If you’ve been following AEW or TJPW, you’re probably familiar with Yuka Sakazaki, known as the Magical Girl. For those who aren’t yet acquainted, let me introduce you! Born on December 27, 1992, Yuka Sakazaki is a renowned Japanese professional wrestler. She is signed to Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW), where she has held prestigious titles such as the Princess of Princess Champion and the Tokyo Princess Tag Team Champion. Sakazaki is also part of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Interestingly, she originally pursued a career in comedy before shifting her focus to wrestling, a transition that has led her to become a standout star in the wrestling world.
Yuka Sakazaki made her professional wrestling debut with Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW) on December 1, 2013, securing a victory in a tag team match. By the summer of 2014, she participated in the inaugural Tokyo Princess Cup, where she advanced past Kanna in the first round but was eliminated by eventual champion Nonoko in the semifinals.
On June 4, 2017, Sakazaki captured her first Tokyo Princess of Princess Championship by defeating Yuu. However, she lost the title in her first defense to Reika Saiki. Later that year, Sakazaki, alongside her tag team partner Shoko Nakajima, competed in a tournament for the vacant Tokyo Princess Tag Team Championships. They won their matches and ultimately defeated Maho Kurone and Rika Tatsumi in the finals to claim the titles.
On February 3, 2018, Sakazaki and Nakajima lost the tag titles to Neo Biishiki-gun (Azusa Christie and Sakisama). Sakazaki continued to make an impact, competing in the Tokyo Princess Cup again in 2018. She won her first three matches but fell to Yuu in the finals. On August 4, she teamed with Mizuki to win the one-day Yeah! Metcha Tag Tournament by defeating Hyper Misao and Shoko Nakajima. Just three weeks later, Sakazaki and Mizuki secured the vacant tag titles by defeating Maki Ito and Reika Saiki, marking Sakazaki’s second reign as champion. They held the titles for ten months before losing to Neo Biishiki-gun.
On November 3, 2019, at a DDT Pro-Wrestling event, Sakazaki reclaimed the Princess of Princess Championship by defeating Nakajima. She held the title for 428 days before losing it to Rika Tatsumi on January 4, 2021. These highlights reflect just a few of the significant milestones in Sakazaki’s career with TJPW.
In 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced that Yuka Sakazaki would be part of their inaugural event, Double or Nothing, competing in a six-women tag team match. Sakazaki further showcased her skills in a triple threat match at Fyter Fest on June 29, 2019, where she lost to Riho after Riho pinned Nyla Rose. On February 5, 2020, Sakazaki made her AEW debut on Dynamite, defeating Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. before being attacked by Baker post-match. However, Sakazaki’s appearances were limited due to travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sakazaki returned to AEW on February 15, 2021, to participate in the AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament. She won her opening-round match against Mei Suruga and advanced by defeating Emi Sakura in the semifinals. She was eventually eliminated by Ryo Mizunami on February 28 during an all-women’s B/R Live special. Following this, Sakazaki returned to Japan to focus on her work with TJPW. However, it was announced that she would return to AEW starting in July 2021. On a personal note, I am thrilled about her return and hope to see her live.
In 2022, Yuka Sakazaki was active in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and made several notable appearances. She participated in key matches and storylines, contributing to AEW’s women’s division. Sakazaki’s matches in AEW included various high-profile events and featured both singles and tag team bouts. Sakazaki continued to be a prominent figure in TJPW throughout 2022. She competed in significant events and defended her titles, maintaining her status as a leading star in the promotion. TJPW showcased her in major matches, and she was involved in various storylines that highlighted her as a central figure in the company.
In 2023, Yuka Sakazaki continued to make significant strides in both AEW and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW). In AEW, Sakazaki was prominently featured, facing notable opponents such as Britt Baker on January 11 and participating in a high-profile trios match on February 15 alongside Hikaru Shida and Riho against Jamie Hayter, Toni Storm, and Saraya. Her engagement with AEW also included a tag team bout against The Outcasts in April and a four-way match on July 12.
In TJPW, Sakazaki defended her Princess of Princess Championship against Rika Tatsumi at Wrestle Princess III on January 4 and competed against Miyu Yamashita at Grand Princess III on March 4. Her performances continued to shine in high-stakes matches, including a multi-woman bout at Summer Sun Princess in June and a tag team match at Don’t Touch That Dial in August. Sakazaki also expanded her international presence, appearing in various promotions and further establishing her reputation as a top global wrestling talent.
