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Sumie Sakai (November 24, 1971) is a Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist. She currently resides in the United States, appearing with professional wrestling promotions in the northeastern United States such as Women's Extreme Wrestling and CHIKARA as well as a regular performer in Ring of Honor.

Early life[]

As a young woman, Sakai practiced judo. From 1995 to 1997, she halted her practice of judo to work with senior citizens at the Kasugamachi Care Center in Kanazawa, Ishikawa.

Professional wrestling career[]

Japan[]

Sakai became involved in wrestling when her friend and fellow judo practitioner, Megumi Yabushita, invited her to join the wrestling industry. Sakai trained under Jaguar Yokota and made her debut on April 20, 1997 with the Yoshimoto Ladies Pro Wrestling promotion, facing Yabushita in the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo. She went on to form a tag team with Yabushita named Yabusaka.

Later in 1997, Sakai began wrestling for Yokota's JDStar promotion, where she won both the JDStar Junior Championship and the JDStar Queen of the Ring Championship. She also won the Women's Championship of the affiliated American Wrestling Federation and the Tag Team Championship of the affiliated Trans-World Wrestling Federation. In 1999, she suffered a broken leg while wrestling Lioness Asuka. While rehabilitating, Sakai became enamored of American professional wrestling, and resolved to one day wrestle in the United States.

While in Japan, Sakai faced several prominent male Japanese wrestlers, including Dick Togo, The Great Sasuke and Jinsei Shinzaki. She furthered her training under Bison Kimura, Cooga and Lioness Asuka.

United States[]

Sakai wrestled her first match in the United States in 2002. In May 2002, she began a three-month tour of the US, where she feuded with Mercedes Martinez in New England Championship Wrestling. While in the promotion, she and Martinez traded the North American Women's Championship, but Sakai was champion when she returned to Japan. In 2003, she left JDStar and relocated to the United States.

In December 2003 and January 2004, Sakai appeared with Ring of Honor, defeating Alison Danger and losing to April Hunter. She returned to Ring of Honor on August 20, 2005, losing to Lacey at Do or Die 5.

On April 17, 2005, Sakai organized "WE LOVE SABU", a pair of shows held at the Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo. "WE LOVE SABU" was organized in support of Sabu, an American wrestler who had been afflicted with a serious virus in the summer of 2004, with the proceeds of the show going towards paying Sabu's medical bills. The show featured Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling alumni such as Masato Tanaka and Extreme Championship Wrestling alumni such as The Sandman. Sabu eventually made a complete recovery, returning to the ring on May 21, 2005.

In 2009, Sakai began training with Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Bill Scott. She currently holds a blue belt.

In 2012, Sakai joined Kurt Pellegrino's Mixed Martial Arts Academy in Belmar, NJ to better her BJJ and pursue her MMA career.

She has also been performing regularly for Ring of Honor since 2015 for its Women of Honor division. Since 2018 she is participating in the tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Women of Honor Champion, where she won in the first round (at ROH 16th Anniversary Show) against Hana Kimura.

Mixed martial arts[]

Sakai made her mixed martial arts debut on October 14, 2006, fighting American kickboxer Amy Davis in a bout promoted by Tom Supnet of the "Primal Tribe Fighting Club" as part of the Xtreme Fight Series II event. The bout ended in a no contest at the end of the first three-minute long round after Davis suffered an arm injury and was unable to continue as a result of an armbar applied by Sakai.

In wrestling[]

  • Finishing moves
    • Diving splash
    • Smash Mouth (Rolling Cutter)
    • Fisherman's Neckbreaker
  • Signature moves
  • "Pune Tang" (WEW)
  • Tag teams and stables
  • YABUSAKA
  • Entrance music

Championships and accomplishments[]

  • AWF Women's Championship (2 times)
  • JDStar Junior Championship (1 time)
  • JDStar Queen of the Ring Championship (1 time)
  • NECW North American Women's Championship (1 time)
  • PWU: Wrestle-Reality
  • PWU Unified Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Pro Wrestling World
  • Pro Wrestling World-1 Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Trans-World Wrestling Federation
  • Valkyrie Women's Professional Wrestling
  • International Joshi Grand Prix (2014)

External links[]

