Mayu Iwatani Becomes a Triple Crown Champion at Marigold GRAND DESTINY 2026, Issues an Emotional Statement

By: Lewis Carlan

Marigold held its latest major event, GRAND DESTINY 2026 on Oct. 24th at Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo.

The main event featured a Triple Crown, winner take all bout as the Marigold World Champion Miku Aono faced Marigold United National Champion Victoria Yuzuki and Marigold Superfly Champion Mayu Iwatani in a triple threat elimination match.

While all three fought their hearts out in an effort to declare themselves a Triple Crown Champion, it was the “Icon” Mayu Iwatani who prevailed in this bout and claimed all three Marigold singles titles. After Yuzuki eliminated Aono, Iwatani pinned Yuzuki with a Dragon Suplex to earn the title of Triple Crown Champion.

Photo Credit: DSF Marigold

Despite being eliminated first, Miku Aono challenged Iwatani for her newly won Marigold World Title and the two will meet on Marigold FIRST DREAM 2027 on January 3rd for the Red Belt.

Following her championship victory, Iwatani triumphantly addressed the crowd:

“Right now, with Marigold being criticized in various ways, with its unpleasant parts catching people’s eyes… thank you very much for coming to Marigold Ryogoku today. Right now, you know, the very young girls in Marigold are working so hard. Amidst all that, I am already thirty-three years old. I had a few worries regarding my physical stamina, but… Mayu Iwatani is still doing just fine! Because, because, because! I was even on the cover of FLASH! Thank you! I can keep going strong, and from now on I will take the lead in pulling this promotion forward. Thank you very much!”

During her post-match backstage interview, Iwatani issued a heartfelt, emotional statement.

From Mayu Iwatani:

“Since joining this promotion, Marigold, I think I might have been too focused on ‘lifting the whole organization up’ or nurturing the younger talent, rather than prioritizing my own position as the top star. However, since joining this promotion and coming to Marigold, because I joined midway and am not homegrown, I think everyone had thoughts about what it means to be the face of the promotion, and I had them a bit myself too… but with this, I can proudly say from now on that ‘the true top of Marigold is Mayu Iwatani,’ and from now on I want Mayu Iwatani to lead this promotion even more as the top. First of all, now that I have won them, I wonder what I should do from here on out. First, match by match, I want to keep defending them while wearing down my body, and raise the value of each of these three belts. Is the next one January 3rd? I do not know, but it might happen that I put one of the belts on the line even earlier than January 3rd, but for now what is decided is January 3rd against Miku Aono. I have not yet had a proper singles match with Miku Aono, so I want to settle things properly there. As the champion of these belts, no, while Mayu Iwatani is the champion, I will accept challenges from anyone. Whether it is a youngster or anyone else, a veteran or someone from another promotion, I want anyone who has the resolve to come at me. For now, I am going to eat something delicious and sleep soundly with these belts. I am seriously tired! It was tough! But I am happy. Mayu Iwatani is happy! Thank you very much for your support. Please continue to support me!”

Despite being called a Triple Crown champion, all three titles now in possession of Iwatani will be defended independently of each other which means she now has a massive target on her back by literally every Marigold roster member.

(H/T goes to meraWRESTLING for all English quote translations)