{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}} {{short description|Japanese professional wrestler (born 1996)}} {{Infobox professional wrestler |name = Aya Sakura |image = AyaSakura2025.jpg |caption = Sakura in January 2025 |birthname = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1996|09|13|mf=y}} |birth_place = Kobe, Japan |names = '''Aya Sakura''' |height = 158 cm |weight = 52 kg |resides = |billed = |trainer = Tam Nakano |debut = 2023 |retired = }}

{{nihongo|'''Aya Sakura'''|さくら あや|Sakura Aya|born September 13, 1996}} is a Japanese professional wrestler. She works for World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is one-half of the current New Blood Tag Team Champions in her first reign and a member of Cosmic Angels. She is also known for her appearance in Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling, where she is a former Sendai Girls Junior Champion.

==Professional wrestling career== ===World Wonder Ring Stardom (2023–present)=== Sakura made her official in-ring debut at New Blood Premium on March 25, 2023, where she faced Giulia.<ref>{{Cite web|title=【スターダム】新人さくらあや ジュリア相手のデビュー戦で堂々空手殺法！ ＤＤＭ入りには珍回答 |url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/258176 |website=tokyo-sports |date=2023-03-25 |access-date=2025-03-22 |language=ja}}</ref>

Sakura had to be long-term withdrawal due to a neck injury since July 9, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=【お知らせ】さくらあや選手がケガのため、7・9後楽園大会欠場となります |url=https://wwr-stardom.com/news/20230708-2/ |website=wwr-stardom.com |access-date=2025-03-22 |language=ja}}</ref>

Sakura returned on March 10, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=「悔しいことが続いた」スターダムの"新空手ガール"さくらあやが涙の復帰会見！「前だけを見て突き進んでいきたい」|url=https://thedigestweb.com/topics_detail13/id=78027 |website=thedigestweb.com |access-date=2025-03-22 |language=ja}}</ref>

Sakura faced Sayaka Kurara in a time-limit draw on March 30, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|title= STARDOM Results (3/30/24):Goddesses, Artists Belts Change Hands |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/stardom-results-33024-goddesses-artist-belts-change-hands/ |website=fightful.com |date=March 30, 2024 |access-date=2024-03-30}}</ref> ====Cosmic Angels (2024-present)==== {{main|Cosmic Angels}} Sakura officially joined the Cosmic Angels with Kurara on April 12, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |title=4/12【スターダム】さくらと玖麗の奮闘にたむ「合格!」 COSMIC ANGELSに正式加入… |url=https://dx-sp.gsj.bz/dxnews.Index/detail/?news_id=20240412012&organization_id=39&company_id=01&contents_id=2 |website=dx-sp.gsj.bz |access-date=2024-03-12 |language=ja}}</ref> Sakura pinned the Future of Stardom Champion, Rina in a tag match on September 8, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bodyslam.net/2024/09/11/stardom-in-korakuen-hall-night-9-results-september-8th-2024/ |title=Stardom In Korakuen Hall Night 9 Results (September 8th, 2024) |website=bodyslam.net |access-date=2024-09-08}}</ref>{{better cite|date=November 2025}}

At Stardom New Year Dream, Sakura unsuccessfully challenged Chi Chi for the Sendai Girls Junior Championship on January 3, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=STARDOM New Year Dream 2025 Results: Athena & Thekla Face Tay Melo & Mina Shirkawa |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/stardom-new-years-dream-2025-results-athena-thekla-tay-melo-mina-shirakawa/ |website=411mania.com |access-date=2025-01-03}}</ref> On March 8, 2025, Sakura went through a time-limit draw with Hanako in the Stardom Cinderella Tournament 2025, which eliminated both from the tournament.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/stardom-cinderella-tournament-2025-night-193000155.html|title=STARDOM Cinderella Tournament 2025 Night One Results 3/8|work=yahoo.com|first=Troy|last=Gonzales|date=March 8, 2025|access-date=March 8, 2025}}</ref> At Historic X-Over in Guangzhou, Sakura would face her again with the Future of Stardom Championship on the line, but was unsuccessful.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/njpw-x-stardom-historic-x-over-in-guangzhou-results-10-5-25-future-of-stardom-title-bout-zack-sabre-jr-vs-kushida/|title=NJPW & STARDOM Historic X-Over In Guangzhou Results (10/5/25):Future Of Stardom Title Bout, Zack Sabre Jr. vs. KUSHIDA|work=fightful.com|first=Andrew|last=Thompson|date=October 5, 2025|access-date=October 5, 2025}}</ref> On November 30, 2025, Sakura won the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League with Kurara after defeating BMI2000 (Natsuko Tora and Ruaka) in the finals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aya-sakura-sayaka-kurara-win-2025-goddesses-of-stardom-tag-league-tournament/#google_vignette|title=Aya Sakura and Sayaka Kurara Win 2025 Godddesses of Stardom Tag League Tournament|work=fightful.com|first=Andrew|last=Thompson|date=November 30, 2025|access-date=November 30, 2025}}</ref> At Stardom New Blood 30, Sakura would lose against Ranna Yagami for the Future of Stardom Championship, which would be her last and final challenge for the belt.

