Makoto (wrestler)
Encyclopedia
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.
, taking, among others, Makoto with her. Makoto would make her wrestling debut on July 25, 2006, at Ice Ribbon's third ever show, losing to then nine year old Riho in a minute. As is customary in Japanese professional wrestling, Makoto's first year in the business consisted of short matches and losses. She would go on to win her first title on February 1, 2008, when she teamed with her idol Etsuko Mita to defeat Tanny Mouse and Yuki Miyazaki for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship. They would hold the title for five months, before losing it to the team of Masa Takanashi and Ryu Chokumo. On December 23, Makoto made it to the finals of a tournament to crown the first ever ICE×60 Championship, before being defeated by Seina. After two unsuccessful title challenges against Kyoko Ichiki, she would finally win the ICE×60 Championship on August 23, 2009, by defeating Ichiki in their third title match against each other. She would go on to lose the title to Emi Sakura on October 12, 2009.
Makoto's 2009 was highlighted by a feud
with her former partner Etsuko Mita, which built to Mita's retirement match on November 1, 2009, where she defeated Makoto. In 2010, Makoto began making appearances for other promotions such as Kaientai Dojo
, Osaka Pro Wrestling
, Pro Wrestling Zero1 and Smash
. Makoto, who has always stated that her dream is to become a WWE Diva
, made her American
debut on July 30, 2011, when she teamed with Daizee Haze
and Sara Del Rey
in a losing effort against the trio of Mima Shimoda, Portia Perez
and Tsukasa Fujimoto at a Chikara event in Reading, Pennsylvania
. The following day, Makoto was defeated by ICE×60 Champion Fujimoto in an "Ice Ribbon Showcase" match at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On August 5, it was announced that Makoto would be leaving Ice Ribbon for Smash, where she felt she had a better opportunity to reach her goal of getting to WWE. After the announcement, Makoto and her trainer Emi Sakura went on to defeat the Lovely Butchers (Hamuko Hoshi and Mochi Miyagi) for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship on August 13. On August 21, Makoto was defeated by Sakura in her Ice Ribbon farewell match, after which the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship was vacated.
's Smash
promotion on December 24, 2010, at Happening Eve, where she teamed with Isami Kodaka and Yusuke Kodama to defeat Chii Tomiya, Hikari Minami and KUSHIDA
in a six person intergender tag team match, scoring the deciding pinfall over Minami. In her next Smash appearance on January 29, 2011, at Smash.13, Makoto was defeated by former WWE Diva, Serena
. After the match, Makoto was attacked by Kana
, Io Shirai and Mio Shirai, the trio known as Triple Tails, who had earlier attacked another one of TAJIRI's protégés, Yusuke Kodama, after his match. The trio was eventually chased out of the ring by TAJIRI. On April 30 at Smash.16, Makoto teamed with Serena and Syuri
to defeat the Triple Tails in a six woman tag team match. On May 3 at Smash.17, Makoto teamed with TAJIRI in a three-way intergender tag team ladder match
, contested for possession of the new Smash Championship
and Smash Divas Championship
belts, which had been stolen earlier by Michael Kovac. In the match, Makoto and TAJIRI defeated the teams of Kovac and Lin Bairon
, and Hajime Ohara
and Jessica Love to regain possession of the belts, which were then put up for grabs in separate tournaments.
In preparation for the Smash Divas Championship tournament, Makoto, now a member of the Smash Sekigun ("home army"), began training with the likes of TAJIRI and FUNAKI
, the latter of whom taught her a new finishing maneuver, the spear, which he had learned from Edge during his years in the WWE. Makoto entered the Smash Divas Championship tournament on July 15 at Smash.19, defeating fellow Ice Ribbon regular Chii Tomiya with the spear in just four minutes. On August 11 at Smash.20, Emi Sakura accompanied Makoto in a press conference, where she officially signed to become a full time member of the Smash roster, finalizing her jump from Ice Ribbon. Later that same day, Makoto was eliminated from the Smash Divas Championship tournament in the semifinal stage by Serena. On September 8 at Smash.21, after Kana had defeated Serena to become the inaugural Smash Divas Champion, Makoto, along with Syuri, Ray
and Tomoka Nakagawa
, entered the ring to challenge the new champion to a title match. The four challengers had a number one contender's match on October 28 at Smash.22, which was won by Nakagawa.
On November 5, Makoto made her debut for All Japan Pro Wrestling
in Taiwan
, teaming with Bushi
and Último Dragón to defeat Cheerleader Melissa, Black Bushi and Dark Dragon in a six person tag team match. In the buildup to the match Makoto and Melissa brawled at the pre-event press conference. The following day, Makoto was defeated by Melissa in what was billed as the first ever women's wrestling match in Taiwan.
as her two biggest idols. She lists cosplay
and the video game Dynasty Warriors
as her hobbies.
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...
