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Sumie Sakai

Retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1971)

Sumie Sakai

Retired Japanese professional wrestler and mixed martial artist (born 1971)

FieldValue
nameSumie Sakai
imageSumie Sakai in April 2023 (cropped).jpg
captionSakai in 2023
namesSumie Sakai
Yellow Michinoku Ranger
height1.55 m
weight54 kg
birth_date
birth_placeSuzuka, Mie, Japan
billedOsaka
Tokyo
Yokkaichi
trainer{{Plainlist
* Jaguar Yokota<ref name"YokotaGreatestChampion"
debutApril 20, 1997
retiredJanuary 11, 2025
image size170px

Yellow Michinoku Ranger Tokyo Yokkaichi

  • Jaguar Yokota
  • Lioness Asuka
  • Cooga
  • Bison Kimura
  • Steve Bradley
  • Killer Kowalski
  • Slyck Wagner Brown
  • Bill Scott

Sumie Sakai is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and former mixed martial artist. She is best known for her extensive tenure in Ring of Honor (ROH), where she was the inaugural and longest reigning Women of Honor Champion.

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 (1997–2005)

Sakai became involved in wrestling when her friend and fellow judo practitioner, Megumi Yabushita, invited her to join the wrestling sport. Sakai trained under Jaguar Yokota, and made her debut on April 20, 1997, with the Yoshimoto Ladies Pro Wrestling promotion, facing Yabushita at the Korakuen Hall in Tokyo.{{cite web | trans-title = | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110617113449/http://www6.ocn.ne.jp/~boxtop/page007.html | archive-date = 2011-06-17 | url-status = dead |trans-title=| accessdate = 2010-09-20

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

Independent wrestling (2002–present)

Sakai in August 2006

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 New England Championship Wrestling 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.

On April 17, 2005, Sakai organised "WE LOVE SABU", a pair of shows held at the Differ Ariake Arena in Tokyo. "WE LOVE SABU" was organised in support of Terry "Sabu" Brunk, 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.

On August 9, 2019, Sakai defeated PCW Ultra Woman's Champion Tessa Blanchard for the title.

In January 2024, Sakai was named of the head trainer of Spark Joshi Puroresu of America's dojo.

Ring of Honor (2002–2005; 2014–2021)

Early appearances (2002–2005)

Sakai first appeared in Ring of Honor (ROH) in June 2002 and defeated Simply Luscious in the very first women's match on an ROH card. She returned in December 2003 and January 2004, defeating Allison Danger and losing to Alexis Laree and April Hunter. She returned to ROH on August 20, 2005, losing to Lacey at Do or Die 5.

Re-launched of Women of Honor division / Return to ROH (2014–2017)

Sakai returned to ROH in 2014 and been performing regularly for ROH since 2015 for its Women of Honor division. On September 26, 2015, Sakai faced Veda Scott in a losing effort as part of "Women of Honor Wednesday" program. Sakai made her televised debut on the June 26, 2016, episode of ROH TV, where Sakai alongside Mary Dobson and Thunderkitty faced the team of Allysin Kay, Amber Gallows and Scott in a losing effort. She also had plenty of other matches in the ROH Women of Honor division teaming with talent such as Mandy Leon, Deonna Purrazzo, Faye Jackson and facing talent such as Taeler Hendrix and others.

Women of Honor (World) Champion (2018)

Since 2018, Sakai took part in the tournament to crown the inaugural Women of Honor Champion, where she won in the first round (at ROH 16th Anniversary Show) against Hana Kimura. Sakai became the inaugural Women of Honor champion at Supercard of Honor XII after defeating Kelly Klein. During her reign, Sakai was able to retain her title against various competitors such as Madison Rayne and Tenille Dashwood. At Final Battle 2018 Sakai lost the championship to Klein in a Four Corner Survival match which also involved Karen Q and Rayne.

Various competitors and heel turn (2019–2020)

On January 26, 2019, she received her first Women of Honor World Championship match since losing the title, when she challenged Klein, but was unsuccessful. On January 11, 2020, at the Saturday Night at Center Stage, Sakai teamed with Nicole Savoy when they faced The Allure (Angelina Love and Mandy Leon) in a losing effort. After the match, Sakai attacked Savoy out of frustration, turning heel in the process. The following day, Sakai defeated Savoy in their second encounter against each other.

Return after COVID-19 pandemic (2021)

With ROH returning after the COVID-19 pandemic, Sakai made had her first match over a year on May 5, 2021, where she defeated Vita VonStarr, working as a face again. On July 7, Sakai received a "Ticket to Gold" to compete at a tournament to crown the inaugural ROH Women's World Champion. On July 30, Sakai lost to Rok-C at the first round of the tournament.

