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Mai Sakurai

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Mai Sakurai
Sakurai in April 2021
Born (1990-09-14) September 14, 1990 (age 34)[1]
Chiba, Japan[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Mai Sakurai
Billed height164 cm (5 ft 5 in)[2]
Billed weight55 kg (121 lb)[2]
DebutFebruary 11, 2020[3]

Mai Sakurai (桜井 まい, Sakurai Mai, born September 14, 1990) is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is currently signed to Dream Star Fighting Marigold.[4] She is best known for her time in World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is a former Artist of Stardom Champion and a former member of Donna Del Mondo.[5][6]

Professional wrestling career

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Actwres girl'Z (2020–2021)

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Sakurai made her professional wrestling debut at an Actwres girl'Z show on February 11, 2020, where she lost to Miku Aono.[3]

World Wonder Ring Stardom (2021–2024)

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Cosmic Angels (2021-2022)

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Sakurai made her debut in World Wonder Ring Stardom on August 13, 2021, when she unsuccessfully challenged Unagi Sayaka for the Future of Stardom Championship.[7] After the match, Sakurai was presented as the newest member of Cosmic Angels[7] and was announced to undergo a newcomer challenge against ten opponents.[citation needed] At Osaka Dream Cinderella on October 9, Sakurai teamed up with Mina Shirakawa in a losing effort against Rin Kadokura and Maria.[8] Due to Unagi Sayaka and Mina Shirakawa feeling underappreciated by the leader Tam Nakano and doubting Sakurai and Waka Tsukiyama, tensions were raised within Cosmic Angels throughout November, which led to inner-stable clashes. At Kawasaki Super Wars on November 3, Sakurai defeated Waka Tsukiyama in a match in which had Sakurai would have to leave Cosmic Angels if she lost.[9] At Tokyo Super Wars on November 27, Sakurai unsuccessfully challenged Ruaka and Waka Tsukiyama in a three-way match for the Future of Stardom Championship.[10] Sakurai competed in the 2021 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, where she teamed up with Unagi Sayaka and scored a total of four points.[11] At Dream Queendom on December 29, Sakurai teamed up with Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka to unsuccessfully challenge MaiHimePoi in a six-woman tag team match for the Artist of Stardom Championship.[12]

Donna Del Mondo (2022-2024)

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Sakurai on the second night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 on March 27

After teaming up with her Cosmic Angels stablemates, Tam Nakano and Unagi Sayaka, in a losing effort against Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Thekla and Mirai) on February 12, 2022, Sakurai decided to leave Cosmic Angels and join Donna Del Mondo, stating that she wanted to wrestle instead of just dancing.[13] On May 27, 2023, at Flashing Champions 2023, Sakurai, Giulia and Thekla, together known as the Baribari Bombers, defeated REStart to win the Artist of Stardom Championship.[14] At New Years Stars 2024 on January 3, 2024, Baribari Bombers participated in the 2024 Triangle Derby. After reaching the finals and deciding to defend the Artist of Stardom Championship, they lost the match and titles to Abarenbo GE.[15]

Dream Star Fighting Marigold (2024–present)

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On April 15, 2024, former Stardom executive producer Rossy Ogawa, held a press conference to announce his new promotion Dream Star Fighting Marigold, with Sakurai being one of the initial roster members.[16] On May 20, during Marigold's first event Fields Forever, Sakurai teamed with Zayda Steel to face Nagisa Nozaki and Myla Grace in a match that ended in a time limit draw.[17] On July 30, Sakurai and Mirai became the inaugural Marigold Twin Star Champions.[18]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Mai Sakurai • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c World Wonder Ring STARDOM. "Mai Sakurai - Stardom Wrestling Profiles". Retrieved July 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 11, 2020). "Events/AWG Act 46". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  4. ^ "Wrestlers". Dream Star Fighting Marigold. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
  5. ^ Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Mai Sakurai Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved January 19, 2022.
  6. ^ "WRESTLER". World Wonder Ring Stardom (in Japanese). Retrieved September 18, 2023.
  7. ^ a b Richards, Alex (August 13, 2021). "Stardom News: Mai Sakurai Joins Cosmic Angels". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved October 1, 2021.
  8. ^ "2021年10月9日 『10th Anniversary GRAND FINAL OSAKA DREAM CINDERELLA 2021 ~大阪めっちゃスターダム~』". World Wonder Ring Stardom. October 9, 2021. Retrieved October 10, 2021.
  9. ^ "2021年11月3日 『KAWASAKI SUPER WARS ~川崎超女大戦~』". World Wonder Ring Stardom. November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  10. ^ Richards, Alex (November 12, 2021). "Preview: Stardom – Tokyo Super Wars (11/27/21)". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  11. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom (October 13, 2021). 【今年も開催】第11回『ゴッデス・オブ・スターダム~タッグリーグ戦~』タッグチーム発表&全試合決定!. wwr-stardom.com (in Japanese). Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  12. ^ "【全カード発表】12・29『STARDOM DREAM QUEENDOM 2021』両国大会で珠玉の4大タイトルマッチ決定!". World Wonder Ring Stardom. December 12, 2021. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  13. ^ World Wonder Ring Stardom (February 12, 2021). "February 12 Osaka ◆DDM vs Cosmic Angels Giulia pinned Sakurai with the Glorious Driver II". twitter.com. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  14. ^ a b Edwards, Scott (May 27, 2023). "STARDOM Flashing Champions 2023 Results (5/27/23): Tam Nakano vs. Mina Shirakawa". Fightful. Archived from the original on May 27, 2023. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Richards, Alex (January 4, 2024). "STARDOM New Year Stars 2024 (January 3) Results & Review". Voices of Wrestling. Archived from the original on January 8, 2024. Retrieved January 9, 2024.
  16. ^ Edwards, Scott (April 15, 2024). "Rossy Ogawa Announces New Promotion Marigold". Fightful. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  17. ^ Carey, Ian (May 20, 2024). "Marigold holds debut show, WWE wrestlers send flowers". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved June 23, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c Edwards, Scott (July 30, 2024). "Marigold Summer Gold Shine 2024 Results (7/30/24): TwinStar Final". Fightful. Retrieved July 31, 2024.
  19. ^ Internet Wrestling Database. "Pro Wrestling Illustrated (PWI) 250 Female for 2024". profightdb.com. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
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