In the past two decades, WWE has actively recruited many Japanese wrestlers, owing to the success of NJPW. Whether male wrestlers or female wrestlers, WWE has hired some bright talents from the island country, and one of them is IYO SKY.

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IYO SKY became popular with WWE fans in NXT and is a former WWE Womenâs Champion. Both as a heel and babyface, IYO SKY has been phenomenal. The fans have already seen her brilliant work in the ring, but the following are some real-life facts about the Japanese Superstar.
UPDATE: 2025/03/11 14:34 EST BY BENJAMIN VIEIRA
IYO SKY is one of the greatest competitors in all of WWE today. Ever since she debuted, she has proven the abilities that she possesses when it comes to battling in the ring. She is one of the promotionâs most accomplished names, having held almost every single title that she has challenged for. With her recent Womenâs World Championship win, SKY will compete at WrestleMania for the second year in a row in a world title match. Currently, she is set to face Bianca Belair. But, it is specualted that the woman she beat for the title, Rhea Ripley, will also be involved as well.
IYO SKY Competed In The Mae Young Classic
Wrestled Toni Storm In 2018 Finals Of The Tournament
- The Mae Young Classic happened twice in WWE.
- SKY wreslted names like Xia Brookside, Deonna Purrazzo, and Rhea Ripley.
- She was the runner-up in 2018.
After signing for WWE, Io Shirai competed in the second edition of the Mae Young Classic in 2018. Although it was her first Mae Young Classic tournament, she gave a stellar performance to reach the final.
IYO SKYâs Real Name Is Masami Odate
She Also Used The Ring Name Io Shirai
- SKY formerly used the name Io Shirai in WWE.
- When she returned to the company, she was renamed IYO SKY.
- Her real name is Masami Odate.
It isnât too uncommon for wrestlers to use ring names. While some wrestlers do use their real names, most donât. WWE being a massive company loves to use the ring names of most performers. IYO âs real name is Masami Odate. which is far different from her ring name. When she returned to WWE, she changed her name from Io Shirai to IYO SKY.
IYO SKYâs Sister Is Also In The Wrestling Business
They Wrestled Together On Independent Scene
- Mio Shirai made her debut in 2007.
- She wrestled in AJPW.
- She held numerous titles while wrestling in Japan.
IYO SKY has an elder sister, who is part of the wrestling business. She goes by the name Mio Shirai. While Mio Shirai was also a wrestler, she retired back in 2015. She currently works as a wrestling referee for different promotions. Unlike her sister, Mio Shirai has never been in a WWE ring. Both the sisters worked together as a tag team and even won titles in the independent circuit.
IYO SKY Is One Of WWEâs Shortest Wrestlers
Official Height: 5â1âł
- SKY is one of WWEâs shortest wrestlers.
- In 2023, she won the WWE Womenâs Championship.
- Since her return, she has been a member of Damage Ctrl.
At 5â1, IYO SKY is one of the most impressive wrestlers on WWEâs main roster at the moment. While she is one of the shorter wrestlers in the companyâs womenâs division, she has more than proven that she can go toe-to-toe with WWEâs best superstars there.
Her billed weight is around 120 pounds. However, IYO SKY is still taller than the likes of Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross.
IYO SKY Wrestled In The Independent Circuit For A Decade
She Won Championships Around The World
- IYO SKY was a highly accomplished name prior to signing with WWE.
- She was a multi-time champion in World Wonder Ring Stardom.
- SKY wrestled throughout Japan and Mexico.

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IYO SKY officially signed for WWE in 2017, but she was already an accomplished wrestler in other promotions. As a matter of fact, SKY debuted as a wrestler back in 2007, and she already had 10 years of experience as a professional wrestler. She chased the dream of being a wrestler right after completing her school life.
She primarily wrestled in the indies of Japan and Mexico. Among Japanese promotions, IYO SKY made a name for herself in Stardom, where she ended up having a long and successful career. She not only won several titles in Stardom but also became the face of the company. She had a number of five-star matches against different opponents there.
Her Match With Utami Hayashishita Was A Dream Match
She Returned To Compete At Marigold Summer Destiny
- Marigold Summer Destiny took place on July 13, 2024.
- The event was hosted by Dream Star Fighting Marigold.