After her loss to Rok-C in the ROH Women's World title tournament and the company ROH being sold to Tony Khan she has not been seen in Ring of Honor.

Official retirement from professional wrestling (2025)

On December 14th 2024 it was announced that ROH female veteran / legend Sumie Sakai's retirement would take place at Battle in the Valley 2025. Her final match was on January 11, 2025 at Battle in the Valley.

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.

Mixed martial arts record

|ko-wins = 0 |ko-losses = 2 |sub-wins = 2 |sub-losses = 1 |dec-wins = 0 |dec-losses = 1 |dq-wins = 0 |dq-losses = 0 |Loss |Jamie Lowe |TKO (punches) |Cage Fury Fighting Championships 19 | |Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States | |- |Loss |Iman Achhal |TKO (punches) |Ultimate Warrior Challenge 7 | |Fairfax, Virginia, United States | |- |Loss |Jessica Penne |Submission (armbar) |Fatal Femmes Fighting 2 | |Compton, California, United States | |- |Win |Amber McCoy |Submission (rear-naked choke) |Brawl at Bourbon Street | |Illinois, United States | |- |Loss |Jessica Aguilar |Decision (unanimous) |Combat Fighting Championship 3 | |Orlando, Florida, United States | |- |Win |Melissa Vasquez |Submission (armbar) |Freestyle Combat Challenge 25 | |Kenosha, Wisconsin, United States | |- | NC |Amy Davis |NC (confusion over rules) |Xtreme Fight Series 2 | |Boise, Idaho, United States |

Championships and accomplishments

  • All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
    • AJW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yuko Kosugi
  • American Wrestling Federation
    • AWF Women's Championship (2 times)
  • DDT Pro-Wrestling
    • Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
  • JDStar
    • JDStar Junior Championship (1 time)
    • JDStar Queen of the Ring Championship (1 time)
  • New England Championship Wrestling
    • NECW North American Women's Championship (1 time)
  • PCW Ultra
    • PCW Ultra Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Pro Wrestling Illustrated
    • Ranked No. 12 of the top 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2018
  • Pro Wrestling Unplugged
    • PWU Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Pro Wrestling World-1
    • Pro Wrestling World-1 Women's Championship (1 time)
  • Ring of Honor
    • Women of Honor (World) Championship (1 time, inaugural)
    • Women of Honor Championship Tournament (2018)
    • ROH Year-End Award (1 time)
      • WOH Wrestler of the Year (2018)
  • Spark Joshi Puroresu of America
    • Spark Joshi World Championship (1 time)
  • Trans-World Wrestling Federation
    • TWWF Tag Team Championship (4 times) – with Cooga (1), Hiroyo Mutoh (1) and Megumi Yabushita (2)
  • Vietnam Pro Wrestling
    • VPW Hall Of Fame (2023)
  • Valkyrie Women's Professional Wrestling
    • International Joshi Grand Prix (2014)
  • Women's Extreme Wrestling
    • WEW Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Annie Social

