From America to England: Shirakawa Mina on Her Electrifying US Tour and the Unstoppable ‘WE WANT MINA!’ Chant
Mina Shirakawa, the world-famous “sparkling Venus” (photo: Hiroshi Arai)
Shirakawa Mina’s US Tour: A Gamble to Shine
Stardom’s Shirakawa Mina embarked on a one-month tour of America in August, coinciding with the single league tournament “5★STAR GP”. This decision raised eyebrows, as Shirakawa had participated in the tournament three times in the past and had established her own style, improving her performance with each passing year.
So, what prompted Shirakawa to choose the US tour over the tournament? ”This is already a gamble. A gamble to make myself shine. I’m not young anymore, so I’m always thinking about what I need to do to get to the top in the limited time I have. But when an offer came from overseas at this time, I thought I’d just ride this wave. If I turned it down, there might not be another chance. I had a gut feeling, so I decided to go.”
The offer from AEW was simple: “We want you to come for a month.” There were no specifics about match dates or the number of matches she would play. Shirakawa didn’t know what to expect until she arrived in the US.
However, Shirakawa’s selection was not a random choice. Her performances in the US had caught the attention of AEW. She made her US debut on March 13th in a match against Ana Jay at ROH and competed in four tournaments in April, mainly Stardom’s US tournaments. Her AEW debut followed in April, with a rematch against Ana Jay.
In June, Shirakawa began traveling between Japan and the US, competing in matches for both Stardom and AEW. She faced off against Serena Deeb, a former WWE wrestler, and participated in the signing ceremony for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Shirakawa’s fluent English impressed the crowd, raising expectations for the PPV.
Shirakawa’s US tour was a groundbreaking experience, not only for her but also for her fellow wrestlers. Her relationship with Mariah May, formed in Japan, was incorporated into her storyline in the US. The team of Tony Storm and Shirakawa worked well together, despite initial doubts.
Shirakawa’s opponents, including Saraya, a former WWE Paige, presented a formidable challenge. Saraya’s autobiographical story has been made into a movie, and she is currently fighting in AEW. The enthusiasm of the American crowd, chanting “WE WANT MINA!”, was a testament to Shirakawa’s growing popularity in the US.