The Tragic Death Of Hana Kimura And How It Impacted The Wrestling Industry, Explained
Daniel Foster
Published Mar 28, 2026
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While many wrestling fans may not have seen her wrestle, most know the name of Hana Kimura. Following her untimely suicide in May 2020, the wrestling world would stand together to pay tribute and to honor the fallen Japanese women's wrestling star. For those that did not know her, Hana Kimura was a rising star in the Stardom wrestling promotion in Japan, an all-women's promotion that stars like IYO SKY and Kairi Sane got their big breaks in. Passing away at the early age of 22, Hana's death would shock the wrestling world, with many of her peers working in some of the most popular companies across the globe. Despite her young age, Hana's legacy in both wrestling and Japan as a whole remains intact two years removed from her death.
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Hana Kimura Was A Bright Young Wrestling Star
Making her wrestling debut in 2016, Hana Kimura would begin her career in the Wrestle-1 promotion in Japan, a place where she would capture the JWP Junior Championship. Most notably however, would be Kimura's time wrestling in Stardom, the biggest joshi promotion in Japan. Beginning her Stardom career in 2016, Hana would wrestle alongside her mother, Kyoko Kimura, and famed joshi star, Kagetsu, as a trio, even capturing the company's trios titles.
Kimura would eventually turn heel and become a member of Oedo Tai for nearly two years, holding Stardom's regular tag-team titles with Kagetsu for nearly a year, before leaving the faction in 2018. The following year, Hana Kimura would become the leader of Tokyo Cyber Squad, a rebranded faction, alongside Jungle Kyona and Konami. Kimura would also wrestle in Ring of Honor regularly, and would even wrestle at the Tokyo Dome for New Japan in early 2020, the first time women had wrestled at that venue since 2002.
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Cyberbullying Led To Hana Kimura's Tragic Death
Despite mainly being known for her wrestling, Hana Kimura would also become a reality television star in Japan, joining the reality television series Terrace House: Tokyo in September 2019. She would be a series regular until her death the following year. Going about normally as ever, the show would see Hana featured with no major issues. During this period, Hana was still regularly wrestling in Stardom as one of the most recognizable faces for the company, and was regarded as one of the best rising women's wrestlers in the world.
However, an episode filmed in early 2020 showed Kimura get into a verbal conflict with her housemate, Kai Edward Kobayashi, for damaging her wrestling gear. Airing in March 2020, Hana would be the subject of major criticism online from fans of the show, with the young star getting slammed with name-calling and racist abuse from social media users, which would ultimately send her into a deep depression. After posting images of her self-harming, Hana would take her own life at the age of 22 in May 2020. Following her death, the wrestling world would mourn as her mother would seek justice for the terrible loss of life.
Promotions And Stars From All Over The World Honored Hana Kimura
Following her tragic death, Hana would leave behind a strong, lasting legacy even with her passing at such a young age. Despite not wrestling for AEW, NWA, or Impact Wrestling, the companies would honor her with tributes following her passing, as would Ring Of Honor, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. AEW would pay tribute to both Kimura and fellow wrestler Shad Gaspard during Double or Nothing 2020, as both would die in the same week. In the coming weeks and months, wrestlers from across the globe would continue to honor Hana in their own ways.
Notable tributes coming from the WWE roster would be seen from Sasha Banks, Mauro Ranallo, and Io Shirai and Dakota Kai, who both worked with Kimura in Stardom. Her home promotion would honor the fallen star with a 10-bell salute during their first show after a pause from COVID-19, and beginning the following year, Hana's mother began honoring her daughter with tribute shows. Two have occurred since Hana's passing. The entire country of Japan would also be affected by Hana's passing, as in 2022, a law would be put in place to punish those for online bullying and harassment. Despite her deeply depressing, tragic passing, Hana Kimura will live on through her peers, her fans, and the legacy that she left on the world.
