Jaguar Yokota
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
professional wrestler and later wrestling trainer, who wrestled under the name . She is widely considered one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time, and, during her heyday in the early 1980s, was considered one of the best wrestlers in the world, irrespective of gender.
, Japan
. She spent the majority of her career as a headliner for the All Japan Women
's promotion (AJW). It was highlighted by two title runs as the WWWA Champion
.
and Maki Ueda), Yokota debuted on June 28, 1977 in Tokyo at the age of 15, against Mayumi Takahashi. She won her first belt on January 4, 1980, when she became the AJW Junior Champion
. Later that year, she won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship
with Ayumi Hori, on December 17, having also become the first AJW Champion
with a victory over Nancy Kumi two days earlier. On February 25, 1981 she achieved her greatest success to that point, defeating her original inspiration, Jackie Sato, for the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
. She was 19 years old at the time of her first title reign.
She lost her first world championship to La Galactica on May 7, 1983 in a mask vs. hair match, then won it back a month later. During her second world title run, she had very notable feuds with Devil Masami
and Lioness Asuka
(of the Crush Gals), but had to vacate the championship in 1985 due to a shoulder injury.
, Toshiyo Yamada
, Megumi Kudo
, Kyoko Inoue
, and Takako Inoue
.
, and wrestled as its top star until 1998, when she retired for a second time.
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
professional wrestler and later wrestling trainer, who wrestled under the name . She is widely considered one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time, and, during her heyday in the early 1980s, was considered one of the best wrestlers in the world, irrespective of gender.
Career
Yokota was born on July 25, 1961 in TokyoTokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. She spent the majority of her career as a headliner for the All Japan Women
All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
, nicknamed Zenjo was a joshi puroresu promotion established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga and his brothers. The group held their first card on June 4 of that year...
's promotion (AJW). It was highlighted by two title runs as the WWWA Champion
WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
The WWWA World Heavyweight Championship was the top singles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005. It was also known in Pro Wrestling Illustrated and other London Publishing wrestling magazines as the All-Japan Women's International Championship...
.
All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (1977-1986)
Having been inspired to join AJW by 1970s stars, the Beauty Pair (Jackie SatoJackie Sato
, better known as was a professional wrestler from Yokohama, Japan. In the 1970s, while wrestling for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling , she formed the tag team, the Beauty Pair, with Maki Ueda. Following in the steps of Mach Fumiake, the Beauty Pair was part of an important shift in the culture...
and Maki Ueda), Yokota debuted on June 28, 1977 in Tokyo at the age of 15, against Mayumi Takahashi. She won her first belt on January 4, 1980, when she became the AJW Junior Champion
AJW Junior Championship
The AJW Junior Championship was a secondary singles title in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. The title started in 1980 and was retired in April 2005 when the promotion closed.-Title history:...
. Later that year, she won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship
WWWA World Tag Team Championship
The World Women's Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was the top doubles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005...
with Ayumi Hori, on December 17, having also become the first AJW Champion
AJW Championship
The AJW Championship was a secondary belt contested in the Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling . The first champion, in 1980, was Rimi Yokota. During the title's history, no one held the belt more than two times. The belt was abandoned in 2005, after...
with a victory over Nancy Kumi two days earlier. On February 25, 1981 she achieved her greatest success to that point, defeating her original inspiration, Jackie Sato, for the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
WWWA World Heavyweight Championship
The WWWA World Heavyweight Championship was the top singles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005. It was also known in Pro Wrestling Illustrated and other London Publishing wrestling magazines as the All-Japan Women's International Championship...
. She was 19 years old at the time of her first title reign.
She lost her first world championship to La Galactica on May 7, 1983 in a mask vs. hair match, then won it back a month later. During her second world title run, she had very notable feuds with Devil Masami
Devil Masami
Masami Yoshida is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her appearances in All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling, GAEA Japan and Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project under the name Devil Masami...
and Lioness Asuka
Lioness Asuka
is a Japanese professional wrestler from Tokyo. Along with long-time tag team partner Chigusa Nagayo she formed The Crush Gals, known for their mainstream popularity in the 1980s, and the most successful women's tag team of all time.-Career:...