Notes

; Specific ; General

References

References

  1. "Sumie Sakai at Sherdog.com".
  2. Triggs, James. (July 29, 2009). "CvC: Jaguar Yokota for Greatest Women's Champion".
  3. Staff, Tvtropes.org. "Sumie Sakai".
  4. Staff, Cagematch.net. "Sumie Sakai (1998 Matches)".
  5. Staff, Thesmackdownhotel.com. "JD' Roster in 1998: Full List of Wrestlers".
  6. Staff, Cagematch.net. "Sumie Sakai (Titles)".
  7. Staff, Gloryofwrestling.com. "Sumie Sakai".
  8. Staff, Wrestlingdata.com. "Sumie Sakai".
  9. Staff, Worldwidewrestlingdojo.com. "Meet the Trainers".
  10. Staff, Tvtropes.org. "Sumie Sakai Heartwarming Moments".
  11. Staff, Onlineworldofwrestling.com. "Sabu".
  12. Staff, Cagematch.net. "Sumie Sakai (Pcw ultra)".
  13. Gerweck.net Staff. (January 20, 2024). "Sumie Sakai announced as head trainer for Spark Pro Wrestling Dojo". Gerweck.net.
  14. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2002 ROH Matches)".
  15. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2003 ROH Matches)".
  16. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2004 Matches)".
  17. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2005 Matches)".
  18. Daly, Wayne. (September 27, 2015). "ROH Results: Reloaded Tour – Lockport, NY (9/26)". wrestling-news.net.
  19. (October 28, 2015). "Women of Honor Wednesday - Veda Scott vs Sumie Sakai". [[Ring of Honor]] on [[YouTube]].
  20. Sedor, Sean. (June 30, 2016). "ROH TV (June 26): Women of Honor Showcase". Voices of Wrestling.
  21. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2014 ROH Matches)".
  22. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2015 ROH Matches)".
  23. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2016 ROH Matches)".
  24. Staff, Profightdb.com. "Sumie Sakai (2017 ROH Matches)".
  25. (2018-03-09). "3/9 ROH 16th Anniversary PPV report: Live coverage including Castle vs. Lethal for world title, Briscoes vs. Machine Guns for tag titles, current Impact Wrestli".
  26. Rose, Bryan. (7 April 2018). "ROH SUPERCARD OF HONOR XII LIVE RESULTS: KENNY OMEGA VS. CODY". [[Wrestling Observer]].
  27. Harris, Jeffrey. "Sumie Sakai Wins Inaugural Women of Honor Title at ROH Supercard of Honor XII".
  28. Engstrom, Anders. (8 September 2018). "ROH Episode 363 Recap: Bully Ray In Action, Sumie Sakai Vs. Madison Rayne For WOH Title". Wrestling Inc..
  29. Powell, Jason. "9/28 Powell's ROH Death Before Dishonor review: Jay Lethal vs. Will Ospreay for the ROH Title, Bullet Club vs. Chaos, Sumie Sakai vs. Tenille Dashwood for the WOH Title, The Briscoes vs. The Addiction for the ROH Tag Titles". Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
  30. Rose, Bryan. (August 25, 2018). "WILL OSPREAY TO CHALLENGE FOR THE ROH TITLE AT DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR". [[Wrestling Observer]].
  31. Powell, Jason. "12/14 Powell's ROH Final Battle 2018 live review: Jay Lethal vs. Cody for the ROH Title, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky vs. The Briscoes vs. The Young Bucks in a Ladder War for the ROH Tag Titles, Jeff Cobb vs. Adam Page for the ROH TV Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
  32. Laconi, Rich. (January 27, 2019). "ROH 1/26/19 Road to G1 Supercard San Antonio Review". PWPonderings.
  33. Powell, Jason. (January 11, 2020). "1/11 ROH Saturday Night at Center Stage results: PCO vs. Rush for the ROH Championship, Marty Scurll, Brody King, and Flip Gordon vs. Bandido, Flamita, and Rey Horus for the ROH Six-Man Tag Titles, Dragon Lee vs. Andrew Everett for the ROH TV Title". Pro Wrestling Dot Net.
  34. Csonka, Larry. (January 14, 2020). "Csonka's ROH Honor Reigns Supreme 2020 Review". 411Mania.
  35. Skylar, Russell. (May 6, 2021). "ROH Women's Division Wednesday results: Sakai vs. VonStarr". [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]].
  36. (May 6, 2021). "Vita VonStarr vs Sumie Sakai on Women's Division Wednesday!". [[Ring of Honor]] on [[YouTube]].
  37. Skylar, Russell. (July 8, 2021). "Tag match, Tickets to Gold". [[Wrestling Observer Newsletter]].
  38. Powell, Jason. (August 4, 2021). "ROH Wrestling TV results: Powell's review of Sumie Sakai vs. Rok-C, Miranda Alize vs. Alex Gracia, and Mazzerati vs. Nicole Savoy in ROH Women's Championship tournament first round matches". prowrestling.net.
  39. Wilen, Jerome. "First-ever ROH Women of Honor World Champion officially retires".
  40. Michaels, Corey. (January 11, 2025). "NJPW Battle in the Valley live results: Kidd vs. Ishii, Takeshita vs. KUSHIDA". [[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]].
  41. Clapp, John. (December 13, 2006). "Mercedes Martinez: Unlike any other". SLAM! Wrestling.
  42. "Independent Wrestling Results – June 2002". Online World of Wrestling.
  43. "Title: PCW ULTRA Women's Championship".
  44. "PWI escoge a Ronda Rousey como la mejor luchadora del año 2018". cagematch.net.
  45. "Pro Wrestling WORLD-1 Women's Championship". titlehistories.com.
  46. (7 January 2019). "WOH Wrestler of the Year: Sumie Sakai". [[Ring of Honor]].
  47. (3 December 2023). "Sumie Sakai - VPW Hall Of Fame (2023)".
  48. "Independent Wrestling Results – May 2007". Online World of Wrestling.
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1971-births japanese-female-professional-wrestlers japanese-female-judoka japanese-female-mixed-martial-artists mixed-martial-artists-utilizing-wrestling mixed-martial-artists-utilizing-judo living-people martial-artists-from-mie-prefecture martial-artists-from-philadelphia 20th-century-female-professional-wrestlers 20th-century-japanese-professional-wrestlers 21st-century-female-professional-wrestlers 21st-century-japanese-professional-wrestlers women-of-honor-world-champions ajw-tag-team-champions people-from-suzuka,-mie ironman-heavymetalweight-champions spark-joshi-world-champions
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