Game Changer Wrestling returned with an intriguing card for the second Highest In the Room live event. One of the featured matchups had GCW World Champion Blake Christian defending his title against Starboy Charlie. 

The GCW World Champion came into the match motivated to defend his title for the 27th time. His last successful defense was against Little Guido at GCW What Is Your Choice on December 3. Christian has had an incredible run this year in the promotion, and it looks like he could end 2023 with it still around his waist. 

 “The Denim Dragon” tried his best to pull off the upset victory, including nearly winning with a Piledriver. However, Christian was able to bounce back in the match and land a Curb Stomp on Charlie for the win. 

Another match on the card featured All Elite Wrestling superstar Andrade El Idolo taking on Joey Janela in his GCW debut. El Idolo won the match with a Figure Four Leg Lock. 

GCW Highest In The Room 2 occurred at the Ukrainian Culture Center in Los Angeles, California. The event streams live on FITE TV with a subscription to FITE+ for $7.99. 

*SATURDAY*

Starboy Charlie challenges Blake Christian for the GCW Title at #GCWHighest in LA!

+
Andrade v Janela
Maki Death Kill v Johnny/Taya
VIF v Masha/Rina
Cardona/SDL/Jimmy v Macizos
Santana v South
Joe v Wreck
SGB v SPS

Tix:https://t.co/hdocSO4Fx0

Watch LIVE on @FiteTV pic.twitter.com/HfV2qQCpTq

— GameChangerWrestling (@GCWrestling_) December 8, 2023

GCW Highest In The Room 2 Match Card Results

1. Jordan Oliver def. Alec Price 
2.  Deathmatch Royalty (Matt Cardona & Steph De Lander) & Jimmy Lloyd def. Los Macizos (Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) & Lil Cholo-Six-Man Tag Team Match
3. Ninja Mack def. Cole Radrick vs. Bodhi Young Prodigy vs. Mr. Danger vs. 1 Called Manders vs. Dark Sheik vs. Oni El Bendito- 7-Person Scramble 
4. Santana Jackson def. George South 
5. (C) Violence Is Forever (Dominic Garrini & Kevin Ku) def. Masha Slamovich & Rina Yamashita to retain the GCW Tag Team Championship 
6. Big F’n Joe def. Sawyer Wreck 
7. The South Pacific Savages (Jacob Fatu & Juicy Finau) def. Effy & Mance Warner 
8. (C) Blake Christian def. Starboy Charlie to retain the GCW World Championship 
9. Johnny Game Changer (John Hennigan) & Taya Valkyrie def. Maki Death Kill (Maki Itoh & Nick Gage)-Mixed Tag Team Match
10. Andrade El Idolo def. Joey Janela

Game Changer Wrestling held its event, Ransom, on March 5 at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

The card featured a steel cage match between Allie Katch and Charles Manson. They have been in a feud for several months, and this match could be the final confrontation. GCW: Ransom also had the promotion’s debut of The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley), who challenged Los Macizos(Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) for the GCW Tag Team Championship.

The event went live on FITE for their subscription service, FITE+, for free. Fans wanting to watch the card must pay $7.99 to subscribe. Yesterday, GCW had their event GCW: Holy Smokes, which is available on video on demand for subscribers.

 Check back here to catch the live results updates.

GCW: Ransom Results

1. Alec Price def. Gabriel Skye, Yoya, Carlos Romo, Jimmy Lloyd & Gringo Loco in a 6-man Scramble
2. “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. Shane Mercer
3. The Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley) def. (C) Los Macizos(Ciclope & Miedo Extremo)
4. Masha Slamovich def. John Wayne Murdoch- Deathmatch
5. Rina Yamashita, Maki Itoh & Veny def. Sawyer Wreck, Billie Starks & Janai Kai
6. (C) Jordan Oliver def. Blake Christian via DQ- JCW Championship Match
7. (C) Joey Janela def. Brandon Kirk- GCW Extreme Championship
8. Second Gear Crew (Mance Warner & 1 Called Manders) vs. Young Dumb N Broke (Ellis Taylor & Charlie Tiger) vs. Bang Bros (August Mathews & Davey Bang) vs. Wasted Youths (Marcus Mathers & Dylin McKay) ended in a no contest
9. Allie Katch def. Charles Manson- Steel Cage Match

Game Changer Wrestling held its event Holy Smokes on March 4 at the Showboat Hotel in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

GCW: Holy Smokes featured Ultraviolent Champion Rina Yamashita defending her title against Kasey Kirk. Her last successful title defense was against Ciclope at GCW Fight Club on Sep. 10, 2022. Another match on the card had Hijo Del Vikingo take on Alex Zayne.

