Ayumi Kurihara
Encyclopedia
is a joshi puroresu  wrestler who grew up around pro wrestling. Her parents' Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

 yakiniku
Yakiniku
Yakiniku , meaning "grilled meat", is a Japanese term which, in its broadest sense, refers to grilled meat dishes. The present style of yakiniku restaurants are derived from the Korean restaurants in Osaka and Tokyo which were opened around 1945....

 (焼肉) barbecue restaurant, "The Three Treasures of Buddha
Three Jewels
The Three Jewels, also called the Three Treasures, the Siemese Triples, Three Refuges, or the Triple Gem , are the three things that Buddhists take refuge in, and look toward for guidance, in the process known as taking refuge.The Three Jewels are:* BuddhaTaking refuge in the Three Jewels is...

" (三宝) was not only a place where wrestlers often ate, but is also a sponsor of pro wrestling events. Because of this involvement, Ayumi has had to work twice as hard training and in the ring to avoid the stigma of being a sponsor's daughter.

Ayumi played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...

 in high school in Tokyo, and after graduation, she went to work at her family's restaurant.

Career

Ayumi entered training with the women's pro wrestling promotion AtoZ and then transferred to M's Style, where she learned the craft from well-known Japanese female wrestlers Gami, Mariko Yoshida
Mariko Yoshida
, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her work with the ARSION wrestling promotion, where she was also head trainer.-Professional wrestling career:...

, AKINO, and Michiko Ohmukai. Ayumi debuted in 2005, at the age of 20. She is viewed as one of the future stars of joshi puroresu in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...

 as she has a hunger and desire second to none in the younger class.

In a "1 Day Tournament" Kurihara had her pro debut and defeated GAMI in her debut match in 9:08 when she reversed a pin attempt into a roll-up. She then lost her following tournament match in 6:54 when Toshie Uematsu
Toshie Uematsu
is a female Japanese Professional Wrestler best known for her popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. She was one of the members of the first class of wrestlers trained by Chigusa Nagayo when Nagayo formed the GAEA Japan promotion...

 beat her with a flying body press.

M's Style closed in the fall of 2006. The final match was a six-person tag match, pitting Tojuki LEON, Bullfight Sora and Ayumi against AKINO, Ohmukai and Yoshida. The younger generation won the match.

Since then, Ayumi has wrestled as a freelancer, in NEO, JWP, Jd'
JDStar
JDStar , was a women's professional wrestling promotion based in Tokyo, Japan. In the wake of the joshi puroresu boom of the early 1990s, several different groups opened with distinct approaches...

, Ibuki and Pro Wrestling SUN.

Near the end of her tenure in M's Style, Ayumi incorporated a stronger finishing move to her moveset. Ohmukai was shown teaching her how to perform a uranage, which she then went on to use in a tag victory with Ohmukai against Ayako Hamada
Ayako Hamada
is a female professional wrestler of mixed Japanese and Mexican descent, who is currently wrestling most notably for Pro Wrestling WAVE in Japan and Shimmer Women Athletes in the United States, where she is a co-holder of the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.She is best known for winning several...

 and Cherry.

In December 2006, Ayumi wrestled Shuu Shibutani in a special show geared toward the upcoming generation of wrestlers. The fans voted the match the best of the night and both women received trophies.

Ayumi often hits numerous dropkick
Dropkick
A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...

s during her matches, including missile dropkicks off the top turnbuckle. She's not afraid to hit hard and take hard hits, prompting American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 wrestler Steve Corino
Steve Corino
Steven Eugene "Steve" Corino is a Canadian professional wrestler, who currently works for Pro Wrestling Zero1, Ring of Honor and numerous other independent promotions. Corino is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and ECW World Heavyweight Champion.-Early years :Corino began wrestling in 1994...

