Mayu Iwatani (February 19, 1993) is a Japanese professional wrestler. Since making her debut in January 2011, she has worked for the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, becoming a one-time World of Stardom Champion, two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, one-time High Speed Champion, one-time Goddess of Stardom Champion and a three-time Artist of Stardom Champion, while also having won the 2015 and 2016 Cinderella Tournaments. Iwatani is the only wrestler remaining in Stardom, who has been with the promotion since its inception. Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter has called Iwatani and her fellow Stardom workers Io Shirai and Kairi Hojo "three of the best wrestlers in the world".
Early life[]
Iwatani grew up on the countryside of Mine, Yamaguchi with her family, which includes two older brothers. In primary school, she practiced judo and high jump, but in high school, she began isolating herself from society, spending three years mostly indoors. After quitting high school, she fell in love with professional wrestling after seeing a Dragon Gate event. She contacted Fuka, the general manager of the World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, who were looking for new wrestlers, and eventually moved to Tokyo in 2010 to pursue a career in professional wrestling.
Professional wrestling career[]
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2011–present)[]
Iwatani was part of Stardom's first class of trainees. She made her professional wrestling debut at the promotion's inaugural event on January 23, 2011, facing fellow debutante Arisa Hoshiki. Afterwards, Iwatani and Hoshiki formed a tag team named AMA, which became one of Stardom's most popular acts. Despite her popularity, Iwatani was the last of the class one trainees to obtain a win in a professional wrestling ring. In June, she was defeated by Eri Susa, the other winless Stardom trainee, and subsequently became known as Stardom's weakest wrestler. Iwatani was winless for the first eleven months of her career, before finally defeating Susa in a rematch on December 25, 2011. Afterwards, Iwatani and Hoshiki became part of Io Shirai's "Planet" stable, along with Natsumi Showzuki.
Following Hoshiki's retirement from professional wrestling in June 2012, Iwatani began teaming with Io Shirai under the team name "Thunder Rock". She also became part of a stable named Tawashis with Hiroyo Matsumoto and Miho Wakizawa. The three went on to win the Artist Of Stardom Championship on December 29, 2013, by defeating Alpha Female, The Female Predator "Amazon" and Kyoko Kimura. On July 27, 2014, Iwatani won her first singles title, when she defeated her teammate Miho Wakizawa for the vacant Wonder Of Stardom Championship. After a record-setting eight-month reign, Tawashis lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Hatsuhinode Kamen, Kaori Yoneyama and Tsubasa Kuragaki on August 10, 2014. On January 18, 2015, Iwatani lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Act Yasukawa.
On April 23, 2015, Iwatani won the first annual Cinderella Tournament, defeating Koguma in the finals. As a result, Iwatani was granted a shot at Stardom's top title, the World Of Stardom Championship, but was defeated by the defending champion, Kairi Hojo, on May 17. On May 6, Iwatani and Io Shirai, Thunder Rock, defeated Chelsea and Kairi Hojo to win the vacant Goddesses Of Stardom Championship. On October 11, Iwatani defeated Rosa Negra to also win the High Speed Championship. During their tag team title reign, Thunder Rock also won the 2015 Goddesses of Stardom Tag Tournament. On February 28, 2016, Iwatani became a triple champion, when she, Shirai and Kairi Hojo, billed together as "Threedom" (a combination of the words "Three" and "Stardom"), defeated Evie, Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kellie Skater for the Artist of Stardom Championship. In April, Iwatani, along with Hojo and Shirai, traveled to the United States to take part in events held by Lucha Underground and Vendetta Pro Wrestling. On April 29, Iwatani won her second Cinderella Tournament in a row, defeating Hiroyo Matsumoto in the finals. As a result, Iwatani received another shot at the World of Stardom Championship, but was defeated by Io Shirai on May 15. After setting records for both the longest reign and most successful title defenses, Iwatani and Shirai lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura in their 11th title defense on June 16. On October 2, Threedom lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Hana Kimura, Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura in their third defense.
On November 11, both Thunder Rock and Threedom were dissolved, when Shirai turned on Iwatani, after the two had lost to Hojo and Yoko Bito in the finals of the 2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. This led to Iwatani unsuccessfully challenging Shirai for the World of Stardom Championship at Stardom's year-end show on December 22. The following day, the match was named Stardom's 2016 Match of the Year. Reportedly, Iwatani was originally scheduled to win the match and the World of Stardom Championship, but the result was changed after she told Stardom that she wanted to retire from professional wrestling in 2017. After nine successful title defenses, Iwatani lost the High Speed Championship to Kris Wolf in a three-way match, also involving Kagetsu, on February 23, 2017. On April 30, Iwatani made it to the finals of her third Cinderella Tournament in a row, but was this time defeated by Toni Storm. With Storm going after the World of Stardom Championship, Iwatani chose to challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. On May 14, Iwatani defeated Kairi Hojo to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the second time. Shortly afterwards it was reported that Iwatani was no longer considering retirement and was being positioned as Stardom's top star in the wake of Io Shirai and Kairi Hojo's departures from the promotion.
