This week Ryan is joined by guest host and Substack contributor Luke!
We thought we were going to do a show all about Mayu Iwatani signing with Marigold, and then WWE did their annual post-Mania releases... We'll chat about those things, plus Tam Nakano & Thekla also leave Stardom - where might they wind up? Miyu Yamashita makes an appearance in AEW. And to make this not just an episode about joshis, how about some news and analysis on Indi Hartwell, British indie star Rhio, and uhhhh let's go with Joe Hendry! And how about some Report Cards on MJF and Mike Santana? Welcome to WrestleWatch: Pro Wrestling Free Agency Podcast Episode 53!
This episode was recorded live on 5/3/25. Music Provided by Wendi Freeman [TikTok & Instagram: maritalstreep]
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As explained on this week’s podcast, we’ve slightly amended our criteria for a talent to appear on the Free Agency Tracker. Previously we only considered talent who were being pursued by a group of major promotions (AEW, NJPW, WWE, or Stardom). We now will consider talent who are being pursued by those major promotions and/or are noteworthy enough to demand our attention. This is colloquially been called “the Mayu Rule,” and it puts more emphasis on us keep an eye on the top current and potential free agents rather than having the focus be on promotions.
As always, here is the updated Free Agency Tracker:
We had two Confirmed Jumps this week! Let’s first head look to the title of this episode and cover Mayu Iwatani. It was only a week ago that she was defending the NJPW Women’s Championship in a losing effort to Syuri, and over the course of the week she had a press conference announcing her departure from Stardom and another announcing her signing to Marigold. Her Stardom contract was a long-term deal which ran out just now, hence why she had not left Stardom with the initial Marigold exodus. She seems to be focused on staying in Japan, so as for now we don’t think a Giulia situation is upon us for Iwatani’s time in Marigold.
Let’s do two quick hits of other Stardom departures. Tam Nakano is now officially retired from wrestling; we had her as Safe Stay for the off-chance she didn’t actually retire, but it seems her career is now over following the Title vs Career match at All Star Grand Queendom. The other departure is Thekla, who in kayfabe was fired for her continued attacks on Stardom President Okada. It appears she’s already left Japan and headed to the United States, with multiple outlets believing her next destination to be AEW. We previously had Thekla on our Tracker for some time due to her interest in working in the United States, so her ending up in AEW doesn’t surprise us; we’ve moved Thekla up to a Likely Jump as there hasn’t been word yet of a signing.
Keeping it in Japan and related to AEW, Miyu Yamashita made a return appearance in AEW in a losing effort to AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm. Frequent watchers of TJPW note that Yamashita, a four-time Princess of Princess Champion, doesn’t have a lot left to do in the promotion and has ramped up US bookings in recent months. This AEW appearance is part of a North America trip that includes stops for Mania week indie shows, AEW, MLP, and MLW. When Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful was asked if there was interest from AEW or WWE in signing Yamashita, his response was “not from WWE.” Put that all in a blender, and we’re feeling Lean Stay on Yamashita at the moment. More could develop so stay tuned.
Now we’ll fly over to the UK where British indie star Rhio joins the Tracker as a Lean Jump. This past week she challenged Progress Women’s Champion Nina Samuels in a Title vs Leave The Territory match, winning the Progress belt in the process. Normally that is a signal someone is staying put, right? Well
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