There’s an electricity crackling around the International Princess Championship scene, and Rika Tatsumi is a big part of that.
The Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling mainstay knocked off her longtime tag team partner Miu Watanabe at Grand Princess in May to claim that title. And despite Miu’s popularity, a lot of fans were excited to see Tatsumi become champ.
No surprise there, Tatsumi is one of TJPW’s best in-ring performers. She’s graceful and hard-hitting, energetic and charismatic, an absolute firecracker.
Like TJPW itself, she offers an intriguing blend of fun and fury. In the ring, she will barrel you over and bend your limbs in the most tortuous ways but do it all with a big, beaming smile. She’s well known for going ballistic mid-bout and choking anyone in strangling range.
Her title reign, which has included strong matches against Suzume, Billie Starkz and Vert Vixen so far, could be key in giving the International Princess Championship some real momentum. It’s a title that doesn’t yet have nearly the lineage that the Princess of Princess Championship does.
For one, it’s only been around since 2019. Then just as its history began, the COVID pandemic hit.
Thunder Rosa won the title in January of 2020 and not a thing happened with it after, she couldn’t travel to defend it. Eventually, the star TJPW had pegged to showcase the newer championship had to vacate it.
Fast forward to the present and we’re coming off a quality reign from Watanabe and now Tatsumi is leading the way as International Champ, making the belt feel more and more must-see.
The International Princess Championship is still figuring out its place in the company, still developing its legacy. Who better to do that than Tatsumi?
The White Dragon is a bona fide star on an increasingly talented roster.
Her list of accomplishments in TJPW is as long as a Walgreens receipt; an indication of how comfortable the company has been in relying on her, in positioning her on center stage. Tatsumi won the Princess of Princess Championship in 2021, held the Princess Tag Team Championship for over a year as one half of DayDream (with Miu Watanabe), and won the Futari No Princess Max Heart Tag Team Tournament last year alongside Watanabe.
And when TJPW held the Princess of the Decade tournament this January to celebrate the promotion’s ten year anniversary, it was Tatsumi who came out on top.
More victories, more glory is on the way. Tatsumi’s talent will lead her there several times over, as International Champion or otherwise.
With translation help from TJPW officials, Wrestle Inn had the chance to ask The White Dragon about her title reign, opportunities aboard, her choking skills and more.
Q: What is your vision for the International Princess Championship?
Tatsumi: If the Princess of Princess Championship is a symbol of the strength of TJPW, I think the International Princess Championship has an aspect that anyone can challenge. As the name suggests, it is important to appeal to the world, but I think it is the International Princess belt that can be dyed in the champion’s favorite color, so I would like to have a series of crazy title matches that are uniquely my own.
Q: You already had an excellent bout against Billie Starkz in the USA back in March. Which foreign wrestlers would you like to defend the International Princess title against?
Tatsumi: Max the Impaler has participated in TJPW several times, but I have never had a singles match with them, and they are a friend of mine, so I am interested in them. I also would like to meet Alexa Bliss of WWE, although I am not sure if I will be able to do so.
Q: In the past, you have made it as far as the semi-finals in the Tokyo Princess Cup. What will it take for you to make it to the finals and win the tournament this year, what would a Princess Cup victory mean for your career?
Tatsumi: I am the only one in TJPW to win all kinds of belts and achieve the Grand Slam! I also want to win the Tokyo Princess Cup and achieve another grand slam, so I want to win the championship. In order to do so, I will train hard every day and be on my guard for the tournament.
Q: You’ve found great success in your tag team with Miu Watanabe. What is Miu like as a tag team partner and what have you learned from each other?
Tatsumi: Miu has a strong body like a golem. She is like a fighter plane next to me and makes me feel that I can go anywhere when I ride with her, she is a very exciting partner.
Q: You’ve had a great influence over some of the up-and-coming stars in TJPW, being Miu Watanabe’s long-time tag partner and Suzume’s inspiration for wrestling. Do you take pride when you realize how much of an influence you’re having not just on the present, but the future of TJPW?
Tatsumi: I have never been that conscious of it, but when you say so, I feel that it is meaningful for me to have lived in TJPW for about 10 years. I hope to continue to be a good influence as a senior.
Q: Miyu Yamashita and Maki Itoh have been touring the United States and wrestling for a variety of promotions this year, making appearances along with Yuka Sakazaki in big promotions such as AEW and Ring of Honor. Is that something you would also like to do, do you have any plans to wrestle internationally?
Tatsumi: I don’t think it is easy to be active overseas, and since there are several pioneers from TJPW, so I have strong desire to do my best in Japan. Of course, if I am offered a match, I would love to do so, and I would like to wrestle overseas as Hakuchumu (DayDream)!
Q: With Yuka Sakazaki announcing her graduation and the likes of Itoh and Yamashita becoming more America-focused, do you feel as though there’s a generational shift occurring in TJPW? And does that bring an added pressure as one of the most senior roster members?
Tatsumi: I am glad to see more and more players making a name for themselves even though they have only been debuting for a short time, but I feel that they are still no match for those who have won the Princess of Princess Championship. The more players who threaten us, the more fun it will be for us, and I think the higher we can go as a group.
Q: How did the White Dragon name come about?
Tatsumi: When I debuted my catchphrase was White Angel, but I felt uncomfortable with it. At the time when I changed my name to Rika Tatsumi, I decided to become a girl’s dragon in the wrestling world, so I became White Dragon. I like the image of being strong and sacred, which I think is cool.
Q: If someone were to visit your hometown of Nagano what would you say are the must-try foods? Where is the best place to get oyaki?
Tatsumi: Tenho (a local chain restaurant in Nagano) ramen! I especially like the tantanmen at that restaurant. I would like you to try the edible locusts, although I don’t like them. Locust soft serve ice cream is famous too. Oyaki is sold in all supermarkets in Nagano, and I like the nozawana flavor.
Q: You’ve become known for strangling your opponents. Do you have any tips on executing a good choke?
Tatsumi: I found myself strangling my opponents. My tips is…to take a momentary gap and aim for the neck.
Q: Do you have a final message you would like to share with your international fans?
Tatsumi: Thank you for all your support! I feel romantic that you like my wrestling across the ocean. I will continue to bring you happy surprises. I hope to see all my fans around the world. You are my treasures! With love.
You can keep with Tatsumi on Twitter @doraetles. For updates on TJPW, follow their official account (@tjpw2013) and the DDT/TJPW English Update account (@ddtpro_eng). You can sign up to Wrestle Universe for just ¥900 (approximately $6.50) every month to watch not only TJPW, but also DDT, NOAH and more.
A big thank you to Kay (@KaysQuest) and Finlay (@effbeeaitch) for their additional questions.
Wrestle Inn 