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SHAZZA McKENZIE’S AMERICAN DREAM

Wrestling In The Land Of Independence

From Sydney to St. Louis, Shazza McKenzie left behind a good life in her native Australia in the pursuit of true happiness.

TEXT BY KEVIN McELVANEY | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SAMANTHA CRIM

IT WAS MEANT TO BE “one last hurrah.” So says Shazza McKenzie of her 2022 tour of the American indie circuit, which was chronicled in the two-part IWTV docuseries, Shazza Takes America.

The popular Aussie grappler—a former Heart of SHIMMER champion and longtime fixture of PWI’s women’s rankings—wanted to make up for lost time. After all, pandemic-era travel restrictions had kept her from wrestling abroad for the better part of three years. But that ambitious slate of bookings across the States, exhausting and exhilarating in near-equal measure, would be no farewell tour. Instead, those post-COVID shows strengthened McKenzie’s devotion to professional wrestling … and completely changed her life.

“If anything, the pandemic gave me more time,” McKenzie says. “Because all the nagging injuries that I’d had for years, that I had just been ignoring and working through, finally got some rest. Once I did a few matches and my confidence came back, I was like, Oh, no, I’ve got years left in me. Like, Age is just a number, b—es! We’re f— going!”

Shazza vs. Lady Bird, photo by Samantha Crim
McKenzie applies a chinlock to Lady Bird during a May 2023 event for St. Louis-based Glory Pro.

By the time her return flight landed in Australia, McKenzie had arrived at a profound realization. Tired of chasing a TV contract with a major promotion (and sick of basing her self-worth on that pursuit), the Sydney native also understood that her home country’s excellent grappling scene could only ever be a part-time gig. “At that time, I was 33 years old,” recalls McKenzie, now 35. “And I was like, I guess I’m 33, and it’s time to have babies, move on, and be a boring, little old lady. And then, I did the U.S. trip.”

From that point, Shazza McKenzie understood she could only be truly happy while making her living as a professional wrestler on her terms. And, to do that, she needed to move to America.

McKenzie made massive personal sacrifices, leaving behind her home, family, and even her marriage—the latter of which, she understood, couldn’t survive the gamble of being an unsigned wrestler in the States. “The goal for my entire career was always to live in America, but it was always under the understanding that we’d move to America if I got signed,” she told PWI. “Asking someone to follow you to another country because you’ve got your dream job and you’re making hundreds of thousands of dollars is very different to asking someone to give up their life and what they’ve worked on in their professional career to follow you over here so you can wrestle in front of a couple hundred people every weekend.”

Shazza McKenzie trains with Jake Parnell (Photo by Samantha Crim)
Shazza McKenzie practices a Muta Lock on sparring partner Jake Parnell (WARHORSE) at the Forge in St. Louis.

Though a bold move on the surface, McKenzie’s emigration was perhaps less surprising to those closest to her. Consider her parents, who, though supportive of her wrestling aspirations, were disappointed when she dropped out of high school to pursue them. “I said, ‘Mom, Dad, I’m going be a professional wrestler. I don’t need to go to school.’ And they said, ‘I think you do!’” McKenzie recalls. “But they never tried to stop me. Whenever I do something, they’re like, ‘Well, we can’t stop you. We know you’re just going to do whatever it is that you want to do.’ Trust me, I’ve made plenty of really dumb mistakes. I’m just going to do them, though, because I need to learn my lesson for myself.”

Lest anyone get the idea that Shazza McKenzie is flighty or capricious, her passion and ambition are supported by an incredible work ethic. Taking inspiration and advice from a fellow veteran wrestler, Canada’s LuFisto, McKenzie navigated the labyrinthine, costly process that comes with pursuing a working wrestler’s visa without the support of a major promotion. “It was a process that I started in June ’22, and then I got my visa in March ’23,” said McKenzie. “And that would’ve taken longer. Luckily, I had some OnlyFans money and I paid for some expedited service. I knew if I could suffice the money, I didn’t want to wait longer than I had to.”

A savvy businesswoman, who had previously managed a gym back in Australia, McKenzie has cultivated a strong brand as a professional wrestler— particularly through X (formerly Twitter) and other social media sites, which she admits to frequenting during downtime at her previous job. Like many other women wrestlers, she has sold 8×10 photos of herself alongside t-shirts at merch tables. Websites such as OnlyFans, BrandArmy, and Patreon have helped McKenzie stay afloat financially, while also keeping her in touch with fans from all over the globe. That’s something she doesn’t take for granted.

“People can s— on OnlyFans all they want to, whatever,” said McKenzie. “It gave my fans a way of supporting me. To me, it was the equivalent of doing a GoFundMe, but I was able to give something in return.”

Less than a year after her pivotal Shazza Takes America tour, McKenzie flew 14,500 kilometers (9,000 miles) from Sydney, New South Wales, to begin a new life in St. Louis, Missouri. “It was stressful and scary,” she admitted. “It’s really scary to give up your entire life … especially in your mid-30s as a female. Because society has told us that we’re worthless once that 3-0 happens. In all aspects of life, society tries to tell us that there’s nothing for us once we’re over 30.”

Shazza McKenzie lifts weights (Photo by Samantha Crim)
“It’s really scary to give up your entire life … especially in your mid-30s as a female.”

Yet, as is often the case with seasoned wrestlers, McKenzie is only now reaching her peak. “I’m passionate about wrestling. You go to training, and you get really good at doing all these drills and all your fundamentals … but there’s this other part of wrestling that you can only learn from wrestling regularly in front of a crowd,” she said, during a recent Zoom call with PWI. “And I think that’s maybe why I’m so attached to wrestling in America. Because I’ve been training in wrestling for 15-16 years at this point, but the amount that I grow as a performer in three months in America would be the equivalent of about a year in Australia. You’re thrust into these situations, and you just have to figure it out. There’s no time to panic: Just figure it out.”

With more than 500 matches on her CV, Shazza McKenzie has synthesized the lessons of those months and years spent in the ring. She exudes confidence and personality because she is doing what she has always wanted.

Of course, there are still challenges. She needed to learn to drive on American roads—and, just days before this story was written, her car broke down on one in Iowa—while adjusting to the Midwestern weather, which is far less mild than what she’d grown used to in Sydney.

“The reality is that it’s a very hard country to live in,” said McKenzie. “Even if you are an American citizen, every single step of the way, every little thing that you want to do, this government makes it hard. Like, it shouldn’t cost you your entire life if you get sick. But when it comes to being the land of opportunity … it is.”

