IYO SKY defeats Mayu Iwatani in Marigold Grand Destiny main event

Former WWE Women's World Champion IYO SKY defeated longtime rival Mayu Iwatani in the main event of Marigold Grand Destiny on Sunday at Tokyo's Ryogoku Kokugikan, capping a near 30 minute encounter that marked the two wrestlers' first one-on-one match since April 2018. SKY secured the victory after hitting two rapid moonsaults from the top rope, a finish that brought a visibly emotional embrace between the competitors after the bell.

The match, billed as a dream encounter between two veterans of the Japanese joshi scene, opened with a respectful handshake and unfolded as a physical, story-driven bout. The participants exchanged hard-hitting sequences and surprise spots, including SKY landing a Tombstone Piledriver during the closing stages. Organizers said the match lasted just under 30 minutes, and it was only SKY's second appearance for Marigold since the promotion launched in 2024; she previously defeated Utami Hayashishita at Marigold Summer Destiny in July 2024.

Build-up to the match emphasized the pair's shared history in STARDOM earlier in their careers. At the pre-match press conference, Iwatani appeared emotional when facing SKY, and the two exchanged heartfelt words in...