By: Thom Fain
After the shocking news dropped by NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion Giulia that Donna del Mondo (the Women of the World) would cease to exist as a faction, Monthly Puroresu caught up with the Thekla to gather her thoughts and better help fans understand what’s in her mind going into the upcoming hiatus from wrestling and excursion abroad.
Thekla at TDC Hall on January 4, 2024
Thekla:
Yeah. So I guess Donna del Mondo is over now. I guess it’s coming as a shock to a lot of people. But for me, I kind of saw it coming, especially when Giulia left with Suzu Suzuki after Sumo Hall. That’s what I was kind of already getting myself ready for. ‘Okay. There’be something coming’ So, yeah. I’m just gonna take it easy now. I’m going away for a while.
Monthly Puroresu:
What are you going to do while you’re away?
Thekla:
First of all, I haven’t been taking time off for a long time. So I just want to let my body heal. That’s the number one thing. Number two thing is I’m probably going to do stuff outside of wrestling, like my artistic pursuits.
I’m gonna start painting again and doing that sort of stuff, which is a great way to kind of refresh. And that part really inspires my wrestling too.
Monthly Puroresu:
I know exactly what you you’re talking about.
Thekla:
Yeah. So I’m gonna do that for a little while. Music hopefully. Yeah. I’ve been talking to a lot of people and sometimes rehearsing with bands, so that’s ultimate thing, really – to get a little bit in the right mind space for everything.
Monthly Puroresu:
You’ll be back though. You said you’ll be back.
Thekla:
I’ll definitely be back. I’m not done yet.
Monthly Puroresu:
Then you’ll challenge for the STRONG Women’s Title.
Thekla:
I’ve been eyeing that for a long time. Really.
Monthly Puroresu:
Which would take you to the states. Are you ready for that?
Thekla:
Yeah, I’m absolutely ready for that. I’ve been dying to go over there. I’ve been in Japan for a long time now – four years. So this year it’s really time to get outta here too, and travel a little bit. because that was initially why I also started wrestling, kind of, because I wanted to get around,
Monthly Puroresu:
Open up to different cultures to help feed your artistic pursuits.
"Self Portrait", 2023#自画像 #GimmeDanger #テクラ pic.twitter.com/M5Dl5CtnNT
— Thekla テクラ (@toxic_thekla) July 1, 2023
Thekla:
Exactly. Like experience, right. And also show my skills. The startup style, joshi style. Show it to as many different cultures, many people, as many as many countries as possible. When we went to Singapore, that was amazing. That was real.
Monthly Puroresu:
The Southeast Asian expansion seems really smart. Really smart for the business people, yeah, but just as a talent, like “Oh, that’s a cool bonus.”
Thekla:
No, absolutely. Yeah. Just seeing the other people go to Thailand or the States. I’ve never been to the USA. Right. So that’s really, I think, that’s supposed to happen this year, that kind of stuff. So I’m getting ready for that.
Monthly Puroresu:
Any plans to go home [to Austria] at all?
Thekla:
If I can fit it in, a hundred percent. This year, I should. I’ve been working very, very, very hard up until now.
Monthly Puroresu:
We know. We’ve been watching you since Ice Ribbon.
Thekla:
Imagine that [laughs]. I came a long way.
Monthly Puroresu:
You have, yeah. It’s very impressive.
Thekla:
Thank you so much.
Monthly Puroresu:
And you told us in that first interview, I want to be the female Kenny Omega.
Thekla:
Yeah. That has been put in my mouth a lot. But I do get [the comparison]. He had an amazing run in Japan.
Monthly Puroresu:
Just from the perspective of his connection with the Japanese audience for a foreign talent was exactly, really special.
Thekla:
And I do get that every now and then. Of course, everybody’s really strong here and there’s so much talent out here. So it’s not always easy to showcase what I have to.
Monthly Puroresu:
There’s so many strong talents here in STARDOM, would you say it’s fair that you’re trying to branch out and see who’s strong and how Thekla stacks up in other regions?
Thekla:
You’re right, there are many strong talents, and sometimes it’s hard [to think of what’s outside STARDOM]. It’s so, it’s so busy here. But in a way, it’s hard to showcase everything I have to offer. I think that’s another reason why I want to want to get out of Japan for a little bit and travel around. That’s 100% my plan this year.
Monthly Puroresu:
To see what other types of strong people are out there in terms of wrestling?
Thekla:
Well, that too. I’m really interested, and have always been interested in seeing all the different types of wrestling. So, I would love to go see – how do lucha wrestlers do it? I’ve never been to the States [as a performer]. North America, so it’s so, it’s so different over there, right?
Monthly Puroresu:
You’re telling me.
Thekla:
And also, I want to explore wrestling in Europe. I mean, that’s where I come from, but I barely ever did anything there as a performer! The first time I really started doing stuff in the ring is in Japan – so really, I’m brought up like a joshi.
Monthly Puroresu: Awesome. Well, we look forward to your return and I’ll be here in Tokyo. Take time, heal up, enjoy your adventure and we’ll see you real soon.
Thekla: Thank you!
Date:
January 4, 2024
