Over six months into its existence, there is a significant amount to be excited about for Dream Star Fighting Marigold. Not only did the company run Sumo Hall and draw two huge houses at Korakuen Hall, but they have also shone a spotlight on some of the most exciting wrestlers in joshi.
Former-Goddesses of Stardom Champion Natsumi Showzuki was forced to retire from wrestling in 2013, but returned to action in AWG in 2021. Now, she is the inaugural Marigold Superfly Champion after joining the promotion alongside Fuka and seven other AWG wrestlers.
We were lucky enough to be granted an interview with the Superfly Champion as we inch closer to her latest title defence against Misa Matsui in Hokkaido, and were able to chat about her return to wrestling, people she wants to face in Marigold, her favourite matches and so much more…
Q. Can you talk a little bit about your personal start in professional wrestling?
NS: In 2011, I played the role of a high school girl who wants to become a wrestler in a play. I went to watch Stardom to prepare for the role.
Q. Are there any wrestlers that influenced your style of wrestling and if so, who?
NS: I want to make my wrestling style original, but I would like to imitate Iyo Sky.
Q. Unfortunately you were forced to retire through injury in 2013. What was it that inspired you to come back?
NS: The president of AWG invited me to do a play that involved wrestling.
Q. You left AWG to join Rossy Ogawa and Marigold. How difficult was the decision to leave AWG and what was the reason you ultimately decided to leave?
NS: At the time, I had the belt, so quitting wasn’t easy. But there were various reasons, and I had no choice but to leave AWG and go to Marigold on that day.
Q. We’ve just had the Dream Star Grand Prix and saw you have great singles matches with the likes of Utami Hayashishita, Victoria Yuzuki and MIRAI. Who else in Marigold would you like to face in a singles match that you haven’t already?
NS: Nanae Takahashi, Sareee
Q. You’ve had some great moments in your career. You won the Goddesses of Stardom Championships with Kairi Hojo in Sumo Hall, and have now become the first ever Marigold Superfly Champion. What are some of your personal fondest memories from your career so far?
NS: I still vividly remember the cheers of the crowd at the first match during my time with Stardom, when the Natsumi chants started. And of course, being able to win a belt twice at Ryogoku Kokugikan is cool.
Q. Speaking of Kairi, with the partnership with WWE, and IYO SKY taking on Utami Hayashishita in Ryogoku, is a singles match with your former Ho-Show Tennyo tag team partner something you would like to happen in the future?
NS: Yes. I think it would be good to have a singles match, but I think it would be better to have her by my side. I won’t know until it actually happens. If possible, I would like to do it overseas.
Q. Marigold have announced their first show in the United States next year, how excited are you to wrestle there? Are you looking forward to being able to practice the English that you have been studying?
NS: I am really looking forward to it. It was one of my dreams to wrestle in America. I am still not well known, so I will do my best to get more people to know me. I need to study English more!
Q. What are some of your hopes and ambitions for the future in Marigold? Your tag team with Miku Aono is fantastic, could we see you challenge for the Twinstar Championships?
NS: My personal goal remains the same: to aim for all the belts. Even small people should be able to aim for the red belt. Of course I would like to win the tag belts, but I haven’t found the best partner yet.
Q. You’ve been in the ring with some of the hardest strikers in Joshi, but in your opinion who do you think hits the hardest?
NS: I haven’t faced all of them properly yet, but Aono Miku’s kicks have always been heavy. Nozaki Nagisa’s kicks were pretty painful too.MIRAI and Takahashi Nanae’s chops hurt too. But I think my kicks and elbows are pretty painful too!
A huge thanks goes to Dream Star Fighting Marigold and Natsumi Showzuki for doing this interview and giving up their time during an incredibly busy week to make this happen. A big thank you also goes to friend-of-the-show Sonny Gutierrez for facilitating this and being amazing with all of our questions and requests!
We would like to take the time to thank Chiyoko Asakura, without whom this interview wouldn’t happen. Chiyoko kindly translated all of the questions we had for Natsumi and we truly appreciate the effort and kindness. You can follow Chiyoko on Twitter right here: @chiyoko_asakura
You can learn more about – and follow – Marigold on both their Japanese (@DSF_Marigold) and English (@Marigold_Joshi) twitter channels. You can also check out their website right here
Finally, another huge thank you to Natsumi Showzuki for agreeing to this interview. You can follow her on Twitter here: @723Sumikawa
You can check out Marigold, and Natsumi’s latest Superfly title defence against Misa Matsui in Hokkaido on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. Sign-up with a seven-day free trial here.
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