June 2, 2025 • 65 mins
The WrestleMagic team interviews legendary WWF women's wrestler Kyoko Inoue.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
All right, everyone, this episode of Wrestle Magic, we're having
another interview with one of these legendary a j W women.
This time we're talking to Miss in the Way. And
as we begin, ma'am, how are you doing and what
have you been up to lately?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I know, Ima, I know.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's even.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Okay, she's wrestling still, She's still a wrestler. She's wrestling
this bunch of matches still, and right now she's at
her own shop and it's kind of busy. Her shot
up his name a Kayu. It's very busy.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Now, oh wow. So what kind of shop is it?
Would you say it was a bar or a restaurant?
What kind is it?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
What's it gonna? No, my lounge?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But wan.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
There. So it's it's like a bar lounge.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It has it has drinks, alcoholic drinks, regular drinks, and
it also has some food, little dishes that they usually make.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Okay, cool, So a nice little place to be sounds
like a cool place. So is that over in Tokyo
or somewhere state side or.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Tokyo discas okay, So it's in it's in Tokyo. Yes.
The closest station is called musache Ikayama.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Station.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
It's in closing Shinagawa Meguro area. It's it's it's right
by the train station.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Okay. Cool, Very nice to see you've got a side
hustle for yourself and you're still wrestling after it's been
what like thirty years that you've been wrestling so far
man it.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Koko s.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Medics.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It's been thirty six years this year.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Wow, that's impressive, I must say, and uh, congratulations on
being able to have such a long lineage in the
wrestling business. But I also do want to ask, so
what does it take to be able to continue to
wrestle for that long?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
H Yeah? Snap, mine not range.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Need Okay. So really number one reason was she she
lost the timing of retiring, but really she was. She
(04:00):
used to be in the promotion a j W That's
that's where she started, and in a j W old
Japan Joshi Wrestling, twenty five year old was the the
n cut off line for a lot of wrestlers. That
age was you supposed to retire, but that they quit
(04:23):
that retirement age of twenty five. So she kept wrestling
for thirty six years that that she loved.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, that's incredible and I'm glad to see they were
able to still keep going and be healthy with it
and everything. That is incredible. I'm very impressed with that now.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So the mother no ke Sizani sanjo uk income.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Still in the schedule, it ni money.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Okay, so really actually, I've been having a lot of
injuries about like recently it's a little minor once, but
like two years ago, she she cut she injured.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Her Oh okay, you kill yes, both both legs.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Oh wow, that's that hurts.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
That was the big injury that she had two years ago.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Wow. I am
sorry that you've been dealing with that. But glad to
see that you're still in good spirits and you still
seem happy with where you're at.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I know.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The more the more this, I know make it a
(06:15):
lot of people saying the retirement retirement to her, but
she keep she could keep on wrestling, and she loves wrestling,
so she's gonna keep on doing whatever as long as
her body is allowing her to do.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hey, if it's what you love, you might as well continue.
And I don't blame you. Continue for as long as
you feel that you can. Honestly, if you think you
can go forever, do it till the end, if that's
truly what you love. I don't blame you at.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
All, Ada, I know I can't go there. Job. Thank you,
thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Okay, so let's get into the inner view portions. So
let's start at the beginning. So can we talk about
your childhood a little bit and what inspired you to
become a wrestler.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
And I know, but it is like listening show, so
they know the got to.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Tell you this since.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Once in Nanita, you know there that the the guy is.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
A lot of people do not believe her. But as
soon as she came out crying as a baby, like
she knew she wanted to be a wrestler. She already
made up her mind as soon as she came out
to this world. And she always wanted to be the strongest,
(08:20):
and she wanted to be rich, and she wanted to
be famous, and she thought the pro wrestling was what
she wanted to do to be that to get her
dream come true. And she always wanted to be the
strongest woman, the strongest wrestler in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I can definitely believe that. You know, sometimes you just
know what you wanted to be from a very early age,
so that's understandable. Something else that I also noticed about
I've been watching a few of your matches and getting
acquainted with a little bit of your career and seeing
your move set. I've seen a lot of You've done
a pretty good amount of high flying. I see a
(09:01):
lot of moves that require a lot of strength, so
I definitely believe you were definitely showing that you had
it in you, like slamming Bowlnakano a couple of times
so that it was impressive to me, and as well
as a lot of submission olds. So you definitely made
a balanced move set. But I could see what you
mean about showing that you were the strongest. I definitely
believe that.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So they were so.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Haring. She's very happy for that. You you, I guess
(09:54):
you knew all this stuff. Then you studied the study
her wrestling.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Oh absolutely, and uh, Honestly, the matches that I was watching,
I was very impressed with you, and I'm very glad
that I have this opportunity right now after seeing it
because a lot of the things that I saw in there,
I was thinking it potentially has inspired some of the
things that I saw in the early two thousands, sometimes
even with the men's wrestling, and it was better than
most of the women's wrestling I had seen up to
a certain point in my life. So I'm very glad
(10:23):
that I've gotten to experience some of your work. And
I'm very happy to have you here.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I know, but I know, meet it, I know, meet
it there, I know and dance I didn't think, buddy.
