Queen's Quest

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Queen's Quest
Stable
MembersMomo Watanabe
AZM
Utami Hayashishita
Saya Kamitani
Hina
Former
member(s)		See below
DebutNovember 11, 2016[1]
Years active2016–present

Queen's Quest (クイーンズクエスト, Kuīnzukuesuto) is a professional wrestling stable, currently performing in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion, World Wonder Ring Stardom.[2] The stable currently consists of Momo Watanabe, AZM, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani and Hina.[3]

History[]

Formation and Io Shirai's leadership (2016-2018)[]

Former and first leader Io Shirai shown here with the World of Stardom Championship

At the final of the 2016 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tournament which took place on November 11, Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani lost the decisive match to Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito, which led to Shirai's frustration towards Iwatani, attacking her with the help of a returning Reo Hazuki (who went by HZK thereafter).[4] Following Shirai's loss back from November 11 HZK started a feud for the Wonder of Stardom Championship against Kairi Hojo which culminated on December 9, 2016 on the fifth night of the Stardom Goddesses Of Stars event.[5] Momo Watanabe joined the duo of Io Shirai and HZK nine days later together with the trio assuming the name Queen's Quest on November 27.[6] On December 22, at Stardom Year-End Climax 2016, she and HZK unsuccessfully challenged the guest team of Twisted Sisters (Holidead and Thunder Rosa) for the Vendetta Pro Tag Team Championship.[7]

Watanabe, HZK and Shirai won their first titles, the Artist of Stardom Championship on the second night of Stardom New Years Stars 2017 from January 7 by defeating Oedo Tai's Kagetsu, Viper and Kyoko Kimura who replaced Hana Kimura in the title defense.[8] AZM joined the stable on February 11, 2017, and after seven days she teamed up with Momo Watanabe and HZK to win the vacant Artist of Stardom Championship on the second night of the Stardom Grows Up Stars event by defeating Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu and Rosa Negra) in the finals of a four-team tournament.[9] Another combination of members under which the stable operated was portraited by HZK, Io Shirai and Piper Niven who teamed up at the Stardom Midsummer Champions event from August 13, 2017, defeating Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto, Jungle Kyona and Kaori Yoneyama) for the Artist of Stardom Championship.[10] At the 2017 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom League which took place between October 4 and November 5, HZK and Io Shirai represented the stable, placing themselves in the A Block and scoring a total of five points after going against the teams of Jungle Kyona and Yoko Bito, Chardonnay and Scarlett, Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura and Kagetsu) and AZM who teamed up with Starlight Kid with the latter not being recognized as part of the faction.[11]

At the Stardom New Years Stars 2018 event, the stable members competed against various notable guests. On the third night from January 6, 2018, HZK and Momo Watanabe teamed up to defeat freelancers Kay Lee Ray and Xia Brookside.[12] One night later at the same event, AZM, HZK and Io Shirai fell short to Miranda, Nicole Savoy and Rachael Ellering in a six-man tag team match.[13] On Stardom Gold Star event from May 23, 2018, Momo Watanabe defeated Io Shirai for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, culminating a friendly feud.[14] On June 17, 2018, it was revealed that Shirai would leave Queen's Quest and subsequently the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion to pursue a career in WWE.[15]

In April, Io Shirai who was still part of the stable, travelled alongside Kairi Hojo and Mayu Iwatani to represent Stardom in the American independent scene, taking part in several events promoted by Lucha Underground and a match at the Cauliflower Alley Club.[16][17]

Momo Watanabe's leadership (2018-present)[]

After her departure from Stardom, Shirai passed the leadership to Momo Watanabe.[18] At Stardom Best Of Goddesses on November 23, 2018, Momo Watanabe teamed up with the rookie Utami Hayashishita to defeat JAN (Jungle Kyona and Natsuko Tora) for the Goddess of Stardom Championship, victory after which the latter would join the stable.[19] At the 2020 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, Utami Hayashishita and Saya Kamitani participated under the sub-group of AphrOditE and AZM teaming up with Momo Watanabe as MOMOAZ.[20] The latter team won the finals of the tournament on November 8, 2020 after defeating Donna Del Mondo's Giulia and Maika who went under the name of Grab The Top.[21]

