Manuel Ish | MP
By: Alessandro, aka HypeTalk TV
When we last spoke with Mio Momono, she was fresh off her return from injury and staring down the Marigold rivalry. Less than a year later, the picture has changed considerably. Marvelous Pro Wrestling — the promotion founded by CRUSH GALS legend Chigusa Nagayo, carrying the lineage of All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and GAEA — is in the middle of its tenth anniversary celebrations, and 2026 also marks ten years since Mio’s own debut.
She made good on her promise to wrestle overseas more often. On April 16, during WrestleMania week in Las Vegas, Mio defeated Johnnie Robbie at West Coast Pro’s “West Coast vs. The World” to capture the West Coast Pro Women’s Championship, a title she now carries proudly alongside her Marvelous commitments.
For our second conversation — this time face-to-face — we got a different side of Mio: less about title histories and rivalries, more about what fuels the smallest, loudest engine in joshi wrestling. Conducted in a cheerful mix of English and Japanese, the conversation went exactly as you’d expect from someone whose motto is “No Wrestling, No Life.”
Monthly Puroresu: Please introduce yourself!
Mio: Yes! I’m from Marvelous Pro Wrestling. I’m Mio Momono! This is our second time. Long time no see!
Monthly Puroresu: Why are you so colorful?
Mio: Because I’m overflowing with energy! Inside, fine. Outside, even finer!
Monthly Puroresu: Where does that energy come from?
Mio: The source of my energy? Definitely wrestling. I love wrestling! It’s my number one. I’m doing what I love, so I think that’s why I’m so energetic. No Wrestling, No Life.
Monthly Puroresu: That’s a great mindset. Are there T-shirts for that?
Mio: Probably for the next merchandise line. “No Wrestling, No Life.”
Monthly Puroresu: What is your charm point?
Mio: My smile! And being small. Even though I’m not tall, being small is my charm point.
Monthly Puroresu: Like Rey Mysterio — you might not look like a wrestler, but you’re a real pro!
Mio: Yes, exactly. Seriously, it’s true.
Monthly Puroresu: Since you’re on the smaller side, what is the toughest thing in the ring?
Mio: After all, I lose when it comes to power. Big, powerful wrestlers are strong. I’m not powerful, so I take many attacks, many bumps. It’s a bit tough, but… wait, what was the question again? (laughs)
Monthly Puroresu: Even though you’re small, you look so big in the ring. Why is that?
Mio: I don’t even know myself! The fans say I look big. Maybe because my attitude is big? Big emotions. Big attitude!
Monthly Puroresu: What is your favorite word in English?
Mio: Happy, Lucky, Smile, Love, Peace! Dream! Repeat after me: Happy! Lucky! Smile! Love! Peace! Thank you to all of us.
Monthly Puroresu: When are you weak? What makes you weak?
Mio: For me… many surgeries, injuries. Knee and elbow. When injuries stop my wrestling — heartbreak. I’ve been injured five times: my legs twice, my elbow twice, and my back once.
Monthly Puroresu: Which one was the most painful?
Mio: My back. But right now — best condition! Energetic! Best!
Monthly Puroresu: What’s your daily motivation?
Mio: At Marvelous, we have a lot of juniors coming in. Since there are so many comrades around, I feel like I need to work hard too! Keep fighting!
Monthly Puroresu: You look young, but you’re a senior now.
Mio: Yes. At Marvelous, there’s Takumi, then next is me. Many are coming up. But it’s passion, isn’t it? Real passion. FIRE!
Monthly Puroresu: Do you have a funny story from pro wrestling? Inside or outside the ring.
Mio: A funny story… none! I completely forgot. Many hits and injuries, and now I forget. (laughs)
Monthly Puroresu: A true pro wrestler. Incredible!
Mio: Many hard hits and headbutts!
Monthly Puroresu: What is your biggest insecurity?
Mio: If I don’t practice a lot every day, I’m scared. That feeling of fear doesn’t go away. For me it’s speed, stamina — running every day. If I don’t run, I get scared. Some wrestlers who have done a lot in their careers are okay just performing at the show without practicing. But for me, it’s training, training, and training — then the show. If not, no show.
Monthly Puroresu: What’s the hardest thing about you that people don’t see?
Mio: It’s not just the training. For big shows at major venues, a lot of people go out to do promotion. It’s very tough doing promotion and training day after day. But I love it. When I meet people for the first time, I like it, but I get nervous too.
Monthly Puroresu: Do you like funny movies?
Mio: “Remember Me” (Coco)! But more than Minions, right now I like the Powerpuff Girls. I’m into them. I look like a Powerpuff Girl — because of the hair color, and it’s pink!
Monthly Puroresu: Which Powerpuff Girl do you like?
Mio: Bubbles. We have the same hair color!
Monthly Puroresu: Do you have a secret to being energetic?
Mio: Eating a lot. Sleeping a lot. The crowds — like, “Wow!” It’s refreshing. And I have three dogs. I see them all the time — kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss. They give me energy!
Monthly Puroresu: Do you like animals?
Mio: I love animals. Any, every… but reptiles, no. Snakes are scary. I hate them!
Monthly Puroresu: What are you afraid of?
Mio: Ghosts. Monsters. I hate scary movies. Horror? No way, no way, no way Jose. There are a lot of American horror movies, right? Very, very scary.
Monthly Puroresu: What was your biggest impression of America?
Mio: The toilets are big! Huge. Me, small. The space underneath the toilet is so open. It’s incredible — I was really shocked.
Monthly Puroresu: Last question. What makes you happy?
Mio: Pro wrestling, of course. When I’m wrestling and I hear the cheers of so many fans and supporters — in the ring, at the show — “Mio! Mio! Mio!” That makes me very happy. A lot of cheers, loud roaring… I’m glad. Next time, you say it too: “Let’s go, Mio!”
Monthly Puroresu: Do you have a brief message for your overseas fans?
Mio: Right now, I am the West Coast Champion. So I will be going to America many, many, many times! And my dream is to go to Mexico — Lucha Libre. I want to experience Lucha Libre, the atmosphere, the vibes. My dream is, someday, one day, to go to your city!
Date:
June 12, 2026
