This Friday, the "super rookie" will make her debut at Marigold First Dream.
Seri Yamaoka is set for the most highly-anticipated debut that Joshi has seen since the debut of Utami Hayashishita back in 2018. It's big stakes, and she will do so at the Ota City General Gymnasium -- the location of Marigold's second pay-per-view event.
Yamaoka was announced as Marigold's newest trainee on August 17th, receiving the debut date of First Dream from day one. The hype has only continued to grow for the former freestyle amateur wrestler, with her taking part in public practices and even referencing herself as the "Super Rookie."
In her debut match, Yamaoka handpicked her debut opponent, selecting one of Marigold's top stars -- MIRAI. The show will be available on WRESTLE UNIVERSE for all fans to check out.
Ahead of Yamaoka's pro wrestling debut, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the chance to ask Yamaoka a handful of questions for her first foreign interview outside of Japan. The "Super Rookie" discussed her decision to become a pro wrestler, her connection to WWE's Giulia, who she has studied, and dealing with the pressure of her debut.
Here's what Seri Yamaoka had to say!
Edwards: After months of anticipation, you’ll make your debut at Marigold’s First Dream. How are you feeling as we’re less than a month away from you beginning your career?
Seri: "I'm a little worried about whether I can live up to expectations, but I want to make my debut the best it can be, so I'm going to do what I can now, outside of practice, to improve my stamina and do lots of self-training before my debut."
Edwards: Your debut match will be against none other than MIRAI, one of Marigold’s top stars. And it’ll happen at Ota Ward. With her hard-hitting style and Judo background, she would be a tough test for anyone — let alone someone like yourself who is just debuting. What about MIRAI excites you as a first opponent? With such an advanced opponent who has accomplished what MIRAI has accomplished, are you heading into the match to prove yourself as a wrestler or perhaps go as far as to walk out the winner as well?
Seri: "No matter how much it is my debut match, I don't want to think about losing. I will go into the match with a strong will and only one thought in mind: winning."
Edwards: One of your first in-ring appearances saw you hit Giulia with an emphatic double-leg takedown, a unique move unlike anything others on the Marigold roster perform. You were an accomplished amateur wrestler with Olympic goals at one point. Do you feel like your amateur background will help you stand out as a professional wrestler? How has it helped you in the lead-up?
Seri: "I think amateur wrestling has been helpful. But pro wrestling is completely different, so I want to use the techniques I have at my disposal in pro wrestling. That's one of my aims."
Edwards: In preparation for your debut, you’ve been undergoing pro wrestling training and passed your pro test. Has the training been easier or harder than you expected? What have you enjoyed most about it? How has the experience been learning from a legend like Nanae Takahashi?
Seri: "I had great muscle strength thanks to amateur wrestling, but it took me a while to be able to do breakfalls, pro wrestling techniques, and use my voice when doing forearms, or other techniques.
I was frustrated with myself for not being able to do them, and there were times when I felt like I wasn't going to make it. At times like those, Nanae Takahashi-san gave me a lot of advice and encouraged me. I want to have the same guts as Nanae-san. That's what I want!"
Edwards: In an interview with Tokyo Sports, you stated that you became most interested in pro wrestling when attending Stardom Dream Queendom in 2021 as well as your mother being a fan of Chigusa Nagayo. What about pro wrestling interested you as much as it did? Did you know from that moment you were going to become a pro wrestler? How did your family react to your decision to become a pro wrestler?
Seri: "The appeal of professional wrestling is that it can't be done by just one or two people, and it can't be done without the staff and the audience. It was the first time I'd ever experienced such a powerful presence in the crowd, so I think that's what makes it so appealing.
"When I told my family that I wanted to become a professional wrestler, they were very supportive."
Edwards: Marigold is a brand new promotion but of course has Rossy Ogawa leading the way along with Utami Hayashishita, Nanae Takahashi, and MIRAI at the forefront while Giulia was there for the beginning. Why do you believe Marigold is where you should start your pro wrestling career?
Seri: "Because I liked the atmosphere at Marigold. I felt that it was very important, that the atmosphere there felt right to me."
Edwards: To follow that, it’s well known that Giulia was the wrestler you idolized. While she’s joined WWE, you did have a chance to cross paths in Marigold and even compete against her. What about Giulia made you so invested in her?
Seri: "At first, I was attracted to Giulia's powerful eyes, her expressiveness, her aura, and her personality. I think it was because of Giulia's matches that I discovered the appeal of professional wrestling. Now she is my savior and like a god to me!"
Edwards: What did it mean to you to meet Giulia and share the ring, even if it was only for a few seconds? Did she give you any advice ahead of your debut?
Seri: "It was the moment when I knew my thoughts about professional wrestling were right. It was also the moment when I knew I wanted to fight Giulia again someday. Giulia told me to believe in myself and do my best."
