Io Shirai is currently set to take on Charlotte Flair for the NXT Women’s Championship. While there won’t be a crowd in attendance, that did not stop her from detailing the differences between Japanese and American crowds on WWE The Bump.
Here is the full quote, courtesy of Wrestling Inc.:
“So, wrestling in Japan, the win or the defeat is the biggest factor that makes the audience react. But in the US, it’s more than the win or the defeat. It’s the process that leads into it, which makes the audience react. I’m only focused on the win in Japan. But when I arrived in the US, I realized that just winning the match won’t make me supported by the audience. It’s more about the process and the story that leads to the win or the defeat. That’s shared with the audience. When I realized that, I was able to immerse myself more into pro wrestling. That’s the difference between here and Japan.”
Shirai wrestled in the Japanese-based Stardom promotion prior to signing with WWE in 2018. Traditionally, wins and losses matter more in Japanese wrestling than in WWE as evident by Shirai’s words.
Winning a match and the struggle it takes to win a match are more likely to connect you with a Japanese audience than a WWE one. In WWE, they continue to put the emphasis on storylines and characters over the in-ring action when telling stories.
What do you think of this opinion from Io Shirai? Let us know on Twitter!
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