Saki Kashima (鹿島沙希, Kashima Saki, born May 5, 1993) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is a member of God's Eye.[4][5]

Saki Kashima
Kashima in April 2024 upon winning the High Speed Championship
Born (1993-05-05) May 5, 1993 (age 31)[1]
Masuda, Shimane, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)La Gatita
Saki Kashima
Billed height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)[2]
Billed weight50 kg (110 lb)
Trained byFuka
Ikuto Hidaka
Debut2011[3]

Kashima was the inaugural and is a former five-time Artist of Stardom Champion, a title she held with multiple wrestlers throughout her career, as well as a former one-time Goddesses of Stardom Champion (alongside Mayu Iwatani).

Professional wrestling career

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World Wonder Ring Stardom (2011–2013)

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Kashima in December 2019

Kashima made her professional wrestling debut at World Wonder Ring Stardom's Stardom Season 2: Grow Up Stars show from June 12, 2011, where she fought Natsuki Taiyo in a three-minute exhibition match time-limit draw.[6] At Stardom Season 10 New Year Stars 2013 on January 14, she teamed up with Act Yasukawa and Natsuki Taiyo and defeated Kellie Skater, Portia Perez and Tomoka Nakagawa to become the inaugural Artist of Stardom Champions. This would be her last match before a five-year hiatus from in-ring activity.[7]

Tokyo Gurentai (2011, 2019)

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Kashima worked a couple of matches for Tokyo Gurentai, one of them being at Tokyo Love II ~Another Chance~ from September 28, 2011, where she fell short to Io Shirai and Nanae Takahashi in a triple threat match.[8] The other one took place eight years later, at Tokyo Gurentai Lucha Libre Fiesta, an event produced by Stardom in partnership with Tokyo Gurentai, where she participated in a four-way tag team elimination match, teaming up with Starlight Kid and Tam Nakano as Stars and going against Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Hazuki and Kagetsu), JAN (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Saya Iida), and Queen's Quest (AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita).[9]

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2018-present)

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A notable confrontation in which she was involved was at Stardom X Stardom 2018: Kagetsu 10th Anniversary Show from August 12, where she unsuccessfully challenged Momo Watanabe for the Wonder of Stardom Championship.[10] At the Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League 2018 tournament, Kashima teamed up with Mayu Iwatani, placing themselves in the Block A and scoring a total of seven points.[11] At Mask Fiesta 2018 on October 28, Kashima, under the ring name La Gatita, teamed up with Dame de Panko and Mayuchica to defeat Bear Dog, Black Jungle Fairy and Night Bear.[12][13] She participated in the Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League 2019, teaming up with former STARS stablemate Mayu Iwatani, placing themselves in the Red Block, and scoring a total of two points.[14] She participated in the 2020 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, teaming up with Natsuko Tora under Oedo Tai's sub-group named Devil Duo, placing themselves in the Red Block and scoring a total of four points.[15]

At the 10th Anniversary of Stardom on March 3, 2021, Kashima teamed up with Natsuko Tora to unsuccessfully challenge Donna Del Mondo (Maika and Himeka) for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[16] She was scheduled to face AZM in the first night of the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2021 on April 10, but she was replaced by Rina.[17] At Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2021 she fought in the "Red Stars" block where she scored a total of four points.[18] At Stardom 10th Anniversary Grand Final Osaka Dream Cinderella on October 9, 2021, she unsuccessfiully challenged Syuri for the SWA World Championship.[19]

 
Kashima in November 2021

At Stardom Cinderella Journey on February 23, 2022, Kashima teamed up with Fukigen Death to unsuccessfully challenge FWC (Hazuki and Koguma) for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[20] At Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2022, Kashima made it to the quarterfinals where she got defeated by Mirai on April 17.[21] At Stardom Flashing Champions on May 28, 2022, Kashima alongside Starlight Kid and Momo Watanabe defeated MaiHimePoi (Maika, Himeka and Natsupoi) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.[22] At Stardom Fight in the Top, Kashima, Kid and Watanabe defended the artist titles against God's Eye (Syuri, Ami Sourei and Mirai), and Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Maika and Mai Sakurai).[23] At Mid Summer Champions in Osaka on July 24, she, Kid and Watanabe defended the artist titles against Giulia, Maika and Himeka.[24] At Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2022, she fought in the "Red Stars" block where she scored a total of twelve points.[25] At Stardom x Stardom: Nagoya Midsummer Encounter on August 21, 2022, she alongside Kid and Waanabe defended the artist titles against Cosmic Angels (Mina Shirakawa, Unagi Sayaka and Saki).[26]

