 2021, Itoh won the Tokyo Princess Cup for her first time after defeating Shoko Nakajima in the finals to win the tournament. On January 4, 2022 at TJPW Tokyo Joshi Pro '22, Itoh defeated Hikari Noa to win the International Princess Championship for her second time. On July 9, 2022, Itoh lost International Princess Championship to Alex Windsor.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Itoh Deluxe (Arm trap cloverleaf)
- Itoh Punish (Boston crab, while applying a knee to the back of an opponent's neck)
- Itoh Royale (Figure four jackknife pin) – 2020–present
- Itoh Special (Texas cloverleaf)
- Signature moves
- Biting
- Boston crab
- Flying Big Head (Diving headbutt)
- Headbutt, sometimes while running or jumping
- Multiple DDT variants
- Hammerlock
- Regular
- Rope-hung
- Over the shoulder single leg Boston crab
- Screaming into the ear of the opponent, sometimes while pulling the opponent's hair
- Nicknames
- "Tatakau Kubidol" (Japanese for "Fighting Kubidol")
- "Joshi puroresu shin jidai no karisuma" (Japanese for "New Age Charisma of Joshi Puroresu")
- Entrance themes
- "Setsunairo" by Maki Itoh
- "Brooklyn The Hole" by Maki Itoh
Championships and accomplishments[]
- DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
- International Princess Championship (2 times)
- Tokyo Princess Cup (2021)