Tomoka Nakagawa
Encyclopedia
is a Japanese
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
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

, who is currently working as a freelancer
Freelancer
A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term. These workers are often represented by a company or an agency that resells their labor and that of others to its clients with or without project management and...

 on the Japanese independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...

 for promotions such as Oz Academy, Pro Wrestling WAVE
Pro Wrestling WAVE
, is a women's pro wrestling, or Joshi Puroresu, promotion created in 2007 after the dissolution and closure of JDStar. The company was formed by Mikiko Futagami, or GAMI, former JDStar wrestler Yumi Ohka, and former JDStar booker Tatsuya Takeshi, who assumed the role of President for the new...

 and Smash
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...

, where she is the current Smash Divas Champion
Smash Divas Championship
The Smash Divas Championship is a professional wrestling women's championship, owned by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...

. She is also a regular for American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 promotion Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...

, where she is a former Shimmer Tag Team Champion
Shimmer Tag Team Championship
The Shimmer Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Shimmer Women Athletes...

.

Early life

Nakagawa grew up a fan of professional wrestling
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...

, watching promotions like All Japan Pro Wrestling
All Japan Pro Wrestling
is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion established in 1972. All Japan Pro Wrestling still remains one of the most popular puroresu promotions still in operation.-The Giant Baba Era :...

, 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...

 and New Japan Pro Wrestling
New Japan Pro Wrestling
is a major professional wrestling promotion in Japan, founded by Antonio Inoki in June 1972 and owned by Yuke's since 2005, when Inoki sold the promotion. Naoki Sugabayashi is the current President of the promotion and has held that position from 2007. Owing to its TV program aired on TV Asahi, it...

, but was forced to give up her dream of becoming a professional wrestler, when she discovered that, at , she was 5 cm (2 in) below the minimum height required for a woman to enter the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling dojo, and instead began studying to eventually become a qualified nurse
Nursing
Nursing is a healthcare profession focused on the care of individuals, families, and communities so they may attain, maintain, or recover optimal health and quality of life from conception to death....

. While working in her new job, Nakagawa would often go watch professional wrestling at Korakuen Hall
Korakuen Hall
is an arena in Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, which has hosted many boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts matches. Part of Tokyo Dome City, it is one of Tokyo's biggest attractions. It opened on April 16, 1962 and has a capacity of approximately 1,800 people. The venue hosted the boxing...

 and finally, at the age of 22, decided to pursue her original dream and began training professional wrestling under Taka Michinoku.

Kaientai Dojo (2005–2007)

Nakagawa made her professional wrestling debut for Taka Michinoku's Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....

 promotion on January 23, 2005, in a tag team match, where she and Yuu Yamagata were defeated by Michinoku and Ryota Chikuzen. The following year Nakagawa adopted the ring name Tomo Michinoku and aligned herself with Taka, with whom she would go on to win her first championship on June 4, 2006, when the two defeated Makoto Oishi
Makoto Oishi
is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for Kaientai Dojo, where he is one half of the Strongest-K Tag Team champions along with Shiori Asahi and is a former Independent Junior Heavyweight Champion and UWA World Middleweight Champion. He has held all 3 belts at the same time...

 and Shiori Asahi
Shiori Asahi
is a Japanese wrestler, currently working for KAIENTAI DOJO, where is one half of the current STRONGEST-K Tag Team champions along with Makoto Oishi...

 for the FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship
FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship
The FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from April 2000 until FMW closed in February 2002...

. They would hold the title for 34 days, before losing it to the team of Apple Miyuki
Apple Miyuki
, , is a female professional wrestler, who currently works for the Kaientai Dojo promotion.-Professional wrestling career:She debuted on January 14, 2002, in Puerto Rico against another Kaientai Dojo wrestler, Ofune...

 and Yoshiya. The following December, Nakagawa dropped the Tomo Michinoku ring name and returned to wrestling under her real name. On April 15, 2007, Nakagawa announced that she was leaving Kaientai Dojo to become a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...

.

Independent circuit (2007–present)

Shortly after her departure from Kaientai Dojo, Nakagawa joined Mariko Yoshida
Mariko Yoshida
, is a Japanese professional wrestler best known for her work with the ARSION wrestling promotion, where she was also head trainer.-Professional wrestling career:...