, who works for Pro Wrestling SUN and faced her in a mixed tag match, to call her "lil' Kawada girl." (Toshiaki Kawada
Toshiaki Kawada
is a Japanese professional wrestler who is most known for his work in All Japan Pro Wrestling. In 2005, he started freelancing in other promotions....

 is well known in puroresu
Professional wrestling in Japan
Puroresu is the popular term for the predominant style or genre of professional wrestling that has developed in Japan. The term comes from the Japanese pronunciation of "professional wrestling" , which is shortened to puroresu . The term became popular among English-speaking fans due to Hisaharu...

 for his stiff strikes) This has led to Ayumi taking a beating from veterans like Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships...

 and Dynamite Kansai
Dynamite Kansai
Dynamite Kansai is a Japanese female professional wrestler.-Career:Chieko Suzuki was born on December 4, 1969, and was raised in Kyoto, Japan. In 1986 she auditioned for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling , but was unsuccessful, and instead joined the first rookie class of Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling...

 in matches due to her hard-hitting work rate.

On July 16, 2007 at the Pro Wrestling NEO "Summer Stampede '07" show in Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...

, while teaming alongside Shu Shibutani versus Aoi Kizuki and Nagisa Nozaki, Ayumi broke her clavicle
Clavicle
In human anatomy, the clavicle or collar bone is a long bone of short length that serves as a strut between the scapula and the sternum. It is the only long bone in body that lies horizontally...

 receiving a hard flying clothesline by Kizuki. Ayumi finished the match, hitting three more missile dropkicks before scoring the pinfall. This injury caused her to miss the remainder of 2007.
She returned to action on December 9, 2007 to compete in the main event tag match in Michiko Ohmukai's retirement show, but re-aggravated her injury causing her to need surgery.

On December 20, 2007 Ayumi underwent the surgery in which the doctor removed bone and bone marrow from her hip to use to reconstruct her clavicle along with a titanium plate and screws.

While out of action for several months, she kept occupied with her family restaurant, some photo modeling, fan meet & greets and supporting joshi pro wrestling in Japan, often alongside mentor and trainer AKINO. She also picked up modeling endorsement for the Chiba Lotte Marines
Chiba Lotte Marines
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, in the Kantō region, and owned by the Lotte conglomerate.-History:...

 advertising soba noodles
Soba
is the Japanese name for buckwheat. It is synonymous with a type of thin noodle made from buckwheat flour, and in Japan can refer to any thin noodle . Soba noodles are served either chilled with a dipping sauce, or in hot broth as a noodle soup...

 and Yebisu beer. She was also in negotiations with ROCKST★R
Rockstar (drink)
Rockstar is an energy drink created in 2001. With 14% of the US market in 2008, Rockstar is a leading energy drink brand. Rockstar is based in Las Vegas...

 energy drink, but never signed.

Around mid-March 2008 Ayumi began light training again with Mariko Yoshida and in the U-FILE Dojo. On June 8, 2008 she announced on her blog that she has finally resumed full training including her signature dropkick.

Her new return to action was scheduled for December 14, 2008 at Tokyo Shinjuku FACE
Shinjuku Face
is an event hall located on the 7th floor of the Humax Pavilion Shinjuku complex, 1-20-1 Kabukicho, Tokyo, Japan. It mainly hosts mixed martial arts, boxing and professional wrestling events. Shinjuku Face has a capacity of approximately 600 people.-History:...

 for her personally produced show titled "STARTING☆OVER." At her event she wrestled twice, first in the opening bout victory against good friend Shu Shibutani and then in main event 2/3 Falls Tag Team match where she teamed with Natsuki☆Taiyo against veterans AKINO and Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships...

.

In August 2009 Ayumi traveled to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...

, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 to participate in Ultimo Dragon's DRAGOMANIA IV show on August 25, 2009 in Arena México
Arena México
Arena México is an indoor arena in Mexico City, Mexico located in the Colonia Doctores neighboorhood in the Cuauhtémoc borough. The arena is primarily used for professional wrestling, or Lucha libre, shows promoted by Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre . The building is called the "cathedral of lucha...

. She also participated in some smaller independent events while in Mexico. Here Ayumi debuted a new costume with a mask, calling herself A☆YU☆MI.

