Iyo Sky, or Masami Odate, was born on May 8, 1990, in Kamakura, Kanagawa, Japan. She grew up with her sister Mio Shirai, who also pursued professional wrestling. Wrestling was the sisters' shared passion, and they debuted together in 2007 as Io and Mio Shirai. "Shirai," which means "Purple Thunder," was a reflection of the sisters' energetic presence in the ring. Iyo quickly demonstrated her potential as a high-flyer and technical wrestler, laying the groundwork for what would be an incredible career.
Iyo Sky started gaining recognition when she signed with World Wonder Ring Stardom in 2011. The champion call made her the ace of the promotion, dominating its women's division and amassing numerous awards. Her championship reigns included two World of Stardom Championships two Wonder of Stardom Championships and six Artist of Stardom Championships.
CAPTION: Before she became IYO SKY, she was Io Shirai: the face of a generation in Stardom. SOURCE: Instagram She also won the Goddesses of Stardom Championship with Mayu Iwatani and became the first Grand Slam Champion of Stardom by becoming champion in all divisions. Her matches against Kairi Hojo (Sane) and Mayu Iwatani were acclaimed for storytelling and athleticism. Despite setbacks like back surgery in 2016, Iyo returned stronger than ever, cementing her place in history before leaving for WWE in 2018.
Iyo Sky debuted in WWE in 2018 in the Mae Young Classic tournament under her former ring name, Io Shirai. Although she was defeated by Toni Storm in the finals, her performance made her a future star. She was allocated to NXT and ascended quickly in the ranks, becoming the NXT Women's Champion and NXT Women's Tag Team Champion in tandem with Zoey Stark.
Her 2019 heel turn introduced a new, darker version of Iyo into the spotlight of fans, solidifying her abilities as a performer. Aerialist work earned her the status of Female Competitor of the Year and Overall Competitor of the Year when working in NXT.
Iyo Sky made her debut on the main roster at SummerSlam 2022 with Bayley and Dakota Kai as a member of Damage CTRL. The faction soon established itself, and Iyo won the WWE Women's Tag Team Championships twice with Dakota Kai. In 2023, she ascended to new heights by becoming the Money in the Bank Ladder Match winner and cashing it in at SummerSlam to defeat Bianca Belair and become the WWE Women's Champion.
CAPTION: From NXT champion to WWE gold—Iyo Sky’s main roster journey has been nothing short of legendary. SOURCE: Instagram Her reign was filled with strong defenses against the heavy hitters like Asuka and Charlotte Flair. In March 2025, she defeated Rhea Ripley on Raw to win the Women’s World Championship, becoming both a Grand Slam Champion and Triple Crown Champion—a feat that solidified her status as one of WWE’s elite performers.
Best known for her aerial sequences in the style of Rey Mysterio, Iyo Sky is famous for her aggressive wrestling style. Her "Over the Moonsault" move represents her aerial prowess. Whether doing springboard dropkicks or trash-can jumps, defying gravity with WarGames matches, Iyo always delivers exciting shows that make everyone watching anywhere in the world.
Iyo Sky has risen to fame as one of the world's greatest female wrestlers. Her matches with legends like Meiko Satomura, Charlotte Flair, Mayu Iwatani, and Bianca Belair have been praised for their intensity and creativity. Holding titles in Japan and WWE such as NXT Women's Champion, WWE Women's Champion, Women's World Champion, and different tag team championships, she has become a trailblazer in professional wrestling.
CAPTION: High-flyer. Champion. Trailblazer. IYO SKY’s accomplishments speak louder than words. SOURCE: Instagram Bouncing back from setbacks and defeats throughout her career has turned Iyo into an inspiration to fans all over the world. From Kamakura to Tokyo to WWE arenas around the world, Iyo Sky continues to soar higher than ever before, proving that to this Genius of the Sky, there are truly no limits.
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