's Ibuki promotion, where she also underwent further training under Yoshida. The following year Nakagawa became a true freelancer, when she left Ibuki and started working for promotions such as NEO Japan Ladies Pro Wrestling, Oz Academy and Pro Wrestling WAVE
Pro Wrestling WAVE
, is a women's pro wrestling, or Joshi Puroresu, promotion created in 2007 after the dissolution and closure of JDStar. The company was formed by Mikiko Futagami, or GAMI, former JDStar wrestler Yumi Ohka, and former JDStar booker Tatsuya Takeshi, who assumed the role of President for the new...

.

Nakagawa made her debut for all-female promotion Oz Academy on March 9, 2008, in a tag team match, where she and Manami Toyota
Manami 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...

 were defeated by Akino and Ran YuYu. Shortly afterwards Nakagawa joined Mayumi Ozaki
Mayumi Ozaki
is a Japanese female professional wrestler.-Career:Ozaki debuted in a tag match in August, 1986. In her career, she held the WWWA tag titles with Dynamite Kansai from April 11, 1993 to December 6, 1993 (born October 28, 1968) is a Japanese female professional wrestler.-Career:Ozaki debuted in a...

's villainous
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...

 Oz Army, before jumping to Aja Kong's Jungle Jack 21 stable on August 2, 2009. On April 10, 2011, Nakagawa and her Jungle Jack 21 stablemate and fellow Ibuki alum Hiroyo Matsumoto
Hiroyo Matsumoto
is a joshi puroresu wrestler in Japan who wrestled for Mariko Yoshida's Ibuki promotion. Emi Sakura gave her the nickname of Lady Destroyer because Hiroyo broke a wall in the Ichigaya arena during her Ice Ribbon debut...

 defeated Chikayo Nagashima and Sonoko Kato to win the Oz Academy Tag Team Championship. After a 77 day long reign, the duo lost the title to Carlos Amano and Manami Toyota
Manami 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...

. The following September, the team was broken up, when Matsumoto jumped to Oz Army and started a storyline rivalry
Feud (professional wrestling)
A professional wrestling feud is a staged rivalry between multiple wrestlers or alliances of wrestlers. They are integrated into ongoing storylines, particularly in events which are televised...

 with her former stablemates.

Nakagawa originally made her debut for Pro Wrestling WAVE on September 3, 2007, but did not start working regularly for the promotion until May 2010. Much like in Oz Academy, Nakagawa teams with Aja Kong also in Pro Wrestling WAVE, feuding with the villainous Black Dahlia stable, led by Yumi Ohka.

In October 2009, Nakagawa made her first tour of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...

 with International Wrestling Revolution Group
International Wrestling Revolution Group
International Wrestling Revolution Group is a Lucha Libre promotion based in Naucalpan, State of Mexico, Mexico. Founded in 1996 by Adolfo Moreno and since Moreno's death in late 2007 has been controlled by his sons Alfredo and Marco Moreno...

 (IWRG) as a member of La Revolución Amandra with Atsuko Emoto and Kyoko Kimura
Kyoko Kimura
Kyoko Kimura is a Japanese Pro Wrestler currently wrestling for Ibuki. She is an alumnus of Big Japan Pro Wrestling. Most notably, she is known for her Jamaican flag shirt and puffed afro that stand at roughly one foot tall. Among the notable opponents she has wrestled is Shimmer wrestler, MsChif...

. She returned to the promotion on June 3, 2010, defeating Ayumi
Ayumi Kurihara
is a joshi puroresu wrestler who grew up around pro wrestling. Her parents' Tokyo yakiniku barbecue restaurant, "The Three Treasures of Buddha" was not only a place where wrestlers often ate, but is also a sponsor of pro wrestling events...

.

On August 30, 2010, Nakagawa made her debut for Smash
Smash (professional wrestling)
Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...

 at Smash.7, teaming with Toshie Uematsu
Toshie Uematsu
is a female Japanese Professional Wrestler best known for her popularity in the 1990s and 2000s. She was one of the members of the first class of wrestlers trained by Chigusa Nagayo when Nagayo formed the GAEA Japan promotion...

 in a tag team match, where they were defeated by Lin Bairon
Ray (wrestler)
Ray is a Chinese professional wrestler, who is currently working for Japanese promotions Ice Ribbon, Universal Women's Pro Wrestling REINA and Smash. She is a former International Ribbon Tag Team Champion and CMLL-REINA International Junior Champion...

 and Syuri
Syuri
is a Japanese professional wrestler, shoot boxer and kickboxer, better known simply as . She is currently working for Smash and is also known for her time in the promotion's predecessor, Hustle, where she worked as KG .-Early life:Kondo was born to a Japanese father and a Filipino mother on...

