Dream Star Fighting Marigold: Dream Star Grand Prix 09.14.25

So this is the final night of the show (I apologize for the delay) and we’re back in Korakuen Hall with a respectable 1250 people here. Once again I’m just covering block matches, also apparently Rea Seto is out so Seri gets a forfeit win and ends with 8 points, good for her. Oh and we have English comms for this show.

Chika Goto [5] vs. Kizuna Tanaka [2] – Star League

Background: Not a super impressive showing from either lady, though Kizuna at least is super green…that said Chika is green too. Both are out, fighting for pride. As far as in-ring, Chika is tall, Kizuna is a high-flyer/technician of sorts.

The Match: Big lockup to start and then a headlock by Chika, Kizuna gets a dropkick and an armbar out of that. Chika breaks, and after countering some corner offense by Tanaka she gets a running hip attack into the turnbuckle. Goto calls for a giant swing but Kizuna gets a victory roll and then tries for a suplex, can’t get it and goes back to the arm and then teases some rollups before trying a juji-gatame and then a Dis-Arm-Her. Goto makes the ropes and then gets a shoulderblock to setup a giant swing, but settles for a crab, and with a bad arm she then transitions to a single-leg. Tanaka makes the ropes, but Goto gets a hip check into the ropes, a boot across then, and then goes for the giant swing with 13 rotations. Goto almost gets rolled up though as Tanaka stays on the hunt. A buzzsaw kick follows and then a fisherman’s suplex by Kizuna gets 2.9. Goto gets a pair of lariats though for 2.8. Chokeslam follows and that’s 3.

*½

Well…it was brief I guess. I dunno, arm work didn’t go anywhere, offense was tentative, it’s what you’re going to get but man, not a pretty watch. I’m unsure what running green workers against each other accomplishes.

MIRAI [7] vs. Chanyota [4] – Star League

Background: So not a tremendously impressive tournament for either, though MIRAI certainly had good matches, she just lost a lot and of course now we know she’s leaving the company. Chanyota had a “I’m a serious wrestler now deal” and her matches haven’t really gotten across her bodybuilder/powerhouse gimmick so we’re left with just her being another sorta match filler type. MIRAI is technically still in it but it’s very thin and Chanyota is out. MIRAI is dressed in the regular multi-coloured getup and Chanyota is in an electric blue outfit that’s pretty cool looking.

The Match: We start with trading shoulderblocks and it stalls out before MIRAI unleashes chops, Chanyota throws out forearms and then a torture rack, but MIRAI slips out and gets her own and it’s back to just trading clotheslines into a double-down. Back up and they just trade lariats as neither has taken an actual bump yet. Chanyota finally collapses after a double-clothesline and MIRAI gets 2 but we geta rope-running spot that gets countered and Chanyota lariats MIRAI to the outside and then racks her on the outside before getting a bodyslam. MIRAI stops her from going back in though and we get a series of chops to send Chanyota away. Chanyota stops HER from getting to the outside as they wrap each other up. Both trade lariats and then a double-down on the outside and it’s a double count out.

**½

Okay, total lame-o finish, but they did establish both were basically equals and they just…were equals the entire match. Decently clever in a sort of “I ain’t sellin’ for NOBODY” way. And perhaps that’s the MIRAI experiment in Marigold, hard work, clever ideas, an execution that got very little results but it at least made their opponent look competent.

Nagisa Nozaki [7] vs. Misa Matsui [6] – Star League

Background: So the battle of the Darkness Revolution. Nagisa is more of a dirty brawler while Misa is a dirty technician. I think Misa is out even with a win, but Nagisa can still make it to the playoffs with a victory. Also apparently Nagisa is the Angel of Death and Misa is Psycho Speed. Commentary describes it as a big sister little sister match as both are uh…not using the Marquess of Queensberry rules.

The Match: Misa starts with a foot stomp and some cruiser stuff, before Nagisa gets a fakeout punch and a foot stomp of her own and then some corner chops. In the ropes and Nozaki gets her fashion kick and then blows a kiss to the crowd and we get some brawling on the apron before Misa responds to knock Nagisa to the floor and we get Matsui dragging out approximately 20 chairs from under the ring, a slam lands, then Misa gets a diving stomp off the apron before we set up a chair duel. Nagisa wins and on a count of 19 rolls her and Misa back inside while going up for a missile dropkick, and then another for 2. Misa with a victory roll but Nagisa rolls through with a short-arm boot for 2.6. Nagisa goes for the low boot but a flying Misa knee lands, and then another for 2.7. Both run the ropes before a Nagisa running boot clears out Misa, but the fancy bridging pin gets 3 regardless.

**

Eh? I get the sprint, but Misa just spamming holds and Nagisa not even trying to set up or react to anything got tiresome. Still, I GOT it as a story.

