Queen's Quest

At the final of the 2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League which took place on November 11, Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani lost the decisive match to Kairi Hojo and Yoko Bito, which led to Shirai's frustration towards Iwatani, attacking her with the help of a returning Reo Hazuki (who went by HZK thereafter).[3] Following Shirai's loss back from November 11 HZK started a feud for the Wonder of Stardom Championship against Kairi Hojo which culminated on December 9, 2016, on the fifth night of the Goddesses Of Stars event.[4] Momo Watanabe joined the duo of Shirai and HZK nine days later together with the trio assuming the name Queen's Quest on November 27.[5]

Former and first leader Io Shirai shown here with the World of Stardom Championship

On December 22, 2016, at Year-End Climax 2016, HZK and Momo Watanabe unsuccessfully challenged the guest team of Twisted Sisters (Holidead and Thunder Rosa) for the NWA Western States Tag Team Championship.[6]

HZK, Io Shirai and Watanabe won their first titles, the Artist of Stardom Championship, on January 7, 2017 by defeating Oedo Tai (Kagetsu, Viper and Kyoko Kimura).[7] Later in January, Watanabe suffered an ACL injury during training that forced her to go on a hiatus.[8][9] Following a match involving HZK and Shirai on February 11, Azumi came into the ring and requested to join Queen's Quest, to which Shirai accepted. Thereafter, Azumi would go by the ring name AZM.[10] On April 9, the Artist of Stardom Championship was vacated due to Watanabe being sidelined with her injury.[11] After seven days, AZM, HZK and Shirai teamed up to win the vacant Artist of Stardom Championship by defeating Oedo Tai (Hana Kimura, Kagetsu and Rosa Negra) in the finals of a four-team tournament.[12] AZM, HZK and Shirai lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo and Konami on May 6.[13] AZM, HZK and Shirai won the Artist of Stardom Championship again on June 4 by defeating Hiromi Mimura, Kairi Hojo and Konami,[14] which they then lost to Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto, Jungle Kyona and Kaori Yoneyama) on June 17.[15] HZK, Shirai and Viper teamed up at Midsummer Champions from August 13, to defeat Team Jungle (Hiroyo Matsumoto, Jungle Kyona and Kaori Yoneyama) for the Artist of Stardom Championship.[16] At the 2017 Goddesses of Stardom League, which took place between October 4 and November 5, HZK and Shirai represented the stable, placing themselves in the A Block and scoring a total of five points.[17] On November 4, Watanabe returned from her hiatus.[18]

At the 2018 Stardom Draft on April 15, 2018 Bea Priestley, Chardonnay and Konami were drafted to Queen's Quest while HZK left because she was drafted by Oedo Tai.[19] Because HZK left Queen's Quest, the Artist of Stardom Championship held by HZK, Shirai and Viper was declared vacant.[20] On May 23, Watanabe defeated Shirai for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, culminating a friendly feud.[21] On June 17, it was announced that Shirai would leave Queen's Quest and subsequently World Wonder Ring Stardom to pursue a career in WWE.[22]

Second leader of the unit, Momo Watanabe.

After Io Shirai's departure from Stardom in June 2018, the leadership of Queen's Quest was passed to Momo Watanabe.[23] On August 26, Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita teamed up for the first time to win a four-way tag team match.[24] Hayashishita and Watanabe continued to team up to compete in the 2018 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, as did the team of AZM and Konami and the team of Bea Priestley and Chardonnay. On November 4, Hayashishita and Watanabe won the tournament by defeating Chardonnay and Priestley in the finals.[25] On November 23, Watanabe and Hayashishita won the Goddess of Stardom Championship by defeating J.A.N. (Jungle Kyona and Natsuko Tora). Following the match, Hayashishita joined Queen's Quest.[26]

On January 5, 2019, Hayashishita, Priestley and Viper won a one-day Trios Tag Team Tournament.[27] On January 14, Hayashishita defeated Viper to win the Pro-Wrestling: EVE International Championship and the SWA Undisputed World Women's Championship.[28] As a result of the 2019 Stardom Draft on April 14, Hina and Leo Onozaki joined Queen's Quest, while Konami left to join the International Army.[29] On July 15, Hayashishita and Watanabe lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Tokyo Cyber Squad (Jungle Kyona and Konami).[30] On November 23, AZM, Hayashishita and Watanabe won the Artist of Stardom Championship by defeating Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu and Natsu Sumire).[31]

