Sukeban Back in LA ft. Marigold Wrestling Stars, New IWGP Women’s Champ

By: Thom Fain

The boundary-breaking Japanese wrestling collective that captivated audiences at events like Art Basel Miami is heading back to Los Angeles, bringing with it three breakout stars from the rapidly ascending Marigold promotion: Victoria Suzuki, Rea Seto, and Misa Matsui. The event marks a pivotal moment for Sukeban’s expansion

Sareee, who recently won the IWGP Women’s Championship by defeating Syuri at STARDOM The Conversion 2025, is currently en route from Japan to Los Angeles with the prestigious title in tow. The champion, known for her “Sareee-ISM” wrestling philosophy, will be donning a new persona at the event: That of Sukeban champion Sareee Bomb.

The Los Angeles event on July 5th at Anime Expo represents unprecedented opportunities for a Marigold trio, making a quick excursion while building on their breakout 2025. Victoria Suzuki recently made history by winning the Marigold Super Fly Championship on January 3, 2025, at First Dream, marking the first title in her career. Her inclusion in Sukeban’s roster offers a chance to showcase her championship credentials to American audiences who may be unfamiliar with the technical prowess of modern joshi puroresu.

Rea Seto has been building momentum in 2025, recently challenging for the Marigold Super Fly Championship after picking up victories in tag team competition. Her aggressive in-ring style and compelling character work align perfectly with Sukeban’s emphasis on narrative storytelling and theatrical presentation.

Misa Matsui, a veteran performer within the Marigold system, brings depth and experience to the Los Angeles lineup. Her participation signals Sukeban’s commitment to showcasing the full spectrum of Japanese women’s wrestling talent, from emerging champions to seasoned performers who helped establish the promotion’s foundation.

Bridging Cultures with Joshi Wrestlers

Sukeban’s Los Angeles expansion continues the collective’s mission to make Japanese wrestling culture accessible to diverse American audiences. Following the model established in its 2023 debut, where over 1,000 attendees witnessed their unique blend of performance art and athletic competition, the Los Angeles event promises to give West Coast audiences the rich tradition of joshi puroresu through Sukeban’s contemporary lens.

The collective’s approach deliberately contrasts with traditional wrestling presentations. As detailed in their previous events, Sukeban places emphasis on lighting, production design, and fashion-forward costume design by collaborators like Olympia Le-Tan and Stephen Jones. This aesthetic philosophy resonates with Los Angeles’s entertainment industry culture, potentially opening doors for further collaboration and cultural exchange.

Empowerment Through Rebellion

The name “Sukeban” itself carries significant cultural weight, referring to the subculture of “delinquent girls” who challenged Japanese gender roles during the Sexual Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s. These girl gangs, known for their modified schoolgirl uniforms and acts of rebellion, represent a spirit of defiance that the wrestling collective aims to channel in their performances.

For more on how Sukeban is a stark departure from the traditions of Joshi puroresu, read my culture analysis here: My Year At Stardom

For the Marigold wrestlers, joining Sukeban represents more than athletic opportunity—it’s a chance to carry forward a legacy of female empowerment. The collective’s emphasis on celebrating displays of female power while moving away from wrestling’s history of objectification provides a platform for these athletes to be recognized for their technical skills and athletic achievements.
Strategic Timing and Market Expansion

The Anime Expo 2025 showcase arrives at a crucial moment for both Sukeban and the featured wrestlers. Marigold, founded in April 2024, represents a new generation of Japanese women’s wrestling promotion that has quickly gained international attention. The promotion’s partnership with Sukeban for this Los Angeles showcase demonstrates the strategic thinking behind both organizations’ growth plans.

The presence of IWGP Women’s Champion Sareee adds significant credibility to the event, as her championship reign represents one of the most prestigious titles in women’s wrestling. Her willingness to participate in Sukeban’s fashion-forward presentation while maintaining her championship status signals a potential shift in how traditional wrestling accomplishments can be celebrated through innovative formats.

The Los Angeles event positions these Marigold wrestlers at the forefront of a cultural movement that extends beyond wrestling into broader conversations about women’s wrestling, artistic expression, and cultural barriers being broken between art & sports entertainment.

For Marigold’s Victoria Suzuki, Rea Seto, and Misa Matsui, this represents an opportunity to establish themselves as not just skilled wrestlers, but as ambassadors for a new generation of Japanese athletic artistry.

As Sukeban continues to tour the United States before returning focus to Japan, there’s an added prestige of sharing the card with a reigning IWGP Women’s Champion. Although it’s yet to be seen whether or not STARDOM allows their top champion to put the “World” into their World title by bringing it into different rings overseas, the event is set to be a strong showcase within the United States of the best in Joshi puroresu.