IYO SKY has built a top-level career from STARDOM in Japan to the biggest WWE shows. Here are five of her greatest matches, from Korakuen Hall to WrestleMania and Evolution.
STARDOM classic: Meiko Satomura (Dec. 23, 2015, Korakuen Hall)
On December 23, 2015, at Korakuen Hall, Io Shirai (now IYO SKY) faced Meiko Satomura for the World of STARDOM Championship. The match played out like a teacher vs. student fight. Satomura used hard strikes and tight submissions. Shirai answered with high-flying offense and never stopped pushing the pace. Shirai won with her moonsault and left the ring as champion. The bout is often called a modern classic. Watch a copy here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/k26TCRw3rx5OAEeyb3t
One month later: Kairi Hojo (STARDOM title defense)
Roughly one month after beating Satomura, Shirai defended the title against Kairi Hojo. Hojo attacked early and kept the match fast and chaotic. Shirai had to control the pace and stop Hojo’s constant rushes. The match ran close to the time limit and ended in the final 30 seconds with Shirai getting the win. The drama and near-falls make this a must-see match: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/k4U4FoZ0XXUQYcf1nzV
Passing the torch: Mayu Iwatani dethrones Shirai
After a long title run of 546 days and many defenses, Shirai finally lost the World of STARDOM Championship to close friend Mayu Iwatani. Iwatani used a series of strong moves, including her Dragon Suplexes, to win the title. The match showed how both wrestlers had improved through their earlier meetings. The finish was emotional and marked a major moment in Shirai’s STARDOM run. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A85LEsVyMXM
WWE highlights: WrestleMania 41 and Evolution 2025
In WWE, IYO SKY reached new heights. At WrestleMania 41, she defended the WWE Women’s World Championship in a Triple Threat with Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair. The match moved at a high speed. Ripley brought power, Belair mixed power and aerial skill, and SKY used speed and her signature over-the-top moonsault. SKY retained the title after a dramatic finish.
Later that year at Evolution 2025, the event moved to July 13 in Atlanta, Georgia after an earlier date in Uncasville. SKY and Ripley had a hard, physical singles main event. The match featured big spots and a wide arena brawl. In the final minutes, Naomi ran in, cashed in her Money in the Bank briefcase, and captured the Women’s World Title. The cash-in turned a great singles match into a shocking title change and closed the weekend on a huge surprise.
| Fighter | Recent Result |
|---|---|
| IYO SKY (Io Shirai) | Lost Women’s World Title after Naomi cash-in at Evolution 2025 |
| Meiko Satomura | Lost to Shirai for World of STARDOM Title (Dec. 23, 2015) |
| Kairi Hojo | Lost close title match to Shirai one month after Dec. 23, 2015 |
| Mayu Iwatani | Defeated Shirai to win World of STARDOM Championship |
| Bianca Belair | Lost Triple Threat at WrestleMania 41 (IYO SKY retained) |
| Rhea Ripley | Lost at WrestleMania 41 and again after Naomi cash-in at Evolution 2025 |
| Naomi | Cash-in at Evolution 2025 and captured the Women’s World Title |
These five matches show why IYO SKY is one of the most reliable and exciting performers today. From hard-hitting Joshi classics to high-stakes WWE main events, she has made many of the best matches of the last decade.