The event went live on FITE for their subscription service, FITE+, for free. Fans wanting to watch the card on Video on Demand must pay $7.99 to subscribe. The promotion will hold another live event on March 5 for FITE+ members.

GCW: Holy Smokes Results

1. Gringo Loco def. Carlos Romo, Jimmy Lloyd, Shane Mercer, Alec Price & Grim Reefer in a 6-Way Scramble Match
2. (C) Jordan Oliver def. Alex Coughlin- JCW Championship Match
3. Blake Christian def. Akira
4. (C) Joey Janela def. Veny- GCW Extreme Championship Match
5. Effy def. Slade
6. (C) Los Macizos(Ciclope & Miedo Extremo) def. SAT(Joel Maximo & Jose Maximo)- GCW Tag Team Championship Match
7. Hijo Del Vikingo def. Alex Zayne
8. (C) Rina Yamashita def. Kasey Kirk- GCW Ultraviolent Championship Match
9. Maki Itoh def. LuFisto
10. John Wayne Murdoch def. Drew Parker

A Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling star has captivated audiences all across the world for her unique blend of in-ring skills, charisma, and singing capabilities.

Former International Princess Champion Maki Itoh emerged as a standout talent within the Japanese wrestling scene. In early 2021, Itoh made her way over to the United States for a special venture. Although falling short in the AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator Tournament in February, Itoh garnered a great reception from fans. The next month, she made a surprise appearance as Britt Baker’s mystery partner in a successful tag team match at AEW Revolution, defeating Riho and Thunder Rosa.

Earlier this year, Itoh returned to All Elite Wrestling as the “Joker,” battling Baker in the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Though she mostly remains with TJPW now, Itoh has racked up a few independent appearances in the USA this year as well, including GCW and Prestige Wrestling. With Itoh’s subsequential rise in stock, many wondered if she’d received a formal contract offer from AEW, or their rival, WWE.

“No, nothing,” she told Steve Fall of WrestlingNewsCo, via her translator. “The reason she became this popular is thanks to AEW. Whatever happens, even if WWE gives her a cheeky offer from nowhere, she would not accept it and she would stay right beside AEW all the way.”

New Year Goals

With the new year quickly approaching as well, Maki Itoh explained her goals for the upcoming 2023 year.

“In Japan, she wants to get a title belt, obviously,” Itoh said via her translator. “She feels maybe a tag team title belt would be really nice, just about now. Where for America, she wants to go back to being on AEW television again. As you know, there is only so much time available on American TV and you can’t really leave much of an impact due to how much time you get to be on TV. She definitely wants to leave a big enough impact to where everyone will remember the name of Maki Itoh.”

Most recently, Itoh returned to the USA for a few independent wrestling dates, including a bout with IMPACT Wrestling star Masha Slamovich at Game Changer Wrestling. In addition, Itoh returned to AEW, partnering with Emi Sakura to take on Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir on Dark: Elevation, airing on November 28.

Wherever Maki Itoh eventually ends up, she’ll be sure to make her mark.

h/t to Fightful for the transcription

Maki Itoh has made her return to an AEW ring.

Britt Baker was set for action in a quarterfinal match in the Owen Hart Cup. Going into the May 18 episode of AEW Dynamite, Baker’s opponent was a mystery. She was to go one-on-one with the “Joker” entry.

That mystery opponent was Maki Itoh.

Itoh fell short in her efforts against Baker, tapping out to Lockjaw. After the match, Toni Storm made her way out. Storm will meet Baker in the semifinals.

Peep Itoh’s surprise return below:

Maki Itoh is teasing that her next match will take place in the United States.

The self-proclaimed Cutest Wrestler in the World is the reigning International Princess Champion for Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. She tweeted on Sunday that she’s returning to the US soon.

Itoh wrestled a handful of matches for All Elite Wrestling in 2021. At AEW Revolution 2021, Maki Itoh teamed with Dr. Britt Baker against the team Thunder Rosa and Riho.

This Wednesday on AEW Dynamite, Britt Baker will battle a mystery opponent in the quarterfinals of the Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament.

The timing of Maki Itoh’s announcement about returning to the US has some fans speculating that she will be revealed as Baker’s opponent at ‘Wild Card Wednesday.’

