Erina Yamanaka

Erina Yamanaka

Yamanaka in October 2025
Personal information
Born	(1986-05-24) 24 May 1986 (age 39)[2] Toyonaka, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name	Erina Yamanaka
Billed height	170 cm (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Billed weight	52 kg (115 lb)
Debut	2019

Erina Yamanaka (山中絵里奈, Yamanaka Erina) is a Japanese professional wrestler, fitness model and yoga instructor. As of 2025, she is a member of Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling (BBW). She is also known for competing in various promotions of the Japanese independent scene such as Dream Star Fighting Marigold where she is one third of the Marigold 3D Trios Champions.^[3]

Background

Yamanaka has a background as a yoga instructor and has transitioned to professional wrestling, leveraging her flexibility and excellent body control. Known as "Erina-sama," her dual-personality in the ring, combining beauty and strength, she also works as a fitness model and instructor at Bikram Yoga Kanamecho. She is also actively involved in physical expression and promotion, and is gaining attention for spreading the appeal of women's professional wrestling.^[4]

In 2023, she won the Miss Professional Sports category at the Best Body Japan East Japan competition, where she was recognized for her healthy beauty and performance.^[5] She was also featured in the competition's photo gallery. She is a member of DPG (Duncan Pro Wrestling Corps).^[6]

Professional wrestling career

Japanese independent circuit (2019–present)

While working as a yoga instructor, she is also a member of Best Body Japan Pro Wrestling (BBW). She made her professional wrestling debut on August 9, 2019, at BBJ Muscle Ring 9 First Anniversary, where she fell short to Mina Shirakawa in singles competition.^[7] On November 3, 2025, at the Best Body Japan Pro Wrestling Yasuhiro Higuchi Support Tournament held at the Sportiva Arena in Nagoya, Yamanaka faced Chanyota in a singles match, which ended in a 15-minute time limit draw.

On November 9, 2025, Yamanaka participated in the Kawasaki tournament of the "Climax Party" sponsored by P.P.P. Tokyo. In a singles match against Echika Miyabi, the two wrestlers' unique strengths collided in a fierce battle, but the match ended in a draw due to a time limit of 15 minutes. After the match, Yamanaka commented with his own X, "I can't decide! I'm going to be even stronger!", expressing his desire for a rematch.^[8][9]

Dream Star Fighting Marigold (2025–present)

Yamanaka made her pay-per-view debut in Dream Star Fighting Marigold at Spring Victory Series on March 30, 2025, where she unsuccessfully challenged Mai Sakurai for the Marigold United National Championship.^[10] At Shine Forever on May 24, 2025, she teamed up with Chanyota, Nagisa Tachibana and Ryoko Sakimura in a losing effort against Darkness Revolution (Chiaki, Nagisa Nozaki, Misa Matsui and Megaton).^[11] At Burning Desire on July 16, 2025, she teamed up with Miku Aono, Kouki Amarei and Kizuna Tanaka to defeat Chika Goto, Nao Ishikawa, Hummingbird and Yuuki Minami.^[12] At Marigold Grand Destiny on October 26, 2025, Yamanaka teamed up with Chanyota and competed in a Gauntlet tag team match won by Shoko Koshino and Gigaton.^[13]

Yamanaka competed in the inaugural tournament of the Marigold 3D Trios Championship, entering the competition by teaming up with Mai Sakurai and Natsumi Showzuki which they won by defeating Kouki Amarei, Megaton and Miku Aono in the first rounds, Seri Yamaoka, Shoko Koshino and Yuuka Yamazaki in the second, and Nagisa Nozaki, Misa Matsui and Rea Seto in the finals to become the inaugural champions.^[14]

Championships and accomplishments

• Best Body Japan Pro-Wrestling
  • BBW Women's Championship (2 times)
  • BBW Super Bodyweight Championship (1 time)
  • BBW Joshi Tag Team Championship (1 times) – with Yoshiko Hasegawa
• Dream Star Fighting Marigold
  • Marigold 3D Trios Championship (1 time, current, inaugural) – with Mai Sakurai and Natsumi Showzuki

References

1. Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Erina Yamanaka/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved 26 February 2026.
2. Joshi City. "Profiles/Erina Yamanaka". joshicity.com. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
3. Internet Wrestling Database (IWD). "Erina Yamanaka Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved 26 February 2026.
4. 華やかなプロフェッショナルたちが集結。ステージで魅せた健康美〖BBJ〗]（VITUP!、2023年11月7日）. vitup.jp (in Japanese). VitUp. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
5. プロフェッショナルたちも参戦の健康美対決。激戦の結果は？〖BBJ〗]（VITUP!、2023年11月4日）. vitup.jp (in Japanese). VitUp. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
6. 華やかなプロフェッショナルたちが集結。ステージで魅せた健康美〖BBJ〗]（VITUP!、2023年11月7日）. vitup.jp (in Japanese). VitUp. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
7. Kreikenbohm, Philip (9 August 2019). "BBJ Muscle Ring 9 - 1st Anniversary". cagematch.net. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
8. PPPTOKYO公式X「Climax Party 試合結果」. x.com (in Japanese). P.P.P. Tokyo. 9 November 2025. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
9. Erina Yamanaka (9 November 2025). 山中絵里奈公式X「試合後コメント」. x.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 9 November 2025.
10. Dark Angelita (10 April 2025). "Marigold: Utami Hayashishita defiende cinturón". Superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 10 April 2025.
11. Edwards, Scott (24 May 2025). "Marigold Shine Forever 2025 Results (5/24/25): Nanae Takahashi Retires, MIRAI Challenges Utami Hayashishita". Fightful. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
12. Black, Ethan (20 July 2025). "Marigold Burning Desire Night 13 Results (July 16th, 2025)". bodyslam.net. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
13. Wannan, Jack (26 October 2025). "MARIGOLD Grand Destiny results: IYO SKY beats rival Mayu Iwatani, Miku Aono captures World Championship". POSTWrestling. Retrieved 26 October 2025.
14. Wannan, Jack (23 February 2026). "MARIGOLD New Year Golden Garden 2/23 Results: Miku Aono defends belt in title vs. hair match, first trios champs crowned". POSTWrestling. Retrieved 23 February 2026.

External links