Maki Itoh was arguably the top standout performer in the AEW Women's Title Eliminator Tournament.
Though Itoh lost in the first round to the eventual tournament winner Ryo Mizunami, her personality and charisma endeared her to the AEW audience.
Count Cody Rhodes among her biggest supporters.
"Maki Itoh, the deity of, well I can't say it on this call. Maki, she impressed," Cody said of Itoh when asked by Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net during the AEW Revolution media call about her performance in the tournament. "As did many women in the eliminator tournament. I thought that was really special. I'd like to give a shoutout to [Hikaru] Shida, Emi [Sakura], and Kenny [Omega], of course, and [Michael] Nakazawa. Tony moved heaven and earth to make [the tournament] happen. Very difficult in the pandemic to get a show in another country and somehow weave it into the fabric of our own show. They did a wonderful job in this tournament. The discovery from this, we talk about how much tournaments can benefit your show, is someone like [Maki], who had a following. We want people who have a following. The hardest thing to do in sports, they say, is to hit a baseball. To me, the hardest thing in sports is to connect with fans. If you connect with fans, that's why you will see someone like Maki Itoh or Ryan Nemeth. They connect with the fans. You don't want to be the best worker no one has ever heard of or connected with. Personally, there have been conversations on my end. I know a lot of women in the locker room were a fan and would love to work with her. When things open up, I'd say it's likely you see her again in a AEW ring."
Due to the pandemic, it is unknown when Itoh could possibly appear on an AEW show in the United States. Itoh is a regular for Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling.
Fightful talked with Itoh following her AEW Women's Title Eliminator Tournament appearance. You can watch the interview in the video above or read the interview by clicking here.
If you use any of the quotes above, please give a h/t and link back to Fightful for the transcription.
