Mina Shirakawa (白川未奈 Shirakawa Mina) (born December 26, 1987) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom promotion, where she is a former one-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, while also being a former two-time Artist of Stardom Champion and a former one-time Future of Stardom Champion.
She also makes appearances in several of Stardom's partner promotions, such as the U.S. based All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Ring of Honor (ROH), and the England based Revolution Pro Wrestling (RevPro), where she is a former one-time Undisputed British Women's Champion.
Shirakawa, a former gravure idol and tarento, began her career in the Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion, making her debut as a professional wrestler in August 2018. Shirakawa left the promotion in 2020, and joined World Wonder Ring Stardom in October 2020. Shirakawa formed the Cosmic Angels with Tam Nakano and Unagi Sayaka; however, since late 2022, a rift began between the Cosmic Angels and the newly formed Club Venus, led by Shirakawa, which led to her leaving the Cosmic Angels and leading her own faction, later with Maika as Empress Nexus Venus. Since then, she became one of Stardom's main stars and most charismatic wrestlers, headlining Stardom's pay-per views multiple times.
Shirakwa prievously worked for Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling (TJPW) and Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling, where she was a former one-time and the inaugral BBW Women's Champion until 2020, when she signed with Stardom.
Early life[]
During her adolescence, Shirakawa developed large breasts which she has stated gave her the confidence to "be sexy" into her adult life. This led to Shirakawa performing as a "gravure model" (glamour model) in Japan for a time in her 20s as well using the moniker "the Fighting H-Cup Gravure Wrestler" as part of her wrestling persona.
Shirakawa would graduate from the Aoyama Gakuin University in English and American Literature degree, and during that time she would also work as a wedding planner. In 2013, Shirakawa embarked on a singing career before moving on to work as a gravure idol and tarento, cheerleading in the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil in a World Cup match, as part of the cheering unit known as Amazones.
After taking a break from her modeling career, Shirakawa began persuing a professional wrestling career, joining the Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling dojo in April 2018, before ending her her gravure idol and tarento careers in the following August to foccus on her professional wrestling career. . Shirakawa has stated she was inspired by Jushin Thunder Liger to enter the professional wrestling business.
Professional wrestling career[]
Early career (2018–2020)[]
Shirakawa made her professional wrestling debut at BBJ Muscle Ring on August 5, 2018, the first-ever event of the Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion, where she teamed up with Shoko Nakajima in a losing effort against Reika Saiki and Hoshimi Muramatsu. She wrestled at several other events of the promotion such as the BBJ Muscle Ring 2 on October 18 facing Cherry in a losing effort. She worked a match for DDT Pro-Wrestling, at Ryōgoku Peter Pan 2018 from October 21, teaming with with Miyu Yamashita and Yuki Kamifuku in a losing effort to Yuka Sakazaki, Mizuki and Shoko Nakajima. Afterwards, Shirakawa began working mostly for DDT's sister promotion Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling, making her debut on November 4, on the second night of TJP 5th Anniversary Shin-Kiba Tour from November 4, 2018,teaming with Reika Saiki in a losing effort against Maki Itoh and Shoko Nakajima. On December 19, 2019 Shirakawa made her last BBJ appearance losing the BBW Women's Championship to Erina Yamanaka. After two years with TJPW, Shirakawa left the promotion after her contract expired.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2020–present)[]
Cosmic Angels (2020–2022)[]
Shirakawa made her debut of the promotion on October 4, 2020 at Stardom Nagoya Rainbow Fight , facing Tam Nakano in a losing effort. On October 29, Shirakawa turned on STARS alligning herself with Nakano, before announcing a new member for their newly created group. On November 14, 2020, the stable was named Cosmic Angels, following the addition of Unagi Sayaka. On December 16, Shirakawa, Sayaka and Nakano defeated Oedo Tai (Bea Priestley, Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima) to win the Artist Of Stardom Championship.
