WWE’s Meiko Satomura wants Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair dream matches after NXT UK Women’s Championship run

WWE superstar Meiko Satomura was crowned NXT UK Women’s Champion on Thursday night – and she’s realised a ‘dream come true’.

The legendary wrestler – known to fans as the Final Boss – proved to be just that this week as she defeated Kay Lee Ray to end her opponents reign just short of the two year mark.

Speaking about her opponent, she exclusively told Metro.co.uk: ‘She’s a true champion.’

Meiko has come into the brand as a newcomer to WWE but a veteran of the business, and she’s been delighted by the talent on display by the younger members of the roster.

‘The young superstars have a very high skill and potential,’ she said. ‘[I’m] very happy to be in NXT UK. It’s a dream come true!’

Looking to the future, Satomura will no doubt be focused on her new prize, but she’s also got some dream matches in mind across WWE’s NXT, SmackDown and Raw brands in the United States.

‘First, I want to beat Kay Lee Ray,’ she said, shortly before doing just that. ‘But next, Io Shirai, Sasha Banks and Charlotte [Flair].’

She’s also excited at the prospect of working with current NXT Tag Team Champions MSK – Nash Carter and Wes Lee – having shared the ring with them a few times on the independent scene.

While she “hopes” they can work together again, the duo were full of praise for Satomura, whom Nash described as the ‘best wrestler in the world’.

Also speaking exclusively to Metro.co.uk, his tag team partner added: ‘She’s an absolute sweetheart as well. Just sitting down and having a conversation with her, it was cool, it was great. She’s a legend!

‘We were seen as peers. That’s the great thing about this artform. You can have a Pablo Picasso hanging out with somebody that draws stick figures. That’s the comparison that you can have, and the wealth of knowledge is passed along.

‘That’s what we have – we have Picassos, Van Goughs, Da Vincis, and they are teaching us younger artists how to make these masterpieces. It’s beautiful!’

Meanwhile, the new champ has been celebrating with the gold round London, carrying it round the city and even posing outside Buckingham Palace.

Days before their title clash, Kay Lee Ray had high praise for her opponent and the impact she’s had on the locker room as a whole.

‘Meiko Satomura is one of the best wrestlers – the best wrestler, in my opinion – in the world today,’ she told us. ‘she’s a phenomenal person, and I’ve seen the way girls react to her. There’s a buzz about that locker room just now.’

And the former champ noted how the roster has been inspired by the new champ’s arrival.

‘I know there’s a lot of really, really talented girls in that [Performance Center]. With someone like her around, we are all just taking these wee steps, just getting better and better,’ she added.

‘I like that, I like that there’s a fire. That’s all because of her.’

Meiko has seen that drive too, and she’s been delighted with the environment after arriving in the UK.

‘I like London! I like the UK,’ she smiled. ‘NXT UK has passion, it’s very important.’

*NXT UK airs Thursdays (8pm) on the WWE Network, and Fridays (10pm) on BT Sport.

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