When Intergender Wrestling Goes Wrong: The Asuka Incident

Asuka (FKA Kana) had match vs Minoru Suzuki in 2014 that will go down in infamy as it was a match that showcased when intergender wrestling crosses the line.

0:00 Asuka WWE
1:00 Asuka Early Career (Kana)
3:12 Asuka Manifesto (Kana)
4:44 Stardom Asuka (Kana)
5:43 Asuka Clown and Zombie (Kana)
6:50 Minoru Suzuki vs Asuka (Kana)
10:20 NXT Asuka

#iyosky #AEW #WWE

Paige
AEW Dynamite, AEW, WWE, IMPACT, NJPW, TNA, RAW, SMACKDOWN, WWE RAW, WWE Smackdown, WWE Universal Champion, AEW World Champion, WWE Champion AJ Styles, Akira Tozawa,
Angelo Dawkins, Austin Theory, Baron Corbin, Bobby Lashley, Brock Lesnar, Bronson Reed, Cedric Alexander,Chad Gable, TNT Champion, Young Bucks, The Acclaimed,
Cody Rhodes, Damian Priest, Dexter Lumis, Dolph Ziggler, Dominik Mysterio, Edge, Elias, Finn Bálor, Gable Steveson,Johnny Gargano, Karl Anderson, Kevin Owens, Logan Paul,
Luke Gallows, Matt Riddle, The Miz, Montez Ford, Mustafa Ali, MVP, Omos, Otis, Randy Orton, Robert Roode, R-Truth, Seth "Freakin" Rollins, Shelton Benjamin, The New Day,
Tommaso Ciampa, Alexa Bliss, Bayley, Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Carmella, Dakota Kai, Dana Brooke, Doudrop, Iyo Sky, Mia Yim, Nikki Cross, Rhea Ripley
Tamina, Angel, Ashante "Thee" Adonis, Big E, Braun Strowman, Bray Wyatt, Butch, Drew McIntyre, Gunther, Humberto, Ivar, Jey Uso, Jimmy Uso, Jinder Mahal, Karrion Kross, Kofi Kingston, LA Knight
Ludwig Kaiser, Rey Mysterio, Rick Boogs, Ricochet, Ridge Holland, Roman Reigns Leati Joseph Anoa'i WWE Champion Universal Champion(Undisputed WWE Universal Champion), Sami Zayn
Santos Escobar, Shanky, Sheamus, Shinsuke Nakamura, Solo Sikoa, Top Dolla, Xavier Woods, Ronda Rousey, Aliyah, B-Fab, Charlotte Flair, Emma, Lacey Evans, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Natalya, Raquel Rodriguez
Ronda Rousey, Sasha Banks, Scarlett, Shayna Baszler, Shotzi, Sonya Deville, Tegan Nox, Valhalla, Xia Li, Zelina Vega, A. R. Fox, Aaron Solo, Action Andretti, Adam Cole, Alex Reynolds, Andrade El Ídolo
Angelo Parker, Angélico, Anthony Bowens, Anthony Ogogo, Ari Daivari, Austin Gunn, Bandido, Bear Boulder, Bear Bronson, Big Bill, Billy Gunn, The Blade, Blake Christian, Brandon Cutler
Brian Cage, Brian Pillman Jr, Brock Anderson, Brody King, Bryan Danielson, Buddy Matthews, The Butcher, Cash Wheeler, Chris Jericho, Christian Cage, Christopher Daniels, Chuck Taylor, Claudio Castagnoli, CM Punk, Cole Karter, Colt Cabana,
Colten Gunn, Danhausen, Daniel Garcia, Dante Martin, Darby Allin, Darius Martin, Dax Harwood, Dustin Rhodes, Eddie Kingston, Ethan Page, Evil Uno,Frankie Kazarian, Fuego Del Sol, Griff Garrison
"Hangman" Adam Page, Hook, Isiah Kassidy, Jake Hager, Jay Lethal, Jeff Hardy, Jeff Jarrett, John Silver, Jon Moxley, "Jungle Boy" Jack Perry, Juice Robinson, Keith Lee
Kenny Omega, Kip Sabian, Kyle O'Reilly, Konosuke Takeshita, Lance Archer, Lee Johnson, Lee Moriarty, Luchasaurus, Malakai Black, Marq Quen, Matt Hardy, Matt Jackson, Matt Menard, Matt Sydal
Matt Taven, Max Caster, Michael Nakazawa, Mike Bennett, Miro, MJF, Nick Comoroto, Nick Jackson, Orange Cassidy, Ortiz, Pac, Parker Boudreaux, Paul Wight, Penta El Zero Miedo, Peter Avalon
Powerhouse Hobbs, Preston Vance, Q. T. Marshall, Rey Fenix, Ricky Starks, Rush, Sammy Guevara, Samoa Joe, Santana, Satnam Singh, Scorpio Sky, Serpentico, Shawn Dean, Shawn Spears
Sonny Kiss, Sting, Swerve Strickland, Tony Nese, Trent Beretta, Trent Seven, Wardlow, Wheeler Yuta, Zack Clayton, Jade Cargill, Abadon, Anna Jay, Athena
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., The Bunny, Emi Sakura, Hikaru Shida, Jade Cargill, Jamie Hayter, Julia Hart, Kiera Hogan, Kris Statlander, Leila Grey, Leva Bates,Leyla Hirsch, Madison Rayne
Maria Kanellis-Bennett, Marina Shafir, Mercedes Martinez, Nyla Rose, Paige VanZant, Penelope Ford, Rebel Tanea, Red Velvet, Riho, Ruby Soho, Saraya, Serena Deeb, Skye Blue, Tay Melo,
Thunder Rosa, Toni Storm, Willow Nightingale, Yuka Sakazaki, The Street Profits, The Alpha Academy, Judgement Day, The OC, Good Brothers, Damage Control, Hit-Row
Imperium , The Bloodline Paul Heyman, The New Day , The Usos, Los Lotharios,The Brawling Brutes, The Viking Raiders, Legado Del Fantasma, 2point0
American Top Team, Aussie Open, Beaver Boys, Best Friends, Blackpool Combat Club, The Bollywood Boyz, The Butcher and the Blade, Cody and Dustin Rhodes, The Dark Order, Death Triangle
The Elite, The Embassy, FTR, Good Brothers, Hardy Boyz, House of Black, The Hybrid 2, Los Ingobernables, The Inner Circle, Jericho Appreciation

