They were never originally meant for each other.
When Giulia stormed onto the STARDOM scene in late 2019, she did so in search of a rival. Someone she could truly demonstrate herself against. A force of nature like herself that would bring the best and the worst out of Giulia in her pursuit of greatness.
During this time, Tam Nakano’s heart was already taken. By a vibrant woman who had driven her utterly mad, but who she couldn’t deny was someone special. Their love/hate relationship had formed under duress, but by the end of 2019 they had become the best of friends. While Tam still saw her as a mountain she would one day have to climb, she was happy for the first time in a long time.
Giulia and Tam’s trajectories were never fated to cross. Tam Nakano’s destiny lay with Arisa Hoshiki, the electric kickboxer who’s dominant Wonder of Stardom Title reign was Tam’s ultimate goal. Meanwhile, Giulia found her kindred spirit in the one-of-a-kind Hana Kimura, a magnetic personality who represented what Giulia wished to become. To find herself, she had to go through the image of what she wished to become.
Their journeys both collapsed in a single week. In late May 2020 while STARDOM was on hiatus due to the COVID pandemic, Arisa Hoshiki was forced to relinquish her championship and retire due to her increasingly poor physical and mental health. Days later, Hana Kimura lost her life after she committed suicide.
Just like that, both of their destined rivals were gone. All that remained was the vacated Wonder of Stardom Championship. A title Giulia felt she was owed after winning the Cinderella Tournament and earning the right to challenge, and a title Tam felt was rightfully hers as it was written in the stars that she would be the one to beat Arisa for the title.
The next champion would be decided on July 26 in their first ever one on one encounter. It was a brutal affair, painting a picture for the kind of rivalry that was to come for the next few years. Eventually the match reached its end when, trapped in the Stealth Viper, Tam chose to pass out and force a ref stoppage rather than willingly tap out.
Tam had failed to follow in the footsteps of her rival, but a funny thing happened. As she gazed upon this invader who had stolen her destiny and championship, a wry smile broke out on her face. Because while she had lost the match, Tam knew she had found her new eternal rival.
If she couldn’t have Arisa, then she would have Giulia.
Giulia too came to understand Tam a little better through the course of their match. It wouldn’t lead to friendship, if anything through that understanding came a realisation that they could never truly stand as anything but rivals. They were incompatible by their very nature.
“She and I have opposite personalities to the point where our emotions run high just by looking at each other. Everything she does is the opposite of me. The way she produces herself, her stance in practice, the way she treats the members as a unit leader, the way she trains the younger members, everything really.
But because we were complete opposites, we were able to express our dislike of each other without hiding anything, and it was easy for those around us to recognize that we were rivals, which I think was the reason why my rivalry with her was such a big hit in Stardom.”
Interview with Scott Edwards (Fightful)
The two would fight twice more before the end of 2020, once in the 5 Star Grand Prix where Tam Nakano would gain some measure of revenge, and then again at the Stardom Yokohama Cinderella show as the first challenger for Giulia’s White Belt.
The Twilight Princess might have won the first rematch, but when it mattered she once again fell short. Arisa Hoshiki’s White Belt still remained out of reach, around the waist of the person she had come to despise more than anyone else.
Giulia knew that for as long as she kept this title from Tam, then she would keep coming for her. So she made it simple. Before she could challenge again, Tam would have to ‘crawl through hell’ to prove she was ready to once more challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Title.
Instead of looking towards hell, Tam instead seemed focused above on the cosmos. After several years working with Mayu Iwatani as a member of STARS, Nakano would eventually leave along with a couple of new recruits that were collectively known as the Cosmic Angels. It was a messy departure, but the trio enjoyed early success together.
When Tam once more stepped up to Giulia on February 7th, 2021 asking for another chance to fight her one on one, the champion spoke with a certain disappointed disdain. What had Tam Nakano sacrificed to prove she was ready to challenge once more? Giulia made it simple. She had to do more than just ask for a match, she had to bet big on herself by putting her very nature on the line. Giulia ran her fingers through Tam’s hair and told her to put that on the line. Win and she gets all she’s dreamed of. Lose, and Tam loses her precious image.
There was no hesitancy or second guessing in Tam’s response.
“I’d bet anything to get at you, whether it’s my bones, my teeth or my hair. I don’t care if I’m bald and the ugliest in the universe. To get at you, I’ll do anything.”
Tam Nakano to Giulia, February 7th, 2021
The hair vs hair match was a controversial choice amongst the domestic fans, but Giulia remained steadfast in her demand, and to Tam’s credit she never once wavered from her willingness to risk her idol image. She had to face Giulia again, no matter the cost.