McKenzie noted that in Australia, driving from one major city to the next takes a good 10 to 12 hours. While the wrestling on offer is excellent, most promotions run shows once a month (if that). In the U.S., she finds weekly bookings from coast to coast and is continually growing her fanbase.

Though it’s not exactly the superstardom she envisioned when she first visited America in 2008, attending WrestleMania 24 with her mom and brother, McKenzie doesn’t dwell on what might’ve been. “I’m completely okay with my role in professional wrestling because I enjoy what I do,” she said. “I enjoy independent wrestling. I enjoy the freedom of it. I enjoy the creativeness of it. I even enjoy the s— travel sometimes. I enjoy the completely different people that you meet along the way.”

While she’s worked matches for WWE and AEW in the past—and isn’t opposed to inking a full-time deal somewhere— this independent contractor has made a conscious decision to focus on what is ahead of her. “I spent years trying to get signed, and I was miserable. I was starving myself, I was trying to look a certain way, it was expensive,” said McKenzie. “Being a girl’s expensive enough. Trying to be a diva is 20 times more expensive. It wasn’t fun, and it wasn’t for me. That’s not who I am as a person. And it’s not that I wouldn’t say yes to a job or whatever, I just know that I’m happy doing what I’m doing.”

Since moving to the States, McKenzie has brought her personal brand of “#HEARTBREAKcore” to quite a few of them, competing in California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri, Tennessee, Wisconsin … and the list continues to build.

It’s a busy life, between making towns, staying in ring shape, engaging with fans, and tending to her current, happily committed relationship. She misses her family and her circle of friends back in Australia—including notable wrestlers Charli Evans, Jessica Troy, and Madison Eagles. But if you ask McKenzie, she’s living the American wrestling dream. “We’re wrestling around, fake fighting in silly spandex outfits, and it is supposed to be fun,” she says. “We drive for hours, we get on 5 a.m. planes, throw our bodies into the ground … and, like, not for an obscene amount of money or anything. So, don’t do it if you’re miserable. You’re supposed to have fun, make some money. As long as everyone is safe and not hurt, it is not that serious.”

“We’re wrestling around, fake fighting in silly spandex outfits, and it is supposed to be fun.”

And it is this kind of attitude—coupled with an indefatigable charm, athletic ability, and unmistakable passion—that has brought Shazza McKenzie to this point. “Every day as a professional wrestler in America is completely different. Every show is different, every match is different, every crowd is different,” McKenzie says. “It changes so, so astronomically, show to show, day to day.

“It’s so much more fun if you’re just enjoying the journey. Because once I stopped worrying about the destination— other than the destination being America, so that I could wrestle regularly—it was so much more fun.” [ ]

BONUS PHOTO GALLERY [Photos shot by Samantha Crim expressly for Pro Wrestling Illustrated. Please use only with permission and proper credit.]

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THE SYSTEM WORKS

Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards In Conversation With Pro Wrestling Illustrated

The reigning TNA Wrestling World tag team champions reflect on their success to date and get real about their competition ahead of this weekend’s “Under Siege” event.

TNA Wrestling's The System: Eddie & Alisha Edwards with Brian Myers
TRUST THE SYSTEM: Eddie & Alisha Edwards talk shop with Brian Myers at a recent TNA Wrestling TV taping at South Philadelphia’s 2300 Arena. (PHOTO BY KEVIN McELVANEY)

FOR TWO VETERANS like Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards, spending your days basking in former glories could be a perfectly acceptable way to spend one’s career at this point. That’s not what motivates these men, however. Not content to ever phone it in, the accomplished duo are the current, reigning TNA World tag team champions. And Myers & Edwards spoke with PWI’s Jason McVeigh just days before competing at TNA’s Under Siege event. In the conversation below, they tell our readers how it feels to be on top of TNA Wrestling as part of the faction known as The System … and how they still strive to steal the show each and every night.

McVEIGH: So, Under Siege is coming up this Friday. You’re involved in a big six-man tag team match against Matt Hardy and Speedball Mountain. I guess I’ll ask Brian first, what can we expect from the match?

MYERS: I mean, it’s going to be very exciting, right? Six top-tier wrestlers in the main event, you know, anything’s possible in that situation. The System right now is really cooking … we’re out to prove a point, we’ve had some of the best six-man matches the past four months. Put them up against any other trios matches in the entire business. And this will be no exception. And if Matt Hardy thinks he’s going to rejuvenate his career at the expense of The System? He is very, very wrong.

PWI: Just on that one, Eddie, talk a little bit about Matt Hardy. This is Matt’s first match back in TNA, obviously. Is there anything you’re concerned about going against him?

EDWARDS: I’m not concerned. I think Matt, should be the one who’s a little concerned. You know, he’s been gone for quite a while now. Things have changed since he’s been gone. The System is at the top of the mountain right now. And it’s something that he has to understand, like Brian said: Matt’s not going to come in and get the buzz off of beating The System. And we already beat Speedball Mountain. Now, Matt’s back to get a taste of it, too. It’s going to be exciting because it is the first time Matt is back in a TNA ring in however many years. And that’s a cool thing, and it’s going to be cool to be a part of that. But it’ll be even better to put an end to it pretty quickly.

PWI: You guys are the TNA World tag team champions right now and you’ve spent a lot of weeks as a ranked team on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s web and print rankings. Why is this partnership working so well?

EDWARDS: It’s because there’s a lot that goes into it. It’s not just the stuff that happens in the ring. We are friends outside the ring. Me, Moose, Alisha … we’ve been best friends outside of the ring for a while now. So, this has been percolating for a while before The System formed. And me and Brian, when we get in the ring, we have that same trust and that same respect for each other in the ring that we do outside of it. I think that shows every time we’re in there. Because you can see that having fun, we’re kicking ass, we’re doing it together, and we get to have these great matches together.

MYERS: Yeah, it’s a mutual admiration for each other. We’ve always had that, and then we’ve become best friends. And that shows in the ring. Thenm there’s the professional side of it where you literally have two of the most accomplished tag team wrestlers of our generation, coming together to be a super team. So, all things have fallen into place.

PWI: You kind of touched on it there, Brian … you both are very accomplished tag team wrestlers. What is it that keeps tag team wrestling exciting for you both?

