Sareee ended 2024 on the highest note a Joshi wrestler can, winning the 2024 Tokyo Sports Women's Wrestling Grand Prize (MVP).
She accomplished that while being a freelancer and ending a streak of STARDOM wrestlers winning each year since 2019. It's an incredible accomplishment and one that she's proud of.
The deserving award comes after a year where she produced three sold-out Sareee-ISM shows, held the SEAdLINNNG Beyond the Sea Championship throughout the entire calendar year, and became the first-ever Marigold World Champion -- along with having some of the best matches in all of pro wrestling.
"The Sun Goddess" is set to end her 2024 in a big way, defending the Beyond The Sea Championship against Nagisa Nozaki on December 27th before kicking off 2025 even bigger -- defending the Marigold World Title against Utami Hayashishita at Marigold First Dream on January 3rd. Add in her self-produced Sareee-ISM Chapter VI event on January 23rd, where she'll main event against Meiko Satomura, to fully appreciate the impressive schedule that Sareee continues to keep into the new year.
Before the year officially ends, Fightful's Scott Edwards had the opportunity to interview Sareee once again --- discussing the Women's Wrestling Grand Prize victory, chasing IYO SKY's multiple MVP wins, goals for 2025, Nanae Takahashi's challenge and retirement announcement, and more.
Here's what Sareee had to say!
Edwards: Tokyo Sports announced you as the 2024 Women's Wrestling Grand Prize (MVP) winner — becoming the first non-STARDOM wrestler since 2018 to win the award while also being a freelancer. Congratulations on such an incredible accomplishment. It’s one that you stated you were aiming for since your pro wrestling debut. How did you feel when you got the news that you were the winner of the 2024 Women’s MVP award?
Sareee: "I was so happy. Ever since I started pro wrestling, it's an award that I always wanted. It was one of my dreams. It finally became true. I had the chance about five years ago before I went to WWE and almost got it but lost to (Mayu) Iwatani. I was so disappointed that I couldn't get it. But this time, the situation reversed and I got the award."
Edwards: What does it mean to you to win an award that wrestlers like Kaoru Ito and Io Shirai (IYO SKY) have won before you?
Sareee: "Ito-san is my mentor. So I really wanted to get this award for myself so that I can be like her. It's an award that only one person from the whole female pro wrestling industry can get this award every year. There are only a few that have received this award over the years. So I am very happy. But Io-san was able to get it not only once but a few times. I will set my goals high and try my best to get the award again next year and a few times like her."
Edwards: The year you had was one of a kind. You produced three sold-out Sareee-ISM events, held the Beyond The Sea Championship all year to this point, and became the first-ever Marigold World Champion. As this year has gone on, have you had the chance to appreciate all your accomplishments as you’ve made wrestling fans worldwide follow what you’re doing inside and outside the ring?
Sareee: "I have put great effort in each match and each event that I attended. Each one was special to me. I did my best.
"So I appreciate every single thing that I did this year. I think that helped me get the Tokyo Sports award at the end."
Edwards: Now that you’ve won the Tokyo Sports Women’s Wrestling Grand Prize for 2024, what will be your main goal as you head into 2025?
Sareee: "I think the goal of 2025 will be to continue leading the Joshi pro wrestling industry. I want to do more than what I accomplished in 2024. I want to be better. I want to get the Tokyo Sports Award again."
Edwards: As you reflect on your historic 2024 and all the terrific matches you’ve had — from facing Mayu Iwatani for the first time as well as teaming with her in a super tag team match to your one-on-one battle with Bozilla — do you have a match that stands out as your favorite?
Sareee: "It's hard to pick as my favorite. They all have different memories. All the title matches at Marigold and SEAdLINNNG, the Sareee-ISM events, and all others. But I always remember the matches I lost since that really stays in my head and that's the one vs. (Mayu) Iwatani at Stardom for the IWGP. I really wanted that IWGP belt. I hope that I can challenge again one day."
Edwards: Looking ahead, you’ll get your one-on-one match with Meiko Satomura at Sareee-ISM Chapter VI on January 23rd. Satomura is on her retirement road, one that you’ve made some serious comments about when announcing the match. With the potential of this being the final time you face her, how are you approaching this match with the living legend on your show?
Sareee: "Satomura-san is someone special to me. She was my pro wrestling debut opponent. We had a match before I went to WWE. We almost had a title match at NXT UK but it got canceled. I really wanted to have one last single match before she retired. I know many people want a match with her before her retirement and she is very busy. But I was able to get this match with her at my Sareee-ISM event. I am very honored and I really look forward to this match. I want to give my 100% into this match and win this final round with her."
Edwards: Your final Marigold World Championship defense ahead of First Dream saw you successfully defend the championship against Nanae Takahashi in Shinjuku FACE. As expected, it was an incredibly physical battle that embodied the Zenjo spirit and saw both of you slug it out until the very end. You've had many battles with Takahashi, but what did this match with her mean to you as a defending champion and with her news of retiring in May?
Sareee: "To be honest, in my heart, I am very happy that I won. I have always looked up to her and was always chasing after her back. To be like her one day. It gave me great confidence. But I have said to myself that I can't be too happy. I have won the 2024 MVP award. That means I must continue to lead the industry and try to continue to be on top. Not just think about myself but for the industry. Therefore I have to be strict on myself."
And Nanae's retirement?
Sareee: "We all knew that it would come one day since she mentioned that when she joined Marigold. She has a long career and had many title matches at various promotions. It's a great honor since I am probably will be her last title match opponent in her long great history that she has. I know many pro wrestlers will want to have a match with her before she retires. I tend to check all of her matches."
Sareee made the cover of ShuPro's Weekly Pro-Wrestling magazine after her title defense against Takahashi. Here's what she had to say about her first solo cover:
"It's the first time in my career to be on the cover of the Weekly Pro Wrestling magazine. I have made it on the cover with others before but not alone. So this is a great honor and another dream that I had come true this year. "
I want to thank Sareee and her terrific team for helping make this newest interview happen. This is the seventh exclusive interview with Sareee as she celebrates her incredible 2024 and a big 2025 to come in the future.
If you'd like to check out more of what Sareee is up to, make sure to follow her YouTube channel "Sareee Channel." She also shares a YouTube channel with her best friend Natsupoi, which you can check out here. Make sure also to follow Sareee's X account to never miss anything going on in her career.
You can see Sareee's Marigold World Championship defense against Utami Hayashishita by ordering Marigold First Dream on WRESTLE UNIVERSE.
Sareee-ISM Chapter VI will take place on January 23rd on Shinjuku FACE. Here's a look at the full card, featuring legends like Jaguar Yokota and Yumiko Hotta as well as Marigold competitors Bozilla, Victoria Yuzuki, and Kizuna Tanaka:
- Sareee vs. Meiko Satomura
- Kaoru Ito & Yurika Oka vs. Bozilla & Mio Momono
- Takumi Iroha vs. Chi Chi
- Jaguar Yokota & Kizuna Tanaka vs. Yumiko Hotta & Miku Kanae
- Shaa vs. Victoria Yuzuki
The show will soon be available to purchase on sareeelive.com. You don't want to miss it.
For more from Sareee, you can check out her store at sareee-mania.com
For more exclusives from Fightful, check them out here.
