Joshi Informer Newsletter May 2nd, 2025: Mayu Iwatani Leaves Stardom to Join Marigold, Meiko Satomura Retires, All-Star Grand Queendom Review
Welcome everyone to the May 2nd edition of The Joshi Informer newsletter. It’s perhaps the biggest week joshi has seen in sometime with Mayu Iwatani leaving Stardom after 14 years and joining Marigold three days later, Meiko Satomura retiring from wrestling, Stardom putting on what might be the show of the last decade or so before we got a press conference that shook the company to its foundations and everything in between.
It’s a long newsletter this week, and we hope you enjoy as we delve into granular detail about All-Star Grand Queendom before rounding up the rest of the news and results from an insane seven days!
In this week's newsletter:
Stardom: All-Star Grand Queendom review, Mayu Iwatani leaves, Maika to take extended break due to injury, Red and White Belt matches are set up for May.
Marigold: Mayu Iwatani signs with Marigold, Korakuen Hall review, Jungle Kyona returns, Magenta to challenge for Twinstar Championships.
Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling: Miyu Yamashita takes on Toni Storm in AEW, TJPW runs Sapporo and VPW and Princess Tag Team title matches are set up.
Other Joshi: Meiko Satomura retires from wrestling, the SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Tag Team belts are on the line, IYO and Giulia clash in WWE, Risa Sera defends the Diana World Championship against Haruka Umesaki, the Catch the Wave blocks are announced and more!
👇 🎧There’s a world of joshi podcasts out there: If you take your joshi news and reviews on the move, why not check out our range of podcasts by clicking on the links below and become even more familiarized with some of the world’s best wrestling!
ALL STAR GRAND QUEENDOM
RESULTS & REVIEWS
HANAKO won the Stardom Rumble by pinning Miyu Amasaki (22:36): After the match, she declared she would challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Championship due to Mina Shirakawa holding the title previously.
Scott: A bit of a shock to start on the preshow, as HANAKO started the Stardom Rumble and outlasted everyone else to win the match. Certainly wouldn’t have been my first option, but it’s apparent from the start that this promotion is looking toward the future. With the HANAKO win, they kicked that into full gear to start, and she will now challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Championship two years into her career. I’m not sure if she’s ready for the spot or the challenge. We’ll see.
Rob: With the raft of injuries and departures we know Stardom have with the power of hind-sight, having HANAKO win the pre-show rumble gives us not only a fresh new match-up for the White Belt, but also continues to elevate a midcard talent. Now, that’s not to say that this wasn’t still a surprise, especially with names such as Tomoka Inaba, Momo Watanabe, Azusa Inaba and Lady C all in the rumble, but I must applaud Stardom for giving us something new. It’s a sink or swin moment for The Wonder Tower and I look forward to seeing how she faces off with the Wonder of Stardom Championship at Korakuen Hall.
Future of Stardom Championship: Hina (c) def. Ranna Yagami (12:14)
Scott: Kicking off the main card with the Future of Stardom Championship is one of my favorite moves. I will always remember Hanan and Ruaka doing the same at the first Stardom Dream Queendom event, and it got the show off to such a good note. The same can be said here, as Hina and Ranna Yagami have both improved so much over the past year. You can see in real time within this reign that Hina is gaining confidence, and that’s great news for her future in this company. Trying to be herself rather than match her sisters is her pathway to success. She managed to defeat her stablemate in a hard-fought, enjoyable opening bout. (***)
Rob: This was a great way to kick off the main card and served as the best singles match yet for both Hina and Ranna Yagami. Hina becoming a full-time member of the roster after finishing school has come at the perfect time as more reps in the ring, more time spent amongst her peers, and a sustained push has done wonders for her confidence. Ranna Yagami meanwhile continues to go from strength to strength off the back of a great 2024, and I have no doubt it will not be long before we see her championship gold around her waist, especially now as she has even further refined those strikes that are now so closely akin to that of Syuri. A really good match here, highlighting once again the talent in the youth Stardom are spoiled with. (***1/2)
Sayaka Kurara def. Thekla (12:49): Thekla attacked Stardom President Taro Okada after the loss, resulting in her being fired from the company.
Scott: While the match may have been 12 minutes, this was a bout made for the angle itself. Sayaka Kurara defeated Thekla with her Falcon Arrow finish, getting herself a strong win on All Star Grand Queendom. (**) The match itself was fine, but it’s the aftermath that’s worth talking about. Thekla was fired from the company as the story between her and Stardom President Taro Okada finally reached its breaking point. Ultimately, the many months of attacks, threats, suspensions, and so on were to get us here with Thekla, and she got to say so long to both Stardom and Japan as a whole because of it. I was never fully into the angle, and I’m more so happy it’s over than anything else. The main takeaway from this match is that Stardom is all in on Kurara, who will now challenge for the World of Stardom Championship. A necessary move as they build for the future.
Rob: Scott has summed this up perfectly by saying this was a match built for the angle. Thekla did well in asserting herself as a heel whilst also making the necessary moves to get Sayaka Kurura over even more as the heroic underdog babyface. That being said, the post-match angle was absolute madness. Refusing to take her place in Cosmic Angels, Thekla once again dragged Taro Okada into the ring and began whipping him with her belt, before Okada told her she was fired. What the line was that Thekla had crossed after months of attacking her boss, not paying fines, not following through on promises and attacking staff members isn’t quite clear, but something clearly pushed Okada to fire Thekla with her legitiamaltey leaving the company, seemingly AEW bound. I’ve never been high on the angle itself, even after being there live to see Clark Connors obliterate Taro Okada with a Spear, but I do wish Thekla all the best in the USA, as her act got really good reactions across the pond. That being said, it’s all aboard the Sayaka Kurura train as she officially declares that she will be using her wish to fight for the World of Stardom Championship and not, as we first thought, to wish a certain someone back from retirement! (**3/4)
Yumiko Hotta def. Rina (10:02)
Scott: Another match made to showcase one of Stardom’s future top stars, as Rina stepped into the ring against Yumiko Hotta. Truthfully, this went about exactly as you could have expected — with Rina putting in the work to shine and Hotta doing her thing before just putting an end to the match. Any expectation of much more certainly would have led to disappointment, but this match cannot and will not be what stops Rina’s momentum. She looked solid in defeat, and it’s locked in for a massive 2025 that will likely feature her debut in the 5STAR Grand Prix. (**½)
Rob: For Rina to be given a singles match against a joshi legend on a card this stacked really does show you how much confidence the company have in her. Utlimately, we knew Hotta was going to win, and would probably do so with relative dominance, especially as Rina has been running her mouth a lot about the prior generation without any comeuppance. Rina worked hard despite the loss, and continues on what has been an unbelievable start to 2025 for her. (***)
