Janai Kai is one of the top wrestlers on the U.S. indies scene right now as she is the reigning Ladies Night Out Champion but also participates as part of GCW, Women's Wrestling Army, DEADLOCK Pro, and many others.
That said, she had a chance to show what "The Kick Demon" was all about worldwide as she traveled to Japan for the first time to compete with Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (TJPW). Not only that, but in Kai's second match, she challenged Miu Watanabe for the International Princess Championship.
While she wasn't able to come up with the victory, Kai showed that one day that title may be hers.
In an interview with Fightful's Scott Edwards, Kai explained her mindset heading into the match.
"I was definitely nervous and anxious," Kai said. "Very, very anxious because I knew I was gonna be able to perform and show who I was. 1000%. Especially for a title match. I needed to step up 1000% more than the last time. Because the last time was a tag match. Now people are going to see me in a singles. We did the press conference and everything. I don’t know if you watched it, but I was talking a lot of crap. I was like, ‘I’m going to create this, to really be something, really make this a fight for Miyu.’ So that was my goal overall. After the match, that’s when emotions really got to me and I was about to start crying when I got to the back before they even interviewed me.’ It was a lot of emotions regarding that.
"When it comes to a match, I make sure I’m very intense. I’m very good when it comes to that and make sure that I’m sharp and everything. This is the first time I ever even felt these emotions after a match where I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ I was emotional not only because of what just happened, but I was like, ‘This cannot be the last time that I’m here. This can’t be. I have to come back.’ I felt that, too, like how you said a lot of people wanted to see more of me. I still have a lot more to show. I didn’t do everything that I have in that match. There’s a lot more that I can do."
Kai battled Watanabe for over 10 minutes in Nagoya before just falling short, but she made Watanabe feel every bit of her offense in the encounter. When asked about not being able to successfully win the championship, Kai said she needs to get back there to add that to her accolades as well.
"That, too," Kai said. "I didn’t win the title. I was this close. I could have knocked her head out. That’s just another thing to have to come back for."
Kai is nowhere close to done with working as part of the TJPW roster as she's set to take part in their first-ever U.S. show during WrestleMania Week in Los Angeles. "The Kick Demon" will get another singles match as she takes on TJPW's Yuki Kamifuku.
Everyone can check out the full interview with Janai Kai in the video linked above. Also be sure to visit Fightful's YouTube channel to check out recent interviews with Keith Lee, Davey Boy Smith Jr, Masha Slamovich, and the Street Profits.