A la TIME’s Person of the Year list, Diva Dirt has compiled a countdown of the women we feel have best embodied the zeitgeist of the year in women’s wrestling. To compile this list, the Diva Dirt team have tracked the headlines here at Diva Dirt over the past 12 months, followed the lively fan debate on social networking sites such as Twitter and Facebook, considered the impact that the women have made within the industry, and taken into account personal achievements as well. More information on the Women of the Year list here.
KANA
International Rockstar
There’s been plenty of Joshi action in North American women’s wrestling this year. Just earlier this month, all attention turned to CHIKARA as they presented a mammoth three-night event known as JoshiMania. However, prior to that, it was this young lady who had fans getting their streamers ready for her US debut.
The buzzy Kana has been a name we’ve been hearing a lot about in the past year or so, not least of which is due to our friends at Dirty Dirty Sheets, so it seemed inevitable that we’d see her in a US wrestling ring — it was just a matter of when.
The Japanese star packed up her unique ring attire and headed to US shores in October, where she thrilled audiences in not just SHIMMER, but CHIKARA also. Facing off against the likes of Sara Del Rey and Cheerleader Melissa, Kana made a strong impact on fans in her debut tour of the US. Combine that with her large (and growing) online following, fans around the world have flocked to the altar of Kana.
Meanwhile, in her native Japan, Kana became the first ever SMASH Divas Champion defeating the US’ Serena earlier this year.
As well as her work in the ring, Kana is as intriguing outside of the ring. Proving that modern day women can do it all, Kana is a savvy business woman who knows how to control her image and promote herself. As well as that, she owns a hair salon, writes for Xbox magazine and she’s a graphics designer for video games. Pretty remarkable, no?
PREVIOUSLY:
– The Women of the Year 2011: The Women of Tough Enough (#25)
Click here for the full Women of the Year countdown
Image credit: Dirty Dirty Sheets