MYERS: I love tag team wrestling. Obviously, I love being a singles competitor, too. I just love wrestling in all shapes and sizes. But I think what we have going now is Eddie and I are out there to steal the show every single night and try to improve on our performance every time we go out there. And I feel like these past four months, we’ve really done that. Each time just gets a little bit better and a little more in sync. That’s what you look forward tom and that’s what keeps me heading into these TNA weekends where I’m like, Okay, sick, we can keep this frigging thing going.

PWI: The System has seen a lot of success in TNA this yearm and it’s been a lot of fun to watch you guys do what you’re doing. Can you speak a little bit on the dynamic of the group? You know, not just the two of you, but Alisha and Moosem as well?

EDWARDS: Yeah, I think it’s a family group. Like I said, we are best friends outside the ring and Alisha keeps us in line. She’s kept me in line for so many years. But also, she’s done that in the back for so many years at this point, that I think it comes across on screen and in the ring, as well. It’s tough to find a group where people aren’t selfish, and they’re not focused on themselves. But this group isn’t. And it’s because we do have this relationship outside of the business.

MYERS: The bottom line is: The System’s real, and that’s why it’s working. And that’s why it’s going to continue to work. It’s as real as it gets in whatm at times, is a very fake industry.

PWI: What can we expect from The System going forward?

MYERS: I see no end in sight, nor do I look forward to that. I want this to go on for as long as we can. I want to live in the moment and be present, knowing that this is a great time in my career. We’re all having a freaking blast being best friends, doing what we do best, and stealing the show, and having fun. That’s what my life and career is about right now.

EDWARDS: Yeah, it’s the same for me. We all realize that we’re doing something special, and it feels like a special time for our careers, but also for the company. We want to capitalize on that. We don’t want to sell ourselves short or do anything to dilute the group. We want to run with this as long as we can to continue to drag TNA up that mountain.

PWI: There’s been a lot of changes in the company recently, but both of you have been loyal to the promotion for a while. Why is TNA the right place for Brian Myers & Eddie Edwards?

EDWARDS: For me, I’ve been here for over 10 years at this point. And I have said all along that the company has always treated me with respect and treated me right. So, that’s the reason that I’ve stayed here all along. But, at this point, it’s about what I want to do with my career. I don’t want to be on the road all the time. I enjoy the schedule that we have. I have a family; I have a daughter at home that I love being home with. And I love our locker room. It’s a group that I can truly buy in on. I buy in to what we’re doing. And I feel that we all have that same sense backstage, where we all know what we’re doing, and that we are all trying to drive this company forward. We keep chugging away, I’ve been trying to learn for 10 years, but I like where we’re going. That’s why I’m still here. And that’s why I believe in TNA.

MYERS: TNA is one of the best things that ever happened to me in my career. It’s just been such a perfect fit for so many reasons. They allow me to be the best version of myself. It’s been a collaborative effort, and a fun creative thing.

PWI: We are still only a few months into this run that The System are having. But are there any moments that stand out?

EDWARDS: Winning the tag team title for sure. And just being in the ring together. The first time we hit our pose in front of the hard cam … that was cool and something that’s burned into my mind.

MYERS: I would say the debut of Nic Nemeth at Hard to Kill, also. Even though it didn’t exactly turn out great for The System on that night, the upside I saw was that it was going to get a lot of people talking about us and about TNA. So, to be a part of that and hear the reaction was a big deal.

PWI: Favorite TNA tag team of all time?

MYERS: I loved America’s Most Wanted. When Matt (Cardona) and I were breaking into the business and were clueless 18-year-olds trying to figure out wrestling, AMW were the best babyface tag team in wrestling, and we really tried to watch their stuff and see what they were doing right. Because they were really getting after it at the time.

EDWARDS: Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin. They’re two of the absolute best on their own and as a team. What they’ve accomplished is next level. And also, a team that was in TNA and so many other places is the Hardys. I was lucky enough to be in there with them when I was a member of The Wolves. I was a big fan of Matt and Jeff growing up, and just everything they accomplished. So, I put them up there, as well.

PWI: What do you want PWI readers to know about Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers in 2024?

EDWARDS: That we’re not going to stop. We’re in it for the long haul, and this is just the beginning.

MYERS: Yeah, and that The System is the real deal and we’re out there trying to steal the show every night and bring more eyeballs to TNA. We’ve got the hardest-working locker room [at TNA], and we are a part of that.

MORE INFORMATION ON TNA UNDER SIEGE

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Seeking a New WWE Funko Pop? Here’s Two For Your Consideration!

It’s a rare thing for us to share news of a new Funko WWE Pop. Yet, we are several weeks removed from WrestleMania 40, the new Rock “Final Boss” Funko Pop is sold out, and there are a few new WWE Pops on the market for collectors to get excited about.

One of them is the Pop! Drew McIntyre figure, complete with the Scottish wrestler’s signature sword and kilt. With rumors swirling of McIntyre leaving the WWE this year, this new Funko Pop in the likeness of the two-time WWE champion and former WWE World heavyweight champion may become an even hotter item than expected.

There’s also a new Funko Pop! Eddie Guerrero figure, complete with an LWO-emblazoned tank and “L”-shaped hand signal. The LWO’s current resurgence in the WWE has given way to wrestling fans’ interest in the faction’s history and its members. In addition, Guerrero’s icon status in the wrestling industry and life story have given way to his continued appeal and fascination among new wrestling enthusiasts.

More information on these and other WWE Funko Pops can be found on the official Funko website.

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INTRODUCING KAISEI TAKECHI

DDT’s Star Rookie Is A Triple-Threat: Dancer, Actor, And Now … A Pro Wrestler!

FEW WRESTLERS CAN SAY they’ve headlined the Tokyo Dome; even fewer can say they’ve done so ahead of their professional wrestling debut. But for Kaisei Takechi, who debuted in the main event of DDT Pro-Wrestling’s “Into The Fight 2024,” headlining arenas across Japan is nothing new. Indeed, it’s just part of his regular job as a performer in the 16-member J-pop group, THE RAMPAGE from EXILE TRIBE. 

That group, composed of three vocalists and 13 performers, debuted in January 2017 as part of LDH JAPAN’s male artist collective, EXILE TRIBE. Its debut single “Lightning” peaked at #2 on the Billboard Japan Hot 100 and earned a “Best New Artist” award at the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards Japan.