Meiko Satomura, Mika Iwata & YUNA def. Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura, Natsupoi & Saori Anou) (13:05)
Scott: Meiko Satomura having one final match in Stardom just always felt right. So to make it happen was special, but to also make it happen on Stardom’s biggest show ever was all the better. The lone trios match on this card marked the start of the rise of quality on this show, and it was Aya Sakura who managed to be a big part of that as she brought it to Satomura. The Yokohama Arena crowd was all in on Sakura bringing it to the living legend, and she did it as long as she could before Satomura said enough was enough. Just an enjoyable match, nothing more, nothing less. (***½)
Rob: With the card having the potential to be the best joshi show of the past two decades, I didn’t want it over-saturated with matches that didn’t mean anything. However, the addition of Meiko Satomura’s final Stardom match before her retirement 2 days later felt like the perfect moment for this show. Though Natsupoi and Saori Anou are arguably your big hitters in this match for Cosmic Angels - and we were ever-so-briefly teased with a return to the Saori Anou and Mika Iwata feud that lit up large parts of 2024 - it was Aya Sakura who was the main focus, embarking on a frantic closing stretch with Meiko Satomura. Giving Aya that spotlight was yet another nod to the future for Stardom, and one that hopefully sees her make her 5Star Grand Prix debut this year. However, this match was ultimately our chance to wave good bye and salute to Satomura as she takes a deserved retirement from a stellar in-ring career! (***3/4)
Suzu Suzuki def. Mei Seira in a No DQ Match (15:55)
Scott: “And here we go.” No match could have put this show on the path it went better than this one right here. Stardom’s decision to move this from just a singles match to a No DQ match was necessary and brilliant. With Suzu Suzuki taking over Mi Vida Loca and turning her back on Mei Seira, it was time to show the world what this new Suzu Suzuki is really going to be. Once that first drop of blood was seen on Suzuki’s face, she was activated. “The Crazy Girl” returned to her deathmatch roots and did so by bringing a level of violence and craziness to the match between her and Seira. And as great as Suzuki was in the match — because trust me, she was — Seira deserves all the respect in the world. This isn’t her type of match. She’s not violent. And yet she went out there, crimson mask on her face, and put on a show against her former CRAZY STAR partner. A sensational match that saw Suzuki cap it off with a picture-perfect Sky Twister Press for the victory. Run, don’t walk, to see this match. The Suzuki of old has arrived. (****½)
Rob: I was convinced that with this match being made No DQ, and with this match containing deathmatch-fan Suzu Suzuki, that this would be a plunder match. However, I was pleasantly proven wrong as, aside from a few early chair shots on the outside that saw both women opened up in the early stages, there was no other foray to the outside and no other weapons used, allowing the two women to settle the score with a level of violence I didn’t think Mei Seira was capable of. Having Suzu - who has been the subject of some utterly ridiculous abuse online as of late - hit the Sky Twister Press to prove just how technically good as well as violent she actually is was also a nice touch after an insane amount of incredible nearfalls. The final scene of Mei Seira sobbing and bleeding buckets as Suzu sneers and rolls out of the ring is the perfect reintroduction of the Suzuki that took Giulia to her limits in 2022 and 2023 and great introduction for Mi Vida Loca! (****1/2)
Sendai Girls World Championship: Chihiro Hashimoto (c) def. Maika (14:55)
Scott: The Sendai Girls World Championship being defended was a gift because it meant we’d get Chihiro Hashimoto on the show. “Big Hash” and Maika put together a good one, but it’d be wrong to say that following the all-out, bloody encounter was tough for them and their style. The early going didn’t contain as much explosiveness, but rather a feeling-out process and ground game that is typical of Hashimoto’s big matches. Maika worked the arm of Hashimoto, but that didn’t limit the power of the champion, who won with a devastating Powerbomb to successfully defend her gold for the first time. While the match wasn’t the blowaway bout you’d want from these two, it was still a good one in what will be Maika’s final major match for some time. (***¾)
Rob: Another bonus match on this star-studded card! Maika and Chihiro Hashimoto is a singles match I’ve wanted to see for a long time, and when they started teasing working together, I dared to dream. We got exactly what I wanted here; power unrefined. Maika looked to wipe out the arm of Hashimoto early but the champion was able to power through this, resulting a explosive crescendo at the end, the champion hurling Maika into a towering Powerbomb. Considering we now know that Maika was working this match with an elbow injury, it makes it all the more impressive; just imagine what she and Hashimoto would be able to do when Maika is 100% fit! (****1/4)
Goddesses of Stardom Championship: wing*gori (Hanan & Saya Iida) (c) def. FWC (Hazuki & Koguma) (14:26)
Scott: Uncomfortable. There’s no other word that comes to mind that fits this match better than uncomfortable. The dislike that Hanan and Hazuki have for each other was on full display in a way no one could have imagined, and it made this match far more personal than anyone would have expected back when it was announced. These two laid into each other, destroyed each other, and left no doubt as to where their minds and opinions are of one another. Hanan wasn’t going to back down, however, and it’s why this match reached the heights it did. The violence was top tier, with Hazuki and Hanan taking that final stretch while Saya Iida destroyed Koguma on the apron with a Muscle Buster. The insanity of the headbutts speaks for themselves, but in the end, Hanan survived by hitting the Backdrop Driver on Hazuki to win. This may not have had the blood that Suzuki vs. Seira did, but it certainly had everything else you could ask for — and perhaps even fear. (****¼)
Rob: The poison that has seeped its way into STARS - and in particular into the relationship between Hanan and Hazuki - added an even more destructive edge to what we knew would have tag team match of the year potential. Saya Iida and Koguma had their moments - an Iida Muscle Buster on the apron a quintessential OMG moment - but the crux of the match was rightly built around Hazuki and Hanan, who proceeded to absolutely batter each other. Having Hazuki grin as Hanan unloads on her in the early goings, painting her as the cold-hearted and dismissive heel is the moment the rest of the match is built around as this opens the floodgates for some of the insane strikes the pair would then throw. It’s a side we rarely, if ever, see from Hanan, yet the way she drove Hazuki to the canvas with thunderous forearms to the base of the skull, only for Hazuki to then do the same in what looked eerily/masterfully close to a shoot, built anticipation for what was an outstanding closing stretch. In the same vein of things we wouldn’t ordinarily see from Hanan, it was a shoot headbutt into a Back Drop that gave Winggori the win - their first in four matches with FWC. As I mentioned earlier, we knew this match would be good, but the way these two teams managed to weave unhinged violence and the toxicity of a rapidly degrading personal relationship into it in the process makes this a must see encounter! (****3/4)
IWGP Women’s Championship: Syuri def. Mayu Iwatani (c) to become the new champion (21:54): Sareee officially challenged Syuri to an IWGP Women’s Championship match afterward.
