After weeks of build, the long-awaited foundation show for Dream Star☆Fighting MARIGOLD finally took place in Korakuen Hall in front of a sold-out crowd of 1530 attendees. The Japanese commentary Haruo Murata, featured Yuzuki “Yuzupon” Aikawa & Fuka (Semi-Main) and Nanae Takahashi (Main), and English Commentary by Stewart Fulton & Sonny Gutierrez.
The show was broadcast live internationally via Wrestle Universe (subscription required) without any additional PPV costs. The show opening and first match were also broadcast for free on WU’s YouTube Channel.
“We are thrilled to be able to hold our inaugural show in front of a completely packed house here in Korakuen Hall. Each and every person in attendance is about to witness MARIGOLD’s history unfold before them tonight. Please enjoy the show we’ve prepared for you because we are going to give you everything that we have!” – Utami Hayashishita, opening remarks
Free Preview Key Points & News Items
- Prior to the opening match Komomo Minami, Yuki Minami, Tachibana Nagisa, & Ryoko Sakimura were introduced as MARIGOLD’s official Rookies.
- Video package showcasing the brief history of MARIGOLD over the last few months
- The MARIGOLD World Championship (red) & United National Championship (white) were introduced in-ring by CEO Rossy Ogawa.
- Opening Wars 2024 Day & Night (5/26) will be streamed live on Wrestle Universe.
- Twinstar championship (tag team) and SuperFly championship (wrestlers under 55kg) announced via Tokyo Sports, but designs to be revealed later.
- Giulia to wrestle VENY (video in English) in a special singles match at this week’s Hana Kimura Memorial Show 4: Terima Kasih (5/23) in Korakuen Hall. A written event report will be available that afternoon.
RESULTS:
- Nanae Takahashi defeated Victoria Yuzuki (14:15) – Refrigerator Bomb/Pin
- Miku Aono defeated Nao Ishikawa (8:55) – Styles Clash/Pin
- MIRAI defeated CHIAKI (11:30) – Lariat/Pin; Recommended
- Mai Sakurai & Zayda Steel vs Nagisa Nozaki & Myla Grace (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
- Kouki Amarei & Chika Goto defeated Natsumi Showzuki & Misa Matsui (11:30) – Amarei pinned Matsui after Amethyst Butterfly
- Sareee & Bozilla defeated Giulia & Utami Hayashishita (28:06) Saree pinned Giulia – Recommended
Starting over Passion Injection 2024: Nanae Takahashi defeated Victoria Yuzuki (14:15) – Refrigerator Bomb/Pin
At Marigold’s inaugural press conference last month, Nanae Takahashi suggested that after twenty-seven years, it might be time for her to consider retiring. Victoria Yuzuki was quick to cut off talks about last rides before retirement, demanding a Passion Injection match and informing the veteran that there was plenty left in the tank for her. Although Victoria’s pro career is less than a year, like Takahashi, she has the passion and determination, so much so that she wants to be the future ace of the company and the Goddess of Victory.
In a brilliant costume of MARIGOLD orange and yellow (which was very reminiscent of Arisa Hoshiki), Victoria brought everything to Nanae. While this match was a very steep mountain for Victoria to climb, she did her best, fighting against Takahashi, who seemed to not only inject passion into the young upstart but looked like she rediscovered her own passion within. There was a slip and fall for Victoria while climbing the ropes, but I’m chalking that up to nerves, especially on the opening match of this massive show.
Takahashi offered Victoria her hand after the match, and Yuzuki slapped it away in defiance. “You’re a long way off from being the ace,” – Nanae Takahashi to Victoria Yuzuki.
A vs I Ideological Showdown: Miku Aono defeated Nao Ishikawa (8:55) – Styles Clash/Pin
This was the first of two MARIGOLD 7 vs. Former AWG wrestler singles showcases. The premise was simple: Nao Ishikawa declared her intent to help launch MARIGOLD, but no sooner does Fuka roll in with six free agents, including Miku Aono, suddenly the New Heroine of Hyakumangoku, Ishikawa is noticeably forced further down the roster and off the debut poster entirely! This would be one of the deeper cuts in the show as Aono and Ishikawa tagged together in Ice Ribbon throughout 2020 and 2021, including challenging for the International Ribbon Tag Championships against Maya Yukihi and Risa Sera, prior to their journeys taking them on separate paths.
