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It’s a SOLO EXPRESS edition of the Big Audio Nightmare as I talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.
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Marigold plans on running its first shows in the United States next year.
Tokyo Sports published an article on Monday revealing Marigold owner/founder Rossy Ogawa’s plans to run a show in Las Vegas during WrestleMania 41 week. Ogawa says that by then, Giulia’s presence in WWE will have spread awareness of Marigold in the United States.
“I think the name of Marigold will also spread as Giulia goes over there. We have to make our own chance to spread the name of Marigold more in Las Vegas next April. For that reason, I think I have to prepare from now on,” reads a translation of Ogawa’s comments to Tokyo Sports.
The article also notes that Stardom, which Ogawa founded in 2011, didn’t run its first show in the United States until 2015.
“At that time, the name of Stardom gradually spread all over the world, and I think it was an opportunity for Iyo (Sky) and Kairi (Sane) to be aware of the world,” Ogawa continued.
Giulia recently bid “arrivederci” to Marigold after yesterday’s show at the Shin-Kiba 1st Ring in Tokyo. The show was headlined by her wrestling 26 opponents in a gauntlet match. She is expected to arrive in WWE shortly.
Image: NJPW
The Big Audio Nightmare is back as Adam Summers and Mike Sempervive talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.
This week’s topics include:
Click Here to Listen (sub needed)
Giulia has something important to say.
As rumors swirl that her time with Marigold could be coming to an end soon, Giulia posted to social media on Sunday that she will make an announcement at the promotion’s event in Korakuen Hall on Tuesday.
“I have an announcement to make to everyone at Korakuen Hall! Let me say it with my own mouth and look into your faces,” a translation of Giulia’s comments read.
Our own Dave Meltzer gave an update on Giulia’s status on today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer said:
“I was told yesterday that (Marigold) thought that it would be the end of August, but she’s under contract to WWE so when WWE wants to start her she’s going. The announcement will be made, she’s going to say I’m leaving for WWE, and she’s going to have the date and it’s coming up very, very soon and she’ll be starting in NXT.”
Meltzer also covered what Giulia’s eventual departure means for Marigold in the July 22, 2024 edition of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
Meltzer wrote:
“Marigold isn’t going to be made or broken by this, and they have done fine the first time in every city without Giulia, who had been injured. But they have an uphill battle as at first, the belief was they would be touring with a large percentage of the top Stardom names from last year. In the end they will be touring with Mai Sakurai, who was not a major star, Mirai, who was a star, and Hayashishita, who was a great wrestler but not a charismatic force.”
Giulia is also scheduled for a tag team match on Tuesday’s show. She’ll team with Marigold World Champion Sareee against Victoria Yuzuki & Kizuna Tanaka.
Marigold lineup for Tuesday, July 30, at Korakuen Hall —
FILTHY FOUR DAILY with Bryan Alvarez and Filthy Tom Lawlor is back with tons to talk about including a recap of the latest WWE Speed Tournament, a Filthy Favorite (TM), WWE Smackdown from Friday, and the main event of Marigold this weekend. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the latest in the Cung Le lawsuit, more on the death of WCW, the SummerSlam card so far, Nattie re-signs, the death of Ken Hoffman and what he meant to the Observer, NOAH, Marigold, FantasticaMania, Smackdown and Collision reviews, and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!
Timestamps:
Start: Black Saturday anniversary, UFC antitrust lawsuit update
6:30: Natalya re-signs with WWE, SummerSlam lineup, other lineups for this week
10:10: Lenita Erickson & Who Killed WCW
27:00: Ken Hoffman passes away
34:04: NOAH & Marigold thoughts featuring WWE talent
46:59: NJPW Fantastica Mania US recap
58:19: WWE SmackDown notes
1:05:16: AEW Collision notes
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The new issue of the Observer is up on the site now. Among the stories covered are:
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Sunday Update
It’s Saturday and that means Wrestling Observer Live with yours truly and to paraphrase Nia Jax, we have a buttload of wrestling to talk about.
Friday’s WWE SmackDown continued the build to SummerSlam and AJ Styles and IYO SKY wrestled in Japan.
Plus Stephanie Vaquer makes her first WWE appearance since signing her contract, we have MJF vs. Will Ospreay this Wednesday, John Cena is returning, press conferences and more.
A packed show so check it out.
IYO SKY has made her return to Japan.
The former WWE Women’s Champion wrestled in the co-main event of Saturday’s Marigold Summer Destiny event at Sumo Hall. She defeated Utami Hayashishita following a tombstone piledriver and a moonsault. After the match, she thanked Hayashishita, WWE, and Marigold.
Prior to the match, SKY came out with her WWE music and wore a mask similar to the one used during her run in Stardom.
In the main event of Marigold Summer Destiny, Sareee became the first Marigold World Champion defeating Giulia, who will take part in Marigold events before eventually heading to WWE.
