Posts Tagged ‘Dump Matsumoto’

The Queen of Villains: Netflix Series Spotlights Wrestling Icon Dump Matsumoto

Netflix has a new documentary series titled The Queen of Villains, focusing on the life and career of Dump Matsumoto, a central figure in women’s professional wrestling during the 1980s.

Queen of Villains explores the untold story of Dump Matsumoto, played by comedic actress Yuriyan Retriever. Matsumoto, known as Japan’s most infamous wrestling heel, was instrumental in the surge of women’s wrestling in Japan during the 1980s.

Unlike her contemporaries of the time, she gained fame through her brutal wrestling style and flamboyant personality, becoming a cultural phenomenon alongside the iconic tag team duo, the Crush Gals. The series also features Erika Karata and Ayame Goriki, who portray members of this legendary tag team.

Watch The Queen of Villains on Netflix (Subscription Required)

QOV Cast

Dump Yuriyan Retriever
Dump Matsumoto and Yuriyan Retriever

Starring: Yuriyan Retriever, Erika Karata, Ayame Goriki Nobuko Sendo, Takuma Otoo, Daisuke Kuroda, Takumi Saitoh, Jun Murakami

  • Developer/Producer/Writer: Osamu Suzuki
  • Supervising Director: Kazuya Shiraishi
  • Directors: Kazuya Shiraishi (Episodes 1-3), Katsuhito Mogi (Episodes 4-5)
  • Theme song: “Are you serious?” by Awich

Trailer

How did one girl become hated in Japan and whip everyone into a frenzy? One ordinary girl went on to captivate all of Japan. Now, the story of her viciously vile fight for survival is about to begin!

Get a first look at shocking scenes of Dump Matsumoto versus the Crush Gals! A girl named Kaoru Matsumoto works tirelessly to realize her dream of becoming a professional wrestler. However, she is oppressed by both her employers and her father, and starts to lose her sense of belonging. In time, she channels her sorrow and rage toward all of Japan, transforming into a villainous heel dreaded by everyone.

This set the stage for the Hair vs. Hair Death Match between the nation’s darling Chigusa Nagayo and enemy of the people Dump Matsumoto — a legendary women’s pro wrestling match that is still talked about to this day. Follow the lives of girls who were once nobodies, witness the sheer excitement they sparked, and discover what these wrestlers, who fought with all their might through a bygone era, are asking us in the present day.”


Described as a “fictional story based on real people and real events,” The Queen of Villains blends dramatic storytelling with elements of Matsumoto’s life. The series delves into her journey, highlighting the challenges faced by women in the male-dominated wrestling industry.

QOV promises to combine intense wrestling action with introspective storytelling, making it a highly anticipated release for wrestling fans and those intrigued by women’s contributions to sports history.

Stay tuned for our continued coverage of The Queen of Villains, premiering September 19, 2024 on Netflix.

Netflix’s ‘The Queen of Villains’ Trailer Gives First Look At Japan’s Scariest Heel

A new trailer from Netflix has given wrestling fans their first look at The Queen of Villains, a new project about the life and career of Dump Matsumoto. The Queen of Villains will premiere on September 19, on the streaming juggernaut. You can check out the trailer below.

This project was announced back in July with a teaser poster showing Matsumoto’s iconic facepaint and chain with some blood splatter for good measure.

Who is Dump Matsumoto?

Matsumoto terrified Japanese women’s wrestling as a heel during the 1980s and was world-renowned for her brutal style in the ring. With her larger-than-life persona as a villain, Matsumoto became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and she would become something of a cultural phenomenon.

Matsumoto led the notorious Atrocious Alliance stable, which introduced fans to wrestlers such as WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano. Her rivalry with the popular Crush Gals, particularly Chigusa Nagayo, remains the stuff of legend and Matsumoto is still regarded as one of the most influential in the history of Japanese women’s wrestling.

Pro-Wrestling and Netflix

The Queen of Villains is just one of Netflix’s forays into the world of professional wrestling. For years, the popular GLOW series gave fans a look into the iconic women’s promotion and the glamorous and not-so-glamorous side of 80s wrestling.

Next year, WWE RAW will move to Netflix as part of a ten-year deal estimated at approximately $5 billion. At this time, the only name confirmed for the debut RAW on Netflix is John Cena, as the show will mark the first stop of his retirement tour.


‘The Queen of Villains’ Netflix Wrestling Series About Dump Matsumoto Premieres Sep. 19

Netflix has announced The Queen of Villains, a new original series about Dump Matsumoto, the terrifying Japanese women’s wrestling heel who reigned supreme during the 1980’s. The Queen of Villains premieres September 19, 2024 on Netflix.

The Queen of Villains (Netflix) poster
The Queen of Villains: Netflix / September 19, 2024

Who is Dump Matsumoto?

Dump Matsumoto, born Kaoru Matsumoto, is a semi-retired Japanese professional wrestler who became a leading figure in All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling (AJW) during the 1980s. Renowned for her brutal and imposing in-ring style, Matsumoto quickly established herself as a formidable heel, captivating audiences with her larger-than-life villain persona.

Netflix & WWE

WWE Netflix

Netflix is getting into the wrestling business in a very big way. In January 2025, WWE Raw “cuts the cord” after 32-years and moves to the world’s largest over-the-top streaming platform.

The estimated value of WWE’s deal with Netflix is approximately $5 billion over 10 years.

WWE Raw will premiere on Netflix in January 2025. As of this writing, only one person is confirmed to appear on this broadcast … “and his name is John Cena.” The WWE RAW Netflix premiere will be the first official stop on the 2025 John Cena retirement tour.