SHOW REPORT: Marigold Dream Star Grand Prix – Night 8 ~Championship Battle~ (Saturday, 28th September 2024)

Notes

• Rea Seto will continue to miss action until the end of September due to a fractured rib.
• Utami Hayashishita – Is in the strongest position in Dream League. A win for her against Kouki Amarei guarantees her a spot in the Dream Star final.
• Kouki Amarei – Needs to beat Utami Hayashishita, and hope that NORI drops points against Victoria Yuzuki.
• NORI – Needs to beat Victoria Yuzuki and hope for either an Utami Hayashishita win against Kouki Amarei or a draw.
• Sareee – Is in the strongest position in Star League. A win for her against Bozilla guarantees her a spot in the Dream Star final.
• Mai Sakurai – Needs to beat Misa Matsui and hope that Bozilla defeats Sareee.
• Nanae Takahashi – Needs to beat Miku Aono, and hope that Bozilla defeats Sareee, and for Mai Sakurai to drop points against Misa Matsui.
• Bozilla – Needs to beat Sareee, and hope Miku Aono defeats Nanae Takahashi, and for Misa Matsui to defeat Mai Sakurai.

Current League Standings (Before 28th September 2024)

Quick Results

• Three-Way Match: Myla Grace def. Nao Ishikawa & Komomo Minami w/ Superkick and Pinfall Steal (5:42)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Natsumi Showzuki (7) def. Chika Goto (2) w/ Diving Double Knee Drop (7:46)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Victoria Yuzuki (5) def. NORI (8) w/ Rolling Arrow (5:58)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: MIRAI (8) vs. Nagisa Nozaki (8) Ended in a Double Countout (12:10)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Utami Hayashishita (10) def. Kouki Amarei (8) w/ German Suplex (9:03)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Kizuna Tanaka (2) def. CHIAKI (2) w/ Re:Dream (7:13)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Mai Sakurai (11) def. Misa Matsui (2) w/ STF (6:22)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Miku Aono (9) vs. Nanae Takahashi (10) Ended in a Time-Limit Draw (15:00)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Bozilla (10) def. Sareee (10) w/ Sit-Out Powerbomb (9:30)
• Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Final Match: Utami Hayashishita def. Mai Sakurai w/ Torture Rack Bomb (16:38)

Match #1 – Myla Grace def. Nao Ishikawa & Komomo Minami w/ Superkick and Pinfall Steal (5:42)

After seemingly putting past miscommunications behind them, Myla and Nao Ishikawa looked like they could co-exist quite well for a brief spell in this match. This obviously couldn’t last, with Myla stealing the pin on Nao from Minami after kicking the rookie in the head with a Superkick. Another win for Myla, but Nao continues her search for that very first pinfall win in Marigold.

Match Rating: **1/2

Match #2 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Natsumi Showzuki (7) def. Chika Goto (2) w/ Diving Double Knee Drop (7:46)

Flying high off the back of her defeat of Kouki Amarei in Korakuen Hall, Chika Goto comes face-to-face with a Natsumi Showzuki who is clearly in no mood to play. In fact, for the first part of this match, it almost becomes embarrassing for Goto as she’s repeatedly and angrily taken to task by the Superfly Champion. Goto goes get off a series of Hip Attacks, and then manages to get off the Giant Swing and the Chokeslam – both at the second time of asking. Not only does Showzuki weather this storm, but she comes through it even angrier. To emphasise this point, she kicks Goto hard in the chest and lands even harder in her midriff with the Diving Double Knee Drop to record her third win of the tournament. Her focus turns to Victoria Yuzuki’s Superfly Championship challenge, whilst Goto must pick herself up ahead of the tWin toWers challenging MIRAI and Mai Sakurai for the Twinstar Championships.

