Out transgender Japanese pro wrestling star VENY has found a new avenue into America.
According to The Cut, VENY has signed a contract with upstart U.S.-based Japanese women’s, or Joshi, wrestling promotion Sukeban.
The news was revealed in an interview with Joshi wrestling legend and Sukeban on-screen commissioner Bull Nakano without further details on the nature of VENY’s deal with the company.
The signing gives VENY her first regular wrestling spot in America. After building herself into one of the top female freelancers in Japanese pro wrestling over the better part of a decade, VENY made her U.S. debut at 2022’s “Wrestle Queerdom” event in an all-trans-femme main event against Edith Surreal.
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She also made appearances with American promotions Game Changer Wrestling and Dai Kaiju Pro in 2023.
Sukeban is an interesting place for her to land. The company co-founded by fashion designer Olympia Le-Tan wraps its presentation in the culture of Joshi wrestling to the same degree as the wrestling itself, taking inspiration from the girl gangs of the Japanese sexual revolution during the 1960s-70s.
Sukeban ran events in New York City and Miami last year and received a ton of mainstream press for its fashion- and culture-forward approach to its in-ring action.
The company features a number of popular Joshi wrestlers in personas and in-ring garb that differs from their usual characters, creating this encapsulated world of characters and factions within Sukeban itself.
There is little doubt that VENY can fit into this highly-stylized presentation, but her deal with Sukeban could also make working regularly in America outside of the promotion much easier.
VENY was forced to pull out of appearances with California-based promotions West Coast Pro Wrestling and Kitsune Women’s Wrestling, including a dream match against fellow trans pro wrestling icon Dark Sheik, earlier this year.
No reason was officially given for the cancellations, but there was speculation that VENY ran into issues acquiring a U.S. work visa. Signing with a promotion based in America could allow her more opportunities to wrestle in the U.S. beyond Sukeban seeing as most of the company’s roster do not wrestle exclusively for the company.
Regardless of speculation, VENY showed joy at the news on social media. “Please accept me this time,” she posted alongside American flag and laughing emojis.
Hopefully VENY will make her return to the U.S. at Sukeban’s next event scheduled to be held in Los Angeles in May.
