Farewell from the Ring: Stardom Champion Giulia Sends Off Retiring Himeka with Hardcore Match
Giulia could not convince her to stay. "I understand that it's her life, and she decided to live for herself."
Written by: Jessi B
In the world of Stardom, a surprise announcement has sent shockwaves through the pro wrestling scene. Himeka, the 25-year-old member of Donna del Mondo (DDM), has declared her intention to retire from active competition. The news came as a blow to fans of the powerful wrestler, who will participate in her final match on April 23 at Yokohama Arena before retiring at a ceremony on May 14 at Tokyo Korakuen Hall.
Giulia, the current World Champion of Stardom, shared her thoughts on the matter, noting that it was her first time being called out by Himeka and fellow DDM member Maika. "I was a little nervous, wondering if they were going to lecture me, but it turned out to be a retirement announcement," she said.
While many reasons were given for Himeka's retirement, Giulia could not convince her to stay. "I understand that it's her life, and she decided to live for herself," Giulia remarked. The two wrestlers debuted in the same year, 2017, and often faced each other during their time at Ice Ribbon.
However, Giulia and Himeka became close while training together at Giulia's home gym, often shedding tears together and pushing each other to become better athletes. In their first encounter after Himeka joined Stardom, Guilia handed her the first defeat, but Himeka bounced back, defeating Giulia in the Wonder of Stardom title match in October 2020. Their record against each other stands at one win and one loss.
Despite the impending retirement, Giulia expressed her eagerness to continue collaborating with Himeka in some capacity. "I want to respect Himeka's feelings and be involved with her in some way," she said.
The two wrestlers will join forces with fellow DDM member Maika on February 26 at the Kobe International Exhibition Hall event, facing off against the Hardcore Match with Risa Sera, Suzu, and Kurumi of "Prominence." Giulia revealed that the trio had been consulting with each other about what kind of weapon to use and that it was a really enjoyable time.
As Himeka embarks on her retirement road, Giulia vowed to support her comrade, hoping that she can spend the rest of her pro wrestling life feeling that she made the right decision to become a wrestler, join Stardom, and join DDM. It's the end of an era for Himeka, but her legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of her fellow wrestlers and fans alike.