In a social media post she made that was shared by WRESTLE UNIVERSE, Nanae Takahashi, a well-traveled veteran with nearly 3 decades in the ring, has announced she has decided to retire in May 2025. Takahashi, about to turn 46 (Correction-the original post incorrectly stated she was about to turn 47), debuted in All-Japan Women as a teenager in July 1996 then after the promotion closed in the mid-2000s she became a freelancer and started her own promotion, Pro Wrestling Sun, which had a partnership with Zero-1 MAX but closed a couple years later. After that, she mostly competed in NEO (a promotion run by Kyoko Inoue until it closed) where she formed a unit called “Passion Red” with Natsuki*Taiyo & Kana (now Asuka in WWE), and also was a regular in Ice Ribbon in 2009 & 2010. In late 2010, she helped launch Stardom alongside Rossy Ogawa & former wrestler Fuka, staying with them until 2015 when she left to become a freelancer although she would make future appearances there. In April 2024 she reunited with Ogawa to help launch his new Marigold promotion following a talent exodus from Stardom after Ogawa was fired. Her retirement in May 2025 will coincide with Marigold’s first anniversary.
Takahashi’s career accomplishments and accolades to date are clearly Hall Of Fame worthy: All-Japan Women Champion, 2-time All-Japan Women Tag Team Champion, 2-time WWWA World Single Champion, 5-time WWWA World Tag Team Champion, 4 tournament wins in All-Japan Women, 3-time AWA Women’s Champion, 2024 Marigold Dresm Star GP Best Match Award, 3-time Ice Ribbon International Ribbon Tag Team Champion, Ice Ribbon Triangle Ribbon Champion, JWP Openweight Champion, JDStar BSJ Queen Of The Ring, NEO Single Champion, NEO Tag Team Champion, NWA Women’s Pacific Champion, AWA Japan Women’s Champion, Zero1-MAX Blast Queen Champion, World Of Stardom Champion, 3-time Goddesses Of Stardom Champion, 2 Goddess Of Stardom Tag League wins, the 2010 Tokyo Sports Women’s Grand Prize, the 2010 Nikkan Sports Women’s MVP and Best Match Awards, and several other Stardom accolades. She also had a fight in Lethwai, a Myanmar-based fighting style allowed in only a few countries including Japan, which basically is no-holds-barred bare knockle fighting (like MMA but headbutts are allowed), fighting Vero Nika to a draw in June 2017.
Since her final matches should be in Marigold, they likely will be available to watch worldwide on WRESTLE UNIVERSE. where some Marigold events stream live and all are available on demand. I normally don’t follow Marigold but updates on Takahashi’s retirement plans and potential last match will follow.