. She is currently working 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...
and is also known for her time in Ice Ribbon
Ice Ribbon
is a joshi puroresu promotion established in 2006 by Emi Sakura split with Gatokunyan.-History:Ice Ribbon was founded by Emi Sakura, a professional wrestler who was active with IWA Japan and FMW in 1990s as Emi Motokawa...
, where she held the ICE×60 Championship once and the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship twice.
Ice Ribbon (2006–2011)
In February 2006, Makoto began training under Gatokunyan wrestler Emi Sakura. Two months later Sakura left Gatokunyan to form her own promotion, Ice RibbonIce Ribbon
is a joshi puroresu promotion established in 2006 by Emi Sakura split with Gatokunyan.-History:Ice Ribbon was founded by Emi Sakura, a professional wrestler who was active with IWA Japan and FMW in 1990s as Emi Motokawa...
, taking, among others, Makoto with her. Makoto would make her wrestling debut on July 25, 2006, at Ice Ribbon's third ever show, losing to then nine year old Riho in a minute. As is customary in Japanese professional wrestling, Makoto's first year in the business consisted of short matches and losses. She would go on to win her first title on February 1, 2008, when she teamed with her idol Etsuko Mita to defeat Tanny Mouse and Yuki Miyazaki for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship. They would hold the title for five months, before losing it to the team of Masa Takanashi and Ryu Chokumo. On December 23, Makoto made it to the finals of a tournament to crown the first ever ICE×60 Championship, before being defeated by Seina. After two unsuccessful title challenges against Kyoko Ichiki, she would finally win the ICE×60 Championship on August 23, 2009, by defeating Ichiki in their third title match against each other. She would go on to lose the title to Emi Sakura on October 12, 2009.
Makoto's 2009 was highlighted by a feud
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 partner Etsuko Mita, which built to Mita's retirement match on November 1, 2009, where she defeated Makoto. In 2010, Makoto began making appearances for other promotions such as Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo
Kaientai Dojo is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion and training facility owned and promoted by Taka Michinoku....
, Osaka Pro Wrestling
Osaka Pro Wrestling
Osaka Pro Wrestling is a Japanese professional wrestling promotion, founded in 1998 by Super Delfin.-Current champions:-External links:**...
, Pro Wrestling Zero1 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...
. Makoto, who has always stated that her dream is to become a WWE Diva
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
, made her American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
debut on July 30, 2011, when she 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:...
and Sara Del Rey
Sara Del Rey
Sara Amato is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name, Sara Del Rey. She is a mainstay for Chikara and Shimmer Women Athletes. She has also appeared for many other independent promotions in the United States, including Ring of Honor, IWA Mid-South, All Pro Wrestling, as...
in a losing effort against the trio of Mima Shimoda, Portia Perez
Portia Perez
Jenna Grattan is a Canadian professional wrestler best known under the stage name Portia Perez. Perez currently teams with Nicole Matthews as The Canadian NINJAs.-Professional wrestling career:...
and Tsukasa Fujimoto at a Chikara event in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading is a city in southeastern Pennsylvania, USA, and seat of Berks County. Reading is the principal city of the Greater Reading Area and had a population of 88,082 as of the 2010 census, making it the fifth most populated city in the state after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown and Erie,...
. The following day, Makoto was defeated by ICE×60 Champion Fujimoto in an "Ice Ribbon Showcase" match at the Asylum Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. On August 5, it was announced that Makoto would be leaving Ice Ribbon for Smash, where she felt she had a better opportunity to reach her goal of getting to WWE. After the announcement, Makoto and her trainer Emi Sakura went on to defeat the Lovely Butchers (Hamuko Hoshi and Mochi Miyagi) for the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship on August 13. On August 21, Makoto was defeated by Sakura in her Ice Ribbon farewell match, after which the International Ribbon Tag Team Championship was vacated.
Smash (2010–present)
Makoto made her debut for Yoshihiro TajiriYoshihiro Tajiri
, is a Japanese professional wrestler, perhaps best known for his appearances with Extreme Championship Wrestling and World Wrestling Entertainment. He is currently competing in SMASH as TAJIRI.-Early years :...
's 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...
promotion on December 24, 2010, at Happening Eve, where she teamed with Isami Kodaka and Yusuke Kodama to defeat Chii Tomiya, Hikari Minami and KUSHIDA
Yujiro Kushida
is a Japanese professional wrestler. He currently competes in New Japan Pro Wrestling as KUSHIDA. He won the ZST Genesis Lightweight Tournament and AJPW's U-30 Tag Team Tournament in 2008 with T28-Early years:...
in a six person intergender tag team match, scoring the deciding pinfall over Minami. In her next Smash appearance on January 29, 2011, at Smash.13, Makoto was defeated by former WWE Diva, 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 match, Makoto was attacked by 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...
, Io Shirai and Mio Shirai, the trio known as Triple Tails, who had earlier attacked another one of TAJIRI's protégés, Yusuke Kodama, after his match. The trio was eventually chased out of the ring by TAJIRI. On April 30 at Smash.16, Makoto teamed with Serena 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...
to defeat the Triple Tails in a six woman tag team match. On May 3 at Smash.17, Makoto teamed with TAJIRI in a three-way intergender tag team ladder match
Ladder match
A ladder match is a type of match in professional wrestling that is most commonly used to describe a match where an item is hung above the ring, and the winner is the contestant who climbs a ladder and retrieves the item...