Scott: Being emotional while watching wrestling is what makes it great. When you have the ability to feel and experience the ups and downs that the wrestlers do, it adds so much. When Mayu Iwatani walked down to the ring with the most emotion she’s had in maybe her whole career, you and everyone watching were instantly moved to a different match. This wasn’t just the latest chapter between her and Syuri, but it was so much more. For Iwatani, it marked the end. The end of her 14-year all-time great run in STARDOM. While that wasn’t public at the time, it was sure in the minds of many, especially those in Yokohama Arena. And for Syuri, this was a chance to return to glory. Over the last two years, she’s led by example, but without the success that she was accustomed to in her first three years in the company. Returning to the top was just as emotional for her, and that’s what brought this match from the typical epic to simply special. The electrifying back and forth that you’re used to was here, but so was the drama of the is match having to end with a winner. In some ways, for Iwatani especially, there was a realization that she was no longer unbeatable, and perhaps some of that is due to Syuri becoming undeniable yet again. The crispness of the strikes and moves in this match was second to none, and it’s the closing stretch of dramatics that was highlighted by a kickout of the Two-Step Dragon Suplex that brought this match to the highest level. When Syuri had it in her to get Mayu up for the new Cross-Armed Syu-Sekai, all the emotions I experienced from the match changed — I, perhaps like Iwatani, was fully complete. This match accomplished everything you could ask for when it comes to Iwatani’s final stand in Stardom. No match was more fitting and more special than this, and it was only right that Iwatani’s final stop in her 14-year home was against her best opponent since the days of Kagetsu and Io Shirai. A genuine classic that catapults Syuri vs. Mayu Iwatani into the great, all-time series of matches in STARDOM history. (*****)
Rob: 4th January 2024. The last time these two went at it in singles action proved to be one of the matches of the year, and one that epitomised Mayu Iwatani’s ungodly reign with the IWGP Women’s Championship. Fast-forward a year and I wasn’t sure how the pair would top it; but top it they did. Not only did there seem to be a frenetic nature in this that wasn’t in the previous bout, but everything from the viciousness of the strikes to the exhaustion of Mayu as she attempts and fails to go for the Fubuki Rana that got her the victory last time, paints this as the perfect end to their five-match series. The kick outs were incredible, with Syuri’s last gasp kick out of the Two-Step Dragon one that had me quite literally jumping from the sofa and scaring the biscuits out of my sleeping cat. With Syuri winning with the new wrist-lock variation of the Vermillion World, this felt like a true passing of the torch moment, and the perfect match to sign off on the Stardom career of the best woman to ever do it. A truly remarkable match, rife with brutality, desperation, story and emotion, it is a must see for all Stardom fans old and new. (*****)
Wonder of Stardom Championship & Leadership of NEO Genesis: Starlight Kid (c) def. AZM (20:37)
Scott: The placement of what had to be between Mayu Iwatani’s final STARDOM match and Tam Nakano’s final match wasn’t an easy one, and that sadly went to AZM and Starlight Kid. Now, no match could’ve been in this spot and reached the standard or level you’d want — because if this match couldn’t, no other match could. Starlight Kid and AZM did their best to have a match full of athleticism, high-speed, and excitement, but were met with a crowd emotionally drained from the previous bout and preparing themselves for the next match — which was surely going to be just as difficult, if not more. These two went for a match that was very similar to those in American promotion main events, packing it with big moves, big kickouts, and trying to create anticipation through their athletic gifts. The reason I found this match to be a step or two below their previous work was partly due to placement, and also due to Starlight Kid very visibly still injured and banged up. She’s doing her best, but there’s no way that she is 100%. And even with that being the case, she managed to defend the Wonder of Stardom Championship against her eternal foe in a competitive, yet weaker match of their classic rivalry. (***½)
Rob: Any other wrestlers might have been intimidated in having to follow a match for the ages in Mayu vs. Syuri, but Starlight Kid and AZM took it in their stride and gave us another fun sprint to add to their generational rivalry. Full credit must go to Starlight Kid who, despite still obviously struggling with the shoulder injury that sidelined her earlier in the year, still continues to hit moves such as the Asai Moonsault and the Eternal Foe with unnerving accuracy and grace; an injured SLK is still better than a lot of wrestlers at 100% which is a terrifying proposition. AZM was great here too, going back to their 2022 High-Speed match and once again targeting the arm of Kid whilst the champion opted to try and wipe out the leg of the challenger. Eventually, after a host of big kick-outs, Kid got the victory - and her first win in 7 over AZM in singles action - to retain the belt in a match where she once again found herself bleeding from the nose. Similarly to Maika and Hashimoto, I feel like there is a better match there which, considering I enjoyed this match immensely, is a frightening thing to contemplate. (****1/4)
World of Stardom Championship: Saya Kamitani (c) def. Tam Nakano in a Career vs. Career Match (26:09)
Scott: Dramatic? Yes. Overly dramatic? Maybe. Emotional? Oh yeah. Physical? You got it. And would you expect anything less for what was ultimately the grand ending of the Tam Road? Absolutely not. For a long time, I’ve watched Tam Nakano enter big matches and know what to expect. She, like any top-tier pro wrestler, has her spots and musts in matches. That can be a good thing, or it can be a bad thing. But for a match that was supposed to be the magnum opus while also being the storybook ending of her career, it would have been criminal not to love and appreciate everything she brought to the table for her final encounter with Saya Kamitani. I knew heading into this match that tears would be present, with Kamitani being the prime suspect and doing just that midway through the bout. It wouldn’t have matched the proper emotions if she didn’t. After all, Kamitani gives Nakano all the credit in the world for the reason that she is a pro wrestler. But as those tears fell from her eyes, Nakano pushed through, and they came to blows with slaps across the face, with no end to this match being allowed other than one of their careers closing for good. The final minutes of this match were magic, were fitting, and almost unbelievable as the realization came that this was really it for STARDOM’s Twilight Dream. When Kamitani hit her own Twilight Dream on Nakano to end the match and her career, it was the ideal ending to the woman who went from outcast to main character in her STARDOM career. The post-match was beautiful, and the show's closing image of Nakano keeping her promise was one of the greatest endings to a wrestling show in history. Nakano promised that once she lost this match, she’d disappear from pro wrestling and into the darkness, which is exactly what she did. Legitimately, the perfect close to Nakano’s winding road, and she ended up putting over her greatest pupil in the end. (*****)
Rob: Wrestling cinema. Pure, unapologetic, emotional wrestling cinema. I wondered how the pair were going to top Saya learning how to drive just to hit Tam with a car in the lead up, with the pair having seemingly done every dangerous spot in the book over the course of this spectacular feud, but they answered that by leaning hard into the emotion and enormity of the occasion. Yes, there was still the spots that made you wince - Tam taking another Snapmare from the top rope onto the very edge of the apron, Saya hitting an incredible Frankensteiner and all of the action on the ramp - but this was about the emotion and in Tam and Saya, you have got to of the most emotional wrestlers in the company. Everything felt like it meant something in this match, from the facial expressions, to the brief catching of each other’s eyes, to us getting a brief slip of the mask as Saya once again can’t bring herself to bring out the Phoenix Splash despite the enormity of what is going on; showing us that the old Saya is still in there, just buried very very deep. Both women hitting each other’s moves was good, but Saya pulling Tam up by the hair after hitting the Star Crusher in order to hit the Twilight Dream - her mentor’s own move - to send her into retirement is the perfect ending to this agonising saga. On her way out, Tam put over perhaps her biggest rival and her biggest success story, and in that way this is the perfect way to go out. However, the pair then managed to ramp it up even further with the post-match; the reality of what Saya has done hitting her like an emotional double-decker bus. The pair eventually embrace, Saya bringing the darkness to the end of Saya’s career, and Tam salvaging the light in Saya’s. The champion helps the challenger to the stage, where they sit and watch the black feathers falling from the ceiling, Tam pointing at them dazedly as Saya sobs uncontrollably. We fade to black, and when the lights come back up, both women are gone. Perfection. (*****)
STARDOM
NEWS
Mayu Iwatani has officially left Stardom. For the first time in her 14-year career, “The Icon” will no longer be a roster member as she announced her exit at a press conference on Monday. Iwatani made her pro wrestling debut on the first-ever Stardom show, Birth of Nova, back in 2011 and called the promotion home ever since. As stated in her press conference, once she lost the IWGP Women’s Championship to Syuri, she felt she had nothing left to prove in the company and was looking for something new. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, she went as far as to say that she is looking to go somewhere where she’s more needed. Iwatani is Stardom’s only Grand Slam winner, holding every top championship in the company's history while also winning all three of the company’s main tournaments. Her official exit should not come as a shock to many people, but it certainly marks the end of an era.
As well as the news that Mayu Iwatani will depart the company with immediate effect, Maika also announced at the press conference that she will be taking an extended period of leave from the company to deal with an ongoing injury. Though she will continue to wrestle through the upcoming Golden Week Fight Tour, and through her homecoming show in Fukuoka, Maika will then begin a period of recovery from an elbow injury she’s been struggling with for 3 years; something she has continued to fight through against Doctor’s wishes! The current reported timetable for her recovery is anywhere between 6 months and a year, meaning that she will almost certainly miss the remainder of 2025. The Fukuoka show is scheduled for the 6th May, which is Maika’s last active date at the time of writing.
