Remembering Hana Kimura

At just 22 years of age, Hana Kimura had already competed in wrestling matches with former All Elite Wrestling Women’s World Champions Jamie Hayter, Toni Storm, and Riho. Additionally, she had competed with the likes of Giulia (current NJPW Strong Women’s Champion) and Mayu Iwatani (current IWGP Women’s Champion). On March 23, 2020, Kimura would face Iwatani in a match would end in a draw. This would be Kimura’s final match. She passed away two months later, on May 23, 2020.

In the ring, Kimura was a firestorm. She was known equally for her in-ring persona, her ever-changing wardrobe, and her blossoming wrestling talent. Fans adored her – even when she was presented as a heel – and often chanted her name throughout her matches. This made her very much in demand, and before the COVID pandemic reared its ugly head, Kimura had begun to take breaks from her home promotion, Stardom, to wrestle in matches for the likes of Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.

In February of 2023, Mecedes Moné paid tribute to Hana Kimura in her match at NJPW’s Battle in the Valley. Moné came to the ring wearing furred leg warmers, a gas mask, and a green tail cape – all being parts of one of Kimura’s most iconic ensembles. Moné would also tweet about her ring gear, confirming it was her tribute to Kimura.

In the three years since her death, there have been annual tribute shows for the former Goddess of Stardom champion. In the 2023 show in Tokyo, a video featuring stars from promotions across the world paid tribute to Kimura.

Unquestionably a star in the the wrestling ring, Kimura had a troubled past. Growing up, she was bullied because of her mixed Japanese-Indonesian heritage. As an adult she was relentlessly cyber-bullied due to a staged incident she participated in on a reality show. We don’t want to glorify or reveal the specifics of this incident, because this incident and the resulting bullying ultimately lead to Kimura taking her own life.

At Double or Nothing 2020, just one day after Hana Kimura took her own life, All Elite Wrestling paid tribute. Just prior to a match between Nyla Rose and Hikaru Shida, a tribute graphic could be seen on the screens in the arena and the screens at home. An obviously emotional Excalibur then read a statement, his voice resounding with heartbreak as he said, “In Hana’s memory, please, just be a little nicer to one another”.

There is no doubt that Hana Kimura was a big wrestling star at the age of 22. There is no doubt that she would have been an even bigger wrestling star today – possibly even wrestling in a few matches for All Elite Wrestling along the way. She could have found happiness, but bullying took that away from her. Let’s take Excalibur’s words to heart, and let’s try to be a little nicer to one another. Let’s not let this happen again. To anyone. Ever.

Bullying is wrong and if you feel suicidal, please tell a friend or family member or call 1-800-273-8255