Izumi Sato

It was February 3, 2017, BWF's Havok/Mayhem Supershow, when Talia Areano (formerly known as Ursula Areano) and I first met in the center of the ring. It was a dream match between two women who had a great deal of respect for one another, but up until that point had never crossed paths. Pundits on Japanese and Argentinian radio brought us up every now and then, contemplating on the possibility of a Sato/Areano match. There was no bad blood between us. Even in the build-up, Ursu--I mean Talia and I were just really excited to meet in the center of the ring, to realize that dream and see who could come out the victor. We hyped and promoted. We held press conferences, did interviews on local radio, the whole nine yards. We wanted this match to happen just as much as everybody else did, if not more. BWF had just completed its brand draft, and we were on different brands. So we weren't going to get another opportunity like this any time soon. Then on that cold winter night in February, the dream became a reality.

I remember that day as if it was yesterday. It started out like any other day in the wrestling scene. We arrived at the arena several hours before the doors opened to the public, but right away I could tell something was different. We had camera crews following us as soon as we got off the bus and walked to the arena. A staffer said it was for the Blu-Ray extras. After an hour of getting our make-up and hair styled, we got to work with our stretches and light exercise before each got a little time to run the ropes and get a feel for things. Standard stuff. But there was electricity in the air. The camera crews stayed with us when permitted, filming and taking pictures. We had interviews, photo shoots, you name it. We were kept busy from the moment we entered the building until the moment they sent us all backstage to the locker rooms and opened the doors to let the fans in. The excitement was so palpable, and then when the fans started piling into their seats, they only made it ramp up so much more. Sure we were only the opening act, and there were several more star-studded matches with greater rewards on the line after us, but we weren't just glorified curtain jerkers. Every treated us like rock stars from the staff in the back to the fans in their seats! Then they called our names to the gorilla position, our music hit, and we made our grand entrances, and the fans showered their love on us! And then the bell rang.

As for the match itself, oh wow, I had butterflies in my belly the size of hungry dragonflies! Talia and I gave each other everything we had in that match! The fans were on their feet, cheering us on the whole way through, and it only fueled us onward! We gave everything we had, laid it all on the line and then some! She hit her big moves, and I hit mine, but neither was willing to back down! No matter how exhausted we were, we just kept pushing onward! We beat each other to a pulp, but it was all good! It was a dream come true! For the fans, for the pundits, but most of all for us! Talia took me to the limit, and for a while, I wasn't sure if I could beat her! She just kept matching everything I threw at her with a little something extra to boot! I was able to surprise her though, hitting a BUSHIDO! out of nowhere for the win!

To be honest, I'm excited just thinking about it! But even more than that, I'm excited because we get to do it all over again! Maybe there isn't as much fanfare involved this time, and maybe it's not going down on the grandest stage! Make no mistake though, Areano vs Sato II just deliver every bit as much as the first one, and more! Now we're a year and a half older. Now we've had that all elusive dream match! We've matched eachother hold for hold and throw for hold! I know what Talia brings to the table, and she knows the same about me! It is a year and a half later though, and with that time difference comes more experience, more intelligence, more improvisation! Yes we know each other, but we're bound to try something new this go around! Perhaps not even intentionally, but out of sheer necessity!

And just like the first time, there's no bad blood between us! I'm sure this match will be just as clean cutas the last one! By the time we've given our last bit of energy, shed our last tear, and spilled our last drop of sweat, the fans may be on their feet yet again, chanting our names! They'll probably be going back and forth throughout the match anyway, chanting her name and mine! Then at the end, when the dust has settled, and the final bell has rung, they'll not be chanting "We want wrestling," but rather, "We want more!" And if Talia wins round two, then maybe we can find swome way to put a best of seven series together, to find out who's really the best!

As much fun as that would be, make no mistake about it - I'm not sitting back on my hands and letting the opportunity pass by me! I love wrestling people like Talia Areano, and I especially love wrestling Talia herself! So you better believe I'm going into this match not just for the experience, not to rekindle a little nostalgia from our days in BWF, but to win! And you know something? I have total confidence that Talia feels the exact same way!

So I hope you'll all be in the arena that night! Buy your tickets while they're still available, and try to get as close to the ring as possible! Because mark my words, you're not going to want to miss a single second of this!