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Jaguar Yokota

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Jaguar Yokota
Yokota in April 2023
Birth nameRimi Yokota[1]
Born (1961-07-25) July 25, 1961 (age 63)[2]
Arakawa, Tokyo, Japan[2]
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Jaguar Y
  • Jaguar Yokota
  • Monster Y
  • Rimi Yokota
Billed height159 cm (5 ft 3 in)[2][3]
Billed weight58 kg (128 lb)[2]
Trained byAll Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling
DebutJune 28, 1977[2]

Rimi Yokota (横田 利美, Yokota Rimi) (born July 25, 1961) is a Japanese professional wrestler and later wrestling trainer, who wrestled under the name Jaguar Yokota (ジャガー横田). She is currently signed to World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana, where she is the leader of the CRYSIS stable.[4] Yokota is widely considered one of the greatest female wrestlers of all time, and during her heyday in the early 1980s, was considered one of the best wrestlers in the world, irrespective of gender.[1][5]

Professional wrestling career

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All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (1977–1986)

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Yokota was inspired to join All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (AJW) by 1970s stars, the Beauty Pair.[1] Yokota started training to be a professional wrestler on March 1, 1977, and got her professional wrestling license on May 19.[6] Yokota then made her in-ring debut on June 28, in Tokyo at the age of 15, against Mayumi Takahashi.[1][2] Afterwards, Yokota formed the Young Pair tag team with Seiko Honawa.[1] She won her first belt on January 4, 1980, when she became the AJW Junior Champion, which she vacated in August.[1] Yokota then began teaming with Jumbo Hori [ja].[1] On December 15, Yokota defeated Nancy Kumi [ja] to become the inaugural AJW Champion, then won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship with Jumbo Hori two days later.[1] On February 25, 1981, she achieved her greatest success to that point, defeating her original inspiration, Jackie Sato, for the WWWA World Single Championship.[1] She was 19 years old at the time of her first title reign. She lost her first world championship to La Galáctica on May 7, 1983, in a mask vs. hair match, then won it back a month later.[1] During her second world title run, she had very notable feuds with Devil Masami and Lioness Asuka.[1] On September 17, 1984, Yokota won the UWA World Women's Championship by defeating La Galáctica.[1] Yokota then went on a tour in Mexico.[1] In late 1985, Yokota had to vacate the WWWA World Single Championship due to a shoulder injury.[1] In February 1986, Yokota retired from in-ring competition.[1]

All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (1994–1996)

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On November 20, 1994, Yokota returned from retirement to wrestle at Big Egg Wrestling Universe. She teamed with Bison Kimura [ja] and went to a 10-minute time limit draw against Lioness Asuka and Yumi Ogura. According to Yokota, this inspired her to return to wrestling full-time.[6]

Jd' (1995–1998)

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In 1995 she came out of retirement to form her promotion Jd', and wrestled as its top star until December 26, 1998, when she retired for a second time following a match against her long-time rival Devil Masami.[1]

Retirement (1998–2004)

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Yokota stayed retired from 1998 to 2004, as she started to have a family.[citation needed]

Yokota speaking in 2016

Freelance (2004–present)

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She has since returned to professional wrestling as a freelancer, including a stint as part of the Monster faction in Hustle as Jaguar Y.[citation needed]

As a trainer

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After retiring in 1986, Yokota became one of All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling's (AJW) top trainers.[1] She trained many of the wrestlers who became AJW's top stars during the 90's.

Wrestlers trained

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Personal life

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Yokota was married in August 2004 to the lead vocalist for the obscure but seminal 1980s Hokkaido based hardcore band "Tranquilizer".

Championships and accomplishments

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Yokota is a three-time Diana Queen Elizabeth Champion
  • Oldest (female) pair to win a professional tag team wrestling championship (2023) – with Mayumi Ozaki[9]
  • AWF World Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • TWF World Women's Championship (1 time)[2]
  • TWF World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Yuko Kosugi[2]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Molinaro, John (2002). Marek, Jeff; Meltzer, Dave (eds.). Top 100 Pro Wrestlers of All Time. Toronto, Ontario: Winding Stair Press. pp. 166–167. ISBN 1-55366-305-5.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Jaguar Yokota". World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana. 24 February 2021. Archived from the original on May 31, 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  3. ^ "The 50 Greatest Women Wrestlers of All-Time". Pro Wrestling Illustrated Presents: The Women of Wrestling. 1 (1). Kappa Publishing: 12. 1996.
  4. ^ 選手紹介. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 8 May 2023. Retrieved October 14, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n 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.
  6. ^ a b "Jaguar Yokota Interview". amyaction.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2011. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h Pruitt, Alex (April 7, 2023). "Women's Wrestling Mount Rushmore: A Lifelong Debate". Last Word on Sports. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  8. ^ "All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2023.
  9. ^ "Oldest pair to win a professional tag team wrestling championship (female)". Guinness World Records. Retrieved August 26, 2023.
  10. ^ 10/10(月・祝)ステラボール大会 試合結果. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 2016-10-10. Retrieved 2017-02-26.
  11. ^ 8/30 新木場大会~試合結果~. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 2020-08-31.
  12. ^ 12/23(火・祝)川崎大会 試合結果. World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (in Japanese). 2014-12-24. Retrieved 2014-12-23.
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