STARDOM is approaching its biggest show of the year on December 29 as Stardom Dream Queendom 2022 is set to take place from Ryogoku Sumo Hall.
The show, which was started in 2021, provided what would lead to a year of dominance from both World of Stardom Champion Syuri and Wonder of Stardom Champion Saya Kamitani. Both champions have reigned over STARDOM and aim to keep that going into the new year. While Kamitani will take on Diana's Haruka Umesaki in a surprising matchup, Syuri will take on her former ALK tag team partner Giulia.
The Donna del Mondo leader won the 2022 5STAR Grand Prix to earn herself a second opportunity at Syuri and the World of Stardom Championship this year as she chases the one title she has had her eyes on since joining STARDOM in 2019. It's been a long road for Giulia trying to get back to the top as her loss at All Star Dream Cinderella against Tam Nakano saw her not only lose the Wonder of Stardom Championship but her hair as well. Since the loss, she has suffered injuries, watched friends leave her side, and had numerous battles that took her to the limit.
With the match against Syuri set to main event Stardom Dream Queendom, Giulia has her chance to finally reign over STARDOM as its world champion.
Prior to the match, Fightful's Scott Edwards had a chance to interview Giulia about a number of topics including her match at Stardom Dream Queendom, her rivalry with Tam Nakano, her return match at last year's Stardom Dream Queendom against Konami, and so much more.
Here's what Giulia had to say!
What inspired you to become a professional wrestler?
Originally my dream was to become a makeup specialist in Hollywood. I needed to earn tuition money to attend hair and makeup school to fulfill that dream. It was very expensive, so I got a job as a club hostess. A customer at that club took me to a pro wrestling show, and I fell in love with pro wrestling so much that I went to see it by myself.
One day, I went to watch a wrestling group, Ice Ribbon, and Tsukasa Fujimoto asked me, "Would you like to wrestle?" I was invited to join. I was interested, so I joined their practices. After graduating from hair and makeup school, I decided to make my pro wrestling debut.
What would you tell someone who wants to become a pro wrestler?
I didn't have any fighting experience. However, with the skills and training I learned at the pro wrestling dojo, I can beat people with a career in fighting. It's a dream job, isn't it? But don't make the mistake of thinking that it's a gentle profession that anyone can do with little practice. It requires hard training, strict hierarchical relationships (people are expected to show respect by their language and attitude towards people who have a longer career or are in a higher position), and self-production.
Some people get to the starting line of professional wrestling with a light heart. I have seen many people run away early on or become frustrated. There are many hard and painful things to go through even after you make your debut. But there is a sense of joy and accomplishment that can only be experienced by those who overcome them. Professional wrestling is truly a mysterious entertainment that is deep and difficult and has no right answer. That is why we give our all to make our mark in this life. You'll love pro wrestling even more.
At Stardom Dream Queendom, you’ll take on Syuri in the main event for the World of Stardom Championship. Of course, she’s someone you know personally and had a close bond with. How do you feel heading into the match against your former stablemate, tag team partner, and friend?
There has been and will probably never be another person who will surpass her for me. I believe she totally changed my life in wrestling. She is a precious person who is respected by all wrestlers regardless of career or age, and of course I am filled with respect for her.
2022, going separate ways with Syuri was a really big decision. However, I always felt that one day we would have to fight for everything. I have respect for her, but there are some things that are non-negotiable. There's no doubt that she is a special person, but it this a big wall that I must face to get to the top. I have to shatter that wall into pieces.
If you win the World of Stardom Championship, is there anyone you'd like to specifically defend it against?
There's Mayu Iwatani. She's the symbol of Stardom, and I've had several fights with her at big shows, but all of them were non-title fights. For me, coming from outside of Stardom, it's one of my goals to have a title match with the symbol of Stardom. A match with her is always different from what I imagined it would be. That's what makes it interesting. How will I respond to moves and techniques that are beyond my expectations? I am excited about the matchup. I want everyone overseas to look forward to it.
I also want to fight against Utami Hayashishita. Like Mayu Iwatani, she is a great fighter who debuted in Stardom. I have been fighting in Stardom for three years, but I have never had a singles match with Utami. I think one of the reasons is that when I was fighting as the White Belt champion, she was fighting as the Red Belt champion. It would be very thrilling and exciting if my first match with her could be a title match on a big show.
Lastly, if I were to give lip service, it would be Tsukasa Fujimoto, who lured me into the world of professional wrestling. She is currently on a leave of absence due to childbirth, but I hear she will be back soon. If the timing is right, I have a feeling that I would like her to challenge for my title. I have many feelings of gratitude and also resentment towards her...I would like to meet her in the ring.
The 5STAR Grand Prix is where you managed to climb back to the top of STARDOM. How difficult was the tournament to get through with so many matches? Especially after you, unfortunately, had to exit the tournament last year due to injury?
