“Pro wrestling is a world where passion meets resilience. You fight, you fall, you rise again.” These words from Giulia encapsulate her journey through the grueling and captivating world of professional wrestling.
From her beginnings in Ice Ribbon to her meteoric rise in Stardom and eventual transition to WWE NXT, Giulia has established herself as one of her generation’s most dynamic and compelling wrestlers.
Giulia’s name has become synonymous with dominance, resilience, and evolution in professional wrestling. Her journey is not just about titles but about the battles fought—inside and outside the ring.
A star of mixed heritage, she has faced adversity, transitioned between promotions, and continuously reinvented herself to become one of the most talked-about wrestlers of her generation.
But who is Giulia beyond the ring? What makes her such a captivating force in professional wrestling? How did she get here?
What defining matches and rivalries shaped her career? And how has her dual Italian-Japanese heritage impacted her identity and success? Let’s delve into Giulia’s remarkable career.
Eimi Gloria Matsudo – Early Life and Background of Giulia
Born Eimi Gloria Matsudo on February 21, 1994, in London, England, Giulia’s life has been shaped by two distinct cultures.
Her father, of Italian descent, and her Japanese mother relocated to Japan when she was just a year old. Growing up in Chiba Prefecture, she faced challenges as a mixed-race child in Japan, experiencing discrimination and bullying throughout her school years.
“I always felt like I had to prove myself twice as hard,” she once said in an interview (source).
Being half-Japanese made me feel like I didn’t fully belong in either world. But in wrestling, none of that matters. It’s about heart, skill, and perseverance.”
Before wrestling, Giulia worked in her family’s Italian restaurant, balancing her dual heritage and navigating a world where she often felt like an outsider.
As a wrestler of mixed Italian-Japanese descent, Giulia has often spoken about the challenges of her upbringing. Yet, she embraces her dual heritage in both her in-ring persona and real life.
Growing up as a mixed-race child in Japan came with its challenges. In various interviews, she has opened up about the bullying she faced due to her Italian-Japanese heritage.
“People saw me as different…It wasn’t easy, but I never let it define me. Instead, I used it as motivation.”
But her passion for combat sports led her to a different path—one that would soon see her shake up the landscape of women’s wrestling in Japan.
“At first, I struggled with my identity. But wrestling gave me a home. It doesn’t matter where I come from—it matters what I do in that ring,” she told Pro Wrestling Illustrated.
However, her life would take a drastic turn when she discovered professional wrestling.
Giulia’s wrestling journey and success in Ice Ribbon and World Wonder Ring Stardom
From 2017 to 2019, Giulia’s journey into professional wrestling began in Ice Ribbon, a well-respected joshi promotion in Japan.
She made her debut on October 29, 2017, quickly gaining attention for her striking presence and aggressive in-ring style.
Her first significant accomplishment came when she partnered with Tequila Saya to win the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship.
Their reign, though brief, showcased her potential as both a tag and singles competitor. However, her tenure in Ice Ribbon ended controversially in late 2019 when she unexpectedly left the promotion to join Stardom, a move that generated backlash from fans and Ice Ribbon management alike.
After departing Ice Ribbon in 2019, Giulia’s arrival in Stardom was anything but ordinary. She debuted in October 2019, joining the promotion under controversial circumstances as Ice Ribbon publicly criticized her departure. However, her undeniable talent and star power quickly won over fans.
While in Stardom,, she captured the Wonder of Stardom Championship, one of the most prestigious titles in Stardom.
“I want to be a wrestler that people remember. Someone who breaks barriers and brings something new to the ring.”
Giulia defeated Tam Nakano to win the belt, cementing herself as one of the promotion’s top stars. She would capture the World of Stardom Championship. As the promotion’s top titleholder, Giulia delivered some of the best matches of her career, proving herself against the likes of Syuri and Mayu Iwatani.
She would also become the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. This showcased her versatility, she thrived in the tag division alongside her stablemates in Donna Del Mondo.
Giulia was a multi-time Artist of Stardom Champion, capturing the title twice, making her a trios champion and further reinforcing her well-rounded abilities.
In 2020, Giulia became a Cinderella Tournament Winner, solidifying her as a future main eventer. Finally, in 2022, Giulia became the 5 Star Grand Prix Winner. With this win established her as Stardom’s MVP, leading to her eventual World of Stardom Championship reign.
Donna Del Mondo: Redefining Stardom’s Landscape
One of Giulia’s most defining career moves was forming Donna Del Mondo (DDM) in 2020. The faction, composed of hard-hitting wrestlers like Syuri, Maika, and Himeka, dominated Stardom’s scene with an aura of strength and unity. Under her leadership, DDM became one of the most feared groups in the promotion.
“Donna Del Mondo is about pushing boundaries,” Giulia stated in a Tokyo Sports interview. “We fight for each other, we evolve together. That’s the philosophy.”
Every Champion Needs a Threat…
A wrestler is only as good as their opponent. In Giulia’s case, her career has seen her not only have great opponents but outstanding rivalries.
