# Hanako (wrestler)

Hanako Ueda (上田花子, Ueda Hanako) better known mononymously by her ring name Hanako (stylized as HANAKO), is a Japanese professional wrestler signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom where she is a member of Empress Nexus Venus.

## Early life

During her junior high school years, Ueda has had a volleyball sports background and was also part of the school's Brass band.
Ueda first came into contact with professional wrestling in her high school years when she attended a local event alongside her mother and another person from her mother's workplace. She continued watching professional wrestling during her university years when she regularly watched Student wrestling (学生プロレス, Gakusei Puroresu) groups. She attended one such kind of festival held within the Ritsumeikan University which she attended alongside her cousin. Also during her university years, she joined an intercollegiate student wrestling club. At first, she had no intention of physically starting to involve into wrestling as she only worked behind the scenes as a manager. However, after watching her seniors wrestle, she wished to get into the ring herself, and with the encouragement of others, she began competing.

## Professional wrestling career
### Prominence (2022)

Ueda was given her first wrestling opportunity in late 2022. She made her professional wrestling debut in Prominence's lineage of events in which she fell short to Risa Sera on August 28, 2022. Ueda competed in several other events under the name of "Fella Risa" until December 2022.

### World Wonder Ring Stardom (2023–present)

Ueda made her debut in World Wonder Ring Stardom at Stardom New Blood Premium on March 25, 2023, where she teamed up with Lady C in a losing effort against MaiHime (Maika and Himeka) in tag team competition. In her rookie years with the promotion, Ueda became a regular competitor in the New Blood events. At Stardom New Blood 8 on May 12, 2023, she teamed up with Lady C to unsuccessfully challenge Bloody Fate (Karma and Starlight Kid) for the New Blood Tag Team Championship. At Stardom New Blood 9 on June 2, 2023, Ueda teamed up with Aya Sakura in a losing effort against The New Eras (Ami Sourei and Mirai). At Stardom New Blood 10 on August 18, 2023, she teamed up with Kizuna Tanaka and Honoka to defeat God's Eye (Ami Sourei, Nanami) and Miran. At Stardom New Blood 11 on September 28, 2023, she fell short to Tanaka and Hina in a three-way match. At Stardom New Blood West 1 on November 17, 2023, Ueda unsuccessfully challenged Rina for the Future of Stardom Championship. At Stardom New Blood 12 on December 25, 2203, she teamed up with Yuzuki in a losing effort against Haruka Umesaki and Miyu Amasaki. At Stardom New Blood 13 on June 21, 2024, she wrestled Saran into a time-limit draw. At Stardom New Blood 14 on September 13, 2024, Ueda teamed up with Empress Nexus Venus stablemate Waka Tsukiyama to defeat wing★gori (Hanan and Saya Iida).
On the finals night of the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2023 from April 15, Ueda wrestled Aya Sakura into a time-limit draw. At Stardom All Star Grand Queendom on April 23, 2023, she competed in the Yokohama Rumble match won by Mai Sakurai. At Stardom Fukuoka Goddess Legend on May 5, 2023, she competed in a Fukuoka Rumble match won by Suzu Suzuki. At Stardom Flashing Champions 2023 on May 28, Ueda teamed up with Neo Stardom Army (Nanae Takahashi and Yuna Mizumori) in a losing effort against Maika, Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira. At Stardom Sunshine 2023 on June 25, she fell short to Takahashi in one of the latter's "Passion injection" matches. At Stardom Mid Summer Champions 2023 on July 2, she teamed up with Mei Seira and Suzu Suzuki to defeat Classmates (Hazuki and Saya Iida) and Aya Sakura. At Stardom x Stardom: Osaka Summer Team on August 13, 2023, Ueda teamed up with Syuri and unsuccessfully competed in a Gauntlet tag team match won by Suzu Suzuki and Mei Seira. At Stardom Midsummer Festival on August 19, 2023, she fell short to Mei Seira and Fukigen Death in a three-way match. At Stardom Gold Rush 2023 on November 18, she teamed up with God's Eye (Konami and Ami Sourei) in a losing effort against Stars (Hazuki, Hanan and Saya Iida). At Stardom Nagoya Big Winter on December 2, 2023, she teamed up with Miyu Amasaki to defeat Mina Shirakawa and Yuzuki. At Stardom Dream Queendom 2023 on December 29, she teamed up with Kurara Sayaka and Ranna Yagami in a loing effort against Miyu Amasaki, Azusa Inaba and Yuzuki.
At Ittenyon Stardom Gate on January 4, 2024, she teamed up with Yuzuki and Ranna Yagami to defeat Queen's Quest (Lady C and Hina) and Sayaka Kurara. At Stardom Supreme Fight 2024 on February 2, she competed in a four-way match won by Mai Sakurai and also involving Ruaka and Ranna Yagami. At Stardom The Conversion on June 22, 2024, she teamed up with Mina Shirakawa to defeat Cosmic Tropical Fairy Super Angel (Natsupoi and Yuna Mizumori). On the first night of the Stardom Sapporo World Rendezvous from July 27, 2024, she fell short to Mayu Iwatani in singles competition. At Stardom Namba Grand Fight on September 14, 2024, she teamed up with Waka Tsukiyama to defeat God's Eye (Hina and Ranna Yagami).
Ueda competed in several signature events promoted by Stardom. At Stardom New Year Stars 2024, she took part into the revived Stardom Rookie of the Year tournament in which she defeated Kurara Sayaka in the first rounds then fell short to Yuzuki in the finals. She took part into the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2024 in which she fell short to Hanan in the first rounds. At Stardom All Star Grand Queendom 2024 on April 27, she teamed up with Empress Nexus Venus stablemates Xena and Waka Tsukiyama in a losing effort against God's Eye (Syuri, Konami and Ami Sohrei).

### New Japan Pro Wrestling (2024–present)

Due to World Wonder Ring Stardom being New Japan Pro Wrestling's promotion, Hanako often competes in events promoted by the latter. She made her first appearance at NJPW Academy Showcase #4 on August 3, 2024, where she defeated Jada Stone in singles competition. At Capital Collision on August 30, 2024, she teamed up with Mina Shirakawa to defeat Trish Adora and Viva Van.

### American independent scene (2024)

At MLW Summer of the Beasts, and event promoted by Major League Wrestling (MLW) on August 29, 2024, Ueda unsuccessfully challenged Janai Kai for the MLW World Women's Featherweight Championship.

## Championships and accomplishments

* World Wonder Ring Stardom
** New Blood Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) — with Waka Tsukiyama