Saori Anou continues to make waves inside and outside of the STARDOM ring.
After signing her first exclusive contract with STARDOM last year, the former two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion has played a key part in the promotion while still competing outside of the promotion in places like OZ Academy and Sendai Girls. She has the most unique STARDOM contract we've seen, and she's quickly become a staple on their roster as one of Cosmic Angels' core members.
In 2024, Anou had another successful year that featured her second Wonder of Stardom Title win as well as another Artist of Stardom Championship win alongside Tam Nakano and Natsupoi.
As she looks to make 2025 another memorable year for her career, Anou will also celebrate her 10th Anniversary alongside Natsupoi with a big celebration on May 31st at Ota Ward Gymnasium.
Ahead of her big anniversary show, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the opportunity to interview Saori Anou on the big upcoming show, losing her Wonder of Stardom Title to Natsupoi, the rookies of STARDOM, Tam Nakano's potential retirement, and so much more.
Here's what Saori had to say!
Edwards: On May 31st, you’ll hold your 10th Anniversary show at Ota Ward Gymnasium alongside Natsupoi! How exciting is it for you to share an anniversary show with the same wrestler you debuted against?
Saori: "We debuted on the same day and at the same time. We've been opposites since then. There were times when we were apart, but I'm really happy to be able to compete with Natsumi, who has always been close to me, and I feel like we've come this far."
Edwards: Ota Ward is such a great venue for your anniversary show. With it being such a big arena, what can fans expect to see on the show? Are there any matches you have in mind already? Would you like to team with Natsupoi or face her in some capacity?
Saori: "I had this picture in mind from the moment the venue was decided.
"I think it will be very difficult to make it a reality, but I still want to do it and I want to convey that. I want to convey that this is Natsu & Saori."
Edwards: On the topic of Natsupoi, you two had a very interesting 2024 with each other. She defeated you to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship. What were your feelings after that match? What did it mean to you to have such an important career match against her?
Saori: "I was really disappointed. Natsumi is the kind of person who feels disappointed no matter what. But I trust her. We have a strange relationship.
"The 10th-anniversary event is meaningful because it can only be done with Natsumi."
Edwards: You've now been a roster member of STARDOM for a year after being freelance for so much of your career. How have you enjoyed being an official part of the company while still being able to compete around the Joshi scene? If you can say, are you planning to re-sign for another year with the company?
Saori: "It's been a while since I've been a member of an organization, so I still feel confused and unfamiliar with things, even though I've been here a year.
"But I truly realize that this is what it means to belong to an organization. This year is the year I want to observe the organization objectively and establish my position."
Edwards: You and Natsupoi struggled to come up with a tag team name for quite a long time, eventually landing on Natsu & Saory, a reference to Tom & Jerry. Can you elaborate on how that name came to be?
Saori: "Ever since we debuted, people have said that our relationship was like that of Tom and Jerry. At the time, we called ourselves 'Samu & Natsury.'
"But then we felt that something wasn't quite right, so we went with the current name 'Natsu & Saori,' which is closer to our names!"
Edwards: When you won the Wonder of Stardom Championship for a second time, you joined an exclusive company with the likes of Tam Nakano, Mayu Iwatani, Io Shirai, and Giulia. What does it mean to you to have won the championship twice in your career and be a historic part of the belt’s legacy?
Saori: "When my name was engraved on the belt for the second time, I could never have accomplished it alone. I was able to stand up again, thanks to my teammates, everyone who supported me, and strong rivals. So I put on the belt again with different feelings than the first time."
Edwards: There’s never been a three-time Wonder of Stardom Champion — is that something you’d like to accomplish?
Saori: "It all depends on what Saori Anou does in the future."
Edwards: You’ve been able to watch rookies Sayaka Kurara and Aya Sakura grow alongside you in Cosmic Angels. What has impressed you so far about their growth as competitors over the past year?
Saori: "Kurara has changed incredibly. Her face used to always look like she was about to cry, but now it looks strong. I've never seen a wrestler receive so much support. But I think it's important for her to grow from here on out.
"I'm sure Sakura has felt a lot of frustration. But she has the strength to carve out her own path. I feel that strength will become a great weapon in the future. I have high expectations for her."
Edwards: You’ve accomplished a lot in your career, especially the last few years since becoming a part of STARDOM. What are your goals for this year?