Post-match Nagisa gives respect to her little sis.

Miku Aono [9] vs. Mai Sakurai [8] – Star League

Background: Both in the spot to win the block, they’re both babyfaces and both the only women to hold the Marigold United National Title…a belt Mai WON from Miku. Miku is more technical, Mai is more of a brawler.

The Match: Very slow start with them trading holds as commentary reminds me they’ve drawn before in this ring and also Mai beat her for the tag belts. We do more of the headlock takeover standoffs and then Miku gets a dropkick, Mai with a yakuza kick but Aono dodges, takes her down and gets a corner dropkick for 2. Miku starts working the leg and gets a hold, Mai gets the ropes but eats a kick and runs the ropes for another…and Mai gets a jump kick and then she works over Miku’s leg and grabs a hold and Miku makes the ropes. We get a float-over reversal and Mai cuts it off and gets a low-kick in the ropes, but she misses another and Mai goes back to the leg with a dropkick and Sakurai falls outside. They brawl and Mai reverses a brainbuster and they brawl in the crowd, well rather Mai brutalizes Miku in the crowd and then goes back in while Aono almost gets counted out but comes inside…only for Mai to pull her up for a superplex and then goes up for a missile dropkick for 2. Mai follows with a suplex attempt but can’t land it so she gets another jump kick, her step-up boot, STO, and then a diving elbow meets knees. Miku now gets a double-arm suplex for 2 and then a cloverleaf. Mai makes the ropes and now Miku goes up but Sakurai cuts her off and goes up, Sakurai goes for a rana but Miku catches it for a super Styles Clash…but Mai lands too close to the ropes and gets her hand on it. Miku throws rights and then gets a buzzsaw kick for 2.9 in a VERY weak kickout, MIku tries a tiger driver but Mai gets her whacky rollup to counter for 2, but Aono gets a German, Mai gets a Saito suplex and we have a double-down. Another arm-trap STO from Mai for 2 and then tries for a Glorious Driver, but Miku gets a short-arm lariat and then another buzzsaw kick to set up the Styles Clash…but Mai slips out and goes for the STF and then Miku reverses into her own, and then a cross-legged STF and time expires for a draw…and Mai is out of the finals and Miku has clinched the league.

**½

Man there are a lot of draws here, but with both of them so even, Mai having never lost, I did like the psychology here and how Miku won by going on, she didn’t get the satisfaction of beating Sakurai. So clever booking, but eh, just a sorta extended fighting for the draw match that I’ve seen a lot of times. Both these ladies are competent, but they aren’t artists in the ring and you needed them to fill a LOT of space, and so they did. I dig the storytelling though actually.

Maria [4] vs. CHIAKI [3] – Dream League

Background: So they’re both sorta cheating jerks, though Maria is an outsider mind games sorta cheating jerk that likes to psyche people out and be strategic and CHIAKI is “I will hit you with a chair and bite your fingers” cheating jerk. But some skullduggery will commence!

The Match: We start with some mind games as CHIAKI takes a seat in the ring, asks for Maria to do the same and then the Dark Wolf pats her on the head…and Maria dropkicks her and then whips CHIAKI into another dropkick and some facewashes but misses a boot and CHIAKI tosses her down and dances before her own facewashes and lands the boot, CHIAKi bounces Maria’s head off the turnbuckle, adds and eyerake on the top rope, then a necksnap before going for a claw slam that’s broken with a Maria punch and then we have an eyepoke battle as CHIAKI tries to poke Maria in the eyes with Maria’s own fingers…and just settles for an eye rake into an inside cradle for 2. Maria goes to the hair for a slam. CHIAKI messes up going off the ropes (stopping too earl for a tilt-a-whirl) so in a pretty impressive display Maria just sorta scoops her up and cradles her in her arms before getting a rough-looking facebuster for 2. Arrogant cover sets up Maria running the rope…and MIsa hurls a chair at her back to break that up and CHIAKI gets a Fisherman’s suplex for 2.7. CHIAKI with a cannonball into the corner and then a Claw Slam for 2.8. CHIAKI goes for something but Maria with a dragon suplex…and then her followup is turned into a scoop powerslam by CHIAKI. They both charge and Maria’s jumping boot gets the better of the exchange, but she pulls up CHIAKI at 2, licks her face, and then delivers the most vertical Michinoku Driver I’ve seen in my life thankfully it gets 3.

**½

Kind of a mirror match, but I’m a sucker for two heels just trying to out-dirtbag each other.

Mayu Iwatani [8] vs. Victoria Yuzuki [9] – Dream League

Background: The old veteran ace vs. the one selected to be the ace of the future, they’re both sorta undersized high-flying types with a bit of a lucharesu deal (love their armdrags). As far as points are concerned, Mayu needs to win and Utami to lose, Yuzuki needs to win or tie with an Utami loss. Oh and Mayu beat Victoria for the Super Flyweight Championship earlier this year.