Takechi began dancing at a young age thanks to his mother, a dance instructor who currently runs T’s-Box, a dance school in Hyogo Prefecture’s Takarazuka City, and an avid supporter of Takechi’s endeavors as both an idol and pro wrestler. The would-be grappler’s accolades in jazz and contemporary dance gained the attention of LDH Japan’s EXPG dance school, who offered Takechi, then a teenager, a scholarship to its school in Osaka. 

In 2014, Takechi participated in the EXILE PERFORMER BATTLE AUDITION, a tryout for new performers hoping to join LDH Japan’s flagship group, EXILE. Though Takechi was unsuccessful in joining EXILE, he, along with other unsuccessful finalists, was selected to form a new group: THE RAMPAGE.

Takechi’s professional wrestling debut isn’t as unlikely as it might seem. A lifelong athlete, he spent much of his youth as a competitive swimmer and has since challenged himself in such physical pursuits as bodybuilding and judo. The DDT rookie’s physical conditioning—developed over his years as a dancer—has undoubtedly given him an advantage as a wrestler. The height he achieves leaping into the air is just as impressive on the stage as it is in the ring.

Takechi’s first foray into the world of professional wrestling came when he starred in the 2022 ABEMA drama, Fukumen D, alongside GENERATIONS from EXILE TRIBE member Mandy Sekiguchi and BALLISTIK BOYZ from EXILE TRIBE member Riki Matsui (who joined the DDT commentary team for Takechi’s debut).

Fukumen D spotlights the wrestling promotion Brave Battle Truth, the fictional counterpart of DDT Pro-Wrestling (formerly Dramatic Dream Team). DDT participated in the production on screen and behind the scenes. Its talent appeared in the drama while helping to train Takechi and Sekiguchi, who chose to perform the drama’s wrestling action rather than rely on stunt doubles.  

Recognizing Takechi’s star potential, DDT approached the pop idol with the idea of appearing for the promotion. Takechi’s wrestling debut was later announced on December 2, at the final stop of THE RAMPAGE’s 2023 tour, “16” NEXT ROUND.

The art of fanfare was not lost on DDT, which embraced the inevitable viewership that would come from the idol’s fanbase. Takechi was catapulted to the main event in a six-man tag team match, where he teamed with DDT Extreme champion Shunma Katsumata and KO-D openweight champion Yuki Ueno (with whom he previously worked on Fukumen D) against Tetsuya Endo, Hideki Okatani, and Takeshi Masada.

People were raving about the pro wrestling debut of Kaisei Takechi, part of the Rampage from Exile Tribe, a subgroup of Exile Tribe, a J-Pop song and dance group. He worked the DDT show at Korakuen Hall and drew the company’s biggest Korakuen Hall crowd in years. I haven’t seen it but was told this was among the best celebrity debuts ever in wrestling. Takechi has a great physique, a good look and is a great athlete, noted for great looking dropkicks and hurricanranas.

—Dave Meltzer, The Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline

Fans showed their support with merchandise, including an official collaboration t-shirt with THE RAMPAGE and a special “Takechi Camera” following the idol during his debut. Takechi’s highly anticipated debut trended on social media platforms, with official videos from the match pulling in thousands of views. The cheers and applause of his supporters, packed into a capacity crowd at Korakuen Hall, were readily apparent in video footage of the match.

With THE RAMPAGE’s busy schedule—including its upcoming jaunt, THE RAMPAGE LIVE TOUR 2024 “CyberHelix” RX-16, which begins April 2024 and is scheduled to end July 2024,—it’s uncertain when Takechi will re-enter the squared circle. But according to the crossover star himself, his wrestling ambitions haven’t ended with the well-received debut performance. 

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PROGRESS Philadelphia: Simon Miller Set For Multi-Man Match

The Popular YouTube Host, Wrestler, & Actor Will Face Multiple Opponents At PROGRESS Wrestling’s FREEDOM WALKS AGAIN event.

Pro Wrestling Illustrated can confirm, exclusively, that Simon Miller is the first announced participant for the Multi-Man bout taking place at PROGRESS Wrestling’s upcoming FREEDOM WALKS AGAIN show in Philadelphia, PA, on Friday, April 5, 2024.

Known to many for his work as a host for outlets such as Whatculture, along with his emceeing for PROGRESS itself, the charismatic Miller is still fighting tirelessly to prove his mettle as an in-ring performer. To that end, he is ready to take on all comers at the BritWres institution’s first U.S. event since 2019.

“I’m super excited about PROGRESS returning to the US for what will be the first of many shows Stateside and feel privileged to be part of it all,” Miller told PWI. “As for FREEDOM WALKS AGAIN, the way I see it is simple. I’m part of the multi-man scramble match, which just means there’s more than one person for me to beat.”

Of course, the calamitous environs of a multi-person contest won’t make things easy for Miller. “It also means there’s more people who can try and beat me,” he admitted. “But I’ve decided to ignore that part … Positive mental attitude!”

PROGRESS co-owner Martyn Best, who, along with Lee McAteer, took charge of the PROGRESS brand in late-2021, further elaborated on the distinct uphill that Miller faces in the Multi-Man Match. “Your great President Theodore Roosevelt wrote stirring words about the difference between a critic and the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood,” Best wrote. “Simon Miller has been the PROGRESS main ring host for two years, and was so much more than a critic, but his ever-improving transition to one who strives valiantly will be seen to great effect in Philadelphia. I am sure he will take the great Rocky tradition, and in his intriguing Multi-Man Match, if he fails, at least he will fail while daring greatly.”

With the rest of the Multi-Man Match participants yet to be announced, fans will soon know the steepness of the hill (or Art Museum steps) Miller must climb. The card, which takes place in South Philadelphia as part of GCW’s Collective series, is set to include defenses of the PROGRESS Women’s and tag team championships, currently held by Rhio and the Cheeky Little Buggers (Alexxis Falcon & Charles Crowley), respectively.

More information on the event can be found here.

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Sting’s Retirement: “It’s Bittersweet, But I’m Looking Forward To It”

STING SPEAKS
A Career Remembered Through PWI’s Pages

Forty years. Two-dozen championships.
Countless words about him in wrestling magazines.
“The Icon” reflects on a career well-spent.

TEXT BY COLETTE ARRAND

AS ONE OF THE MOST widely respected wrestlers of the “PWI Years”—1979 to the present—Sting has earned every bit of coverage in this publication and others like it. Leading up to his announced retirement at All Elite Wrestling’s Revolution 2024, it made perfect sense to revisit some of the highlights of his legendary career by way of coverage in this very magazine. And so, we are pleased to present this conversation with the 2023 Stanley Weston Award winner, the 12-time world heavyweight champion, “The Icon” himself … Sting.

