Mayu Iwatani Vacates GHC Championship

The GHC Women’s Championship has been declared vacant following an unexpected announcement from Mayu Iwatani at Pro Wrestling NOAH’s Magic Monday event on May 18, 2026. The Dream Star Fighting Marigold standout appeared in person to confirm that a fractured big toe will prevent her from competing for the foreseeable future, forcing her to relinquish the championship.

Iwatani, widely recognized as the Icon of women’s wrestling, has been sidelined with the foot injury since mid-April. Despite extensive rehabilitation efforts, the injury has failed to heal in time for her scheduled commitments, including the upcoming Wrestle Magic pay-per-view. Addressing the live crowd in an emotional address, Iwatani expressed her profound disappointment, stating that she tried incredibly hard to make it back in time for the event but ultimately had no choice but to step aside. She promised her fans that she will immediately target the championship the moment she is medically cleared to return.

The injury cuts short a historic and highly decorated championship run. Iwatani captured the GHC Women’s Title at Marigold’s First Dream event in January by defeating Takumi Iroha in a critically acclaimed encounter. The victory cemented her legacy as a historic dual-champion, making her the first woman to have held both the IWGP and GHC women's titles. Before the injury forced her onto the shelf, she had logged three successful defenses of the gold, including a high-profile victory over Utami Hayashishita.

This vacancy creates a major logistical challenge for Pro Wrestling NOAH as they finalize the card for Wrestle Magic. Officials have not yet announced how a new champion will be crowned, though a multi-woman tournament or a high-stakes singles match featuring top contenders from the Marigold roster is highly anticipated by analysts. For Iwatani, the focus now shifts entirely to long-term recovery, with reports suggesting she may also use the hiatus to address a lingering shoulder issue to ensure she returns at full strength.