Ahead of the October 24 event at Ryogoku Kokugikan, Marigold’s Mayu Iwatani (33) opened up about her current state of mind.
At Ryogoku, Marigold’s three singles champions—Miku Aono, Victoria Yuzuki, and Iwatani—will put their respective titles (the World Championship, United National Championship, and Super Fly Championship) on the line in a Three-Way Title Match. Under elimination rules, the bout will come down to a one-on-one survival match between the final two competitors, with the last woman standing walking away as an instant Triple Crown Champion.
“A Switch Just Flips”: Going Full Throttle Right from Her Return Match
Iwatani suffered a fractured foot at the Osaka event in April, forcing her onto the sidelines until August.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d break my own bone doing a Moonsault,” she says. “I actually broke my opponent’s bone too, which I feel terrible about, even though I’ve hit that move countless times over the years. People always say that wrestlers who use the Moonsault end up wrecking their knees, and I never really knew what to make of that. Since I’ve done it so many times, I just went up and flew without a second thought, same as always. Because the fracture was in my big toe, I figured it would heal right up. I felt like I’d been working pretty hard for about a year since arriving here, so I actually looked at it as a good chance to rest. They told me it would take two months to heal completely, which made me think I could be back in a month and a half. Instead, it refused to heal properly and ended up taking four whole months.”
The fractured bone remained separated, refusing to fuse back together.
“Every time we took an X-ray, nothing had changed. The doctor and I just kept saying, ‘That’s strange, that’s really strange.’ Maybe it comes down to age after all? I’ve cracked ribs and things like that in the past, but I’d never really had a proper, clean fracture before. Back when I first debuted, I probably would have bounced right back.
“Because there was no progress, the time between X-rays went from two weeks to three weeks, until finally the doctor said, ‘Let’s just check again next month.’ Since the bone wasn’t fusing at all, we started electrical stimulation therapy to speed up recovery, and it finally began to knit together just a tiny bit. Four months had already gone by, and at that rate, waiting for a complete recovery would have taken six months. Even though it wasn’t 100 percent healed, I couldn’t afford to stay on the shelf any longer. I did get the green light from my doctor, but ultimately, I made the call myself to return to the ring. The doctor was adamant about one thing, though: ‘Please, just don’t throw any kicks.'”
Her return match took place on August 9 at Ota City General Gymnasium. It was a double return bout alongside Yuzuki, who had also been out of action with a knee ligament injury. Standing across the ring from them was the formidable duo of Sareee and Takumi Iroha.
“When they put you in a match like that, a switch just flips inside you, doesn’t it? I kicked Sareee right in the back. Put everything I had into it, too. Right after, I was like, ‘Oops, I just threw a kick.'”
Iwatani pulled off such a grueling, hard-hitting match that it was hard to believe it was her first bout back. Stepping into the ring for the first time in months left her whole body aching, but thankfully, her foot held up fine.
“I kept throwing kicks in every match after that, and it didn’t hurt at all. Because I skipped proper rehab, though, it still hurts whenever I put heavy pressure on my big toe. I’m sure something isn’t quite right in there, honestly. I haven’t gone back for an X-ray since.”
“Everything Gets Bashed”: Her Honest Feelings on Marigold
What was going through Iwatani’s mind during her time on the shelf?
“Throughout my career in this business—even before leaving my previous promotion, Stardom, and all through my reign with the IWGP Women’s title—I’ve dedicated my entire life to pro wrestling. Because I always poured everything into my matches, maybe that injury came at just the right time. I was able to travel overseas and actually catch my breath. Beyond that, there’s another reason I’m glad I had that time off: watching the matches objectively from the outside allowed me to think, ‘You know what? This promotion is going to be alright.’ I only made it to the shows in Tokyo and Osaka, but on the days I was there, I watched every single match on the card. Even if I’m on the roster, if the overall quality of everyone else’s work is low, the promotion itself isn’t going to succeed. Instead, I found myself thinking, ‘Everyone here has real personality—this is genuinely fun to watch.’ If people actually come out to see a show, Marigold is surprisingly entertaining. Right now, everything we do gets bashed relentlessly, which makes things tough. Compared to other promotions, I know there are still plenty of areas where we fall short. Still, this company is only in its third year. When you look back at where everyone started, we didn’t have nearly this many capable workers before. I think fans today just have impossibly high standards. I really want our crowds to grow, though. How do we make that happen? Honestly, I don’t know. Appearing on terrestrial TV, getting featured in mainstream media, wrestling on other promotions’ shows—ideally, people who see us for the first time through those avenues will think, ‘Maybe I’ll go check out a Marigo show next.'”