- Giulia faced Sareee for the Marigold World Championship.
Under new leadership, WWE has been allowing their talent to appear on other shows. Shayna Baszler competed in GCW, Charlie Dempsey recently wrestled in TNA, and SKY has also stepped into another promotion recently. At Marigold Summer Destiny, SKY competed against Utami Hayashishita. She called the bout a âdream matchâ and said on X,
âAs a WWE Superstar, I will enter the ring at #ăăȘăŒăŽăŒă«ă July 13th at Ryogoku Kokugikan. This will be a âdream matchâ for womenâs wrestling fans not only in Japan but all over the world. This premium fight will never happen again. Please look forward to it.â (h/t Sportskeeda)
SKY was the victor of the match and, hopefully, fans will get to see her compete in other promotions as well.
IYO SKY Is 34 Years Old
She Has Been Wrestling Since She Was 17
- SKY began wrestling when she was a teenager.
- She was 27 when she signed with WWE.
- SKY is a former NXT Womenâs Champion.
As IYO SKY made her pro debut in 2007, she started wrestling when she was still a teenager. And when she signed for WWE, she was 27-year-old. After spending four years in NXT, IYO SKY is currently 34-years-old.
In her long tenure in the developmental brand, she has won everything there. While she has won the NXT Womenâs Championship, she has also won the NXT Womenâs Tag Team Championship. SKY has since made her main roster debut as a member of Damage CTRL. It has brought her immense success, with WWE Womenâs Tag Team Title reigns and as WWE Womenâs Champion.
She Is A Former NXT Womenâs Champion
She Won The Title From The Queen
- SKY won the title in 2020.
- She held the title for 304 days.
- She had successful defenses against Dakota Kai, Toni Storm, Candice LeRae, and more.
After undergoing a complete makeover in her appearance, IYO SKY set her sights on winning the NXT Womenâs Championship. After fighting for opportunities at the time, she finally accomplished that goal at NXT TakeOver: In Your House 2020. In a triple threat match against Rhea Ripley and Charlotte Flair, SKY came out on top. She won the title and had a tremendous celebration afterward. She also had a great reign at 304 days with the championship within her possession.Eventually, she lost the title to Raquel Gonzalez.
However, this was not the only bit of NXT gold that SKY would hold in her career.
She Was In A Tag Team With Zoey Stark
SKY And Stark Were NXT Womenâs Tag Team Champions
- The two were NXT Womenâs Tag Team Champions for 112 days.
- They defended the titles against The Way and Katana Chance and Kayden Carter.
- They lost the titles at NXT Halloween Havoc 2021.
Before she was in Damage Ctrl, SKY had experience as a tag team competitor in NXT. In 2021, she returned to NXT and almost immediately joined forces with Zoey Stark. It did not take too much time for them to achieve success together. They won the NXT Womenâs Tag Team Championships at the NXT Great American Bash in 2021. However, the two only managed a couple of title defenses before they lost the titles to Toxic Attraction. It was a short-lived chapter in the career of SKY, however, it was the first of a few tag team titles that she would hold while in WWE.
IYO SKYâs WWE Debut Got Delayed Due To Health Conditions
Neck And Heart Issues Prevented Her Initial Signing
- WWE almost signed SKY in 2017.
- Later on, she signed with WWE.
- She was wrestling for Stardom prior to joining WWE.
When WWE signed IYO SKY in 2017, she was expected to make her debut considering she already had years of experience in the ring. After signing her, WWE nullified the contract after finding out about her pre-existing neck and heart issues.
A few months later, WWE approached IYO SKY once again, offering her a WWE contract. She signed for WWE, while she also left Stardom.
Professional Debut |
March 4, 2007 |
Notable Accomplishments |
SWA World Champion, NXT Womenâs Champion, WWE Womenâs Champion, World of Stardom Champion |
Affiliation |
Damage Ctrl |
Hiroshi Tanahashi Is Her Favorite Wrestler
The âAceâ Of NJPW Is A Multi-Time World Champion
- Tanahashi began wrestling in 1999.
- He is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion, IWGP Intercontinental Champion, IWGP United States Heavyweight Champion, and three-time G1 Climax winner.
- Tanahashi serves as the President of NJPW.

