Rossy Ogawa Discusses The Upcoming IYO SKY vs Mayu Iwatani Match At Marigold GRAND DESTINY 2025

By: Lewis Carlan

Marigold is set to hold its GRAND DESTINY 2025 event on Oct. 26th at the Ryogoku Kokugikan in Tokyo. The founder and head booker of Marigold, Rossy Ogawa has been pulling out all the stops to put together a special show that is worthy of a big venue like Ryogoku Kokugikan.

One massive match that Marigold has confirmed back on Sept. 26th is current WWE superstar IYO SKY taking on the Marigold Super Flyweight Champion and Icon Mayu Iwatani. The two superstars have lots of past history together.

SKY then Io Shirai, left STARDOM back in 2018 to join the WWE and has experienced tremendous success. SKY is a former WWE Women’s World Champion. Iwatani has had an enormous amount of success as well as she is a two time World of STARDOM champion and held the IWGP Women’s Title for an incredible 735 days before joining Marigold.

Photo Credit: WWE

Iwatani and SKY are former Goddesses of STARDOM Champions and two time Artist of STARDOM Champions with two different partners.

The last singles match between IYO SKY and Mayu Iwatani took place on April 30th 2018 at the STARDOM Cinderella Tournament 2018.

This upcoming match between SKY and Iwatani is a major deal and is arguably the single biggest match in the short history of Marigold.

Photo Credit: Marigold

Rossy Ogawa spoke recently to Proresu-Today and discussed how the IYO SKY vs Mayu Iwatani match came together. Ogawa revealed that Marigold is one of the few promotions that can secure the services of a WWE wrestler.

From Rossy Ogawa:

“Ultimately, if we’re doing it at a big venue like Ryogoku, it has to feel special, right? In that sense, we needed more than just our regular Marigold roster; we needed guests. And, well, it might sound strange, but we’re one of the few promotions that can bring in a WWE wrestler, right? That said, we don’t invite them all year round; it does cost a fair bit. So, the biggest thing is, among the people we want to invite, Mayu Iwatani vs. IYO SKY, there’s a history between the two, so I want people to see them continue that legacy. So, the story back when they fought, seven and a half years ago, and the positions they’re in now are different. So, just imagining what kind of match it will be, with these two, who have grown so much, fighting again after all this time, is exciting, isn’t it?”

Ogawa praised the WWE success of IYO SKY and indicated that her coming to a Japanese promotion is a big deal.

From Rossy Ogawa:

“IYO SKY’s recent success has been incredible, right? She’s the first Japanese WWE wrestler to win (at WrestleMania); she’s in a class of her own. I really want people to understand that the very fact that IYO is coming to a Japanese promotion is a big deal in itself.”

IYO SKY made an appearance for Marigold in July 2024 at Summer Destiny where she faced and defeated Utami Hayashishita. That event was also held at Ryogoku Kokugikan and drew 3,058 fans to the event. Ogawa is hoping to see an increase in attendance over Summer Destiny 2024 on Oct. 26th at GRAND DESTINY 2025. With SKY vs. Iwatani plus the rest of the card Marigold has already confirmed, he just may accomplish that feat.

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