The greatness of Joshi wrestling continues to shine brightly around the world as the wrestlers now have the chance to travel outside of Japan to share their incredible talents. Fans have had a chance to see it here in the United States with DEADLOCK Pro, West Coast Pro, and Prestige Wrestling leading the charge to bring the likes of Miyu Yamashita, Maki Itoh, Mio Momono, and Miyuki Takase in for matches.
The United Kingdom's signature women's promotion, Pro-Wrestling EVE, has done the same this year as both ASUKA and Takumi Iroha took part in the 2022 SHE-1 tournament earlier this year. Well, Pro-Wrestling EVE is going all out once again as they're bringing a number of Joshi wrestlers over for their signature event -- Wrestle Queendom V. Yuu will make her return to her home promotion while TJPW's Miyu Yamashita and Hyper Misao travel over for their own set of matches. But that's not all as Wrestle Queendom V will feature a Marvelous showcase match as Rin Kadokura battles Maria in a singles match. The match was originally set to be Takumi Iroha taking on Maria but due to injury, former AAAW Tag Team Champion Kadokura will fill-in.
It's a major opportunity for both competitors but even more so for Maria. While this will be the first match outside of Japan for the four-year veteran, this is a match that she has earned with her hard work, especially in the year 2022.
Maria has made the step up for Marvelous. She's not only improved as a competitor but has really come into her own, finding what works for her that can bring her success down the road. Earning this opportunity to showcase her abilities at Wrestle Queendom V isn't something she is looking past buit rather an opportunity she is excited for.
Fightful's Scott Edwards had the opportunity to ask Maria some questions in an exclusive interview ahead of her Pro-Wrestling EVE debut to discuss her improvements so far this year, competing abroad for the first time, her relationship with Chigusa Nagayo, the vacated AAAW Championship, and so much more.
Here's what Maria had to say!
Q: You’re heading to Pro-Wrestling EVE to wrestle outside of Japan for the first time. Are you excited? What are you looking forward to the most?
It is just so exciting to fight abroad!!
What I am looking forward to most is of course the fight in the ring. Yet if I have time, I would like to see Big Ben. ( it appears in the comic I love, Case Closed: Detective Conan)
Q: Unagi Sayaka has been a pain for you for quite some time now. How do you feel that she’s come to Marvelous?
I think her power of sending out information and her ability to take action is outstanding. However, in Marvelous she can never do what she wants.
I’ll beat her and protect Marvelous from her.
Q: Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with Chigusa Nagayo and what she means to you?
Nagayo san is the person who led me to the world of pro-wrestling. So I am not here if I haven’t met her.
She is both my mama and papa.
Q: You’re wrestling Rin Kadokura at Wrestle Queendom V. How do you feel heading into the match?
Rin is the wrestler whom I have fought in single matches the most.
Since I could prospect the moves of Rin , she could do the same thing to me.
What I should do there is to move beyond her imagination. I will definitely win!!
Q: I wrote an article about your recent career and how you’ve really shined in 2022. Your style is both very technical but also physical. I wanted to ask you how you would describe your style of wrestling?
To begin with, thank you so much for featuring me in your article. I myself think I am not a person with good technique nor very athletic.
I am worse than everyone else among my colleagues and takes me quite a long time only to master one move.
What I have been doing has been a steady effort and I am really happy to know the number of compliments are increasing these days.
Q: Who is someone outside of Marvelous you’d like to face in the future?
At present, I have no specific wrestlers I’d like to face. Anyone who stands in front of me IN the ring is the one who I have to fight with all my might.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not wrestling or training?
I love to draw illustrations, sing songs, watch various animes and go out to various places.
Q: What makes Marvelous special to you?
Marvelous is the place where professional wrestler "Maria" was born and brought up.
And it is the precious place where Nagayo-san, Takumi-san, and all my beloved colleagues are.
Q: What’re your future goals in pro wrestling?
Women’s pro wrestling changed my life. So I would like to introduce the charm of this pro-wrestling to a lot of people who still haven’t had a chance to meet this wonderful event.
I would like to be the one who triggers women’s pro-wrestling boom just like before which happened during the days when Nagayo san was on the ring.
Q: Your rivalry with Riko Kawahata earlier this year was a major bright spot for Marvelous. Since you defeated her, you’ve started to team. Can you tell us about your relationship with Kawahata? What are you hoping to do as a team with her?
We, Riko and I, are quite alike: height, weight, and even personality. I trust her from the bottom of my heart. Whenever I feel I need some help on the ring, she comes to save me. No words are necessary between us.
By Magenta, the team with Riko, I would like to win the AAAW Tag Team Championship in a near future.
So I would like to cherish the relationship with her, telling each other frankly what we think to make our team better and better.
Q: What’s been the biggest challenge of your career to this point?
It was about a year ago when I was sitting out of the ring because of my back injury and my good buddy colleagues left Marvelous. I felt so lonely and sad, But at the same time, I felt that I must be the one to lead Marvelous in the future.
And this time I got a chance to make a debut abroad. So to me "NOW" is the time for my biggest challenge!
Q: The AAAW Championship had to be vacated by Takumi Iroha. What would it mean to you to win the championship and represent Marvelous while Takumi recovers?
This will be the best time to show all the fans that Maria is here in Marvelous.
I have never wrapped the belt around my waist. This will be the best chance to be the Future ACE of this company.
Please keep your eyes on Maria of Marvelous. I will never disappoint you.
We want to give a huge thank you to Maria and Marvelous for giving us the time to do this interview ahead of her big match.
If you'd like to check out Pro-Wrestling EVE's Wrestle Queendom V to see Maria face Rin Kadokura and other great women's matches, check out the tweet below:
*MATCH ANNOUNCEMENT*
— #WrestleQueendom Sun 13 Nov London (@ProWrestlingEVE) November 1, 2022
RIN KADOKURA makes her EVE debut on Sunday Nov 13 going one on one against MARIA in this all Marvellous Pro battle of two CHIGUSA NAGAYO students!
Remaining tickets available now at https://t.co/hSAIIPt8ee
Watch LIVE online at https://t.co/0vzAETl1NL#WQ5 pic.twitter.com/UjTK7OaUTJ
Make sure to follow Maria on Twitter to keep up with the Marvelous star: @maria0301m
And follow Marvelous (@info_marvelous) to never miss any of their upcoming events, including the one-day tournament to crown a new AAAW Champion on December 4 at Korakuen Hall.