At the start of 2021, Cosmic Angels began feuding with Donna Del Mondo, and as a result, Shirakawa and Sayaka unsuccessfully challenged Himeka and Maika for the Goddess of Stardom Championship at Stardom New Century 2021 In Shinjuku on March 14, 2021. On April 10, Shirakawa took part in the 2021 Cinderella Tournament, losing to Utami Hayashishita in her first round match. On July 4, Shirakawa defeated fellow Cosmic Angels stablemate Unagi Sayaka in the finals of a tournament to win the vacant Future of Stardom Championship, before losing it to Sayaka on July 17. At the Stardom 5 Star Grand Prix 2021 tournament, Shirakawa competed in the "Red Stars" Block and scored a total of six points after going against Momo Watanabe, Mayu Iwatani, Koguma, Starlight Kid, Himeka, Fukigen Death, Giulia and Saki Kashima. On October 3, Shirakawa, Nakano and Sayaka lost the the Artist of Stardom Championship to Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi. At the 2021 edition of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, Shirakawa teamed up with Tam Nakano as "Dream H" and fought in the "Blue Goddess Block" where they scored a total of three points after facing the teams of MOMOAZ (AZM and Momo Watanabe), Blue Marine (Mayu Iwatani and Rin Kadokura), Kurotora Kaidou (Starlight Kid and Ruaka), Ponytail and Samurai Road (Syuri and Maika) and C Moon (Lady C and Waka Tsukiyama). At Tokyo Super Wars on November 27, she unsuccessfully challlenged stablemate Tam Nakano for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, and at Osaka Super Wars, the last event of the trilogy which took place on December 18, Shirakawa teamed up with Unagi Sayaka and Tam Nakano in a losing effort against Mayu Iwatani, Hazuki and Koguma in a Six-woman tag team match as part of a ¥10 Million Unit tournament.
On January 29, 2022, at Stardom Nagoya Supreme Fight, Shirakawa was defeated by Thekla in a match to crown the vacant SWA World Champion. From July 30 until October 1, Shirakawa took part in the 2022 5★Star GP, competing in the Blue Stars block, where he finished the tournament with a record of five wins and seven losses, failing to advance to the finals of the tournament.
Club Venus / Empress Nexus Venus (2022–present)[]
At Dream Queendom 2 on December 29, Shirakawa was accompanied to the ring for her match by Mariah May and Xia Brookside. Shirakawa and her Cosmic Angels stablemate Unagi Sayaka went on to defeat Donna Del Mondo (Mai Sakurai and Thekla). Following the match, Shirakawa slapped Sayaka and announced the formation of Club Venus, a trio including herself, Brookside and May. On the final night of the 2023 Cinderella Tournament on April 15, 2023, Shirakawa, Natsupoi, SAKI and Tam Nakano lost to Donna Del Mondo (Giulia, Himeka, Maika and Thekla). Following the match, Shirakawa announced that Club Venus would part ways with Cosmic Angels and become an independent unit.
On April 23, 2023, at All Star Grand Queendom, Shirakawa won the Wonder of Stardom Championship by defeating Saya Kamitani. On May 4, Shirakawa had her first successful title defense by defeating Natsupoi. At Flashing Champions on May 27, Shirakawa lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Tam Nakano in a winner takes all match where Nakano's World of Stardom Championship was also on the line, ending Shirakawa's reign after 34 days. At Sunshine 2023 on June 25, Shirakawa and Mariah May, together known as Rose Gold, won the Goddess of Stardom Championship by defeating The New Eras. At Stardom x Stardom: Osaka Summer Team on August 13, Rose Gold lost the Goddesses of Stardom Championship to REStart.
On January 20, 2024, Shirakawa alongside Maika, Xena, Tsukiyama and Hanako announced that they would be forming a new unit named Empress Nexus Venus (abbreviated as E Nexus V or ExV). On February 23, 2024, on night 1 of The New Beginning in Sapporo, Shirakawa returned to NJPW, unsuccessfully challenging Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women's Championship. On March 30, Shirakawa, Maika and Xena won the Artist of Stardom Championship by defeating Abarenbo GE.
Shirakawa made her All Elite Wrestling debut on the April 11, 2024 episode of Dynamite, saving Mariah May after she was being attacked by Anna Jay. Afterwards, the two shared a kiss and champagne. Shirakawa made her official AEW in-ring debut by defeating Anna Jay. On 4 April 2024, at Stardom American Dream 2024, Toni Storm made a surprise return to Stardom to take May away of Shirakawa as the two of them shared a storyline relationship in AEW. Storm teased a possible future confrontation for the AEW Women's Championship against Shirakawa, mentioning that the "Forbidden Door" is always open, leading to a rift between the Mina and Storm over May's friendship. ver the next two months, Shirakawa would periodically appear on AEW shows and compete with Storm for May's affection. During Stardom's June 2 event, Storm along with May appeared in a vignette where Storm said she had been observing Shirakawa and while she also considered Shirakawa a friend due to her friendship with May, Storm wanted to challenge Shirakawa to a match at Forbidden Door with the AEW Women's World Championship on the line. Shirakawa accepted the challenge and the match was made official on the June 5 episode of Dynamite, with May listed as the cornerwoman to both participants upon her request.
