Japanese wrestling and reality TV star Hana Kimura dies at 22
Japanese professional wrestler and reality TV star Hana Kimura died on Saturday, the Stardom promotion announced on Twitter.
She was 22.
Kimura started on the Netflix reality show “Terrace House,” where six strangers in Tokyo are “looking for love while living under the same room.”
No cause of death was given. However, per the BBC, Kimura published a series of posts to social media on Friday implying that she had been cyber-bullied. The last one, per the report, was a photo of her and her cat to her Instagram story with the caption, “goodbye.”
“We are very sorry to report that our Hana Kimura has passed away,” World Wonder Ring Stardom said in a statement, via ESPN. “Please be respectful and allow some time for things to process, and keep your thoughts and prayers with her family and friends. We appreciate your support during this difficult time.”
Kimura, per ESPN, performed at a sold-out card at Madison Square Garden last year with New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Ring of Honor. She was one of just four women to compete at a Wrestle Kingdom event at the Tokyo Dome in January, too.
Her company, per the report, was planning to make Kimura one of the faces of its company after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Several other stars in the wrestling world took to social media on Saturday after learning of Kimura’s death.
— Ms. WrestleMania (@MsCharlotteWWE) May 23, 2020
“To Hana Kimura and her family, I am so incredibly sorry for your loss,” Ronda Rousey wrote on Instagram, in part, while advocating for an end to cyber bullying. “There are no words that could possibly heal this wound.”
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