On January 19, 2020, at the Stardom 9th Anniversary, Bea Priestley teamed up with Oedo Tai's Jamie Hayter to defeat Tokyo Cyber Squad's Jungle Kyona and Konami for the Goddess of Stardom Championship, marking the first time when two cross-faction members held titles together. Priestley later turned heel on the stable on the same night, joining Oedo Tai.[22] However it was not the first time when one of the stable members teamed up with components of other factions. Momo Watanabe would oftenly wrestle alongside Jungle Kyona under the name of JGKReeeeN beginning with the start of 2016, and briefly continuing their partnership even after Watanabe joined Queen's Quest. Their last match as a team took place at Stardom 9th Anniversary In Osaka on March 28, 2020, where they defeated Kagetsu and Mayu Iwatani.[23] On September 28, 2020 at Stardom 5Star Special, AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita unsuccessfully competed against returning guest performers Rin Kadokura, Takumi Iroha and Mei Hoshizuki in a six-man tag team match.[24]

Utami Hayashishita defeated Mayu Iwatani for the World of Stardom Championship at Sendai Cinderella on November 15, 2020, therefore she subsequently became the new topstar and main focus of the stable,[25] while Momo Watanabe remained the official leader.[a] She was acknowledged as the leader of Queen's Quest by Hayashishita after their title match on December 20, 2020.[30]

At the 10th Anniversary of Stardom from March 3, 2021, AZM dropped the High Speed Championship to Natsupoi, Momo Watanabe unsuccessfully challenged Nanae Takahashi, and Utami Hayashishita defeated Saya Kamitani for the World of Stardom Championship in an inter-stable clash.[31] At Stardom Yokohama Dream Cinderella from April 4, 2021, Hina defeated AZM and Lady C in a three-way match, Momo Watanabe picked up a victory over Mina Shirakawa, Saya Kamitani over Unagi Sayaka, and Utami Hayashishita once again defended the World of Stardom Championship successfully against former stable member Bea Priestley, match which was the last for the latter in the promotion.[32] On the first night of the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2021 which took place on April 10, Hina defeated Lady C in a singles match, AZM fell short to Rina and Momo Watanabe to Starlight Kid Cinderella Tournament First-round match, while Utami Hayashishita scored a victory over Mina Shirakawa and Saya Kamitani over Tam Nakano in the same tournament stages.[33] On the second night from May 14, Momo Watanabe, AZM and Hina teamed up and unsuccessfully challenged Oedo Tai (Natsuko Tora, Konami and Gokigen Death) in a Six-woman tag team match, Saya Kamitani defeated Starlight Kid in a second-round match, while Utami Hayashishita fell short to Syuri.[34] On the third night Utami Hayashishita successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship against Syuri due to going against her in two matches, one of them ending up in a thirty-minute time limit draw which restarted. The second match ended with both Hayashishita and Syuri falling to a ten-count. Saya Kamitani won the 2021 Cinderella Tournament by defeating Himeka in the semi-finals and Maika in the final match. She issued a challenge to Tam Nakano for the Wonder of Stardom Championship as her granted whish for winning the competition. At Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 in Summer on July 4, Momo Watanabe and AZM defeated Starlight Kid and Ruaka, and Utami Hayashishita successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship by doctor stoppage after Natsuko Tora sustained a knee injury during the match.[35] For the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2021, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM and Momo Watanabe were listed as participants of the tournament.[36]

Independent circuit (2017-present)[]

Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani after their victory at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome

Over time, various members of the stable worked beyond Stardon for other promotions. On September 4, 2017 at K-DOJO Taka Michinoku 25th Anniversary, an event promoted by Kaientai Dojo, HZK teamed up with Io Shirai to defeat Bambi and Erina.[37] At Tokyo Gurentai Lucha Libre Fiesta, an event prouduced by Stardom in partnership with Tokyo Gurentai, AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita represented Queen's Ques in a four-way tag team elimination match also involving STARS (Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid and Tam Nakano), Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Hazuki and Kagetsu) and JAN (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Saya Iida).[38] At Assemble Vol. 2, an event produced by Women's Pro-Wrestling Assemble in partnership with Stardon on November 10, 2020, AZM teamed up with Saya Kamitani to defeat STARS (Starlight Kid and Saya Iida).[39]

New Japan Pro Wrestling (2021)[]

On January 5, 2021, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15, the biggest annual event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, AZM, Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita competed in an exhibition match against Donna Del Mondo's Himkea, Maika and Natsupoi, which they won.[40] On the first night of the Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome from September 4, Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani teamed up to defeat with Lady C Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani. Giulia and Syuri were also announced to compete on the second night against Watanabe and Kamitani.[41]

Members[]

As of September 21, 2021.

Utami Hayashishita
Momo Watanabe
AZM
Saya Kamitani
* Founding member
I–II Leader

Current[]

Member[42] Joined Ref.
Momo Watanabe *II November 20, 2016 [1]
AZM February 11, 2017
Utami Hayashishita November 23, 2018
Hina April 14, 2019
Saya Kamitani February 16, 2020

Former[]

Member Joined Left Ref.
HZK * November 11, 2016 April 15, 2018 [1]
Io Shirai *I November 11, 2016 June 17, 2018
Viper July 30, 2017 June 30, 2019
Chardonnay April 15, 2018 June 30, 2019
Bea Priestley April 15, 2018 January 19, 2020
Konami April 15, 2018 April 14, 2019
Leo Onozaki April 14, 2019 February 16, 2020

Sub-groups[]

Current[]

Affiliate Members Tenure Type
MOMOAZ AZM
Momo Watanabe 		2017–present Tag team
AphrOditE Utami Hayashishita
Saya Kamitani 		2020–present Tag team

Former[]

Affiliate Members Tenure Type
Bea Priestley and Jamie Hayter Bea Priestley
Jamie Hayter 		2020[b] Tag team
JKGReeeeN Momo Watanabe
Jungle Kyona 		2018-2020[c] Tag team
Queen's Quest UK[45] Bea PriestleyViper
Chardonnay 		2018-2020[d] Sub-unit

Timeline[]

As of September 21, 2021.

Championships and accomplishments[]

Luchas de Apuestas record[]

See also: Luchas de Apuestas
Winner (wager) Loser (wager) Location Event Date Notes
Queen's Quest
(AZM, Konami and Momo Watanabe) (mask)[f]		 Oedo Tai
(HZK, Kagetsu and Natsu Sumire) (dance)		 Yokohama, Japan Stardom Glory Stars 2019
(Night 1)		 April 13, 2019 [64]

Notes[]

  1. ^ As reflected in her official profile on the Stardom website,[26] their Roster page [27] as well as being billed as [28] and referencing herself[29] as such after that point
  2. ^ This team was active only on January 19, 2020 when Priestley and Hayter won the Goddess of Stardom Championship.
  3. ^ Kyona and Watanabe formed the team in January 2016, upon joining Momo Watanabe had to renounce all previous alliances she had.[43] However after Watanabe became the leader of the stable she teamed with her former partner again on special occasions, such as the retirement of Kagetsu.[44] Kyona was not part of the stable.
  4. ^ The trio of Priestley, Viper & Chardonnay while working in the UK built their own sub-unit of Queen's Quest known as Queen's Quest UK. The subunit quietly disbanded in 2020/21 with Priestley leaving Queen's Quest and all three eventually leaving for Stardom for other promotions.
  5. ^ Hayter was not part of Queen's Quest by the time she won the titles with Priestley.
  6. ^ Even if partially going under masks, if AZM, Watanabe and Konami lost the match they must have given them up completely.

See also[]

References[]

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External links[]

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