Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Iyo Sky Breaks Insane WrestleMania Curse With Her Win

Originally posted on The Sportster | By Josh Coulson | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 10:51 AM ET

Iyo Sky has won at WrestleMania, retaining the Women's World Title in a fantastic match.
That makes Sky the first Japanese wrestler to win a match on the main card at WrestleMania for 27 years.
Shinsuke Nakamura, who has never won at WrestleMania, pointed it out when congratulating Sky.

WrestleMania night two started in the same way that night one ended - with an incredible triple threat match. Somewhat fitting that CM Punk said earlier this week that Iyo Sky, Bianca Belair, and Rhea Ripley's World Title match would have been a fitting show closer as had that match been the main event of night one, I can't imagine anyone would have had a problem with it.

Iyo Sky Breaks A Long-Running Curse By Winning At WrestleMania

#IYOSKY won in an absolutely blazing #WrestleMania opening match! pic.twitter.com/Tx7pPnebBq— WWE (@WWE) April 20, 2025

Night two's triple threat was an all-timer for very different reasons than the night one main event. While Saturday's match was rich in story and filled with plot twists, the women's match on Sunday was a breathless showcase of the absolute best all three women are capable of. Sky winning, and retaining the title, was an unexpected but very fitting way to end it too.

Sky's win is a significant one in more than just title retention alone. Her fellow countryman Shinsuke Nakamura was quick to take to Twitter to congratulate Sky, highlighting in the process that her win marks the first time a Japanese wrestler has won a match at WrestleMania in 27 years. The last Japanese wrestler to win a match on The Grandest Stage of Them All was Taka Michinoku who beat Aguila for the Light Heavyweight Championship at WrestleMania 14.

Some fans have pointed to Yoshi Tatsu's battle royal win at WrestleMania 26. However, that match took place on the pre-show, not the main card.

Shinsuke Nakamura Congratulates Sky For Breaking The Streak

ðŸ”¥First Japanese Victory in 27 Years.congratulations!!! https://t.co/OolrUdK7xV— Shinsuke Nakamura (@ShinsukeN) April 20, 2025

Considering the Japanese talent that has passed through WWE and competed at various WrestleManias during that almost-three-decade period, it's incredible that none of them has won a match at WrestleMania. That includes Nakamura who has competed at WrestleMania three times but is yet to win one. His match against AJ Styles at WrestleMania 34 is the standout of the three when it comes to matches The King of Strong Style really should have won.

Asuka is the other Japanese star you'd have assumed has won matches at WrestleMania, but her record on The Grandest Stage Of Them All is even worse than Nakamura's. The Empress of Tomorrow has competed at WrestleMania five times, losing on every occasion. Even worse, the match that started this unfortunate streak was the one at WrestleMania 34 that ended an almost-1,000 day undefeated streak. Hopefully Sky's win is a sign of things to come, and Nakamura and Asuka pick up their first WrestleMania wins next year.

This article first appeared on The Sportster and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: