{ "id": "ep47qk58wb", "slug": "the-queen-of-villains", "title": "The Queen of Villains (極悪女王)", "updated": "2026-11-01", "topic_path": [ { "id": "culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture" }, { "id": "culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/topics/culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": 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(other) · 2021 and later: East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "path": [ { "id": "geo.asia", "label": "Asia (other)", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021", "label": "Asia (other) · 2021 and later", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture", "label": "Arts and culture", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance", "label": "Screen and stage", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen", "label": "Film and television", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series", "label": "Series and fictional screen worlds", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials", "label": "International serial drama and telenovelas", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_international_serials" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia", "label": "East Asian drama series", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia" }, { "id": "geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials", "label": "East Asian web and streaming serials", "api_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/api/v1/geo/geo.asia.t2021.culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials" } ] } ], "excerpt": "The Queen of Villains (極悪女王, Gokuaku Joou) is a 2024 Netflix Japanese drama, five episodes, about 1980s heel wrestler Dump Matsumoto, starring Yuriyan Retriever, with Chigusa Nagayo as wrestling supervisor.", "snippet": "The Queen of Villains (極悪女王, Gokuaku Joou) is a 2024 Netflix Japanese drama, five episodes, about 1980s heel wrestler Dump Matsumoto, starring Yuriyan Retriever, with Chigusa Nagayo as wrestling supervisor.", "node": "culture.performance.screen.series.series_int_serials_east_asia.east_asian_web_streaming_serials.alpha-my-to-so", "markdown": "# The Queen of Villains (極悪女王)\n\n**The Queen of Villains** (極悪女王, *Gokuaku Joou*) is a 2024 Japanese biographical drama series on Netflix about Dump Matsumoto, the professional wrestler who led the heel (villain) unit Gokuaku Domei in All Japan Women's Pro-[Wrestling](https://www.edgepedia.org/wrestling) and helped drive the women's wrestling boom of the 1980s[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19) • [2](https://shueisha.online/articles/-/251730). All five episodes were released worldwide on September 19, 2024, exclusively on Netflix[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19). The Associated Press described it as a coming-of-age story about a young woman's road to empowerment, set in the world of Japanese professional wrestling[3](https://apnews.com/article/ad6bc62a6bda08470b0d84381520d87c).\n\n| Key fact | Detail |\n|---|---|\n| Original title | 極悪女王 (*Gokuaku Joou*)[4](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang) |\n| Premiere | September 19, 2024, all 5 episodes at once, worldwide exclusive on Netflix[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19) |\n| Lead cast | Yuriyan Retriever as Dump Matsumoto, Erika Karata as Chigusa Nagayo, Ayame Goriki as Lioness Asuka[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19) |\n| Creative team | Planned, written, and produced by Osamu Suzuki; chief director Kazuya Shiraishi; screenplay also by Junya Ikegami[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser) |\n| Wrestling supervision | Chigusa Nagayo, herself a Crush Gals member, trained the actresses and supervised the match scenes[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser) |\n| Production | Netflix; production company KADOKAWA[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19) |\n| Episode length | 62 to 82 minutes per episode[6](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35) |\n| Ratings | Netflix lists 16+; JustWatch lists R18+; IMDb 7.5 from 748 votes[6](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang) |\n\n## Spoilers\n\n### Subject and story\n\nThe series dramatizes the life of Dump Matsumoto, who in the 1980s led the heel unit Gokuaku Domei (Atrocious Alliance) in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and helped drive the women's wrestling boom[2](https://shueisha.online/articles/-/251730). Netflix frames the story around a question: why did Matsumoto Kaoru, a girl who admired Jackie Sato and was told she was \"too kind to play a villain,\" become the most famous heel in Japanese wrestling history[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19)?