IYO SKY

Masami Odate, known worldwide as Iyo Sky, is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to WWE's Raw brand, where she holds the Queen of the Ring title. A former WWE Women's Champion and Women's World Champion, Sky is widely regarded as one of the finest in-ring performers in the world, celebrated for her aerial athleticism and technical precision. Her career spans nearly two decades, during which she has achieved Grand Slam status in both Japan and the United States, a feat no other Japanese wrestler has accomplished.

Sky's signature high-flying style, anchored by the Over the Moonsault, has earned her the nickname The Genius of the Sky. She has been a top champion across multiple promotions, from World Wonder Ring Stardom to WWE, and her matches consistently draw critical acclaim. Her WrestleMania 41 triple threat match against Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley received a five-star rating from Dave Meltzer, underscoring her standing among the elite. As of 2026, Sky continues to headline Raw as a fan favorite, defending her titles against rising challengers. [edit]

Iyo Sky grew up in Kamakura, a coastal city south of Tokyo, in a family with sports pedigree. Her grandfather, Isao Odate, was a professional baseball player for the Osaka Tigers and Mainichi Orions, and he counted legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda among his friends. She attended Tokyo Rip Craft High School, a vocational craft school in Bunkyo-ku, graduating before immediately pursuing professional wrestling.

Her older sister, Mio Shirai, was also a wrestler, and together they debuted on the same day in March 2007, using the ring names Shirai Io and Shirai Mio. The sisters wrestled across independent promotions in Japan and Mexico, honing their craft. In 2010, they formed the stable Triple Tails with Kana, who later became known as Asuka in WWE. The group lasted 15 months before Iyo embarked on a solo career in World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she would become the promotion's ace. [edit]

Iyo Sky's breakthrough came in World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she competed as Io Shirai from 2011 to 2018. She won the World of Stardom Championship twice, with each reign exceeding one year, and captured the Wonder of Stardom Championship twice. She became Stardom's first Grand Slam Champion by holding every major title: the World of Stardom, Wonder of Stardom, Artist of Stardom (six times), SWA World (inaugural), Goddesses of Stardom, and High Speed Championships. From 2015 to 2017, she won the Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize three consecutive years. She also founded the Queen's Quest stable, which remained influential after her departure.

Sky signed with WWE in 2017 and debuted at the 2018 Mae Young Classic, reaching the finals. She moved to NXT, where she won the NXT Women's Championship in June 2020 by defeating Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley in a triple threat match. She also held the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Zoey Stark. At SummerSlam 2022, she debuted on the main roster as Iyo Sky, joining Bayley and Dakota Kai in Damage CTRL. She won the Women's Money in the Bank ladder match in 2023 and cashed in to become WWE Women's Champion at SummerSlam. After losing the title to Bayley at WrestleMania XL, she rebounded by winning the Women's World Championship in March 2025, making her the tenth WWE Women's Triple Crown Champion and seventh Grand Slam Champion. She is the first Japanese wrestler to achieve Grand Slam status in both Japan and the United States. [edit]

Iyo Sky is known as The Genius of the Sky, a nickname that reflects her high-flying aerial style. Her signature moves, including the Over the Moonsault and hurricanranas, have made her a standout in the ring. She has successfully portrayed both heel and babyface characters, earning respect for her versatility. Media and fans consistently rank her among the best women's wrestlers in the world. On social media, she presents herself as a pro traveler alongside her wrestling persona, connecting with fans through behind-the-scenes glimpses of her life on the road. [edit]