(10:54):
So she's very very happy with your comment.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I'm glad. So another question that I do want to
ask about, so what was your face paint that you
always were inspired by?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
No make so were.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
The s and mine thanking? Yeah with this, but that's
(11:46):
what baby Mamo to be America the pain and stated
not the skettle and then the crow skettle on the
(12:12):
guys there and Kai seven masters I know ia there
and a cruise and all the on there had paint
(12:35):
to hi Hi n you know pat nights.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Okay, So we actually in a j W there was
three nos like you couldn't do and that was no liquor,
no tobag gold cigarette, and no men. That was the
three rules they cannot do. And actually she broke one
(13:07):
of them and she had to either retire right then
and there or she had to go. She really wanted
to be a babyface, but she had to be the heel,
so she started to do the makeup. She said, okay,
I'll do the heel, but her favorite carlo was red,
(13:30):
so they had to ask. She had to ask miss
bull Nacano for the permission if she could use the
red because usually the heel they used black. So she
asked Bunakano if it was okay to use her favorite
color red, and then that's when it's all started. Like
(13:51):
if Bacano said no, this face painting would have never started.
It will never exist. It and the package that she
just showed, I'm sure the listener can see it. But
she sell this uh face mask, but it's for like
to glow your skin type of face mask. But her design,
(14:15):
her makeup design. You put the mask on and it
looked like you could be.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Face mask. That's what she sells at her bar.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, that's pretty cool. I like that a little bit
of marketing too. That's pretty cool. But so was there
any significance behind the design itself, like the ie mask
shape or was that just something that you just came
up with and liked.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I know, I know, Kyoko, I know no idea that.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Malanka.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
It's it's really just original.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
She she she made it up. That's her original. She
never really seen like painted wrestler, painted face wrestler before,
so that was her original design.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Okay. And I know that you had mentioned about the
color red. From what I saw, it looked like there
was either a green or a yellowish color that you
used to wear as well. Was that Was there any
significance to that or was that just something to throw
off the red?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
So it kind oh you know? Then?
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Oh wow, I'm very impressed Maverick, that you know about that,
because like a few a few times a year, she
does change the color because they have a tag league
and then whoever that she's with as a tag team,
she's trying to match the color with them.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So that's a different color that you're seeing.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
She's very impressed that you know about That's.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
What.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
But all right, so what influences or role models did
you have coming up in the business?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Indicated the more I know, do you know about you?
So do you put that down there to him?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Okay, Before she became a wrestler, she really didn't have
anybody who she was wanted to be, or who she
was the fan, or she wanted was looking up to.
She just wanted to be the strongest wrestler that's out there.
But once she became a wrestler, yes, she she felt
like wow, like it's very strong, very inspiring. But before
(17:34):
that she didn't really have anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I see, Well, sometimes you just become your own role model.
I guess that's one way to see it.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Therebun Jibundy know Ja So used to must.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Send saw you Okay, Yes, she.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
She always wanted to be somebody who she could inspire
somebody else as a wrestler.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Okay, that's a pretty cool way to look at it.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Uh So.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Moving on to the next question. So you had debuted
back in the late nineteen eighties, So what was the
training process like? And uh what was the debut process
like for.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
A A j A W.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I was about to say a w by accident.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Okay, Uh, Kyoko someone thank you. I need no debut,
so go there. I know, turining debut, what do you
can't do it?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But Jaga it did scuat.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Okay. So her trainer the when she became a wrestler
was a Jago Yokota, and back then it was so different.