On June 21, Iwatani defeated Shirai to win the World of Stardom Championship for the first time in her fifth challenge, becoming the first wrestler to simultaneously hold the World and Wonder of Stardom Championships. Afterwards, Iwatani started defending both the World and Wonder of Stardom Championships in separate title matches. On September 23, Iwatani lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Yoko Bito in her third defense. The following day, Iwatani lost the World of Stardom Championship to Toni Storm, again in her third defense. The title change was unplanned as the match had to be stopped after only two minutes due to Iwatani legitimately dislocating her elbow, forcing referee Daichi Murayama to award the title to Storm. Iwatani returned to the ring on December 10 to take part in Yoko Bito's final match in Shin-Kiba 1st Ring.
Ring of Honor (2018–2019)[]
On December 15 2018, Iwatani made her debut for American promotion Ring of Honor (ROH), when she was announced as part of a tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Women of Honor Champion.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Bridging dragon suplex
- Fubuki Rana
- Moonsault
- Two Step Dragon Suplex (Wheelbarrow bridging dragon suplex)
- Wheelbarrow dragon sleeper - 2019-present
- Signature moves
- Diving double foot stomp
- Diving splash
- Dodonpa
- German suplex
- Hurricanrana
- Multiple kick variations
- Drop, sometimes after a schoolgirl rollup or while diving
- Roundhouse
- Super
- Running Three
- Sky High
- Slingblade
- Springboard arm drag
- Tombstone piledriver
- Nicknames
- "Stardom no Icon" (Japanese for "Icon of Stardom")
- "Hyper Technician"
- "Sky Blue no Stardom Future"
- "The Gift"
- Entrance themes
- "Blue Bird" by Ikimono-gakari
- "Life Is Show Time" by Golden Bomber
- "The Savior" by World Wonder Ring Stardom
- "One and Only" by Io Shirai, Mayu Iwatani and Kazuhiro Kojima (used while teaming with Io Shirai)
Championships and accomplishments[]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- PWI ranked her #15 in the 2017 PWI Top 50 Females
- PWI ranked her #9 in the 2018 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #16 in the 2019 PWI Top 100 Females
- PWI ranked her #65 in the 2021 PWI Top 150 Females
- PWI ranked her #27 in the 2022 PWI Top 150 Females
- PWI ranked her #30 in the 2023 PWI Top 250 Females
- Ring of Honor
- ROH Women of Honor Championship (1 time)
- Tokyo Sports
- Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize (2019)
- World Wonder Ring Stardom
- Artist Of Stardom Championship (3 times) – with Hiroyo Matsumoto and Miho Wakizawa (1), Io Shirai and Takumi Iroha (1), and Io Shirai and Kairi Hojo (1)
- Goddesses Of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Io Shirai
- High Speed Championship (1 time)
- Wonder Of Stardom Championship (2 times)
- World Of Stardom Championship (1 time)
- Cinderella Tournament (2015, 2016)
- Goddess of Stardom Championship Tournament (2015)– with Io Shirai
- Goddesses of Stardom Tag Tournament (2015) – with Io Shirai
- 5★Star GP Best Match Award (2015) vs. Io Shirai on August 23
- 5★Star GP Best Match Award (2017) vs. Kagetsu on September 18
- 5★Star GP Outstanding Performance Award (2014)
- Best Match Award (2016) vs. Io Shirai on December 22
- Best Tag Team Award (2015) with Io Shirai
- Fighting Spirit Award (2017)
- Technique Award (2014, 2015)
External links[]
| 2017 PWI Top 50 Females |
|---|
| Asuka • Charlotte Flair • Alexa Bliss • Sasha Banks • Bayley • Io Shirai • Natalya • Sienna • Naomi • Kairi Sane • Mercedes Martinez • Shayna Baszler • Rosemary • LuFisto • Mayu Iwantani • Mia Yim • Allie • Ember Moon • Becky Lynch • Madison Eagles • Nicole Savoy • Nia Jax • Candice LeRae • Toni Storm • Hiroyo Matsumoto • Chelsea Green • Saraya Knight • Shazza McKenzie • Kay Lee Ray • Mickie James • Dakota Kai • Nicole Matthews • Alex Windsor • Deonna Purrazzo • Abbey Laith • Risa Sera • Viper • Carmella • Ruby Riot • Nikki Cross • Vanessa Kraven • Santana Garrett • Tessa Blanchard • Arisa Nakajima • Lady Lory • Shotzi Blackheart • Veda Scott • Alpha Female • Marti Belle • Zoey Skye |