Edwards: The term “super rookie” has followed you since the announcement of your debut. You’ve even had the chance to show your skills in a public practice. What do you think of the nickname? Do you feel there’s a lot of pressure that comes with such a nickname for you? Or does it push you to be the best you can be?
Seri: "I can work hard without pressure, but I can work even harder when I'm under pressure! People have high expectations of me! I'm very grateful for that."
Edwards: Have you taken the time to study any pro wrestlers with a similar amateur wrestling background? Are there any other pro wrestlers you’ve studied that you’ve taken a liking to as you develop your own style and way in the ring?
Seri: "I was really impressed by the professional wrestling of Chihiro Hashimoto, who used to be an amateur wrestler, and I watch a lot of videos of her to study. I also watch videos of IYO SKY from the WWE to study."
Edwards: Your upcoming debut is the most highly-anticipated debut in Joshi since Utami Hayashishita in 2018. Do you feel pressure to live up to the anticipation, and how do you feel about those early comparisons you have received to a pre-debut Utami?
Seri: "I do feel pressure! But I want to overcome that pressure, and that's the kind of determination I've had in mind since I decided to become a professional wrestler."
Edwards: While she’s not a pro wrestler, your sister Miyabi Yamaoka is an idol with plenty of experience in the public eye. Has she provided you with any advice in the lead-up to your upcoming debut? Would you like to potentially see her enter the ring alongside you sometime in the future?
Seri: 'Seri, you can do it!' That's what I was told! And also, I have a desire to stand in the ring with my sister!"
Miyabi wrestled amateur also, making the top eight nationally while in middle school, and champion of Kyushu prefecture; she also did commentary in the past for a Stardom PPV in 2021.
Edwards: What are your goals for your first year as a professional wrestler? Do you have any specific goals right now for your career?
Seri: "Aiming for the top, doing my best without any injuries. That is what 2025 will be all about."
Edwards: Of course, you will be facing MIRAI on January 3rd and want to face Giulia someday. That being said, Victoria Yuzuki is someone who has received tons of praise for her rookie year and we saw you train with her — do you view her as someone who could be an exciting opponent as you both look to get to the top of Marigold? Who else are you most interested in facing from the Marigold roster?
Seri: "I would like to fight against Victoria Yuzuki, Nanae Takahashi, and Utami Hayashishita."
Edwards: At your public practice, you revealed the gear that you’ve designed that reads “Chase Dreams” on the front and has bright, vibrant colors throughout. Can you explain to me your mindset for the gear and what the term “Chase Dreams” means to you?
Seri: "The motif is wrestling, and "Chase Dream" means chasing dreams. I believe dreams are eternal, so I included the meaning of always chasing your dreams."
Edwards: You’re already receiving a lot of support from international fans of Marigold! Ahead of your debut on January 3rd, is there anything you’d like international fans to know about Seri Yamaoka as you officially kick off your career?
Seri: "I will definitely become bigger. I will not disappoint you.
"And I will make Marigold, and the world of professional wrestling, bigger. I would be happy if lots of people get to know about me. Please support me, and thank you!"
We'd like to thank Seri Yamaoka and Marigold for taking the time to help put this great interview together ahead of their big show on Friday. We'd also like to wish Seri luck in her big debut!
Fightful also thanks Chiyoko. Chiyoko translated the questions from English to Japanese for Seri Yamaoka to answer. You can follow Chiyoko on X here: @chiyoko_asakura
Marigold has composed a two-part documentary on Seri Yamaoka's journey from training to her first match. You can check out Part I and Part II now.
Marigold will be live on PPV this Friday, January 3rd with First Dream 2024 at the Ota City General Gymnasium. While Yamaoka will make her pro wrestling debut, the show is major throughout. DREAM STAR GP winner Utami Hayashishita will challenge Marigold World Champion Sareee in the main event.
Here's a look at the full card:
- Marigold World Championship: Sareee (c) vs. Utami Hayashishita
- United National Championship: Miku Aono (c) vs. Mai Sakurai
- GHC Women's Championship: Kouki Amarei (c) vs. Chika Goto
- Nanae Takahashi & Nao Ishikawa vs. Meiko Satomura & YUNA
- TwinStar Championship: CHIAKI & Nagisa Nozaki (c) vs. Bozilla & Tank
- Superfly Championship: Natsumi Showzuki (c) vs. Victoria Yuzuki
- Seri Yamaoka vs. MIRAI
- New Year Rumble feat. Misa Matsui, Hummingbird, Rea Seto, Yuuki Minami, Naho Yamada, Ryoko Sakimura, Nagisa Tachibana, Hamuko Hoshi, Yuuki Mashiro, Riara, Momoka Hanazono, Nightshade, and Flying Penguin
The PPV is available for purchase on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
You can follow Marigold on X through their Japanese (@DFS_Marigold) and English (@Marigold_Joshi) accounts.
Stay tuned to Fightful for more information on Marigold and other Joshi news.