The Match: Handshake of respect before Mayu blindsides her with a dropkick. Dragon suplex attempt by the Icon but Yuzuki’s standing switch sets up a German and then her Rolling 3 gets 2.9 and Mayu rolls outside. Mayu reverses Yuzuki and sends her into the apron, a kick, and Iwatani whips the youngster into some chairs and then tosses her back inside and kicks her around and gets a 2 count out of a dropkick into the ropes and then more sorta disrespectful kicks from the vets. Double-stomp to the back by Mayu and an arrogant cover and when Victoria fires back we get a Mayu elbow but Yuzuki finally gets a big hip-toss to buy her some space and she starts screaming. Mayu gets a kick out of the corner but Yuzuki scouts it for a rollup for 2.9. Bridging suplex by Yuzuki and then a crossface until Mayu makes the ropes. Yuzuki with the low dropkick into the ropes, Iwatani slides outside, and Yuzuki gets a tope…into Mayu’s right hand. Now Iwatani gets the dropkick against the ropes and lands the tope. That’s how you do it kid. Back inside and we get a missile dropkick from Mayu and a frog splash to follow it. Mayu tries for the dragon suplex again, Victoria slips out but eats a superkick, Yuzuki with one of her own, but Mayu gets a rebound German and Yuzuki just screams and pops up…sigh. Yuzuki with a backdrop driver and now we have a double-down. Both up and we have a slugfest until Yuzuki gets another superkick and the backdrop suplex side slam for 2, and a straitjacket suplex for 2.7 and back to the crossface and then a scissored armbar crossface. Iwatani to the ropes and she then catches Yuzuki with a bridging German into her Dragon suplex, but Yuzuki kicks out and goes back to the crossface (?!) with seriously no transition. Mayu eventually Gumby’s out of the hold and gets the back suplex slam again and calls for Victory Shooting (a running corkscrew SSP) but whiffs and Mayu gets a high buzzsaw kick but whiffs a low thrust kick and Yuzuki gets another rollup for 2 and a superkick…with a rope break. Victoria goes up for a moonsault and whiffs to set up another superkick, a low thrust kick, and another buzzsaw kick, and now Mayu goes for the moonsault but her cover is turned into a cradle by Victoria and then a crossface. Mayu rolls for a cradle but only gets 2 and it’s back to Yuzuki in the crossface, she tries for the scissored armbar gives up, side slam and the Victory Shooting lands as time expires.

**

ROSSY!!!!!! Okay I get what they’re going for, but man I dislike forced epics, they did do some stuff well, and Yuzuki losing because of bad clock management is a good rookie note…but at the same time, Yuzuki is just so…she’ll take a move and just do her next move with no transition or logic. Mayu is guilty of that sometimes too but it’s so much worse with Yuzuki. Technically competent from an execution stand-point but I’m tired of draws and tired of this sorta match.

Utami Hayashishita [9] vs. Kouki Amarei [6] – Dream League

Background: Utami is the champ, the understand sorta stoic ace of the company, she’s in with a win, she’s facing Kouki, one of the rising maybe stars that has shown flashes but failed in big moments, she’s eliminated but still fighting for pride and a future title shot if she takes out the champ or just draws with her.

The Match: Utami starts with a dropkick and an Air Raid Crash for 2 and a big lariat for 2. Kouki powders and Utami follows, tosses her around, back inside and a missile dropkick as Utami has just been dominating Amarei. This follows with a choke sleeper but Kouki makes the ropes and then gets a high elbow to get a breather, Utami tries a torture rack but Kouki slips out and crossbodies the champ. The Amethyst Butterfly gets a big slam and then kicks Utami into the ropes. Amarei sets up the Dominator but Utami backdrops out of it (making sure to scowl in agony in the process cause Hayashishita is great) and gets a torture rack drop, she tries following up with a German but we get a Kouki cutter and a dropkick, but she stops to pose and Utami pops up for a German and collapses for a double-down. Back up and it’s another running lariat by Utami but Kouki ducks and goes for her high-crotch backdrop driver but Utami breaks it with elbows, catches Amarei’s boot, and forearms the relative rookie. Utami runs for another lariat attempt but Kouki gets a spinebuster and then a Boston crab before switching to a single-leg though Utami crawls to the ropes, now we get the high backdrop driver for 2 and Kouki sets up her 180 splash but whiffs and Utami gets a sliding lariat and sells the back and can’t immediately capitalize. Utami finally gets a bridging German for 2 and now the Hijack Bomb but Kouki slips out and gets a victory roll into a jackknife pin for 2.9. Running lariat by Utami sends Kouki through the ropes in an awkward bump but the Red Queen whiffs a dropkick off the apron. A running boot from Kouki drops Utami and Amarei tries to roll her back inside, but Hayashishita drags her out to continue the beating, she sets up a brainbuster but Kouki floats over, tosses Utami into the ring post, slides back in, and when Utami flies in at an 18 count Kouki’s boot knocks her back out and Kouki wins via countout.

