Introduction by J. Curbelo
While her peers were raving over music idols and seasonal anime series, Sareee spent her free time from school collecting pro-wrestling trading cards and autographs. Never one to follow the norms, “The Sun Goddess” grew up as a passionate fan who spent every weekend going to shows with her dad – a fan of Antonio Inoki himself – despite puroresu being well into its unpopular dark age. In fact, that didn’t stop Sareee from deciding that becoming a wrestler was her destiny.
Her radical beliefs that professional wrestling is all about the fight beyond the pageantry and spectacle led her to train under joshi puroresu’s most prolific legends, such as Jaguar Yokota and Kaoru Ito, and become one of the most emblematic young wrestlers in World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana, and much of the independent scene. Her resume includes successful battles against the likes of Meiko Satomura, Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue. In addition, she has been highly praised and encouraged by male legends of puroresu in “Tiger Mask” Satoru Sayama, Masahiro Chono, Tatsumi Fujinami and the late Antonio Inoki.
Sareee always walked the less-taken-road by rejecting the idol aspect of joshi, and it paid off in 2019 when she earned Weekly Pro Wrestling (ShuPro) Magazine’s female MVP of the year, over the more known and glamorous STARDOM roster. Now, after a brief stint with the WWE, she’s back in Japan to rekindle her mission of preserving strong style in joshi as its “last bastion”. Inviting several like-minded wrestlers, The Sun Goddess launched a series of events called “Sareee-ISM”, to celebrate the pro-wrestling she always knew and loved. Her first match back was against none other than old rival Chihiro Hashimoto, in a losing effort.
Photo c/o twitter.com/_MasahiroKubota
Monthly Puroresu: I want to thank you once again for your time. For this interview, we want to cover four major things. As for the first point, you told Tokyo Sports that you hoped to win in the main event of WrestleMania and take WWE to Japan before you officially signed on with the company in 2021. However, fate was not on your side, thus your objectives have since shifted, correct?
Sareee: Yes, I did.
Monthly Puroresu: However, what do you think is the main distinction between you from two years ago and you from the year 2023?
Sareee: I was scouted by the WWE about three years ago, and I chose to join them because it was a mutual feeling. I received an invitation to join one of the top organizations in the world, my wrestling talent was acknowledged, and my desire to compete in the main events of occasions like WrestleMania grew.
Monthly Puroresu: So you just made the decision to leave right?
Sareee: Yes, and I’m really happy I went. I gained a lot of knowledge, I suppose. I did learn a lot while I was in the United States. I wasn’t able to bring my entire wrestling repertoire to the WWE, but I have absolutely no regrets about going. It wasn’t at all a failure.
Monthly Puroresu: How much could you truly do, even if you said you weren’t sure?
Sareee: Since it is a large organization, there are many diverse characters, and a lot of things change whenever the top management changes. I traveled to the U.S. and other countries since I was unable to give my fight my all. As a result, the number of new admirers who came to support me has significantly increased. I wanted to demonstrate my strength to the fullest extent possible.
Monthly Puroresu: Do you think you will be able to show them that this Tuesday (May 16th at Sareee-ISM)?
Sareee: Yes, I think so. This is a start, though. I want to take advantage of this to provide fans across the world the chance to watch me fight live, not just in Japan but also abroad.
Monthly Puroresu: You stated that you also wanted to promote this internationally. Although I might be speaking about myself when I say that people over there (in the U.S.) believe you are a strong style wrestler, you still believe that the idol element of women’s wrestling in Japan right now is exceeding the in-ring action too much.
Photo c/o twitter.com/_MasahiroKubota
Sareee: What else can I say other the fact that it is obviously perfectly okay to have attractive women like idols? I’m not saying attractiveness and beauty are bad qualities. I’ve had many interviews, and I believe that if you left that section of the story out, it would sound that way. Being attractive and cute is crucial, of course, because I am a woman, but if that’s all there is to them, they’re just idols. You also need to throw your soul into the battle on top of that. I believe the audience will sense your heart and soul if you put them into your battles…
Now that I’m back in Japan, how can I say it? Women’s wrestling, in my opinion, is turning into an idol-esque insdustry. To that, I’d want to add that idols cannot engage in the activities that constitute fighting. I want it to be understood that fighting, including wrestling, requires strength to perform.
Monthly Puroresu: I understand that.
Sareee: Yes, interest in women’s wrestling is growing. I think that’s fantastic, and I also think it’s fantastic how women’s wrestling has developed during my absence. I’m appreciative of that, but if we can give it more grit and fight, I believe women’s wrestling can grow much more.