After losing the Career vs. Career match against Saya Kamitani in the main event of All Star Grand Queendom 2025, Tam Nakano retired from wrestling. Nakano’s official exit came in the most fitting way possible, wrestling for nearly 30 minutes against her top rival before falling to her own finisher, the Twilight Dream. As she requested before the match even happened, there was no retirement ceremony or celebration. Instead, Nakano watched as the feathers of “The Phenex Queen” fell from the sky, and her promise of fading to darkness and disappearing from pro wrestling became true. We wish Nakano the best in her post-wrestling life.
Maika announced that following the Fukuoka show on May 6th, she will be taking an extended absence to heal some injuries that she has been dealing with. We wish her the best in her recovery.
On top of everything coming out of the press conference this week, it must have already been difficult to put together cards for the upcoming shows for the opening of Golden Week – especially when considering the continued long-term absences of Ami Sourei, Xena, Anne Kanaya, and Matoi Hamabe. However, with the announcements of the cards for Hiroshima and Fukuyama on 4/29 and 1/5 comes confirmation of yet more injuries;
Mei Seira – Out until the May 6th show in Fukuoka
Hanan – Out until the May 6th show in Fukuoka
Saki Kashima – Out until May 1st due to illness
Momo Watanabe – Out indefinitely with an ankle injury
Suzu Suzuki – Out until at least May 1st with Stardom reassessing after the show in Fukuyama
Kiyoka Kotatsu – Absent, but no information pertaining as to why
Anne Kanaya – Out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on her hand
Matoi Hamabe – Out indefinitely after undergoing surgery on her knee
There is some good news, however. After missing the last two shows with illness, Natsuko Tora returns to action, with Konami also returning after missing All-Star Grand Queendom. After a long period out will ill-health, Saki Kashima also returns in 6-woman tag team action on May 1st in Fukuyama.
After a month of speculation as to what she would use her Cinderella Tournament wish for, Sayaka Kurura confirmed backstage at All-Star Grand Queendom that she would be using the wish to challenge the winner of Saya Kamitani and Tam Nakano for the World of Stardom Championship. With Kamitani winning and subsequently forcing the latter into retirement, Kurura officially challenged for the Red Belt at the following day’s press conference. Though Kamitani was not present at the press conference due to being too emotionally spent from the previous day’s main event, the match has been confirmed in her absence to be the main event of Stardom’s upcoming Korakuen Hall show on May 11th.
Following her victory in the Stardom Rumble at All-Star Grand Queendom, HANAKO has now officially challenged for Starlight Kid’s Wonder of Stardom Championship. At the aforementioned press conference, it was confirmed that the match will take place on Stardom’s 21st May Korakuen Hall event. This will be Starlight Kid’s 4th defence of the belt, and HANAKO’s first attempt at the White Belt.
New Japan’s focus turns to Fukuoka and the pair of Wrestling Dontaku shows set to run on May 3rd and May 4th from the Fukuoka Kokusai Center. As well as big New Japan title matches that sees Hirooki Goto defend the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship against United Empire’s Callum Newman and Yota Tsuji go to war with Yuya Uemura for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Championship, the company confirmed that there will be Stardom participation on night 2, with the participants now being officially confirmed. Hazuki, Koguma and Maika will have the opportunity to wrestle as Fukuoka Triple Crazy in front of their hometown crowd just two days before Stardom runs the prefecture when they team up against the team of AZM, Starlight Kid and Yuna Mizumori in six-woman tag team action. This match will mark the New Japan debut of Yuna Mizumori, while AZM will go from Fukuoka to California when she appears at New Japan Resurgence on May 9th in a three-way for Mercedes Mone’s NJPW Strong Women’s Championship.
RESULTS & REVIEWS
STARDOM Golden Week Fight Tour in FUKUYAMA
Tuesday, April 29th 2025
Fukuyama Big Rose, Hiroshima
Attendance: 557
Waka Tsukiyama def. Akira Kurogane (10:37)
God's Eye (Ranna Yagami & Syuri) def. STARS (Momo Kohgo & Saya Iida) (11:48)
Fukuoka Double Crazy (Hazuki & Koguma) defeat God's Eye (Lady C & Tomoka Inaba) (15:10)
H.A.T.E (Azusa Inaba, Natsuko Tora, Ruaka & Saya Kamitani) def. Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi, Sayaka Kurara & Yuna Mizumori) & Yuria Hime (16:19)
NEO-GENESIS (AZM, Miyu Amasaki & Starlight Kid) def. EXV (HANAKO, Maika & Rian) (12:34)
H.A.T.E (Konami & Rina) def. Cosmic Angels (Aya Sakura & Saori Anou) (16:14)
STARDOM Golden Week Fight Tour in TAKAMATSU
Thursday, May 1st 2025
Symbol Tower Exhibition Hall, Takamatsu
Attendance: 398
HANAKO def. Akira Kurogane and Tomoka Inaba (7:25)
Aya Sakura & Yuna Mizumori def. Momo Kohgo & Saya Iida (10:18)
Maika & Waka Tsukiyama def. Hina & Lady C (11:59)
NEO Genesis (AZM, Miyu Amasaki & Starlight Kid) def. H.A.T.E. (Konami, Rina & Ruaka) via Disqualification (13:26)
God's Eye (Ranna Yagami, Saki Kashima & Syuri) def. Hazuki, Koguma & Yuria Hime (11:39)
Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi, Saori Anou & Sayaka Kurara) def. H.A.T.E. (Azusa Inaba, Natsuko Tora & Saya Kamitani) (17:55): After defeating Saya Kamitani, Sayaka Kurara made “The Phenex Queen” sign the contract for their championship match
LOOKING AHEAD…
The Golden Week Fight Tour kicks off in earnest over this week and next, with Stardom making a stop in Kumamoto Castle Hall on Sunday May 3rd, with a special singles match between Starlight Kid and Yuna Mizumori in the main event and the Fukuoka Double Crazy team of Hazuki and Koguma teaming with Suzu Suzuki against God’s Eye. The full card can be seen here.
Following this, Stardom run shows in Sendai on Tuesday, May 5th and in Fukuoka on the 6th May. Tuesday’s show will see Syuri and Ranna Yagami take on Saya Kamitani and Rina in the main event, whilst NEO-GENESIS’s ongoing war with H.A.T.E that seems to be building towards an Artist of Stardom Championship match continues in 6-woman tag team action. The full card is viewable for fans here.
Meanwhile, the Fukuoka show will see Hazuki, Koguma and Maika team up once more to form Fukuoka Triple Crazy against the team of Suzu Suzuki, Yuna Mizumori and Akira Kurogane. This show will be the homecoming show for Hazuki, Koguma and Maika, and will also act as Maika’s last scheduled date before she takes extended time off to deal with an elbow injury. The full card for the Fukuoka show can be found in full here.
UPCOMING SHOWS THIS WEEK
Saturday (May 3rd): STARDOM Golden Week Fight Tour in KUMAMOTO - Kumamoto Castle Hall, Kumamoto (STARDOM WORLD TBD)
Monday (May 5th): "STARDOM Golden Week Fight Tour 2025 in SATSUMA-SENDAI - Kagoshima Sun Arena Sendai Sub Arena, Kagoshima (STARDOM WORLD TBD)
Tuesday (May 6th): STARDOM Golden Week Fight Tour 2025 in FUKUOKA - Fukuoka Island City Forum, Fukuoka (STARDOM WORLD TBD)
MARIGOLD
NEWS
Mayu Iwatani has officially joined Marigold. The announcement came at the emergency press conference on May 1st, as Iwatani joined Marigold President Rossy Ogawa at the presser to announce that she’d join the company. Her addition has been a welcome one, as Iwatani has promised to be the company’s savior and face moving forward. During the press conference, she revealed that one of the reasons she joined Marigold was with the goal of facing longtime partner and reigning WWE Women’s World Champion IYO SKY, who appeared at Summer Destiny 2024 and defeated Utami Hayashishita. Iwatani also stated that she will do her best to raise up everyone in the company, and is aiming to make Marigold the best promotion in the world.