Most recently, Iwatani graced the cover of the October 20 issue of FLASH magazine, adding to major features she has previously received in national newspapers like the Asahi Shimbun and the Nikkei.
“Being featured in a household-name magazine creates a gateway for new fans. Someone thinks, ‘Oh, a girl like this does combat sports? Sure, I’ll check it out.’ Then they watch us on YouTube, come out to a live venue, and word of mouth spreads from there—unlike the toxic way our name spreads online right now, with narratives like ‘Marigo is a trainwreck of a promotion’ or clips of botched moves. Botches happen in every promotion, of course, but with Marigo, people constantly clip them out of context. When that kind of reputation precedes you, I guess you can’t blame people for assuming that’s all we are. Still, I truly believe that if people actually watch a full show, they’ll realize, ‘Hey, they’re actually pretty good.’
“I think the girls on the roster wrestle because they genuinely love pro wrestling. Even so, there’s no denying that a lot of people have left the company. Something must break their spirit along the way. Good things happen if you stick it out, though. It’s not my place to tell anyone not to quit, yet I still wish they’d keep going. Whether it was the group that jumped over from the start or the people who joined later on, I assumed everyone came here with a certain level of resolve. Seeing them throw that away so easily makes me wonder—Wait, was that really the extent of their commitment? Everyone has their own circumstances, so it’s a delicate subject.
“I made the jump to this promotion with real resolve, so walking away and saying ‘Never mind, I quit’ without accomplishing a single thing is something I simply cannot and will not do. I refuse to live such a pathetic, uncool life. Maybe saying it like that will ruffle some feathers, but that’s truly how I feel. In my previous promotion, I carried the banner as the ‘Icon’ and grew right alongside the company. I lived a way of life I could be proud of. Right now, though, I don’t feel like I’m living up to that standard at all, and I’m sure my fans have felt frustrated watching me, too. People are going to bash me no matter what I say anyway, so I’ll just say it: right now, the Icon hasn’t accomplished anything here yet. I want to band together with everyone currently on this roster and give it everything we’ve got. There is no way I’m quitting like this.”
Victoria Yuzuki, Rea Seto… Feeling the Growth of the Young Roster
Once again this year, Iwatani came up short in the “DREAM STAR GP” round-robin league.
“It’s the same story every year, isn’t it? I have won a tournament like that once before, yet in round-robin leagues, I always seem to drop my opening match or get caught out of nowhere. People always expect me to win the whole thing, and I just can’t pull it off. I can’t win leagues. Maybe round-robin tournaments just aren’t my strong suit—even though, as a singles specialist, they really ought to be.”
Iwatani was eliminated by Rea Seto in the quarterfinals at Korakuen Hall on September 20.
“Watching the final between Yuzuki and Rea Seto from ringside as a second, though, made me feel like things worked out for the best. The crowd was completely into it, and the match truly could have gone either way. Rea Seto has improved tremendously. To see someone in this day and age dissect a single body part with that kind of focus is remarkable. Joint locks really draw the audience in when done right, and she doesn’t waste a single second on the mat. People wonder if ‘Rea-chan’ crying all the time is just a character gimmick, right? Honestly, I think her tears are completely genuine.”
As if suddenly recalling the past, Iwatani continued:
“I once saw footage of an older match between Komomo Minami and Rea, and honestly, it was dreadful. Look at how much they’ve grown since then. As for Yuzuki, I think she’s the crispest worker in all of Marigold. Her speed getting back to her feet and her overall snap in the ring are seriously incredible.”
The conversation circles back to the October 24 main event at Ryogoku Kokugikan. While the last woman standing will be crowned a Triple Crown Champion, the other two will inevitably walk out empty-handed without their titles.
“A Three-Way elimination match is completely uncharted territory. Regular Three-Way bouts are tricky enough as it is, let alone one featuring three singles champions. There’s no telling how it’ll play out, and I’m terrible at Three-Ways to begin with. I always stay focused in the ring, of course, but a match like this keeps your nerves on a razor’s edge, leaving you way more mentally and physically drained than usual. Still, winning this means capturing the Triple Crown in one fell swoop, which is hugely appealing. I’m aiming for a Grand Slam here in Marigold too, so if I can sweep all three singles belts here, all that’s left are the tag and trios titles. I can already picture winning the 3D Trios belts with Icon Peach Arrow—myself, Komomo Minami, and Yuzuki. Then I’d just need to win the tag belts with someone. I can’t quite envision the whole road there yet, but winning this match would bring me a massive step closer all at once.
