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Janai Kai is all about fairness.
The MLW Women’s Featherweight Champion spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of MLW Kings Of Colosseum. Kai will defend her title against Delmi Exo, the woman she beat for the title back in October 2023. The pair have faced off multiple times since then, including a Taekwondo Rules match at MLW’s Pit Fighters special in September 2024.
However, the stakes are higher this time, as the next match will be a “title versus hair” match, with Exo putting her hair on the line. Kai, who confirmed she is under a one-year contract with MLW, reflected on her run with the promotion so far and said the latest match stipulation comes as a result of “fairness” on her part.
“[This feud] has been building up for over a year now. When I made my debut, I won the title from Delmi. So, ever since then, I know she’s been hungry to get that title back. And she’s had many opportunities, many more opportunities since then. And she hasn’t been successful with it,” Kai noted. “I guess for her really, she wants to prove that she can lose her hair for this if she wanted to. So, she’s putting her hair on the line and of course, she wants my title. So, I will put my title on the line to make it fair.”
Janai Kai can help Delmi Exo find a new hairstyle after she shaves her head
Janai Kai is confident heading into Kings Of Colosseum and expects to return her title. Of course, that would mean that Exo would be forced to cut her hair off. Kai, who sports a high ponytail mohawk and closely shaved sides, noted that she cuts her own hair and might be able to help the “God Queen” find a new hairstyle.
“If she needs my help again with that part, by all means, I will go ahead and do that,” Kai explained. “Because I even cut my own hair. I make my own mohawk and everything. But if she wants something similar to that I can help her out, maybe a little design.
“We can make it creative, make it look a little more different. She has long hair, we need to switch it up. We need to make her look a little bit different,” Kai added. “I’m sure she can agree with that. So, yeah. I’m thinking somewhere along the lines of a design on the side maybe. Maybe one side shaved, that’ll be cool.”
Janai Kai is thankful for her incredible run in MLW
Janai Kai is not only the longest-reigning Women’s Featherweight Champion ever, but she also has the fourth-longest title reign of any championship in MLW history. Kai is thankful for how things have played out so far, noting Jesus Rodriguez (fka Ricardo Rodriguez) and Salina de la Renta as some of the names who have helped her along the way.
“It’s crazy to me because I feel like it’s happening all really fast,” Kai explained. “Before I came into MLW, I was in Japan, and I wasn’t really sure of where I was going when I came back home. And so, I had this invite to come through to MLW, and ever since then I’ve just — obviously, it’s been great being champion for this long. But my experience there has been… I’m just very thankful to work with those who are there.
“For example, Jesus Rodriguez is a big person that has been helping me out. But like, everybody overall, even production has been very helpful,” she added. “So, it’s just that even gain that experience there, because I’m coming into a place where it’s not like an indie show. It’s not like anything else I’ve really been to before. And so, it’s really taught me a lot overall as a wrestler.”
Janai Kai will defend her title against Delmi Exo in a “hair vs. title” match at MLW Kings Of Colosseum on Saturday, January 11. Watch our full interview with Janai Kai below:
