Bull Nakano
{{short description|Japanese professional wrestler and golfer}}
{{use dmy dates |date=March 2024}}
{{Infobox professional wrestler
|name = Bull Nakano
|image = Bull Nakano.jpg
|birth_name = Keiko Nakano
|caption =
|names = Bull Nakano
Keiko Nakano
|height = {{convert|1.70|m|ftin|abbr=on}}{{cite book|title=WWE Encyclopedia|author=Shields, Brian and Kevin Sullivan|publisher=DK/BradyGAMES|year=2009|isbn=978-0-7566-4190-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/51 51]|url=https://archive.org/details/wweencyclopediad0000shie/page/51}}
|weight = {{convert|91|kg|lb|abbr=on}}
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|1|8|df=y}}
|birth_place = Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
|billed = Kawaguchi, Japan
|trainer = All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
|debut = 1983
|retired = November 3, 2017
}}
{{nihongo|Keiko Aoki|青木 恵子|Aoki Keiko|née {{nihongo|Nakano|中野}}, born 8 January 1968}} is a Japanese retired professional wrestler and professional golfer better known as {{nihongo|Bull Nakano|ブル中野|Burunakano}}. She began competing in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) as a teenager under the ring name Bull Nakano. As a wrestler she was a villain, who often teamed with her mentor Dump Matsumoto. In Japan, she held several of AJW's singles and tag team championships. After being phased out by the company in the early 1990s, she traveled to North America, where she first competed in Mexico's Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), becoming its first World Women's Champion. In 1994, she made her way to the World Wrestling Federation (WWF), where she had feuded with Alundra Blayze over the WWF Women's Championship. After holding the title once, she also competed in World Championship Wrestling (WCW). In 1998, Nakano began competing as a professional golfer, and in 2006, she joined a tour with the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA). She was inducted into the Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame on 2001 and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
Professional wrestling career
=All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (1983–1996)=
Nakano's career as a professional wrestler began in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) organization in Japan when she was 15 years old. After winning the AJW Junior Championship at the age of 16 in 1984,{{cite book|last1=Duncan|first1=Royal|first2=Gary|last2=Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|year=2006|edition=4th|isbn=0-9698161-5-4|chapter=AJW Junior Championship}} Information also available at [http://www.solie.org/titlehistories/jtajw.html Solie's Title Histories]. her ring name was changed to Bull Nakano. In July 1985, she won the AJW Championship, which she held for the next three years.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/ajw-s.html|title=All Japan Singles Title|publisher=Wrestling Titles|access-date=2009-05-16}} Meanwhile, she teamed with Dump Matsumoto, who was also her mentor, as a pair of heels.{{cite news|url=http://www.timesanddemocrat.com/articles/2005/01/04/sports/doc41db726977cba832153482.txt|title=Women's wrestlers today are tougher, better |newspaper=The Times and Democrat|last=Spears|first=Jim|access-date=2009-05-08|date=2005-01-04}} With Matsumoto as her partner, Nakano won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship in August 1986.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/wwwa-t.html|title=WWWA World Tag Team Title|publisher=Wrestling Titles|access-date=2009-05-16}} Nakano and Matsumoto also wrestled for the World Wrestling Federation in 1986 against the team of Velvet McIntyre and Dawn Marie Johnston.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/mcintyre-velvet.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630042406/http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/ResultsArchive/Wrestlers/mcintyre-velvet.html|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 30, 2012|title=Wrestling Results Archive: Velvet McIntyre|access-date=2009-05-09|last1=Nevada|first1=Vance|first2=Mike|last2=Rodgers|date=2005-06-30|publisher=SLAM! Wrestling}}
After Matsumoto's retirement, Nakano won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship a second and third time, with Condor Saito in 1987 and Grizzly Iwamoto in 1988. As a singles wrestler, she won the 1988 Japan Grand Prix in June. One year later in June 1989, she also defeated Mitsuko Nishiwaki to win AJW's All Pacific Championship, which she lost to Noriyo Tateno in November.{{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/ap.html|title=All Pacific Title|publisher=Wrestling Titles|access-date=2009-05-16}} Around the start of the 1990s, Nakano began to be positioned as the ace of AJW.{{cite web |url=https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/bull-nakano-1990s-ajw/ |title=Bull Nakano & 1990s AJW |last1=Saito |first1=Fumi |last2=Fain |first2=Thom |date=May 17, 2023 |website=Monthly Puroresu |access-date=October 15, 2023 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230521123919/https://monthlypuroresu.com/features/bull-nakano-1990s-ajw/ |archive-date=May 21, 2023}} In January 1990, Nakano won a tournament final to win the vacant WWWA World Single Championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/wwwa-s.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209211443/https://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/wwwa-s.html |archive-date=February 9, 2023 |title=World Women's Wrestling Association World Singles Title |work=Wrestling-Titles.com |access-date=May 16, 2009}} She held the title for nearly three years, before dropping it to Aja Kong in November 1992. Afterward, AJW's use of Nakano in storylines and matches decreased.
=Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (1992–1993)=
After she stopped working for AJW, Nakano traveled to Mexico in June 1992, where she was a finalist in a 12-woman battle royal and later defeated Lola González to become Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre's first World Women's Champion.{{cite book|author=Duncan, Royal and Gary Will|title=Wrestling Title Histories|publisher=Archeus Communications|chapter=MEXICO: EMLL CMLL Women's Title|page=397|year=2000|isbn=0-9698161-5-4}} She lost the title to Xóchitl Hamada in March 1993.
=World Wrestling Federation (1994–1995)=
She then made her way to the United States and competed for the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) once again. Debuting as an associate of Luna Vachon, Nakano competed against the WWF Women's Champion, Alundra Blayze in August 1994 at SummerSlam, but failed to win the title.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/superstars/wwealumni/lunavachon/bio/|title=Alumni: Luna Vachon|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=2009-05-08}}{{cite magazine|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated: 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts, Historical Cards: WWE - SummerSlam 1994|magazine=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |issn=1043-7576|volume=29|issue=5|page=122}} Nakano eventually defeated Blayze for the title on November 20, 1994, in Tokyo at the Big Egg Wrestling Universe event.{{cite magazine|title=Pro Wrestling Illustrated: 2008 Wrestling Almanac & Book of Facts, Title Histories: WWE Women's Title|magazine=Pro Wrestling Illustrated |issn=1043-7576|volume=29|issue=5|page=95}}{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112124|title=Women's Title History: Bull Nakano|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=2009-05-08|archive-date=2009-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319044843/http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/304454132121112124|url-status=dead}} Among her defenses was a victory over Kyoko Inoue in March 1995 in the semi-main event of AJW's Wrestling Queendom Victory show.{{cite web | url=https://www.blogofdoom.com/2019/11/18/joshi-spotlight-ajw-wrestling-queendom-victory/ | title=Joshi Spotlight- AJW Wrestling Queendom- VICTORY - Scott's Blog of Doom! | date=18 November 2019 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=38454 |title=AJW Wrestling Queendom 1995 Victory |website=Cagematch.net |access-date=3 March 2024}} Nakano's title run lasted for approximately five months, until she lost it back to Blayze on the April 3, 1995, episode of Raw (in a match taped weeks prior) ending her reign at 134 days.{{cite web|url=http://www.wwe.com/inside/titlehistory/women/3044541321211121114|title=Women's Title History: Alundra Blayze (2)|publisher=World Wrestling Entertainment|access-date=2009-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621142946/http://www.wwe.com/classics/titlehistory/women/304454132121112124|archive-date=2012-06-21|url-status=live}} The rematch occurred in the wake of Wrestlemania XI the night before. The WWF had planned on bringing in Bertha Faye to feud with Nakano while Blayze got plastic surgery on her nose and breasts.{{cite web|url=http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120630042403/http://slam.canoe.ca/SlamWrestlingBiosS/sing_rhonda_01jan-can.html |archive-date=June 30, 2012 |title=SLAM! Wrestling Canadian Hall of Fame: Rhonda Sing / Monster Ripper |publisher=SLAM! Wrestling |last=Laroche |first=Stephen |date=January 9, 2001 |access-date=August 23, 2008}}
It would be her last match in the company, having been released soon after for allegedly being found in possession of cocaine.{{cite web | url=https://www.blogofdoom.com/2019/12/06/joshi-spotlight-bull-nakano/ | title=Joshi Spotlight: Bull Nakano - Scott's Blog of Doom! | date=6 December 2019 }}
=World Championship Wrestling (1995–1996)=
