1. Overview
Saki Watanabe (born February 12, 1988), professionally known by her mononymous ring name SAKI (often stylized in capital letters), is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is recognized for her tenures with Japanese promotions such as Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Wave, and more recently with World Wonder Ring Stardom as part of the Cosmic Angels unit, as well as being a founding member of the independent unit Color's. Her career highlights include multiple reigns as Asia Dream Tag Team Champion and Wave Tag Team Championship, in addition to holding the AWG Single Championship. SAKI is known for her power-based wrestling style, characterized by impactful throws and submissions.
2. Early Life and Professional Debut
Saki Watanabe was born on February 12, 1988. In the autumn of 2011, she participated in the "VoLume II" project, an idol wrestler audition produced by Takako Inoue for LLPW-X. Out of nearly 70 applicants, Watanabe, at 23 years old (the upper age limit for the recruitment), successfully passed the audition. She then began training alongside fellow successful applicant Mizuki, forming the tag team "Brilliant Battle Girls" (ブリバト♡Buribato♡Japanese).
Despite eight first-generation trainees dropping out, Watanabe and Mizuki continued their rigorous training throughout 2012. Their professional wrestling debut took place on December 29, 2012, at an LLPW-X event held at Akasaka BLITZ. While Takako Inoue initially considered a singles match between SAKI and Mizuki, LLPW-X president Shinobu Kandori suggested a tag team bout. As a result, SAKI and Mizuki faced Kandori and Inoue in their debut match. The match concluded in 4 minutes and 37 seconds, with Mizuki being defeated by Inoue's Tombstone Piledriver. Concurrently with their wrestling debut, "Brilliant Battle Girls" also released a CD and engaged in activities as live idols, performing weekly in Akihabara.
3. Professional Wrestling Career
Saki Watanabe's professional wrestling career began in late 2012, characterized by a blend of long-term affiliations with specific promotions and significant periods as a freelancer, evolving her wrestling style and establishing her presence across the Japanese independent circuit.
3.1. Early Activities and Freelance Period (2012-2016)
Following her debut in December 2012 with LLPW-X, Saki Watanabe quickly established the "Brilliant Battle Girls" (ブリバト♡Buribato♡Japanese) tag team with Mizuki. On April 13, 2013, at the Ishioka Joshi Pro-Wrestling Festival, SAKI secured her first singles victory against Mizuki, defeating her with a Bodyslam followed by a reverse Boston Crab. From August 31, 2013, the "Brilliant Battle Girls" began making regular appearances at Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling, where SAKI received guidance from veteran wrestler Emi Sakura during training sessions.
By 2015, SAKI intensified her weight training, leading her to emerge as a formidable power fighter. This shift in style clearly differentiated her from the lighter, speed-oriented Mizuki, contributing significantly to the rapid growth of "Brilliant Battle Girls" as a tag team.
On January 9, 2016, at an Ice Ribbon event at Yokohama Radiant Hall, "Brilliant Battle Girls" challenged for their first tag team title, the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship, held by "Best Friends" (Tsukasa Fujimoto and Arisa Nakajima). After 17 minutes and 22 seconds, SAKI was defeated by Fujimoto's Venus Shoot, failing to capture the championship. However, on March 24, 2016, at a Gatoh Move event at Shin-Kiba 1st Ring, SAKI and Mizuki faced Emi Sakura and Masa Takanashi for the newly established Asia Dream Tag Team Championship. Mizuki secured the victory for "Brilliant Battle Girls" by pinning Sakura with an "Aquamarine" after 25 minutes and 23 seconds, making them the inaugural champions.
On November 28, 2016, it was announced that SAKI and Mizuki would be departing LLPW-X at the end of the month. Although their official last match as affiliated wrestlers was on October 9, 2016, at the Kawaguchi Street Jazz Festival against Aiger, their match frequency had decreased significantly in the latter half of the year. Following her departure, SAKI reverted to using her real name, 沙紀SakiJapanese, as her ring name from December 14, 2016.
During her freelance period, she participated in various promotions. At Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #700 Neko Nitta Retirement on December 31, 2015, she teamed with Mizuki in a loss to Azure Revolution (Maya Yukihi and Risa Sera). At JWP Fly High In The 25th Anniversary on May 22, 2016, she and Mizuki lost to Best Friends (Arisa Nakajima and Tsukasa Fujimoto). On November 25, 2018, at PURE-J/Bolshoi Kid 27th Anniversary, she teamed with Manami Katsu in a losing effort to Wanted (Kazuki and Rydeen Hagane) in a Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship number one contendership league. On April 17, 2019, at DDT Shuten Doji 5th Anniversary for DDT Pro-Wrestling, she participated in a tag team gauntlet match with Ryuichi Sekine, also involving multiple other teams.
