Toshiyo Yamada
Encyclopedia
is a retired Japanese
female professional wrestler
. In the 1990s, Yamada wrestled for the All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
promotion (AJW).
. She then formed the tag team "Dream Orca" with Etsuko Mita. The team won the All Japan Tag Team Championship in June 1989, but was forced to vacate the titles in March 1990, when Yamada injured her neck. She was told she would never wrestle again, but she worked hard and was able to revive her career. After her return, she toured Mexico with Kyoko Inoue
, and later won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship
twice with Manami Toyota
. In the mid-1990s, she left All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling for the new promotion GAEA Japan
. In 2004, she retired due to a serious back injury.
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...
female 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...
. In the 1990s, Yamada wrestled for the 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...
promotion (AJW).
Career
A year after her professional wrestling debut in 1987, Toshiyo Yamada was awarded the AJW Junior ChampionshipAJW 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:...
. She then formed the tag team "Dream Orca" with Etsuko Mita. The team won the All Japan Tag Team Championship in June 1989, but was forced to vacate the titles in March 1990, when Yamada injured her neck. She was told she would never wrestle again, but she worked hard and was able to revive her career. After her return, she toured Mexico with 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 later 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...
twice with 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...
. In the mid-1990s, she left All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling for the new promotion GAEA Japan
GAEA Japan
Gaea Japan was a Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion. Gaea Japan (trademarked as GAEA Japan) was a Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion. Gaea Japan (trademarked as GAEA Japan) was a Japanese women's professional wrestling promotion. (Japanese female professional...
. In 2004, she retired due to a serious back injury.
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 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) - AJW Tag Team ChampionshipAJW Tag Team ChampionshipThe AJW Tag Team Championship was the secondary tag team title in the Japanese professional wrestling promotion All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. The title was introduced in 1986 and was retired in April 2005 when the promotion closed.-Title history:...
(1 time) - with Etsuko Mita - 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...
(2 times) - with Manami ToyotaManami Toyotais 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...
- Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards
- 5 Star Match (1992)
- 5 Star Match (1993)
- 5 Star Match (1993)
- Match of the Year (1993)