Yuki Arai

Yuki Arai (荒井優希, Arai Yuki) is a Japanese professional wrestler and idol best known for her time in the Japanese promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. She is also a member of the Japanese idol group SKE48.^[3]

Yuki Arai
Arai in July 2023
Born	(1998-05-07) May 7, 1998 (age 26)^[1] Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)	Yuki Arai
Billed height	164 cm (5 ft 5 in)^[2]
Trained by	Miyu Yamashita
Debut	2018

Professional wrestling career

DDT Pro-Wrestling (2018; 2021–present)

Arai made her professional wrestling debut in DDT Pro-Wrestling at DDT Live! Maji Manji #21 on October 28, 2018, where she competed in a gauntlet battle royal where she defended the Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship she won eighteen days earlier at a house show where she won it from her SKE48 senior Kaori Matsumura. The match was won by Maki Itoh and also involved various other opponents such as Cherry, Emi Sakura, Mizuki, Saki Akai and Yuki Kamifuku.^[4] Arai continued her professional wrestling career after a two and a half year break, mainly competing in sister-promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling. She made her return to DDT at Never Mind 2022 on December 29, where she teamed up with her "Reiwa Ban AA Cannon" tag team partner Saki Akai to defeat Saori Anou and Rika Kawahata.^[5]

Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (2021–present)

Arai made her first appearance in Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling at TJPW Yes! Wonderland 2021 on May 4, where she teamed up with Miu Watanabe in a losing effort against Arisu Endo and Maki Itoh.^[6] During her time in the promotion, she chased after various championships promoted by it. At TJPW Tokyo Joshi 2021 Autumn on December 4, she competed in a battle royal to determine the number one contender for the International Princess Championship won by Maki Itoh and also involving Hyper Misao, Nodoka Tenma, Rika Tatsumi, Shoko Nakajima, Nao Kakuta and Suzume.^[7] At TJPW Grand Princess '22 on March 19, she unsuccessfully challenged Itoh for the same title.^[8] She won the Princess Tag Team Championship for the first time by teaming up with Saki Akai and defeating Magical Sugar Rabbits (Mizuki and Yuka Sakazaki) at TJPW Summer Sun Princess '22 on July 9.^[9] They lost the titles at TJPW Tokyo Joshi Pro '23 on January 4 to Wasteland War Party (Heidi Howitzer and Max the Impaler).^[10]

Pro Wrestling Noah (2021)

Due to TJPW being a promotion patroned by the CyberFight company, Arai competed in cross-over events held between the three promotions owned by it, those being TJPW, DDT and Pro Wrestling Noah. The only event of such kind was the CyberFight Festival 2021 from June 6, where she teamed up with Hikari Noa and Mizuki in a losing effort against Maki Itoh, Marika Kobashi and Yuki Kamifuku.^[11] Arai is scheduled to compete at Keiji Muto Grand Final Pro-Wrestling "Last-Love" on February 21, 2023, where she will team up with Mizuki, Maki Itoh and Miu Watanabe to take on Yuka Sakazaki, Miyu Yamashita, Shoko Nakajima and Rika Tatsumi.^[12]

Championships and accomplishments

• DDT Pro-Wrestling
  • Ironman Heavymetalweight Championship (1 time)
• Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling
  • International Princess Championship (1 time, current)
  • Princess Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Saki Akai
• Tokyo Sports Puroresu Awards
  • Rookie Of The Year (2021)

References

1. Saalbach, Axel. "Yuki Arai • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
2. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Yuki Arai/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved January 24, 2023.
3. InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Yuki Arai/Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
4. DDT Pro-Wrestling (October 28, 2018). "DDT ProWrestling" DDT LIVE！ マジ卍 後楽園ホールスペシャル!!. ddtpro.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 24, 2023.
5. Harris, Jeffrey (December 29, 2022). "DDT Pro Never Mind 2022 Results 12.29.22: Kazusada Higuchi Faces Yuki Ueno". 411mania.com. Retrieved December 29, 2022.
6. Iversen, Stuart (May 5, 2021). "TJPW Yes! Wonderland (4/5/21) Review". ramblingsaboutwrestling.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
7. Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling (December 4, 2021). "DDT ProWrestling" TOKYO JOSHI 2021 秋～花鳥月露～. ddtpro.com (in Japanese). Retrieved January 24, 2023.
8. Harris, Bethany (March 18, 2022). "Preview – TJPW Grand Princess '22 (3/19/22)". lastwordonsports.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
9. Iversen, Stuart (July 11, 2022). "TJPW Summer Sun Princess '22 (9/7/22) Review". ramblingsaboutwrestling.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
10. Edwards, Scott (January 4, 2023). "TJPW Tokyo Joshi Pro '23 Results (1/4/23): Yuka Sakazaki vs. Miyu Yamashita". fightful.com. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
11. Voices Of Wrestling Stuff (June 6, 2021). "CYBERFIGHT FESTIVAL 2021 (JUNE 6) RESULTS & REVIEW". voicesofwrestling.com. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
12. "Full card revealed for Keiji Muto's Tokyo Dome retirement show". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. 22 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-22.