3.2. Actwres girl'Z and Color's (2017-2021)
Saki officially joined Actwres girl'Z on December 24, 2017. Initially, she took on a role mentoring newer wrestlers in preliminary matches. However, she quickly began to challenge established talent, notably confronting Saori Anou in a tag team match on February 25, 2018, at a Shin-Kiba event, displaying a more emotional and aggressive side.
In 2018, Saki participated in the inaugural Actwres girl'Z Single Championship Tournament, which commenced on September 25. She defeated Aono Mirai in the first round after a hard-hitting exchange, and then secured a victory over Himeka Arita in the second round on October 9, winning with a "Nagata Lock". She advanced to the final on November 15 at Korakuen Hall, where she was narrowly defeated by Saori Anou.
On January 20, 2019, Saki reformed her tag team with Mizuki for the inaugural event of the "Color's" unit within Actwres girl'Z, where they defeated the team of Mari Sakamoto and Hikari Shimizu. Saki revealed that she had provided a ring for a week to allow younger wrestlers without a dojo to train. In March 2019, she officially reverted her ring name to SAKI.
On December 31, 2021, SAKI graduated from Actwres girl'Z following the termination of the promotion's wrestling activities and the dissolution of its "Beginning" and "Color's" units. However, she continued her wrestling career. On February 12, 2022, SAKI, along with Hikari Shimizu, Rina Amikura, and Yuko Sakurai, launched a new independent unit also named "COLOR'S". At their inaugural event, SAKI and Hikari Shimizu defeated the T-HEARTS team of Yumiko Hotta and Riko Kawabata, with SAKI pinning Kawabata.
3.3. Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling (2013-present)
Saki Watanabe has maintained a long-standing involvement with Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling since 2013, becoming a regular fixture in their events. She received valuable training under Emi Sakura during her early appearances with the promotion.
On March 31, 2018, at Gatoh Move Japan Tour #347, SAKI unsuccessfully challenged Riho for the Super Asia Championship. She is a four-time Asia Dream Tag Team Champion. Her first two reigns were with Mizuki, including their victory as the inaugural champions on March 24, 2016. She captured the title for the last time on March 22, 2019, at Gatoh Move Japan Tour #416. She also held the title twice with Yuna Mizumori. In 2021, SAKI and Yuna Mizumori won the "One of a Kind Tag League" tournament.
3.4. Pro Wrestling Wave (2013-present)
Saki Watanabe has been a consistent presence in Pro Wrestling Wave since early 2013. After her departure from LLPW-X, she made a notable appearance on January 8, 2017, at a Pro Wrestling Wave event in Shinjuku Face, participating as a secret entrant in a battle royal, marking her return to in-ring action after approximately three months.
She has regularly competed in major Pro Wrestling Wave events. On January 13, 2018, at WAVE Osaka Rhapsody Vol. 36, SAKI took part in a 16-woman battle royal to determine the number one contender for the Wave Single Championship; the match was ultimately won by Misaki Ohata. She also participated in an 11-woman battle royal on January 1, 2021, at WAVE NAMI 1, the promotion's first event of the year.
SAKI is a frequent participant in the promotion's signature tournaments. In her first appearance at the 2017 Catch the Wave tournament, she competed in the "Other Than" Block, accumulating five points from two victories against Rina Yamashita (who went on to win the tournament) and Mochi Miyagi, alongside a draw and four losses. Her most recent appearance was at the 2021 edition, where she was in the "Gatling Block" and scored three points, competing against Nagisa Nozaki, Yuu, and Itsuki Aoki.
In the Dual Shock Wave tag team tournament, SAKI participated in the 2017 edition. Teaming with Sakura Hirota as "Pyonzu Zu", they were defeated by "Natsu & Natsuri" (Natsumi Maki and Sumire Natsu) in a tables, ladders and chairs first-round match. SAKI has held the Wave Tag Team Championship five times, twice with Hikari Shimizu and three times with Risa Sera. Her second reign with Hikari Shimizu, as the tag team "galaxyPunch!", began on August 13, 2022, when they defeated Yuki Miyazaki and Hibiscus Mii (known as "Brief Sisters") at a Pro Wrestling Wave event in Shinjuku Face.
3.5. World Wonder Ring Stardom (2022-present)
SAKI's career took a significant turn in 2022 with her involvement in World Wonder Ring Stardom. On May 13, 2022, at Stardom New Blood 2, after her Color's stablemates Rina Amikura and Yuko Sakurai defeated Stars members Saya Iida and Momo Kohgo, Tam Nakano confronted the Color's unit, leading to a challenge for a six-woman tag team match scheduled for June 5.
On June 5, 2022, at Stardom in Korakuen Hall, SAKI, along with Hikari Shimizu and Yuko Sakurai, faced Cosmic Angels' Unagi Sayaka, Tam Nakano, and Mina Shirakawa in a "loser joins enemy unit" match. Following their defeat, SAKI, Shimizu, and Sakurai officially joined Cosmic Angels, announcing their intention to compete as a sub-unit within the larger faction.
