Based on real pro wrestlers and events, The Queens of Villains is set to unveil the untold story of Dump Matsumoto on September 19, and the teaser released today offers a glimpse into this semi-autobiographical coming-of-age drama. Set in the 1980s, the series follows a devoted daughter who competes with her peers and searches for her path in the world of women’s professional wrestling, during a time when women strove to gain freedom through strength and challenged a male-dominated society.
Yuriyan Retriever, who plays Dump Matsumoto, spent two years training to achieve a wrestler’s physique and embody her role. Joining her are Erika Karata (Chigusa Nagayo) and Ayame Goriki (Lioness Asuka), along with the following cast that were unveiled in the teaser:
- The brothers who founded All Nippon Women’s Pro Wrestling: Jun Murakami as Takashi Matsunaga,
- Daisuke Kuroda as Kunimatsu Matsunaga, and Takumi Saitoh as Toshikuni Matsunaga.
- Takuma Otoo as Shiro Abe, the promoter and referee for the wrestling promotion.
- Nobuko Sendo as Dump Matsumoto’s mother, Satoko.
- Additionally, 24,000+ extras were assembled to recreate the enthusiasm of the wrestling venues and crowds of the 1980s.
During production, real-life wrestlers Dump Matsumoto and Chigusa Nagayo served as pro-wrestling supervisors and witnessed the actresses’ hard work. Matsumoto remarks, “Yuriyan’s powerful performance is incredible. Some parts will make you cry, and I hope viewers will watch The Queen of Villains and feel inspired to believe that their dreams can come true if they never quit or give up.” Nagayo adds, “Our story from the 1980s was authentically captured with this series, and I’m grateful for the strength and resilience of the women we were back then.”
The Queen of Villains premieres globally on September 19, only on Netflix.