The two walked into the Nippon Budokan as the main event of All Star Dream Cinderella, going on even over the World of Stardom Championship match. The following war would go down as one of the most intense in the company’s history. On a show celebrating the company’s 10th anniversary, Tam and Giulia wanted to show the world what women’s wrestling could be. As Giulia piledrove Tam through a table, Akira Hokuto proclaimed her the new ‘Dangerous Queen’.
When the war came to a close, it was Tam Nakano who finally stood tall, putting Giulia away with the brutal combination of a Violet Screwdriver and a Twilight Dream Suplex. Nearly a year since Arisa had to vacate her title, the belt was around the waist of its rightful successor. When she lost her tag partner, Tam had seriously considered retirement. Giulia provided that drive and motivation to stay and keep fighting. Now it had paid off for Tam.
In an interview with Mugiko Ozaki, Tam explains part of why they seem so drawn to each other. Much like what Giulia identifies, it’s the one similarity in a sea of differences that seems to tie them together. For as different as they are, the one area they are alike in keeps them from walking away.
“She’s not physically the strongest, and she’s not great at jumping or high-flying. She’s just really strong-willed and passionate. We have that in common, we’re opposites in everything else, but I don’t think there’s anyone else who I can completely lose myself against and beat the hell out of like her.”
English Translation by Dana
All Star Dream Cinderella should have been when the spotlight shone brightest on Tam Nakano, yet even then she couldn’t escape the shadow of her rival. The White Belt she coveted above else was around her waist, but all eyes were on Giulia as her head was shaved. It’s something that ate at her long after the moment.
A lot changed in the two years between All Star Dream Cinderella and what would be their next title match two years later. That frustration Tam spoke of was kept mostly internal as she focused on doing Arisa and herself proud with a meaningful White Belt reign. The Cosmic Angels continued to grow under her mentorship, and the Twilight Princess asserted herself as one of the most popular wrestlers in all of Japan.
Giulia meanwhile, saw the loss of both her hair and her title as a chance to reset. She didn’t shy away from the spotlight, a month later Giulia once again found herself in the main event of a PPV, this time winning the Goddess of Stardom Titles alongside Syuri. But after storming onto the STARDOM scene she was now more willing to work from the sidelines, growing both Donna Del Mondo and her own skills. To become the strongest version of herself.
It had seemed as though the fierce rivalry had cooled off, but there was only so long the two could go without interfering in each other’s business.
The catalyst at the start of 2022 was an unexpected figure: Mai Sakurai. One of the more recent additions to both STARDOM and the Cosmic Angels, Mai hadn’t really found her footing in the group. It had been a rough few months, but Giulia saw potential in her, and was in the mood to further expand Donna Del Mondo after adding MIRAI and Thekla to the team.
It was an attractive offer. Mai Sakurai had recently left her agency in order to focus on wrestling, and Donna Del Mondo was far less interested in dance routines and idol aesthetics. Mai had also idolised Giulia since facing her months earlier, though she dared not say it to Tam.
Once more Giulia had struck deep in the heart of Tam. This time though it wasn’t about a title, it was an attack on her as a leader. It was the first time someone had left the Cosmic Angels, and it broke Tam’s heart. Especially to see them leaving her for Giulia of all people.
It would be months before Tam would get her revenge, but her patience was rewarded. Mai Sakurai was a jab at Tam’s ability to develop learning talent. However Natsupoi’s defection to the Cosmic Angels was a long term friend who chose to join their most hated rivals.
After a short period of calm, Tam and Giulia were right back to detesting each other. Donna Del Mondo and the Cosmic Angels were at war, and their leaders both coveted a way to prove themselves superior. Their eyes had both grown for a bigger prize: The elusive World of Stardom Championship. Both wrestlers had fought through the gruelling 5 Star Grand Prix and made it to the finals. It felt fitting that to win their first Grand Prix it would have to be against the other.
In the end it would be Giulia who one more got the better of her rival. Her first major singles accomplishment since holding the Wonder of Stardom Belt over a year and a half ago. After her campaign had been derailed due to injury a year prior, redemption had been found.
For Tam, it was just a further reminder that no matter what she did, she never felt like she was truly better than Giulia.
“Once again, I thought I was getting closer to my dream, and it got much further away, I lost to Giulia again, I’m always, ever since I became the white belt champion too I’m always being compared to her, even in the hair match she was the one who got all the attention… Again today, just a little more…When will I beat her? If you’re not number 1 it’s pointless.”
Tam Nakano, 5 Star GP Post match comments (Translated by Dana)
While the rivalry was still heated, Giulia had moved on from Dream Cinderella. Tam Nakano, despite winning the match and the title never had. Giulia stole her moment in 2021 when she won the vacant title. Giulia had stolen her moment of glory at All Star Dream Cinderella even in defeat. And yet again Tam’s dream had been stolen from her by Giulia.
