>Tae Honma, the women’s pro wrestler who retired on October 13, was someone admired by many wrestlers. One of the young wrestlers who looked up to Honma is STARDOM’s Ranna Yagami. At shows for other promotions you could see Honma staying close to her.
>“Tae-san was always cheerful, and she was kind even when seconding at ringside.”

>When Yagami had a chance to talk with STARDOM president Taro Okada she directly asked to face Honma at New Blood (STARDOM’s series focused on young wrestlers).
>“At New Blood it’s common for wrestlers with similar career length to square off but I thought facing a senior from outside would help me grow. The person I especially wanted to wrestle was Tae-san. Tae-san’s matches are, in a word, hot. She has a way of drawing everyone in.”

>Because she respected Honma so much, Yagami wanted to fight her all the way and win by submission because Honma excels at submission holds.
>“But Tae-san refused to tap, no matter what.”

>That Yagami didn’t get stuck there shows her growth. She switched gears, chained a triangle kick into the Beat Strike and scored the three count.
>After the match Honma said that even when you make a plan, “things don’t go that neatly,” and she expressed that Yagami’s earnest challenge had come through. As for Yagami’s future, Honma told her, “Find more and more of the good in yourself—the fans will, too. Go take the top. I’m cheering for you.”

>Honma also said that after retiring she wanted Yagami to use her own joint-lock arsenal. Yagami will inherit Honma’s signature hold, the Tae Lock.
>“Since I’ve been entrusted with such an important move, I’ll use it carefully when it matters. I’m not changing the name. If I win with this hold, Tae-san’s name will remain in the official record.”

>There was a wrestler named Tae Honma. Ranna Yagami says the proof of that will never fade. A wrestler’s retirement isn’t simply “the end.” This is how history is woven.