As Joshi wrestling continues to expand throughout the world in popularity, independent wrestling promotions have brought in a number of talents from Japan for their shows. The United States has seen a number of promotions including GCW, Prestige Wrestling, Garden State, West Coast Pro, and DEADLOCK Pro welcome Joshi wrestlers to their shows and often times feature them in major matches as a result.
DEADLOCK Pro has been the hot spot in the Northeast for Joshi as they had Miyuki Takase face TJPW's Miyu Yamashita during the summer which was a first-time-ever match. More and more talents have come in including Maya Yukihi, who had stressed in the past how much she had wanted to come to America to compete. She faced off with Jungle Kyona at DPW Victory Lap in September. While she was unable to walk away with the victory, Yukihi made plenty of fans that night and will hope to do so more in the future.
For those who may not have seen Yukihi wrestle prior, here's what to know about one of the very best wrestlers in the world.
Maya Yukihi is currently a freelance wrestler in Japan but spent the majority of her career in Ice Ribbon and accomplished so much there before going freelance at the end of 2021. While she still does compete in Ice Ribbon, her accolades jump off the page. Yukihi was a two-time ICExInfinity Champion with her second reign lasting 330 days. As a tag team with Risa Sera known as Azure Revolution, they won the titles four times and she had another reign with the titles alongside Maika Ozaki. She also held the Triangle Ribbon Championship once in her career.
The impressive career for Yukihi also spanned to OZ Academy, where she is a member of Mayumi Ozaki's faction, Ozaki-gun. As a member of the group, she has won the OZ Academy Tag Team Championship two times -- once with Ozaki and once with Saori Anou. She's also a two-time OZ Academy Openweight Champion.
All of this is to say that Maya Yukihi has accomplished a lot in her eight-year career but is far from done in the world of pro wrestling. As her freelance run continues in Japan and worldwide for that matter, Fightful's Scott Edwards had a chance to interview Yukihi to ask her about how her run as a freelancer has been, her time in Ice Ribbon, career up to this point, where she hopes to go, and so much more.
Here's what Maya Yukihi had to say!
What inspired you to become a professional wrestler?
Watching wrestling every weekend or after the job, laughing, being frustrated, crying, and going to watch pro wrestling was a source of my energy for every day. …why is pro wrestling so amazing? How can a pro wrestler do this? Then I started to feel I want to try to touch the ring.
How was your experience coming to America to compete for DEADLOCK Pro? Are you hoping to come to America again soon?
It was a lot of fun to fight in front of people who don't know Maya Yukihi. And in Japan these days, it is difficult to perform in cheers because of COVID-19. It was such a valuable experience.
I definitely want to go to America again!
Last year, you made the decision you would go freelance after many years with Ice Ribbon. Was that a difficult decision for you? How have you enjoyed it since?
I thought about it deeply for more than a year and made a decision.
I am enjoying my freelance days very much, such as the companies I participate in for the first time, the audience I meet for the first time, the production of goods, and the planning of the shows like “NOMADS’” or “Forest of RENEMY.”
Talking about Ice Ribbon, you still continue to compete in the promotion. Can you tell fans what Ice Ribbon has meant to your career?
The fact that pro wrestler Maya Yukihi was born is undoubtedly thanks to the Ice Ribbon, and it's my privilege to have many title matches there.
When I told that I was going to quit the Ice Ribbon, President Sato said, "I thought Yukihi would be able to demonstrate your power more than ever as a freelancer."
Tsukasa Fujimoto said, "Rather, thank you for being in Ice Ribbon until now. You've been thinking about the people around you until now, and from now on, I think you can become a bigger wrestler if you build a career for yourself."
You had two reigns as the ICExInfinity Champion. Both include major matches in Ice Ribbon history, including your bouts with Tsukasa Fujimoto in the first reign and when you dropped the belt in the second reign to Suzu Suzuki. How do you feel looking back on those two title reigns? Do you realize how important they were in Ice Ribbon’s history and how much fans enjoyed them?!?
It was a painful and fun time.
When I was challenging Fujimoto, I was always thinking about how to take on the top of Ice Ribbon, and after I became the champion, I was always thinking about what to do for the future of the Ice Ribbon. Really desperate…
I've never been on the cover of a magazine or officially awarded anything, but if there are fans who watched it and keep it in their memory, that's the best praise.
I feel very happy to be able to share a very important memory for me as well.
Azure Revolution was one of the best tag teams of the past decade in professional wrestling. Can you tell us a bit about your relationship with Risa Sera? And do you hope to team again in the future despite doing your own thing right now?
When I became a pro wrestler, I wanted to be a “tag player.” I mean it, I wanted to have tag team ability and be known as a fixed tag team.
So Risa Sera is one person who made my dream come true. We are on a different path now, so we don't have any interaction, but it would be nice if I had a chance someday. No one knows when the string will be tied again, it’s pro wrestling.
