This Thursday, Marigold will hold their biggest Korakuen Hall show since the inaugural Marigold Fields Forever show back in May. There will be four championship matches with Sareee defending the Marigold World Championship, Miku Aono defending the United National Championship, Natsumi Showzuki defending the Superfly Title, and the duo of MIRAI and Mai Sakurai putting the TwinStar Championships on the line.
Ahead of the big tag championship defense, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the chance to interview Mai Sakurai to discuss several topics including facing Giulia in her last singles match in Japan, leaving STARDOM for Marigold, improving in the ring, and so much more.
Here's what Sakurai had to say!
Edwards: Earlier this year, you made the decision to leave STARDOM and join Marigold. You’ve already managed to accomplish a lot since making the change and have been a perfect fit. Can you tell us about the decision and what went into making that choice?
Sakurai: "I owe a lot to Mr. Rossy Ogawa. And I wanted to help him with his new organization. I also wanted to improve as a wrestler and aim for even greater heights. To do that, I wanted to change my environment. Unlike the previous organization, where everything was already in place, this organization is one that has to be created from scratch, so it takes a lot of energy and there are many difficulties. But it's also very rewarding, and I definitely feel more ambition, a sense of urgency and a sense of responsibility than before, so I think it's a positive environment for me right now."
Edwards: You had the opportunity to wrestle Giulia in her last major singles match before leaving Marigold for America. Heading into that match, Giulia said she wanted to use that match to help teach you further. What did it mean to you to be her final opponent? Do you believe that is your best match to date?
Sakurai: "I was very happy that she chose me to be her last opponent, but at the same time I felt a huge amount of pressure. That match was the best match of my whole career; it was a day I will never forget.
"Since then, many people have told me that I have changed. Until then, if I had said that I wanted to aim higher, people would have laughed at me, and I think they would have thought that it was impossible. Giulia always respected my feelings and believed in me. I was able to demonstrate that to the fullest in that match. I think I was able to demonstrate that strength because my opponent was Giulia. I am very grateful."
Edwards: You've spoke about the fact that you believe Giulia is the strongest wrestler you've faced off against. How did your time learning under Giulia develop your style, and how did it compare to learning in AWG and under Tam Nakano?
Sakurai: "I've come to value having a fighting spirit. I want to win at everything, and I channel that feeling of frustration into my matches. Giulia was very strict, so I was always getting in trouble. Tamu-san, on the other hand, is very kind. Because she's kind, I end up taking advantage of her kindness. But I think my personality is more suited to being scolded than being praised, so maybe Giulia's way of teaching was more suited to me.
Edwards: You've really stepped up your game following Giulia's exit from Marigold, both in your singles matches throughout the DREAM STAR GP and in your TwinStar defenses alongside MIRAI. Did you feel you needed to make another step once Giulia was gone to help lead Marigold?
Sakurai: "I knew that the period after Giulia left would be important. I went into every match with the determination to make sure that no one would say that we would be no good without Giulia. I knew that I had to make sure that people would think that Marigold was safe!
Edwards: Since coming to Marigold you’ve had to take on a bigger role than in the past. You’re one of the leading faces now. Do you feel added pressure to you when you head into a big match knowing that you have to show the world what Marigold is all about as a leading figure?
Sakurai: "I get fired up. But I give it my all in every match, not just because it's a big match. I also hate losing, so I always try my best in every match so that people will think my match was the most interesting of the day's entertainment."
Edwards: You and MIRAI are the inaugural TwinStar Champions. First in company history. What does that mean to you, and what do you hope the TwinStar Championships become in the future?
Sakurai: "We're happy that challengers are coming out one after another, for whatever reason, wanting to challenge us for the tag team belts, so we want to always be defending the belts and building up our record of defenses, and as champions, we want to shine with these belts. And we, the tag team “MiraiSaku”, want to do various things as the number one tag team in the women's pro-wrestling world and steal the limelight."
Edwards: Miku Aono called you out by name when she mentioned challengers for the United National Championship. Considering neither of you could win the very physical DREAM STAR GP match. Do you believe you should be in line for a United National Championship match?
Sakurai: "I want to take on the challenge. Based on the results of the league matches, I want to fight again and settle things once and for all. I don't want to let the momentum I gained from coming second in the DREAM STAR stop, and I'm going to keep pushing forward so that it doesn't."
Edwards: Victoria Yuzuki and Kizuna Tanaka said they don’t want just to be the future of Marigold, but the present as well. Hence why they challenged you and MIRAI for the TwinStar belts. Ahead of the next title defense, what is your opinion about them as wrestlers, and their desire to be big players in Marigold now as well as in the future?
Sakurai: "I think it's great that they have a strong drive and competitive spirit. They also have the advantage of being young. But I think that, after experiencing a lot, you have to think about the people around you as well as yourself, and have a greater sense of responsibility than other people. In terms of experience, we have had a lot of experience so far. So I want to show the difference in our experience and defend the title."
Edwards: Your initial run alongside MIRAI in Donna del Mondo only lasted a few months before you two became rivals and eventually reunited late last year. With MiraiSaku now being a full-time duo, do you think your time as rivals enhanced or hindered your abilities as a tag team?
