Unagi Sayaka announced she was leaving STARDOM in October 2022 and entered her “Gyan” freelance period. It has been in this run that she wrestled for multiple independents in Japan including Marvelous, Diana, and Sendai Girls!
Recently, Sayaka announced that her Gyan period would extend outside of Japan when the California-based independent promotion West Coast Pro announced that she would be a participant in their Queen of the Indies tournament in San Francisco on May 13.
I had the pleasure of interviewing her alongside Dark Puroresu Flowsion to promote the show and her upcoming travels to the United States.
Here’s what Unagi Sayaka had to say!
You’ve been officially announced for West Coast Pro’s Queen of Indies tournament. How are you feeling about the big announcement?
I’m happy I can wrestle in America!
To the world: are you ready to have your hearts stolen by Unagi Sayaka?
Are there any specific independent wrestlers you’re looking forward to facing on the scene?
I’m still investigating that.
Are you interested in tagging with your new friend Queen Aminata in the United States?
It could be fun to tag with Queen Aminata, but right now, I’m more inclined to wrestle her.
What non-wrestling things are you looking forward to experiencing in the US?
I want to eat lots of chocolate chip cookies. And I want to go to a M&Ms [store] and have fun there! I also want to go shopping, and meet lots of other wrestlers.
Who are your favorite wrestlers of all time?
Unagi Sayaka!!!!!!!! And I plan to have everyone say that.
Who else from Japan do you still want to assess?
Chigusa Nagayo.
Your gear is incredibly popular, and a staple of Unagi Sayaka. Is there significance or meaning to the tiger on the jacket?
Tigers are cool, so I think it looks like a tokkôfuku [long coat worn by gang members and bikers and such].
You sometimes enter brandishing a sword. How did you get into swordplay?
I have an interest in kendô. And also in the tea ceremony!
What is your favorite thing about working in the independent scene in Japan?
I love pro wrestling. I want to have lots more people know about wrestling. Because it’s the absolute best.
And lastly, would you ever be interested in joining another faction, or is it “Cosmic Angels for life”?!
Right now I’d never think about joining another faction. Instead, I’d like to make [other] wrestlers want to join me in Team Unagi Sayaka.
Special thanks to:
- @DarkPuroFlowsion for helping me get in contact with Unagi Sayaka.
- @thefeelite for translating my questions.,
- @ScottEWrestling for giving me the opportunity to have my first interview.
It was an honor to talk with Unagi Sayaka and I thank her for taking the time out of her busy schedule to take part in this interview.
You can catch West Coast Pro’s Queen of the Indies streaming on IWTV on May 13, 2023, or buy tickets on their website.
Gyan!
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