Match Rating: ***

Match #3 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Victoria Yuzuki (5) def. NORI (8) w/ Rolling Arrow (5:58)

This match is of absolute paramount importance for NORI, as anything other than a win here opens the door for either Utami Hayashishita or Kouki Amarei to usurp her at the top of the block, while a loss would see her eliminated before that match even takes place. She actually approaches this match as though the enormity of the situation is getting to her, in spite of rattling off a few warning kicks in Yuzuki’s direction, but with the latter already eliminated she is wrestling with an obvious freedom. That being said, NORI does land some hefty kicks to Yuzuki, smashing into the side of her head with a Spin Kick and an Enziguri. It’s not enough though, and Yuzuki is able to surprise NORI with the Rolling Arrow in under six minutes, eliminating her from the tournament despite such an incredible start. Yuzuki takes the victory well, rubbing it in the face of NORI until she storms to her feet and slams her to the floor, with it taking a raft of seconds at ringside to restrain her. A strong tournament close for Yuzuki, but I would be very surprised if this is the last we see of this feud in a Marigold ring.

Match Rating: ***1/4

Match #4 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: MIRAI (8) vs. Nagisa Nozaki (8) Ended in a Double Countout (12:10)

Considering neither woman can qualify for this year’s finals, it doesn’t stop them exploding out of the traps. Indeed within a minute of the opening bell, Nozaki has already ploughed in MIRAI with the Noir Lancer. The rest of the match follows suit, the action moving to the outside so we can undertake some char bowling, before moving back to the ring so the pair can chop each other as hard as possible. Unfortunately for the flow of the match, MIRAI hits the Miramare Shock, only for the referee to pulled from the ring by CHIAKI. She then distracts a rightly furious MIRAI before Nozaki slams a chair over her head. Rather than going for the pinfall however, Nozaki and CHIKI opt instead to take MIRAI to ever corner of the venue and continue the beatdown. It’s only as the count – which has been significantly more than twenty seconds if we are being honest – reaches its crescendo that Nozaki decides she should probably attempt to win the match via countout. MIRAI makes sure she doesn’t do that, ensuring that the match ends in a disappointing double countout.

As an initial emotional reaction I hated the end to this match, believing MIRAI to deserve a lot better to close out the tournament in which she’s been undoubted highlight. Once I’d calmed down however, it’s worth noting that both these women’s tournaments are already over. Neither have anything to wrestle for in reality, so why not set up a burgeoning program for after the Dream Star? Having CHIAKI intervene on Nagisa’s behalf, something we’ve not seen her do previously, signals a strengthening in their allegiance ahead of a potential Marigold Twinstar Championship challenge. Sure, in an ideal world I would have loved MIRAI to be in the hunt at the top of the block come the final night, but she has a bright future, and a great many Dream Star Grand Prix tournaments in that future; one of which I am 99.9% sure – this is wrestling after all – she wins.

Match Rating: ***

Match #5 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Dream League Match: Utami Hayashishita (10) def. Kouki Amarei (8) w/ German Suplex (9:03)

With NORI’s elimination by way of defeat to Victoria Yuzuki earlier in the night, this has now become the de facto final of Dream League, with the winner booking their place in the final later on in the night. Having recorded big wins over MIRAI and Nagisa Nozaki utilising her Big Boot to great effect, Amarei starts the stronger even in spite of her shock loss to Chika Goto at Korakuen Hall on Monday. Not only does she attempt to use those Big Boots, but she begins to target Utami’s arms with the Double Chickenwing in an attempt to negate the Lariats. Unfortunately for the Amethyst Butterfly, she isn’t able to overcome Utami’s power in the same way she did with MIRAI, and it’s not long before Hayashishita is able to grab control. With Kouki having missed the Amethyst Butterfly, yet having kicked herself free of the Torture Rack Bomb repeatedly, Utami clobbers her with one final slap across the face before hoisting her into the Deadlift German Suplex for the victory, becoming the first person to officially qualify for the Dream Star Grand Prix final. She may have fallen at the last hurdle, but I think it’s fair to say that this tournament has been transformational for Kouki. Though not quite in the same league – pardon the pun – as Utami or MIRAI, her push in the Dream Star is definitive proof that she can hang with the best. The only way is up for the Amethyst Butterfly.

