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by Yukiko Obarra, February 9th, 1999 [Sorry I have been away so long, but I have finished school and now have an official position with Puroresuringu Nikki Magazine! I will be helping with JIWWA reports and writing articles full time! I have also been very busy tracking down news like this...] I was recently able to speak with RINGST*RS director Kuniko Yamada about the closing of RINGST*RS, its talent, and what may happen next. "It was a sad day for all of us when I made the official announcement, but it could not be avoided. We had a lot of bad luck both financially and otherwise. The absence of Misae Suzuki hurt our gates. Holly Volley, who was perhaps our most popular American worker, suffered a shoulder injury which kept nagging and getting worse. Finally, she had no choice but to take time off. There was also the problem with some improperly filed (on our part) visa paperwork which kept Solie and Bryant from making show dates recently. All of this accumulated and simply made it a better decision to close." There have been rumors on the inside that Yamada and her staff have been working on other things already however. "I have taken a position with JIWWA now. I will be a head booker and talent coordinator. A similar position to the one I held there before I left to start RINGST*RS. I am also working on promoting several 'events'. These will be one time shows, each with a special theme. I can't seem to get this out of my blood so I have to do something (laughs). I will try to bring things that are rarely seen lately such as women's shoot and even deathmatch tournaments." Yamada-san went on to say that these may start very soon, depending on the response from talent and fans. She urges both wrestlers and fans to contact her at gappa23@yahoo.com with comments and suggestions for these events. [Up next for me is my major interview with former judoka, Hitomi Yasuda! She talks about her career away from Japan, her relationship with G-Pro wrestler TORA Wanizame and about her upcoming return to the ring.] 
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