Sakurai: "I like it when people who have fought each other team up because it feels special. The same goes for the other way around. During the time when we were on opposite sides, I kept chasing after MIRAI's back, and I never let the gap between us grow. I was always thinking that I would close the gap. I think it was good to have someone like that. Also, we promised each other that we would both get stronger and I was very happy that we were able to team up and win the belts at the same time we were both growing stronger."
Edwards: Victoria Yuzuki and Kizuna Tanaka said you and MIRAI had several weaknesses they were ready to exploit in their title challenge on 10.24. Flipping that on its head, what do you believe MiraiSaku's greatest strength as a tag team is? What sets you two apart from the other teams on the Marigold roster?
Sakurai: "I think we think more about the organization than any other tag team or champion. I think there are a lot of wrestlers who think about themselves, but we often talk about how we can make Marigold more interesting and exciting. I think we want to be strict, including in terms of training wrestlers. I think that is what it means to be a part of an organization, and I think it is a mission that champions must fulfill. So on the 24th, we will teach you some tough pro-wrestling."
Edwards: Out of all the new wrestlers you’ve wrestled since joining Marigold, who has stood out to you the most? Is there anyone that you’d like to have a big singles match with in the future?
Sakurai: "Victoria Yuzuki. I had two singles matches with Yuzuki soon after she made her debut. She was great in training, but she was completely useless in matches. People around her were worried about her, thinking “Is she okay?”, and she gave the impression of being a type of person who was weak in real matches. However, after coming to Marigold, when we teamed up and fought together, she had grown so quickly that it was like she was a different person, and I was surprised."
Edwards: In 2023, the world saw Mai Sakurai transform into “Her Ladyship.” That felt the beginning of your transformation as a competitor as you gained so much confidence and it’s led you to being one of the top stars in Marigold. Do you feel similarly in that it was the beginning of your year-long transformation as a pro wrestler? Did you have a specific inspiration that drove you to become “Her Ladyship”?
Sakurai: "There was a time when I was still feeling like Giulia's disciple, and I was worried about my own individuality. I started to think a lot about what I was good at, what my signature move was, and how I could be interesting and memorable. In the opening match of the singles tournament vs Giulia, I won by over-the-top-rope, and at that moment I thought, 'This is it!' and came out as a lady."
Edwards: In the inaugural DREAM STAR GP, you managed to win the STAR League — outlasting the likes of Nanae Takahashi, Sareee, and Miku Aono. As a result, you advanced to the finals against Utami Hayashishita, putting up arguably a career-best performance but coming up short in the end. After taking a vacation during last year’s 5STAR GP and entering such a difficult league this year with such major competitors, are you proud for what you accomplished in such a grueling tournament? And even though you weren’t able to win the whole tournament, do you feel this was the moment that Mai Sakurai showed the world that she can be a world champion in the future?
Sakurai: "I was left with some frustrating words from Sareee, who was holding the red belt, and the main premise for challenging her was to win this league tournament, so I think I was able to put that feeling into the match. I lost in the final, but considering my abilities up to that point, I think the audience didn't expect that. That's why the audience's cheers were so loud and gave me a lot of strength, and I want to prove that I can still do it! And I was able to think that the red belt, which was a dream within a dream, was not a dream! I will continue to grow by absorbing what I still lack."
Edwards: How were you feeling heading into the DREAM STAR Final against Utami Hayashishita? After being so close to winning, do you hope for a big rematch with her somewhere down the line as well?
Sakurai: "The location of the final of the league tournament was the same place where I had a singles match against Utami Hayashishita in a challenge match when I was a rookie. So, when I remembered those days, I felt a very strange feeling. But I think it was a very exciting card for the audience who had known me since then. When the final match was announced, it was like the moment when the tortoise in the story of the hare and the tortoise finally reached the same place as the hare. But the tortoise still hadn't overtaken the hare, so I definitely want to have another singles match with Utami Hayashishita and show everyone the tortoise overtaking the hare. I'll keep working hard!"
Edwards: Sareee has seemingly taken over Marigold as the company’s first world champion, even calling herself the ace of the promotion despite not being a roster member. Many wrestlers in Marigold have taken exception to that, yourself included. What is your opinion of Sareee after having two physical singles matches with her? Are you hoping to see her dethroned soon?
Sakurai: "A match with Sareee is a match I want to have. I came to Marigold because I wanted to have a match like this, so I was happy to be able to fight. But I've been told a lot of things that make me feel frustrated, so I want to show them all up one day."
Edwards: Next year, you’ll be competing as part of Maya Yukihi’s 10th Anniversary show. This raises the question: is there anyone outside of Marigold you’re hoping to fight in the future? Whether it be Yukihi or an old rival?
Sakurai: "I would be very happy to compete with Maya again in the ring. I've tagged with her before, so I'd like to work with her again, and I'd also like to compete against her.
"Also, I've been saying this for a long time, but Mayumi Ozaki! I often watch All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling matches on YouTube, and I love Ozaki's fighting style. I'd like to compete against her in the same ring."
We'd like to thank Mai Sakurai and Marigold's team for taking the time to help put this great interview together ahead of their big show on Thursday.
Fans can check out Marigold's major Korakuen Hall show on Thursday, airing live on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
You can follow Marigold on X through their Japanese (@DFS_Marigold) and English (@Marigold_Joshi) accounts.
Stay tuned to Fightful for more information on Marigold and other Joshi news.