Giulia would ride the momentum of the 5 Star Grand Prix, putting forth a career performance to finally defeat Syuri and claim the World of Stardom Championship, closing out 2022 at the top of the company. It was something she had never managed to do, and finally getting past her friend was an important step forward.
Indeed her reign would be all about facing her past. Former friend Suzu Suzuki was first to step up to her, still looking for a measure of revenge after she was abandoned when Giulia left Ice Ribbon for STARDOM. Then was Maya Yukihi; their bitterness for one another was out in the open during their fight that barely even touched the ring.
Finally, who else but Tam Nakano?
“Weren’t you the one who said that Giulia needs Tam Nakano? I need you too. STARDOM’s biggest show ever, Yokohama Arena! Giulia’s opponent…can only be Tam Nakano. […] I want that Red Belt you have! I don’t care what it takes! I’ll put up my hair, my property, my name, anything! I don’t care if the stipulation is I have to become your slave!”
Tam Nakano to Giulia, March 4th 2023
A lot of Tam’s true feelings can be understood through this one speech. She speaks with more desperation here than she did when coming to Giulia two years prior looking for a title shot. Yet when she first speaks, there’s a softness to her as she acknowledges the reality: that for all of their hatred, a measure of respect and understanding had grown over the years. They truly need each other.
Giulia doesn’t ask for a stipulation this time, in fact she almost mocks the idea of it. By this point in time all that is needed is Tam Nakano on one side of the ring and Giulia on the other. It might have been at the biggest show in STARDOM’s history, but they would have been content to fight it out in the dojo with nobody watching.
The build up was as violent as ever between them; Tam tried to cut Giulia’s hair off in the ring, and in revenge the champion left the challenger bloodied at the press conference. Even if the respect had grown between them, part of that respect came in knowing that the other would do absolutely anything if it meant surpassing the other.
It was evident on April 23 inside the Yokohama Arena too. In front of the largest crowd the promotion had ever drew, Tam Nakano and Giulia went out there to settle the score once and for all between them. Giulia to continue her mission of cleansing her past with this championship reign, Tam so that she could finally feel like she was out of Giulia’s shadow.
Just as it was two years ago Tam Nakano was able to stand tall, and this time the shadow of her rival was finally lifted from her. She was finally the center stage and the main character of STARDOM. You could see that relief wash over her.
As fate would have it they would find themselves in the ring facing off one more time a year later. The Spring season always seemed conducive to their battles. This time however there was a very different feeling to it. They came out and fight tooth and nail as they always did, with their war as messy and violent as it always was. However this wasn’t two rivals desperate to prove themselves superior – it was two lost souls refusing to say goodbye.
Earlier in the year it was announced that Giulia announced would be leaving STARDOM. Fate was taking her on a different path. In a rare public show of respect, Tam Nakano even saved Giulia as Oedo Tai looked to beat her down. Seeing the two walk out of Korakuen Hall in each others arms was a dissonant sight, it didn’t make sense. However it highlighted how far both of them had come.
Likewise their final confrontation didn’t lack for the violence of its predecessors. What was different about it though was that neither one of them wanted to win. Giulia hit her Northern Lights Bomb, but interrupted a winning count. Tam Nakano put forth a devastating combo that had defeated Giulia before, but she too stopped the count before it hit three.
Because as gratifying as that win would have been, it would also mean that the match would stop. And so too their rivalry. So rather than enjoy the spoils of victory, they both willingly went the full fifteen minutes so that they got to cherish every second of their final war. Even as the bell rang they refused to stop. Neither wanted this rivalry to end.
At the conclusion of the match there was one final plea from Tam. Don’t go. Because as she had said a year ago. Tam Nakano needs Giulia. Just like Giulia needs Tam.
For over four years the two have been nearly inseparable. Even when their paths led in different directions, they would always wind back in time. Through constantly chasing Giulia, Tam Nakano blossomed into one of the biggest stars in Japan. She became just the second person to ever hold both top titles in STARDOM at the same time. She released a CD! Does she get there without constantly feeling the need to escape Giulia’s shadow? Does Giulia truly find herself as a performer without constantly trying to stay one step ahead of Tam? Someone who was so different than her except for one thing: determination to be the best.
There is another universe where Tam Nakano and Giulia become little more than occasional adversaries while they focus on their true rivals.
They were never meant to hate and respect each other like this. Giulia and Tam both had other plans and other rivals on their mind. Yet destiny led these two lost souls to one another. Now? It seems impossible to imagine one without the other.
RESURA 