(of the Crush Gals), but had to vacate the championship in 1985 due to a shoulder injury.
Retirement (1986-1995)
After her early retirement in 1986 (she was 24), she became a trainer for AJW. Notable students of hers include Manami ToyotaManami Toyota
is a professional wrestler best known for her work with the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling wrestling promotion. Following AJW's closure she has continued to work in other joshi promotions such as GAEA and NEO...
, Toshiyo Yamada
Toshiyo Yamada
is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler. In the 1990s, Yamada wrestled for the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling promotion .-Career:A year after her professional wrestling debut in 1987, Toshiyo Yamada was awarded the AJW Junior Championship. She then formed the tag team "Dream Orca" with...
, Megumi Kudo
Megumi Kudo
Megumi Takayama, better known under her stage and maiden name , and by her nickname Kudome, is a Japanese entertainment personality, and was a professional wrestler who worked most of her career for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling....
, Kyoko Inoue
Kyoko Inoue
is a Japanese female professional wrestler. She has held the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship three times, and is the first woman to win a men's title in Japan. She is also the founder of the joshi promotion NEO Japan...
, and Takako Inoue
Takako Inoue
is a Japanese professional wrestler. She wrestled primarily for the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling promotion, and held several championships, primarily in tag team wrestling...
.
Jd' (1995-1998)
In 1995 she came out of retirement to form her promotion Jd'JDStar
JDStar , was a women's professional wrestling promotion based in Tokyo, Japan. In the wake of the joshi puroresu boom of the early 1990s, several different groups opened with distinct approaches...
, and wrestled as its top star until 1998, when she retired for a second time.
Retirement (1998-2004)
Yokota stayed retired from 1998 to 2004, as she started to have a family.Freelance (2004-present)
Yokota was married in August 2004 to the lead vocalist for the obscure but seminal 1980s Hokkaido based hardcore band "Tranquilizer". She has since returned to professional wrestling as a freelancer, including a stint as part of the Monster faction in HUSTLE as Jaguar Y.In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Shuttle Loop Buster (High–angle release German suplex)
- Suplex powerslam – Innovated
- Fisherman brainbuster
- Kneeling spike double underhook powerbomb – Innovated
- Hurricanrana
- Hip attack
- Moonsault pressMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Women's Pro-WrestlingAll Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, nicknamed Zenjo was a joshi puroresu promotion established in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga and his brothers. The group held their first card on June 4 of that year...
- AJW ChampionshipAJW ChampionshipThe AJW Championship was a secondary belt contested in the Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling . The first champion, in 1980, was Rimi Yokota. During the title's history, no one held the belt more than two times. The belt was abandoned in 2005, after...
(1 time) - AJW Junior ChampionshipAJW Junior ChampionshipThe AJW Junior Championship was a secondary singles title in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. The title started in 1980 and was retired in April 2005 when the promotion closed.-Title history:...
(1 time) - WWWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipWWWA World Heavyweight ChampionshipThe WWWA World Heavyweight Championship was the top singles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005. It was also known in Pro Wrestling Illustrated and other London Publishing wrestling magazines as the All-Japan Women's International Championship...
(2 times) - WWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipWWWA World Tag Team ChampionshipThe World Women's Wrestling Association World Tag Team Championship was the top doubles championship in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling from 1970 until it closed in 2005...
(1 time) – with Jumbo Hori - AJW Hall of Fame (1998)
- JDStarJDStarJDStar , was a women's professional wrestling promotion based in Tokyo, Japan. In the wake of the joshi puroresu boom of the early 1990s, several different groups opened with distinct approaches...
- AWF World Women's Championship (1 time)
- TWF World Women's Championship] (1 time)
- TWF World Women's Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yuko Kosugi
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameWrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of FameThe Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is a professional wrestling hall of fame that recognizes people who make significant contributions to the sport. It was founded in 1996 by Dave Meltzer, editor of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. The Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame is not...
(Class of 1996)
Source
- Molinaro, John F. Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time, Winding Stair Press, 2002, page 166.