Iwatani’s first match will be this Sunday at Korakuen Hall, where she will go one-on-one with Nanae Takahashi. It’ll be the first time these two former World of Stardom Champions face off since 2012, when Iwatani was in the second year of her career.
On top of all this, Iwatani has made her intentions clear when it comes to her own hopeful accolades. As Stardom’s Grand Slam winner, Iwatani now sets out to do the same in Marigold by winning the Marigold World Championship, United National Championship, TwinStar Championship, and Superfly Championship. She’d become the first to ever accomplish that, and is the first to accomplish both Grand Slams. But her aspirations don’t stop there, as the GHC Women’s Championship is on her mind as well.
As Ogawa admitted in the press conference, Marigold needed Iwatani, and now she’s here to change things for the better. It all starts this Sunday when she makes her in-ring debut. “The Joshi Puroresu Icon” is prepared to take over the wrestling world once again.
Jungle Kyona made her return to a wrestling ring for the first time in 2 years on April 27th when the company went to Nagoya. Kyona – a Nagoya native – had a five-minute exhibition bout with Nanae Takahashi, her first singles match since the 12th December 2022, where she lost a DPW Women’s World Title #1 Contendership match to Emi Sakura. After this, Kyona took to the microphone to say that she wanted to make a full return, whilst also noting that she had her eye on championship gold in Marigold. This match marks Jungle Kyona’s first match in wrestling since the 14th April 2023 at NOMAD’s Freelance Summit Vol. 3 – a match that also included Nanae Takahashi, and was the first time since the 4th October 2020 that she had competed in front of her hometown crowd of Nagoya!
Following the Marigold vs. Marvelous main event of the 4/25 Korakuen Hall show, Marigold announced through their social media channels that Magenta (Riko Kawahata and Maria) will be challenging the Twinstar Champions Nanae Takahashi and Seri Yamaoka for the belts on May 5th in 176BOX Osaka.
RESULTS & REVIEWS
Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 1
Friday, April 25th 2025
Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Attendance: 680
Attendance Note: The announced attendance inside Korakuen Hall was 680. This is a 25.39% decrease from the company’s previous house inside Korakuen Hall (911 on the 30th March, main-evented by Bozilla vs. Utami Hayashishita for the Marigold World Championship). Though a significant decrease, it is worth noting that no singles titles were defended on this show compared to the two defended in March.
Hummingbird def. Nagisa Tachibana and Komomo Minami (5:06)
Yuuki Minami def. Riara (5:27)
Darkness Revolution (Nagisa Nozaki, Gigaton & Megaton) def. Chanyota, Erina Yamanaka & Ryoko Sakimura (7:23)
TwinStar Championship: Nanae Takahashi & Seri Yamaoka (c) def. CHIAKI & Misa Matsui: Passion runs deep once again in the world of Marigold. Since the moment they won the TwinStar Championship, Nanae Takahashi and Seri Yamaoka have been the top champions of the company. It’s been hard to argue from their countless main events and memorable matches, with this match just being another feather in the cap for their title reign. Yamaoka is figuring things out, becoming much more comfortable in the ring and being able to depend on instincts along with her natural ability that has pushed her to impressive heights four months into her career. This may have been her best personal performance, as she was doing some strong work in there with both Misa Matsui and CHIAKI. Speaking of Matsui, she’s destined for championship gold. It didn’t come here, as the Passion Family just has too much chemistry to be denied, but she had another top-tier performance. This was also one of CHIAKI’s finest performances, as she is making more and more strides teaming with Matsui. Takahashi won the match by hitting a top rope Reizouko Bakudan for the win on CHIAKI. (***¾)
MiraiSaku (MIRAI & Mai Sakurai) def. Utami Hayashishita & Victoria Yuzuki (16:11): MIRAI was a woman on a mission, and it resulted in one of her best career performances. This entire match was about proving to Utami Hayashishita that she should be challenging for the Marigold World Championship at Shine Forever. There was no doubt that within minutes of MIRAI getting her hands on Hayashishita that she isn’t only ready, she might win. MIRAI puts her hair up and is locked in more than ever. She destroyed Hayashishita in this match. It was one Lariat after another before completely folding Hayashishita to walk away with the victory and earn her official shot at the belt. But it’s only right to credit both Mai Sakurai and Victoria Yuzuki for their work as well, adding to the match in the early going and showing some great chemistry with one another before leaving it to the world title picture to close it out. (****) MIRAI will indeed get her Marigold World Championship match on May 24th at Shine Forever, as Hayashishita agreed to. Also, Misa Matsui will challenge Mai Sakurai on May 4th for the United National Championship at Korakuen Hall.
Marvelous (Ai Houzan, Maria, Riko Kawahata, Sora Ayame & Takumi Iroha) def. Marigold (Chika Goto, Kizuna Tanaka, Miku Aono, Natsumi Showzuki & Rea Seto) (43:03): Pro wrestling at its greatest form makes you feel emotion. Excitement. Concern. Happiness. And so much more. The latest encounter between Marigold and Marvelous captured exactly that and so much more. When you have 10 wrestlers prepared for war and to defend the promotion they love, it’s going to be heated. It’s going to be personal. And it’s going to be terrific. Within 43 minutes and 3 seconds, Marigold and Marvelous made stars for both of their promotions. Kizuna Tanaka may very well be the biggest winner of this match, as the ultimate babyface of Marigold had a roaring start that saw her eliminate both Sora Ayame and Ai Houzan in the early going. The same can be said for Maria, however, who also had a career best performance competing against Tanaka, Rea Seto, and going to a draw with Natsumi Showzuki to even things for Marvelous. From there, the drama ramped up all the more with Miku Aono and Riko Kawahata delivering some of the best 10 minutes in all of wrestling this year, hitting brutal kicks every second before the time ran out. In the closing fall, it was the inspired yet green Chika Goto, moving past her usual entrance, pose, and more, against the monster ace of Marvelous, that is Takumi Iroha. The Korakuen Hall crowd was behind GoChika more than anyone else in the match, and that gave her the heart to keep pushing — even if there wasn’t much she could do in terms of answers. When Iroha pointed to the Marigold roster before crushing the promotion and GoChika’s chances of gaining a necessary win, you felt the animosity and hatred that drives wrestling to be greater. The Running Three was the end of this match, a match that will go down as one of the greatest of the year and in Marigold’s history. (****¾) Following the match, Magenta’s Riko Kawahata and Maria challenged Nanae Takahashi and Seri Yamaoka to a TwinStar Championship match.
Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 2
Saturday, April 26th 2025
176BOX, Osaka
Attendance: 239
Attendance Note: The announced attendance inside 176BOX in Osaka was 239. This is the lowest house Marigold has drawn to the venue in their eight times of running it. It is a 17.01% decrease on their previous attendance at the venue (288 on the 8th of March), with this also being their previous lowest attendance at the venue.