\n\nThe setting is the 1980s, a period Netflix describes as one in which gender inequality and contempt for women went unquestioned in Japan, and in which women's wrestling produced a national craze. The tag teams Beauty Pair (Jackie Sato and Maki Ueda) and the Crush Gals (Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka) sang and danced in the ring and became national idols; [Matsumoto](https://www.edgepedia.org/matsumoto) was the Crush Gals' arch-rival, making enemies across Japan inside and outside the ring[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19). A review in *Eiga.com* places the drama in what fans call the third golden age of women's pro wrestling, the era when the Gokuaku Alliance and the Crush Gals clashed[7](https://eiga.com/drama/series/gokuakujyoou/review/6614716/).\n\nThe five episodes follow Matsumoto Kaoru from childhood, when she wandered into an All Japan Women's training gym and was captivated by Jackie Sato, through her pro test, her being worked over by promoter Abe, her heel training, a round-robin tournament, and a climax in a loser-leaves-hair hair-cutting death match against Nagayo[6](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35).\n\n## Production\n\n**Development and casting.** Netflix announced Yuriyan Retriever, a comedian, as the lead on June 29, 2022, with a planned 2023 release[8](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/japanese-series-the-queen-of-villains-main-cast-announcement). Retriever applied for the audition herself; it was her first Netflix appearance and first lead role. To approach the real Matsumoto's physique she trained for about a year with a personal trainer and monthly medical checks, raising her weight from 65 kg to 93 kg, and cut her hair short the day before the audition[8](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/japanese-series-the-queen-of-villains-main-cast-announcement). In October 2022 Netflix announced that part of the filming was postponed after [Retriever](https://www.edgepedia.org/retriever) struck her back and head during a performance and was advised two weeks of rest[8](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/japanese-series-the-queen-of-villains-main-cast-announcement).\n\nThe release date later settled at September 19, 2024[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19). Osamu Suzuki, a television writer known for many popular programs, conceived, wrote, and produced the series after hearing Matsumoto herself talk about the women's wrestling era as a guest on a show he worked on[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19). Kazuya Shiraishi, director of hit films including *Jinrou* (凶悪), *[The Blood of Wolves](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-blood-of-wolves)* (孤狼の血), and *A Disease Leading to Death* (死刑にいたる病), served as chief director and directed episodes 1 to 3; Katsuhito Motegi directed episodes 4 and 5[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser).\n\n**Authenticity.** Chigusa Nagayo, who now runs the women's wrestling promotion Marvelous, joined as wrestling supervisor, training the actresses' bodies from the preparation period and shaping the match scenes in detail[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser). According to the Associated Press, the actresses spent two years training for their roles, gaining weight and muscle and learning techniques such as the giant swing and the flying knee kick[3](https://apnews.com/article/ad6bc62a6bda08470b0d84381520d87c). Nagayo said of the finished work, \"Our story from 1980 has been completed entirely in this work\"[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser). Matsumoto herself praised Retriever's performance after seeing the series[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser).\n\nThe match scenes used about 25,000 extras, a figure Netflix described as among the largest in its history[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser). Kadokawa Daiei Studio, the production facility, confirmed the series began streaming on September 19, 2024[9](https://www.kd-st.co.jp/news/2024/09/content-1.php).\n\n## Cast\n\n- **Yuriyan Retriever** as Matsumoto Kaoru / Dump Matsumoto[10](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/947508)\n- **Erika Karata** as Chigusa Nagayo, who starts as a slow starter and climbs to stardom[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19)\n- **Ayame Goriki** as Lioness Asuka, the most athletic and technically skilled of the cohort[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19)\n- **Atsuko Sendo** as Riko Matsumoto, Dump's mother; **Jun Murakami** as Takashi Matsunaga, **Daisuke Kuroda** as Kunimatsu, and **Takumi Saito** as Toshikuni Matsunaga, the Matsunaga brothers who ran All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling; **Takuma Otoio** as Shiro Abe, promoter and referee[5](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser)\n- **Marin Nishimoto** as Hiromi Matsumoto[4](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang)\n\nAll wrestler roles, including the three leads, were filled by audition[1](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19).