Janai Kai gears up for her title defense.
Coming off the heels of her title win at MLW Slaughterhouse, Janai Kai is now tasked with defending the MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship at MLW One Shot. Kai will put her title on the line against the vibrant Japanese superstar Maki Itoh, marking their third singles encounter.
Despite her two previous losses to Itoh, Kai asserts that Itoh will be meeting a more aggressive “Kick Demon” at One Shot. Speaking with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay, Kai laid out her thoughts heading into this MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship match.
“This is not the first time that we’ve faced in the ring. I’m very much familiar with her, I’ve worked at TJPW. For this time around, it’s a little bit different because I am coming in under Promociones Dorado with Salina De La Renta. I’ve really learned a lot even being with them, even with Rocky Romero and Jesus [Rodriguez]. I’m learning from them and taking notes from them, and so again, I’m coming with a different attitude, a whole different goal in mind.”
“With Maki, she has a head of steel. She’s all cute and whatnot, but you know that I don’t play that,” Kai continued. “I’ve seen her stomping on people’s feet recently too. With me not wearing any shoes, I can prepare for that. Of course, I’m pretty quick myself, so she can try and do that all she wants. But again, this time around is going to be a little bit different, a little bit of a different attitude since the last time she saw me.”
Salina De La Renta’s Upcoming MLW In-Ring Debut
Kai will not be the only representative from Promociones Dorado in action tonight. Rocky Romero is slated to defend the CMLL World Historic Welterweight and MLW World Middleweight Championship against Máscara Dorada. Salina De La Renta, Kai’s manager, will also be competing in the Fusion TV tapings that are set to accompany MLW One Shot.
This occasion will mark De La Renta’s in-ring debut for MLW, as she takes on Ichiban in an intergender match. While De La Renta has not wrestled in general since April 2022, Kai is confident that her manager has properly prepared herself for this upcoming match.
“I’m excited for her,” Kai said. “I’m sure that she has been note-taking. [Seeing] that who she’s managed herself, I’m sure she’s been keeping an eye and taking those mental notes. She’s very educated. She just graduated from college so I can see her really coming in with a whole different attitude, different style. She’s managed those with different styles, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. Ichiban is Ichiban, but I don’t think he’s ready for this.”
MLW One Shot will air live on FITE TV+ on Thursday, December 7 beginning at 8 pm EST.
Watch our full interview with Janai Kai below:
