This upcoming Sunday marks the beginning of the premier women's wrestling tournament -- the 5STAR Grand Prix.
STARDOM's round-robin tournament has become one of the biggest in professional wrestling over the last few years as winners like Utami Hayashishita, Syuri, and Giulia have all won and gone onto superstardom.
One of the newest additions to the tournament is Saori Anou, a long-time freelancer who has dove into STARDOM head first and was brought back into the promotion by KAIRI. In her time with STARDOM, she has since joined the Cosmic Angels faction and held the Artist of Stardom Championship.
Ahead of her first 5STAR Grand Prix, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the chance to interview Saori Anou. Among the topics she discussed were joining STARDOM, becoming a member of Cosmic Angels, her feud with Natsupoi, and her continued efforts as a freelancer.
Here's what Anou had to say!
KAIRI brought you back into STARDOM as part of REstart. What was your mindset when you made your return to STARDOM?
I saw a new scenery on this stage, and shine even brighter than now.
I made a vow to step into the ring of STARDOM.
Would you like to team with REstart again in the future? Or possibly tag team with KAIRI?
Of course, I want to team up, and I want to team up with my favorite KAIRI.
What kind of preparation did you do to prepare for the Indian Strap Match which is a match that you’ve never been in before?
I watched a lot of movies. As I watched it, I thought that I could use what I had experienced.
Is there anyone from your past that you’d like to have join you in STARDOM?
Not in particular.
You recently had an Indian Strap match against Natsupoi to settle your differences. There were a lot of emotions you both shared at the press conference and the lead up. Was that a match you had wanted to have so you could move on from the competitiveness between each other? Do you still have that competitiveness?
She is important to me. I thought I had to face her because she was my friend. Natsumi and I will continue to be friends and rivals.
What’re your feelings regarding Natsupoi after defeating her and acknowledging her new name?
It's not that I don't like calling her "Natsupoi".
In my mind, Natsumi will always be Natsumi.
She is small but has a big heart and strong feelings and is the best rival.
You joined Cosmic Angels earlier this year minutes after Mina Shirakawa and Waka Tsukiyama left the group. What went into you making that decision? How do you feel about it now after all that has happened since?
At that time, I thought that Tam was crying all the time.
Originally, she and I were in the same promotion.
Even though we were apart, Tam and I kept in touch.
I was wondering if I could support Tam crying at the time and looking like she was in pain.
After I decided to participate in STARDOM, I tried to watch live matches from backstage as much as possible until I participated in the big event at Yokohama Arena.
I was watching that day, but she was crying again, so I couldn't help but move my legs.
I'm happy to see her smile now.
On the final night of the 5STAR Grand Prix, you’ll compete against Mina Shirakawa. Do you feel you have to defend Cosmic Angels against her after she left the group or is there just a normal feeling with that match approaching?
I want to enjoy Mina Shirakawa as just one wrestler rather than as a unit.
Thinking about how to stop her "leg-attacking zombie"... I’m looking forward to it.
You’re opening your first 5STAR Grand Prix against Giulia. You both have had interesting roads to get here. Does that match interest you as much as it does fans or are you mostly worried about defeating her and getting your first two points?
One of the wrestlers I’ve wanted to fight for a long time. Giulia was the one I wanted to fight the most.
I'm sure everyone wanted to see it too, right?
I want it to be a mess. Furthermore, I will win, and I will win and run at the top of STARDOM.
Going into your first 5STAR Grand Prix, are there any other opponents we haven’t discussed that are in your block that you’re looking forward to facing? Or are you just concerned with winning it all?
I'm interested in everyone.
Wrestlers who I haven't fought before, wrestlers who I haven't fought in a long time, and wrestlers from the other block.
5STAR is the best to be able to have a single match with these girls every time. It's only natural to think about a perfect victory.
Are there any other wrestlers in STARDOM you’d like to face soon?
Everyone!
As one of the very few wrestlers who not only wrestle in STARDOM on a regular basis but also freelance. Has your mindset to pro wrestling changed now? Do you feel the need to work even harder than before, or is your approach to wrestling still the same as it was?
It doesn't change.
Each match is important.
It leads to the next.
Communicate honestly.
It doesn't matter if the promotion changes.
You were away from STARDOM for 7+ years between your first appearances in the company and your recent return. Are there any wrestlers on the STARDOM roster that you met during that early point in your career that you look forward to wrestling again?
I haven't fought Momo Watanabe, Natsuko, or AZM yet, so I'm looking forward to it.
Looking at the two top champions in STARDOM and knowing what goes into holding both the World and Wonder of Stardom Championships, which title do you believe is the best fit for you to pursue? Does challenging either Tam Nakano or MIRAI interest you in the future?
I think we'll find out when the time comes. However, MIRAI is a worrisome opponent.
As a part of Oz Academy's Sekigun, you've been able to show a more ruthless side of yourself alongside Maya Yukihi and the legendary Mayumi Ozaki. How has being in that group affected your growth as a performer and what's something that you've learned from Mayumi Ozaki?
It's the cleverness that makes use of anything when fighting.
I learned a lot by looking around.
That led to this Indian Strap Match.
Since the last time I interviewed you, a lot has changed in Joshi. As someone who has been so successful in every place you’ve gone, how have you been able to be so successful in so many different promotions? And where do you see Joshi going moving forward?
Happy! Thank you!
I want more people to know about women's professional wrestling, and I want more people to enjoy this entertainment.
I will continue to act as if I am the one who will be the trigger.
Sareee returned to Japan earlier this year. You’ll be teaming up with her at the upcoming Sendai Girls show at Korakuen Hall.
1 - What were your thoughts when she returned to Japan?
2 - Are you looking forward to teaming with her?
3 - Would you like to have a match with her sometime in the future?
1. I'm looking forward to fighting again.
2. I was looking forward to it. I like her fighting style
3. Someday surely.
In our last interview, you stated how you want to improve the brand called Saori Anou and explained that you want to compete all over the world. Do you believe you’ve improved the brand like you wanted earlier this year? And are you still interested in competing around the world?
Little by little, I feel that the Saori Anou brand is rising. But still.
As long as I am a wrestler, I will fight in the world once.
Adding STARDOM to your schedule as a freelancer, how has it been balancing all the different promotions you work for along with the other work you do outside of wrestling?
I'm happy to have a schedule for every hour of the day.
I wish I could be busier and busier.
What’s one match fans should see to learn about Saori Anou as a wrestler?
Of course, the matches at STARDOM and Sendai Girls.
Please also watch OZ Academy where you can see a different side of the character.
People will be amazed by Saori Anou in every match.
We want to thank Saori Anou for taking part in another interview with Fightful and wish her the best in the upcoming tournament.
Make sure to follow Anou on Twitter: @anou_saori
To keep track of the 5STAR Grand Prix, make sure to follow along with Fightful as we will have updated results and standings after every event.
You can check out all of Saori Anou's matches and the entire 5STAR Grand Prix on Stardom World -- STARDOM's VOD service.
Check out Fightful's other exclusive interviews with KAIRI and Mariah May.
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.
