Konami (wrestler)

Konami Takemoto (竹本 小波, Takemoto Konami, born July 15, 1996), known mononymously as Konami is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is a two-time Artist of Stardom Champion, and current two-time Goddess of Stardom Champion.

Konami
Konami in 2017
Birth nameKonami Takemoto (竹本 小波, Takemoto Konami)
Born (1996-07-15) July 15, 1996[1][2]
Fukuyama, Hiroshima, Japan[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Konami
Billed height156 cm (5 ft 1 in)[1][2]
Trained byKana
Minoru Tanaka
DebutOctober 7, 2014

Takemoto was trained by Kana and Minoru Tanaka, making her debut in February 2015. Konami spent her early career competing for independent promotions such as Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina and JWP, eventually signing to Reina. After leaving the promotion in July 2016, she went on a short hiatus before returning to pro wrestling in November and debuting for World Wonder Ring Stardom in December 2016,[3][4] going on to become a regular in the promotion before signing full time in May 2018.

Career

Early career (2015–2016)
Konami in June 2015

Konami first developed an interest in pro wrestling through her brother, who was an avid fan himself and would regularly watch it on television.[1] Eventually, her and her brother attended a local show where she met Kana, and expressed interest in becoming a wrestler.[5] Kana told her to apply for training after she had at least graduated junior high school and gave her her contact details. While she attended high school, she trained under former MMA fighter Megumi Fujii at a local martial arts gym.[5][6] After graduating from high school in 2014, she moved to Tokyo and began training under Kana and Minoru Tanaka.[6] Konami debuted for Kanapromania in early 2015,[7][8][9] initially competing as a member of Kana's agency. After Kana announced she would be leaving for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in late 2015, Konami was forced to leave the agency and soon after signed with Reina Joshi Puroresu.[10][11] She also started competing for Pro Wrestling Wave and JWP, unsuccessfully challenging Rydeen Hagane for the JWP Junior Championship and the Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship on July 17, 2016.[12] In July, Konami announced her intention to resign from Reina, and on July 21, she co-promoted a final show with Reina, teaming with Yuko Miyamoto in a fluorescent light tubes deathmatch main event, losing to Jun Kasai and Kagetsu.[13][14] After quitting Reina, Konami made appearances for World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana and Wave, before announcing she would be taking an indefinite leave from pro wrestling after August 14 to treat and recover from internal diseases, but vowed to return.[15] In her farewell match, she teamed with her trainer Minoru Tanaka in a loss to Cat Power and Onryo.[16] While recovering from treatment, she announced she had signed with agency GPS, and would return at their produced show on November 5.[17] In her return match, she lost to Kairi Hojo.[4]

Debut and initial feuds (2016–2017)

Konami debuted for World Wonder Ring Stardom on December 22, 2016, defeating Hiromi Mimura, and confirmed she would be competing for the promotion regularly.[3][18] She was pushed as a strong contender despite being a newcomer, wrestling in competitive matches against established wrestlers like Toni Storm, Io Shirai and Yoko Bito. She began a feud with Kairi Hojo, and unsuccessfully challenged for the Wonder of Stardom Championship on March 26, 2017.[19] After losing to Hojo, the two formed an alliance, and teamed with Hiromi Mimura to win the Artist of Stardom Championship on May 6, 2017, giving Konami her first ever championship.[20] They lost the titles less than a month later to Queen's Quest.[21] Konami entered her first 5 Star Grand Prix in August but struggled greatly, losing all but one of her matches, defeating Mandy Leon on the final day.

Queen's Quest (2018–2019)

At the annual unit draft on April 15, 2018, Konami was picked by Io Shirai to be drafted into her Queen's Quest stable.[22][23] On May 20, she officially announced that she had joined the Stardom roster full time.[24] As a member of Queen's Quest, she received a shot at the Goddesses of Stardom Championship, teaming with Momo Watanabe in a loss to Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima.[25] She entered the 5 Star Grand Prix once again and to greater success, finishing with 6 points but failing to make the final.[26] On September 30th, she unsuccessfully challenged Nicole Savoy for the Shimmer Championship.[27] After 364 days in Queen's Quest, Konami was drafted to the Tokyo Cyber Squad on April 14, 2019.[28]

Tokyo Cyber Squad (2019–2020)