On May 27, 2023, at Flashing Champions, Kashima defeated the High Speed Champion AZM to win the title first the first time in her career in a three-way match, which also involved Fukigen Death.[27] At Stardom Sunshine 2023 on June 25, Kashima teamed up with Oedo Tai stablemates Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid, Ruaka and Rina and competed in a Loser leaves unit cage match against Queen's Quest (Lady C, Hina, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM and Miyu Amasaki). Kashima got eliminated last, as she was forced to withdraw her unit. Parting ways was hostile as Oedo Tai attacked her after the loss, after which determined AZM to offer Kashima a spot into Queen's Quest which the latter denied.[28] At Stardom Mid Summer Champions 2023 on July 2, Kashima successfilly defended the High Speed Championship against her former "We Love Tokyo Sports!" tag partner Fukigen Death. After the match, Oedo Tai attacked Kashima again, but Syuri and Ami Sourei rescued her and offered a spot into God's Eye.[29] At Nagoya Golden Fight 2023 on October 9, Kashima lost the High Speed Championship to Mei Seira.[30][31]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Saki Kashima • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Saki Kashima/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  3. ^ "Joshi Wrestler Profiles - Saki Kashima". joshicity.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Saki Kashima Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  5. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom. 鹿島沙希. wwr-stardom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  6. ^ Purolove (June 12, 2011). "Stardom, 12.06.2011 Shin-Kiba 1st RING". purolove.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  7. ^ Quebrada (January 14, 2013). "STARDOM Season 10 NEW YEARS STARS 2013 1/14/13 Tokyo Korakuen Hall". quebrada.net. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Quebrada (September 28, 2011). "Tokyo Gurentai STV 10/14/11 Tokyo Love II ~Another Chance~ taped 9/28/11 Tokyo Shinjuku FACE". quebrada.net. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  9. ^ Dark angel (March 15, 2019). "Lucha Libre Estrella Fiesta: Mexican legends adorn the Korakuen Hall". superluchas.com. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  10. ^ Daly, Wayne (August 13, 2018). "STARDOM Results: Kagetsu 10th Anniversary Show – Tokyo, Japan (8/12)". Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  11. ^ Pro Wrestling History. "Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2018". prowrestlinghistory.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  12. ^ 2018年10月28日 MASK FIESTA 2018. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). October 29, 2018. Archived from the original on January 31, 2023. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  13. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (October 28, 2018). "Stardom Mask Fiesta 2018". Cagematch. Retrieved September 23, 2023.
  14. ^ Richards, Alex (October 1, 2019). "Preview: Goddesses Of Stardom Tag League 2019". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
  15. ^ Richards, Alex (October 9, 2020). "Preview: Stardom – Goddess Of Stardom Tag League 2020". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  16. ^ Da Taigermen (March 3, 2021). "RISULTATI: STARDOM 10TH ANNIVERSARY – HINAMATSURI ALL-STAR DREAM CINDERELLA 03.03.2021". zonawrestling.net (in Italian). Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  17. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom (April 10, 2021). ""CINDERELLA TOURNAMENT 2021" April 10 (Sat) Korakuen Hall (606 spectators / limited number of corona measures)". wwr-stardom.com. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  18. ^ WrestlingwithDemons (September 25, 2021). "9/25 STARDOM "5-STAR GRAND PRIX 2021" FINALS RESULTS". pwinsider.com. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  19. ^ McCrudden, Amber (October 9, 2021). "Returning Star challenges Utami Hayashishita for the World of Stardom Championship". sportskeeda.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021.
  20. ^ Peterson, Karen (February 23, 2022). "STARDOM Cinderella Journey Nagaoka: Saya Kamitani vs. Natsupoi, AZM vs. Starlight Kid". postwrestling.com. Retrieved February 24, 2022.
  21. ^ Thompson, Andrew (April 17, 2022). "Konami returning to STARDOM". postwrestling.com. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
  22. ^ Richards, Alex (May 28, 2022). "Stardom Flashing Champions 2022 News Round-Up". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  23. ^ Peterson, Karen (June 27, 2022). "Stardom Fight in the Top Report: Six-Woman Tag Cage Match, Tam Nakano vs. Natsupoi". postwrestling.com. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  24. ^ Edwards, Scott (July 24, 2022). "STARDOM MidSummer Champions 2022 In Nagoya Results (7/24/22) / Syuri vs. Tam Nakano, More". fightful.com. Retrieved July 24, 2022.
  25. ^ Peterson, Karen (October 1, 2022). "STARDOM: 2022 FIVE STAR Winner Decided at Mushashino Forest Sports Center". postwrestling.com. Retrieved October 3, 2022.
  26. ^ Dark Angel (August 26, 2022). "Stardom: «Stardom x Stardom 2022 Nagoya Midsummer Encouter [sic]» 5 titles at stake". superluchas.com. Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  27. ^ a b Edwards, Scott (May 27, 2023). "STARDOM Flashing Champions 2023 Results (5/27/23): Tam Nakano vs. Mina Shirakawa". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  28. ^ Murray, Dylan (June 25, 2023). "STARDOM's Saki Kashima Forced To Leave Oedo Tai In Faction Warfare Fallout". wrestlinginc.com. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  29. ^ Edwards, Scott (July 2, 2023). "STARDOM MidSummer Champions 2023 Results (7/2/23): Tam Nakano vs. MIRAI". Fightful. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  30. ^ Carlin, James (October 9, 2023). "STARDOM Nagoya Golden Fight Review and Results – 10.9.23". Monthly Puroresu. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  31. ^ Edwards, Scott (October 9, 2023). "STARDOM Nagoya Golden Fight 2023 Results (10/9/23): Tam Nakano vs. Natsuko Tora". Fightful. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
  32. ^ Ross, Patrick (October 19, 2023). "Full 2023 PWI Women's 250 list revealed". aiptcomics.com. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  33. ^ Wrestling Titles (December 16, 2020). "Artist of Stardom Title (Japan)". Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  34. ^ Wrestling Titles (December 16, 2020). "Artist of Stardom Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  35. ^ Wrestling Titles (April 4, 2021). "Goddesses of Stardom Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  36. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom (October 2, 2022). 2022年10月1日 『LEC ふわるんマスク Presents 5★STAR GP 2022~優勝決定戦~』. wwr-stardom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 2, 2022.
  37. ^ Pollock, John (January 3, 2022). "STARDOM 2021 award winners". postwrestling.com. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
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