Last year's injury was really frustrating. Doctors told me that in the worst-case scenario, it could be fatal, and I had to consider whether or not to continue wrestling. But I came back. During my absence, I rewatched my matches many times and took a real look at myself. I believe that because of that injury, I was able to grow both mentally and physically and was able to conquer the grueling 5STAR. I had a small injury (a broken hand) during the tournament this year, but I was very comfortable and did not suffer any serious injuries.
On the final night of the 5STAR Grand Prix, you experience major parts of your career in one night. First the emotional match with Suzu Suzuki and then the classic final with Tam Nakano. Do you feel these two were the perfect opponents for you to push you to the next level on that night?
Yes, that's correct. That's right. Suzu is the only junior who has shared a life with me and she is very important to me (we roomed together in Ice Ribbon).
And Tam is a rival who eventually gave everything she had to beat Giulia. It meant a lot to me that I went up against these two in one day. But I believe that I can put on a classic great match with Suzu, and I also expect to have another blazing emotional match with Tam Nakano in the future.
Discussing Tam Nakano, your rivalry has been a major part of STARDOM over the past few years. You’ve battled to the point where you lost your hair over it. Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with her and how she’s pushed you and you’ve pushed her to be better?
She and I have opposite personalities to the point where our emotions run high just by looking at each other. Everything she does is the opposite of me. The way she produces herself, her stance in practice, the way she treats the members as a unit leader, the way she trains the younger members, everything really.
But because we were complete opposites, we were able to express our dislike of each other without hiding anything, and it was easy for those around us to recognize that we were rivals, which I think was the reason why my rivalry with her was such a big hit in Stardom.
If there is one thing that she and I have in common, it is that we are honest about our feelings. And if the fans enjoy the show, I don't mind if they think I'm a jerk. I think she is popular because she's a type that is rare among Japanese girls. Many Japanese women think it's more important to hide their true feelings and be liked by everyone than to be honest with themselves.
Natsupoi left Donna del Mondo in favor of Cosmic Angels. While we got to see and hear your reaction after, she turned her back on you, I was wondering what your feelings are about her now. Do you understand why she made her decision?
Natsupoi had the longest wrestling career out of everyone in DDM. Even so, she had an image attached to her as "the young adorable child" in DDM. Going to Kozuen may help her break free from being seen as that "adorable baby" type. Her self-produced idol appeal is also understandable, and I think she's a fit for the new unit. But I'm also concerned for her, because it may be difficult to maintain a strong presence in a unit full of members with similar appeal. Maybe it's none of my business. I wish Natsupoi the best.
What was your initial reaction to Suzu Suzuki showing up in STARDOM? How do you feel about her now?
You climbed over a big wall and came here to fight with me. "How dare you come here!" I thought. She really grabbed my attention and I slammed her against that wall. "You wanted to do this, didn't you?" I thought.
Now I think she's completely at home in Stardom. She is supported by the fans of Stardom while maintaining her position as an external enemy. I think she has great appeal!
Following All Star Dream Cinderella, you had to pretty much restart from rock bottom. What has it been like climbing back up to the top of STARDOM over the past year and a half?
I lost my hair and my belt, and I was at the bottom of my game. It had been a long time since I was given the microphone to close the main event of a big show. When you are mic'd up in a venue, you are very concerned about the echo of your own voice. When I experienced that feeling for the first time in a long time, I felt that I had returned to the top. At the same time, I also remembered the feeling of looking out over the audience as the main eventer, but since it was a large venue, I was concerned about empty seats. Regardless of the size of the venue, I want to fill the empty seats. I believe we can do it if the members of Stardom work together, as long as everyone remembers to work hard.
It was noticeable that your style has changed inside the ring. When you were Wonder of Stardom Champion, you were much more methodical and technical with your style. Now you have an incredibly physical and violent in-ring style. Was this a change you felt you need to be made or was it just something that happened naturally for you? Is there a wrestler you’ve studied to help you develop as a wrestler?
My wrestling style has always been violent. When I first came to Stardom, there was a part of me that was reserved and played a polite wrestling style. So, rather than feeling the need to change to a more violent style, I think it was more a matter of being able to express my true self.
I liked Tomohiro Ishii and Katsuyori Shibata since I became a fan, but I didn't use them as references for my growth. For me, this is what professional wrestling is all about, showing my style of pro wrestling, who I truly am.
Looking back at your Wonder of Stardom Championship reign, do you feel you accomplished all you wanted with the championship?
It is impossible to achieve all of your goals. Once you achieve a goal, you have to immediately set the next goal, or you will never be able to entertain people. When I was White Belt champion, I had the goal of making the White Belt shine brighter than the Red Belt. The importance of the belt is also an important factor. However, I believe that conveying the serious thoughts of the wrestlers involved in the matches will attract the interest of the audience more than the value of the belt. But the White Belt is a goal that I would like to challenge for again someday.
