Joshi star Maki Itoh announced on Tuesday that her contract with Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling has expired, making her a free agent.
The 30-year-old’s deal concluded with the promotion’s show at Korakuen Hall on August 23, 2025.
Itoh confirmed her departure in a social media post, thanking the company and its president, Sanshiro Takagi.
With the Korakuen Hall show on August 23, 2025, my contract with TJPW has come to an end. Back when I was struggling as an idol, it was Takagi who discovered me. I wasn’t good at singing or dancing, and I was never that popular-but the one thing I was ever praised for was pro wrestling.
Thanks to TJPW, I was able to spend 8 years and 7 months growing and living alongside this company. It’s all because of TJPW and everyone I’ve met along the way.
I’ll continue wrestling, so I’m sure we’ll meet again somewhere down the road! I’ll never forget the gratitude I feel toward everyone who has supported me, and I’ll keep treasuring the experience and knowledge I gained here as I move forward. From the bottom of my heart, thank you fuck you all!
Itoh’s persona as the “Fired Idol” is based on her real-life dismissal from the Japanese idol group LinQ. The character blends the visual style of an idol with a brash, foul-mouthed personality and a resilient in-ring brawler.
She became one of TJPW’s most popular stars during her eight-year tenure. She is a two-time former International Princess Champion and the winner of the 2021 Tokyo Princess Cup tournament.
American audiences may be most familiar with Itoh from her appearances in All Elite Wrestling. After debuting in the 2021 AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament, she made a surprise appearance at the Revolution pay-per-view that March. Itoh made sporadic appearances for the company until 2022.
In recent years, she has also become a popular attraction on the U.S. independent scene, particularly for Game Changer Wrestling, where she had a 316-day reign as Extreme Champion.
Itoh stated her intention to continue wrestling, but it is not known what her next move will be.