ARRAND: Your first appearance on the cover of Pro Wrestling Illustrated was the “Supercards ’88” issue, after winning the third annual Jim Crockett Sr. Memorial Cup tournament with Lex Luger. You’re known as a singles wrestler, but especially now that your career is concluding with a stellar run as Darby Allin’s partner, it feels as if tag wrestling serves as a bookend to the story of your life in professional wrestling.

STING: Until this last stint with AEW, tag wrestling was pretty much a part-time thing for me. I did have the Crockett Cup and matches like the one Lex and I had against the Steiner Brothers at the first SuperBrawl, which was tag match of the year. I started out with Jim Hellwig, who later became The Ultimate Warrior, and we were a tag team, with Eddie Gilbert as our manager. I thought I was going to be a tag team wrestler throughout my whole career. It wasn’t until I finally ended up in the NWA, where Dusty Rhodes wanted to put me with Ric Flair, that I really started out as a singles wrestler. I’m grateful for those teams, but I never thought that I’d be here all these years later finishing as a tag team wrestler—it’s a very cool thing.


ARRAND: When it comes to Allin, how do you think your association with him will mark both of your legacies? Would you classify your relationship as a kind of mentorship, or as being something of kindred spirits?

STING: I hope, for Darby, that he’ll be remembered for being in a tag team with Sting, one of the veterans who pretty much did everything under the sun in wrestling for so many different wrestling organizations. And that was the goal, to try to elevate him, but I’m telling you, he elevated me. It went both ways. And I want to be remembered for this time as Darby’s tag team partner, for sure. I don’t know if we’re kindred spirits, per se, but we have a lot in common in the wrestling world, with how our careers started. We didn’t have a way to get into wrestling. We didn’t have an uncle or a father or a friend; we both slept in our cars, and that was our address. We both know what it’s like to get the tiny little payoffs and pretty much starve out there while making a name for yourself. And then there’s what we have in common, like the painted face and the willingness to take risks. Darby blows me out of the water, but I was one of the first guys my size to take running dives over the top rope and to the floor.

ARRAND: You’re in what is perhaps the most fascinating stage of a career that’s been characterized by change, from Surfer Sting to Crow Sting to TNA and WWE, and now AEW, with the later half of your career in particular marked by your ability to figure out how the legend of Sting fits into the current wrestling landscape. Relatively little of that has relied on straight-up playing to nostalgia, like reappearing in Surfer Sting regalia. Has that been a conscious decision?

STING: Oh, I could never pull that off again. There’s just no way. I did an appearance for somebody a few years ago and they really wanted me to do the surfer paint, you know? “Do you still have the jacket you wore against Flair? The 1980s blue tights?” I tried to say no, but he kept at it until I said alright and tried it. But it felt ridiculous. Fans love it, but I can’t do it justice, and I wouldn’t want fans to remember me trying and failing to be a version of myself from 35 years ago.

ARRAND: The April 1992 cover of PWI predicted that you’d end Lex Luger’s reign as WCW World heavyweight champion, saying that your forecast was “bright and sunny.” They were right about the title, but those years also featured some of your most famous feuds outside of your long-running one against Flair—against the likes of Cactus Jack, Vader, and the Dangerous Alliance, when you were the franchise star of the company, right up until Hulk Hogan’s arrival in 1994. What from that period are you particularly fond of?

STING: The matches against Vader always come up at autograph sessions and when people recognize me in public, more than almost anyone. I loved working with Rick Rude at that time, too, and The Great Muta. It was really the beginning stages of me coming into my own, doing the main events after I had my run with Flair, seeing if I could draw money and TV ratings with other people. To be the figurehead back then was rough, but the work ethic it required is one of the reasons for my longevity.

Sting admires his 1990 PWI Wrestler of the Year trophy.

ARRAND: Speaking of Hogan, your 1996- 1997 feud against him culminated in the Starrcade 1997 match PWI billed as “The Match Of The Century.” It was something of a singular moment in pop culture. In retrospect, a lot of the shine of that era goes to the Steve Austin/ Vince McMahon feud happening in the WWF, but Sting chasing Hulk Hogan was a ratings juggernaut for a reason. What was it like being at the center of one of wrestling’s hottest angles of all-time while it was happening?

STING: It was amazing then and it’s amazing to think about now, because we were the second-class citizens of wrestling. I’ve always talked about that, and how much it sucked, but then we had Monday Nitro launch with Lex Luger showing up. Then, we had (Scott) Hall and (Kevin) Nash show up, then Hulk’s character changed and my character changed, and all of the sudden we’re #1, almost putting WWE out of business. It’s amazing to think that I was an integral part of that. Kudos to what Steve Austin did over there, but what WCW did was just as big—it took two different companies with entirely different approaches to do that.

ARRAND: Over the course of your career, you consistently took on a leadership role for promotions perceived as the underdog against the WWE juggernaut: WCW, TNA, and AEW. Who do you see carrying that torch into the future?

STING: I’ve been saying it for three years, since I started with AEW, but, to me, it’s Darby Allin. He has a mind for this business, not just for himself. So much of what we’ve done together started as Darby’s idea—he pitches and produces the videos we do, for example. He has the work ethic and the creative mind, and he cares about what wrestling fans think. He never goes out there and dogs it, he’s the kind of guy who would go balls to the wall even if the house wasn’t that good. And I’m not just saying that as his partner. He has great leadership ability, no fear, and a lot of compassion.

ARRAND: I think a lot of wrestling fans expected that you’d maybe wrestle Allin one-on-one, but that never panned out. If you were to have had a singles match during your AEW run, who would you have wanted to wrestle against?

STING: A lot of wrestling fans thought for sure that Darby was going to turn on me, or that I was going to turn on him! But you know, I would have loved to have had a match against Kenny Omega. Kenny is legitimate world champ material. Obviously, he’s been AEW World champion, but, to me, sometimes how good he is goes underappreciated because he’s never been with WWE; some people think he doesn’t deserve his accolades. But he is one of the best all-around world heavyweight champions I’ve ever seen, one of the best in the wrestling industry. And then there are some of the new guys coming up, the big guys—thinking about my matches with Vader—what a talent a guy like Big Bill is. He’s got the goods. He’s got the fire. Satnam (Singh) is another one. He moves really, really good, but you’ve got to utilize guys like him ASAP because big men don’t last as long, unfortunately. Let’s try to get as much as we can out of him while he’s young.