Konami joined the Tokyo Cyber Squad in April 2019, and took part in the 2019 Cinderella Tournament, making it to the final where she lost to Arisa Hoshiki.[29] On May 16, Konami, Hana Kimura and Jungle Kyona defeated Iwatani, Tam Nakano and Kashima to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.[30] Their reign lasted until June 23rd, losing them back to Iwatani, Nakano and Kashima.[31] On July 15, Konami teamed with Kyona to defeat Utami Hayashishita and Watanabe to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship.[32]

Oedo Tai (2020–present)

On the 28th of September in 2020, Jungle Kyona challenged Natsuko Tora to a no disqualifications match where the loser would have to disband their group.[33] Then, during that match on the 3rd of October, Konami betrayed Jungle Kyona allowing Oedo Tai to pick up the win. She then subsequently joined them, effectively turning heel.[34] On December 26, Konami alongside Bea Priestley defeated Hayashishita and Saya Kamitani to win the Goddesses of Stardom Championship.[35]

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "高校３年生・竹本小波が華名に弟子入り". RINGSTARS. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  2. reserved, Copyright (c) 2014株式会社スターダム, All rights. "小波". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  3. "Stardom Year-End Climax 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  4. "Wild Hero 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  5. "竹本勝治さん 孫が女子プレスラーに 3/8福山でデビュー戦". 経済リポート. 2015-02-10.
  6. "華名が２度目の高座挑戦＆小波がフジメグと練習開始". RINGSTARS. 2014-08-05. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  7. "Kana Produce Promania: Advance « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  8. "華名がREINA世界タッグ王座から陥落… 華名の一番弟子で18歳の小波がデビュー". スポーツナビ. 2015-02-25. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  9. "【結果】華名自主興行２・25". RINGSTARS. 2015-02-26. Retrieved 2015-02-27.
  10. "【結果】華名興行３・８福山". RINGSTARS. 2015-03-10. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  11. "華名が２試合出場、小波がREINA所属に／レイナ４・５新木場". RINGSTARS. 2015-03-31.
  12. "JWP Pre-Pure Slam 2016 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
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  14. 小波 (27 June 2016). "元・小波プロデュース興行メインイベント蛍光灯デスマッチ小波、宮本裕向vs葛西純、花月pic.twitter.com/pXicpbsPNI". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  15. "Twitter". mobile.twitter.com. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
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  18. Stardom, We Are (22 December 2016). "Konami told the audience that she wants to wrestle in Stardom regularly from now on". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  19. "Stardom Grows Up Stars 2017 - Tag 4 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  20. "Stardom Golden Week Stars 2017 - Tag 2 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
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  22. Stardom, We Are (15 April 2018). "Round 5 Pick 2 Io chooses Konami". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  23. Stardom, We Are (15 April 2018). "Queen's Quest is: Io Shirai AZM Momo Watanabe Viper Konami Bea Priestley". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  24. Stardom, We Are (19 May 2018). "Konami announced that she has officially joined the Stardom roster and is no longer freelance". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  25. "Stardom X Stardom 2018 In Osaka « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  26. "Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 - Tag 9 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  27. "Stardom 5STAR Grand Prix 2018 - Tag 10: Grand Champion Carnival (Afternoon Show) « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  28. Stardom, We Are (13 April 2019). "Round 2 Hana picks Konami". Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  29. "Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2019 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  30. "Stardom Gold May 2019 « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  31. "Stardom Saki Kashima's Homecoming « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  32. "Stardom World Big Summer in Nagoya « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  33. https://twitter.com/we_are_stardom/status/1310673477213417473
  34. https://twitter.com/we_are_stardom/status/1312423374744764422
  35. Richards, Alex (December 26, 2020). "#AndNEW: Bea Priestley & Konami Win Goddesses Of Stardom Titles". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
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  37. Wilkinson, Nick (November 21, 2020). "Nine Female Tag Teams land on PWI's Tag Team 50 list". Diva Dirt. Retrieved November 23, 2020.
  38. "New STARDOM Champions Crowned". Squared Circle Sirens. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  39. 2017年5月6日　GoldenWeek Stars2017. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). May 7, 2017. Archived from the original on September 10, 2017. Retrieved May 6, 2017.
  40. Richards, Alex. "#AndNEW: Tokyo Cyber Squad Win Goddesses Championships". Last Word On Pro Wrestling. Retrieved July 15, 2019.
  41. 2020年9月19日　5★STAR GP 2020～優勝決定戦～. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). September 19, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  42. 『スターダムアワード2020』の受賞者発表！. World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). January 31, 2021. Retrieved January 31, 2021.
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