There was definitely a familiar chemistry between them, and at times it felt like they hadn’t missed a step since they stood side-by-side in December 2021. Aono hitting Ishikawa with a Styles Clash and taking the win will certainly add gasoline to Ishikawa’s fire moving forward, and this match could easily lead to a first and forever rivalry between the pair.
The Power Contest: MIRAI defeated CHIAKI (11:30) – Lariat/Pin
It would seem that MIRAI, the Child of Soul and the Pride of Tohoku, spent the last month and a half redefining and reinventing herself. While the familiarity of her brilliant smile remains, this new Hero of MARIGOLD is definitely someone everyone should be getting behind. Despite having only two years of experience, CHIAKI has a natural presence and could easily be the foil for MIRAI moving forward. They had a fun, hard-hitting match. They could be a fantastic tag moving forward, or two titans that fans are going to clamor for more power fighting forever.
MIRAI took home a very large bag of caramel corn puffs as a prize. She celebrated and shared her winnings with CHIAKI, too.
World Beauty Showdown: Mai Sakurai & Zayda Steel vs Nagisa Nozaki & Myla Grace (15:00) – Time Limit Draw
We finally got introduced to two of the three foreign talents who now call MARIGOLD home with Mai Sakurai & Zayda Steel teaming up against Nagisa Nozaki & Myla Grace. After MARIGOLD’s debut at Pro-Wrestling NOAH’s WRESTLE MAGIC on May 4th, Nozaki stepped up to pick a fight with Giulia, but it was Sakurai, who informed Nagisa that if she wanted to punch her ticket to the top of MARIGOLD, she’d need to work her way up the ladder.
Nozaki’s seventeen years of experience in the ring was truly an asset, as it was over double the combined experiences of Steel (1 year), Sakurai (4 years), and Grace (5 years). She dictated the pacing of the match without completely dominating it. She ensured that all participants were able to have their time to shine in the ring as well. I hope the crossover between MARIGOLD and NOAH’s Monday Magic continues as both companies could build something unique while providing their talents with more opportunities to work with other talents and in front of different audiences.
I think this Japan tour for Steel and Grace will be an exceptional learning experience, especially as there are many talents with similar career lengths as well as opportunities to learn from talents like Takahashi, Giulia, Showzuki, and Hayashishita.
ActWres New Time: Kouki Amarei & Chika Goto defeated Natsumi Showzuki & Misa Matsui (11:30) – Amarei pinned Matsui after Amethyst Butterfly
With the theatrical-centric nature of ActWres GirlZ over that of pro-wrestling, both Kouki Amarei & Chika Goto made their formal pro-wrestling debuts at Korakuen Hall in this match, joining a very storied list of names of wrestlers debuting in Japan Mecca of Combat Sports. As two-thirds of the group came over from AWG, this was a great introductory match to the remaining graduates from AWG. Amarei and Goto’s collective experience is comparatively shorter compared to that of Matsui and Showzaki, the veterans worked very well with the debuting talents.
Those listening to JP’s commentary were treated to a reunion of Fuka and Yuzupon, which was very refreshing as there are very few women who provide commentary on Joshi both inside and outside of Japan. Fuka’s time in AWG as a producer and working with the wrestlers not only shows experience as a trainer, but also her keen eye for talent. While most of the former AWG talents have limited time as wrestlers, their star power is undeniable. With Showzuki as one of the cornerstones of MARIGOLD alongside Utami and Giulia, two sides will be able to be woven together
Main Event Marigold’s Strongest Tag Team Legend: Sareee & Bozilla defeated Giulia & Utami Hayashishita (28:06) Saree pinned Giulia
Pairing The Biggest Kaiju (Monster) with The Sun God was a great way to showcase Bo Joy’s truly intimidating stature, but also provide her with someone to guide her in the nuances of how Japanese wrestle compared to that of the European scene. Seeing Giulia and Utami side-by-side as two of the front runners and leaders of MARIGOLD against Sareee and Bozilla was a sight to truly behold.
While they have stood shoulder-to-shoulder for over a month now, I did like that Giulia and Utami didn’t fit perfectly together as if they had been wrestling in the same faction their entire careers. There was electricity and subtle friction as both are used to being the main attraction in their units, much like Tanahashi and Okada trying to find a rhythm with one another. They’ve been intentionally kept apart in singles action, so seeing them together as a tag could be an auspicious preview of what is to come. There were some seemingly awkward pauses in the match, but I think those could easily be ironed out once the group is more familiar with working with one another. The referee was a little too lenient with Bozilla simply looming inside the ring if I were to nitpick anything about the match.