ARRAND: Why end your career now?

STING: It’s funny, because I was the guy who did not want to get into pro wrestling. I didn’t even know what pro wrestling was when I got started. But I ended up being a pro wrestler, and at the beginning, I was an introvert, the last guy that you’d want to get up there and entertain in front of hordes of people. But it blossomed into what it blossomed into. I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve enjoyed the fans and cannot thank them enough. But after all of these years, having walked through the curtain thousands of times, I’m still a nervous wreck when I go out there, and it gets pretty overwhelming to try to perform at a high level at my age, even in a short match, even if it’s a six- or eight-man tag. Tony (Khan) was actually trying to get me to stay longer, maybe retire at Wembley. But it gets tougher and tougher every time you go out there, and you have all of these young guys who are ready to play—there’s only so far you can push it. It’s kind of sad, of course, but, at some point, you just have to do it. There’s a part of me that’s sad, but there’s another part of me that’s relieved. It’s bittersweet, but I’m looking forward to it.

This interview was first published in the May 2024 issue of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine, available in stores beginning Tuesday, March 5, 2024. Individual print and digital copies can also be purchased here.

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Mariah May Reflects On Japan, Club Venus, Her Goals

Rose Gold (Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May) celebrate with their signature hands-making-a-heart pose, the Goddesses of Stardom title belts, and the corresponding championship trophy

The following is taken from the March 2024 edition of Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazine, which hits newsstands in the U.S. and Canada on December 12, 2023. Before it was officially announced that Mariah May was “All Elite,” the latest addition to the AEW Women’s division took some time out of her schedule to chat with PWI.

A QUICK WORD WITH …
MARIAH MAY

TEXT BY KEVIN McELVANEY
PHOTOS BY OCTOPUS STRETCH PHOTOGRAPHY

ON DECEMBER 29, 2022, at Stardom Dream Queendom 2, Cosmic Angels expat Mina Shirakawa introduced the world to Club Venus. Originally consisting of Shirakawa, Xia Brookside, and Mariah May, the glamorous group made its debut in the inaugural Triangle Derby trios tournament. With a membership that swelled to include Australian grappler Xena, former NXT talent Jessie (Elaban/Kamea), and another ex-Cosmic Angel in Waka Tsukiyama, Club Venus quickly became a favorite of international Stardom fans. And that was due in no small part to the efforts of one of its charter members.

Fashionable, charismatic, and athletic, Mariah May had all the makings of a top star. May put in the hard work from the very start of her Japanese excursion, developing a notable chemistry with partners and opponents alike. Stardom’s competitive touring environs compelled the Tottenham, England-born wrestler to develop in-ring skills to rival those of her peers. And, in a massive vote of confidence, May was given the name “Foreign Ace” by no less than Stardom Executive Producer Rossy Ogawa.

Mariah May makes her way to the ring wearing a flowing pink gown and the Goddesses of Stardom tag team championship belt
“FOREIGN ACE” MARIAH MAY

With Shirakawa, May formed the impressive tag team Rose Gold, which reigned as Goddesses of Stardom champions for six weeks last summer. Her performances with the Club Venus unit and in the 5STAR Grand Prix round robin tourney grabbed the attention of promoters worldwide. Indeed, after her Stardom contract expired in the fall, rumors circulated that May had inked a contract with All Elite Wrestling in the U.S. [a rumor that was later confirmed by her appearance on the November 8, 2023 edition of AEW Dynamite]

In mid-October, during a well-earned period of downtime, Mariah May checked in from her home country to chat with PWI Editor-in-Chief Kevin McElvaney about what she’s learned from her nine-month stint in Japan, the current U.K. grappling scene, and what she might be up to in the future.

McELVANEY: Your Stardom run has put you in the brightest spotlight of your career and earned you the moniker “Foreign Ace.” Why do you think you connected so well with the fans of that promotion?

MAY: I believe the reason I connected so well with the fans is because I love Stardom as much as they do. I’ve always held the belief the best training and performance for women’s wrestling is found in Japan. I think my passion, improvement, and dedication in moving across the world gave me their respect (and Ogawa-san’s when he named me the “Foreign Ace”). I know a lot of fans were happy to see how much fun I was having, too. I want my work to tell stories and make people feel something, and Stardom afforded me so many chances to do that.

Rose Gold (Mina Shirakawa & Mariah May) celebrate with their signature hands-making-a-heart pose, the Goddesses of Stardom title belts, and the corresponding championship trophy
Mariah May holds out hope for a reunion with Rose Gold partner Mina Shirakawa, with whom she held the Goddesses of Stardom championship.

McELVANEY: What did your 2023 excursion to Japan teach you? How did your craft improve?

MAY: My excursion in Japan taught me how important it is to take risks. Within a few days of being in Japan, I was offered to extend my tour, and I said I would stay there as long as they would have me. That chance and sacrifice allowed me nine months of dojo training, training at the Snakepit, touring a beautiful country, and more matches than any other woman up until I left! The repetition and grind helped me perfect my moveset, build chemistry—especially an amazing feeling when you don’t speak the same language. And being with Mina meant I had a mentor by my side who could give me advice. This is a chance for us girls to make our mark on history and prove ourselves.

McELVANEY: Speaking of Mina Shirakawa, Rose Gold was quite the successful duo. Do you think we could see the team get back together sometime in the future?

MAY: Mina Shirakawa and I have such a special bond. She’s the reason I finally got to wrestle in Japan. We said we wanted to wrestle teams all over the world. I’m hopeful we can reunite and do just that!

A close-up photo of Risa Sera, who is all smiles despite her face and white ring gear being caked in blood
A more surprising item on May’s wishlist: facing Prominence’s Risa Sera (pictured, bleeding profusely) in a deathmatch.

McELVANEY: I’d imagine one of the reasons you returned to England was to spend time with your loved ones. Do you have your eye on the current scene there? It seems to have evolved, with new stars in the making, even in the short time you’ve been away.

MAY: It’s definitely been nice to be home and spend some time with my family. I have my sights set on wrestling internationally. I have so many places I want to wrestle. I won four championships in the U.K. I feel for the moment my time here is done and the next girls should come through! I’d love to wrestle on a big stage in front of my family in the U.K., though. Maybe one day!