The match you had with Konami at Stardom Dream Queendom last year was incredibly special — not just for you both but fans worldwide. Does that match have a special place in your heart?
Hana Kimura was the first to create a place for Giulia, after I came to Stardom. Backstage there was Konami and Jungle Kyona. I received a very rough welcome from everyone in Tokyo Cyber Squad. There were times when I thought they were so annoying. But now I am grateful for all of it. Thank you, Konami.
Donna del Mondo dominated STARDOM for three years before major changes began to happen to the group earlier this year. What feelings were you experiencing as you saw the likes of Syuri, MIRAI, and Natsupoi move on?
In the first two years of DDM, we were often praised as a gathering of heroes like the Avengers. All the members were unit-leader-level. I think it was an all-star team like the Real Madrid of yesteryear and the Chicago Bulls. Those two years were miraculous, and I hope that they will remain in everyone's hearts. I think it's natural for each person to gradually come up with what direction they want to take. Back then, in order to prove that DDM was a miraculous super unit, each of the members had an obligation to produce their own results.
What match are you most proud of in your career?
10.01.2022. This is the 5STAR GP Final vs. Tam Nakano. Our techniques are being updated day by day. We were able to show the culmination of our efforts in this match. The Hana Kimura match and the haircut match are praised by many people, but when I look back at them now, I feel more embarrassed because of mistakes that I see. I think my best matches are still to come in the future.
KAIRI is now the IWGP Women’s Champion. Your eyes are currently on the World of Stardom Championship but are you hoping to pursue the new title in the future? And potentially a match against KAIRI as well?
If it looks like a belt I want to win from my point of view, I may challenge for it. I cannot say at this stage. What is the champion KAIRI trying to show us? Since the opponent for her first defense is Tam Nakano, I am looking forward to the match itself. I don't know yet whether I want that belt or not; I would like to fight KAIRI sometime soon. She has a great aura of having fought in the world's top brand. I think she has adjusted to Japanese wrestling again, and I respect her. But when she faces Giulia, can she have the same attitude that she had with Kamitani and the young guys? I would like to ask her. Her aura is great, but I don't intend to lose to her either.
What do you like to do when you’re not wrestling or training?
I like the sauna so much that I love to go there if I have a long break. Also, Mai Sakurai, a new member of DDM, told me how wonderful samgyeopsal is. It's grilled pork belly, a type of dish in Korean cuisine. Mai has a lot of particulars and is a strange person, and many of those particulars that do not fit Giulia at all, but samgyeopsal has captured Giulia's heart.
What are your goals moving forward outside of winning the World of Stardom Championship — whether it be in wrestling or outside?
As I announced in Osaka, I would like to start a company that supports female professional wrestlers when their careers are over. This has the potential to make the lives of those who have joined women's wrestling organizations in Japan more colorful, and is a great attempt to increase the number of people who want to join, and hopefully this turns into something that gives the fans more wrestlers to love. I hope that everyone overseas will support this project. This is a project of mine that has not started at all yet, but if this does happen in the future, please give us your support.
Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans worldwide?
I would like to compete overseas in the near future. All you overseas fans, just wait and see!
A massive thank you goes to Giulia for taking the time to provide thoughtful answers to each question and for giving fans a look into who she is as a wrestler and person.
Also thanks to STARDOM for helping make this interview come to life during such a busy time for the promotion.
Giulia challenges Syuri for the World of Stardom Championship at Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29. The show begins at 3 a.m. EST and will be available on PPV.
Here's a look at the full card.
- World of Stardom Championship: Syuri (c) vs. Giulia
- Wonder of Stardom Championship: Saya Kamitani (c) vs. Haruka Umesaki
- Goddess of Stardom Championship: meltear (Tam Nakano & Natsupoi) (c) vs. 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi & Yuu)
- Artist of Stardom Championship: Oedo Tai (Momo Watanabe, Starlight Kid & Saki Kashima) (c) vs. Prominence (Risa Sera, Suzu Suzuki & Kurumi Hiiragi) in a Hardcore Match
- High-Speed Championship: AZM (c) vs. Hikari Shimizu
- KAIRI vs. Utami Hayashishita
- Goddess of Stardom No. 1 Contender's Match: MaiHime (Maika & Himeka) vs. The New Eras (MIRAI & Ami Sourei) vs. BMI2000 (Natsuko Tora & Ruaka)
- H & M (Mayu Iwatani, Momo Kohgo & Hanan) vs. Classmates (Hazuki, Saya Iida & Koguma)
- Pink Kabuki (Unagi Sayaka & Mina Shirakawa) vs. Donna del Mondo (Mai Sakurai & Thekla)
- Stardom Rumble
Check out our other interviews with STARDOM talent as well: Utami Hayashishita and Tam Nakano
You can follow STARDOM on Twitter at their official account (@wwr_stardom) and their official English account (@we_are_stardom) to see how you can order the show and stay up-to-date with the promotion.
