Bryan Danielson: Mina Shirakawa’s personality ‘bleeds through the screen’

Bryan Danielson has been impressed with Mina Shirakawa’s recent performances in AEW.

Shirakawa will challenge Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship tonight at Forbidden Door. Ahead of the pay-per-view, Danielson spoke to SI.com about how well he feels the former Wonder Of Stardom champion has done in AEW.

“Mina Shirakawa, she has done an incredible job in terms of getting over as a personality on AEW TV,” said Danielson. “Her personality just bleeds through the screen, right? I’m excited for her match at Forbidden Door with Toni Storm.”

Shirakawa’s story with Storm is intertwined with the mutual affection they have for another Stardom alumni, Mariah May. Shirakawa and May once held the Goddesses of Stardom titles together and seem to enjoy one another’s company on-screen. However, Shirakawa accidentally hit May with a champagne bottle on AEW Dynamite this week.

“I have said hi to her maybe twice,” Danielson continued to say of Shirakawa. “There really hasn’t been any conversation, but I was watching Dynamite in Tony’s office the other night, and we both remarked at how she does such a good job. Whatever the cultural differences or language barriers, it makes no difference. The Toni Storm-Mariah May-Mina story is so compelling.”

Tony Khan also addressed Shirakawa’s performance in AEW thus far when he appeared as a guest on Wrestling Observer Radio this weekend.

“It is by design, we didn’t luck into it. Mina and Mariah had this great history and I followed Stardom, they were in Club Venus, they had an over act and they had a close friendship. And in planning this show and putting a story together, I was so excited to have Mina involved in AEW, especially with all the cool things happening with Mariah May and ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm.”

Danielson will have his match at Forbidden Door to worry about when he takes on Shingo Takagi in an Owen Hart Cup tournament bout. He hopes to find some time to just sit and watch the show, however.

“Swerve-Ospreay will be incredible, and so will Moxley-Naito,” Danielson continued. “I still love wrestling. I’m 25 years in, and not only do I love to wrestle because of the feeling it evokes in me, but I still love watching it.

“I’m really excited for the entire show. I’ll find a hidden spot in the area to watch the matches and soak it all up.”

The full interview is available here.