On March 25, 2025, it was reported by Tokyo Sports that Shirakawa would be leaving Stardom at the end of the month and linked her to joining All Elite Wrestling (AEW) or WWE. On March 26 at a press conference, Shirakawa confirmed the report and announced that she would be joining AEW after finishing her final commitments with Stardom.
Personal life[]
Mina's mother tongue is Japanese, and she is also fluent in English.
Her hobbies include watching professional wrestling matches and jogging, with she stating that “pro-wrestling keeps her alive,” and is a fan of Jushin Thunder Liger, who sees as one of her greatest inspirations to become a professional wrestler, with her watching a variety of promotions such as NJPW and WWE. As well as kickboxing and catching beans. She has been a member of a hip-hop dance circle since his days at Aoyama Gakuin University while also being in charge of the choreography of “Opp Samba".
Mina is also good friends with actress Sailor Miyamori, whom both love professional wrestling and watching WWE shows in Japan together and fellow wrestler Himeka, whom she helped in professional wrestling, with her bond stretching even after Himeka's retirement. She was also friends with NJPW on-screen character Miho Abe since their graduate school days; although she was involved with Liger in the ring and expressed her jealousy and anger.
She was also in the same grade as gravure idol Arisa during her Bachelor of Arts, English and American Literature at the Aoyama Gakuin University.
One of the reasons she chose to join Stardom was to being close to Yuzuki Aikawa.
Professional wrestling style and persona[]
Mina is noted for her deep popularity within the audience and is often regarded as an energetic, postive and charismatic character, with her often having an outstanding reaction within it. She carries a wrestling persona is frequently based on her background as a gravure model such as partying, as well as having a cheering personality often celebrating with champagne while also being a mood maker, who brightens and cheers up those around her.
Mina's popularity often led to chants "We want Mina!" during matches or segments that involve her. She has been billed as "the Fighting H-Cup Gravure Wrestler" as well as the "Venus of Pro Wrestling", a concept Club Venus was built around.
Mina mostly wrestles in a "all-round", "striking" style. Her finishing moves are a inverted facelock transitioned into a sitout scoop slam piledriver, known as the Glamorous Driver MINA, an Inverted leg trap crucifix pin, known as the Glamorous Collection MINA, an Inverted facelock transitioned into a cross-legged sitout scoop slam piledriver, known as the Figure-Four Driver MINA and a Belly to back suplex dropped into a wheelbarrow facebuster, known as the Glamorous Strong Style - GSS, in short.
Mina as the Undisputed British Women's Champion
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Figure-Four Driver MINA (Inverted facelock transitioned into a cross-legged sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- Glamorous Collection MINA (Inverted leg trap crucifix pin)
- Glamorous Driver MINA (Inverted facelock transitioned into a sitout scoop slam piledriver)
- GSS - Glamorous Strong Style (Belly to back suplex dropped into a wheelbarrow facebuster)
- One Winged Dragon (Spinning electric chair transitioned into a flapjack)
- Signature moves
- Axe kick
- Dragon screw
- Falcon arrow
- Figure-four leglock
- Glamorous Sword (Running enzuigiri)
- Inverted Boston crab
- Inverted DDT
- Lifting DDT
- Lou Thesz press
- Mongolian chop
- Rolling Elbow strike
- Rolling surfboard clutch
- Rope-hung DDT
- Running Neckbreaker
- Russian legsweep
- Sakauchi (Running crucifix bomb) - adopted from Misaki Ohata
- Snap suplex
- Spinning backfist
- Spinning Enzuigiri
- Tilt-a-whirl headscissors transitioned into a Russian legsweep
- Nicknames
- "Bloody Angel"
- "Fighting H-Cup Gravure Wrestler"
- "Powerbomb In Your Heart"
- "Venus of Pro Wrestling"
- Entrance themes
- "2 B GSS" by KillBillPainB.B.
Championships and accomplishments[]
- World Wonder Ring Stardom
- Wonder of Stardom Championship (1 time)
- Goddess of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Mariah May
- Artist of Stardom Championship (2 times) - with Tam Nakano and Unagi Sayaka (1) and Maika and Xena (1)
- Future of Stardom Championship (1 time)
- Revolution Pro-Wrestling
- Undisputed British Women's Champion (1 time)
- Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling
- BBW Women's Championship (1 time)