Mayu Iwatani made her Marigold debut on Sunday and put forth one of the best matches in the promotion’s short history.
Korakuen Hall was the site of Iwatani’s promotional debut in front of 1,210, one week removed from her exit from Stardom, where she had spent her entire career.
Iwatani headlined the card against the soon-to-be retiring Nanae Takahashi. The symbolism was that Takahashi was one of the founders of Stardom and left the promotion one year ago, and joined Rossy Ogawa in Marigold.
Marigold’s official Sonny Gutierrez was on commentary, who said that one year ago, he asked Iwatani if she was coming to Marigold, and she told him she was. This was while Iwatani was still IWGP Women’s Champion, and clearly, it was always Iwatani’s intention to join Ogawa.
Takahashi is retiring later this month, and this was her final match at Korakuen Hall after debuting in 1996, and the third singles match between Takahashi and Iwatani in their careers.
The atmosphere was electric for both entrances, and Iwatani was brought to tears before and after the match. The two engaged in an intense brawl, fighting into the stands, and Iwatani was sent rolling down the steps. They had a chair duel at ringside before Takahashi unseated the chairs, and both sat down and shared slaps.
Takahashi attacked Iwatani’s knee with a violent dragon screw leg whip out of the turnbuckle and worked for the submission.
Both women appeared to deliver full-on headbutts to the other, accompanied by a sickening thud when contact was made.
Takahashi landed her head butt and a big lariat before coming off the ropes and surprised by a ‘rana from Iwantani, who grabbed the leg for the pin after 26 minutes and 19 seconds.
Many online were praising this as the best match in Marigold’s history, and the heat and intensity backed those claims.
While the match was extraordinary, the post-match was equally part of the presentation as a tearful Iwatani apologized to the fans she was leaving behind in Stardom but encouraged everyone to chase their dreams and to “follow mine”.
Takahashi called Iwatani “an angel,” and she had worries about retiring, but knows that Iwatani can be bigger than she ever was.
Marigold’s Superfly champion Victoria Yuzuki entered the ring and challenged Iwatani with both looking at Rossy Ogawa for approval of the pending match. The Superfly championship is reserved for those 121 pounds or under with 15-minute time limit matches.
Finally, Miku Anou entered the ring the challenged Takahashi to be her final opponent in her retirement match later this month, and it was left with Takahashi agreeing to think about it.
Marigold Shine Forever will take place on May 24 as the promotion’s first anniversary card and featuring Nanae Takahashi’s retirement.