It was it was so different from now. It was
squat one thousand times and set ups one thousand times
(19:28):
and stuff like that. Was that number was just crazy.
That was normal back then in a j W.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Okay, so they made sure you were in shape. That's impressive.
Was there a time limit for how long you had
to hit one thousand or was it just keep going
till you can do it?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Put it? Discuss at all?
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And so once the thousand is done, it goes the
next training. So whoever, that's slow. The training times get
longer and longer.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Interesting. Interesting. So did you feel like it was a
good thing to have or did you think that it
was overbearing and just not necessary.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I know, I know through.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
It whatever.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
More that.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I know.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Okay, So nowadays you have to take a water break,
you have to take some break when they're practicing and training.
But that time during the a j W, it was
like more like a spartan exercise that you have to
do it. They will let you know that, they will,
(21:36):
you know, make sure you have to do it. They
sometimes they get physical if you don't do it, and
that was normal for them. So she went through that
that time she was she wanted to just cry and
leave and they not want to do any of those training.
(21:56):
But if she thinks think about it now, that uh
it worked because she could take anything in that ring
right now because of that training that she had.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I see, so it really did build you up in
a way that it could not nobody could break you
at that point. I like that thought process that it
really did build you up.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
It's sanderstands. I think that was the biggest thing, like mentally,
especially physically of course, but mentally as it was, it
became really important for her.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
It became really strong from that training.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I see. So what do you remember most about your
early days in a j W?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So Nanny can share the madam, Yes there be in
(23:14):
this skettle Nanda mm hm, who can do?
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Share? You got and music? You got the musical, the
lokotos and I just canno coming like you can cake
and I too come okay. So you know the monakaka,
(23:47):
the yep, you know, the can I took you are
the sketle, I know even the kodak the we go
get I okay.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
So it's like she had to during the a j
W run. She had to have over three hundred matches
a year, so it's really was she if she had time,
she just enjoyed sleeping. The sleeping was the most time.
That that's all she remembered, the sleeping time. If she
(24:35):
has time for sleep, like even if it's like, uh,
she thought one time it was four o'clock. She thought
it was four a m. But it was four pm.
She was sleeping until when she didn't have match. And
even though she had to do certain things that she
had to do like cut her hair, go to you know, beauty,
beauty someone anything, she wouldn't she she had to do that,
(24:59):
but just sleep was the biggest thing. But the only
thing was during the match. Like when she was in
the Newcomer, they didn't really have matches, so that was
kind of tough for her because she could have had matches.
But when she became really good and start having a
(25:21):
lot of matches, even though it was more than three
hundred matches a year, she felt like it was fun
that how can I do this match? How can I
go against this opponent? That she it was fun planning
for that match.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Every time I see I see and you mentioning about
sleeping a lot. That kind of makes me think of
like how a teenager is after high school all the time.
So now it's making me question, So how old were
you when you made your debut and when you were
in training for ajw it.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
To Kukasawa on the Non Sign of Dooky debut, she Masakato.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Cut good.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
She was nineteen years old. She just graduated high school.
So she was nineteen.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Okay, okay, so pretty young but not like you know,
not like sixteen or anything like that. That's very cool
that you were able to get in there young, and
I'm glad to hear that you were always constantly thinking
about how can I do these different matches because you
can see a little bit of your style and your
philosophy in every match coming out in the storytelling that
you were able to portray. And I really appreciated the
(26:39):
work that you were able to put into it.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So no, ye, buddy, I know, but kyogo.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
This so no he I take a come get it
was there said the county. There are quite quite don't
(27:21):
don't you this neck? But so you but said yeah,
is gonna there my so yeah then okay some and
(27:42):
I know most but saying.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Okay, so they while they were well, she was having mads.
Certain opponents then not really get like show planned man
that she'll go this way, but the opponent wouldn't really
get into the same thing that she was thinking about.
