Jean Antoine is an American former professional wrestler. After debuting in 1961, she worked a series of mixed tag team matches with partner Terry Funk

Terry Funk

Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...

. In the early 1970s, she went to Japan to work for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling

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...

. While part of the company, she held the WWWA World Championship once and 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...

 twice with partner Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker is a retired Black Canadian female professional wrestler. She debuted in 1969, wrestling in Canada, the United States, and Japan. In Japan, she worked for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, holding numerous titles...

. Back in the United States, she wrestled in Oregon's first women's match in over 50 years in 1975.

Professional wrestling career

Antoine first decided to be a professional wrestler after watching a match at the age of 14. After high school, her mom offered to buy her a new car or pay for college. Antoine refused both, instead wanting her mom to pay for her wrestling training in Florida. She debuted in 1961. In the 1960s, Antoine wrestled in a series of mixed tag team matches with partner Terry Funk

Terry Funk

Terrence "Terry" Funk is an American professional wrestler and actor known chiefly for the hardcore wrestling style he adopted in the latter part of his career that inspired many younger wrestlers, including Mick Foley...

 against Jack Cain and Kay Noble

Kay Noble

Mary Charlene Noble , known from childhood by her nickname Kay Noble, was an American female professional wrestler. Her career spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s, during which time she was known for her toughness in the ring...

. She twice teamed with Gil Hayes

Gil Hayes

Gilbert "Gil" Hayes is a retired Canadian professional wrestler who competed in North American promotions during the 1960s and 1970s including All Star Wrestling and Stampede Wrestling where he would remain a mainstay for the majority of his 17-year career...

 in a mixed tag team match against Betty Niccoli

Betty Niccoli

Betty Jo Niccoli is an American former female professional wrestler. She wrestled in the United States, Canada, and Japan. She was also influential in helping lift the ban of women's wrestling in the state of New York....

 and Paul Peller in early February 1971.

In the early 1970s, Antoine competed in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling

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...

. In March 1972, she won the WWWA World Championship from Aiko Kyo, but lost it back to Kyo six days later. She also held 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...

 twice in 1974 with partner Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker

Sandy Parker is a retired Black Canadian female professional wrestler. She debuted in 1969, wrestling in Canada, the United States, and Japan. In Japan, she worked for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, holding numerous titles...

. The duo first won the title on April 24 from the team of Junko Sasaki and Peggy Kuroda, but the lost the title back to them during a rematch on May 21. Their second reign began on July 30 after defeating Mariko Akagi and Miyuki Yanagi. On August 5, however, Akagi and her new partner Jumbo Miyamoto defeated Antoine and Parker for the title.

Back in the United States in 1975, Antoine wrestled against Parker in the first women's wrestling match in the state of Oregon in 50 years.

She also wrestled in the Midwest, including at All-Star Wrestling. In the Midwest, she was the California, Kansas, and Central States Champion.

Personal life

Antoine married her high school sweetheart in a wrestling ring in Mississippi, as Antoine had a wrestling match immediately afterward. They had a daughter in the early 1960s. The couple later divorced.

Championships and accomplishments

• All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
  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...
  
  
  • WWWA World Championship (1 time)
  • 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...
    
     (2 times) – with Sandy Parker
    Sandy Parker
    Sandy Parker is a retired Black Canadian female professional wrestler. She debuted in 1969, wrestling in Canada, the United States, and Japan. In Japan, she worked for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling, holding numerous titles...
    
    

• Other titles
  • California, Kansas, and Central States Champion