A smiling Mariah May celebrates her win holding the Goddesses of Stardom title belt and trophy
With some reports suggesting she is headed for AEW [later confirmed], the “Foreign Ace” tells PWI she is still considering her options. Look for her to do quite a bit of travel in the future (and compete against some of the planet’s top talent).

McELVANEY: You’ve been accumulating more and more fans in North America, particularly here in the States. Anybody in particular you’d like to get in the ring with on this side of the pond?

MAY: It’s been incredible and humbling to have so much support worldwide, particularly North America has always been very vocal for me. There’s such a deep pool of talent in America. And I’ve only toured there once, so I have a pretty long list. I want to do intergender (matches) … there’s an open challenge!

McELVANEY: What’s next for Mariah May?

MAY: I am still deciding my next move. I love Japan, and I want to have a deathmatch there. (Risa Sera, if you’re reading this …) I also have a strong desire to travel more, as before Japan I had visited 5 countries in one year! There’s lots of opportunity and it’s really exciting.

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Long Live Alex Kane!

Alex Kane addresses the people alongside his Bomaye Fight Club, MLW @ 2300 Arena, July 2023

A look back at July 8, 2023, when Alex Kane defeated Alexander Hammerstone to win the MLW World heavyweight championship (as told by one of his top allies in the Bomaye Fight Club).

TEXT BY O’SHAY EDWARDS

You had to be there.

To feel the 2300 building and bubbling over just ready for the moment where it all could just erupt.

You had to be there.

Alex Kane has been working his ass off for this moment for the better part of 20 years, before BOMAYE was even a catchphrase or a chant. And to be able to not only see it, but experience it first-hand, is one of the rare moments in wrestling that I will never forget. Because seeing it on TV is one thing, but seeing and feeling it live?

Man, you had to be there.

Alex Kane, the new MLW World heavyweight champion, is looked upon with pride by O'Shay Edwards

But as much as it’s what you saw, there were moments that you didn’t.

I had a chance to pull Alex away from everyone and just speak to him man to man. Explaining how we both came from Georgia Wrestling in a time where guys like us weren’t really going to get a ‘fair shake.’ Because in wrestling, well, people like who they like, and because we didn’t look like those people, we were going to have to work two and sometimes three times as hard to get where we are. But when we get there, they’ll never be able to take it from us.

Alex Kane applies a waistlock to Alexander Hammerstone, who attempts a rope break

I told him I was proud of him, I told him that I love him, I told him I was OVER THE MOOON happy for him, and I never been more ecstatic to call him my friend.

Long Live Alex Kane. Long Live the MLW World heavyweight champion.

Alex Kane celebrates, 2300 Arena, MLW July 2023
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SUMMERSLAM 2023: IN REVIEW

With numerous major championships on the line and scores to settle (The Bloodline, Seth Rollins & Finn Balor, and more), SummerSlam 2023 was sure to be an eventful return to Detroit, Michigan for WWE.

TEXT BY JASON McVEIGH / PHOTOS BY JERRY VILLAGRANA

At SummerSlam 2023, Jey Uso is attacked by Solo Sikoa while attempting to lay out Roman Reigns in the stands.

THE LAST TIME WWE held a SummerSlam in the greater Detroit, Michigan, area was 1993, when Lex Luger rolled into town hoping to thwart the seemingly unstoppable World Wrestling Federation champion, Yokozuna. Luger had spent the summer trekking across the United States in a tour bus nicknamed “The Lex Express” in an attempt to drum up support for his championship collision against the supposed sumo superstar. The road to that year’s SummerSlam main event had started onboard the decommissioned warship, the USS Intrepid, where, on July 4, Luger had shocked the world by doing the seemingly unthinkable: bodyslamming the mammoth Yokozuna.

The main event of the 2023 iteration of SummerSlam came about thanks to a similarly shocking July scene—that of Jey Uso pinning the seemingly unpinnable WWE Undisputed champion, Roman Reigns, in a tag team match at Money in the Bank. With the main event of Reigns vs. Uso set for SummerSlam, fans packed Ford Field in Detroit to see if “Main Event Jey” could succeed where Luger had failed, by taking the title from a dominant champ.

Ricochet drops Logan Paul from the top rope with a swinging neckbreaker

Of course, that would be the night’s main event. SummerSlam 2023 opened with a fast-paced contest between veteran high-flyer, Ricochet, and social media maven-turned-WWE wrestler, Logan Paul. Given the natural athleticism of both competitors, it was no surprise that this contest quickly escalated into a dangerous game of high-risk one-upmanship.

After a series from Paul that included a flapjack and a frog splash for a near-fall—and Ricochet gaining the upper hand again, only to miss his patented 630 senton—a mysterious, hooded figure at ringside slipped Paul a set of brass knuckles with which to clobber Ricochet. To the chagrin of ring announcer (and Ricochet’s fiancee) Samantha Irvin, it was Paul who was announced victorious.

Brock Lesnar raises the hand of Cody Rhodes after their match at SummerSlam 2023

Next, the trilogy of matches between Cody Rhodes and Brock Lesnar offered up its final chapter, with Rhodes picking up the hard-fought win in the rubber match between the pair. In a rare post-match show of respect, Lesnar proved that “The Beast” might not be all bad, as he shook the hand of “The American Nightmare.” Though Lesnar’s gesture was a nice one, Rhodes had to earn it by surviving a barrage of suplexes, F5s, and Kimura Locks along the way.

Professional wrestling and Slim Jims go together like Randy Savage and, well, Slim Jims. These days, it appears that LA Knight is the new wrestling face of the brand—thanks to winning the meat sticks’ namesake battle royal at SummerSlam.

LA Knight competes in the Slim Jim battle royal at SummerSlam

Knight outlasted a field that included the Miz, Omos, Austin Theory, Santos Escobar, and others in order to have his hand raised at the end. The crowd in Detroit exploded with joy after seeing the increasingly popular Knight get the win.

Ronda Rousey had what, for now at least, seems to be her last hurrah in WWE. This was an MMA Rules match against former partner, Shayna Baszler. The hard-hitting affair between the two mixed martial arts veterans produced plenty of bruises. And, for Rousey, it offered an unsatisfactory ending to her WWE run, as she passed out while in Baszler’s Kirifuda Clutch submission hold. Still, for former NXT Women’s champ Baszler, this win should serve as a potential springboard to bigger things on the main roster.

