Liv Morgan lands a major movie role. Indi Hartwell officially becomes a TNA Knockout. Mayu Iwatani joins Marigold. Nixi XS chats with WrestleZone and more.
Liv Morgan Lands Major Movie Role
Following last week’s successful defense against Tatum Paxley and Gigi Dolin, WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Liv Morgan will be taking a brief vacation from WWE. During that time off, she will be filming a new movie, whose contents have now been revealed.
Per Deadline, Morgan has joined the cast of Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo, a thriller film directed by legendary horror filmmaker Takashi Miike and written by Daisuke Tengan, both of whom previously worked on Audition and 13 Assassins. Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo will follow the story of the Bad Lieutenant (played by Shun Oguri), who is engrained into a tangled case after the arrival of an FBI agent (played by Lily James) in Tokyo. This case centers on the disappearance of a politician’s daughter, portrayed by Morgan. At the same time, a killer involved in Japanese organize crime appears to be shadowing their moves.
Bad Lieutenant: Tokyo will be theatrically released in North America. The timetable on this release has not yet been disclosed.
Morgan, a known horror fan, previously appeared in The Kill Room film and the Chucky television series.
RELATED: Liv Morgan’s WrestleMania 41 Gear Was Inspired By Pop Music Sensation
Indi Hartwell Becomes TNA Knockout
Last weekend, TNA hosted its 2025 Rebellion event from the Galen Center in Los Angeles, California. Amidst the expected action also came a surprise announcement from a former WWE name that has now joined the TNA roster as a Knockout.
“You can hear them [cheering in the crowd]. Gia [Miller], this is a dream come true for me, honestly,” former NXT Women’s Champion Indi Hartwell told TNA correspondent Gia Miller. “It’s a dream come true for me, and I want to say it’s officially official. Indi Hartwell has crossed the line.”
.@MeanGiaMiller stands by with TNA's Newest Knockout @indi_hartwell!
— TNA Wrestling (@ThisIsTNA) April 28, 2025
WATCH #TNARebellion LIVE on TNA+: https://t.co/AzedGbtoWN pic.twitter.com/Xa3nlof36k
WWE fans last saw Hartwell wrestle on the November 1 episode of WWE SmackDown as she and Candice LeRae fell short against Bayley and Naomi. Following her release on the same day, Hartwell returned to action at Renegades of Wrestling, then House of Glory. Now, she will move forward in the TNA Knockouts division, currently led by Masha Slamovich.
Elsewhere at Rebellion, Slamovich successfully defended her Knockouts Championship against Tessa Blanchard via submission. Ash by Elegance and Heather by Elegance (aka Heather Reckless) also retained the Knockouts Tag Team Championship with a victory over The Meta-Four (Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend), Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat), and Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley.
RELATED: Gigi Dolin and Tatum Paxley Pay Tribute To My Chemical Romance At TNA Rebellion
Mayu Iwatani Joins Marigold On Heels Of STARDOM Departure
Earlier this week, former IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani announced her immediate departure from STARDOM, where she had spent most of the last 14 years.
Iwatani held the respective championship for over 700 days before losing it to Syuri at All Star Grand Queendom on April 27. The next day, Iwatani confirmed the event was her last under the STARDOM banner, citing her wish to become an icon not just in STARDOM, but in professional wrestling as a whole.
As for her next steps, Iwatani revealed they had led her to Dream Star Fighting Marigold, a promotion founded by former STARDOM promoter Rossy Ogawa. This development came courtesy of a Marigold press conference held earlier today in Japan.
本日、マリーゴールドに入団しました。
— 岩谷麻優 MayuIwatani (@MayuIwatani) May 1, 2025
背番号219
新しいリング。新しい仲間。
この先どうなるかは分からない。
けど皆と一緒に新しい世界見ていきたい。
マリーゴールドの岩谷麻優を
よろしくお願いします。 pic.twitter.com/XR0uU2wFLl
According to Iwatani, her decision to join Marigold partly stems from her desire to wrestle IYO SKY, Kairi Sane, and Giulia, who are currently contracted to WWE, a working partner of Marigold.
“IYO-san and KAIRI are real superstars. So, one of the reasons why I transferred was because I wanted to wrestle with members like IYO-san, Kairi, and even Giulia,” Iwatani said (h/t to MeraWrestling for the transcription). “Well, IYO-san in particular is like an older sister to me, and I want to wrestle with her and team up with her.”
Additionally, Iwatani aims to become a Marigold Grand Slam winner, meaning her eyes are on the Superfly Championship, United National Championship, Twinstar Tag Team Championships, and the Marigold World Championship. Iwatani will take her first step toward that goal when she makes her Marigold in-ring debut against Nanae Takahashi this Sunday in Korakuen Hall.
RELATED: Syuri Ends Mayu Iwatani’s 735-Day IWGP Women’s Title Reign
INTERVIEWS
“The Versace of Violence” Nixi XS spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about the “main girl” lifestyle and which wrestlers have it, fashion trends she hopes to never see again, her vision for Chyna-inspired ring gear, making pro wrestling her main focus, her recent rivalry with Sean Ross Sapp (and the message she has for him now), her Last Showgirl Standing match against Shazza McKenzie, appearing as an extra during WWE WrestleMania 41 weekend, adventures in Las Vegas, facing Marina Shafir in ROH, and more.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Dakota Kai chatted with Queen of the Ring about her relationship with Iyo Sky dating back to their Stardom days, Lady GaGa’s Coachella performance, The Last of Us, and more.
Former WWE star Indi Hartwell talked with MuscleManMalcolm about her time in WWE, wrestling Mercedes Mone at House of Glory, taking in the crowd at the 2024 Elimination Chamber event, winning the NXT Women’s Championship, her future goals in wrestling, her Waffle House order, and more.
WWE Women’s United States Champion Zelina Vega appeared on Busted Open Radio about her recent title win over Chelsea Green, their string of matches leading up to it, her journey to WWE, wanting to inspire her fans, and more.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Katana Chance joined This Sports Courier Wrestling to discuss her journey from American Ninja Warrior to professional wrestling, her stunt work in Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, hitting her stride as tag team champions with Kayden Carter, surviving a busy European tour and WrestleMania 41 Week, her New Jersey roots, and more.