Komomo Minami def. Riara (4:41)
Natsumi Showzuki & Ryoko Sakimura def. Yuuki Minami & Nagisa Tachibana (9:34)
Gigaton & Megaton def. Flying Penguin & Hummingbird (8:34)
Chika Goto, Mai Sakurai & Miku Aono vs. Darkness Revolution (CHIAKI, Misa Matsui & Nagisa Nozaki) ended in a Time-Limit Draw (15:00)
Utami Hayashishita, Kizuna Tanaka & Victoria Yuzuki def. MIRAI, Rea Seto & Seri Yamaoka (15:49): If you’re looking for an enjoyable trios match from this card, you got it right here in the main event. With Utami Hayashishita and MIRAI on a collision course toward Shine Forever, everything they do against one another is under a microscope. The good news for both of them? They’re great, and they work incredibly well together. This match was full of Lariats, especially on the outside of the ring — which was all the crazier. Add in Selene Flora with Utami while rising stars Seri Yamaoka and Rea Seto get the spotlight, and you have a quality trios match. Seto may have taken the pin here in this match, but she’s consistently becoming a bright spot for Marigold as her performances stand out each outing. (***½)
Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 3
Sunday, April 27th 2025
Chunichi Hall, Aichi
Attendance: Not Reported
Attendance Note: The attendance inside Chunichi Hall in Aichi has not yet been made public. This is the fourth time Marigold have run the venue, with their current highest attendance sitting at 315 (February 2nd with Victoria Yuzuki vs. Misa Matsui for the Superfly Title in the main event) and their average being 296 – though again, this will change if the attendance for this show is released.
Ryoko Sakimura def. Hummingbird & Nagisa Tachibana (5:33)
Natsumi Showzuki def. Riara (6:04)
Seri Yamaoka def. Komomo Minami (8:41)
Tag Team Match: Darkness Revolution (Misa Matsui & Gigaton) def. Chika Goto & Minami Yuki (9:09)
Kizuna Tanaka, Mai Sakurai & Miku Aono def. Darkness Revolution (CHIAKI, Megaton & Nagisa Nozaki) (14:36)
Nanae Takahashi vs. Jungle Kyona Ended in a Time-Limit Draw (5:00): This is a match that is about so much more than the sum of its parts. Jungle Kyona making her return to the ring after two years away due to injury is a special moment in of itself, but then to watch her channel that trademark fire and intensity in this five-minute match is amazing. Nanae of course - the consummate professional that she is - takes great care of Jungle, and the passionate embrace that greets the time-limit bell is a perfect little cherry on top. Couple with this the fact that Kyona took to the microphone to announce that she intends to make a full return to the ring, and will be targeting singles gold in Marigold - and this five minutes might have made me the happiest I’ve been in a long, long time! (Unrated)
Utami Hayashishita & Victoria Yuzuki def. MIRAI & Rea Seto (19:26): MIRAI and Utami are bringing the fire in the lead-up to their title match in Yoyogi at the end of May. Every exchange feels special and fraught with aggression - it’s undoubtedly going to be a fantastic match. But as a result, those that they are teaming with are reaping the benefits and nowhere is that more obvious than with Rea Seto. The highest compliment I can pay her is that she feels like she belongs in this match amongst the main event talent, and that is a testament to how quickly she has improved. Her submission-based onslaught on Utami and her impressively smooth offence throughout continue to showcase her development and, despite ultimately eating a Moonsault from Yuzuki to end the match, I’m very much looking forward to seeing more of Rea Seto in these prominent positions as the year goes on. (***1/2)
Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 4
Tuesday, April 29th 2025
Yokohama Radiant Hall, Yokohama
Attendance: 225
Attendance Note: The announced attendance inside Yokohama Radiant Hall in Kanagawa was 225. This is the second time Marigold have run the Yokohama Radiant Hall, with this house being a nominal 10 people - or 4.26% - decrease on their previous attendance of 235 on the 25th January as a part of the New Years Golden Garden shows.
Hummingbird def. Riara (7:49)
Darkness Revolution (CHIAKI, Megaton & Gigaton) def. Yuuki Minami, Nagisa Tachibana & Ryoko Sakimura (6:19)
Chanyota & Mai Sakurai vs. Misa Matsui & Nagisa Nozaki ended in a Time-Limit Draw (15:00)
MIRAI & Seri Yamaoka def. Komomo Minami & Utami Hayashishita (11:29)
Chika Goto, Miku Aono & Natsumi Showzuki def. Rea Seto, Kizuna Tanaka & Victoria Yuzuki (9:49)
LOOKING AHEAD…
Golden Week continues to be a busy one for Marigold, as they have four shows over the next week, including a return to Korakuen Hall.
First up will be Rising Spirit Night 5 in Shizuoka. The show will be main evented by a Marigold World Championship preview tag as Utami Hayashishita teams with Victoria Yuzuki once more to face MIRAI and Yuuki Minami. Check out the full card.
Then Marigold heads back to Korakuen Hall for their lone Korakuen of May. As you know by now, the main event will see the Marigold debut of Mayu Iwatani, as she goes head-to-head with Nanae Takahashi as part of the Passion Countdown. Mai Sakurai will also defend the United National Championship against Misa Matsui. Here’s the full card.
The Golden Week tour keeps moving forward on Monday in Miyagi. The main event sees Nanae Takahashi team with Seri Yamaoka and Rea Seto to face Miku Aono, Natsumi Showzuki, and Hummingbird. Full card can be found here.
And finally, Marigold finishes its Golden Week tour at the Sendai PIT. The main event will be another preview for the Marigold World Championship match as Utami Hayashishita teams with Selene Flora to face MIRAI, Nanae Takahashi, and Seri Yamaoka. Take a look here for the complete card.
UPCOMING SHOWS THIS WEEK
Saturday (May 3rd): Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 5 - Act City Hamamatsu, Shizuoka (WRESTLE UNIVERSE VOD)
Sunday (May 4th): Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 6 - Korakuen Hall, Tokyo (WRESTLE UNIVERSE LIVE)
Monday (May 5th): Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 7 - Kurihara City Tsuchidate B&G Marine Center, Miyagi (WRESTLE UNIVERSE VOD)
Tuesday (May 6th): Marigold Rising Spirit 2025 ~ Night 8 - Sendai PIT, Miyagi (WRESTLE UNIVERSE VOD)
TOKYO JOSHI PRO-WRESTLING
NEWS
During her latest American tour, Miyu Yamashita to the chance to step into AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm in an Eliminator Match. The match lasted 9 minutes and 23 seconds as Yamashita fell to Storm in a strong effort. AEW played a video package ahead of the match to reintroduce her to their crowds, as this was her first time competing there since 2022.
RESULTS & REVIEWS
TJPW SPRING TOUR 2025 IN SAPPORO
Saturday, April 26th 2025
Sapporo Sunplaza, Hokkaido
Attendance: 281
HIMAWARI def. Chika Nanase (6:19)
Kaya Toribami def. Mahiro Kiryu and Uta Takami (7:00)
Pom Harajuku & Raku def. Ivy Steele & Kira Summer (8:58)
Yuki Aino def. Yoshiko Hasegawa (7:49)
Mifu Ashida, Wakana Uehara & Yuki Kamifuku def. Haru Kazashiro, Shino Suzuki & Toga (13:23)
Kyoraku Kyomei (Hyper Misao & Shoko Nakajima) def. Haruna Neko & Rika Tatsumi (10:37)
Arisu Endo, Suzume & Mizuki def. Miu Watanabe, Moka Miyamoto & Yuki Arai (14:07)
LOOKING AHEAD…
Saitama will play host to the first of two TJPW shows over Golden Week. The main event will see Suzume make her fourth defense of the International Princess Championship, this time against HIMAWARI. Yuki Kamifuku will also defend the VPW Women's Championship against Viva Van. Here’s a look at the full card.