“Teaming as Icon Peach Arrow is seriously a blast. Those two give me so much youth and energy—I never act that bubbly on my own. Komomo’s in-ring style has started to resemble mine, too; you can tell she’s trying to steal the best parts of my game. If you look at us individually, each of us—starting with Mayu Iwatani herself—has a dark, gloomy side, yet whenever the three of us talk, whether in the ring or in private, the vibe is nothing but pure sunshine. Because we genuinely respect one another, if someone messes up, the others are right there to back her up—just like how Hiroyo Matsumoto-san and Miho Wakizawa-san taught me the joy of pro wrestling back during our days in the ‘Tawashis.'”
“The Winner Has to Be Someone Who Will Reign Atop the Promotion”
As the Three-Way Survival Title Match approaches, Iwatani is sharpening her focus.
“I can’t picture how the match will go at all. Normally, once an opponent is set, I can map things out in my head: ‘She’s scary, she’s probably going to beat the tar out of me, so here’s how I’ll counter her.’ This time, though, no matter how much I think about it, I draw a complete blank. The pressure is definitely there. People have been harshly questioning whether this match is worthy of main-eventing Ryogoku, so I want to live up to the faith placed in the three of us to close out the show. I want to go out there, tear the house down to overcome this trial the company has given us, and be the last woman standing—leaving everyone in attendance thinking, ‘I’m so glad I came to Ryogoku today.’
“Yuzuki is only three years into her career—it’s still too soon for her. And while Aono-san has worked incredibly hard up to this point… would it really be ‘boring’ if Mayu wins after all that? Plenty of people will be heartbroken if Mayu loses, too. The winner of this match has to be someone who will reign atop the promotion going forward, and there’s no one else fit for that role but me. Mayu Iwatani is going to win and lead this company into the future. I want to cap off my 15th anniversary year in crowning fashion.”
Serving as a hometown ambassador for Mine City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Iwatani is scheduled to hold a literal homecoming show at a local roadside station (Michi-no-Eki) on November 22. Organized through a crowdfunding campaign, the event easily surpassed its funding goal.
“This might be the very last time I ever wrestle in the town where I was born and raised, so I’m thrilled. All 219 of my hometown tax-donation gift packages sold out, and seeing everyone rally behind this crowdfunding campaign really made me feel how loved Mayu is. As soon as Ryogoku is in the books, I need to dive straight into preparations. Because the venue is a roadside station right next to a live road, fans won’t be able to throw streamers. I’m trying to figure out what we can do instead, how to handle flower stands and banners, and what our backup plan is if it rains. I’ve never wrestled a match in the pouring rain before, though honestly, I’d feel much worse for the fans sitting out in it. I really hope the weather holds up.
“My grandmother has never actually seen me wrestle in person because she’s too scared to watch her granddaughter get beat up, so I’d love for her to come out. She came to watch when I served as Police Chief for a Day, and since our family home is only 20 or 30 minutes from the venue, I really want her to see me in the ring. As for the fans making the trip—even though the local train line flooded twice and is out of commission—I think visiting my hometown will make them go, ‘Aha, so this is where Mayu grew up; no wonder her personality is like that!’ It’s a wonderful opportunity, and I hope everyone enjoys it. Marigold is a promotion where fans can feel really close to the roster; you can share your thoughts and feelings directly with us at the post-match autograph sessions and even take a two-shot photo to preserve the memory.”
“I’m Glad I Chose This as My Final Destination”
Throughout the interview, Iwatani kept sniffling and rubbing her nose. Despite being allergic to both dogs and cats, she currently shares her home with three dogs and two cats.
“Pochi is such an angel and so low-maintenance, and then along came my second dog, Bob. Bob turned out to be quite a little terror, yet having one more dog in the house was still manageable. I figured, ‘Well, if I can handle two, what’s the difference between two and three?’ Then I locked eyes with Pupe, brought him home, and he turned out to be another little rascal—making things way more chaotic than I ever imagined. Living with two wild troublemakers at once is seriously exhausting. No more pets for me.”