On July 9, 2022, at Mid Summer Champions in Tokyo, the first event of the Stardom Mid Summer Champions series, SAKI teamed with Tam Nakano, Unagi Sayaka, Mina Shirakawa, and Hikari Shimizu to defeat Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Maika, Himeka, Natsupoi, and Mai Sakurai) in a 10-woman elimination tag team match. Later that month, on July 24, at Mid Summer Champions in Nagoya, SAKI unsuccessfully challenged Saya Kamitani for the Wonder of Stardom Championship.
From July 30 to October 1, 2022, SAKI participated in the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2022 tournament, competing in the "Red Goddess" block. She finished the tournament with 10 points, having secured five victories against opponents including Tam Nakano, Himeka, Maika, Risa Sera, AZM, Utami Hayashishita, Koguma, Syuri, Saki Kashima, Mai Sakurai, Momo Kohgo, and Unagi Sayaka. On August 21, 2022, at Stardom x Stardom: Nagoya Midsummer Encounter, SAKI, Mina Shirakawa, and Unagi Sayaka unsuccessfully challenged Oedo Tai (Saki Kashima, Momo Watanabe, and Starlight Kid) for the Artist of Stardom Championship. On September 25, 2022, at Stardom in Showcase Vol. 2, SAKI teamed with Hikari Shimizu in a "Cosmic Rule Three-Way Match" against Tam Nakano & Natsupoi, and Mina Shirakawa & Unagi Sayaka.
On May 4, 2023, SAKI also made an appearance at a Pro Wrestling Noah event at Ryōgoku Kokugikan, where she teamed with Maya Yukihi against Sumire Natsu and Ryo Mizunami.
4. Wrestling Style and Techniques
Saki Watanabe is characterized as a power fighter, known for her impactful offense and strength-based maneuvers.
Her primary finishing moves and signature techniques include:
- Kawaild Buster: A modified Brainbuster, where she clutches the opponent's right arm with her left hand around their neck before executing the throw.
- Reverse Splash
- Bull's Angelito
- Campana
- Dial Hold
- Power "Z" Slam
- Texas Cloverleaf
- Choroild
- Running Brainbuster
- Kawaild Kneel Drop
5. Entrance Theme Music
Throughout her career, Saki Watanabe has used various entrance theme songs:
- "HEART GOES ON" by Aya Ikeda and Mayu Kudo (an earlier theme)
- "Miracle Door" (奇跡の扉Kiseki no TobiraJapanese) (used during her time with the "Brilliant Battle Girls" tag team with Mizuki)
- "Don't Give Up!" by Tomoyasu Hotei (an earlier theme)
- "WILD CHALLENGER" by JINDOU (an earlier theme)
- "KING OF THE WILD" by Shonan no Kaze (her current theme)
6. Championships and Accomplishments
Actwres girl'Z
- AWG Single Championship (1 time)
- Color's Championship (2 times)
DDT Pro-Wrestling
- Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
Gatoh Move Pro Wrestling
- Asia Dream Tag Team Championship (4 times) - with Yuna Mizumori (2) and Mizuki (2)
- One of a Kind Tag League (2021) - with Yuna Mizumori
Ice Ribbon
- International Ribbon Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Hikari Shimizu
Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 118 of the top 250 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Women's 250 in 2023
Pro Wrestling Wave
- Wave Tag Team Championship (5 times) - with Hikari Shimizu (2) and Risa Sera (3)
Pure-J
- Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) - with Rydeen Hagane
Spark Joshi Puroresu of America
- Spark Joshi Atlantic Championship (1 time, current, inaugural)
7. Personal Life and Profile
Saki Watanabe's personal life includes details beyond her professional wrestling career. She is seven years older than her tag team partner, Mizuki; at the time of their LLPW-X debut, SAKI was 23, and Mizuki was 16.
Her admired figure in professional wrestling is her mentor, Takako Inoue. SAKI is also a known fan of male professional wrestlers, including Yuji Okabayashi of Big Japan Pro-Wrestling, Manabu Soya of WRESTLE-1, and Toru Yano of New Japan Pro-Wrestling. In 2015, she even auditioned for Manabu Soya's "new Wild order" unit but was not selected. Her favorite idol group is ℃-ute from Hello! Project.
Outside of wrestling, SAKI's hobbies include watching Big Japan Pro-Wrestling events and enjoying alcoholic beverages, as she is noted for her significant alcohol consumption. In March 2016, she obtained a qualification as a Tequila Maestro. She is also a public supporter of sumo wrestler Asanoyama Hiroki, which is reflected in the origin of her Twitter account name, "SAKI no Yama".