Yuka Sakazaki currently holds an 8.85 rating on Cagematch, which I feel does not fully reflect her talent…
- Average rating in 2024: 8.53
- Average rating in 2023: 9.03
- Average rating in 2022: 8.95
- Average rating in 2021: 9.34
- Average rating in 2020: 8.92
- Average rating in 2019: 7.29
Despite being in the business for only seven years, Sakazaki has shown remarkable growth. One reviewer on Cagematch noted, “I personally do not understand why Yuka Sakazaki’s name does not often come up when people discuss the best female wrestlers today. In my opinion, she is one of the greatest of all time and a complete wrestler. Her move-set is extensive, combining speed, aerial maneuvers, and power attacks beautifully, with outstanding finishers and excellent selling ability. Her gimmick, while unique and charming, is not my favorite, but I love when she switches to her angry, aggressive mode where she becomes incredibly brutal. Despite some perceptions based on her comedic character, when Sakazaki gets serious, she excels in the ring. I urge anyone who doubts her to check out her major matches and title defenses as a champion.
Alright, now that I’ve introduced you to Yuka Sakazaki, let’s dive into the meat and potatoes as it were and give you my top 5 dream matches for her. As was the case with Maki Itoh, these are just purely dream matches that I wish could happen someday. Of course, that implies that she could ever be in the ring with them due to the companies they work for currently.
5. Sarray (fka Sareee) – NXT
Our first dream match for Yuka Sakazaki is the artist formerly known as Saree, now known to the NXT universe as Sarray. Sarray is a ten year veteran with a techniker leaning though she is known for using the Japanese ‘Strong Style’. She’s a hard striker and is a credible opponent to many who are much bigger in size than her. She’s even been compared to the likes of Meiko Satomura and Aja Kong if that tells you anything. Another Japanese performer who is criminally underrated according to Cagematch, Sarray currently holds a meagre 8.5 rating on the site. I’m sorry but Sarray is easily in the top 15 women wrestlers in the world. She has a slight edge over Sakazaki in career length but these two could put on some really good matches if given the chance.
4. Dr. Britt Baker, DMD – AEW
At number four is another competitor who is massively and criminally underrated according to Cagematch (With a disgustingly low 5.9 rating), and that is the DMD herself, Britt Baker. Now I know these two have actually faced off before, with Sakazaki picking up the win but this is a feud that I would love to see more of once Yuka returns to AEW. Britt Baker dethroned Hikaru Shida for the women’s title back at Double or Nothing this year and has been a major player for AEW since she was signed. I don’t understand how you can watch a Britt Baker match and not rate her much higher than she is. The Pittsburgh PA native is -really- good in the ring as well as on the mic. Hell, she might be one of the best that AEW has on the roster. Britt is the kind of person who would make Yuka Sakazaki really shine in the ring and is someone who you can count on to deliver time after time
3. Kagetsu (Retired) – Stardom
Know what? This is a dream match article and if you can’t include some legends in them then what the hell are you doing putting together dream matches? Anyway, my number three is the legendary former leader of Oedo Tai, Kagetsu. Kagetsu is an absolute legend in the world of Stardom, having had a long and successful career. Hell, alongside HZK and Hana Kimura, she led Oedo Tai to a level of prominence that the stable has struggled to regain since she retired. It’s a damn shame she retired too, her one-off appearance at Hana Matane earlier this year showed that the 11 year vet could still go in the ring if she decided to return full time. Seeing her and Hazuki (HZK) in the ring again really made my inner fan go nuts and seeing this amazing performer against the young and talented Yuka Sakazaki would be a match that dreams are made of.
2. Lita (Retired) – WWE
At number two is Amy Dumas, aka Lita, the high-flyer who had a legendary rivalry with Trish Stratus back in the day for WWE. Only a veteran for seven years before she called it quits on a career, the high flyer would have had a great rivalry with Sakazaki. Both have the talent and the aerial aptitude for one hell of an entertaining match. A bonus for this is that Lita was obscenely good in the ring despite her significant lack of years between the ropes. What deficiencies either lady has in the ring, the other could have carried them for her. That’s how good of a match this could have been if we had the chance. Although, there is one high flyer that I would love to see face Yuka Sakazaki more, and she takes our number one spot today..
1. Starlight Kid – Stardom
At number one today is Starlight Kid. The young allrounder representing Oedo Tai and Stardom is just the kind of dream match for Yuka Sakazaki that should make any true wrestling fan scream in anticipation. Kid is one of the best performers that Stardom has to offer at this stage, and undergoing a dark transformation would make her good fodder for someone as ‘face’ as Yuka Sakazaki is. Let’s face facts here, Starlight Kid is without a doubt one of the best high flyers in the world today and she incorporates the Lucha style into her matches flawlessly. Not to mention that she embraces this so much that very few know anything about her life outside of Stardom. I absolutely love Kid and what she brings to the ring every time she is in it, so putting her in there against another up-and-comer like Yuka Sakazaki just makes sense. It needs to happen someday and with any luck, it just may…