\n\n## Reception\n\nOn [JustWatch](https://www.edgepedia.org/justwatch) the series holds an IMDb rating of 7.5 from 748 votes and a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100 percent, against a JustWatch audience score of 28 percent[4](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang). Netflix's own metadata tags it as a human drama, sports title, and award-winning production[6](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35). The Associated Press noted that Japanese wrestling fans still discuss the matches between Matsumoto and the Crush Gals, including bouts they fought in the United States, and that Matsumoto remains a symbol of fearless, defiant womanhood[3](https://apnews.com/article/ad6bc62a6bda08470b0d84381520d87c).\n\nThe series also prompted reflection from people who lived the era. [Bull Nakano](https://www.edgepedia.org/bull-nakano), who joined All Japan Women's at 15 and was forcibly added to the Gokuaku Alliance about a year later, gave interviews about the harsher realities the drama did not depict[2](https://shueisha.online/articles/-/251730). Wrestler Megumi Kudo, who belonged to All Japan Women's in the late 1980s, recalled the period after the series drew attention[11](https://www.idol-culture.jp/culture/172898/).\n\n## Availability\n\nThe series streams on Netflix and Netflix Standard with Ads; JustWatch reported no free streaming option as of its last check[4](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang). Audio options include English, Japanese with audio description, Japanese original, and [Brazilian Portuguese](https://www.edgepedia.org/brazilian-portuguese), with subtitles in English, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, and Simplified Chinese[6](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35).\n\n## References\n\n1. [Netflixシリーズ「極悪女王」9月19日(木)配信決定！, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-premieres-september-19)\n2. [ブル中野インタビュー：『極悪女王』では描かれなかった女子プロレスのウラ側, 集英社オンライン](https://shueisha.online/articles/-/251730)\n3. [Netflix series explores women's dreams in the body-slamming world of Japanese pro wrestling, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/ad6bc62a6bda08470b0d84381520d87c)\n4. [極悪女王 (2024), JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/jp/%E3%83%86%E3%83%AC%E3%83%93%E7%95%AA%E7%B5%84/ji-e-nu-wang)\n5. [“極悪ゆりやん”覚醒！！ 衝撃のティーザー予告 ＆ 新キャスト一斉解禁, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/the-queen-of-villains-teaser)\n6. [極悪女王, Netflix 公式サイト](https://www.netflix.com/jp/title/81351263?source=35)\n7. [極悪女王のドラマレビュー, 映画.com](https://eiga.com/drama/series/gokuakujyoou/review/6614716/)\n8. [Netflixシリーズ「極悪女王」主演キャスト解禁！, About Netflix](https://about.netflix.com/ja/news/japanese-series-the-queen-of-villains-main-cast-announcement)\n9. [弊社が制作に携わった『極悪女王』、本日（9/19)より配信開始, 角川大映スタジオ](https://www.kd-st.co.jp/news/2024/09/content-1.php)\n10. [ゆりやんレトリィバァ フィルモグラフィ, allcinema](https://www.allcinema.net/person/pdf/947508)\n11. [工藤めぐみインタビュー, BUBKA Web](https://www.idol-culture.jp/culture/172898/)\n\n---\n*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › International serial drama and telenovelas › East Asian drama series › East Asian web and streaming serials › Titles My to So*\n\n*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*\n\n*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*\n\nLicense: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license\n", "same_as": [], "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains", "markdown_url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains.md", "license": { "name": "Edgepedia Community License 1.0", "url": "https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license", "summary": "Free with credit, commercial use included. AI training is open to everyone. For other uses, organizations over USD 100M in revenue or 100M monthly users license separately.", "spdx": "LicenseRef-Edgepedia-Community-1.0" }, "credit": "\"The Queen of Villains (極悪女王)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "credit_md": "\"[The Queen of Villains (極悪女王)](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), [https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains). [Edgepedia Community License 1.0](https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license).", "credit_html": "\"The Queen of Villains (極悪女王)\", Edgepedia (EdgeChat), https://www.edgepedia.org/the-queen-of-villains. Edgepedia Community License 1.0.", "speakable": "The Queen of Villains is a 2024 Netflix Japanese drama, five episodes, about 1980s heel wrestler Dump Matsumoto, starring Yuriyan Retriever, with Chigusa Nagayo as wrestling supervisor." }