Unagi Sayaka

Sayaka in June 2023

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Osaka, Japan

**Himawari Unagi** (鰻向日葵, *Unagi Himawari*, born September 2, 1989), better known by her ring name **Unagi Sayaka** (ウナギ・サヤカ, *Unagi Sayaka*), is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is a former one-time Artist and Future of Stardom Champion.

## Professional wrestling career

### Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (2019–2020)

After Sayaka graduated from school, she was part of several idol groups in her home town of Osaka and later also active as a gravure idol and Sayaka would later made her professional wrestling debut under her real name, Himawari Unagi on January 4 at the TJP Tokyo Joshi Pro '19 show by teaming up with Saki Akai to face the team of Yumi and Yuki Kamifuku. During her tenure with Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling she fought as a singles wrestler and competed against other infamous wrestlers such as Yuka Sakazaki at TJP Pinano Pipipipi Graduation Special on April 5, 2019, Maki Itoh at TJPW Tokyo Princess Cup on August 8, 2020, or Miyu Yamashita.

### World Wonder Ring Stardom (2020–present)

Sayaka debuted in World Wonder Ring Stardom on November 14, 2020 at the Korakuen New Landscape Event teaming up with Tam Nakano and Mina Shirakawa, as the newest member of Cosmic Angels, defeating STARS (Gokigen Death, Mayu Iwatani and Starlight Kid). She began her with her tenure with Stardom as a tag team wrestler, and worked against different stables such as Donna Del Mondo (Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi) and Queen's Quest (Momo Watanabe and Saya Kamitani). On December 16, at Road To Osaka Dream Cinderella, Cosmic Angels defeated Oedo Tai (Bea Priestley, Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima), to win Sayaka's first title of her career, the Artist of Stardom Championship.

On March 3, 2021, at All Star Dream Cinderella, Sayaka won a 24-person All-Star rumble featuring wrestlers from the promotion's past, such as Yuzuki Aikawa and Chigusa Nagayo. On July 17, Sakaya defeated fellow stablemate Mina Shirakawa to win the Future of Stardom Championship. On October 3, Sakaya, Shirawaka and Nakano lost the the Artist of Stardom Championship to the team of Donna Del Mondo composed by Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi. On October 9, at Osaka Dream Cinderella Sayaka lost the Future of Stardom Championship to Oedo Tai's Ruaka, after Rina interfered in the match to help Ruaka win the title. Sayaka participated in the Stardom Super Wars trilogy of events, making her first appearance on November 3, at Kawasaki Super Wars where she unsuccessfully challenged stablemate Tam Nakano for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. At Tokyo Super Wars on November 27, she teamed up with Lady C in a losing effort against AZM and Momo Watanabe. At Osaka Super Wars, the last event of the trilogy which took place on December 18, Sayaka teamed up with Mina Shirakawa and Tam Nakano in a losing effort against Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki and Koguma in a Six-woman tag team match as part of a ¥10 Million Unit tournament. At Stardom Dream Queendom on December 29, 2021, Sayaka teamed up with Mai Sakurai and Mina Shirakawa to unsuccessfully challenge MaiHimePoi (Maika, Natsupoi and Himeka) for the Artist of Stardom Championship.

At Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight on January 29, 2022, Sayaka unsuccessfully challenged Saya Kamitani for the Wonder of Stardom Championship. At Stardom Cinderella Journey on February 23, Sayaka teamed up with Mina Shirakawa to unsuccessfully challenge FWC (Hazuki and Koguma) for the Goddess of Stardom Championship. At Stardom New Blood 1 on March 11, she teamed up with Waka Tsukiyama in a losing effort against Marvelous (Maria and Ai Houzan). On the first night of the Stardom World Climax 2022 from March 26, Sayaka teamed up with Tam Nakano to unsuccessfully face Mayu Iwatani and a returning Kairi. On the second night from March 27, she participated in a 18-women Cinderella Rumble match won by Mei Suruga and also involving various wrestlers from other pronotions such as Tomoka Inaba, Aoi, Haruka Umesaki, Nanami, Yuna Mizumori and others from Stardom. Sayaka made it to the second rounds in the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2022 where she was defeated by Natsupoi on April 10. At Stardom Golden Week Fight Tour on May 5, Sayaka teamed up with Tam Nakano and Mina Shirakawa to defeat Queen's Quest's Utami Hayashishita, AZM and Lady C. At Stardom New Blood 2 on May 13, she teamed up with Mina Shirakawa and Haruka Umesaki to defeat YoungOED (Starlight Kid, Ruaka and Rina). At Stardom Flashing Champions on May 28, Sayaka teamed up with Mina Shirakawa and Waka Tsukiyama, falling short to Prominence (Suzu Suzuki, Akane Fujita and Mochi Natsumi).

From July 30 until October 1, Sayaka took part in the 2022 5★Star GP, competing in the Red Stars block, where he finished last in her block with a record of two wins and ten losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament. Her poor performance in the tournament determined her to blame her bad management and booking, reason for which she announced on October 4, that she has left the promotion to become a free agent. However, Sayaka stated that she would remain a member of Cosmic Angels. It was reported that Sayaka was however still signwed to the company as she was only on an unpaid hiatus. She returned for a one night only show, the Stardom in Showcase vol.3 from November 26, 2022 where she teamed up with Tam Nakano and Natsupoi in a losing effort against Prominence (Hiragi Kurumi, Risa Sera and Suzu Suzuki) as a result of a Six-woman hardcore tag team match.

### Freelancing (2022-present)

After taking a break from Stardom to start a Freelance period, Sayaka began wandering the Japanese independent circuit. She made her debut in Professional Wrestling Just Tap Out on October 7, 2022, where she defeated Aoi. She implied herself into a storyline with Tomoka Inaba as she challenged the latter for the Queen of JTO Championship. Sayaka competed for Marvelous That's Women Pro Wrestling's vacant AAAW Single Championship in a tournament on December 4, 2022 also involving Tomoko Watanabe, Rin Kadokura, Mio Momono, Ai Houzan, Queen Aminata, Maria, Riko Kawahata, Chikayo Nagashima and Yuna Manase. She came out unsuccessfully in the process.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**
	+ *Koreyori wa shura ni hairu!* (Frog splash)
	+ *Taigi de atta.* (Double chickenwing sitout scoop slam piledriver) – 2021–present
* **Signature moves**
	+ Belly to belly suplex
	+ *Dagasoregai!* (Spinning sitout facebuster)
	+ *Daifuhen-gatame* (Gory special)
	+ *Daifuhen-mono -Kumo no kanata ni-* (Gory special flipped forward into a sitout facebuster)
	+ *Ha? Ikko ni Kikoemasenuga?* (Seated dragon sleeper)
	+ *Jyomon-toppa* (Swinging reverse STO)
	+ *Matsukaze to tomoni aran!* (Waist-lift spinebuster)
	+ *Sessha, kabayaki-mono de sourou.* (Standing leg drop)
	+ *Sonnakotoyori ikkon kuremaika?* (Flapjack)
* **Entrance themes**
	+ "World Musou! Shura no Onna Hana" by Unagi Sayaka
	+ "Tilt! Shura no Onna Hana" by Unagi Sayaka
	+ **"Koreyori Eel Shura Niiriru"** by Nobushi Kaizu

## Championships and accomplishments

* **World Wonder Ring Stardom**
	+ Artist of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Tam Nakano and Mina Shirakawa
	+ Future of Stardom Championship (1 time)
	+ Fighting Spirit Award (2021)