But certain wrestlers that she had a match with, they
(28:13):
could go back and forth, back and forth, like if
she get to do some style, they do some other styles,
she'll do some other you know, she'd just keep on
going back and forth. And I think that's made her
feel like, oh, this is fun opponent, fun match, and
she feels like those matches are the one that fans
feel like it's one of those best bouts because she
(28:36):
could feel the other opponent like they really got into it,
really good matches.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
I see, I see. That's really cool that you were
able to bounce off each other's styles that way and
create a great match afterwards. That's really awesome that you
were able to figure out her feel that you could
really do that with some opponents that way. I don't
really like that you were receptive to bouncing back and
forth like that.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So they were, isn't it think?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
So you e E I did? Do you want.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
To?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
You must say, saying shoe Congo saying shoe, shoe, my
Kui said thistle, and.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So it's like she didn't have to It feels like
it was a conversation. They didn't have to conversate, but
it was felt like a conversation where they were doing
their each style and example, the most wrestlers that went
against like that was Manami, Toyota, Aja Kon, and for her,
(30:03):
those are like one of the best threes. Of course
there were other wrestlers, but that was the most the
best three wrestlers that she feels.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
She feels like that, I see, totally understandable and I
can agree with that. But one thing I do also
want to ask about is so I did want to
ask about this earlier, but it's just been in the
back of my head. So how was your relationship with
Jaguar Yakota and your training with her and everything.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Jaga san.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
M you got the disc about so quo not cotes not.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
More.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
We're gonna same bike so that more coutes.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
So you.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Know, I know she nice. The Mastasinami you see to
not as soon as I did. Yoka is my personal
Then the more you're takena I know, I know.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
You okay, So when she when Jago your Quota became
her trainer. It's it was because other people when she
was still retau when she when she became Koko trainer,
she just retired as a wrestler. She retired once, so
(32:01):
she wasn't a wrestler, so she was just a trainer.
But when she was like really wrestler. While she was
she didn't retire, everybody couldn't really say much because she's
a sempi. She has a higher authority in that world,
so she wasn't a sempi anymore. She became she's she
(32:25):
has retired, and she felt more motherly like. So there
was no they couldn't joke about anything to Sampie like
a higher person. But she they were able to joke
around or talk about certain thing that they were going through,
(32:46):
like personal stuff also, so she really felt like she
was more like a motherly figure.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Then, Okay, that's cool. I'm glad that you were able
to have that relationship with your trainer at that point
and not feel so on a or anything like that
with her. That's a really good that you were able
to have that relationship. I'm really glad for that. Okay,
So next question that I did want to ask about.
So I had read a little bit and I saw
(33:12):
a matter or two about the tag team that you
were in called double you know, and I wanted to
ask about. So did they just put you two together
because your guys' last names. Did they call in a
meeting like, hey, we're thinking about doing this, or did
they just put it together one day on a car
and say, yeah, this is your guys team name. Now,
this is who you're going to be.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
So I know, you know, you know, you know with
you know.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Music Hi. I think so, I think that the a
j W thought of in the beginning, it was like
because they both had that same last name.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Okay, did they think that you guys were related or
something or was that just coincidence? Uh?
Speaker 3 (34:06):
I know?
Speaker 2 (34:08):
No, H goes in in a way to you know my.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Hi, and the the that towlds you are, I know,
I know what you know and Antonio know because you
guys know course don't don't dremp gandastic to your car.
(34:42):
You know that ant and I know mass g John
my standing and that you know the Marquel.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
I know.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Okay, So back in the days in a j W,
they were like more like really honest about things, and
they used to be like, yeah, they did put together
because their last name is together. But she was called
the ugly you know a way, and the other one
missed tacago you know, it was called the pretty you
know way. So they called because if they both called
(35:35):
their name, you know, they both turn around, so they
had to call one ugly you know and the other
one in the pretty you know way. So it was
it was like that. But in the beginning, yes, they
were together tagged because of their last name was the same,
but it really their style and everything really got into
(35:58):
it like it matched each other there, so they really
became a good tag team.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
That's what I was about to bring up, actually was
I thought that your guys's move sets, from what I
had seen, complimented each other very well. And I thought
they were similar but not the same, and it worked
well that you guys really did work well together, and
I really appreciate watching. I believe it was YouTube versus
Bnami Toyota, and there was I don't remember the last
name of the other person. I want to say it
(36:24):
was yum Motto. I don't remember the last name.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Santo stuck up.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I know.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Three could I could happy and there then I discover no,
no there Iki very h's so big, but that was
moster Henzo steps then not skettle and something personal there
(37:16):
you know now you know market could I know three
caculdn no saying Wami was that that is your net?