Kurihara teamed with Yoshiko Tamura to challenge Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi
Nanae Takahashi is a Japanese professional wrestler from Japan. She has wrestled for prominent Japanese promotions All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling and Pro Wrestling SUN, and has held multiple world championships...

 and Kana
Kana (wrestler)
is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name . She is known for her stiff wrestling style, which includes various kicks and submission holds. She also works as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist and through her work with Microsoft, she is often sponsored by...

 for the NEO tag team championships on December 31, 2009 in Korakuen Hall. Kurihara and Tamura became the 12th NEO tag team champions after Ayumi pinned Kana at 21:32. This was the first championship of Kurihara's career.

In February 2010 it was announced that Ayumi and several other joshi wrestlers would be appearing for Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...

 pro wrestling in Berywn, Illinois on their March shows. Ayumi would also be appearing for Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling
Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion based in New Jersey.-1997:Jersey All Pro Wrestling is an independent wrestling promotion that was founded by "Fat" Frank Iadeavia on April 19, 1997. This promotion was born out of a dream of "Fat" Frank. He wanted to take the promotion...

 the same month. This is Ayumi's first trip to the USA.

On April 10 and 11, 2010, Kurihara took part in Shimmer Women Athletes' tapings of Volumes 29 to 32. On Volume 29 she defeated fellow joshi wrestler Tomoka Nakagawa
Tomoka Nakagawa
is a Japanese professional wrestler, who is currently working as a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit for promotions such as Oz Academy, Pro Wrestling WAVE and Smash, where she is the current Smash Divas Champion...

, on Volume 30 Nikki Roxx
Nicole Raczynski
Nicole Raczynski is an American professional wrestler, best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Roxxi...

 and on Volume 31 Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey
Sara Amato is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Sara Del Rey. She is a mainstay for Chikara and Shimmer Women Athletes. She has also appeared for many other independent promotions in the United States, including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, All Pro Wrestling, as...

, before losing to Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze is an American professional wrestler. Whilst wrestling for many companies Daizee Haze is also the head trainer for the Shimmer Women Athletes promotion.-Training and Gateway Championship Wrestling:...

 via countout on Volume 32.

Ayumi returned to Mexico in late May/early June for her 2nd Mexico tour. On May 29 at the LUCHA FAN FEST in Circo Volador de Mexico City A☆YU☆MI won the Women X-LAW Extreme Championship, a title belt from Xtreme Latin American Wrestling. The match was an "8 Way Dance" of La Chola vs. Dama X vs. Afrodita vs. Lady Monster vs. Luna Magica vs. A☆YU☆MI vs. Cassandra vs. Xena.

That same day Ayumi Kurihara then returned to the Arena Mexico and DRAGON MANIA V for a tag match, where she and Marcela
Marcela (wrestler)
María Elena Santamaría Gómez is a Mexican professional wrestler, known mainly for her work in the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre , where she works under the ring name Marcela...

 defeated Mima Shimoda and La Comandante.

On May 30 A☆YU☆MI participated in an 8-Women tag match at the Arena Lopez Mateos for the AULL promotion (Alianza Universal de Lucha Libre).

Soon after rival joshi wrestler Tomoka Nakagawa traveled to Mexico to challenge A☆YU☆MI for her newly won title belt. After Nakagawa defeated her in a non-title match on June 3 for IWRG in Arena Naucalpan, A☆YU☆MI successfully defended the title belt against Nakagawa on June 5 at the Arena Lopez Mateos for the AULL promotion again.

On September 11 and 12, 2010, Kurihara returned to Shimmer Women Athletes to take part in the promotion's tapings of Volumes 33–36. On Volume 33 she defeated Daizee Haze in a rematch of Volume 32, on Volume 34 she unsuccessfully challenged Madison Eagles for the Shimmer Championship
Shimmer Championship
The Shimmer Championship is a professional wrestling championship in Shimmer Women Athletes. It is competed for in Shimmer Women Athletes, and has been defended on shows of sister promotions Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in...

