Masami Odate, better known by her ring name Iyo Sky, is a trailblazing Japanese professional wrestler who has captivated audiences worldwide with her breathtaking aerial maneuvers and technical precision.
Born on May 8, 1990, in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, she has established herself as one of the most innovative performers in women’s wrestling, earning the moniker “The Genius of the Sky”.
Currently signed to WWE’s Raw brand, Iyo Sky blends gravity-defying moonsaults,, hurricanranas, and springboard attacks with sharp submission holds, making her a versatile force in the ring.
Siblings
Iyo has an older sister, Mio Shirai.
Born Masami Odate, Iyo entered the world of professional wrestling alongside Mio, with the sisters adopting the ring names Io and Mio Shirai.
They debuted together on March 4, 2007, teaming with veteran Toshie Uematsu in a match against Erika Ura, Nozomi Takesako, and their third opponent, marking the start of a dynamic tag team career that spanned Japan’s vibrant independent scene.
The Shirai sisters became fixtures in promotions like Ibuki, Pro Wrestling Wave, JWP Joshi Puroresu, and Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling, representing the stable Team Makehen under trainer Tomohiko Hashimoto.
Their partnership extended into the formation of the influential trio Triple Tails in June 2010, alongside Kana (now Asuka), where they dominated for over a year with high-energy matches that showcased their synchronized offense and charisma.
Career
At just 16 years old, Sky made her professional debut in 2007 as Io Shirai, quickly gaining notoriety for her fearless dives and innovative spots alongside her sister Mio.
By 2011, she had joined World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she evolved into a singles sensation, forming the groundbreaking stable Triple Tails with Mio and Kana before breaking out on her own.
In Stardom, Iyo became the promotion’s ace, holding the World of Stardom Championship twice for over a year each time and delivering acclaimed matches against icons like Meiko Satomura, Kairi Sane, and Mayu Iwatani, many earning five-star ratings from critics.
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A major back surgery in 2016 tested her mettle, but she returned fiercer, solidifying her status as Stardom’s first Grand Slam Champion before signing with WWE in 2018.
Her WWE entry came via the Mae Young Classic, where her high-flying flair turned heads, leading to an NXT assignment.
There, as Io Shirai, she turned heel in 2019 and captured the NXT Women’s Championship in June 2020, reigning for 252 days while also winning the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Zoey Stark and the Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Kay Lee Ray.
Injuries sidelined her briefly, but her main roster call-up at SummerSlam 2022 marked a pivotal shift: rebranded as Iyo Sky, she aligned with Bayley and Dakota Kai to form the dominant faction Damage CTRL, injecting chaos into the women’s division.
This era saw her secure WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships twice with Kai, before her star ascended further in 2023 with a triumphant Money in the Bank ladder match victory, followed by a dramatic cash-in on Bianca Belair at SummerSlam to claim the WWE Women’s Championship.
Losing the title to Bayley at WrestleMania XL in 2024 only fueled her fire, leading to a triumphant return to the spotlight in March 2025 when she captured the Women’s World Championship.
Accolades
In WWE, Sky stands as a four-time world champion, having secured the NXT Women’s Championship once, the WWE Women’s Championship once, and the Women’s World Championship once, while twice claiming the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship alongside Dakota Kai and once holding the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championship with Zoey Stark.
Her briefcase heist in the 2023 Money in the Bank ladder match remains one of the most electrifying moments in recent WWE history, cementing her as the event’s women’s winner.
She triumphed in the 2022 Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic with Kay Lee Ray, earning NXT accolades like Future Star of NXT, Female Competitor of the Year, and Overall Competitor of the Year.
On the international stage, her Stardom legacy is unmatched: as the promotion’s inaugural Grand Slam Champion, she captured the World of Stardom Championship twice, alongside victories in the Cinderella Tournament, 5★STAR Grand Prix, and more, while receiving the Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Award for three consecutive years from 2015 to 2017.
Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked her fourth among the top 100 female wrestlers in 2018, and her in-ring excellence has inspired video game portrayals in WWE 2K series from 2K20 through 2K25.
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