STARDOM’s ‘Icon’ could be set to jump ship when her current deal is up.
On April 15th, STARDOM founder and former executive producer Rossy Ogawa launched a new joshi promotion, Marigold, following his termination from STARDOM earlier this year. With speculation rampant that several STARDOM talents would follow Ogawa, one name heavily mentioned was Mayu Iwatani, although she was not involved in the initial exodus.
In today’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer revealed that, despite telling Tokyo Sports that she’d decided to stay with STARDOM, those close to the situation believe she will indeed be heading to Marigold when her current deal expires.
“While a lot of people have said Mayu Iwatani would be leaving for Marigold when her country expires, she told Tokyo Sports that she would be staying. Those close to the situation including in the Japanese media and those who know her say that she is going to Marigold when her contract expires.”
-Dave Meltzer
Alongside Ogawa, Marigold will also see involvement from both Nanae Takahashi, who will be competing for the promotion, and Fuka, and thus all three STARDOM founders are once again reunited.
Seemingly reacting to Ogawa and Fuka working together once again, Iwatani stated on X/Twitter that she felt as though her parents had divorced and remarried again.
岩谷麻優の生みの親が一度離婚して再婚した。
— 岩谷麻優 MayuIwatani (@MayuIwatani) April 15, 2024
って感じか。なんだろうこの気持ち
Iwatani is set to defend the IWGP Women’s Championship against Sareee on April 27th at STARDOM’s All Star Grand Queendom show at Yokohama BUNTAI, with the show heavily promoting her upcoming biopic ‘Runaway Wrestler’.
Marigold’s first show, ‘Marigold Fields Forever’, is set for May 20th at Korakuen Hall, with the main event set to see Giulia team up with a mystery partner to take on the team of Sareee and another mystery partner.
As always, we’ll aim to provide any further updates on the future of Mayu Iwatani as soon as we hear more.
