It was rumored months ago, but today it became a reality. Joshi puroresu legend Meiko Satomura is officially in as the 20th entrant in this year’s Mae Young Classic.
Japanese legend @satomurameiko is the latest competitor announced for the 2018 @WWE #MaeYoungClassic! https://t.co/KmNepSZBIf
— Mae Young Classic (@MaeYoungClassic) July 27, 2018
A 23-year ring veteran and an absolute pioneer in joshi of the past two decades, Meiko Satomura brings an almost “ring royalty” to the Mae Young Classic. Trained by All Japan Women‘s legend Chigusa Nagayo and debuting in 1995 with her mentor’s new promotion GAEA Japan, Satomura went on to become one of the greatest wrestlers of her generation – male or female. During her ten year run with GAEA, she was also a part of WCW’s women’s division in the mid-90s (which was one of the few things during the Monday Night Wars that WCW managed to do much, much worse than even the WWF) as well as appearing for Japanese Women Pro-Wrestling Project (JWP) and OZ Academy.
In 2006, Meiko Satomura branched out and created her own promotion, Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling, which still stands today as one of Japan’s top joshi promotions. Despite running her own promotion, Satomura has continued to work with other Japanese companies, including Stardom, Dragon Gate, DIANA, Pro Wrestling WAVE and DDT. In 2012, she took a Sendai Girls team to CHIKARA‘s King of Trios tournament, making it to the final four. She returned again in 2016, this time winning the tournament, in a final against a team from JWP, lead by fellow joshi legend, Command Bolshoi.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eIBWu9zbZDQ
In 2017, she began to expand her international presence, making her UK debut with Pro Wrestling EVE. She’s since moved on to Fight Club PRO as well – where she’s currently their champion (as in FCP Champion, not their women’s champion) – and this past WrestleMania weekend, competed for the likes of AAW and Wrestling Revolver. A 3x AAAW Champion (in GAEA), Sendai Girls Champion and World of Stardom Champion, the 38-year “Final Boss” is a great addition to a tournament featuring the world’s best women’s wrestlers.
CURRENT CONFIRMED MAE YOUNG CLASSIC LINE-UP
- Kacy Catanzaro, USA
- Isla Dawn, Scotland
- Kavita Devi, India
- Jessica Elaban, USA
- Kaitlyn, USA
- Reina Gonzalez, USA
- Jinny, England
- Karen Q, USA
- Killer Kelly, Portugal
- Lacey Lane, USA
- Mercedes Martinez, USA
- Nicole Matthews, Canada
- Tegan Nox, Wales
- Deonna Purrazzo, USA
- Rhea Ripley, Australia
- Meiko Satomura, Japan
- Io Shirai, Japan
- Toni Storm, Australia
- Mia Yim, South Korea
- Zeuxis, Puerto Rico