On Monday, TJPW heads to Osaka for Golden Week Fan Appreciation Day “West.” The main event will feature another championship bout, as the Princess Tag Team Titles will be on the line with Shoko Nakajima and Hyper Misao defending their gold against Alexis Lee and Matcha. Check out the full card here.
UPCOMING SHOWS THIS WEEK
Saturday (May 3rd): TJPW Golden Week Fan Appreciation Day "East" - Kasukabe Community Cube, Saitama (WRESTLE UNIVERSE VOD)
Monday (May 5th): TJPW Golden Week Fan Appreciation Day "West" - Edion Osaka Arena No. 2, Osaka (WRESTLE UNIVERSE VOD)
SENDAI GIRLS
NEWS
Meiko Satomura has officially retired from professional wrestling. The living legend held her final match this past Tuesday at Korakuen Hall, teaming with Manami in a winning effort against her greatest rival, Aja Kong, and longtime protégé Chihiro Hashimoto. There was also an impromptu five-minute match after her final bout, teaming with Kong to take on the combination of Hashimoto, Mika Iwata, YUNA, Senka Akatsuki, and Takumi Iroha. The match went to a time limit, and with that, Satomura’s career was officially over. Kong shared some meaningful words after the match, showing her love and thanking her. meraWRESTLING has the complete quote here. The ceremony featured the likes of Akira Hokuto, IYO SKY, Chigusa Nagayo, Lioness Asuka, and Jinsei Shinzaki paying their respects before the final bell sounded on her career. We wish Satomura the best in her post-wrestling life.
RESULTS & REVIEWS
SATOMURA THE FINAL
Tuesday, April 29th 2025
Korakuen Hall, Tokyo
Attendance: 1,660
YUNA & Yurika Oka def. Senka Akatsuki & Yura Suzuki (7:32)
Jaguar Yokota & Mayumi Ozaki def. Jinsei Shinzaki & Shin Sakura Hirota (7:38)
Ryo Mizunami won a Battle Royal, eliminating Minoru Suzuki (20:14): The battle royal included Shinobu Kandori, Nanae Takahashi, Takako Inoue, Kyoko Inoue, and others.
DASH Chisako, Mika Iwata & Sareee def. Lena Kross, Nina Samuels & VENY (14:10)
Meiko Satomura & Manami def. Aja Kong & Chihiro Hashimoto (22:55): A perfect match for Meiko Satomura’s final bout. Facing Aja Kong and Chihiro Hashimoto made all the sense in the world, but it’s the inclusion of Manami that felt all the more special — especially with her emotions on display once the match was over. Seeing how much that meant to Manami made it all the more special, and she gave it her all to show the world why Satomura picked her as her partner. It’s hard to really capture everything in this match, but Satomura was just so fantastic. As she’s shown her entire retirement run, she’s retiring still at the top of her game. Seeing her and Aja Kong duke it out was incredible, and seeing Hashimoto have her mentor finished but not being able to make the pin is what retirement matches are all about. Satomura took one heck of a beating in this match, with the Hashimoto Powerbomb being followed by multiple nasty Saito Suplexes was almost a cause for concern, but Satomura managed to survive it all. She’d hit the Scorpion Rising in the end to defeat her greatest rival in Kong, setting the Korakuen crowd for an emotional moment as Satomura stood strong in what was her final match. Retirement matches are always special, and Satomura’s was no different. A beautiful match to celebrate her career. (****½) When the match was over, it was Kong who asked to team with Satomura before she finally called it quits.
Aja Kong & Meiko Satomura vs. Chihiro Hashimoto, Mika Iwata, Senka Akatsuki, Takumi Iroha & YUNA ended in a Time-Limit Draw (5:00): Just wonderful. All five wrestlers ran into the ring with the hopes of facing Satomura in her final match, and they all took their shots once the bell rang. Perhaps nothing meant more than Satomura facing both Takumi Iroha and Senka Akatsuki, as the “bloodline of red” created by Chigusa Nagayo was on full display with those three competing against each other — all being her students. The most beautiful moment, however, was Kong holding Hashimoto for the final Scorpion Rising we’ll ever see as the final bell went off with the five minutes being up. Well worth the watch after taking in the grueling retirement bout right before.
SAREEE-ISM
NEWS
Sareee is back in the title picture. Following the IWGP Women’s Championship match at All Star Grand Queendom, Sareee stepped up to the new champion Syuri, and made her challenge official. Sareee has had her eyes on the IWGP Women’s Championship since she returned to Japan in 2023, intending to be the one to end Mayu Iwatani’s historic reign. Iwatani’s loss has made Sareee all the more determined, and she will now clash with Syuri for the second time this year. The match date has not been announced yet.
Speaking of Sareee and Iwatani, “The Sun God” will not be moving on from “The Icon” just because Iwatani has lost the championship and left Stardom. In an interview with Tokyo Sports, Sareee has promised to continue her chase of “The Icon” with the goal of defeating her to get the win back that she was handed in 2024.
Sareee will also take part in the upcoming Marvelous Korakuen Hall show on Monday, teaming with Takumi Iroha in the AAAW Tag Team Championship tournament.
OTHER JOSHI
Pro Wrestling WAVE: Off the back of the announcement of the full field of Pro Wrestling: WAVE’s annual Catch the Wave Tournament comes the reveal of the block breakdowns, the rules, and the first round of matches coming from Korakuen Hall on May 4th. The 36 competitors will be split into 9 blocks of four, with each block named after one of the planets with the Earth Block of Mio Shirai, Risa Sera, Mizuki Kato, and Kohaku one of the highlights. The rules across the blocks are the same with a 15-minute time limit, with three points for a win and 0 for a loss. Where things get interesting is with draws, as the wrestler with the longer career will receive one point, and the wrestler with the shorter career will get two; giving an advantage to lesser-experienced wrestlers. A full breakdown of the blocks and opening match-ups can be found here.
Diana: Diana returned to Korakuen Hall this past Sunday with 892 fans in attendance. Here are the results. 1. Ayame Sasamura, Kaho Kobayashi & Yuko Sakurai def. Big Haruka, Miria Koga, NENE & Yuma Makoto (10:39) 2. Kyoko Inoue def. Deborah K (7:26) 3. Maika Ozaki, Tae Honma & Yuna Manase defeat Himiko, Mizuki Kato & Syan Syan (12:37) 4. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Crystal Championship: Honoka def. Soy to become the new champion (12:29) 5. Yuki Miyazaki def. Kyoko Inoue (12:33) in a Hardcore Match 6. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Championship: Nanami Hatano & Rina Amikura (c) def. Ayako Sato & Debbie Keitel (16:37) 7. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Championship: Risa Sera (c) def. Haruka Umesaki (17:19)
SEAdLINNNG: SEAdLINNNG returned to Korakuen Hall on Thursday for ~JUMP UP!2025~. The show had 330 fans in attendance. Here are the results from the show. 1. Natsu Sumire & Rina Yamashita def. Hiroyo Matsumoto & Mio Shirai (12:49) 2. Ka Kedita & La Pidita def. Lluvia & Tabata (10:48) 3. Las Fresa de Egoistas (Makoto, Nagisa Nozaki & VENY) def. Honori Hana, Miku Kanae & Unagi Sayaka (22:46) 4. Mika Iwata def. Miria Kouga (12:00) 5. Beyond The Sea Tag Team Championship: Ayame Sasamura & Itsuki Aoki (c) def. Misa Kagura & YuuRI (19:30)
Marvelous: This Monday, Marvelous will hold a one-night AAAW Tag Team Championship Next Challenger tournament with nine teams taking part. Among those teams is the incredible duo of Sareee and Takumi Iroha, who enter as the favorites. Other teams include Magenta, star rookies Sora Ayame and Senka Akatsuki, Sendai Girls’ Mika Iwata and Yurika Oka, and VENY teaming with Ai Houzan.