Match Rating: ***3/4

Match #6 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Kizuna Tanaka (2) def. CHIAKI (2) w/ Re:Dream (7:13)

Kizuna Tanaka is currently the only person in the tournament yet to win a match, having the lost six League matches in a row. Of course, CHIAKI exploits what is undoubtedly a lack of self confidence to take the early and attacks Tanaka’s back. Even when the super rookie fires up and returns fire with a volley of strikes and her own assault on CHIAKI’s arm, it looks like she may pay the price when the referee takes a bump and the Dark Wolf is able to bring the chair into play. Having taken a Chokeslam on the chair however, Tanaka refuses to let this be the finish and is able to roll up CHIAKI with the Re:Dream, positioning herself beautifully to stop the Dark Wolf getting her legs onto the ropes, to secure her first win of the tournament.

Match Rating: ***

Match #7 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Mai Sakurai (11) def. Misa Matsui (2) w/ STF (6:22)

The rise of Mai Sakurai has been truly something to behold in these early days of Marigold, and she has the chance to add to her growing resume by winning the Star League. She needs some help of course, hoping Bozilla can defeat the so-far-unbeaten Sareee, but before that she needs to defeat Misa Matsui. The Speed Star however isn’t going to let Sakurai get the victory easily however, and immediately erupts into action, targeting Mai’s leg by bouncing it off the ropes when she misses a Big Boot before then slamming it against the ring post. This is all in attempt to weaken it ahead of the Stretch Muffler. However, Sakurai is able to weather the storm, even in spite of a desperate Running Knee from Matsui, and blitzes

Match Rating: ***1/2

Match #8 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Miku Aono (9) vs. Nanae Takahashi (10) Ended in a Time-Limit Draw (15:00)

This match encapsulates everything I love about professional wrestling. It’s another enormous feather in Nanae Takahashi’s cap, and it’s a coming of age for Miku Aono. These two women absolutely destroy each other for fifteen unrelenting minutes. With Nanae now out of the running to qualify for the tournament finals by way of her opening night loss to Mai Sakurai, the match becomes more of a proving ground for Miku Aono. Both women claimed at Korakuen Hall that they would bring the most passion, and neither disappointed as the pair throw Lariat after Lariat at each other, only to get back up for more. The highlight of the match for me is Miku Aono continuing the throw kicks into Nanae’s spine, despite the evident pain she’s in after she’s had her leg completely taken apart by Takahashi. It’s as though, in spite of the pain, Aono is determined to prove herself to Nanae, who in the early stages of this match openly doesn’t take Aono seriously. The blows continue to fly at a rapidly increasing level of ferocity and, though Nanae keeps going back to Aono’s leg, it’s the United National Champion that enters the final minute of the match in control, muscling Takahashi into the Double Underhook Suplex just as the bell sounds for the time limit. Aono is devastated by the result, seeing it as a loss. As Nanae circles the ring whipping the Nagoya crowd into a passion frenzy, Aono meanders unsmilingly to the back without so much as a backwards glance. I would be absolutely amazed if this is the last time we see these two in singles action.

What. A. Match! 

Match Rating: ****1/2

Match #9 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Star League Match: Bozilla (10) def. Sareee (10) w/ Sit-Out Powerbomb (9:30)

How do you make Bozilla even more terrifying? Well you give her fire, that’s how! Yep, the German Powerhouse comes to the ring breathing literal fire – it’s quite the entrance! It’s also a completely different dynamic than we are used to as Sareee, who has roughhoused her own way through the Marigold roster is mauled all around the ring, and outside it. At one point, a very obviously confident Bozilla takes to the top rope and dives into a Crossbody to the outside, crushing both Sareee and poor Victoria Yuzuki at ringside. However, Sareee does manage to progressively grow into the match, even it only is fleetingly, working Bozilla’s arm with a brutal-looking Fujiwara Arm-Bar. However, when Bozilla builds a head of steam, it’s damn-near impossible to stop her and when she nearly takes Sareee’s head off with a Lariat, the end seems nigh. To her credit, Sareee becomes the first person to kick out of the Drill-A-Piledriver, but after eating that, then a Moonsault and finally the Powerbomb, Bozilla becomes the first person in Marigold history to pin Sareee whilst simultaneously confirming Mai Sakurai to be the winner of Star lWith Bozilla already eliminated courtesy of Sakurai’s win earlier in the night, she has her eyes on one prize, and it’s the Crimson Red Belt. she goes from the ring in order to retrieve it and then hold in Sareee’s face, declaring her challenge. A braver person than I would shrink away from her, but Sareee stands her ground and is very keen indeed on a rematch in order to right this wrong. 