***

I…really liked this? Utami getting arrogant and mean against a less experienced opponent, and Kouki’s agility (which has been present but rarely comes up) being the upperhand. They sold well, Utami dominated but also gave enough hope spots to Kouki. Really fun stuff and I was worried they’d go for a double count-out or something, Amarei with a huge upset but not a pin, and Utami can kick herself for not taking the match seriously enough and we’ll get a good challenger of the month for her in Kouki.

Miku Aono vs. Victoria Yuzuki – Marigold’s 2025 Dream Star Grand Prix Finals

Background: So both are babyfaces, though Miku is a bit more of a stoic veteran pro and Yuzuki is a hot-blooded rookie trying to surpass her mentor and idol (Mayu). This isn’t super heated other than the inherent stakes but I imagine we’ll establish a dynamic early on. Also AJPW legendary ref Kyohei Wada is in the ring for this one, that’s fun.

The Match: Lockup is dominated by Miku who gives a clean break…and then blasts Victoria with a kick. Well I guess she’s the Bret Hart Heel tonight. Second lockup goes Victoria’s way and she uncorks a forearm, well…turnabout is fair play I guess. We get a drop down sequence and Yuzuki shows off her agility with a tilt-a-whirl and a dropkick. Miku gets a hip-toss and some heavy kicks into a Stretch Plum and Yuzuki fades until she gets a foot on the ropes. More heavy kicks from Miku but she runs into a judo toss and gets the dropkick into the ropes and Aono ends up on the apron with Yuzuki following. Victoria tries a slam but Miku gets a Styles Clash and then another attempt on the mats but Yuzuki backdrops out and then climbs up for a plancha, back inside and a Yuzuki missile dropkick gets 2. Yuzuki’s back suplex slam is slipped out of Miku gets a swinging slam for 2. Miku fires off more kicks, Yuzuki with a discus elbow, but Aono gets a high kick for a double-down, but it’s a short one as both are up almost immediately to slug it out. Yuzuki flies in with a headscissors into a crossface though (almost like La Mistica but not quite) and then goes for the scissored crossface and then grabs a leg too but Miku can shuffle over and get a rope break. Backdrop driver from Yuzuki gets only 1 but Miku is selling big. Yuzuki goes for the pumphandle slam but Aono breaks and gets some kicks into a sliding lariat for 2. Slugfest and now Yuzuki gets the pumphandle slam and sets up her Rolling Arrow whacky cradle but it also only gets 1 as Miku is dead without dying. Yuzuki tries for something but gets a short-arm high kick and then an Olympic Slam for a double-down, and this one goes on for a bit. Back up and Miku pulls up short on a Yuzuki superkick and then transitions into a Rainmaker for 1, and NOW Yuzuki gets a superkick…for a 1 count. Okay I think they’re beating that gimmick to death. Yuzuki’s straitjacket suplex gets 2.8, and while Miku is selling exhaustion with her body well, her face remains totally blank, meanwhile Yuzuki is facially emotive but isn’t putting any exhaustion into her move execution or style. Yuzuki with the pumhandle slam, and a Victory Shooting…but she doesn’t get all of it as Miku slips her shoulder up and then buzzsaws the kneeling Yuzuki for 2. Miku finally taunts and gets a tiger driver for 2.8. She immediately transitions to a Styles Clash and it lands while Yuzuki powers through for a cradle, but it gets 2 and Miku rolls back for another Buzzsaw Kick and then Nanae Takahashi’s One Second EX (hammerlock Emerald Flowsion) gets 3.

***½

So this was on a 4* pace for me before it hit a sort of middling later middle section where they just traded offense, which is the sorta…big flaw of Yuzuki. The early parts with Miku controlling pace and Yuzuki adding energy and excitement was really good, and the contrast of the screaming and undisciplined
Yuzuki versus the stoic and flat (and maybe kinda boring?) Miku. Still, I think it built well and the finish worked with Yuzuki just unleashing her full energy and MIku outplanning and strategizing her with a move she rarely uses (versus Yuzuki who spams her finishers leading to people knowing how to counter them).

Post-match we get a big ole ceremony with everybody involved, yay!

Well, Marigold remains what it is. They have talent, they know what they’re doing with said talent, I don’t agree with it, they need more people, but I get why it’s all happening as it does. They just need…mid-card depth for the prospects they have to get development that isn’t against their handful of top stars. Anyway, I appreciate you following this very slow development of a review process and onto the next one.