In 1995, Nakano also traveled to North Korea, where she was part of the joint New Japan Pro-Wrestling/World Championship Wrestling (WCW) Collision in Korea event in Pyongyang that set a record for attendance at a professional wrestling event with 150,000 spectators. At the event, Nakano and Akira Hokuto defeated Manami Toyota and Mariko Yoshida.{{cite web|url=http://www.pwinsider.com/ViewArticle.php?id=38331&p=1|title=This Day in History|author=Woodward, Buck|publisher=Pro Wrestling Insider|access-date=2009-05-09|date=April 28, 2009}} Later that year, she competed at WCW's World War 3 pay-per-view event, teaming with Akira Hokuto to defeat the team of Cutie Suzuki and Mayumi Ozaki.{{Cite video|title=WCW World War 3 '95|date=1995|publisher=Turner Home Entertainment|medium=VHS}} Nakano—with Sonny Onoo as her manager—continued her feud with Blayze, who was now known as Madusa, at WCW's Hog Wild event in August 1996; Madusa defeated Nakano in the match with the stipulation that she was then allowed to destroy Nakano's motorcycle.{{cite book|title=The Death of WCW|author=Reynolds, R.D. and Bryan Alvarez|publisher=ECW Press|year=2004|isbn=1-55022-661-4|page=76}} In subsequent years, Madusa called Nakano "a good-hearted person" and an "incredible talent", with whom she had some of her best matches.{{cite book|title=Wrestle Radio U.S.A.: Grapplers Speak|author=Carolan, Vinnie and Ed Symkus|publisher=ECW Press|year=2004|isbn=1-55022-646-0|page=[https://archive.org/details/wrestleradiousa00vinn/page/104 104]|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/wrestleradiousa00vinn/page/104}}
=Retirement=
Due to injuries, Bull Nakano retired from professional wrestling in 1997. On January 8, 2012, Nakano produced her own professional wrestling event, titled "Empress", which saw her recreate her most famous matches with her old opponents. The event ended with Nakano's official retirement ceremony, though she had not been an active wrestler for several years.{{cite web|url=http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/live/2012/2012010807/index.html|script-title=ja:“女帝”ブル中野、超満員の観客の前で涙の引退 伝説のクラッシュ、神取、アジャと「引退試合」|date=2012-01-08|access-date=2012-01-12|work=Sports Navi|publisher=Yahoo!|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111194626/http://sportsnavi.yahoo.co.jp/fight/other/live/2012/2012010807/index.html|archive-date=2012-01-11|url-status=dead}}
=Rise Wrestling (2017)=
It was announced at Rise Wrestling's Bellatrix 26/Rise 4 event on September 15, 2017, that Bull Nakano would join the promotion as a facilitator, along with Cheerleader Melissa and Madusa, Nakano's former rival. Nakano turned heel during her appearance at Rise 6 on December 1, when she attacked Melissa during her match against Kikyo, and formed a modified version of her heel faction, Gokumon-To; aligning with Kikyo, Dynamite DiDi, and Kris Wolf. Nakano appeared later in the event as a heel manager for Kris Wolf in her match against Shotzi Blackheart (who had Madusa in her corner), and provided interference that led to Wolf defeating Blackheart.
= Sukeban (2023–present) =
On September 21, 2023, Bull appeared at the inaugural show for the US based, all-female Japanese pro wrestling promotion Sukeban, where she announced she would be the acting commissioner; she revealed the Sukeban World Championship, and announced the winner of the main event, Ichigo (Unagi) Sayaka, would face Commander (Arisa) Nakajima at the next show—crowning the first champion.
= WWE return and Hall of Fame (2024) =
On 5 April 2024, Nakano was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame Class of 2024.{{Cite web |last=Chiari |first=Mike |title=Bull Nakano Named to 2024 WWE Hall of Fame Class; Joins Paul Heyman |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10111894-bull-nakano-named-to-2024-wwe-hall-of-fame-class-joins-paul-heyman |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Bleacher Report}} The induction speech was given by Alundra Blayze.
