Fightful's Scott Edwards spoke with TJPW's Miu Watanabe for an interview ahead of TJPW's Grand Princess '24 show on Sunday, March 31st, as well as TJPW's return to America during WrestleMania Week.
Watanabe will be main eventing Grand Princess '24 as she will challenge for the Princess of Princess Championship against reigning champion Miyu Yamashita. She will also main event TJPW's return to America on April 5th as she teams with Rika Tatsumi to face Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh.
Here's what she had to say!
Edwards: At Grand Princess '24, you will challenge for the Princess of Princess Championship for the first time in your career (since 2021). What is your mindset heading into the match? Are you feeling a lot of pressure with so much change having happened in TJPW this past year?
Watanabe: "This will be my first challenge since I challenged Rika's POP title in 2021. But I will be taking on this challenge with a completely different mindset than I did then. I want to be a leader of TJPW, and I aim to win. Of course I am nervous, but I will do my best, believing in myself and in what I am doing every day!"
Edwards: Facing Miyu Yamashita is never easy. To become Princess of Princess Champion, you will have to beat her again. She seems to bring the best out of you. Looking back at the match you had with her in the Tokyo Princess Cup in 2022, how different do you feel you both are as wrestlers? What makes her such a great opponent?
Watanabe: "I haven't fought Yamashita-san since 2022. But I feel that She is even more powerful than she was then, and she is far more active overseas. I think the difference between us as wrestlers is kicking or power. I think it is important how well I can handle her kicks. I also think this is the most important thing, not to be defeated by my feelings."
Edwards: When TJPW came to America for the first time last year, it was clear that you were one of the fans' favorite wrestlers. Did you enjoy your experience last year? How excited are you to return to America, this time main eventing the show?
Watanabe: "This was a long-awaited (trip) to the U.S., as I was not able to visit the U.S. in 2020. I was very excited to meet all the fans who were waiting for me so far away! This year we will fight against Yamashita-san and (Maki) Itoh-san, so we will not be overwhelmed by their American stars, and we at Daydream will show the American fans what Daydream is all about!"
Edwards: Your tag team partner Rika Tatsumi has been very important to your career. You've held the Princess Tag Team Championships together and she defeated you for the International Princess Title a year ago. How has your relationship with Tatsumi helped you in your career? If you win the championship, would you like to defend it against her as well?
Watanabe: "Rika-san is such an important person in my life that I don't think I would have worked so hard in wrestling without her. I would like to aim for the tag belts again with the two of us, and of course, I would like to fight against her when I am the champion! Because I also really like to fight against Rika-san. But first of all, I think it would be a wonderful goal for Daydream to win all the TJPW's belts!"
Edwards: For fans around the world, what is one thing that they should know about Miu Watanabe ahead of the biggest match of your career and why?
Watanabe: "I need all my fans to cheer me on.
"Please watch for my biggest day. I will do my best to fulfill my longtime goal! I look forward to your many cheers! I love you all!"
We'd like to thank Watanabe and TJPW for taking the time to put this interview together ahead of their major shows over the next two weeks.
You can check out TJPW's annual Grand Princess show on WRESTLE UNIVERSE on March 31st.
You can check out TJPW Live in Philly on Triller TV+ on April 5th.
While Watanabe will be main eventing the show against Yamashita, the rest of the show includes big time matchups as Daisy Monkey challenges for the Princess Tag Team Titles and Minoru Suzuki goes one-on-one with Maki Itoh. The show will also feature IMPACT Wrestling's Masha Slamovich in singles action, legend Aja Kong competing, Yuka Sakazaki returning, and so much more.
