Stardom hopes to continue to build off a successful 2025, and Stardom president Taro Okada laid out the promotion’s goals in a recent interview.
Okada, who also serves as a director for New Japan Pro-Wrestling, opened up to Japanese outlet Pro Wrestling Today about Stardom’s focus on partnerships overseas rather than on standalone international events due to cost.
“Regarding overseas expansion, considering the costs and risks of putting on events independently, our policy is to actively partner with local organizations,” Okada told Pro Wrestling Today via Google machine translation. “Sending wrestlers to CMLL increases their experience and spreads the name of Stardom throughout the world. Conversely, if unknown strong wrestlers come to Japan, it will be a great stimulus for Japanese fans. Streamlining each other’s businesses and strengthening cooperation is essential to prevent the industry as a whole from shrinking.”
Okada also spoke about the marketing strategy for non-wrestling fans. However, there is one goal he had in mind for Stardom.
“To put it simply, it’s about holding a Tokyo Dome event. That’s all there is to it,” Okada said.
In an interview with NJPW after winning MVP in the 2025 Tokoy Sports Awards, Saya Kamitani also mentioned wanting Stardom to run an event in the Tokyo Dome. Maki Itoh, who signed with Stardom in January, also mentioned a Tokyo Dome show as one of her Stardom goals.
“In the Japanese entertainment industry, the ‘Tokyo Dome’ brand is overwhelming,” Okada told Pro Wrestling Today. “Whether it’s an overseas artist coming to Japan or a comedian performing a live show, the fact that it was held at the Tokyo Dome is the greatest status symbol and the most easily understood persuasive power to the public. Making the Tokyo Dome a success — that would prove that we are the No. 1 in the Japanese wrestling world as a world-class entertainment business, and completely differentiate us from others. We want to achieve this straightforwardly, no matter what.”
