Hold onto your hats and expect 2024 to be the year of the Venus! STARDOM’s Mina Shirakawa electrifies & entertains every audience she performs in front of. After a remarkable 2023 that included a run with the Wonder of STARDOM Championship and leading her own international faction, Shirakawa has made it known that this year she plans to take the entire wrestling world by storm.
On the night of AEW’s Big Business, Shirakawa made a surprise appearance at Ring of Honor tapings to face Anna Jay. Coincidentally she was joined by new STARDOM President, Taro Okada as a new AEW/STARDOM working relationship seemingly became official.
One-third of the current Artist of STARDOM Champions, Mina Shirakawa has a busy next two weeks lined up in America with confirmed appearances at STARDOM American Dream & ROH Supercard of Honor on April 5, Spark Joshi Puro Trailblaze on April 7, and NJPW Windy City Riot on April 12 so far.
I caught up with Mina to chat about her upcoming bookings in America, recent leadership changes in STARDOM, forming Empress Nexus Venus with World of STARDOM champion Maika, and more. Here’s the recap:
Q: You recently made your Ring of Honor debut in Boston facing AEW’s Anna Jay. What was that experience like for you? You seemed to take a liking to Anna Jay. Do you see a potential future where we could see Anna Jay in STARDOM and maybe even EXV?
A: It was a great experience! The moment my entrance music came on and I appeared, the crowd went wild. I heard the [audience yelling] ooo!
It was the best moment. I felt that my name had reached the world. The audience was also excited over my various signature leg attack moves. I was happy to feel that I had not made a mistake in my wrestling.
Anna Jay was tall, glamorous, and beautiful. I tried my best to make myself look big, so I wouldn’t be overpowered by her in the ring. I’m glad I won. It’s also very interesting that her special move is the sleeper hold. It looks like we could do some classical wrestling. EXV is an international unit, and honestly, I wish Anna Jay could join us!
Q: Currently, you’ve been announced for a U.S tour that includes STARDOM American Dream on April 4, Spark Joshi Puro Trailblaze on April 7, and NJPW Windy City Riot on April 12. With the recent partnership between STARDOM and AEW/ROH becoming official, are there any women on the AEW/ROH roster that you’d like to face while you’re in the United States? Would a Rose Gold reunion with your former tag team partner, Mariah May be something you’re interested in?
A: I would love to wrestle Mercedes Moné. We have known each other for 5 years and – believe it or not – we go out to eat and hang out. But… I have never wrestled her. It didn’t happen in a STARDOM ring. So, it’s my dream to wrestle her.
I also want to wrestle SARAYA, Athena, and [Willow] Nightingale! And I’d love to tag team with Mariah again because we were tag team champions together in Japan. I love Mariah… So, I think I need to wrestle Toni Storm, [to learn who] loves Mariah more.
Q: Recently there have been a lot of management and roster changes in STARDOM amidst the exits of Rossy Ogawa and top stars like Utami Hayashishita & Giulia. As the company enters a new era, what are your goals in STARDOM as a leader & as a performer?
A: My goal is to become IWGP Women’s Champion. The name of “IWGP” is very world famous. I want to be a bridge between Japanese rings and international rings. That is why I need this belt. EXV becomes the central unit of STARDOM! We are the best.
Q: At the end of 2023, you and World of STARDOM champion Maika came together to form the superpower faction Empress Nexus Venus (EXV). Going from Club Venus to EXV, what has the transition been like and what do you enjoy most about leading with Maika?
A: By last summer, I had heard many rumors. So I knew that a major change would take place in STARDOM. I really didn’t want to finish Club Venus, but I also had to make a big decision.
DDM was gone, and Maika was alone. I was very lonely then too – it was difficult to obtain more visas for our foreign members of Club Venus,…When I thought about what I should do in the coming turbulent times at STARDOM, I decided that the best thing to do was to start a new unit with Maika from zero.
Q: On social media, you’ve been regularly posting the hashtag #WeWantMina which seems to be a nod towards the international world tour you’ve been embarking on in 2024 and winning the hearts of fans everywhere you go. From Japan to the United States to Thailand to beyond, what type of impact are you looking to make on wrestling worldwide this year?
A: For me, Japanese and overseas fans are equally important. I want my overseas fans to enjoy my social media, so I try to post in English. This year, I would like to visit various states in the United States. It’s also my goal to do microphone performance in the US squared circle.
Q: Years ago, you appeared at a NJPW press conference as a valet for Yujiro Takahashi and fast forward to February 2024, you competed for the IWGP Womens Championship on the main card of NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo. What has the journey been like for you to become one of the best women’s wrestlers in the world today despite being underestimated for so long?
A: Amazing! You know it well! Before becoming a pro-wrestler, I was a gravure idol (like a bikini model). I was a big fan of pro-wrestling, so I was happy to have a job where I could help promote the pro-wrestling world. That’s why I participated in the New Japan Pro-Wrestling press conference with Yujiro-san.
A few years later I became a pro-wrestler. At first, no one expected me to do well. I had no particular sports experience, and because of my background as a gravure idol, they made fun of me. I was very frustrated by my doubters, and told myself that I would definitely keep receipts, and use that to fuel my fire. I thought about wrestling more than anyone else and devoted all my time to it. Depending on your willpower, you can become anything, or change your future.
Q: During your time in STARDOM you have held the Future of STARDOM, Artist of STARDOM, Wonder of STARDOM, and Goddess of STARDOM Championships. Are there any championships inside and outside of STARDOM that you have your eye on this year?
A: I held the BBW women’s title in Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling (where I debuted as a pro wrestler). This year, my goal is to become more famous worldwide, and to become IWGP champion.
Follow Mina Shirakawa on social media at @MinaShirakawa.