AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla’s latest actions on AEW Dynamite seem to have pushed STARDOM President Taro Okada over the edge.
On the June 3 episode of Dynamite, Thekla cut a fiery promo about her history with STARDOM while hyping up the upcoming Forbidden Door event. Joined by her Triangle of Madness teammates Julia Hart and Skye Blue, Thekla reflected on her time in STARDOM and reminded fans why she earned the nickname “The Idol Killer.”
Thekla also brought up her controversial exit from STARDOM in 2025 after attacking company president Taro Okada. She used that moment to highlight how far she has come since arriving in AEW.
The AEW Women’s World Champion then shifted her focus to Forbidden Door, where talents from AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and STARDOM are featured.
Instead of calling it a battle between promotions, Thekla declared “death to STARDOM.”
She then climbed a ladder set up near the entrance screen that had the Forbidden Door display. She then spat directly at the STARDOM logo shown on the giant screen and made an offensive gesture toward it.
The moment was so controversial that AEW’s commentary team even apologized on-air afterward.
STARDOM President Taro Okada fires back at Thekla
It didn’t take long for Taro Okada to respond.
Shortly after Dynamite ended, the STARDOM president reacted on X and made it clear he was not happy with Thekla’s actions.
“A vulgar, cowardly, and shameful act. Unforgivable,” Okada wrote.
Their rivalry dates back to Thekla’s final months in STARDOM, when she attacked Okada as part of a storyline that eventually led to her firing in 2025. The angle helped to build her rebellious image and has remained a part of her character ever since.
The tension resurfaced again during WrestleMania weekend earlier this year when Thekla confronted Okada while STARDOM was running events in the US.
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