[tybafus]

Asuka has gone on to state that she asked for it. Minoru was one of her idols, and beyond that she felt that if she could handle his stiff wrestling style she would become to female version of strong style. Minoru has been wrestling a very long time and has yet to cause a serious injury. His style is brutal, but he takes care of his opponents.

[Good]

Asuka's refusal to settle for the joshi status quo not only made her a great heel, but also gave her the opportunity to go to WWE and become, ironically, probably the most famous joshi in history. Much like how Rey Mysterio is famous worldwide and is the face (or rather, the mask) that people think of when talking about lucha, Asuka is the face of Japanese women's wrestling for anyone who isn't from Japan or a highly engaged smark.

[sirnetflix]

The fact that Asuka still hasn't won at WM is criminal.

[ChiTownXpress]

Asuka is one hell of a trooper, she’s earned her spot in professional wrestling especially after her match with Minoru.

[yesthisisvic]

One VERY big detail ommitted from this story is that this match was the last show for Kana Pro Wrestling, as Asuka had already announced that she was coming over to the U.S.
One other thing is that Asuka had worked intergender matches regularly in her company and almost always booked herself to lose.
The Minoro beatdown was just because she wanted something extra memorable for Kana Pro's final show.

[polrua]

This is an uncomfortable match to watch, but Kana booked it and it turned out exactly the way she wanted. Suzuki is one of the most terrifying heels in the business, but he is also a respectful professional and while this looks absolutely horrifying, he is in no ways taking liberties.

For all that it's a difficult match to watch, it did exactly what Kana booked it to do, and did so extremely successful. It made Suzuki look like a cruel and brutal bastard, and it made Kana look as tough as nails for taking it for as long as she did.
The fact that we are still talking about it years later, and that Suzuki is still taking bookings for intergender matches hoping for something half as effective as this one, is a testament to its success.

[gngrbllsthwall]

It’s worth mentioning that Suzuki was one of the founders and original fighters in Pancrase: An MMA organization that predates the UFC and was represented in the UFC by Ken Shamrock.

[derantorkiarig]

So, in short: Asuka wanted to put on a show which seemed real, and didn't want her opponent to pull his punches - and she acted it out so well that people actually believed it was real, while she suffered no injury or adverse effects at all. She always wanted to be part of men's wrestling, and fulfilled her own wish at the end of her Japanese run, going up against one of her idols and delivering a brutal, memorable fight, which is the opposite of what she criticized women's wrestling for (being to stylized and focused on good looks).

I don't know man, sounds like "intergender wrestling gone right" to me.

[riverrunriot]

Asuka has that "whos the main character?" face.
She was 100% made for this

[SeanTracyEsq]

Great video, I learned a lot about Asuka/Kana from this! She really stands at the top of the pack in women's wrestling and seems like an awesome person in general

[RichardM]

Auska is a great lady. She is tough but sweet.

[eternallight]

Legit this makes Asuka one of toughest wrestlers in WWE

[fattiger]

I'm sure even some male wrestlers would be hesitant to work against Suzuki.

[DerrickDX]

This was a right of passage for both people, it wasn't a negative thing at all. This is showing how Asuka(Kana) is a legit badass and wanted to be the best by all means!

[rockstarsouth]

I thought this would be even more controversial than the infamous Stardom Yoshiko beatdown, but I was slightly less shocked it was revealed it was actually Asuka herself that book the match.

[robgable]

When I first saw that intergender match I instantly saw Asuka as the Toughest Woman wrestler I've Ever seen. I was so excited to see her in WWE. The GOAT of Womens wrestling.

[awesomo]

"Even though this was all planned, it was still definitely too far."
You're wrong. Asuka is the baddest chick on the planet for this! When you said it was all planned, my jaw dropped. She legit told him to go full Spopovick vs Videl on her. Asuka forever has my respect, and so does Suzuki.

[lordramuel]

"It's not about projecting western values on Japanese wrestling."

Proceeds to project western values on Japanese wrestling.

[SilverSkywalker]

Thanks for the vid. Had no idea of Asuka's history! I have even more respect for her!!

[georgekraft]

I like everything about Asuka. She made me a fan again, as I quit watching pro wrestling after the Monday Night war.