The hierarchy is under construction.

We don’t yet know who will rule the Dream Star Fighting Marigold landscape. Who is royalty in this new promotion? Who will serve as its proverbial queen, duchess, viscountess?

These unanswered questions and the fight to get it all figured out is one of the more intriguing elements of Marigold. The company Rossy Igawa founded after his exit from STARDOM is endowed with all manner of talent. And there’s a long list of women who would thrive in its top spot as he’s right away built a loaded roster.

Rossy took MIRAI, Utami Hayashishita, Giulia, and Yuzuki (now Victoria Yuzuki) with him from STARDOM. He added some of Actwres girl’Z’s best wrestlers including Kouki Amarei, CHIAKI, Miku Aono, and Natsumi Showzuki. Not to mention he managed to nab the great Sareee on a freelance basis.

The Sun Goddess herself has forced herself to the forefront of the “who will reign over Marigold?” question. In late May, Sareee told Tokyo Sports (h/t Scott Edwards) she intends to be the ace and savior of the promotion.

That did not go unnoticed. Several Marigold roster members fired back against the claim.

Mai Sakurai said she’s not convinced. Chika Gota dismissed Sareee’s declaration.

In a recent interview with Peps on Wrestle Purists, Yuzuki made it clear she wants that top role, too. She said: “There are people I want to fight as the ace of Marigold. And I want to make the women’s wrestling world more exciting.”

Digging past this discourse, we can look at the wrestler’s ability, star power, position in the company, and more to project who will be the promotion’s initial ace, it’s centerpiece during this early stage.

Giulia?

Had Giulia not fractured her wrist, she’d be a frontrunner for Marigold’s top spot. Double goes for the fact that she’s headed to WWE NXT at some point soon. There’s been uncertainty about just when that is, but she’s for sure headed west to WWE country.

It’d be an odd choice for Marigold to crown Giulia and make her its central character only to have to watch her go soon after.

So never mind how charismatic she is or how well she performs in big matches as we saw throughout her STARDOM tenure, the former head of Donna Del Mundo isn’t a safe bet to be ace.

Best believe Rossy will milk all the money he can from her presence while she’s here (we have to get that Giulia vs. Utami singles match, right?), but it’s more likely he leans on someone who is sticking around for longer.

MIRAI?

The two-time STARDOM Cinderella winner is an ascending star. She continues to improve every year, exuding more and more presence. MIRAI is also a beast in the ring, a heavy-hitting, exciting talent. 

But she remains more of a longshot in the ace race.

Unlike Giulia, Sareee, or Utami, MIRAI’s never been the top champion in a company. She’s never been asked to be a consistent main event attraction. Could she do it? Yeah, probably, but Rossy may go for more of a proven commodity in that regard to kick things off for Marigold.

MIRAI’s early record doesn’t point to her being at the top of the promotion’s food chain, either. She lost twice in tag action during Marigold’s Grand Opening Wars shows.

Miku Aono?

Few wrestlers in Marigold look and feel like a star as much as Miku Aono does. She carries herself with a grace and flamboyance that a champion needs to thrive.

She reigned as Actwres girl’Z world champ for most of 2023, putting together a tremendous reign with standout matches against Misa Matsui, CHIAKI, and others. Now with both some familiar foes and high-level new opponents across the ring from her, the opportunity is there to do something special.

Talent wise, she’s ace material. It’s the early Marigold booking, though, that suggests that’s not the spot she’ll settle in. At least for now.

At MARIGOLD Fields Forever, Rossy booked her in a singles match against Nao Ishikawa way down on the card. She wasn’t in the main event of either of the two Grand Opening Wars shows.  

Victoria Yuzuki?

Eventually, Yuzuki could well be Marigold’s central figure, but it’s just too early now. She’s the youngest woman on this list and the least experienced by far.

It takes one match to see she’s special, though. Yuzki’s energy compels. Her emotion lights up the screen. She’s precise and graceful in the ring. She’s a blue-chip prospect and absolute steal for Marigold.

But Rossy doesn’t need to rush her development and make her a main-eventer already. If this were Ice Ribbon with its far thinner roster, why not? With this star-studded inaugural collection of talent? Yuzuki’s going to have to wait.

Natsumi Showzuki?

Natsumi (who ditched the Sumikawa name and went back to Showzuki) left Actwres girl’Z still holding the AWG Championship.

She’s talented and reliable. She has a star’s presence, just not at the level of some of her peers. Showzuki on the marquee doesn’t create the kind of attention/emotion that seeing Utami or Sareee’s name would.

With a roster this good, Rossy has no reason to build around her. Put her in some big spots? Sure. The Marigold story will see plenty of Showzuki dropkicking people in the spine, but the company is more likely to lean on wrestlers with more name power and prestige.

Utami Hayashishita?

When she held the World of Stardom Championship, Utami more than rose to the occasion. She didn’t just prove that she was top title material, she gave us one of the best red belt reigns in that company’s history, delivering in the main event time and again.

And you could argue that Utami became a better wrestler after Syuri dethroned her in 2021. As a storyteller and ring general, she elevated her game. Before Rossy’s departure and the shakeup that caused, she looked poised to push her way to the top of STARDOM again.

Plus, so many of the potential matchups Marigold could book for her are big-time enticing. Utami vs. Miku. Utami vs. Giulia. Utami vs. Sareee. Those are all money.

Utami also has the ideal blend of youth and experience. She’s only 25 years old but has been wrestling for five years. In her prime with massive potential, Utami would be one hell of an ace for Marigold or anywhere.

Sareee?

Sareee is special. A generation talent on a generational run.

For the second year in a row, she’s looking like she’ll be the best wrestler in joshi. She’s been on an absolute tear in the ring, dominating any good match-of-the-year list.

Since returning from her WWE stint, she’s been bigger, better, badder. She is the epitome of an ace.

Only a paper or lack thereof stands in her way of being Marigold’s end boss/top dog/kingpin (queenpin?). As of this writing, Sareee remains a freelancer. It’s hard to imagine Rossy pinning his hopes on someone he doesn’t have signed.

Does she do like Suzu Suzuki did with STARDOM and join the squad full time or remain the roving outsider? That question could very well decide who sits at the top of the Marigold food chain.

Final Verdict

Kouki’s only been wrestling for two years. CHIAKI has upper midcard heel written all over her. Bozilla is more special attraction than world champ. Those folks aren’t in real contention for the ace position.

It’s going to come down to Utami and Sareee, the two biggest names outside of Giulia. And for Sareee, her contractual status will determine her path more than anything.

A full-time, signed Sareee is an obvious choice as ace. She’s on fire with potential to keep growing. She’s going to give you the most interesting and money-making bouts.

Utami is just behind her on most of those fronts, but being a full-fledged Marigold roster member gives her the edge. She has Rossy’s trust. She has the resume. She has the skills.

A path to the Marigold mountaintop lies in front of Utami and seeing who she has to crush as she walks up it is going to make for some great entertainment in the months ahead.