It is the white belt. In the world of World Wonder Ring Stardom, the Wonder of Stardom Championship isn't just a secondary title. Honestly, if you ask a die-hard fan of Japanese women's wrestling, they might tell you it means more than the top prize. The "Red Belt" (World of Stardom) is about being the best in the world, sure. But the "White Belt"? That is about your heart. It is about how much you can bleed, how much you can scream, and how much the audience sees themselves in you.
It's heavy. Not just the physical weight of the leather and gold, but the history.
Stardom was founded in 2011 by Rossy Ogawa, Nanae Takahashi, and Fuka Kakimoto. They didn't just want another wrestling promotion. They wanted a spectacle. The Wonder of Stardom Championship was introduced that same year as the secondary title, but it quickly evolved into something else. It became the "Belt of Passion." If you look at the lineage, you see a map of how joshi puroresu changed over the last decade. It isn't just a prop for a storyline; it is a certificate of grit.
What Makes the Wonder of Stardom Championship Different?
Most people think of secondary titles like the Intercontinental title in WWE. That’s a fair comparison, but it misses the emotional nuance. In Stardom, the Red Belt is the "Queen" title. It is technical perfection. The White Belt, however, is the "Struggle" title.
Yuzuki Aikawa was the first champion. She was a "gravure" idol, which meant a lot of people didn't take her seriously at first. She had to prove she belonged in a ring where people actually kick each other in the face. By the time she vacated the title in 2013, nobody doubted her. That set the template. To hold this belt, you have to be willing to undergo a public transformation. You start as a challenger, and you leave as a symbol.
Think about the physical design for a second. The white leather is intentional. It shows everything. When a match gets brutal—and in Stardom, they get incredibly stiff—the blood from a busted nose or the sweat and grime from the mat shows up on that white leather. It stains. By the end of a long reign, the belt looks lived-in. It looks like it’s been through a war because it has.
The Era of Momo Watanabe and the "Ace" Conversation
You can't talk about the Wonder of Stardom Championship without talking about Momo Watanabe. She held that belt for 358 days. She defended it 13 times, breaking the record previously held by Yuzuki Aikawa. At the time, she was incredibly young.
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People were worried. Was she too young? Could she carry the "passion" of the promotion?
Momo didn't talk much. She just kicked people. Hard. Her reign solidified the idea that the White Belt was the workhorse title. If you were the Wonder of Stardom Champion, you were expected to have the best match on the card, period. You weren't just the semi-main event. You were the reason people were staying in their seats. She defended it against legends like Meiko Satomura and Jungle Kyona. It was a masterclass in building prestige through sheer athletic output.
But then things shifted. After Momo, the belt took on a more psychological tone.
Arisa Hoshiki and the Tragedy of Retirement
Arisa Hoshiki’s run with the Wonder of Stardom Championship is one of the most bittersweet chapters in wrestling history. She won the belt from Momo in May 2019. Arisa was a "striker." She had this terrifying Brazilian Kick that could knock anyone out, but she always had this huge, beaming smile on her face.
The contrast was jarring. She looked like an idol, but she fought like a kickboxer.
Her reign was defined by incredible matches against Tam Nakano. That rivalry is basically the blueprint for modern Stardom storytelling. It wasn't just about who was better at wrestling; it was about jealousy, unrequited friendship, and the desire to be "the one." Arisa’s career ended abruptly due to neck and head injuries in 2020. She had to vacate the belt. It was a reminder that the "passion" this belt requires often comes at a massive physical cost. The white belt doesn't just represent your peak; it often demands your health.
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Tam Nakano and the Emotional Peak
If the White Belt is the belt of passion, Tam Nakano is its patron saint.
When Tam finally won the Wonder of Stardom Championship from Giulia at All Star Dream Cinderella in Nippon Budokan (March 2021), it felt like a movie. Giulia had shaved Tam's head in a previous hair-vs-hair stipulation. The stakes were as high as they could possibly get in professional wrestling.