On January 19, 2020, at Stardom's 9th Anniversary show, Priestley teamed up with Oedo Tai's Jamie Hayter to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship by defeating Tokyo Cyber Squad (Jungle Kyona and Konami), marking the first time when two cross-faction members held titles together. Priestley later turned heel on the same night and left Queen's Quest for Oedo Tai.[32] On February 8, AZM, Hayashishita and Watanabe lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Maika and Syuri).[33] On February 16, Onozaki retired from professional wrestling.[34] Later that night, Saya Kamitani joined Queen's Quest after unsuccessfully challenging Hayashishita for the Future of Stardom Championship.[35] AZM, Hayashishita, Kamitani and Watanabe all competed in the 2020 Cinderella Tournament on March 24. Only Watanabe reached the quarter-finals, where she lost to Giulia.[36] At Cinderella Summer In Tokyo on July 26, AZM won the High Speed Championship by defeating Riho and Starlight Kid, and Hayashishita and Kamitani won the vacant Goddess of Stardom Championship by defeating Tokyo Cyber Squad (Jungle Kyona and Konami).[37] On September 28, at the 5Star Special, AZM, Hayashishita and Watanabe lost to returning guest performers Rin Kadokura, Takumi Iroha and Mei Hoshizuki in a six-woman tag team match.[38] At the 2020 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, Hayashishita and Kamitani participated as AphrOditE, and AZM teamed up with Watanabe as MOMOAZ.[39] MOMOAZ won the tournament by defeating Crazy Bloom in the finals on November 8.[40] At Sendai Cinderella 2020 on November 15, 2020, Hayashishita won the World of Stardom Championship by defeating Mayu Iwatani. Hayashishita subsequently became the new top star and the main focus of the stable,[41][42] while Watanabe remained the official leader.[lower-alpha 1] Watanabe was acknowledged as the leader of Queen's Quest by Hayashishita after their title match on December 20.[47] On December 26, AphrOditE lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Oedo Tai (Bea Priestley and Konami).[48]

All of the stable's members were known for wearing mask design inspired from Tiger Mask's until early 2022. For example, Momo Watanabe (left) and Saya Kamitani (right) wearing custom made masks.

At All Star Dream Cinderella on March 3, 2021, AZM lost the High Speed Championship to Natsupoi, and Hayashishita defeated Kamitani in an inter-stable clash for the World of Stardom Championship.[49] At Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 on April 4 Hayashishita successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship against former stable member Bea Priestley in what was Priestley's last match in Stardom.[50] On the first night of the 2021 Cinderella Tournament which took place on April 10, AZM fell short to Rina and Momo Watanabe to Starlight Kid in a Cinderella Tournament First-round match, while Utami Hayashishita scored a victory over Mina Shirakawa and Saya Kamitani over Tam Nakano in the same tournament stages.[51] On the second night from May 14, Saya Kamitani defeated Starlight Kid in a second-round match, while Utami Hayashishita fell short to Syuri.[52] Saya Kamitani won the 2021 Cinderella Tournament by defeating Himeka in the semi-finals and Maika in the final match. She issued a challenge to Tam Nakano for the Wonder of Stardom Championship as her granted whish for winning the competition. At Yokohama Dream Cinderella 2021 in Summer on July 4, Utami Hayashishita successfully defended the World of Stardom Championship by doctor stoppage after Natsuko Tora sustained a knee injury during the match.[53] For the 2021 5Star Grand Prix, Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, AZM and Momo Watanabe were listed as participants of the tournament.[54] On the finals of the event from September 25, Momo Watanabe fell short to Syuri.[55] At Stardom 10th Anniversary Grand Final Osaka Dream Cinderella from October 9, 2021, Momo Watanabe, AZM and Saya Kamitani unsuccessfully challenged MaiHimePoi for the Artist of Stardom Championship.[56] At Kawasaki Super Wars on November 3, 2021, Momo Watanabe battled Starlight Kid in a time-limit draw for the High Speed Championship.[57]

Momo Watanabe had been the victim of Starlight Kid's mind games as the latter's strategy to gain more recruits into Oedo Tai since Kawasaki Super Wars on November 3. Their feud degenerated into an eight-woman elimination tag team match in which both of them would be the captains of their respective teams. The losing captain would be forced to join the enemy unit and if Starlight Kid lost, she would have to unmask. The match took place on December 18, at Osaka Super Wars. With the match coming down to the wire and Queen's Quest holding a 2 to 1 advantage over Starlight Kid, Momo Watanabe betrayed her faction and hit her long-time tag team partner AZM over the head with a chair, handing the win to Oedo Tai and anointing herself the “Black Peach” of the group. Watanabe became the first leader of a Stardom faction to betray their own unit.[58]

The third and assumed de facto leader during the Post Watanabe era, AZM.

AZM (middle) facing Koguma (left) and Natsupoi (right) on the first night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 from March 26.

At Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29, 2021, AZM unsuccessfully challenged Starlight Kid and Koguma in a three-way match for the High Speed Championship, Saya Kamitani defeated Tam Nakano to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship and Utami Hayashishita dropped the World of Stardom Championship to Syuri with her reign coming to an end at 409 days.[59]

