Kanako Urai, popularly known by her ring name Asuka, is a female Japanese professional wrestler, currently working with World Wrestling Entertainment on the Raw brand. She is currently holding the Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Kairi Sane. Urai started a wrestling career in 2004 with AtoZ promotion where she wrestled for two years till 2006.
Urai also worked as a freelance wrestler for JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wave, Reina Joshi Puroresu and many more. She held several titles including the JWP Openweight Championship, NEO Tag Team Championship, Reina World Women’s Championship, Smash Diva Championship and Wave Tag Team Championship.
Urai signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment in 2015 and was assigned to its developmental territory NXT, where she became NXT Women’s Champion. Under the ring name Asuka, she made her WWE main roster debut in 2017 and made the longest undefeated streak in WWE history at 914 days. In 2018, she was the inaugural winner of the women’s Royal Rumble match. She is also a former Smackdown Women’s Champion.
EARLY LIFE
Kanako Urai was born on September 26, 1981, in Osaka, Japan. She persuaded her graduation from the Osaka University of Arts Junior College. Urai was also involved in designing graphics for Nintendo DS and various mobile applications. She got herself into wrestling after being influenced by wrestlers like Keiji Mutoh, Satoru Sayama, Yoshiaki Fujiwara, Antonio Inoki and many more. She took her wrestling training under Yuki Ishikawa.
PERSONAL LIFE
Asuka currently resides in Orlando, Florida, the United States of America. She isn’t married yet and has never revealed her personal information about her affairs and relationship history.
PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Urai kicked off her professional wrestling career in 2004 when she became a part of AtoZ female wrestling promotion and wrestled for two years till 2006. In 2007, Urai started to wrestle as a freelancer for promotion such as Ice Ribbon, JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Wave and Pro Wrestling Zero1. Under the ring name Kana in 2009, she bagged her first professional wrestling title in 2009 when she and Takahashi defeated Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kyoko Inoue for the NEO Tag Team Championship.
Kana joined Pro Wrestling Wave in 2008. In 2011, Kana defeated Ayumi Kurihara to win the 2011 Catch the Wave tournament. On October 30, Kana and Kurihara defeated Ran Yu-Yu and Toshie Uematsu to win the Dual Shock Wave 2011 tournament and become the first-ever Wave Tag Team Champions. Kana and Mio Shirai defeated Misaki Ohata and Tsukasa Fujimoto to win the Wave Tag Team Championship. Asuka made a special appearance for Japan pro wrestling in 2014. She has the team with Mika Lida.
Asuka got connected to several other wrestling promotions in her career including JWP Joshi Puroresu, NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, Reina Joshi Puroresu, Smash and Wrestling New Classic (WNC). She held several titles including the JWP Openweight Championship, NEO Tag Team Championship, Reina World Women’s Championship, Smash Diva Championship and Wave Tag Team Championship.
In 2015, Urai signed a contract with World Wrestling Entertainment and was assigned to its developmental territory NXT, where she held NXT Women’s Championship. Asuka made her WWE main roster debut in 2017 and made the longest undefeated streak in WWE history at 914 days. In 2018, she was the inaugural winner of the women’s Royal Rumble match. She is also a former Smackdown Women’s Champion.
Asuka made her video game debut as a playable character in WWE 2K17, WWE 2K18, WWE 2K19 and WWE 2K20.
HONORS
Ranked No. 1 of the top 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50 in 2017
Ranked No. 5 in the Top 10 Women’s Wrestlers of the year in 2018
WWE Match of the Year (2018) vs. Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at TLC: Tables, Ladders & Chairs
ACHIEVEMENTS
- Asuka is a five-time Ironman Heavymetalweight Champion
- Asuka is a one-time JWP Openweight Champion
- Asuka is a one-time Kuzu Pro Diva Champion
- Asuka is a one-time NEO Tag Team Champion with Nanae Takahashi
- Asuka won One Day Tag Tournament (2011) with Mio ShiraiAsuka is a one-time Wave Tag Team Champion with Ayumi Kurihara and Mio Shirai
- Asuka won Dual Shock Wave (2011) with Ayumi Kurihara
- Asuka is a one-time Reina World Tag Team Champion with Arisa Nakajima
- Asuka is a one-time Reina World Women’s Champion
- Asuka won Reina World Tag Team Championship Tournament (2014) with Arisa
- Asuka is a two-time Smash Diva Champion
- Asuka won Smash Diva Championship Tournament (2011)
- Asuka is a one-time NXT Women’s Champion
- Asuka is a one-time WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion
- Asuka is a one-time WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion ( current) with Kairi Sane
- Asuka won Mixed Match Challenge (Season 1) with The Miz
- Asuka won Women’s Royal Rumble 2018
- Asuka won NXT Year-End Award (3 times)
- Asuka won Female Competitor of the Year (2016, 2017)
- Asuka won Overall Competitor of the Year (2017)
- Asuka won WWE Year-End Award for Women’s Tag Team of the Year (2019) with Kairi Sane
- NXT Women’s Championship (1 time Longest Reign 510 days)
PHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS
HEIGHT: 160 cm
WEIGHT: 62 kg = 137 lbs
EYE COLOR: Brown
HAIR COLOR: Blonde
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Full Name: Kanako Urai
Age: 38 years
Date of Birth: September 26, 1981
Hometown:
Zodiac: Libra
Religion: Japanese/ Christian
EDUCATION:
School: Osaka University of Arts Junior College
FAVORITE CELEBRITIES
Favorite wrestler: Triple H
Favorite actor: Jackie Chan
Favorite actress: Angelina Jolie
Hobbies: Wrestling, gymming, playing video games, listening to music
Favorite Food: Oats, Steak, Fast food
Dream Holiday Destination: Unknown
Favorite Color: Red and Black
NET WORTH
$2 Million estimated
CONTROVERSY
Not having a controversial career until now
SOCIAL MEDIA PROFILES
Facebook: Asuka
Twitter: Asuka
Instagram: @wwe_asuka