JOSHI OUT & ABOUT
WWE: Giulia made another appearance on the 4/28 episode of RAW, causing a DDQ in the match between Rhea Ripley and ally Roxanne Perez. The pair continued to attack Ripley until IYO SKY charged down from the back to make the save and even the odds.
NXT: The 4/29 episode of NXT would see IYO SKY make her return to NXT, teaming with Jordynne Grace to face Perez and Giulia in what would be the show’s main event. SKY would get the victory after pinning Roxanne with the Moonsault in just under 15-minutes.
AEW: Miyu Yamashita made her return to AEW on the 4/30 episode of Dynamite in a losing effort to Toni Storm in the AEW Women’s World Championship Title Eliminator, losing to her in just over 9 minutes after a Storm Zero. This was Miyu’s first appearance in the company since July 2022.
JOSHI CALENDAR FOR 05/02 TO 05/08
CHAMPIONS CORNER
An easy reference guide to the champions in each Joshi company. This will be updated weekly. Statistics are correct as of the morning of May 2nd, 2025.
20th World of Stardom Champion: Saya Kamitani, 1st reign, 124 days, 2 successful title defences.
24th Wonder of Stardom Champion: Starlight Kid, 1st reign, 124 days, 3 successful title defences.
4th IWGP Women’s World Champion: Syuri, 1st reign, 5 days, 0 successful title defences.
27th High-Speed Champion: Mei Seira, 1st reign, 278 days, 5 successful title defences.
12th Future of Stardom Champion: Hina, 1st reign, 67 days, 2 successful title defences.
35th Goddesses of Stardom Champions: Winggori (Saya Iida, 1st reign & Hanan, 1st reign), 1st reign, 124 days, 3 successful title defences.
34th Artist of Stardom Champions: Winggori (Saya Iida, 1st reign & Hanan, 1st reign), 1st reign, 124 days, 3 successful title defences.
4th NEW BLOOD Tag Team Champions: Rice or Bread (Waka Tsukiyama, 1st reign & HANAKO, 1st reign), 1st reign, 127 days, 2 successful title defences.
2nd Marigold World Champion: Utami Hayashishita, 1st reign, 119 days, 2 successful title defences.
2nd Marigold United National Champion: Mai Sakurai, 1st reign, 119 days, 3 successful title defences.
2nd Marigold Superfly Champion: Victoria Yuzuki, 1st reign, 119 days, 3 successful title defences.
4th Marigold Twinstar Champions: Nanae Takahashi (1st reign) & Seri Yamaoka (1st reign), 1st reign, 103 days, 3 successful title defences.
15th Princess of Princess Champion: Mizuki, 2nd reign, 118 days, 2 successful title defences.
13th Princess of Princess Champion: Suzume, 1st reign, 118 days, 3 successful title defences.
18th Princess Tag Team Champions: Kyoraku Kyomei (Shoko Nakajima, 2nd reign & Hyper Misao, 2nd reign), 1st reign, 124 days, 3 successful title defences.
18th Sendai Girls World Champion: Chihiro Hashimoto, 6th reign, 44 days, 1 successful title defences.
10th Sendai Girls Junior Champion: Aya Sakura, 1st reign, 44 days, 0 successful title defences.
23rd Sendai Girls Tag Team Champions: Red Energy (Mika Iwata, 3rd reign & Miyuki Takase, 1st reign), 1st reign, 82 days, 1 successful title defences.
11th SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Champion: VENY, 2nd reign, 105 days, 1 successful title defences.
14th SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Tag Team Champions: Ayame Sasamura (3rd reign) & Itsuki Aoki (1st reign), 1st reign, 252 days, 2 successful title defences.
18th AAAW Champion: Takumi Iroha, 2nd reign, 267 days, 2 successful title defences.
21st AAAW Tag Team Champions: H2D (Ryo Mizunami, 1st reign & Sonoko Kato, 2nd reign), 1st reign, 82 days, 1 successful title defence.
32nd OZ Academy Openweight Champion: Saori Anou, 1st reign, 19 days, 0 successful title defences.
11th OZ Academy Pioneer Champion: Kakeru, 1st reign, 19 days, 0 successful title defences.
41st OZ Academy Tag Team Champions: Phanton Limit (Kohaku, 1st reign & Tsubasa Kuragaki, 3rd reign), 1st reign, 19 days, 0 successful title defence.
40th ICExInfinty Champion: Manami Katsu, 1st reign, 109 days, 2 successful title defences.
3rd FantastICE Champion: Akane Fujita, 1st reign, 1218 days, 2 successful title defences.
52nd Triangle Ribbon Champion: Yasu Urano, 1st reign, 13 days, 0 successful title defences.
66th International Ribbon Tag Team Champions: Cheerful Princess (Arisa Shinose, 1st reign & Misa Kagura, 2nd reign), 1st reign, 5 days, 0 successful title defence.
22nd Regina Di WAVE Champion: Saya Kamitani, 1st reign, 179 days, 4 successful title defences.
39th WAVE Tag Team Champions: SPiCEAP (Maika Ozaki, 2nd reign & Tae Honma, 2nd reign), 2nd reign, 31 days, 0 successful title defences.
21st World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Champion: Risa Sera, 1st reign, 54 days, 1 successful title defences.
19th World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Queen Elizabeth Champion: Kyoko Inoue, 3rd reign, 264 days, 3 successful title defences.
2nd World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Crystal Champion: Honoka, 1st reign, 5 days, 0 successful title defences.
23rd World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Champions: Nanami (3rd reign) & Rina Amikura (1st reign), 1st reign, 26 days, 1 successful title defences.
6th AWG Champion: Marino Saihara, 1st reign, 47 days, 1 successful title defence.
2nd AWG KING Of Ring Entertainment Champion: Sakura Mizushima, 1st reign, 47 days, 1 successful title defence.
6th Super Asia Champion: Mei Suruga, 1st reign, 47 days, 5 successful title defence.
17th Asia Dream Tag Team Champions: Bellflowers (Makoto, 2nd reign & Sayaka, 1st reign), 1st reign, 32 days, 1 successful title defences.
15th PURE-J Openweight Champion: Rydeen Hagane, 2nd reign, 138 days, 3 successful title defence.
33rd Princess of Pro-Wrestling Champion: Honoka, 1st reign, 285 days, 2 successful title defence.
2nd KSR Champion: Flying Penguin, 1st reign, 103 days, 2 successful title defence.
36th Daily Sports Tag Team Champions: AKARI (1st reign) & Crea (1st reign), 1st reign, 138 days, 2 successful title defences.
HOW TO WATCH
AWG - Actwres girl’Z Online - $6.65 a month
ChocoPro - ChocoPro YouTube Channel - Free, donations accepted.
Diana - EveryDiana - $6.58 a month
Dream Star Fighting Marigold - WRESTLE UNIVERSE - $8.66 a month through website/$8.37 a month through the app
Ice Ribbon - YouTube Membership - $9.99 a month (bigger shows not included)
Marvelous - Zaiko - PPV Price Per Show
OZ Academy - Zaiko - PPV Price Per Show
PURE-J - YouTube Membership - $9.99 a month
SEAdLINNNG - SEAdLINNNG Movie + - $6.66 a month
Sendai Girls - WRESTLE UNIVERSE - $8.66 a month through website/$8.37 a month through the app
Stardom - Stardom World - $6.14 a month
TJPW - WRESTLE UNIVERSE - $8.66 a month through website/$8.67 a month through the app
WAVE - YouTube Membership - $7.99 a month