2008 PWI Top 50 Females
Amazing KongBeth PhoenixGail KimMickie JamesMsChifSara Del ReyRoxxi LaveauxMelinaMichelle McCoolCandice MichelleMercedes MartinezVictoriaTaylor WildeODBDaizee HazeAngelina LoveJacquelineApril HunterNattie NeidhartSumie SakaiAllison DangerTracy BrooksVelvet SkySarah StockMickie KnucklesKatie Lea BurchillCherryCheerleader MelissaMaria KanellisAmber O'NealLexie FyfeKelly KellyCindy RogersJillian HallMalia HosakaChristie RicciBecky BaylessAlere Little FeatherLayla ElKelly CoutureJaime DChristy HemmeMilena RouckaAnnie SocialLuFistoTrenesha BiggersDanyahJennifer BlakeDaffneyPortia Perez
2018 PWI Top 100 Females
Ronda RouseyAlexa BlissCharlotte FlairIo ShiraiAsukaShayna BaszlerCarmellaNia JaxMayu IwataniKairi SaneBecky LynchSumei SakaiSu YungSasha BanksTessa BlanchardAllieBayleyKagetsuToni StormNatalyaEmber MoonRosemaryLufistoNikki CrossNaomiNicole SavoyCharlie MorganKris WolfMercedes MartinezDakota KaiRuby RiottMomo WatanabeSarah LoganHiroyo MatsumotoSarayaTaya ValkyrieChihiro HashimotoMia YimKelly KleinShazza McKenzieVanessa KravenMickie JamesTsukasa FujimotoMadison EaglesCheerleader MelissaMeiko SatomuraDelilah DoomJordynne GraceDeonna PurrazzoKimber LeeStarlight KidChelsea GreenLiv MorganViperSantana GarrettZoey SkyeNicole MatthewsFaby ApacheIvelisseHana KimuraJungle KyonaCandice LeRaeRhea RipleyTenille DashwoodKC SpinelliJessicka HavokKiera HoganLeva BatesMandy RoseDalys La CaribeñaBritt BakerSonya DevilleRisa SeraMadison RayneMari ApacheKaitlin DiemondJinnyShotzi BlackheartSammii JayneBea PriestleyKay Lee RayRhia O'ReillyXandra BaleBrandi RhodesBianca BelairKaren QMelanie CruiseNevaehKikyoRachael ElleringGisele ShawPeyton RoyceAlicia FoxHudson EnvyVeda ScottZoe LucasAlexia NicoleSamantha HeightsJewells MaloneSkylar
2019 PWI Top 100 Females
Becky LynchCharlotte FlairRonda RouseyShayna BaszlerTessa BlanchardBayleyNatalyaIo ShiraiMercedes MartinezNicole SavoyAsukaAlexa BlissToni StormSasha BanksTaya ValkyrieMayu IwataniAllieNikki CrossAllysin KayBea PriestleyRosemaryKagetsuLacey EvansCarmellaMia YimJordynne GraceEmber MoonArisa HoshikiKelly KleinJessicka HavokSu YungMomo WatanabeBritt BakerLuFistoRhea RipleyBianca BelairHiroyo MatsumotoShazza McKenzieSaraya KnightLady ShaniNaomiRuby RiottRihoFaby ApacheJinnyUtami HayashishitaKay Lee RayCheerleader MelissaPeyton RoyceBrandi RhodesSarah LoganDana BrookeAngelina LoveKiera HoganSumie SakaiSamantha HeightsBillie KaySantana GarrettMadison RayneSonya DevilleHana KimuraHikaru ShidaKacy CatanzaroJungle KyonaCandice LeRaeNyla RoseMandy RoseKonamiJessamyn DukeLiv MorganJazzy GabertMarina ShafirMickie JamesNicole MatthewsPiper NivenTam NakanoLeva BatesShotzi BlackheartRhia O'ReillyNevaehLady MaravillaMaya YukihiZoey SkyeSolo DarlingDeonna PurrazzoZoe LucasRachael ElleringKC SpinelliScarlett BordeauxKimber LeeXia BrooksideGisele ShawMaddison MilesAlexia NicoleHolideadIsla DawnThunder RosaVeda ScottJody ThreatKris Statlander
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