With the announcement of the Great Muta’s daughter, The Great Sakuya, making her NOAH debut, there has been a lot of speculation about the new wrestling diva. Fans are curious as to whether Sakuya is the true daughter of the three-time Triple Crown Heavyweight Champion. She is, however, the wrestling narrative daughter of the former wrestler who continued on his reputation. Keiji Muto (born December 23, 1962) was a Japanese-born retired wrestler who competed in wrestling for over four decades until his retirement on February 21, 2023.
Muto (ring name: ‘The Great Muta’) wrestled for companies including WCW, New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and TNA (now Impact Wrestling). His 32 championship titles include nine NWA World Championships, four IWGP Heavyweight Championships, and one GHC Heavyweight Championship.
W-1, a wrestling promotion, was founded by the 2023 WWE Hall of Fame inductee. In addition to his wrestling career, he owns the restaurant Yakiniku Dining 610. His name is intertwined with the names of world-famous wrestlers like Hulk Hogan, Stone Cold Steve Austin, Dwayne Johnson, The Undertaker, and many more.
Who Is The Great Sakuya, Great Muta Daughter? Wiki and Age
The Great Sakuya is the daughter of Keiji’s gimmick ‘The Great Muta’ for the Pro Wrestling NOAH storyline. They are not, to be clear, real-life father and daughter. She is a female wrestler who competed in Marvelous That’s Women Pro Wrestling under the ring name Riko Kawahata. She was born on July 28, 1999, in Tokyo, Japan, and will be 24 in 2024.
Kawhata made her wrestling debut in 2018 under the character of Great Sakuya and has the Moonsault Press as her trademark move. She is 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighs 121 pounds (55 kg). She also lacks a Wikipedia page, unlike her NOAH narrative father. So, how did she come to be known as “The Great Sakuya”?
Muto made sporadic appearances in NOAH after retiring from wrestling in February 2023. To continue the heritage of his ring character, he introduced his gimmick’s daughter, The Great Sakuya. He reappeared in NOAH on November 13, 2023, with a backstory of how Sakuya became his daughter. The creator of deadly green mist discovered a newborn on a mountaintop and misted him before giving the child mist from a bottle.
The Japanese wrestling veteran is shown with a young lady in a follow-up video on November 27, 2023, implying that the infant he discovered aged quickly. The Great Muta then poisoned the girl with a drink and revived her with one of his entrance masks. He then bestows the title Sakuya on her.
The Great Sakuya Made Her NOAH Debut
Sakuya was at the Nagisa Nozaki vs. Miyuki Takase bout on November 27, 2023, on an episode of NOAH Monday Magic. She then misted Takase and shook hands with Nozaki, foreshadowing their tag team bout collaboration. On January 2, 2024, she made her debut with Nozaki in a tag team event NOAH The New Year 2024 against Haruka Umesaki and Miyuki Takase. However, the bout was called off when the Great Sakuya threw a chair at the referee. Muta’s trademark moonsault was demonstrated, and the accompanying beatdown left blood all around the ring.
Who Is the Real Daughter of Great Muta?
Outside of the ring, Keiji Muto, called The Great Muta, is a devoted husband and father of two children with his wife, Hisae Ashida. The pair married in 1992 and had two children: a boy (name withheld) born in 1996 and a girl, Ari (born in 2000). Ari Muto, Muto’s true daughter, is a singer-songwriter and actor. She performs under the stage name Mua and often wears a half mask resembling The Great Muta.
Even though she did not pursue a wrestling career like her father, she is a huge admirer of him. She made a one-time appearance for Wrestle-1 in 2014. Ari’s Instagram username is @i_am_muuuua, and she posts photos of her musical endeavors and family. Her YouTube account, @Muuuua, has over 1.61 million followers and has produced over 30 original songs.
After her father resigned from wrestling in February 2023, she talked to Pro Wrestling NOAH about her father pushing him past his limitations. She expressed relief and appreciation for his effort and tenacity as he said goodbye to professional wrestling.