Professional golf career
Nakano became a professional golfer in 1998. In November 2004, Nakano played in the Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament in Florida, but ended the tournament in 250th place of 251.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.golfweekrankings.com/template/scores.asp?t=2004&u=/pro/us/&v=10587.asp|title=Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament|year=2004|magazine=Golfweek|access-date=2009-05-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711110117/http://www.golfweekrankings.com/template/scores.asp?t=2004&u=%2Fpro%2Fus%2F&v=10587.asp|archive-date=2011-07-11}} The following year, she ended the tournament in 261st place of 271.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.golfweekrankings.com/template/scores.asp?t=2005&u=/pro/us/&v=11685.asp|title=Futures Tour Qualifying Tournament|year=2005|magazine=Golfweek|access-date=2009-05-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711110325/http://www.golfweekrankings.com/template/scores.asp?t=2005&u=%2Fpro%2Fus%2F&v=11685.asp|archive-date=2011-07-11}} As a result, she failed to qualify for the Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA).{{cite web|url=http://www.lpga.com/Content_1.aspx?pid=3295&mid=4|title=Final round scores and positions Friday|publisher=LPGA|access-date=2009-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604104452/http://www.lpga.com/Content_1.aspx?pid=3295&mid=4|archive-date=2011-06-04|url-status=live}} Nakano later qualified for the LPGA and joined the Duramed Futures Tour in January 2006.{{cite web|url=http://www.duramedfuturestour.com/PlayerBios/NakanoKeiko.html|title=Keiko Nakano|publisher=Duramed Futures Tour|access-date=2009-05-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080624085939/http://www.duramedfuturestour.com/PlayerBios/NakanoKeiko.html|archive-date=2008-06-24}}
Championships and accomplishments
- All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
- AJW Championship (1 time)
- AJW Junior Championship (1 time)
- All Pacific Championship (1 time)
- WWWA World Single Championship (1 time)
- WWWA World Tag Team Championship (3 times) – with Dump Matsumoto (1), Condor Saito (1), and Grizzly Iwamoto (1)
- 1983 Rookie of the Year Decision Tournament
- Japan Grand Prix (1988){{cite web|url=http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/women/ajw/prix80.html|title=Japan Grand Prix Results 1980s|publisher=Pro Wrestling History|access-date=2009-05-16}}
- Tag League the Best (1985) – with Dump Matsumoto{{cite web | url = http://www.prowrestlinghistory.com/supercards/japan/women/ajw/tag80.html#85 | title = The Best Tag Team League 1985 | access-date=2013-03-28 | work=Pro Wrestling History}}
- AJW Hall of Fame (1998){{cite web|url=http://www.wrestling-titles.com/japan/zenjo/hof.html|title=All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame |access-date=2007-10-09|year=2003|publisher=Puroresu Dojo}}
- Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre
- CMLL World Women's Championship (1 time)
- Tokyo Sports
- Topic Award (2024) {{small|shared with Dump Matsumoto and Mayu Iwatani}}{{cite web|url=https://www.diva-dirt.com/sareee-receives-tokyo-sports-womens-mvp-award/|title=Sareee Receives Tokyo Sports Women's MVP Award|work=Diva Dirt|first=Nick|last=Wilkinson|date=December 10, 2024|access-date=February 11, 2025}}
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame (Class of 2001)
- World Wrestling Federation/World Wrestling Entertainment
- WWF Women's Championship (1 time)
- Slammy Award (1 time)
- Most Devastating (1994)
- WWE Hall of Fame (Class of 2024)
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons category|Keiko Nakano}}
- {{wwe superstar|bull-nakano|Bull Nakano}}
- [http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/bull-nakano.html Online World of Wrestling profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090508005109/http://onlineworldofwrestling.com/profiles/b/bull-nakano.html |date=2009-05-08 }}
- {{Professional wrestling profiles}}
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{{AJW Championship}}
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{{WWWA World Tag Team Championship}}
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{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nakano, Bull}}
Category:Japanese female golfers
Category:Japanese female professional wrestlers
Category:People from Kawaguchi, Saitama
Category:Professional wrestlers from Saitama Prefecture
Category:WWF/WWE Women's Champions
Category:Golfers from Orlando, Florida
Category:20th-century female professional wrestlers
Category:20th-century Japanese professional wrestlers
Category:CMLL World Women's Champions
Category:All Pacific Champions
Category:WWWA World Tag Team Champions
Category:Tag League the Best winners
Category:Japan Grand Prix winners
Category:WWWA World Single Champions