==== New Blood Series (2023-present) ==== Sakura unsuccessfully challenged Rina for the Future of Stardom Championship at New Blood 15 on September 29, 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bodyslam.net/2024/09/30/stardom-new-blood-15-results-september-29th-2024/ |title=Stardom New Blood 15 Results (September 29, 2024)|website=bodyslam.net |access-date=2024-09-29}}</ref>

Sakurara (Sakura and Kurara) won the New Blood Tag Team Championship by defeating Rice or Bread (Waka Tsukiyama and Hanako) at Stardom New Blood 26 on October 30, 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://solowrestling.com/us/new/145238-stardom-new-blood-26- |title=STARDOM NEW BLOOD 26 results |website=solowrestling.com |date=October 30, 2025 |access-date=2025-10-30}}</ref>

Sakurara (Sakura and Kurara) defeats Yuna Mizumori and Anne Kanaya to retain their titles at Stardom New Blood 28 on February 2, 2026.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/aya-sakura-sayaka-kurara-retain-tag-titles-at-stardom-new-blood-28/|title=Aya Sakura & Sayaka Kurara Retain Tag Titles at STARDOM New Blood 28|website=monthlypuroresu.com|first=Noah |last=Leatherland |access-date=2026-02-02}}</ref>

===Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling (2024–present)=== Sakura participated in the Jaja Uma Tournament 2024 and won against Yuzuki in the quarterfinals,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sendai Girls Jaja Uma Tournament Night 1 Results (October 3, 2024) |date=2024-10-03 |url= https://www.bodyslam.net/2024/10/03/sendai-girls-jaja-uma-tournament-night-1-results-october-3rd-2024/ |access-date=2024-10-03 |language=english}}</ref> Yuna in the semifinals,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sendai Girls Jaja Uma Tournament Night 2 Results (October 17th, 2024) |date=2024-10-17 |url= https://www.bodyslam.net/2025/10/17/sendai-girls-jaja-uma-tournament-night-2-results-october-17th-2025/ |access-date=2024-10-17 |language=english}}</ref> but lost against Chi Chi in the finals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sendai Girls Jaja Uma Tournament Night 2 Results (October 20th, 2024) |date=2024-10-20 |url=https://www.bodyslam.net/2024/10/20/sendai-girls-jaja-uma-tournament-night-3-results-october-20th-2024/ |language=english}}</ref>

Sakura defeated Chi Chi to win the Sendai Girls Junior Championship on March 19, 2025.<ref>{{Cite news |title=【センダイガールズ】さくらあやがワールドジュニア新王者に Chi Chiを撃破「出会えたことで強くなれた」 |newspaper=tokyo-sports |date=2025-03-19 |url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/337996 |access-date=2025-03-22 |language=ja}}</ref> Sakura lost the Sendai Girls Junior Championship against Yuna at Senjo The Biggest on August 24, 2025, ending her reign at 158 days.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sareee & Mika Iwata Go To War As Nearly 4,000 Fans Attend Sendai Girls "The Biggest" Event On Aug. 24th |date=2025-08-24 |url= https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/sareee-mika-iwata-go-to-war-as-nearly-4000-fans-attend-sendai-girls-the-biggest-event-on-aug-24th/?srsltid=AfmBOoqjDQ5ED9DdVn2GA9fd9wKFoUaDs1V0eERWvwJe829XUpNsRFiT |access-date=2025-08-25 |language=english}}</ref>

==Championships and accomplishments== *'''''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''''' ** Ranked No. 151 of the top 250 female wrestlers in the ''PWI Women's 250'' in 2025<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aiptcomics.com/2025/11/11/full-2025-pwi-womens-250-list-revealed/|title=Full 2025 PWI Women's 250 list revealed|work=aiptcomics.com|first=Patrick|last=Ross|date=November 11, 2025|access-date=November 11, 2025}}</ref> *''' Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling''' ** Sendai Girls Junior Championship (1 time) * '''World Wonder Ring Stardom''' ** New Blood Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) - with Sayaka Kurara ** Goddesses of Stardom Tag League (2025) – with Sayaka Kurara ** Stardom Year-End Awards (1 time) *** Best Unit Award (2024) {{small|as part of Cosmic Angels}}

==References== {{reflist}}

== External links == {{commonscat}} * [https://wwr-stardom.com/fighters/sakura/ Aya Sakura] - World Wonder Ring Stardom * {{Twitter|sakura960913}} * {{instagram|sakura_karategirl}} <!-- per WP:ELMINOFFICIAL, choose one official website only -->

{{Navboxes |list1= {{Sendai Girls Junior Championship}} {{Cosmic Angels}} {{Goddesses of Stardom Tag League}} {{New Blood Tag Team Championship}} {{World Wonder Ring Stardom personnel}} }} {{Authority control}} {{Portal bar|Biography|Japan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sakura, Aya}} Category:1996 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century female professional wrestlers Category:21st-century Japanese professional wrestlers Category:21st-century Japanese sportswomen Category:Japanese female professional wrestlers Category:Martial artists from Hyōgo Prefecture Category:Sportspeople from Kobe Category:Sendai Girls Junior Champions Category:New Blood Tag Team Champions Category:Goddesses of Stardom Tag League winners