Match Rating: ***3/4

Match #10 – Dream Star Grand Prix 2024 Final Match: Utami Hayashishita def. Mai Sakurai w/ Torture Rack Bomb (16:38)

The moment that Utami Hayashishita strolls to the ring adorned in a Queen’s Quest-style mask, I convinced myself that the result was a foregone conclusion. Fair play to Mai Sakurai in that case for making this such a damn-good final regardless! Having been out-wrestled and outmanoeuvred during the opening sequence, Mai finally catches a break when she avoids an Utami Lariat on the outside, causing her to hit the post with her arm and opening a window of opportunity. Sakurai takes this gift and runs with it, attacking Utami on the stage before throwing herself off it into a Diving Crossbody. Back in the ring and Mai continues to attack, but is caught dawdling on the top rope, allowing Utami to grab her roughly by her leg back to the mat. As I mentioned earlier, I’d convinced myself that Hayashishita had the match in the bag, however to of the closest and well-timed near falls you’re likely to see after a Sakurai Tiger Suplex and the Mai Pan Roll made me completely forget that and bite down hard on the false finish. Utami is magnificent when on offence, however she is one of the best sellers in the game, and nowhere is this better illustrated than when she is locked for a second time in the STF. The camera work is fantastic to catch the expression on Utami’s face, but it’s that moment as she teeters in and out of consciousness, staring at the ropes that are but a finger tip away, as though willing herself to reach out. It takes everything, but she does it, and I am wholeheartedly buying into the drama. Not only did we get a fantastic moment where I actually convinced myself that Utami was going to pass out in the hold – a huge shock – but it also builds the STF as a lethal finishing move. Imbued by the passionate response from the Nagoya crowd, Utami rallies and from here, Sakurai doesn’t really stand a chance. She is able to fight free of a Torture Rack Bomb and kick out of the German Suplex that put away Kouki Amarei earlier in the night, but when Utami finally hits the Torture Rack-Bomb, that’s all she wrote. Utami is the inaugural Dream Star Grand Prix victor, which is 100% the right choice, and she showed once again in this match just why she is considered the ace of Marigold. However, Mai Sakurai is another of the many success stories of this tournament, one that includes Kouki Amarei and Kizuna Tanaka. The future looks pretty bright for this company if you ask me!

Match Rating: ****1/4

You can check out the Marigold roster win/loss records for 2024 right here; https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/11_PWxd5BDxeHIfKqtQ2YtiwhGteRrVUZ3B5L4yrDQE0/edit?gid=517287206#gid=517287206

You can check out a comprehensive run down of the Marigold Championship Histories here; https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/18MJ2Cebe36Nvfcpj8uVs1AtMbAV1chn-lG7t-xn44DY/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Upcoming Shows

• Saturday 5th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 1, Osaka 176BOX, Osaka (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Monday 7th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 2, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo (LIVE)
• Saturday 12th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 3, KBS Hall, Kyoto (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Sunday 13th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 4, Act City Hamamatsu, Hamamatsu (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Monday 14th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 5, Shibuya Ward Sports Center, Tokyo (LIVE)
• Sunday 20th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 6, ARCS Hall, Nagano (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Thursday 24th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 7, Korakuen Hall, Tokyo (LIVE)
• Sunday 27th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 8 ~Afternoon Show~, Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Tokyo (LIVE)
• Sunday 27th October – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 8 ~Evening Show~, Shin-Kiba 1st RING, Tokyo (LIVE)
• Saturday 2nd November – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 9 ~Afternoon Show~, Sapporo Gateau Kingdom, Hokkaido (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Saturday 2nd November – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 9 ~Evening Show~, Sapporo Gateau Kingdom, Hokkaido (VIDEO ON DEMAND)
• Monday 4th November – Fantastic Adventure 2024 – Night 10, Nagoya Congress Center, Aichi (VIDEO ON DEMAND)