Various: KAIRI on Expanding Women’s Wrestling Interest in Japan, Alex Hammerstone Injury Update, Indies

Apr 21, 2023

KAIRI Comments on How Women’s Wrestling in Japan Can Attract More Interest

Proresu-Today held a recent interview with KAIRI. One of the topics discussed included KAIRI’s thoughts on how women’s wrestling can improve to attract more interest and fans in Japan.

“In order to expand and create a boom (in the Japanese women’s wrestling scene), we need to attract lightweight fans, so we need to make it easy for them to understand and watch. We need to make the characters and appearance, the content of the matches, the microphones, and so on, more and more. There are many good fighters in Japan.
I felt that many people came to see the fighters (in the U.S.), not so much for their skills or the content of the matches, but more because they wanted to see this fighter. This may be unrelated, but in WWE, we are taught to reduce the number of techniques. That is why even John Cena, for example, only does very simple moves. The higher you get, the less moves you really do. The higher you get, the less techniques you do. When the bell rings, the audience is at its peak just by standing on their feet. The reason is that there is a deep story and drama leading up to that point. Triple H often told me that while technique is important, I should learn, ‘Make a story’ (psychology), think about it, and create drama. Dangerous techniques such as head and neck drops are forbidden… and since the referee has absolute authority and the rules are very detailed, I had to think hard about how to make the event more exciting with these restrictions in place. I was thinking about how to make the matches more exciting with such restrictions.”

KAIRI also stated that the amount of match offers she has received from overseas promotions has been increasing. KAIRI also stated that she is currently hopeful of reuniting with Asuka in the future.

“Miss Asuka, I hope to meet you again someday, somewhere. It has been about three years since I left the U.S., but the number of offers for interviews and matches from overseas has actually been increasing, and even on social networking sites, I receive many messages in English from overseas fans saying, ‘Please come back soon!’ I can only be thankful for that.”

English translation via PostWrestling.com 1 & 2

Alex Hammerstone Injury Status Update

As noted before, Major League Wrestling talent Alex Hammerstone suffered a potential groin injury at MLW’s War Chamber 2023 event earlier this month in New York City, New York.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that Hammerstone’s injury and departure for medial treatment early into the War Chamber match ended up causing a lot of MLW’s original plans for the match to be tossed out. This reportedly also included MLW’s original plans for the match’s finish being changed as a result.

MLW officials reportedly praised Rickey Shane Page for adjusting on the fly and making things work as both a wrestler and agent for the match.

It was reported that the match ending a lot sooner than originally scheduled was the reason why MLW officials filmed a segment between Alex Kayne and Davey Boy Smith Jr. on the show to help fill up the time.

In regards to Hammerstone’s injury, it was reported that his groin injury was not as serious as initially feared by MLW officials and he was able to work at MLW’s Battle Riot V event two days later for a storyline angle.

Misc. Wrestling News & Notes

As noted before, former wrestler Tammy Sytch was arrested this past May in Florida following a police investigation into a fatal car accident involving Sytch in March of 2022. PWInsider’s Mike Johnson reported that Sytch’s jury trial is currently scheduled to start during the week of September 18th based on recent court records. Johnson reported that Sytch’s trial is also currently expected to take one week to complete.

A new wrestling book based on former ECW founder and owner Todd Gordon, titled Tod is God – The Authorized Story of How I Created Extreme Championship Wrestling, is currently scheduled to be released on September 28th, according to PWInsider.

PPW Entertainment recently announced that Action Andretti will be making an appearance for the company at their Crusade event on May 20th in Slatington, Pennsylvania.

Premier Streaming Network recently announced that they will be holding a new Premier Streaming Network Wrestling Showcase event on September 9th. It was also announced that more details regarding this upcoming event will be announced within the near future.

The National Wrestling Alliance recently announced that Tyrus & mystery partner and Ricky Morton & Kerry Morton are the first set of official teams for their upcoming Crockett Cup 2023 tag team tournament at their Crockett Cup 2023 event on June 3-4 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Former WWE NXT talent Nina Samuels recently announced on Twitter that she will be taking a break from wrestling for the foreseeable future due to her taking longer than expected to recover from an injury she suffered earlier this month.

Major League Wrestling recently announced that they will be holding an event called Never Say Never on July 8th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was also announced that tickets for this upcoming event will officially go on sale starting today.

Joey Janela recently announced that he has pulled out of his scheduled bookings this weekend for Game Changer Wrestling due to him recently suffering a burn injury on his left arm.

GCW recently announced a new match for the card of their Brooklyn Fight Night on May 11th in Brooklyn, New York:

Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Tony Deppen

Following Thursday’s Impact show, Impact Wrestling announced a new match for the card of their Under Siege 2023 event on May 26th in London, Canada:

Impact World Championship – PCO vs. Steve Maclin (c)

Lucha Libre AAA recently announced the full card for their AAA television taping on May 20th in Morelia, Mexico:

Mini Vikingo, Dulce Canela, & Estrellita vs. Los Vipers (Demus, Toxin, & Látigo)
Extreme Match – Lady Shani vs. Chik Tormenta
Sexy Star II & Brazo de Oro Jr vs. Flamita & Villano III Jr.
Vacant AAA Tag Team Championship match – Rey Horus & Octagon Jr vs. Arez & Komander vs. Jack Evans & Myzteziz
Pentagon Jr & Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dralistico & Gringo Loco