Saori: "Personally, I feel frustrated that I haven't been able to achieve that much. That's why this year I'm going to really look into Stardom.
"I'm going to find someone within Stardom that I want to fight for the rest of my life."
Edwards: Matoi Hamabe, Akira Kurogane, and Yuria Hime have all debuted recently in STARDOM. While they currently don’t have a faction, do any of those three jump out to you as potential additions to the group?
Saori: "Everyone has a lot of personality. Matoi has an incredible contrast. Yuria has sex appeal. Akira is charming.
"I think if they could bring out their different personalities more, they could become even more amazing wrestlers."
Edwards: Tam Nakano will put her career on the line at All Star Grand Queendom 2025. This, of course, became a reality after Saya Kamitani had beaten her in the Loser Leaves Stardom Match. You’ve had an interesting relationship with Tam since joining STARDOM. As a member of Cosmic Angels, what was your reaction to the initial loss, and what’s your opinion on the upcoming Career vs. Career match?
Saori: "It's Tamu's choice, and it's her life, so I won't say anything. But I believe in her. I'll support her where I can. But don't ever give up. In anything."
Edwards: In 2024, you had a feud with Mika Iwata that saw you both trade the Wonder of Stardom and Sendai Girls World Championships. Through five matches, you each finished with two wins, and there was also a draw. What are your feelings toward Iwata after your series of matches? Should we expect a final match between the two of you sometime in the future to decide the winner of your rivalry as well?
Saori: "Mika Iwata has gotten to the point where she doesn't want to fight anymore. It's been a few months since we last fought, but I find myself wanting a fight with her again.
"It'll come again someday. For sure."
Edwards: You will challenge Ryo Mizunami for the OZ Academy Openweight Championship on April 13th. This is a championship that has eluded you in your career. How much have you enjoyed getting the chance to continue competing as part of OZ Academy while also being signed to Stardom? What would it mean to you to finally win this championship after competing as part of OZ since 2017?
Saori: "Actually, in 2020, I challenged for the single belt held by Mayumi Ozaki. I couldn't do anything in that match and it's still a traumatic one to me. But after fighting Ozaki at the end of last year, those feelings disappeared.
"I don't even think of it as a process. I will beat Mizunami and create for myself the meaning of my continued participation in OZ Academy up until now."
Edwards: Is there anyone in STARDOM that you haven't had the chance to have a singles match against that you'd like to in the future? Anyone outside of STARDOM that interests you?
Saori: "Yes. Someday, I will be standing right in front of that wrestler, so just watch."
Edwards: At the Sendai Girls BIG SHOW in Niigata, you face Meiko Satomura in her first singles match in the company since 2021. It was also the start of her retirement road, which ends on April 29th. While you came up short in the match, what did it mean to you to have that opportunity to face her ahead of her retirement?
Saori: "I was incredibly happy and pressured to be nominated for a singles match on her important road to retirement and in her important homecoming. But I headed to the ring with the determination not to let that pressure consume me, not to let Meiko Satomura consume me.
"I didn't think that day was the end. I didn't want it to end. If there was still a chance, I would grab it."
Edwards: Would you like to return to America for the upcoming STARDOM shows in April?
Saori: "I'm not sure what my schedule will be in April yet, but I would like to go abroad this year."
Edwards: Finally, I want to know your interest level in challenging for the World of Stardom Championship. While Tam Nakano will look to recapture the championship, it feels like the obvious next step for you after holding the Wonder of Stardom Title twice. If Nakano were to lose to Saya Kamitani, would you be interested in not only trying to win the belt, but also avenging her if she does lose? What's your overall interest in the championship?
Saori: "I won't know until the time comes. But Tamu and I have a promise: 'Let's meet at the top someday.'"
I want to thank Saori Anou and her team for making this interview come together as well as it did. We'd also like to thank STARDOM for their involvement as well!
Make sure to follow Anou on Twitter: @anou_saori
We also want to thank Chiyoko for the help in this interview. Chiyoko helped translate the questions from English to Japanese.
You can follow Chiyoko on Twitter here: @chiyoko_asakura
You can follow STARDOM on Twitter at their official account (@wwr_stardom) and their official English account (@we_are_stardom) to stay up-to-date with the promotion. You can also check out all STARDOM events on their streaming service, Stardom World.
If you're interested in Joshi, check out Fightful's latest exclusive interview with Sareee.
Fans can check out results from past STARDOM events by visiting Fightful's results section.
