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Kyoko Inoue

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Kyoko Inoue
Inoue in July 2023
Birth nameKyoko Inoue
Born (1969-04-22) April 22, 1969 (age 56)[1]
Nan'yō, Yamagata, Japan[1]
Professional wrestling career
Ring names
  • Adamo Inoue
  • Kyoko Inoue
  • Madori Inoue
Billed height167 cm (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Billed weight108 kg (238 lb)[1]
Trained byJaguar Yokota[3][4]
DebutOctober 10, 1988[1]

Kyoko Inoue (井上 京子, Inoue Kyōko; born April 22, 1969)[1] is a Japanese female professional wrestler currently signed to World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana.[5] She has held the WWWA World Single Championship three times, and is the first woman to win a men's title in Japan.

Inoue is the founder of NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling. After leaving NEO in May 2010, Inoue founded World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana in January 2011.

Professional wrestling career

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Early career (1988–1994)

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Inoue was trained by famous Japanese wrestler, Jaguar Yokota. Inoue made her debut on October 11, 1988. From 1991 to 1992 she worked for CMLL in Mexico.

World Wrestling Federation (1994; 1995)

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On May 11, 1994, Inoue made her first appearance on World Wrestling Federation (WWF) during a live event in Japan, where she unsuccessfully challenged Alundra Blayze for the WWF Women's Championship.[6]

On November 19, 1995, at Survivor Series, Inoue joined the team of Blayze in the traditional Survivor Series elimination match. Blayze's team lost, as Aja Kong remained the sole survivor of the opposing team. On the November 27th episode of Monday Night Raw, Inoue alongside Blayze lost to Kong and Tomoko Watanabe.[7]

Late career (1995–present)

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On March 26, 1995, as part of AJW's Wrestling Queendom Victory event, Inoue challenged Bull Nakano for her WWF Women's Championship - who had held it since Big Egg Wrestling Universe in November 1994.[8][9] Nakano retained at the 17:05 mark ahead of her anticipated title match with Alundra Blayze at Wrestlemania XI (it would instead happen on the April 3rd edition of Raw).

Inoue facing Unagi Sayaka at a Diana event in April 2023
Inoue in January 2020

Following her WWF appearances, Inoue continued to compete at the highest level in Japanese women's wrestling. In 1995, she engaged in a notable rivalry with Bull Nakano, challenging for the WWF Women's Championship and later defeating Nakano in a singles match at Nippon Budokan. Her 60-minute draw with Manami Toyota for the WWWA World Single Championship on May 7, 1995, was named "Match of the Year" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.[10][11][12]

In 1996, Inoue captured the WWWA World Singles Championship from Toyota at Ryogoku Kokugikan. The following year, she achieved the historic feat of becoming the first women's triple crown champion by simultaneously holding the WWWA World Singles Championship, All Pacific Championship, and IWA World Women's Championship. After leaving All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling in 1997, she joined Neo Ladies in 1998.[13][14]

Inoue became a central figure in NEO Japan Ladies Pro-Wrestling, serving as the organization's symbol and competing in main events. She took a hiatus in 2007 due to health issues and gave birth to a son in November of that year. Following her 2008 comeback, she continued competing until NEO's dissolution was announced in 2010.[15][16][17]

In January 2011, Inoue founded World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana, initially serving as president before transitioning to the role of organization representative. She has remained active with Diana, winning multiple championships including becoming the inaugural WWWD World Champion in 2013. Despite ongoing health challenges, including cervical issues that have periodically sidelined her, Inoue continues to compete and remains a prominent figure in Japanese women's professional wrestling.[18][19][20]

Affiliation

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Championships and accomplishments

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  • TWF World Women's Championship (2 times)[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o プロフィール. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 11 August 2012. Archived from the original on March 4, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  2. ^ "Kyoko Inoue". World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on June 10, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  3. ^ Molinaro, John (2002). Marek, Jeff; Meltzer, Dave (eds.). Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time. Toronto, Ontario: Winding Stair Press. p. 167. ISBN 1-55366-305-5.
  4. ^ Triggs, James (July 29, 2009). "CvC: Jaguar Yokota for Greatest Women's Champion". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  5. ^ 選手紹介. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 8 May 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  6. ^ "WWF Mania Tour Tag 4: Sapporo Mania". Cagematch - The Internet Wrestling Database. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  7. ^ "What the World Was Watching: Monday Night RAW – November 27, 1995". Scott's Blog of Doom. June 8, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  8. ^ "Joshi Spotlight- AJW Wrestling Queendom- VICTORY - Scott's Blog of Doom!". 18 November 2019.
  9. ^ https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=38454 [bare URL]
  10. ^ Joshi Puro Oshi (2016-12-31). Manami Toyota (c) VS Kyoko Inoue (3WA World Championship Match). Retrieved 2025-07-01 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Kyoko Inoue vs. Manami Toyota « Matches « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  12. ^ "Wrestling Observer Newsletter Awards". Mega Wrestling Zone. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  13. ^ "Kyoko Inoue vs. Manami Toyota « Matches « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  14. ^ "NEO Women's Pro Wrestling (NEO) « Promotions Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database". www.cagematch.net. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  15. ^ "TWF World Women's Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  16. ^ "京子は「方向性の違い」とＮＥＯ退団 - 格闘技ニュース". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  17. ^ "ＮＥＯが記念興行で解散を発表／ＮＥＯ - 格闘技ニュース". nikkansports.com (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  18. ^ "後楽園ホール60周年還暦祭で女子プロレスオールスター戦が実現し44選手が大集結！尾崎魔弓が"新日本vs全日本"に対抗意識メラメラ！". バトル・ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  19. ^ "『１月28日更新ニュース』". 女子プロレス専門誌『RINGSTARS』 (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  20. ^ "後楽園ホール60周年還暦祭で女子プロレスオールスター戦が実現し44選手が大集結！尾崎魔弓が"新日本vs全日本"に対抗意識メラメラ！". バトル・ニュース (in Japanese). Retrieved 2025-07-01.
  21. ^ 東京スポーツ プロレス大賞. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). Retrieved 2014-01-20.
  22. ^ 12/15(日) 新宿大会 試合結果. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). December 15, 2013. Archived from the original on 2013-12-15. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  23. ^ "8/16(日)新宿大会 試合結果". World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). August 16, 2015. Archived from the original on April 7, 2016. Retrieved August 16, 2015.
  24. ^ a b 3月3日（日）ラゾーナ川崎プラザソル 試合結果. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). March 4, 2013. Retrieved March 3, 2013.
  25. ^ タイトル名称変更. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). May 28, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
  26. ^ 9/16(水)新宿大会 試合結果. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). September 17, 2015. Retrieved September 17, 2015.
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