Iyo Sky commands a devoted following that greets her with mutual respect and kind words at events, though the collective audience lacks a formal moniker or official name. While fans have organized meet-and-greet interactions and acknowledged her as a breakaway star within the wrestling community, no specific campaigns, chart pushes, or named fanbase initiatives have been documented in available records. Her legend is anchored by the persona of the Genius of the Sky, a title reflecting her aerial innovation and technical precision that has become synonymous with her career. A pivotal moment in this narrative occurred during the SummerSlam 2026 Women's World Championship match against Liv Morgan, where Sky faced defeat in an encounter described as an instant classic, cementing her status as a top-tier competitor despite the loss. This rivalry further intensified when Morgan labeled Sky as jealous following an ambush, adding layers to their on-screen dynamic. Amidst these narratives, Iyo Sky holds significant standing in global recognition metrics. She is currently ranked as the 86th most famous person from Japan, a position she has maintained steadily from the previous cycle according to the iFANN Global Fame Rankings. These placements are derived from comprehensive data tracking global attention across media coverage, search activity, and consumption signals worldwide. The rankings reflect her sustained visibility as a top champion on Raw and her enduring reputation as one of the finest in-ring performers globally. While the summer of 2026 saw her face high-stakes challenges, her influence remains undiminished, supported by over 1.8 million followers on social media who track her journey as a pro traveler and elite athlete.[edit]

Masami Odate, known professionally as Iyo Sky, was inspired to pursue wrestling after watching Rey Mysterio perform. Her signature maneuver is the Over the Moonsault, a move that defines her high-flying style. Throughout her career, she has utilized various ring names including Hitokiri in Lucha Underground, Biba Kasai for Mexican independent promotions, Io Shirai, and her current moniker, IYO SKY. She and her sister Mio made their debuts on the same day using matching ring names. Her grandfather was a professional baseball player who counted Tommy Lasorda among his friends, and her blood type is A. Beyond standard statistics, Sky has cultivated a modern legend centered on her title as the Genius of the Sky, a self-proclaimed and widely accepted identity that blends female Kenta Kobashi power with Rey Mysterio agility. A defining chapter in her recent mythology involves the SummerSlam 2026 Women's World Championship match against Liv Morgan. Though she lost the bout, the contest is remembered as an instant classic and a rematch of the Queen of the Ring Finals, marking a high point in her championship trajectory. Conversely, a recurring story titled That Time WWE's Iyo Sky Nearly Went To Prison circulates in online discussions, detailing a dramatic incident where she was detained for nearly three weeks before being cleared. However, this narrative appears to be a speculative future scenario or fictionalized plotline rather than a verified historical event, as no real-life legal detention of Masami Odate has been confirmed by reliable sources.[edit]

Iyo Sky's older sister, Mio Shirai (born 1988), was also a professional wrestler and her early tag team partner; Mio retired early due to injury. Their grandfather, Isao Odate (1917–2000), played professional baseball in Japan for the Osaka Tigers and Mainichi Orions, serving as captain of the latter. Sky is married to Japanese professional wrestler NARAKU (Naruki Doi); her married name is reportedly Masami Watanabe. No children have been reported. [edit]

Iyo Sky has been closely associated with her sister Mio Shirai, with whom she debuted and formed Triple Tails alongside Kana (Asuka). In WWE, she joined Damage CTRL with Bayley and Dakota Kai. She has teamed with Kairi Sane as The Sky Pirates in NXT and held the NXT Women's Tag Team Championship with Zoey Stark. Her frequent opponents include Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley, and Charlotte Flair. [edit]

Iyo Sky is married to Japanese professional wrestler NARAKU (Naruki Doi), born 1987. After marriage, her official name reportedly became Masami Watanabe. The exact start year of the marriage is not publicly documented, and no children have been reported. No other public relationships are confirmed by multiple credible sources. As of 2026, Sky is married to NARAKU. [edit]

Per iFANN's editorial analysis, Iyo Sky's net worth in 2026 stands at $3 Million. Her primary income stream derives from her WWE contract, which encompasses a base salary, performance bonuses, merchandise royalties, and shares from pay-per-view events. As a top champion on the Raw brand, she commands one of the higher salaries within the women's division. Additional earnings originate from independent wrestling appearances earlier in her career and endorsement deals secured through social media, where she maintains over 1.8 million Instagram followers. Her financial standing has grown steadily since her main roster debut in 2022, reflecting her championship runs and increased visibility.[edit]

Iyo Sky won the Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize three years in a row from 2015 to 2017, a rare achievement in Japanese wrestling. She has also won multiple championships in Stardom and WWE, including the World of Stardom Championship twice and the WWE Women's Championship. [edit]