Mina Shirakawa Reflects on Following Her Dreams To Become a Pro Wrestler

– During a recent chat with AEW’s Renee Paquette on Close-Up, recently signed AEW star Mina Shirakawa discussed her journey of becoming a wrestler, and going against her the wishes of her strict of her strict family to follower her dreams. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com):

Mina Shirakawa on her family upbringing: “I grew up in a very strict family, and my father runs an IT company. He has his own company. So I was expected to study hard, [and] some day take over his business. I was expected. So I went to an all girl private school from junior high. And I studied hard, passed the university entrance exam, and I worked for a bridal company…”

On her dream of becoming a wrestler: “So I followed my parents thinking…[But] deep inside, I had a dream, because ever since I was a child, I admired the people I saw on TV. I wanted to be them…So it was my dream for a long time. So I started working, but I couldn’t ignore my feelings. So I quit [my] job, and I started, entered into the entertainment world.”

On following her dream of becoming a wrestler: “One day, someone invited me to go see pro wrestling. I go ‘Yeah, okay. Let’s go.’ So it was [my] first time when I watch wrestling. I was so shocked…It was New Japan in a small arena. I saw in the ring, they were fighting with everything they had. So I realized ‘Oh. I have to do the same thing for my dreams, to take the dream.'”

On wrestling being her emotional support: “So watching wrestling is my emotional support. So I was, for a long time, a big fan of pro wrestling. But one day, I asked to myself ‘If I die tomorrow, are you satisfied with your life?’ The answer was no. I have to challenge for wrestling. And then…so I had no experience in sports, but I decided to challenge for wrestling…and I became a wrestler.”

Mina Shirakawa officially joined the AEW roster last month. She last wrestled on the June 4 edition of AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest, where she teamed with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, beating Julia Hart and Skye Blue.