Tam’s reign was different. It wasn't just about the kicks. It was about the "Cosmic Angels" and her philosophy of being "delicious" and "strong." She brought a theatricality to the title that hadn't been there before. She proved that the Wonder of Stardom Championship could headline the biggest arenas in Japan. Under her watch, the "secondary" title often felt like the primary focus of the entire company.
Why the White Belt Matters Right Now
We are in a weird, transitional era for Stardom. With the departure of Rossy Ogawa to start Marigold and the shifting landscape of Bushiroad's management, the titles are in a state of flux. But the Wonder of Stardom Championship remains the anchor.
Look at someone like Saori Anou. Her work with the title has been phenomenal. She brings a certain "coolness" and elegance that balances the raw violence. That’s the beauty of this specific championship: it adapts to the personality of the holder. It doesn't force a wrestler to fit a mold. Instead, it asks the wrestler, "Who are you, and what are you willing to lose to keep this?"
Common Misconceptions
- It’s just a "mid-card" belt. Wrong. It has main-evented more major shows in the last five years than many top-tier titles in other promotions.
- The Red Belt is always more important. Historically, yes, but emotionally? The White Belt usually carries the heavier storylines.
- Only veterans win it. Stardom uses this belt to "make" stars. If you win the White Belt, the office is telling you that you are the future.
The Technical Reality of the Matches
You’ve got to understand the "Stardom Style." It isn't like American wrestling. It is fast. It is high-impact. The Wonder of Stardom Championship matches often involve "strong style" elements—forearm smashes to the neck, high-angle suplexes, and literal slaps to the face.
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There is a level of "realness" that fans expect when the white belt is on the line. If a challenger doesn't look like they are struggling for their life, the match is considered a failure. You see this in the work of wrestlers like Mirai or Saya Kamitani. They don't just perform moves; they endure.
The belt also serves as a bridge. It’s where the high-flyers prove they can be brawlers, and the brawlers prove they can be technicians. It is the ultimate testing ground.
Actionable Steps for New Fans
If you're just getting into Stardom or joshi wrestling in general, jumping into the deep end can be overwhelming. The Wonder of Stardom Championship is actually the best "entry point" because the stories are so character-driven.
- Watch the Tam Nakano vs. Giulia Hair vs. Hair match. It is the emotional peak of the championship's history. You don't need to know the Japanese language to understand the story being told in that ring.
- Follow the "Stardom World" streaming service. Look for the "Wonder of Stardom" tag. Don't worry about watching every show. Focus on the title defenses.
- Pay attention to the post-match promos. In Stardom, the winner usually spends five minutes talking to the crowd. This is where the "Passion" of the White Belt is articulated. Even with subtitles, you can feel the exhaustion and pride.
- Look for the "Cinderella Tournament" winners. Often, the winner of this annual tournament challenges for the White Belt. It’s the fastest way to see who the next big star is going to be.
The Wonder of Stardom Championship isn't just a piece of sports memorabilia. It’s a 13-year-long diary of the toughest women in professional wrestling. It’s been stained with blood, tears, and hair dye. It has survived injuries, company splits, and global pandemics. As long as there is a ring in Japan and a woman willing to kick someone's head off for a dream, that white belt will be the most prestigious prize in the room.
To truly understand the "Wonder" of it, you have to stop looking at it as a trophy and start looking at it as a burden. Only the best can carry it without breaking.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into Stardom History
- Research the 2024-2025 Title Changes: Track how the belt moved during the transition between the Rossy Ogawa era and the current Bushiroad-led creative team.
- Compare the Red and White Belts: Watch a World of Stardom match and a Wonder of Stardom match from the same show. Notice the difference in pacing and emotional stakes.
- Study the "Icon" Mayu Iwatani: While she is often associated with the Red Belt, her runs with the White Belt defined her early career and helped build the foundation of the company.