Who is Riho: An All Elite Wrestling primer

At 22 years old, Riho is already a 13-year pro wrestling veteran who has begun to make a name for herself in the U.S. thanks to All Elite Wrestling.

Most fans got their first chances to see Riho at the first few AEW events, including when she eked out a win over Nyla Rose and Yuka Sakazaki at Fyter Fest in Florida. But what many don’t realize is that this 22-year-old slender danger has been wrestling for 13 years already — or more than half her life.

Riho began training at the Ice Ribbon dojo when she was nine years old under Emi Sakura, who we’ve also seen at AEW’s Double or Nothing. At age 12, she’d already gained the guts to slap Minoru Suzuki, of all people, in the face. In another year, she’d won the Ice Ribbon Triple Crown championship, but dropped it a month later to her trainer, Sakura, at Korakuen Hall. Despite defeat, Riho had become the youngest person to ever main event the venue.

In 2012, Riho followed Sakura to the Bangkok-based joshi and intergender company, Gatoh Move, but also made a name for herself working independent companies in Japan over the years. She’d often appear for DDT and later their female brand, Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling. It was during this time period Riho met and sometimes even tagged with current AEW co-Executive Vice-President Kenny Omega.

Riho had developed a small but highly-devoted following when she officially departed from Gatoh Move in July. Along with her recent appearances in AEW, Riho has also started working with the renowned Stardom company, where she quickly won the promotion’s High Speed title, a fitting division for Riho’s in-ring style: lithe, rapid and violent.

AEW fans’ next chance to see Riho will be at All Out against Hikaru Shida, which will be the first singles bout between the two in their short time with the company. Expect more than you’re expecting from these two at All Out, as they’ll most likely aim to tear up the ring early on in Chicago.