. On July 15, 2011, at Smash.19, Nakagawa entered a tournament to determine the first ever Smash Divas Champion
Smash Divas Championship
The Smash Divas Championship is a professional wrestling women's championship, owned by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...

, but was eliminated in her opening round match by Serena
Serena Deeb
Serena Deeb is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment, appearing on the SmackDown brand and also known for her time with the developmental territory Florida Championship Wrestling. under the ring name Serena...

. After the finals of the tournament on September 8 at Smash.21, Nakagawa entered the ring and, along with Makoto
Makoto (wrestler)
is a Japanese professional wrestler. She is currently working for Smash and is also known for her time in Ice Ribbon, where she held the ICE×60 Championship once and the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship twice.-Ice Ribbon :...

, Ray
Ray (wrestler)
Ray is a Chinese professional wrestler, who is currently working for Japanese promotions Ice Ribbon, Universal Women's Pro Wrestling REINA and Smash. She is a former International Ribbon Tag Team Champion and CMLL-REINA International Junior Champion...

 and Syuri, challenged the inaugural champion, Kana
Kana (wrestler)
is a Japanese professional wrestler, better known by the ring name . She is known for her stiff wrestling style, which includes various kicks and submission holds. She also works as a freelance graphic designer and video game journalist and through her work with Microsoft, she is often sponsored by...

. On October 28 at Smash.22, Nakagawa defeated Makoto, Ray and Syuri in a four-way match, while also scoring all three eliminations, to become the number one contender to the Smash Divas Championship. On November 24 at Smash.23, Nakagawa defeated Kana to become the second Smash Divas Champion.

Shimmer Women Athletes (2010–present)

On April 10, 2010, Nakagawa made her American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 debut for the Shimmer Women Athletes
SHIMMER Women Athletes
Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...

 promotion in a losing effort against Ayumi Kurihara
Ayumi Kurihara
is a joshi puroresu wrestler who grew up around pro wrestling. Her parents' Tokyo yakiniku barbecue restaurant, "The Three Treasures of Buddha" was not only a place where wrestlers often ate, but is also a sponsor of pro wrestling events...

 on Volume 29. Later that same day on Volume 30, Nakagawa teamed with Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze
Daizee Haze is an American professional wrestler. Whilst wrestling for many companies Daizee Haze is also the head trainer for the Shimmer Women Athletes promotion.-Training and Gateway Championship Wrestling:...

 to defeat the team of Jamilia Craft and Misaki Ohata. At the following day's tapings of Volumes 31 and 32, Nakagawa was defeated by Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez
Mercedes Martinez is a American professional wrestler, currently performing for Shimmer Women Athletes, as well as numerous independent promotions including World Xtreme Wrestling, Women Superstars Uncensored, and Full Impact Pro....

 and picked up a win over Jessie McKay, respectively. Nakagawa returned to Shimmer five months later on September 11, when she was defeated by Ayako Hamada
Ayako Hamada
is a female professional wrestler of mixed Japanese and Mexican descent, who is currently wrestling most notably for Pro Wrestling WAVE in Japan and Shimmer Women Athletes in the United States, where she is a co-holder of the Shimmer Tag Team Championship.She is best known for winning several...

 and Cheerleader Melissa at the tapings of Volumes 33 and 34. The following day on Volume 35, Nakagawa and Daizee Haze continued their tag team win streak by defeating Pretty Bitchin' (Ariel
Ana Rocha
Ana Rocha is an Portuguese-American professional wrestler and manager known by her ring name "The Portuguese Princess" Ariel, who has competed in Northeastern independent promotions including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South and the National Wrestling Alliance.-Early life and career:Born in São...

 and Nikki Roxx
Nicole Raczynski
Nicole Raczynski is an American professional wrestler, best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Roxxi...

). On March 26, 2011, Nakagawa returned for her third visit with Shimmer, losing to LuFisto on Volume 37 and defeating Jessica James on Volume 38. The following day on Volume 39, Nakagawa and Haze defeated Jamilia Craft and Mia Yim in a tag team match and were as a result granted a shot at the Shimmer Tag Team Championship
Shimmer Tag Team Championship
The Shimmer Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Shimmer Women Athletes...