Her career has been marked by several intense and emotionally driven rivalries that have helped define her legacy in Joshi wrestling.
While framing and capturing her success, it is equally important to recognize those notable matches and rivalries in her career that helped cement her as one of the greatest Joshi wrestlers of this generation.
Giulia and Tam Nakano – Two Sides of the Same Coin
When Giulia and Tam Nakano battled, it was a rivalry based on their differences in personalities, styles, and aspirations.
As the leader of Donna del Mondo, Giulia represented calculated aggression, while Tam embodied passion and emotional storytelling.
Arguably, Giulia’s most emotional match against Tam Nakano was at All Star Dream Cinderella in March 2021, which culminated their heated rivalry in the Hair vs. Hair Match.
Losing meant shaving her head—a stipulation rarely seen in modern women’s wrestling. It was an absolutely brutal battle.
Despite defeat, Giulia’s willingness to sacrifice her hair for the story further established her as one of the industry’s most compelling performers. In the process it solidied Tam’s status in the promotion.
Giulia and Syuri – Donna del Mondo Tension within
Syuri was Giulia’s ally as part of the Donna del Mondo faction. But she became a rival when their competitive ambitions for Stardom’s top title clashed. Syuri’s ascent to the World of Stardom Championship led to tension within DDM.
She and Syuri’s battle at the 5 Star Grand Prix Final in 2022 and their match at Dream Queendom 2022 to win the World of Stardom Championship were testaments to their rivalry’s intensity and mutual respect.
Giulia and Mayu Iwatani – THEE feud with the Icon of Stardom
As the “Icon of Stardom,” Mayu Iwatani often stood opposite Giulia in high-stakes encounters. Their rivalry symbolized the battle between Stardom’s past and future, with Mayu representing tradition and Giulia pushing new boundaries.
In 2023, their World of Stardom Championship match reflected the elite level of completion between these two stars. This match, along with their tag team matches against one another, only furthered their animosity against one another.
Facing the “icon” of Stardom, Giulia delivered an all-time classic match that solidified her reign as champion. With her career still on the rise, one thing is certain—wherever Giulia goes, the wrestling world will be watching.
Against Hana Kimura: In Memory Of
Giulia and the late Hana Kimura’s feud in 2019 significantly established Giulia’s presence in Stardom. While no one match stood out, their battles highlighted a clash of flamboyant and dominant styles, with Hana’s charisma contrasting Giulia’s evolving persona.
Their matches were emotional, with Hana playing the role of a gatekeeper to Stardom while Giulia fought to cement herself as a major star.
These rivalries have shaped Giulia’s career, allowing her to showcase her versatility as a performer and her ability to craft deeply engaging storylines.
As part of Stardom’s collaboration with NJPW, Giulia made history by competing in New Japan’s women’s division. She became the Strong Women’s Champion, facing opponents like Mercedes Moné (Sasha Banks) and Willow Nightingale.
“Wrestling in New Japan was a dream (in an interview with Wrestling Observer). The energy, the competition, the legacy—it was an experience like no other.” – Giulia
As her reputation grew, speculation about a move to WWE or AEW began to circulate. In late 2023, reports surfaced that WWE had extended an offer to bring Giulia to NXT, following in the footsteps of Japanese stars like Asuka, IYO SKY, and Kairi Sane.
In a 2023 interview, Giulia addressed the rumors:
“I want to wrestle everywhere. I want to test myself against the best in the world. Wherever that takes me, I’ll be ready.”
The Beautiful Madness Arrives in NXT
In early 2024, Giulia officially signed with WWE and debuted on NXT. Her arrival was met with significant fanfare, and within months, she had already won the NXT Women’s Championship.
She also won the 2024 Women’s Iron Survivor match, proving that her dominance in Japan was translating to success on a global scale. In 2025, Giulia competed in the 2025 Women’s Royal Rumble match.
As Giulia embarks on the next chapter of her career, the question remains—what’s next? Will she rise to the heights of WWE’s main roster? Could she become a multi-time world champion in the biggest wrestling company in the world?
She has already accomplished more in seven years than many do in an entire career. Whether it’s dominating Stardom, breaking barriers in NJPW, or taking on the world in WWE, her journey is far from over.
With rumors swirling about potential main roster call-ups, future championship reigns, and dream matches with stars like Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley, the future looks bright for Giulia.
“Wrestling is my life. And trust me—there’s still a lot more to come,” – via Tokyo Sports.
One thing is certain: no matter where she goes, Giulia’s beautiful madness will leave an indelible mark on professional wrestling.
Giulia’s Legacy and Impact on Wrestling
Giulia’s impact on professional wrestling extends beyond her championships. She has broken barriers as a mixed-heritage star in Japan, paving the way for other wrestlers of diverse backgrounds.
Her fearless approach to wrestling, combined with her charisma and ability to adapt, has made her a must-watch performer.
Whether in Japan, the United States, or anywhere else in the world, Giulia has proven that she is not just a star—but a generational talent.
As she once said:
“I’m not done yet. I have so much more to do. And trust me… you don’t want to miss it.”
