Asuka (wrestler)

Asuka
Asuka in 2024
Birth nameKanako Urai
Born (1981-09-26) September 26, 1981[1][2]
Osaka, Japan[1][2]
Alma materOsaka University of Arts Junior College
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Asuka[3]
Kana[2]
Kana-hime[4]
Princess Kana[5]
Ramen Woman[6]
Skull Reaper Kana[7]
Tomoe Gozen[8]
Billed height1.60 m (5 ft 3 in)[1][2][9]
Billed weight62 kg (137 lb)[1][2]
Billed fromOsaka, Japan[9]
Trained byYuki Ishikawa[10]
DebutJune 16, 2004[2]
Signature

Kanako Urai (浦井 佳奈子, Urai Kanako; born September 26, 1981)[1][2] is a Japanese professional wrestler. She has been signed to WWE since August 2015, where she performs on the Raw brand under the ring name Asuka (アスカ or 明日華; /ˈɑːskə/) and is one-half of The Kabuki Warriors with Kairi Sane.[9] Urai is often regarded as one of the greatest women's professional wrestlers of all time.[11][12]

Previously known as Kana (華名), she started her professional wrestling career in 2004 in the AtoZ promotion, where she remained until retiring in 2006. She returned to the ring in 2007, starting to work as a freelancer for promotions such as JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina Joshi Puroresu, Smash, and Wrestling New Classic. Her achievements during this time include winning the JWP Openweight Championship, Smash Diva Championship, and Wave Tag Team Championship.

In 2015, Urai signed a developmental deal with WWE, being assigned to NXT under the ring name Asuka, making her the first Japanese female wrestler signed with the company in over 20 years. She won the NXT Women's Championship in 2016 (with her reign of 510 days being the longest in that title's history), and was moved to WWE's main roster in 2017. In 2018, she was the inaugural winner of the Women's Royal Rumble match. She is also a former one-time SmackDown Women's Champion, four-time WWE Women's Tag Team Champion (with Kairi Sane twice and Charlotte Flair and Alexa Bliss once each; the first woman to win this title with three different partners), and the 2020 Women's Money in the Bank ladder match winner. Following her first Raw Women's Championship win, Asuka became the third Women's Triple Crown Champion and the second Women's Grand Slam Champion. She would go on to become a three-time Raw Women's Champion, with the title renamed as WWE Women's Championship during her third reign. After her Elimination Chamber match win in 2023, she became the first woman in WWE to win the Royal Rumble, Money in the Bank, and Elimination Chamber matches.

Urai has also worked as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist, and through her work with Microsoft, she has been sponsored by the company, wearing an Xbox 360 logo on her gear. Since 2019, she has her own YouTube channel, KanaChanTV, which focuses on gaming and lifestyle content.

  1. ^ a b c d e 浦井. AtoZ (in Japanese). Archived from the original on December 22, 2005. Retrieved February 3, 2012.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Kana-kana.jp" プロフィール. Kana Net (in Japanese). Archived from the original on January 10, 2011. Retrieved August 4, 2011.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference WWERingName was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ １１月１３日試合結果. Osaka Pro Wrestling. November 3, 2011. Archived from the original on October 31, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
  5. ^ "Kana's profile at Wrestlingdata.com". Wrestlingdata.com. Archived from the original on May 9, 2018. Retrieved May 8, 2018.
  6. ^ Reina 3.7大阪大会 朱里＆志田vs.真琴＆山下のReinaタッグ戦、ラーメン横綱仮面＆ラーメンウーマンvs.加藤＆勘十郎. Battle News (in Japanese). March 8, 2015. Archived from the original on March 14, 2015. Retrieved March 8, 2015.
  7. ^ Urai, Kanako (April 4, 2011). スカルリーパー嘩那. Kana Net (in Japanese). Ameba. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  8. ^ 黒魔術軍の圧勝！神楽坂自決、鶴姫(志田光)敗北～波乱の結末に超満員立見札止のお客茫然～魔界錬闘会. Miruhon (in Japanese). March 21, 2015. Archived from the original on May 28, 2015. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  9. ^ a b c "WWE Profile – Asuka". WWE. Archived from the original on September 12, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2018.
  10. ^ Meltzer, Dave (September 21, 2015). "September 21, 2015 Wrestling Observer Newsletter: State of WWE after lowest ratings in years". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Campbell, California. p. 34. ISSN 1083-9593.
  11. ^ "Trish Stratus Named 'The Greatest' Female Superstar In Modern WWE History; Full Top 50 List Revealed | Fightful News". www.fightful.com. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
  12. ^ "10 Greatest WWE Women's Wrestlers Of All Time". Wrestling On Fannation. February 27, 2025. Retrieved June 8, 2025.
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