“Since Pupe was just a tiny baby at first, I originally named him ‘Babu,’ after the baby-talk sound babu-babu. Whenever I called out either name, though, both Bob and Babu would come running, and because my diction is terrible, I kept tripping over my own tongue trying to say them. So I changed his name to Pupe.”
The name “Pupe” was inspired by Iwatani’s favorite film, Poupelle of Chimney Town.
“Lately, it’s really hit home for me how glad Mayu is that she chose this place—Marigold—as her final destination,” she reflected. “Well, who knows… maybe it won’t actually be my last stop after all…”
Flashing a mischievous grin, Iwatani headed home to her beloved dogs.
Translator’s Notes
- Marigold’s Triple Crown & Grand Slam: In this interview, Iwatani previews the main event of Marigold’s October 24 Ryogoku Kokugikan (Sumo Hall) pay-per-view. The bout pits World Champion (the “Red Belt”) Miku Aono, United National Champion (the “White Belt”) Victoria Yuzuki, and Super Fly Champion Mayu Iwatani against one another in a two-fall elimination match where all three belts are on the line. When Iwatani mentions aiming for a “Grand Slam” in Marigold (having previously achieved the feat in Stardom), the remaining titles she refers to are the Twin Star Championship (tag team) and the 3D Trios Championship (six-woman tag team).
- “Marigo” (マリゴ) & “Kirinuki” (切り抜き): Japanese fans and wrestlers frequently abbreviate Marigold as Marigo. Iwatani laments the practice of kirinuki—”clipping” short segments of video (such as in-ring botches or awkward spots) and circulating them out of context on social media to paint the young promotion as reckless or amateurish.
- DREAM STAR GP & “Itten-zeme” (一点攻め): The DREAM STAR GP is Marigold’s premier annual round-robin singles tournament. Although it is customarily a round-robin league, this edition featured knockout quarterfinal stages. When praising Rea Seto, Iwatani highlights her itten-zeme—the classic, old-school wrestling psychology of zeroing in on a single body part (such as an arm or knee) to set up a submission finish.
- Icon Peach Arrow & The “Tawashis” (たわしーず): “Icon Peach Arrow” is a portmanteau of its three members’ motifs: Icon (Mayu Iwatani’s moniker), Peach (from the kanji momo [桃] in Komomo Minami’s name), and Arrow (from the kanji yumi [弓, bow] in Victoria Yuzuki’s name). Iwatani compares the trio’s supportive dynamic to the Tawashis, a beloved comedy-tinged unit she formed in her early Stardom years alongside veterans Hiroyo Matsumoto and Miho Wakizawa, who famously brought tawashi (traditional palm-fiber scrubbing brushes) to the ring.
- Third-Person Speech & Tripping Over Words (“Kamu”): In candid interviews, Iwatani often refers to herself in the third person as “Mayu,” a habit preserved in key moments of the translation to capture her endearing, slightly airheaded persona. Similarly, when explaining why she renamed her dog from “Babu” to “Pupe” (after the 2020 animated film Entotsu-machi no Poupelle / Poupelle of Chimney Town), she jokes about her poor diction (katsuzetsu ga warui) and “biting her tongue” (kamu—Japanese slang for stumbling over words), a long-running gag among fans regarding her frequent in-ring promo flubs.
- Mine City Homecoming, Michi-no-Eki, Furusato Nozei, & Streamers:
- Michi-no-Eki (道の駅): Government-designated roadside stations across Japan that combine rest areas with local farmers’ markets, restaurants, and community spaces. Because the ring will be set up outdoors right beside an active roadway, throwing paper streamers (kami-tape)—a staple Japanese wrestling tradition during ring entrances—is prohibited to prevent littering onto traffic.
- Furusato Nozei (ふるさと納税): Japan’s “hometown tax” system, which allows residents to redirect a portion of their residence/income taxes to a municipality of their choice in exchange for local specialty gifts (in this case, 219 limited-edition Mayu Iwatani themed reward packages for Mine City).
- Flooded Train Line: A reference to the JR Mine Line in Yamaguchi Prefecture, which suffered severe track washouts and flooding during torrential rains in 2010 and again in 2023, leaving the rail line indefinitely suspended and requiring buses or cars to reach the area.
- Two-Shot (2ショット): Standard Japanese idol and pro-wrestling terminology for a solo photo taken together with a performer during post-show merchandise and autograph sessions.