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Marie Malenko Debuts With Pro Wrestling NOAH in Japan

Originally posted on Last Word On Sports
By Jordan Osborne  |  Last updated Feb 4, 2026 5:19 PM ET

So far in 2026, it has been all about talent leaving Japan. But Pro Wrestling NOAH seems to have made an intriguing acquisition, and one with a serious wrestling lineage. Marie Malenko, daughter of the legendary Dean Malenko, has begun her own career with the respected Japanese promotion.

Malenko debuted at NOAH’s Monday Magic Rising Sun Season 3 event earlier this week in a three-way tag team match. She teamed up with American wrestler Sofia Sivan to take on the teams of Dream Girl Ellie and ZONES and Alivia Rose and Great Sakuya.

Marie Malenko Earns Praise from ROH Veteran

Rose and Sakuya emerged victorious in the relatively short bout. There were a lot of positives for Malenko in her competitive debut. The experienced Ring of Honor star Erick Stevens, who previously trained with her, praised Malenko’s first outing as a professional wrestler. Posting on X, Stevens noted Malenko’s technical acumen, which was reminiscent of her father. With more experience, Stevens felt that she could become one of the best technical wrestlers around.

Speaking after the match with her tag team partner, Sivan, Malenko asked her for an honest take. Sivan was very encouraging, stating, “Listen, Malenko, it was a very tough match, very tough opponents, but you still held your own, and we gave it as good as we got. This time we didn’t get it, but next time, it’s gonna be game on.”

A third-generation wrestler

Malenko will be pleased with her debut at one of Japan’s most established promotions and can call on a strong wrestling dynasty for support. Her father, Dean, the “Man of 1,000 Holds”, is a legend of the 1990s wrestling scene. A technically gifted wrestler with titles in WWE, WCW, and ECW, he topped the PWI rankings in 1997. His brother, Joe, also wrestled extensively in Japan and for ECW and WCW in the 1990s.

And of course, they are the sons of the late WWE Hall of Famer Boris Malenko, who won dozens of championships under the NWA and CWF brands in the 1960s and 1970s. Like his sons and granddaughter, Boris also wrestled in Japan, competing against the legendary Antonio Inoki many times.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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