, contested for possession of the new Smash Championship
Smash Championship
The Smash Championship is a professional wrestling championship, owned and promoted by the Japanese promotion in Smash. Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries. These narratives create feuds between the various...
and 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...
belts, which had been stolen earlier by Michael Kovac. In the match, Makoto and TAJIRI defeated the teams of Kovac and 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 Hajime Ohara
Hajime Ohara
Hajime Ohara is a Japanese professional wrestler currently working for Smash. Ohara worked for Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre in Mexico for several years as part of his training mixing the Lucha Libre style of Mexico with the Japanese Puroresu style of wrestling.-Mexico:Hajime Ohara trained for...
and Jessica Love to regain possession of the belts, which were then put up for grabs in separate tournaments.
In preparation for the Smash Divas Championship tournament, Makoto, now a member of the Smash Sekigun ("home army"), began training with the likes of TAJIRI and FUNAKI
Shoichi Funaki
is a Japanese/American professional wrestler best known for his time in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he was a one-time Cruiserweight Champion and a one-time Hardcore Champion.-Early years :...
, the latter of whom taught her a new finishing maneuver, the spear, which he had learned from Edge during his years in the WWE. Makoto entered the Smash Divas Championship tournament on July 15 at Smash.19, defeating fellow Ice Ribbon regular Chii Tomiya with the spear in just four minutes. On August 11 at Smash.20, Emi Sakura accompanied Makoto in a press conference, where she officially signed to become a full time member of the Smash roster, finalizing her jump from Ice Ribbon. Later that same day, Makoto was eliminated from the Smash Divas Championship tournament in the semifinal stage by Serena. On September 8 at Smash.21, after Kana had defeated Serena to become the inaugural Smash Divas Champion, Makoto, along with Syuri, 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 Tomoka Nakagawa
Tomoka Nakagawa
is a Japanese professional wrestler, who is currently working as a freelancer on the Japanese independent circuit for promotions such as Oz Academy, Pro Wrestling WAVE and Smash, where she is the current Smash Divas Champion...
, entered the ring to challenge the new champion to a title match. The four challengers had a number one contender's match on October 28 at Smash.22, which was won by Nakagawa.
On November 5, Makoto made her debut for 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 :...
in Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
, teaming with Bushi
Tetsuya Bushi
Tetsuya Shimizu is a Japanese professional wrestler who has worked under the ring names T28, TETSUYA, Tetsuya Bushi and currently works as the masked BUSHI for All Japan Pro Wrestling . Together with Super Crazy Bushi won AJPW's 2010 Junior Tag League and has previously won AJPW's U-30 Tag Team...
and Último Dragón to defeat Cheerleader Melissa, Black Bushi and Dark Dragon in a six person tag team match. In the buildup to the match Makoto and Melissa brawled at the pre-event press conference. The following day, Makoto was defeated by Melissa in what was billed as the first ever women's wrestling match in Taiwan.
Personal life
Makoto names Etsuko Mita and Trish StratusTrish Stratus
Patricia Anne Stratigias , better known by her ring name Trish Stratus, is a Canadian professional wrestler, actress and television personality currently signed with WWE. She is also a former fitness model....
as her two biggest idols. She lists cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
and the video game Dynasty Warriors
Dynasty Warriors 2
is a crowd-combat fighting sequel to the fighting game Dynasty Warriors. It is the second game in the Dynasty Warriors series, but the first in the Shin Sangokumusō series. The game was released in other countries as Dynasty Warriors 2, leading to the discrepancy in title numbers...
as her hobbies.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Bridging double underhook suplex
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
- Spear – 2011–present
- Signature moves
- Blazing Chop (Double slap to the opponent's chest) – adopted from Etsuko Mita
- Blazing Kick (Bicycle kick)
- Makoto 50kg! (Crossbody, sometimes from the top rope)
- Rising Star Suplex (Single underhook cradle suplex)
- Shining Wizard
- Standing somersault senton
- W.W.Knee (CartwheelCartwheel (gymnastics)In gymnastics, a cartwheel is a sideways rotary movement performed by bringing the hands to the ground while the body inverts and the legs travel over the body, coming down to a standing position.-Terminology:...
into a double knee drop)
- NicknameNicknameA nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
s- "Miracle Hunter"
Championships and accomplishments
- Ice RibbonIce Ribbonis a joshi puroresu promotion established in 2006 by Emi Sakura split with Gatokunyan.-History:Ice Ribbon was founded by Emi Sakura, a professional wrestler who was active with IWA Japan and FMW in 1990s as Emi Motokawa...
- ICE×60 Championship (1 time)
- International Ribbon Tag Team Championship (2 times) – with Etsuko Mita (1) and Emi Sakura (1)