Quoted By:
>On the 26th, women’s pro wrestling group Marigold made a shocking announcement: WWE Superstar IYO SKY will appear at the October 26 Ryogoku Kokugikan event in Tokyo. There, she will face her former ally, Iwatani Mayu (32), in a singles match for the first time in about seven years and five months.
>At noon that day, the promotion updated its official X (formerly Twitter) account. In a video, IYO greeted fans: “Hello Marigold fans, it’s been a while. I’m WWE Superstar IYO SKY. Why am I here? There’s only one reason—Mayu Iwatani. These past years, when our paths never crossed, let’s show in the ring just how amazing the roads we’ve each walked have been, and talk it all out with our hearts.” With that, she issued the challenge, confirming their showdown at Ryogoku.
>During her Stardom years under the ring name Shirai Io, she twice captured the World Championship and set the record for most consecutive defenses with 14. She also won the Tokyo Sports “Joshi Pro-Wrestling Award” three years in a row (2015–2017). In June 2018, she signed with WWE, the world’s largest wrestling promotion. After a successful run in NXT, she was promoted to RAW in July 2022, where she has run rampant as a member of the villainous unit “Damage CTRL.”
>In March of this year, she captured the WWE Women’s World Championship, completing the women’s Grand Slam. At WrestleMania 41 in April, she became the first Japanese wrestler to score a victory at the event. Though she lost the title in July, she remains active at the top level. This will mark her first Marigold appearance in about a year and two months, since facing Hayashishita Utami at last July’s Ryogoku event.
