KAIRI says the number of match offers she’s received from overseas has been increasing

The first-ever IWGP Women's Champion reflects winning the title, match offers and interview requests from overseas and more

Photo Courtesy: World Wonder Ring STARDOM

She also looks back on becoming IWGP Women’s Champion. 

It has been a full year since KAIRI returned to STARDOM. Up until her return match in 2022, the last time she wrestled for the company was in 2017. 

KAIRI became the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion and this past February, her reign was ended by Mercedes Moné at NJPW Battle in the Valley.

As KAIRI was being interviewed by Proresu-TODAY, Asuka’s name was brought up and KAIRI said she hopes to see her again. It has been three years since she departed the U.S. and said the number of interview requests and match offers from overseas have been increasing. 

Miss Asuka, I hope to meet you again someday, somewhere. It has been about three years since I left the U.S., but the number of offers for interviews and matches from overseas has actually been increasing, and even on social networking sites, I receive many messages in English from overseas fans saying, ‘Please come back soon!’ I can only be thankful for that.

Circling back to becoming IWGP Women’s Champion, KAIRI expressed that it is the highlight of her career thus far. 

It (winning IWGP Women’s Title) was the highlight of my career so far, and even though I am a freelancer, it was the highlight of my return to STARDOM… Wrestling in New Japan’s ring…. And with Mayu (Iwatani) and with the belt in the main event, it was something I had never even dreamed of.

On April 23rd at STARDOM’s All Star Grand Queendom event, KAIRI, Natsupoi and Saori Anou are going to be challenging for the Artist of STARDOM Championships

KAIRI explained why she chose to bring the returning Anou onto her team. She’s noticed how much Anou has improved and is expecting great things from her. The trio had the opportunity to practice together recently. 

Yes, I chose Saori Anou because she had been working as a freelancer for a while. During that time, she has been improving her power, and I think she has gained a lot of experience by working with various organizations, each of which has its own color and fighting style. She was also wearing a belt. I knew from Twitter alone that she had become a completely different wrestler than she was six years ago, using both baby and heel styles, so I have great expectations for what kind of changes will occur when she comes to STARDOM. In fact, there was a lot of excitement when she made her debut, so I have great expectations for her.

Actually, the other day, the three of us (KAIRI, Natsupoi & Saori Anou) practiced together in the ring, and it was amazing how well we worked together. We came up with some great ideas for coordinated attacks, and we’re looking forward to seeing what we come up with. If I win the Artist belt, I would like to have many defenses all over Japan.

World of STARDOM Champion Giulia and Mercedes Moné have title defenses scheduled for All Star Grand Queendom. There was an exchange between the two on social media after Giulia said she wants a double title match. 

About Andrew Thompson 9829 Articles
A Washington D.C. native and graduate of Norfolk State University, Andrew Thompson has been covering wrestling since 2017.