That that mon because I know you could, I know
(37:38):
that you know very you could Diamond attack. You know
this the skettle and the tiny marcinize you Heno steps
and occuse you that's Diamond, that's ar taco to so
(38:00):
okay kicking you must start okay?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
So I she think you watched the show that they
with the Hagawa Toyota Manami versus. The story behind that
was they were ninety ninth champion and they just wanted
to be the hundredth champion, but you have to give
(38:30):
the belt back once to be the hundredths champion. They
cannot hold the belt to be hundreds champions, so they
decided to give the belt back so they knew they
were gonna win. The tag was so good that they
already had a confidence of winning, so they gave the
belt back and then they went against this tag and
then they became a hundredth champion.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Themselves.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Ah, okay, that's a that's really cool that you were
able to become the hundredth champion. That's interesting that you
had to give it back so that you could do that.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I didn't I.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Didn't ever think about anything like that, and I didn't
know that's what was going on either at the time.
But I just looked up the name. It was Toshio
Yamada was the name that I was looking for.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Oh ya, you know.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
So YouTube, Okay, should exactly remember.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Okay, that's fair. It's been a while, so I don't
blame you. But uh, all right, So moving on from there, So,
did you face any resistance as a woman entering the
wrestling business?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
No, Susan I discover does know.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I know? Oh so, she said, as a female wrestler,
it felt like because she was a female. Uh, female
has a softer body move so she could do like
(40:43):
a different style. And just because the women's wrestler when
they come in as an entrance with the music, it's
it's way more pizazz like, it's it's more costume, is
looking nice more than like a men's wrestler. So as
a woman's wrestler, she felt like there was so much
(41:05):
she could do than a men's wrestler.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
I see.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
Uh, there's only one men's wrestler that I will say
probably takes the cake on entrance and outfit being a
little bit more crazy, And that would be seth Rawlins.
If she's familiar with the things he's been doing.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
Oh uh, dance, w war, skedo, chagar sonjo.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
So oh.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Never yeah, because the entrance really make it, especially for
the pro wrestlers. She wanted to be make it like
a gorgeous, a beautiful. She wanted to make a good entrance,
(42:23):
so she did her own things. She did her own
style the entrance as a woman's wrestler.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
I see, I see, and uh. Something that I noticed
about uh, I think it was more in the early nineties.
It sounded like you had van Halen playing as your
entrance music. Was that accurate? And are you a fan
of van Halen?
Speaker 3 (42:43):
So cutue name so the new bank hitting national so
no fun on the yeah you too.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Well you know.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Stem this. She became a fan once she listened to it.
Somebody brought her.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
The music and actually she did not know who it was,
but once she heard that music in Japan, all the
fans knew once that music come on. It was with music.
So as soon as she heard the music, listen to
the music, Yes, she became a fan.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
I see, So what made you change you later on?
Then if I'm okay with if you're okay with me
asking that.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
I know and I just got she she had to
change it because of the copyright use and stuff like that.
(44:05):
She's not sure, but it okay.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
So back then, Fuji Television, a huge TV company, had
the A j W back, so it was them who
made a similar song to van Halen song. So I'm
sure it was that TV company that said it's a
copyright issue. So they made the song entrance music that
(44:49):
was really similar to that.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
Okay, that makes sense because I was going to say
it did still sound like a van Halen esque once
it was changed, just wasn't you know, it wasn't an
actual like song from them, but you could still tell
that it had some inspiration we could say from van Halen,
which if that's what you liked, I'm glad they were
able to stick with it for you and this.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Hi T.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Episode.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Hi Hi.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Okay. So you were part of some legendary matches in
the nineties. Do any of them stand out as meaningful
or challenging to you today.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
It's a cute you know, you know it's I'm not.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I know, do you show sing?
