When Takumi Iroha returned from her knee injury in 2021, all had hoped the injuries would be left in the past for Marvelous ace and she’d be able to lead them into their next chapter. The road became quite clear for Iroha, who would go on to defeat Sendai Girls’ Chihiro Hashimoto to become the first AAAW Champion since Aja Kong in 2005. As the AAAW Champion, Iroha set the precedent for Marvelous once again and helped the promotion establish championship gold — something they had never had prior. She’d also team with Chikayo Nagashima to win the AAAW Tag Team Championship, titles that they hold to this day.
Unfortunately for the ace, Iroha was injured again at the end of 2022 with a broken collarbone, forcing her to three months. That’s when she made the difficult decision to relinquish the AAAW Championship, ending her inaugural reign as champion in a disappointing manner. It felt like Iroha not only found her stride as champion, but her stride in the ring when she got injured again. Rebuilding herself to become the devastating striker and one of the best in the world took time, especially with her much of her offense coming through her kicks and knee strikes. Another injury was tough for Iroha and Marvelous, but when she would be ready to return, it felt as though she’d be back to her top level in due time.
Takumi Iroha’s return match would come in the form of a tag team as she would team with Leo Isaka to take on her tag team partner and reigning AAAW Champion Chikayo Nagashima and Big Japan’s Daisuke Sekimoto.
This match was a true test for Iroha, who pushed back into action against a double champion and a multi-time world champion in Sekimoto. We saw quickly out of “The Joshi Rockstar” that she was back as her strikes were fast and hard-hitting, but she still needed to find her base. That’s where Nagashima and Sekimoto took advantage. There was very little time in this match that Iroha wasn’t tagged in and that was on purpose. The focus was on her rehabbed collarbone. She was grounded much off the match, not allowed to throw her strikes until she’d fight back. Anytime Isaka was able to tag in, it gave Iroha enough time to build herself up and once she was tagged back in, the onslaught was on.
Not only did Iroha look incredible as she through those rapid kicks to both Nagashima and Sekimoto, but they packed a serious punch that fans have grown so used to while watching her compete. She battled back with her offense, no standing down to her partner or Sekimoto. She welcomed that challenge.
At one point, Iroha introduced her new Jumping Knee. She set herself in the corner and dashed towards Nagashima, getting a great nearfall with the devastating strike. What has long made Iroha one of the very best in wrestling is that her offense is innovative and always evolving. It had been far too long since we saw something new like this from Iroha, so it was a pleasant sight.
The fight that Iroha showed only had it’s limits, as Sekimoto and Nagashima were able to take out Isaka, leaving Iroha on her own and already tired. Seeing this was her first back, she went through a lot in the 21 minutes and 14 seconds that this match lasted. They worked her back with Boston Crabs and stomps, resulting in her only having so much in the end. Sekimoto locked in a Torture Rack on Iroha, pulling at her neck and legs to nearly bend the ace in half. As a result, she had to tap out and was unable to walk away with the victory in her return. It’s rare that Iroha feels like the underdog in a match but with the forces she was up against and her situation as she battled back from injury, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that she was in the end alongside Isaka.
What Iroha did show was that she had it all in her to not only return and potentially get her title back down the road, but she could be the best she’s been since her knee injury in 2020, let alone the collarbone at the end of 2021.
As we’ve seen since, Iroha is at the top of her game and working her way back to a AAAW Championship match with Nagashima. For now, fans should continue to take watch as the Marvelous ace nears her elite dominance once again. Iroha can be a double champion once more.
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