Saya Kamitani (上谷沙弥 Kamitani Saya) (born November 28, 1996) is a Japanese professional wrestler, currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion. Kamitani is a former one-time Wonder of Stardom Champion while also being a former one-time Goddess of Stardom Champion, which she held with Utami Hayashishita.
Early life[]
Kamitani had couple of dancing roles on 2014 as a support dancer. Kamitani passed the audition to become a member of the idol group AKB48, however, according to the group's website, Kamitani was never listed as a full-time member.
Professional wrestling career[]
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2018–present)[]
With her Idol background, Kamitani debuted in World Wonder Ring Stardom in a non-wrestling role as part of the "Stardom Idols", a dancing and singing group. While the Stardom Idols short-lived, Kamitani passed the stardom protest with Mana Hoshino on July 10, 2019. Kamitani debuted on August 10 where she unsuccessfully challenged Momo Watanabe. On August 18, Kamitani gained her first victory when she teamed with Rina to defeat Queen's Quest (Hina and Leo Onozaki). On November 4, in the official match of the Goddess of Stardom Tag League match, Kamitani and Saya Iida defeated Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi and Kagetsu), after performing a running "Shooting Star Press" on Miyagi to win for her team. On December 8, Kamitani won the Rookie of Stardom Tournament a where she defeated Iida in the finals.
On February 16, 2020, after Kamitani lost to Utami Hayashishita, Kamitani would join Queen's Quest there after where she formed a team with Hayashishita. On July 17, Kamitani competed in a three-way match which also involved Iida and Maika for the Future of Stardom Championship, where she was unsuccessful. On July 26, Kamitani and Hayashishita defeated Tokyo Cyber Squad (Jungle Kyona and Konami) to win the vacant Goddess of Stardom Championship winning her first title in professional wrestling in the process. On December 27, Kamitani and Hayashishita lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Bea Priestley and Konami, ending their reign at 153 days.
On March 3, 2021 at All Star Dream Cinderella, Kamitani received her first match for the World of Stardom Championship where she challenged the champion and her ally Hayashishita for the title, but was unsuccessful. On July 4 at Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 in Summer, she unsuccessfully challenged Tam Nakano for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. At the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2021 which took place from July 31 to September 25, Kamitani competed in the "Blue Stars" block where she scored a total of 11 points after going against Syuri, Takumi Iroha, Konami, Utami Hayashishita, Tam Nakano, Maika, Unagi Sayaka and Ruaka. At Stardom 10th Anniversary Grand Final Osaka Dream Cinderella on October 9, 2021, she teamed up with Momo Watanabe and AZM to unsuccessfully challenge Maika, Himeka and Natsupoi for the Artist of Stardom Championship. At the 2021 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, Kamitani teamed up with Utami Hayashishita as the Queen's Quest's sub-team of "AphrOditE" where they competed in the "Red Goddess" block, scoring a total of seven points after going against FWC (Hazuki and Koguma), HimePoi '21 (Himeka and Natsupoi), Cosmic Angels (Unagi Sayaka and Mai Sakurai), I love HigashiSpo! (Saki Kashima and Fukigen Death) and Water & Oil (Hanan and Rina). At Tokyo Super Wars on November 27, she defeated Natsupoi and Himeka in a three-way match to become the bumber one contender for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. At Osaka Super Wars, the last event of the trilogy from December 18, she teamed up with AZM, Utami Hayashishita and Momo Watanabe (the leader of Queen's Quest by the time) to fight Oedo Tai's Starlight Kid, Saki Kashima, Konami and Ruaka in an eight-woman elimination tag team match. While down to Kid versus Watanabe, the latter betrayed the stable and attacked AZM with a steel chair to get herself disqualified in a shocking manner to join the enemy team. The former Queen's Quest leader declared that she would be Oedo Tai's black peach. On December 29 at Stardom Dream Queendom, Kamitani defeated Tam Nakano to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship.
At Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight on January 29, 2022, Kamitani successfully defended the Wonder of Stardom Championship against MIRAI. At Stardom Cinderella Journey on February 23, she defended the title successfully again against Natsupoi. At Stardom New Blood 1 on March 11, 2022, Kamitani teamed up with Lady C and went into a time-limit draw against Mirai and Mai Sakurai. On the first night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 from March 26, she defended the title againt Utami Hayashishita, and on the second night from March 27, again versus Tam Nakano. At Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2022, she only scored a draw against Maika in the second rounds of April 10. At Stardom Golden Week Fight Tour on May 5, 2022, she defended the Wonder of Stardom Championship successfully against Maika. At Stardom Flashing Champions on May 28, 2022, she defended it again against Mirai. At Stardom Fight in the Top on June 26, 2022, Kamitani teamed up with AZM and Utami Hayashishita and competed in a Six-woman tag team steel cage match where the fell short to Stars (Mayu Iwatani, Koguma and Hazuki). At Mid Summer Champions in Tokyo, the first event of the Stardom Mid Summer Champions series which took place on July 9, 2022, Kamitani defended the "white belt" once again against Starlight Kid. At Mid Summer Champions in Nagoya, the last event from July 24, she defended the title against Saki. At Stardom in Showcase vol.1 on July 23, 2022, Kamitani competed in a three-way casket match against Starlight Kid and Yuu who won he bout after unmasking from a "grim reaper costume". At Stardom x Stardom: Nagoya Midsummer Encounter on August 21, 2022, she defeated Himeka to retain the Wonder of Stardom Championship. Kamitani was initially scheduled to defend against Kairi but the latter pulled out last minute due to COVID issues. At the 2022 edition of the 5 Star Grand Prix which took place between July 30 and October 1, Kamitani competed in the "Blue Stars" block where she scored a total of 14 points after going against Giulia, Mirai, Mayu Iwatani, Suzu Suzuki, Hazuki, Starlight Kid, Natsupoi, Momo Watanabe, Ami Sourei, Mina Shirakawa, Saya Iida and Hanan.
On April 23, 2023, at All Star Grand Queendom, Kamitani lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Mina Shirakawa, ending her reign at 480 days, with a record setting of 15-successful title defenses. Kamitani competed in the 2023 5 Star Grand Prix, but withdrew from the tournament after she suffered a legitimate dislocated elbow during her first match of the tournament against Tam Nakano on July 23. Kamitani made her return on November 28th alongside her AphrOditE teammate, Utami Hayashishita, who had also been out due to an injury. At Nagoya Big Winter on December 2, AphrOditE won the vacant Goddess of Stardom Championship by defeating Divine Kingdom. They lost the titles to Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira on March 30, 2024.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021)[]
On January 5, 2021, at the second night of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)'s Wrestle Kingdom 15, Kamitani made her first NJPW appearance where she, alongside AZM and Hayashishita, defeated Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi in a dark match. At Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome, Kamitani competed in both nights, first on September 4, 2021, where she teamed up with Momo Watanabe to defeat Lady C and Maika, and on September 5, where she teamed again with Watanabe, this time in a losing effort against Donna Del Mondo's Giulia and Syuri.
In other media[]
In 2014, Kamitani participated in EXILE's support dancers. Kamitani also experienced a backstage dancer of Team A.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Phoenix Splash (Corkscrew 450° splash)
- Running shooting star press
- Sickle Hold (STF)
- Star Crusher (Fisherman buster)
- Signature moves
- Canadian Destroyer (Front flip piledriver)
- Crossbody, sometimes while springboarding
- Fisherman suplex
- Handstand double knee drop
- Hurricanrana, sometimes while springboarding
- Japanese leg roll clutch
- Moonsault, usually from the apron
- Multiple kick variations
- Bicycle
- Drop, sometimes from the top
- Pelé
- Spinning heel
- Muta lock
- Spanish Fly (Moonsault side slam)
- Springboard plancha
- Topé con hilo
- Nicknames
- "Golden Phoenix"
- "Shooting Star"
- "Tall Saya"
- Entrance themes
- "OVER THE FUTURE"
Championships and accomplishments[]
- World Wonder Ring Stardom
- Wonder of Stardom Championship (1 time)
- Goddess of Stardom Championship (2 times) – with Utami Hayashishita
- Cinderella Tournament (2021)
- Rookie of Stardom (2019)
- 5★Star GP Award (1 time)
- 5★Star GP Blue Stars Best Match Award (2022) vs. Suzu Suzuki on September 11
- Stardom Year-End Award (4 times)
- Best Tag Team Award (2020) with Utami Hayashishita
- Best Technique Award (2021)
- Outstanding Performance Award (2022)
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 7 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Women's 100 in 2022
- Ranked No. 20 of the top 50 tag teams in the PWI Tag Team 50 in 2020 with AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita as Queen's Quest