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Every wrestler has a particular wrestling hero, who inspires him or her to be a professional wrestler. As IYO SKY is Japanese and has grown up watching Japanese promotions, a Japanese legend is her idol.
Hiroshi Tanahashi, who is considered to be one of the greatest wrestlers of any era, is the favorite wrestler of the former NXT Womenâs Champion. Being an iconic name in NJPW, Tanahashi has won the IGPW Heavyweight Championship a record eight times in his career.
She Has Held 12 Different Titles
SKY Is A Highly Decorated Competitor
- SKY is a six-time Artist of Stardom Champion.
- She is a two-time World of Stardom Champion.
- She has won five different titles in WWE.
At only 34 years old, SKY has accomplished a tremendous amount in professional wrestling. And she does indeed have the resume to prove it. Before she signed with WWE, she was a multi-time champion in Japan. Both in singles and tag team competition, SKY excelled in the ring and won titles in Stardom, TLW, and SWA. Now in WWE, she has won virtually every title available to her.
SKY Is A Former Money In The Bank Winner
She Cashed In On Bianca Belair
- SKY held the WWE Womenâs Title for 246 days.
- She lost the title to Bayley at WrestleMania 40.
At Money In The Bank 2023, SKY joined Bayley, Becky Lynch, Trish Stratus, Zelina Vega, and Zoey Stark in the womenâs ladder match for the briefcase. It saw SKY clash with foes and friends, both old and new. In the end, SKY was victorious. She held the briefcase for a bit, waiting for the right time to cash-in and win main roster gold. At the very next WWE PLE, SummerSlam, she chose her opportunity. In the aftermath of her match against Charlotte Flair and Asuka, Bianca Belair won the WWE Womenâs Championship. However, she was not at 100%. SKY then cashed in and in eight seconds she won the WWE Womenâs Title. It was a great moment for SKY that saw her reach the top of the WWE mountain.
However, she later lost the WWE Womenâs Championship at WrestleMania 40 against Bayley.
IYO SKY Is Single
Iyo Sky Is Not In A Public Relationship At This Time
- It was previously assumed that she was engaged to Evil.
- She dated Nosawa Rongai.
- IYO SKY is assumed to be single.
Itâs common to see wrestlers dating other wrestlers. At the moment, however, it seems that Iyo SKY is not in any public relationship, or is single. Formerly, she was allegedly engaged to Evil, who is a wrestler in NJPW. Evil is a former IWGP Heavyweight Champion.
Before Evil, Io Shirai was in a relationship with another professional wrestler, Nosawa Rongai.
She Is A WarGames Veteran
SKY Has Competed In 6 WarGames Matches
- The first-ever womenâs WarGames match was in 2019.
- She has been on the losing side of four matches.
- Her only victory inside WarGames was in 2021.
WarGames has become an annual part of Survivor Series for the last few years. Over that time, many have stepped into the massive, two ring cage. However, IYO SKY holds a record when it comes to the brutal match.
Since WWE started doing womenâs WarGames matches, SKY has competed in every single one. In total, SKY has competed in five WarGames bouts. At Survivor Series 2024, she will compete in her sixth. However, she has only been on the winning side of one match.
SKY Has Won The WWE Womenâs World Championship
She Beat Rhea Ripley To Win The Title
- This is SKYâs first Womenâs World Title win.
- She has previously challenged for the title.
- The win made SKY a Triple Crown winner.
On a recent episode of Monday Night Raw, IYO SKY shocked the world when she defeated Rhea Ripley to win the Womenâs World Championship. It was a tremendous moment for SKY, who finally became a Triple Crown winner in the company. This means she has held the WWE Womenâs Title, the Womenâs World Title, and the WWE Womenâs Tag Team Titles.
Many expected Ripley to retain and face Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41 in a one-on-one match. However, with SKYâs win, many are speculating the addition of Ripley to WrestleMania 41 and having a triple threat match.
IYO SKY Is A Grand Slam Winner
She Has Won Almost Every Title Available To Her
- SKY is the seventh woman to achieve this.
- She has held titles on Raw, SmackDown, and NXT.

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On March 3, 2025, SKY was able to finally achieve this goal when she won the Womenâs World Championship.