We were given a few minutes to speak with Mina Shirakawa ahead of her return to Arena Mexico where she will face current CMLL Japan Women's Champion and the 2025 Universal Championship winner India Sioux.
We ask Mina about her lesser known early CMLL connection and were talking to her about how it felt to be specifically chosen by India Sioux as her dream international opponent.
Jon Escudero: How are you doing, Mina? This is Jon Escudero, and I'm representing Dirt Sheet Radio today. Nice to meet you.
Mina Shirakawa: Nice to meet you.
Jon Escudero: We don't have a lot of time, so I'm going to get right into it. Longtime fans might not realize that your history with CMLL actually goes all the way back to January 2020, where at the CMLL Lady's Ring show in Tokyo, you challenged for the CMLL Japan Women's Championship. You faced Dalys—unfortunately, Dalys won on that night—but you're walking into Arena México now to face India Sioux, who currently holds the CMLL Japan Women's Championship. Now, if you get a victory over her, would you be interested in challenging for that title?
Mina Shirakawa: Of course, of course! In 2020, yes, I wrestled in Shin-Kiba, and I lost. I remember that because in 2020, I was a very "baby wrestler" Mina! [Laughs] I wrestled, but my wrestling was super bad. So please, everybody, don't search for my Shin-Kiba wrestling because it was very bad! Many years later, I will finally face the CMLL Japan Women's Champion. It is amazing, and I still cannot believe that I will wrestle her in Arena México. Now, Mina is not the "baby wrestler" Mina. Now, Mina makes waves all over the world, so I will definitely win.
Jon Escudero: Awesome. My last question is, for the fans that don't know, when the CMLL Amazonas win the Universal Championship, their reward is getting to handpick their international dream opponent the next year. India Sioux chose you personally for this match this Friday. What was your reaction to finding out that was her decision?
Mina Shirakawa: First, I was really so surprised because she picked me as an international star, right? Lately, because I haven't held a title for a long time, I've felt like, "Oh, what's wrong with Mina?" Sometimes I feel down on myself, but she picked me as an international star. So it was like, "Oh, Mina, wake up!" Someone wants to wrestle me. Now it's time to shine again, and even more, all over the world. I'm very happy to wrestle her in Arena México. This is a great chance for her, but also a great chance for me to shine even more. So of course, I will do my best this Friday.
Jon Escudero: Awesome. Well, tune in everyone this Friday at Arena México for Día de los Muertos on CMLL's YouTube subscription service, and on MyAEW. Thank you, Mina, for your time, and see you guys.
Mina Shirakawa: Thank you! Bye!