, on Volume 35 she defeated Cheerleader Melissa and finally on Volume 36 she, Ayako Hamada
Ayako Hamada
is a female professional wrestler of mixed Japanese and Mexican descent, who is currently wrestling most notably for Pro Wrestling WAVE in Japan and Shimmer Women Athletes in the United States, where she is a co-holder of the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.She is best known for winning several...

, Cheerleader Melissa and Serena Deeb
Serena Deeb
Serena Deeb is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment, appearing on the SmackDown brand and also known for her time with the developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. under the ring name Serena...

 defeated Daizee Haze, Tomoka Nakagawa, Madison Eagles and Sara Del Rey in an elimination tag team match. On December 31, 2010, Kurihara defeated Yoshiko Tamura in Tamura's retirement match to win the NWA Women's Pacific Championship and the NEO Singles Championship. On October 1, 2011, Kurihara and Ayako Hamada defeated Daizee Haze and Tomoka Nakagawa to win the Shimmer Tag Team Championship
Shimmer Tag Team Championship
The Shimmer Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Shimmer Women Athletes...

.

On November 26, 2011, Kurihara defeated Marcela in the main event of an Ayumi Kurihara Produce event to win Mexican promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...

's World Women's Championship
CMLL World Women's Championship
The CMLL World Women's Championship is the top female professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre...

.

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
    • Exploder suplex
    • Flying double knee driver
    • Uranage

  • Signature moves
    • Abdominal stretch
    • Double knee facebreaker
    • Dropkick
      Dropkick
      A dropkick is an attacking maneuver in professional wrestling. It is defined as an attack where the wrestler jumps up and kicks the opponent with the soles of both feet; this sees the wrestler twist as he or she jumps so that when the feet connect with the opponent one foot is raised higher than...

      , sometimes from the top rope
    • Flying double knee attack into a turnbuckle
    • Spinning facebuster
    • Suicide cross body
    • Turnbuckle armbar

  • Entrance themes
    Music in professional wrestling
    Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...

  • "希望峰" ("Kibouhou") by Strawberry JAM

Championships and accomplishments

  • Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
    Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
    Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre is a Lucha Libre-style professional wrestling promotion based in Mexico City while running cards in Guadalajara, Puebla and elsewhere in central and southern Mexico...

    • CMLL World Women's Championship
      CMLL World Women's Championship
      The CMLL World Women's Championship is the top female professional wrestling championship promoted by the Mexican professional wrestling promotion Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre...

       (1 time, current)

  • NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling
    • NEO Singles Championship (1 time)
    • NEO Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yoshiko Tamura
    • NWA Women's Pacific Championship (1 time)
    • Best Bout of the Night (December 31, 2006) – vs. Shu Shibutani

  • Pro Wrestling WAVE
    Pro Wrestling WAVE
    , is a women's pro wrestling, or Joshi Puroresu, promotion created in 2007 after the dissolution and closure of JDStar. The company was formed by Mikiko Futagami, or GAMI, former JDStar wrestler Yumi Ohka, and former JDStar booker Tatsuya Takeshi, who assumed the role of President for the new...

    • WAVE Tag Team Championship (1 time, current) - with Kana
      Kana (wrestler)
      is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name . She is known for her stiff wrestling style, which includes various kicks and submission holds. She also works as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist and through her work with Microsoft, she is often sponsored by...


  • Shimmer Women Athletes
    SHIMMER Women Athletes
    Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...

    • Shimmer Tag Team Championship
      Shimmer Tag Team Championship
      The Shimmer Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Shimmer Women Athletes...

       (1 time, current) – with Ayako Hamada
      Ayako Hamada
      is a female professional wrestler of mixed Japanese and Mexican descent, who is currently wrestling most notably for Pro Wrestling WAVE in Japan and Shimmer Women Athletes in the United States, where she is a co-holder of the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.She is best known for winning several...


  • Xtreme Latin American Wrestling
    • X–LAW Women Extreme Championship (1 time)

External links

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