Mayu Iwatani Wins The GHC Women’s Title At “MARIGOLD FIRST DREAM 2026”

By: Lewis Carlan

On Jan. 3rd, Marigold held it’s first event of the year and it was aptly called “MARIGOLD FIRST DREAM 2026”. The event was held at the Ota City General Gymnasium in Tokyo.

One of the featured bouts saw the current Marigold Superfly Champion Mayu Iwatani challenge the GHC Women’s Champion Takumi Iroha for the title. This was the fifth defense for Iroha who won the championship back on June 2nd 2025.

The two put on a clinic in this hard fought bout but it was a Iwatani Moonsault that ended the match at the 25:09 mark which made her the third GHC Women’s Champion since the inception of the title back on Nov. 11th 2024.

With the victory, Mayu Iwatani becomes the first women ever to hold both the IWGP Women’s Title and GHC Women’s Championship. She is now a double champion with her new title and the Marigold Superfly Championship.

Photo Credit: Marigold

The main event of “MARIGOLD FIRST DREAM 2026” featured a Marigold World Title match as the current champion Miku Aono put her Red Belt on the line against Mai Sakurai. This was Aono’s first defense of her championship since winning the belt back in Oct. 2025.

At last year’s “MARIGOLD FIRST DREAM”, Sakurai defeated Aono for the United National Championship and was attempting to repeat history by winning the Marigold World Title. Unfortunately for Sakurai that would not be the case as Aono denied Sakurai and emerged victorious at the 26:01 mark after hitting her patented Red Sensation to retain the Marigold World Championship.

Photo Credit: Marigold

In other action, The United National Champion Victoria Yuzuki successfully defended her title for the third time as she turned back the challenge of SYOKO Koshino.

Here are the full results for “MARIGOLD FIRST DREAM 2026” courtesy of purolove.com:

• Seri Yamaoka, Shinno & CoCo defeat Kizuna Tanaka, Komomo Minami & Yuuka Yamazaki (13:12) after a German Suplex Hold by Yamaoka against Yamazaki.
• Kouki Amarei, Natsumi Showzuki & Hummingbird defeat Nao Ishikawa, Yuuki Minami & Nagisa Tachibana (9:59) after Amarei’s Amethyst Butterfly against Tachibana.
• Megaton Challenge: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeats Megaton (1:08) with a Horizontal Cradle.
• Megaton Challenge: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeats Megaton (1:00) with a Horizontal Cradle.
• Megaton Challenge: Kuroshio TOKYO Japan defeats Megaton (1:28) with a Horizontal Cradle.
• Utami Hayashishita defeats Chika Goto (12:03) with a German Suplex Hold
• Marigold Twin Star Title: Misa Matsui & CHIAKI (c) defeat Nagisa Nozaki & Rea Seto (17:02) after Matsui’s MKD against Seto (3rd defense).
• Marigold United National Title: Victoria Yuzuki (c) defeats Syoko Koshino (16:11) with the Victory Sunset (3rd defense).
• GHC Women’s Title: Mayu Iwatani defeats Takumi Iroha  (c) (25:09) with a Moonsault Press – Title change (Failed 5th defense -> 3rd Champion).
• Marigold World Title: Miku Aono (c) defeats Mai Sakurai (26:01) with the Red Sensation (1st defense).