Monthly Puroresu: Do you wish to increase its current size?
Sareee: I want to do that, yes.
Monthly Puroresu: It makes sense why you’ve been so appealing to legends such as Antonio Inoki.
Sareee: I was taught by Antonio Inoki, as well as members of All Japan Women’s Wrestling, and numerous other female professional wrestlers. As a result, I embody the AJW mentality. I don’t want to take away the things that those before me have made for me.
Photo c/o twitter.com/_MasahiroKubota
Monthly Puroresu: You just said the past shouldn’t be deleted; do you believe they’re doing that?
Sareee: True, I do. I’m just a little unsettled. It sometimes seems to be vanishing to me. I want to hold onto it.
Monthly Puroresu: You respect your seniors, and you enjoy wrestling yourself.
Sareee: Definitely, yes.
Monthly Puroresu: There is a little more to this question. It is believed that you are attempting to alter the perception of women’s professional wrestling in Japan. I simply wanted to know what sort of challenge you’re looking to accept. Is this where it all begins? Do you intend to one day establish your own business to present the wrestling you desire to present?
Sareee: Do you mean a company? I haven’t given it any thought yet. However, I have a strong interest in wrestling training. Yeah. I want to cultivate more combat-ready, physically fit, and strong female professional wrestlers.
Monthly Puroresu: Do you want to have successors?
Sareee: Exactly. I’ve personally considered the idea of training such wrestlers.
Monthly Puroresu: You have declared your interest in the IWGP Women’s Championship, held by Mayu Iwatani. There are a couple intriguing aspects to this. After all, you two have dealt with each other before, and you believe that you deserve the belt more than anyone else due to your connection to Antonio Inoki. What are your own thoughts on the belt in that regard?
Sareee: Since Mr. Inoki invented the initial IWGP belt, I’m curious about it. After having returned to Japan, it’s one of the belts I want to pursue.
Monthly Puroresu: Would you challenge immediately, if given the chance?
Sareee: Without a doubt, I want to roll it up. But to find out if that happens I’ll have to wait.
I will show the world the pro wrestling I have always believed in and love.
Sareee-ISM May 16th Chapter 1
I really appreciate the support from my fans from around the world.
I want my fans to watch it so it will be available worldwide live
Will have more information ready… pic.twitter.com/TmEA5wz7Wr— Sareee (@Sareee_official) April 25, 2023
Monthly Puroresu: The latest promotional video for Sareee-ISM happens to feature you dominating Mayu Iwatani in a tag team match from 2019. If you take the belt, you intend to you want to modify the sport and emphasize your own brand of wrestling.
Sareee: That’s right. I do. Strong style wrestling is fantastic, and also, how could I put it? I spent two years overseas. I believe that by wearing the IWGP belt, I can communicate that style more effectively.
Monthly Puroresu: For Saree-ISM, you’re up against Chihiro Hashimoto, a martial artist with abilities comparable to those of Sareee. After the event is in the history books, is there a chance that you will support her team with your own powerful brand of women’s wrestling, or will you remain rivals? Will the two of you ever work together in the future in any capacity?
Sareee: Even before we arrived in the US, I believe Chihiro Hashimoto and I were at the top of each other’s organizations’ belts. We have engaged in numerous title battles and have given our all to win them, therefore I believe we are in agreement or are focusing on the same area. We can both be fair and honest with each other on the day of the bout, have a fantastic contest, and then have a discussion in the ring because I think we both agree that wrestling is a war and that you can only succeed at it if you are strong. Although it is not the result of our efforts, I believe we will be able to affirm each other in this, our first singles match in three and a half years.
Photo c/o twitter.com/_MasahiroKubota
Monthly Puroresu: You have wrestled each other many times before.
Sareee: Her and I have fought perhaps six times in several events. I believe we’ve competed in three or four singles matches. It’s been a long time since we’ve fought, and I believe that in the past three and a half years, we’ve both matured.
Monthly Puroresu: I wonder if Hashimoto is looking forward to it as well. Fans are eager to see how the two have changed after such a long period. In your opinion, what sort of wrestler is Chihiro Hashimoto?
Sareee: She is, in my opinion, Japan’s strongest female professional wrestler.
Monthly Puroresu: In light of this, she strikes me as a really strong individual, and I can tell that you are striving for a strong style in the manner in which you are nominating her.
Sareee: I sincerely appreciate it. Yes, that makes me extremely happy.
Photo c/o twitter.com/_MasahiroKubota
Date:
May 19, 2023