. Later that same day on Volume 40, Nakagawa and Haze defeated the Seven Star Sisters (Hiroyo Matsumoto and Misaki Ohata) to become the fourth Shimmer Tag Team Champions. Nakagawa and Haze made their first title defense on April 2 at Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor
Ring of Honor ' is an American professional wrestling promotion, founded in 2002 by Rob Feinstein and Gabe Sapolsky. From 2004 to 2011, the promotion was under the ownership of Cary Silkin before being sold to the Sinclair Broadcast Group in May 2011...

's Honor Takes Center Stage
Honor Takes Center Stage
Honor Takes Center Stage was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Ring of Honor . It took place over two consecutive days, on 1 and 2 April, 2011, at the Center Stage Theatre in Atlanta, with the 1 April show at 8pm ET/5pm PT, and the 2 April show at a special matinee time of 1pm...

 pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...

, defeating Ayumi Kurihara and Hiroyo Matsumoto. On October 1 at Shimmer's Volume 41, Nakagawa and Haze lost the Shimmer Tag Team Championship to Ayako Hamada and Ayumi Kurihara in their second defense. Later that same day on Volume 42, Nakagawa picked up her biggest singles victory in Shimmer by pinning former Shimmer Champion
Shimmer Championship
The Shimmer Championship is a professional wrestling championship in Shimmer Women Athletes. It is competed for in Shimmer Women Athletes, and has been defended on shows of sister promotions Ring of Honor and Full Impact Pro. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in...

 MsChif
MsChif
Rachel Collins is an American professional wrestler who is better known by her ring name MsChif. She has been wrestling since 2001 and in that time has worked for several independent promotions across the United States, with guest matches in England and Japan...

 to win a four-way match, which also included Kellie Skater and LuFisto. The following day on Volume 43, Nakagawa was defeated by MsChif in a singles match.

In wrestling

  • Finishing moves
    • 120% School Boy (School boy rolled over into a bridging jackknife hold)
    • Bridging fisherman suplex

  • Signature moves
    • CRB (Bridging reverse chinlock)
    • Enzuigiri
    • Lou Thesz press
    • Sliding lariat
    • Water mist

  • Entrance themes
    Music in professional wrestling
    Music in professional wrestling serves a variety of purposes. The most common uses of music in professional wrestling is that of the entrance theme, a song or piece of instrumental music which plays as a performer approaches the ring...

    • "Yamato Suite Pt. 4" by Kaientai Dojo
      Kaientai Dojo
      Kaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....

    • "A Go!" by Masaki (ATT Studio)

Championships and accomplishments

  • Kaientai Dojo
    Kaientai Dojo
    Kaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....

    • FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship
      FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship
      The FMW/WEW Hardcore Tag Team Championship was a tag team hardcore wrestling championship contested in Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling from April 2000 until FMW closed in February 2002...

       (1 time) – with Taka Michinoku

  • Oz Academy
    • Oz Academy Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Hiroyo Matsumoto
      Hiroyo Matsumoto
      is a joshi puroresu wrestler in Japan who wrestled for Mariko Yoshida's Ibuki promotion. Emi Sakura gave her the nickname of Lady Destroyer because Hiroyo broke a wall in the Ichigaya arena during her Ice Ribbon debut...


  • Shimmer Women Athletes
    SHIMMER Women Athletes
    Shimmer Women Athletes is an American, Chicago based female independent professional wrestling promotion which held its first event on November 6, 2005...

    • Shimmer Tag Team Championship
      Shimmer Tag Team Championship
      The Shimmer Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship in Shimmer Women Athletes...

       (1 time) – with Daizee Haze
      Daizee Haze
      Daizee Haze is an American professional wrestler. Whilst wrestling for many companies Daizee Haze is also the head trainer for the Shimmer Women Athletes promotion.-Training and Gateway Championship Wrestling:...


  • Smash
    Smash (professional wrestling)
    Smash is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in December 2009 following the folding of Hustle. In the fall of 2009 Hustle ran into financial problems that led to several show cancellations. After a planned restructuring and restarting of the promotion failed, a number of officials...

    • Smash Divas Championship
      Smash Divas Championship
      The Smash Divas Championship is a professional wrestling women's championship, owned by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...

       (1 time, current)

External links

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
x
OK