Shayna Baszler takes Ronda Rousey down with the Kirifuda Clutch

The lengthy Intercontinental championship reign of Gunther continued next, as the Austrian brawler disposed of Drew McIntyre. Although McIntyre undoubtedly tested his opponent in the early going of the match—thanks to his arguable strength advantage—the Imperium general kept himself going. And, in the end, Gunther put the Scotsman away with a powerbomb. Gunther now stands on the edge of making history, as his title reign approaches that of the historic 454-day run of The Honky Tonk Man.

Both Seth Rollins and Finn Balor came Into their WWE World heavyweight championship bout with differing motivations. For incumbent champ, Rollins, it was about beating Balor for a second time on consecutive pay-per-view events and solidifying his status as champion. For Balor, it was about exorcising the demons (pardon the expression) of seven years earlier, when an injury sustained in a Universal championship tussle with Rollins ended Balor’s reign before it could properly start.

Finn Balor has Seth Rollins on the ropes, literally speaking

Despite how talented Balor is as a wrestler, he has continually leaned on his Judgment Day colleagues’ interference as of late. But, on this occasion, it proved to be his undoing. After Damian Priest slipped his Money in the Bank briefcase into the ring, seemingly so Balor could use it against Rollins, some miscommunication saw the plan backfire. In the end, Balor’s face collided with steel, as he was curb-stomped into the briefcase by Rollins (who picked up the win and remained champion).

Charlotte Flair with mist in her eyes

A choice triple-threat match for the WWE Women’s championship saw Asuka, Charlotte Flair, and Bianca Belair do battle for the belt … only for none of them to leave Detroit with the gold. After twenty minutes of action, Flair locked Belair in the “Figure-Eight” leglock to try and force a submission. Before that could happen, Asuka sprayed mist into the eyes of Flair.

Hoping this would be her opening to retain her title, Asuka tried to go for a pin on Belair, but found herself quickly rolled up by “The EST” for the three-count.

Any celebratory plans Belair may have had were quickly out on ice, as Iyo Sky marched to ringside and cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase for the title shot and, eight seconds later, the victory. While it’s another SummerSlam heartbreak for Belair, anyone who has followed Sky’s career couldn’t help but be happy for her as she celebrated her success with Damage CTRL teammates Bayley and Dakota Kai.

Iyo Sky smacks Bianca Belair in the face with the Money in the Bank briefcase

And what of Jey Uso? Could one of the most decorated tag team wrestlers of all-time do what Lex Luger couldn’t do all those years previously? Could he dethrone the champion in the main event?

As it turned out, no.

Jey Uso leaps over Roman Reigns during their main-event match at SummerSlam

Uso put up a tremendous fight and even stood up to the interference of Bloodline enforcer Solo Sikoa. Yet, what Jey couldn’t have planned for was the interference of another one of his brothers … his twin brother, Jimmy.

Just as it appeared that Jey had Reigns put away thanks to a spear and Uso Splash combination, a masked man pulled him from the ring before the referee could count to three. In a shocking turn of events, the masked man revealed himself to be Jimmy Uso, who proceeded to lay his twin out with a superkick and help Roman Reigns to victory.

Maybe if Jey had procured his own tour bus, things would have been different.

BELOW, FIND OUR GALLERY OF ADDITIONAL SUMMERSLAM 2023 PHOTOS (ALL SHOT FOR PWI BY JERRY VILLAGRANA)

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Sareee-ISM Chapter 2: A Pro Wrestling Dream Team

Saree sits on the ring apron and smiles at the camera

From on the ground in Japan, here’s a special preview of the second produce show promoted by Sareee, complete with words from the joshi superstar herself.

TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ISSA MARIE
[except for official show graphics]


Following the success of Sareee-ISM Chapter 1, a complete sellout with a high streaming rate, Sareee is ready to do it again. This time, at Sareee-ISM Chapter 2, she is giving fans the best of the Western and Japanese styles by forming a pro wrestling dream team with the former IWGP Women’s Champion, KAIRI. 

While in Japan, I had the opportunity to speak with Sareee about Sareee-ISM Chapter I and choosing KAIRI as her partner for this latest round.  


“It had been a while since I last wrestled in Japan … wrestled Chihiro Hashimoto,” Sareee reflects. “Unfortunately, I was not victorious in my triumphant return match, but not being able to win fueled me.  I have now made it my personal goal to defeat Hashimoto in our next encounter.”

Sareee is speaking of the main event of her first produce show. Aside from the headline match not ending in her favor, the card was a resounding success on all counts. “That night, I was able to use all of the knowledge I gained here in Japan and overseas,” she tells me. “And I am very happy with the results and success of Sareee-ISM Chapter I.” 

Loss aside, the overall experience of the first Sareee-ISM show was all the encouragement she needed to want to do it again. But why only a four-match card?

“I believe that in pro wrestling, quality outweighs the quantity of the matches ,” said Sareee. “Fans pay to watch the best pro wrestling.”  And ain’t that the truth!

A higher number of matches doesn’t necessarily translate to selling more tickets. However, I would say that teaming with KAIRI will certainly help. Smiling, Sareee explained that “for the second show, I wanted to show the fans the best of both worlds [Western and Japanese styles of pro wrestling] and I can only do that with KAIRI; we are the only ones that can do it!”  While their respective experiences were very different, both Sareee and KAIRI worked tirelessly to incorporate their deep-rooted joshi training into their sports entertainment wrestling while under the WWE umbrella.

Headlined by the tag team match featuring Sareee and KAIRI, Sareee-ISM Chapter 2 will stream live worldwide via sareeelive.com: Friday August 4, 2023, 7:00 p.m. JST/6:00 a.m. EST/3:00 a.m. PST. 


The match card is one you will not want to miss:

Opening Match
Chi Chi vs Ibuki Hoshi

Second Match
Kaoru Ito & Kohaku vs Jaguar Yokota & Kizuna

Semi-Main Event
Miyuki Takase vs Mio Momono 

Main Event
Sareee & Kairi vs Arisa Nakajima & Takumi Iroha

I didn’t need much convincing to watch this show But, if you’re still unsure, Sareee has a message for you:

“I hope that all fans around the world stream this second chapter, where the beauty of Strong Style is showcased by the wrestlers that came before me, and the future of Joshi. This match card is a dream come true, from America to Japan, WWE/NXT to Sareee-ISM, KAIRI and I want to show you the best of pro wrestling of both worlds.  Thank you for your continued support! I look forward to the day we can meet again!”

And stay tuned for Part II of this interview, where Sareee and I talk about her typical day … and I share what it was like to watch her train with her mentor, Kauro Ito!