UMIKO SAKAGUCHI

Article by: Casey Kingsley

Photographer: Color of Midnight

Umiko belongs to: Leviathan Inc.

Good evening everyone! Welcome back to another episode of The Midnight Talk! The monthly show where we sit down and talk with some of your favorite fighters both in and out of the ring.

Tonight's episode is brought to you once again by our sponsors, Leviathan Inc., as we sit down and talk with someone who's been the talk of the black and blue brand for quite some time. An elite fighter and now a champion too!

It is with great honor that I, Casey Kingsley, give a warm welcome to Umiko Sakaguchi! Leviathan's very own Jewel of Atlantis!!

Thank you for joining us Umiko, you have been quite the topic all around the Leviathan community. Congratulations on your title win! Or I should say wins. How does it feel?

Well, it's nothing short of a pleasure to be here Casey, um yeah, it's certainly intimidating at times seeing my name everywhere. But I feel it's an honor more than anything. Oh, why thank you, I wish it were under more clean-cut and fairer circumstances that I got this jewel... but- all I can do is honor the prior champion by defending it as long as possible so when she gets back, we can have a fair rematch for it. So, best believe with every win I get with this jewel, I'm thinking of Akira Ito and defending her legacy.

Right... Akari Ito... why don't we talk about that match? People all over the Leviathan forums and fanbase have studied that iconic match over and over. The facts are pretty clear cut. With how the match was going, as much as I hate to say it, you were probably destined to fail. Do you agree with that sentiment?

You know... as we know in wrestling, unlike other sports with scoreboards and must have you- it's hard to determine who's winning until we hear that bell. So I understand people's belief- Akira absolutely had me on the ropes. She was a competitor I haven't faced in all my wrestling years. But I'd argue we were neck-and-neck at that moment. Until that masked Red Herring decided to tip the scales...in my favor. Which I am still searching for the reason for.

Well, that's the other thing too. A lot of people online are trying to figure out this Red Herring mystery. What their goal is, who they are, those are just some of the questions people are asking. One big theory that's come up is that you hired the Red Herring, and that you got upset when you noticed that they broke the belt when they helped you. Any thoughts on that? Or maybe a theory of your own?

I know there’s plenty of unknowns in this situation and things that I can’t explain- but what I can make known like I have before… I did NOT hire Red Herring. I do not have any ties to this individual. I would never dare to stoop so low to hire someone to fight my battles for me… and most certainly wouldn’t ever hire a hitman to injure a peer of mine.

Do you plan on giving Akari another shot then? When she recovers and comes back to the ring, will you give her a chance to fight for her title back? To actually settle the score with no intervention?

Of course! Despite her having the rematch clause as a champion- she deserves a chance to defend it properly regardless of the clause or not. As we all know, she didn't lose it under fair circumstances. And I would like to make it up to her- so until that rematch, I'm gonna keep defending this belt as long as I can for her because that streak of hers shouldn't have ended with me. So I feel I'm sort of carrying that along through me at least...

Do you really? Are your reasons really all that noble? We've heard rumors going around that all of this, this huge open challenge you've started, it's all one big ego trip now that you've gotten a taste of being champ. So, what's going to happen when you- What's going to happen when you lose one of these challenges? If you lose one of these challenges.

When I was a little girl, I made a promise someone in life that’s sadly no longer here with us, that I would never settle and to always try to be better… Better at living as a person. I keep that promise every day in my heart, because I break it then I forego that last moment I had with her. And I don’t ever want to do that- Now given the responsibility of this belt- that promise applies more than ever. Because that promise is who I am as a person. If that entails me to be egotistical like to those say I am then to which their own. Because this promise I made all those years ago- I intend to keep it because the ifs don’t matter to me. What matters to me is that I keep my word. So if I have to defend this belt for months until Akari returns then I will see her then it. If I say this open challenge is for her then I mean it! Because at the end of the day, like the promise I made all those years ago- I intend to keep my promises I give today. Both mean that much to me…

Huh... alright. That does sound pretty noble of you. Well then, you better keep winning for her! I think I speak for everyone when I say that we're looking forward to that rematch. One more question before we shift gears. Is there anyone special you're looking forward to fighting? Or any memorable challenges so far?

Hehe I plan to because I do wish to see her again- regardless of the rematch. And oh that’s a good one- um hmm. You know that’s hard because since my open challenge- I have zero clue who will step up next. But sort of a callout and dream match pitch- you know I would love to see Pearl in the ring. I think her name is Chiara? Yeah I think she’s super under appreciated, hard worker from what I’ve seen, and I think she has a mean Superkick let me tell ya. I think if we faced that would certainly be a bout I think.

Well, if you're hearing this Pearl, then consider this Umiko's very own formal invitation. And before we move on, Ms. Scylla herself wanted to make sure that you got this.

Given how the belt got shattered to pieces during that unfortunate incident, the good people of Leviathan have decided to award you, Umiko, with a BRAND NEW Jewel of Atlantis belt!!

I-I… wow just- wow! I can tell… that they… spared no expense for this thing. Just wow.

Looks cool doesn't it? Leviathan has never been one to cut corners, I could tell from day one. This office, your belt, and even the upcoming Excalibur Tournament! Ms. Scylla and the people at Leviathan have made sure to pay for quality. You've seen the Holy Grail by now. Tell me, what do you think of it? Promises aside, would you ever consider trading your title for that cup? To take one of the spots in the tournament?

Knowing our CEO, what you said is nothing short of accurate. And yes I saw it, quite the cup to get. -But not something I would trade for a jewel like this. Despite how tempting that offer may sound hehe.

And what do you think of the whole tournament? It's been the other big talk of Leviathan recently. As one of Leviathan's elites, what are your thoughts on the tournament? Any favorites you might be rooting for?

I think the tournament is an excellent idea, give talent a more of an opportunity to make a name for themselves. I would know, a very similar event catapulted me towards the eyes of the Leviathan fans when a majority of people didn’t even know I existed at the time hehe. You know that’s a hard one- there’s so many interesting names in this event. But if I had to put my spotlight somewhere it would have to be on Barracuda. Lato has been put so much work these years as an elite. I’ve seen him in his prime and we know what he’s capable of. I honestly think he deserves that chance again to be an elite.

There we go. Alright we're running short on time now Umiko, mind if we move on to the rapid fire questions and call it?

Why of course, I'm ready for what you got to throw at me!

Favorite color
- Hushed Green
How tall are you?
- About 6ft with the hair- without it would be... I will get back to you on that
Favorite show/movie
- Easy, Kaiju KO-llission!
Favorite animal
- Uuuuh Garter Snakes
Favorite wrestling move
- Triangle Choke
Favorite food
- Anago
Favorite match you've fought
- It would have to be... my five-way match with Kraken, Mizuko, Barracuda, and Ms. Scylla in one of my first matches with the company.

How exciting! Thank you again for joining me tonight Umiko and once more, congrats on the new belt. Any last words for the audience before we call it a wrap?

It was a pleasure Casey and thank you again for such an amazing surprise. As for you guys- uuuh stay tuned to the Champion Gazette and my future title defenses. Because like this amazing show, I will never let you all down when the lights are out. Good night everyone.

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