Back in January, Maki Itoh vowed to return to AEW. After winning the International Princess Championship, she said, “With this belt, Ito will definitely go to AEW! And I’ll fight Thunder Rosa one more time. And Ito will definitely win!”

She added, “There are many, many more attractive people in the world. So Ito wants to beat them one by one with this belt.”

Thunder Rosa, who currently holds the AEW Women’s World Championship, welcomed another opportunity to share the ring with Maki Itoh.

Japanese wrestling star Maki Itoh is determined to wrestle in the United States again. She’s plotting a return to All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and wants to pin Thunder Rosa’s shoulders to the mat.

Itoh currently wrestles for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. She is their reigning International Princess Champion. TJPW has released a video of Itoh stating her intentions.

The following is translated from Japanese:

“With this belt, Ito will definitely go to AEW! And I’ll fight Thunder Rosa one more time. And Ito will definitely win!”

Itoh added, “There are many, many more attractive people in the world. So Ito wants to beat them one by one with this belt.”

Update: Thunder Rosa has replied to Maki Itoh’s comments. She wrote:

“I was actually thinking the opposite. FOR THE RECORD, I BEAT YOU FOR THAT CHAMPIONSHIP BEFORE and I will again! you must be out of your freaking mind if you think you can defeat me. Bitch is open season! Ass whippings are giving for free at @AEW get in line…”

Maki Itoh and Thunder Rosa

Maki Itoh wrestled for AEW a few times in 2021. She participated in the AEW Women’s World Title Eliminator tournament, but lost to Ryo Mizunami in the first round.

She shared a ring with Thunder Rosa at AEW Revlution in March 2021 during the Buy In kickoff show. Itoh and Britt Baker scored a victory over Thunder Rosa and Riho after interference by Rebel.

Itoh wrestled one more time for AEW, losing to Riho in the main event of the premiere episode of AEW Dark: Elevation.

Maki Itoh’s Popularity

Maki Itoh is very popular. Last summer, one of her t-shirts was the top selling piece of merchandise on Pro Wrestling Tees.

She posted a video back in July stating that she’s received offers from both AEW and WWE. However, she’s yet to sign with either organization.

Wrestling is a money-making business. Look back at the biggest stars of the industry. Bret Hart, The Rock, Stone Cold, Hulk Hogan. They were big draw names that put bums in seats and shirts over shoulders. The ability to generate revenue makes a wrestler invaluable to an organization. However, for Japanese star Maki Itoh.

Itoh made several appearances for AEW earlier this year catching the attention of many in the process. Her quirky style and unique approach to wrestling made her a real character to watch both in the ring, and out.

This international appeal helped boost her popularity, with Itoh herself confirming that for a period of time, last week, she was the top seller on Pro Wrestling Tees.

However, despite this, and reported interest from both AEW and WWE for her services, no contract offers have been forthcoming.

Currently, Itoh is wrestling in her native Japan for TJPW where she is trying to capture their Princess of Princess title. She was last seen wrestling in America for AEW in March. Shortly after her time in AEW expired, Maji Itoh made it very clear that she wanted to return to American again.

During her time in AEW, and despite her rising popularity, she played the clownish heel role to great effect. There is nobody quite like her in the AEW women’s division, and should she get a contract with them, it’s a valid role for her to fill.

Kenny Omega, one of the AEW EVPs has long since made it clear that he wants to put a focus on the Joshi wrestlers, and has stayed true to his word. Many AEW fans will be hoping he manages to get Maki Itoh back in an AEW ring soon.

On the Buy-In show for last night’s AEW Revolution, Maki Itoh was Britt Baker’s surprise tag-team partner. The Joshi-star has become quite popular with AEW fans following her performance in the Women’s title-eliminator tournament. According to Wrestling Observer Radio, AEW was unable to advertise Itoh on the PPV ahead of time as it wasn’t clear if she was going to be able to make it to the show.

“So the story on Maki Itoh is basically she wasn’t advertised because she had to fly in from Tokyo, she was wrestling the day before,” said Dave Meltzer. “It was touch and go if she could get in. She was always the plan but the problem was that one slight flight issue and she doesn’t make it.”

Meltzer added, “She got a giant pop and she’s got super charisma. She’s not really a very good wrestler but I think she was hitting pretty well and she was certainly more than adequate in this match,” he continued.

Itoh and Baker defeated Thunder Rosa and Riho last night. Baker pinned Rosa after Rebel hit her with a crutch. This week on Dynamite, Baker, Itoh & Rebel are scheduled to face Riho, Rosa, and Ryo Mizunami.