I'm sure that my body remembers tag team work at any time.
Who are some of your favorite opponents?
Maybe as you all expected!
- Tsukasa Fujimoto
- Mayumi Ozaki
- AKINO(as MÄya’s opponent)
- Among the male, Takashi Sasaki
What excites you most in wrestling right now?
To fight wrestlers and meet fans I’ve never seen before. The world is wide!
You’re part of the team that has made NOMADS' happen. How has the experience been for you and what do you believe the future of the freelance summit can be?
It's very important to know the hardships of holding the show. Now I’m thankful to the pro wrestling companies I participate in.
I can't predict the future, but I think it's NOMADS' ring that expresses freely and competes for individual charm regardless of the size of which company we participating in, the length of the career, and the role of the participating organization. Freelance players can use the NOMADS’ ring as a place for whether to sell their name, to compete with some specific freelancer, to have a commemorative match, or whatever! It's the only important point that freelancer ourselves to play a leading role in anyway.
I myself think that both the company and freelancers can't be done without each other these days. In order for the companies to continue their efforts with their own goals, I will not only participate in the company but also want to liven up the women's pro wrestling world as a freelancer!
You’ve spent time in DDT with your rivalry with Saki Akai being the main reason — is there anything else you’d like to do in DDT moving forward?
I myself wanted to team up with Saki Akai and challenge to a male team.
You attended AEW when you came to America. Are you interested in having some matches there in the future?
Of course!
Is there anywhere you haven’t had the chance to work that you’d like to in the future?
I want to go to the UK next time and there are many places I want to wrestle in America.
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Sasha Banks recommended me Boston! Or Singapore, Korea, Thai, anywhere!
Two promotions you have not been involved with are TJPW and STARDOM. Of course, you have been in Ram Kaichow’s corner for STARDOM in SHOWCASE recently but not a wrestling capacity. Do you have interest in working in either company? Or is there anyone in either company that you’d like to face in the future?
There may be a possibility if the fans want it.
I'm interested in wrestlers who I have never fought before.
As a freelance wrestler, you have the freedom to wrestle anywhere. Is there someone or a couple wrestlers you’d really like to face in the future? American wrestlers who you’d like to wrestle?
I had been injured for 8 months in my first year, so I didn't have a chance to face Asuka-san before she went to the United States.
Whoever! Who do you want to see me fight with?
You’re participating on Marvelous’ next show with a chance to oppose Takumi Iroha. This might be premature but are you interested in challenging for the AAAW Championship somewhere down the line?
If I have more opportunities to fight with her in the future, when not only do I feel the desire to compete more deeply, but also she feels something as well, I may challenge for it.
Now I just hope for her recovery.
I know that the pain of a clavicle fracture is HELL!!!
Fans in America want to see more of Maya Yukihi and what you’ve done in the ring. Are there any specific matches you’re most proud of in your career?
I think the ICExInfinity Championship matches with Tsukasa Fujimoto.
At Yokohama Cultural Gymnasium (8/26/2018)
At Korakuen hall (12/31/2018)
At Osaka (8/3/2019)
At Korakuen hall (3/27/2021)OZ Academy Openweight Championship match.
Tag match to single match vs. Mayumi Ozaki (8/18/2021)
OZ Academy Openweight Championship match vs. AKINO (4/3/2022)
What’s one thing fans should know about Maya Yukihi?
Crystal snow is a blue flame.
Maya followed up by explaining what this exactly means:
People sometimes think that Maya Yukihi is cool or cold, calm and dry from my attitude and my image color. it’s so cold that it might cause frostbite.
But my inside is not so much cool or calm. I am an emotional and muddy person.
Once it’s on fire, the blue flame is hotter than the red flame.
Either way, it’s dangerous... watch out!
Is there anything you’d like to tell your fans worldwide?
I want to see you in person at the venue!
But! I know it’s difficult.
So, I try to work hard to be able to appear even on the internet!!
What do you like to do when you’re not wrestling or training?
Amazon prime and YouTube! Cooking and eating!!
What are your goals moving forward — whether it be in wrestling or outside of the ring?
At first, it was my dream to wrestle abroad.
But when I go abroad, there is no one who knows me. I feel like a rookie!
It’s so nice to have new objectives to be memorized by people!
When I was a fan, I was energized by watching the show, and I was able to work every day. just like beer and meat were delicious after the show, I would be happy if Maya Yukihi's pro wrestling could become someone's vitality. I will still do my best.
A huge thank you to Maya Yukihi for taking the time out of her schedule to answer all these questions regarding her career.
If you'd like to follow Maya Yukihi and what she's doing in pro wrestling, you can follow her on Twitter (@yukihi_maya) and Instagram (@mayayukihi).
To learn more about her, check out Mr. HAKU's Kotatsu Studios interview with Maya here.
