What Is STARDOM? Japan's Women's Pro Wrestling Scene Explained

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If you've seen a viral clip of Japanese women's wrestling, there's a good chance it came from STARDOM — the promotion that's become the center of the modern joshi puroresu scene.

Founding and Growth

STARDOM (formally World Wonder Ring Stardom) was founded in September 2010 by Rossy Ogawa, Fuka Kakimoto, and Nanae Takahashi — the latter two both veterans of the AJW (All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling) scene. It quickly grew into the largest joshi puroresu promotion in Japan.

Ownership and Leadership

STARDOM has changed corporate hands over the years — including a period as a subsidiary of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) from June 2024 before returning to full ownership under Bushiroad in April 2026. Taro Okada has served as president since 2023.

A Global Scene

STARDOM regularly features wrestlers from outside Japan alongside its Japanese roster, and its shows — including regular events at Korakuen Hall — draw both domestic and international attention, making it a common entry point for fans discovering joshi puroresu for the first time.

What To Know

STARDOM is often the first Japanese wrestling promotion fans encounter through clips — a scene with its own championships, star wrestlers, and storytelling distinct from WWE and men's promotions like NJPW.

Joshi puroresu has its own long, distinct history in Japan, and STARDOM's rise is a modern consolidation of that scene — the promotion has moved between corporate owners over the years, including a period as an NJPW subsidiary before returning to Bushiroad.

What Fans Are Saying

• "STARDOM matches are how I got into wrestling in the first place."
• "The in-ring storytelling in joshi puroresu is on another level."

Original Japanese

• 「STARDOMの試合でプロレスにハマった」
• 「女子プロレスのストーリー展開はすごい」

Easy Japanese

STARDOMは、2010年に設立された女子プロレスの団体です。世界最大級の女子プロレス団体として知られています。