The Legacy Of Bull Nakano, Explained
Mia Lopez
Published Mar 27, 2026
Highlights
- Bull Nakano, an iconic Japanese wrestler, is set to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024.
- She had a legendary career in AJPW and WWE, with memorable rivalries that have stood the test of time.
- Bull Nakano is praised as one of the best wrestlers, not only for her talent, but for breaking boundaries.
Paul "Triple H" Levesque announced earlier this morning that the legendary Japanese wrestling star Bull Nakano will be the latest inductee into the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. Many wrestling fans coming from the current generation are likely scratching their heads and have no clue who Bull Nakano is and what she's all about. However, most wrestling fans growing up throughout the 80s and 90s are likely to remember seeing Bull Nakano at least a handful of times on their TV screens battling the likes of Alundra Blayze (Madusa), who she had an historic rivalry with between WWE and WCW.
Today, we take a look at the career of Bull Nakano and celebrate her incredible wrestling legacy.
Bull Nakano | Facts & Stats |
|---|---|
Height: | 5'7" |
Weight: | 201lbs |
Billed From: | Kawaguchi, Japan |
Age: | 56 |
Debut: | 1983 |
Retired: | 1997 |
Finisher(s): | Diving Guillotine Leg Drop |
Bull Nakano To Be Inducted Into The 2024 WWE Hall Of Fame
Bull Nakano is a former WWE Women's Champion, and now she is finally getting the recognition she deserves with a place in the Hall of Fame.Bull Nakano's Historic Rise With All-Japan Pro Wrestling
Bull Nakano Had A Legendary Run In AJPW, And Worked With CMLL As Well
Bull Nakano began her wrestling journey by competing for All-Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) beginning in 1983 at the age of 15. A year later, at 16 years old, she captured the AJW Junior Championship and, by that time, officially changed her name to Bull Nakano from her given name, Keiko Nakano. She became a mentor to Dump Matsumoto, as the two began teaming up as heels. The duo were able to capture the WWWA World Tag Team Championships in August 1986.
Matsumoto retired by 1987, as she went on to recapture the WWWA World Tag Team Titles two more times with different partners, Condor Saito and Grizzly Iwamoto. She began her reign as a singles star in 1988-1989, where she became the winner of the Japan Grand Prix and also defeated Mitsuko Nishiwaki for the AJW All Pacific Championship in late 1989. Entering the 1990s, Bull Nakano was positioned as one of AJPW's top women wrestlers in the world. She became the WWWA World Single Champion in January 1990, holding this title for over two years before dropping the title to Aja Kong in November 1992.
At that point in time, Bull Nakano began limiting her time with AJPW as she began traveling to Mexico to work for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. She became the first World Women's Championship for this promotion after winning a 12-woman battle royal, then defeating Lolo Gonzalez in June 1992. However, a year later, in March 1993, she dropped the title to Xochitl Hamada. Nakano departed the organization and began her journey to the United States.
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Bull Nakano Had A Historic Rivalry With Alundra Blayze
Bull Nakano made her debut in the United States for WWE in 1994 as a friend of Luna Vachon. She established an historical rivalry with Alundra Blayze (aka, Madusa in WCW). She challenged Blayze for the WWE Women's Championship at SummerSlam 1994 but failed to win the title. However, at the Big Egg Wrestling Universe event in Tokyo, Japan, on November 20, 1994, Nakano defeated Blayze to become the new WWE Women's Champion.
She held the title for five months before dropping the title back to Blayze on the April 3, 1995, episode of WWE Monday Night Raw, ending her reign that lasted 134 days. Plans were made by WWE creative to feud with Bertha Faye while Alundra Blayze was out of action due to plastic surgery, but those plans were halted after Nakano was released by WWE after being found in possession of cocaine.
Nakano joined WCW in late 1995 after WCW began touring in North Korea and established a working relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Her first official match with WCW was at "Collision in Korea", as she teamed with Akira Hokuto as they defeated Manami Toyota and Mariko Yoshida. She competed at WCW World War 3, teaming once again with Akira Hokuto in a tag match, defeating Cutie Suzuki and Mayumi Ozaki. Sonny Onoo managed Bull Nakano during this time, as she rekindled her past rivalry with Madusa (Alundra Blayze). Madusa defeated Nakano at WCW Hog Wild in August 1996.
Shortly thereafter, due to mounting injuries and other factors, Bull Nakano made the tough decision to retire from the wrestling business beginning in 1997. Madusa continued wrestling for WCW until its purchase by WWE in 2001.
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Triple H Comments On Bull Nakano's Career
ESPN broke the news regarding Bull Nakano's WWE Hall of Fame induction, saying:
"WWE will induct Nakano, arguably one of the greatest of all time in women's wrestling, into its Hall of Fame during WrestleMania week in Philadelphia."
Bull Nakano, speaking to ESPN through an interpreter, shared her reaction to the news. She said:
"During my active years, I was able to get championship belts in Japan, America and Mexico. But just one thing was missing -- I didn't get inducted into the Hall of Fame. I wanted this. Finally, in 2024 in WrestleMania week, I am able to get this."
Paul "Triple H" Levesque posted the following statement through X (Twitter), calling Nakano an "unbelievable talent".
Bull Nakano deserves to be entered into the WWE Hall of Fame. She is arguably one of the best wrestlers to ever come from Japan to make a big splash here in the United States during the 90s. Her in-ring abilities, character, and storied history with Madusa/Alundra Blayze will forever withstand the test of time.
