IYO SKY explains how WWE matches are ‘completely different’ from Japan
Wrestling for WWE is a completely different experience for IYO SKY than the matches she had in Japan.
SKY is returning to her home country this month for two WWE house shows in Tokyo on October 17-18. She’ll then compete for Japanese women’s promotion Marigold on October 26, taking on Mayu Iwatani.
Ahead of the events, SKY spoke with The Japan Times and discussed how she’s adapted to WWE in the seven years she’s been with the company. She compared Japanese matches to a sports broadcast and WWE matches to a TV program.
“Japanese professional wrestling is more like a ‘sports broadcast,’ so wrestlers only need to concentrate on the match,” she said. “But WWE is a TV program, so the match and drama need to be conveyed to viewers through the camera. To do this, while fighting opponents during a match, wrestlers do countless other things simultaneously — all in English. It’s no exaggeration to say that it’s completely different from a match in Japan.”
SKY told The Japan Times that the greatest moment of her life happened earlier this year when she defeated Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair in an instant classic at WrestleMania 41. SKY retained the Women’s World Championship in that match, though the title is now currently held by Stephanie Vaquer.
“I’m apparently the first Japanese woman to win at WrestleMania,” Sky said. “And since it was also a defense of WWE’s most prestigious title, it was definitely the greatest moment of my life. Not just the result but also being with the best wrestlers in Bianca and Rhea. I was able to take on the best stage, the best performers, the best match, and make the most of history.”
SKY’s current WWE storyline has her aligned with Ripley in a feud with Asuka and Kairi Sane. They’ll face off in a tag match at Crown Jewel: Perth this Saturday.
Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.
In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated's wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.