Riko Kaiju

Riko Kaiju
Kaiju in May 2023
Born (2001-12-17) December 17, 2001 (age 22)[1]
Shimonoseki, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Riko Blondie[2]
Riko Kaiju
Riko Shirai
Billed height154 cm (5 ft 1 in)[3]
Billed weight61 kg (134 lb)
Trained byNatsuki Taiyo
Nanae Takahashi
Debut2020
Retired2023

Riko Shirai (白井 理子, Shirai Riko) better known by her ring name Riko Kaiju is a retired Japanese professional wrestler. She is best known for performing in the Japanese promotion Pure-J where she is a former Princess of Pro-Wrestling Champion. She is also known for her time in Seadlinnng.[4]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2020–2023)

Due to mainly working as a freelancer, Shirai is known for competing in various promotions of the Japanese independent scene. At 2AW Grand Slam In TKP Garden City Chiba, an event promoted by Active Advance Pro Wrestling on August 29, 2021, Shirai teamed up with Ayame Sasamura to defeat Madeline and Rina Shingaki.[5] On the third night of the Sendai Girls Keep Burning 2021 from October 21, she unsuccessfully challenged Oka for the Sendai Girls Junior Championship.[6] In Oz Academy, Shirai took part in a Contendership U-30 Tournament for the Oz Academy Openweight Championship at the beginning of 2023, as she defeated Hikari Shimizu in the first rounds, Kohaku in the semifinals, but fell short to Itsuki Aoki in the finals.[7] She participated in Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling 2021 edition of the Jaja Uma tournament in which she defeated Kanon in the first rounds but fell short to Yurika Oka in the semifinals.[8]

Seadlinnng (2020–2023)

Shirai made her professional wrestling debut in Seadlinnng at SEAdLINNNG Delivered To You! on June 13, 2020, where she wrestled one of her coaches, Natsuki Taiyo into a time-limit draw.[9] During her time in the company, she chased for various championships promoted by it. At SEAdLINNNG Shin-Kiba Night! on November 10, 2021, she teamed up with Ayame Sasamura and unsuccessfully competed against Las Fresa de Egoistas (Asuka and Makoto) in the semifinals of a number one contendership tournament for the Beyond the Sea Tag Team Championship.[10] At a house show from May 13, 2022, Shirai unsuccessfully challenged Arisa Nakajima for the Beyond the Sea Single Championship.[11] Shirai joined "Las Fresa de Egoistas" stable in 2020. She competed in various match gimmicks such as a captain's fall match which occurred at SEAdLINNNG Shin-Kiba NIGHT! on June 16, 2021, where she teamed up with stablemates Asuka, Ayame Sasamura and Makoto, alongside Hanako Nakamori in a losing effort against Citrus Wind (Arisa Nakajima, Honori Hana, Nanae Takahashi, Riko Kawahata and Yumiko Hotta).[12] At SEAdLINNNG Shin-Kiba Series 2023 on January 13, Shirai competed in a battle royal won by Riko Kawahata and also involving many notable opponents, both male and female such as Amazon, Hiroyo Matsumoto, Kaho Kobayashi, Kakeru Sekiguchi, Ryo Mizunami, Kyohei Mikami and others.[13]

Ice Ribbon (2020–2023)

Another promotion in which Shirai often competes in is Ice Ribbon. She made her first appearance at Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #1057 ~ Ice Ribbon Yokohama Bunka Gymnasium FINAL on August 9, 2020, where she teamed up with Ibuki Hoshi, Maika Ozaki and Thekla to defeat Banny Oikawa, Satsuki Totoro, Yappy and Yuki Mashiro in an eight-woman elimination tag team match.[14] At Ice Ribbon New Ice Ribbon #1187 on March 23, 2022, she unsuccessfully challenged Yuki Mashiro and Nao Ishikawa in a three-way match for the Triangle Ribbon Championship in which Mashiro defended the title.[15]

Sukeban (2023)