At Stardom Award in Shinjuku on January 3, 2022, AZM, Kamitani and Hayashishita engaged in a brawl with Oedo Tai after their match against Fukigen Death, Saki Kashima and Ruaka. Obviously outnumbered, the three members of Queen's Quest received help from Lady C who rushed down the ring to try to save them. After Oedo Tai retreated, Hayashishita offered C a spot into the unit which the latter accepted so she was later announced to join the stable in the process.[60] On January 9, 2022, at Stardom in Korakuen Hall, Saya Kamitani, Utami Hayashishta and Lady C unsuccessfully wrestled Oedo Tai's Rina, Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid and Ruaka in a 4-on-3 handicap match. After their loss, the Queen's Quest members announced they will no longer wear their masks as they will move forward and away from the Momo Watanabe era.[61] At Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight on January 29, 2022, Utami Hayashishita and AZM battled Oedo Tai's Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid in a losing effort as a result of a grudge tag team match.[62] At Stardom Cinderella Journey on February 23, 2022, Utami Hayashishita teamed up with Lady C in a losing effort against Momo Watanabe and Ruaka, and AZM defeated Starlight Kid to win the High Speed Championship.[63] In the main event of Stardom New Blood 1 on March 11, 2022, Utami Hayashishita defeated a debuting Miyu Amasaki. Despite the latter's loss, Hayashishita was impressed by Amasaki's performance and invited her to join Queen's Quest, which Amasaki accepted.[64] On the first night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 from March 26, Saya Kamitani successfully defended the Wonder of Stardom Championship against Utami Hayashishita.[65] At Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2022, all the members participated in the competition with AZM and Saya Kamitani scoring the best results by making it to the second rounds.[66]

Fourth and current leader of the stable, Utami Hayashishita.

On May 15, 2022, a five-way match between AZM, Hina, Lady C, Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita took place to elect a new leader of Queen's Quest. Hayashishita won the match, therefore becoming the fourth leader of the stable.[67]

At Fight in the Top on June 26, AZM, Hayashishita and Kamitani took part in one of Stardom's first steel cage matches, in which they lost to Stars (Hazuki, Koguma and Mayu Iwatani).[68] At Stardom in Showcase vol.2 on September 25, Hayashishita and Lady C teamed up with Syuri as Rossy Ogawa's Bodyguard Army, falling short to Grim Reaper Army (Yuu, Nanae Takahashi & Yuna Manase).[69] At Stardom in Showcase vol.3 on November 26, Hayashishita and Hina teamed up with Mirai in a losing effort against Mayu Iwatani, Hanan and Maika in a judo rules match.[70]

At New Blood 7 on January 20, 2023, Hina and Lady C fell short to Mai Sakurai and Chanyota in the quarterfinals of the inaugural New Blood Tag Team Championship tournament.[71] At Supreme Fight 2023 on February 4, Kamitani successfully defended the Wonder of Stardom Championship against Momo Watanabe.[72] At Sunshine 2023 on June 25, Queen's Quest defeated Oedo Tai in a six-on-six steel cage match in which the losing unit was forced to lose a member.[73] At Mid Summer Champions 2023 on July 2, Hayashishita announced that she would be taking a break from her leadership duties to go on an excursion in the United States in order to reevaluate herself.[74] Hayashishita returned on the first night of the 2023 5 Star Grand Prix on July 23.[75] At the same event, Kamitani suffered a legitimate dislocated elbow during her first match of the tournament against Tam Nakano, which resulted in Kamitani withdrawing from the tournament and going on a hiatus from professional wrestling.[76] In September, Hayashishita suffered a cervical hernia, which caused her to go on a hiatus.[77]

Over time, various members of the stable worked beyond Stardom for other promotions. On September 4, 2017, at K-DOJO Taka Michinoku 25th Anniversary, an event promoted by Kaientai Dojo, HZK teamed up with Io Shirai to defeat Bambi and Erina.[78] At Tokyo Gurentai Lucha Libre Fiesta, an event produced by Stardom in partnership with Tokyo Gurentai, AZM, Momo Watanabe and Utami Hayashishita represented Queen's Quest in a four-way tag team elimination match also involving STARS (Saki Kashima, Starlight Kid and Tam Nakano), Oedo Tai (Andras Miyagi, Hazuki and Kagetsu) and JAN (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Saya Iida).[79] At Assemble Vol. 2, an event produced by Women's Pro-Wrestling Assemble in partnership with Stardom on November 10, 2020, AZM teamed up with Saya Kamitani to defeat STARS (Starlight Kid and Saya Iida).[80]

Momo Watanabe (right) and Saya Kamitani (left) after their victory at Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome

In time, various members of the stable competed in pay-per-views promoted by NJPW. On January 5, 2021, on the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 15, the biggest annual event promoted by New Japan Pro Wrestling, AZM, Saya Kamitani and Utami Hayashishita competed in an exhibition match against Donna Del Mondo's Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi, which they won.[81] On the first night of the Wrestle Grand Slam in MetLife Dome from September 4, Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani teamed up to defeat with Lady C and Maika. Giulia and Syuri were also announced to compete on the second night against Watanabe and Kamitani.[82] On the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 16 on January 5, 2022, Saya Kamitani teamed up with Tam Nakano to defeat Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid in a tag team match.[83] At Historic X-Over on November 20, 2022, Hina and Miyu Amasaki competed in the Stardom Rambo, Saya Kamitani, AZM and Lady C defeated Thekla, Himeka and Mai Sakurai, and Utami Hayashishita teamed up with Hiroshi Tanahashi to defeat Maika and Hirooki Goto in a mixed tag team match.[84]