By: Jeff Brown
Photos: Masahiro Kubota
Momo Kohgo is one of the most diverse and intriguing wrestlers in Joshi today. Her career began as a model before switching to stage plays and then on to professional wrestling. She has inspired many with her battles with Graves disease, and her determination has taken her far. Besides the theater and acting roles and music video appearances, she has traveled to Mexico and wrestled in CMLL and in the United States for New Japan Strong.
In Stardom, she has been after the elusive High Speed title, having challenged for it in exciting matches. She also frequently teams with Mayu Iwatani as Peach☆Rock, and she hopes that the duo will be champions someday. Mayu is an inspiration to her, so having a reign with her would be a career highlight. Momo has a strong work ethic, and if her past accomplishments are an indicator, she will achieve these dreams. After her tag win with Mayu at Cinderella Tournament, Momo generously sat down with BodySlam; the interview was done one-on-one entirely in English to further highlight the time she has put into learning and her quest for improvement. We discussed her early career, how she got into wrestling, her love of Lucha, and her goals.
Q – How did you get started in acting? Who are your influences?
A – I didn’t have a passion for acting; before I started acting I was a model. A modeling agency scouted me as a model and I started my career as a model. But the company suddenly disappeared (laughs) because the president got sick. At that same time another agency asked me to be an actor and I just said “Okay” and I tried it. The first time I did acting was on the stage, it was very fun and my dream changed. Originally it wasn’t my dream but I now had a dream to become an actor and I studied. Lily Franky, and Gary Oldman, not really as influences but I really like to see their work.
Q – You started wrestling via AWG, how did you end up joining AWG?
A – One day I was at a stage production and the producer introduced me to the president of Actwres. The producer said “she is athletic” and he asked me to be part of Actwres girl’Z. I was actually a fan of pro wrestling already.
Q – What are the similarities between acting and wrestling if any?
A – Yes, there are a lot of them, such as showing your emotions, but not just through your body language but also through your facial expressions. We talk on a mic too in both; we need strong speaking skills, and we need to tell something from our hearts to the audience.
Q – Your style is very Lucha inspired and you have been to Mexico for CMLL. What is it about the Mexican style and culture that appeals to you?
A – In Mexico, pro wrestling or Lucha is culturally everywhere; in the towns I would see masks everywhere, Lucha newspapers, and children playing Lucha in the streets. Everyday there is Lucha going on in so many places, not just in Arena Mexico but around small towns and I was like “Wow!” and it was very interesting to me. Their life is Lucha, so life and Lucha are the same thing, they are weaved together.
Q – Who inspires you in wrestling and do you have a rival?
A – Mayu Iwatani, I was inspired by her alot because I was a big fan of hers. Rival, is Mei Serra, because I want to be the High Speed champion and she has that belt. I want two belts; one the High Speed and the other the Goddess belts with Mayu.
Q – You recently wrestled with Momo Tani for Pure-J, is there a chance for more in the future? Would you like to visit other promotions and if so which ones?
A – Yes I want to visit so many promotions, Pure-J, but also Fantastica Mania from New Japan/CMLL and Lucha Fiesta (CMLL/Lady’s Ring), so Lucha things.
Q – What are your goals for 2025?
A – I already said (laughs) one is the High Speed belt and the other is Goddess Belts with Mayu. One more; I want to do pro wrestling all over the world, like in the United States or Mexico, anywhere overseas.
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