SKY’s appearance comes as WWE has begun lending talent to several promotions, including TNA and Pro Wrestling NOAH. SKY wrestled her match prior to AJ Styles facing Naomichi Marufuji in the double main event of Saturday’s NOAH Destination event. It was also announced on that show that NXT’s Josh Briggs and Tavion Heights will be competing in this year’s N1 Victory tournament.
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Marigold has announced the full lineup for Summer Destiny.
Giulia vs. Sareee is expected to headline the July 13 show at Sumo Hall. However, Giulia has still not received medical clearance following a broken wrist she suffered on the promotion’s debut show on May 20. She had surgery on the injury the following week.
Marigold wrote on social media today that Giulia’s participation at Summer Destiny is pending her receiving medical clearance later this week or early next week.
“Giulia’s participation is pending medical clearance later this week or early next week. If she is cleared, Rossy Ogawa will decide if this match is for the Marigold World Championship,” Marigold wrote.
WWE’s IYO Sky will also participate at Summer Destiny. She is scheduled to wrestle Utami Hayashishita on the show. The full lineup, announed on Monday, is below.
Marigold Summer Destiny lineup for July 13, 2024 —
Additionally, a dance performance by the original Actress Girls cast and Princess Tenko is advertised for the event.
The Big Audio Nightmare is back as Adam Summers and Mike Sempervive talk about everything happening in the very busy world of Japanese wrestling.
This week’s topics include:
Click Here to Listen (sub needed)
IYO Sky is going to wrestle for Marigold next month.
Just hours after she defeated Lyra Valkyria on WWE Raw last night, Sky appeared via video at Marigold’s Grand Opening Wars show today at Korakuen Hall. She challenged Utami Hayashishita to a match at Summer Destiny on July 13 at the Ryogoku Kokugikan. Marigold has since made the match official.
“As a WWE Superstar, I will enter the ring July 13th at Ryogoku Kokugikan. This will be a “dream match” for women’s wrestling fans not only in Japan but all over the world. This premium fight will never happen again… please look forward to it,” reads a translation of Sky’s comments below.
After her win on Raw, Sky continued to attack Valkyria. Even her Damage CTRL teammates appeared taken back by her aggressiveness. Later in the show, Sky appeared distraught and was yelling backstage before storming off on Dakota Kai and Kairi Sane.
Marigold Summer Destiny announced lineup for July 13, 2024 —
Giulia is on the mend and hopeful to be cleared in time for Marigold Summer Destiny.
The 30-year-old suffered a broken wrist just five minutes into the main event of Marigold Fields Forever on May 20. She’d later tell Tokyo Sports that doctors said surgery was the quickest route back for her if she hopes to wrestle Sareee on July 13 show at Sumo Hall.
Marigold announced on Tuesday that Giulia’s surgery has been deemed a success and she will be on hand for the promotion’s show on Saturday.
“Giulia, who has been absent due to a distal radius fracture, underwent surgery this morning in Tokyo and we are pleased to report that surgery was a success! She’ll be discharged on Thursday and will accompany us to our regional shows starting on June 1st.”
Giulia’s injury was addressed by our own Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Radio, with Meltzer saying WWE wanted Giulia to have the surgery.
“WWE wanted her to undergo the surgery. So, she’s doing that,” Meltzer said.
“I know that before the surgery she was still talking about doing the July 13 date at Sumo Hall against Sareee in the singles match, that would probably be a great match, she really wanted to do that match.”
Meltzer continued to say that Giulia has been working hard to help Rossy Ogawa’s new promotion, despite being expected to land in WWE eventually.
“She’s been very hands-on with Marigold as far as really working with the younger wrestlers, trying to help the company. You know, she’s got a lame duck deal, she’s leaving and everyone knows it but she’s really working hard on building the company, to the point of leading the training classes.”
Giulia has elected to have surgery on her broken wrist.
The 30-year-old suffered the injury five minutes into the main event of Marigold Fields Forever in Korakuen Hall on Monday. She recently revealed to Tokyo Sports that she’s been told surgery is the quickest route back for her.
Giulia was admitted to the hospital on Monday and her surgery is scheduled for Tuesday.
“That day, my arm bent in the opposite direction, and as a result, I broke a bone. I was told that surgery would be the fastest recovery,” a translation of Giulia’s comments read.
It was noted in the Tokyo Sports article that this is Giulia’s first time being hospitalized and the first surgery she’s ever had.
“I’ll spend my time watching movies and watching various professional wrestling videos for the first time in a long time,” a translation of her comments reads.
Sareee and Bozilla defeated Giulia and Utami Hayashishita on Monday. After the match, Giulia challenged Sareee to a singles match at Sumo Hall at Summer Destiny.
Giulia was on hand for Marigold’s afternoon and evening shows on Sunday in Tokyo. She greeted the fans and apologized for being unable to perform on the show.
