Thekla Opens Up About Taro Okada: ‘He Evokes Feelings Of Aggression In Me’

Thekla has never been shy about the circumstances that ended her run in STARDOM, and she’s making it clear that her feelings toward the promotion’s president, Taro Okada, haven’t softened one bit.

The former STARDOM roster member, who signed with AEW last year, recently addressed getting another opportunity to put hands on Okada, describing the sight of him as something that immediately stirs up aggression in her. It’s not hard to understand why — Thekla was ultimately fired from STARDOM after physically attacking Okada, a dramatic exit that became one of the more talked-about stories in the joshi scene.

For a performer who spent several years building her career in STARDOM, the departure was as messy as it gets. Being let go from a major promotion under those circumstances would be a career-defining moment for most wrestlers, but Thekla has largely used it as fuel. She landed in AEW and has continued carving out a role on that roster, all while the history with Okada and STARDOM lingers in the background.

The fact that she’s been given another chance to confront Okada — and that she’s openly discussing the visceral reaction she has just from seeing him — suggests this particular chapter is far from closed. Whether that plays out in a wrestling context or simply remains a matter of personal history, Thekla’s message is straightforward: the aggression is still there, and Taro Okada brings it right back to the surface every time.