Speaker 3 (45:57):
I know? Want your mind? Is someone some accent plastics
the schedule and look know it's the moon. This is
only what you go, I'm saying. Someone see it took
(46:27):
over sent the most look the knacka that's you go
knocka look at it. I said, stop get scaling that
buddy Oka my look at it was another st.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
Okay so And during the nineties she had sixty minute matches,
sixty minute match draw matches, and she went against Manami
Toyota sixty minutes, lioniz Osca for sixty minutes, and she
believed another person was calaru Ito for sixty minutes. But
she was just so happy that she could wrestle the
(47:14):
favorite wrestling that she loved for sixty minutes in front
of the from the audience. So even though they couldn't
it was all draw matches, she was just so happy
that she was able to wrestle for sixty minutes in
front of the audience. And that was the most thing
that she remembered.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
Ah, that's really cool. I like that outlook that you
just really liked being able to wrestle for that long
in front of the crowd. If I may say so myself,
I really enjoyed watching some of your matches with Manami Toyota.
I thought they were very impressive. Both of your guys
move sets worked well together. And then my personal favorite
match that I saw though was Bowlnakano against you, because
(47:55):
seeing how she was hitting her leg drop on you
over and over and you just kept kicking out, it
felt inspirational for a second, like you just did not
want to quit, and I felt like that was the
story that you were giving off. And then when you
won finally, it was a nice moment. I really liked
watching it.
Speaker 2 (48:12):
I know, yeah Ti Manko and Ti Buddhist and Nan
and Nano okay I got the actually taking Koko Sanga
(48:35):
and shurely stand the skeeddo so there are in shok
there and story most going I know, right, you know
cuts to you so so they got suco ino sta.
Speaker 3 (48:57):
Only do you know Mata when his start must see
doing you only them what what the them? During the baron.
Speaker 2 (49:13):
There?
Speaker 1 (49:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Think you know you know Minnesota gid, but you know
most the stand the schedule, so the more and money
when the hotel are dated, theresetta know there I know
(49:39):
in the schedule more what the guy then okay, okay,
you can take so then you know the easy to
you know had mot instantly know what share this.
Speaker 2 (49:53):
M hm okay. So with Bono, yes, she was a
Bonano all that time during the bus uh during when
they had to move the the area to the next match,
she was always with her and she did moon salt
guilletine drop over and over again. And the respect was
(50:20):
to take the take all the style that they kick
each other, they put out each other, and that was
like a respect not to to take it in with
their body physically and just to win over Bonakano.
Speaker 3 (50:39):
That was like a.
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Most respectful way to tell her thank you, like appreciate,
appreciation and with the respect. So that's what it meant.
So she was really trying to win the match just
to show her respect to Boncano.
Speaker 1 (50:57):
See I see, and that's a it was a very
good match, which I will say. But moving on from that,
so I do want to ask about your time in
w w F a little bit. It seemed like you
had just a couple of matches there but you still
performed very well. The tag team match you were in
with Lundre Blaze, it felt like the spotlight really was
on you and it showed your abilities very well. But
(51:17):
I do want to ask you about how was your
experience coming over to w w F versus working in
a j W.
Speaker 2 (51:26):
W W suppose buddy my so no kicking kicking kicking h.
Speaker 3 (51:56):
Im not saying no, not that guy is there? Tony
and me your knee, we said, go can master see
and know.
Speaker 5 (52:15):
Just what.
Speaker 3 (52:20):
This? What that made you that? And does things?
Speaker 2 (52:26):
No?
Speaker 3 (52:26):
There made you gip it down this neck? That's Tuki
with the debutsuki and know it's joking. And my my guy,
I know we know personal and sty Toka and kip
it you know them and then stand there maybe look
(52:49):
and made you not not the schedule and let's go.
I know, I know that's not I don't know others
(53:15):
Adam the high like this.
Speaker 2 (53:25):
Okay, Medusa, it's high.
Speaker 4 (53:35):
Hoo this.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (53:43):
So Alandro Blaze was her name is Medusa?
Speaker 5 (53:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (53:50):
So actually when Medusa was out, she was like Kyoko
was like a newcomer. So she was she was like
attendant for Medusa in the beginning so when she had
a song out in Japan, she had a song Medusa
(54:13):
had a song out in Japanese, and they had to
put the costume. She used to zip up her zipper
in the back. She used to give her the microphone
get ready for her and stuff like that for the
song and stuff. And they used to call her adamo Chan.
