Mina Shirakawa ‘fell in love with wrestling’ watching Jushin Liger in NJPW
Mina Shirakawa opened up about wrestling for New Japan ahead of her match at NJPW Strong Style Evolved.
Shirakawa will wrestle Johnnie Robbie on today’s show at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. It will be her fifth time wrestling for NJPW this year, including her match against Toni Storm at Forbidden Door in June.
She told Justin Barrasso recently that NJPW is the promotion that first caused her to fall in love with wrestling.
“I love wrestling for New Japan,” said Shirakawa. “New Japan is where I first fell in love with wrestling, watching Jushin Liger. Now I get to go in the New Japan ring at Strong Style.”
“When I became a wrestler, I challenged myself against the world,” she continued. “I didn’t want to just be in one place. I wanted to wrestle around the world, a worldwide star–and that’s what I am doing my best to do.
“That’s what I want to show in Long Beach–that I am a star.”
Tonight’s match will be Shirakawa’s first time getting back in the ring since her loss to Mariah May at Winter is Coming on Wednesday. Prior to that, she’d won four straight in AEW since returning to the company last month.
NJPW Strong Style Evolved, Sunday, December 15, 7:30 p.m. Eastern time at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, CA and airing on NJPW World —
- NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Hazuki
- Jack Perry & Konosuke Takeshita vs. Shingo Takagi & Yota Tsuji
- Zack Sabre Jr., Bad Dude Tito & Shane Haste vs. Shota Umino, Fred Rosser & Tom Lawlor
- NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Ryohei Oiwa
- Hiromu Takahashi & Titan vs. Templario & Jakob Austin Young
- Lio Rush vs. Hechicero
- TJP vs. Kevin Knight vs. Kosei Fujita vs. Clark Connors
- NJPW Strong Tag Team Champions Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake & Zack Gibson) defend against West Coast Wrecking Crew (Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs)
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Johnnie Robbie
- Pre-show: Matt Vandagriff vs. Zane Jay