Mio Shirai Siblings: All About Iyo Sky

Mio Shirai, born on February 14, 1988, in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan, is a prominent figure in Japanese professional wrestling.

She began her career as a high-flying freelancer and later transitioned into a respected referee, maintaining her influence in the industry.

Shirai earned a reputation for her technical prowess, agility, and charisma, often performing under the ring name that translates to “Purple Thunder” in Japanese.

While she retired from full-time in-ring competition in 2015 due to neck injuries, she has sporadically returned to wrestling and continues to officiate matches, ensuring her legacy endures in promotions across Japan.

Siblings

Mio has a younger sister, Masami Odate, better known by her ring name Io Shirai, now competing in WWE as Iyo Sky.

The two sisters debuted together on March 4, 2007, forming an iconic tag team that captivated audiences with their synchronized high-flying maneuvers and unbreakable bond.

Their partnership, representing the stable Team Makehen, took them to various independent promotions and even international tours, including masked appearances in Mexico’s AAA under the names Kaguya and Oyuki.

Io Shirai’s ascent to global stardom, highlighted by her WWE Women’s Championship reigns and Grand Slam achievements, has often spotlighted Mio as the trailblazing older sibling who paved the way.

Reports also suggest the existence of an older sister born in 1985, though she has remained outside the wrestling world and largely out of the public eye.

Career

Shirai’s wrestling journey commenced in the vibrant independent circuit, where she and her sister quickly became staples in promotions like Ice Ribbon, JWP Joshi Puroresu, Pro Wrestling Wave, and Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling.

As freelancers under Team Makehen, trained by Tomohiko Hashimoto, the Shirai sisters showcased their athleticism in multi-woman tags and singles bouts, debuting against seasoned competitors like Toshie Uematsu’s rivals.

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By 2008, they ventured into All Japan Pro Wrestling, marking a milestone with their first joint championship victory.

In 2010, Mio expanded her horizons by co-founding the influential stable Triple Tails alongside Io and Kana (later Asuka in WWE), performing in Tajiri’s SMASH promotion and producing their own events that blended hardcore and high-spot action.

After Io’s departure to pursue singles success in Stardom, Mio reformed Triple Tails.S with Kana, delving into intergender feuds in Union Pro Wrestling, where she memorably bested male wrestler Ken Ohka and adopted a mentor-like persona.

Shirai’s international exploits included masked runs in Mexico’s AAA and appearances in France’s ICWA, broadening her style with lucha libre influences.

Plagued by persistent neck issues, she announced her retirement in February 2015, embarking on a farewell tour that saw her capture titles across multiple promotions in a final blaze of glory.

Over 120 matches that year alone underscored her resilience.

Post-retirement, Shirai embraced refereeing, officiating in major events while making occasional comeback bouts, including full-time returns to Wave in recent years, and marrying fellow wrestler Tank Nagai in 2016.

Accolades

Mio Shirai’s eight-year in-ring tenure amassed an impressive array of hardware, cementing her as a versatile champion across joshi landscapes.

Her tag team synergy with Io Shirai yielded the TLW World Young Women’s Tag Team Championship in 2009, a breakthrough that affirmed their status as rising stars.

In 2012, she claimed the ICE×∞ Championship (formerly ICE×60) by dethroning Hikaru Shida in Ice Ribbon, showcasing her singles dominance.

Shirai’s 2015 retirement sprint was legendary, securing the Union Pro FTE World Championship in March, followed by the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship with Misaki Ohata, the OZ Academy Tag Team Championship alongside Kaho Kobayashi, the OZ Academy Openweight Championship in a stunning upset over her partner, and capping it with the Wave Single Championship, all relinquished in her emotional Korakuen Hall farewell before 1,700 fans.

Earlier highlights included the SGP Global Junior Heavyweight Championship win over Ken Ohka in 2011, highlighting her intergender prowess.

Beyond belts, Shirai’s contributions extended to gravure modeling and video appearances, like the 2008 Brute Educational Institution release, adding layers to her multifaceted career.