For those who only know of Sareee as SARRAY in NXT 2.0 or you recently heard of her outstanding IWGP Women’s Championship challenge against Mayu Iwatani, watch this match. You will see why she was scouted for WWE, and you’ll get hooked to see what else she has been up to since returning to Japan, including holding the SEAdLINNNG BEYOND THE SEA Singles Championship for over 269 days. If you want to see more of her work that is available on WU, chase up her matches in Sendai Girls, particularly those against Chihiro Hashimoto. Her wearing a cherubic smile, but determination to wear the black hat and be the villain hellbent on raining on MARIGOLD’s parade is the duality in Sareee that I am living for.
After the match, there were remarks from Giulia and Sareee, including teases for future matches between Bozilla and Utami Hayashishita and Guilia calling out Sareee for a singles match, and both the MARIGOLD Red & White belts making their way into the ring and into the fray. As to who will be tapped to fight for the newly minted championships, that remains to be seen, but the road to July 13th should definitely be an intriguing one. A video package announcing the company’s first big show of their first year: MARIGOLD Summer Destiny 2024 at Ryogoku Sumo Hall on July 13th. The announcement was narrated by Natsumi Showzuki as the core MARIGOLD roster joined up in the ring to close the show.
Highlights
- A showcase of the entire MARIGOLD roster, without any squash matches. A tidy, six-match card that didn’t overstay its welcome.
- Participation from veteran freelancers like Nozaki and Sareee as well as debuting new-to-Japan foreign talents like Grace, Steel and Bozilla.
- Retro wrestling in Korakuen vibes with banners on the balcony, paper tape streamers for all wrestlers, roster introduction and a passionate, vocal crowd.
- Two absolutely stunning championships keeping in the tradition of red and white leather belts, connecting the past to the present and future.
- Bilingual commentary availability on Wrestle Universe without a PPV ticket required with a diverse panel of knowledgeable commentators in each language, making the show very accessible to new or curious fans.
Low Point
- The shadow cast over the launch of MARIGOLD by the Japanese and English-speaking media focusing too heavily on the behind-the-scenes politics between Ogawa’s departure from STARDOM and additional backstage rumors eclipsed what should have been an absolute celebration of the next chapter in the Japanese women’s wrestling scene.
Final Thoughts
While discussions about backstage concerns are valid, it should not have been the central focus of international coverage, almost to the detriment of the talent working hard to launch the promotion or hoping that the promotion stumbles or fails right out of the gate. Growth and more opportunity within the scene should be celebrated, and I would like to applaud my peers who diligently worked on focusing their coverage on the roster and celebrating the fresh start.
With the incredible English play-by-play of Stewart Fulton and historical background color commentary provided by Sonny Gutierrez, I would strongly encourage those unsure about MARIGOLD to give this show a watch. They provide much-needed context on the roster as well as recenter the spotlight on the wrestlers, making the show very accessible to those interested in joshi, but who do not speak Japanese. They acknowledge the complicated pasts but really work hard to redirect the conversation in a positive light. For those who enjoy Japanese commentary, you’re in for a real treat of historical depth with both Yuzupon and Fuka on guest commentary alongside the play-by-play team.
I really enjoyed seeing the next chapters open for the post-STARDOM and post-AWG wrestlers, as well as learning more about key names in the independent scene and the new foreign team members. Even the production felt like a tapestry of what I love about smaller joshi promotions and reminded me of my first time in Korakuen Hall and my first proper STARDOM show in ShinKiba 1st Ring four years ago. This nostalgia nouveau fusion could easily draw you in not only to MARIGOLD but headlong into the deep on of all things joshi with the varied backgrounds of all the talents. This show is considerably shorter than the Japanese wrestling shows I am used to watching, which made it very manageable on a weekday, so I’d recommend checking it out.
Upcoming Schedule (Full Details)
- MARIGOLD Grand Opening Wars 2024 (5/26-6/30)
- MIRAI’s Homecoming Show (6/30) Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture
- MARIGOLD Summer Destiny 2024 (7/13) Ryogoku Sumo Hall; Full Card TBA
- Special Singles Match: Giulia vs. Sareee