Riko made her debut in Sukeban at Sukeban on September 21 2023. On December 14, it was reported Riko would retire from in-ring competition.[16]According to a report, her moving alumni section

Pure-J (2021–2023)

Shirai made her debut in Pure-J at PURE-J Fight Together on November 23, 2021, where she teamed up with Arisa Nakajima in a losing effort against Akari and Hanako Nakamori.[17] She took part in the 2022 edition of the Synchronous Love Tag Team Tournament in which she teamed up with Chie Ozora and defeated Kazuki and Megumi Yabushita in the first rounds, Kaori Yoneyama and Leon in the semifinals, but fell short to Rydeen Hagane and Saki in the finals on June 26, 2022.[18] She won her first title, the Princess of Pro-Wrestling Championship at Pure-J Climax 2022 on December 18 by defeating Crea.[19]

Retirement

During a press conference held by Seadlinnng on December 14, 2023, it was announced that Shirai would retire from in-ring competition.[16]

Championships and accomplishments

References

  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Crea • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  2. ^ Ross, Jamie (September 1, 2023). "Sukeban, New NYC-Based Joshi Promotion Set to Hold First Event on September 21st, Full Roster Revealed". WrestlePurists. Archived from the original on September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  3. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Riko Kaiju/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  4. ^ JoshiCity. "Profiles/Wrestlers/Riko Kaiju". joshicity.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  5. ^ Active Advance Pro Wrestling (August 29, 2021). GRAND SLAM in TKPガーデンシティ千葉. 2aw.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  6. ^ Daly, Wayne (October 21, 2021). "Sendai Girls Results: Keep Burning 2021 Day 3 – Sendai, Japan (10/21)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  7. ^ Peterson, Karen (February 25, 2023). "Dream Slam Monthly (Vol. 2) All Roads Lead to Los Angeles". postwrestling.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  8. ^ Dark Angelita (November 29, 2021). "Sendai Girls: Comienza la competencia "Jaja Uma Tournament"". superluchas.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  9. ^ Iversen, Stuart (June 19, 2020). "SEAdLINNNG Delivered To You! (13/6/20) Review". ramblingsaboutwrestling.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  10. ^ Seadlinnng (November 10, 2021). 2021年11月10日（水） 18:45 START 18:15 OPEN 東京・新木場1st RING『SEAdLINNNG～SHINKIBA NIGHT！～』観衆145人. seadlinnng.com (in Japanese). Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Daly, Wayne (May 13, 2022). "SEAdLINNNG Results: Live In Tokyo – Tokyo, Japan (5/13)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  12. ^ Harris, Bethany (June 15, 2021). "Preview SEAdLINNNG – Shinkiba Night 1 (6/16/21)". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Seadlinnng (January 13, 2023). 2023年1月13日(金)18:15開場18:45開始「開幕戦 SHINKIBA SERIES 2023 Vol.1」東京･新木場1stRING 観衆＝120人. seadlinnng.com (in Japanese). Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  14. ^ Richards, Alex (August 9, 2020). "#AndNEW: Suzu Suzuki Wins ICExInfinity Championship". Last Word on Pro Wrestling. Retrieved August 9, 2020.
  15. ^ Iversen, Stuart (March 21, 2022). "Ice Ribbon 1187 (20/3/22) Review". ramblingsaboutwrestling.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  16. ^ a b 海樹リコ引退申し出に伴い、SEAdLINNNGタッグ王座返上. twitter.com (in Japanese). Weekly Pro Wrestling. December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 14, 2023.
  17. ^ Daly, Wayne (November 23, 2021). "PURE-J Results: Fight Together! – Tokyo, Japan (11/23)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  18. ^ Edwards, Scott (June 28, 2022). "Fightful Joshi Weekly Wrap 6/28/22". fightful.com. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  19. ^ Daly, Wayne (December 19, 2022). "PURE-J Results: Climax 2022 – Tokyo, Japan (12/18)". wrestling-news.net. Retrieved May 11, 2023.
  20. ^ Wrestling Titles. "POP (Princess of Pro-Wrestling) Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 18, 2023.
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