That was Koko's nickname. Medusa used to call her that
(54:34):
because that was the character that she used to imitate.
So they start calling her adamo Chan. But the most
thing when WWF was the stage was so big that
she was she always was thinking about how can the
top floor all the way in the back the audience
(54:56):
could see her since it's a huge stadium that she
had to wrestle all the time. So that was the
only thing she always thought about, like about the audience
and the fans if they could see her.
Speaker 1 (55:11):
Okay, So what about some culture shocks coming to the US.
Did you see your experience anything that felt different than
what you were expecting or anything like that, just in
the US in general, not just performing.
Speaker 3 (55:23):
American I know, Sam, I know, I know, I know,
(55:57):
and trying to be Christmas Okay.
Speaker 2 (56:19):
So the she was kind of shocked because they had
doctor checked before the matches. The doctors make sure they
good to go with the match. That was different from Japan.
And they also said pro wrestler is a star, so
they cannot wear no sweats. They have to look nice
(56:39):
when they're entering even though they're entering the venue. They
wanted everybody to look nice to come in, not the
sweats and.
Speaker 3 (56:48):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (56:49):
And the most thing that she was shocked was like
they had a catering like a buffet, and she really
wanted to eat a lot of the different things, but
she already had, you know, she was having a match
that day. But she did eat eat some because because
that was like really different from Japan, they didn't have
(57:11):
all the catering and all the food that was ready
for the wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (57:16):
Okay, that's an interesting thing to look at when you're
going between different countries and seeing how they treat you.
But uh, all right, so coming down to the end here,
but so what do you hope your legacy on wrestling will.
Speaker 2 (57:30):
Be kokos and dishing juve?
Speaker 1 (57:35):
You know?
Speaker 3 (57:36):
Do you?
Speaker 2 (57:47):
No?
Speaker 3 (58:00):
There s not so not there that they have because
you send you so locause you like hiday me don
this get up and the more high text them the
gig and to you no no there and know its
like you know on the name thanka, don't gonna eat
(58:23):
them more. You know, I don't get up Nka that's
a night. So this called mik epping omal.
Speaker 6 (58:36):
The cart you see the car don'ts together but tosing
me now image day this your no no there thnka
se s I men.
Speaker 3 (58:50):
I saw you linka sos in there. It's the more
you ma and you look they musket about.
Speaker 2 (59:12):
Okay. So as a as a pro wrestler. Back in
the days when you had to be a wrestler, there
was certain rule that you had to be one hundred
and sixty centimeters that's about five foot three or something
like that. But with the sixty kilograms that's about one
(59:35):
hundred and thirty pounds or something. You have to have
more than that. And that was like a minimum they
got they had to have. This was a rule that
you have to have that physic physical But she always
wanted to be the image as a pro wrestler. If
somebody's watching her, she will order more rice, She'll order
(01:00:01):
another dish, just to show that wrestler's image is big
and super it's extra, it's different, like they want. She
always wanted to show her that she's a professional like that.
And the image is like, even though it's raining, she
wouldn't put the umbrella up. She'll walk in the rain
(01:00:23):
without the umbrella. It's just an image. But she's fifty
six year olds now and she always want people to
see her as a pro wrestler, is strong and it's
like a hero.
Speaker 3 (01:00:37):
That's what she wants portray as a kilcoy.
Speaker 1 (01:00:42):
I see, I see.
Speaker 4 (01:00:43):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (01:00:43):
You always want to be that side of you, that
wrestling persona that you have created. But all right, so
we are getting towards the end here, So I do
want to ask you, ma'am, as we always ask at
the end of Wrestle Magic, do you have any kind
of recommendation for the audience? Could be a movie, TV show, restaurant,
video games, poems, Catherine's dog greats, doesn't really matter. It
just something that you like.
Speaker 2 (01:01:04):
Now it's a psyg I know you must singer, must
she must when you come to Japan, please come to
(01:01:24):
my bar a kayu past And she's selling the face mask.
Like earlier, I told you, it's like you could become Kyoko.
Maybe Marick, you could take a picture of that, maybe
put it up on the website or something anything. But
(01:01:47):
she sells that, so you could be Kyoko you know where.
Also everybody could be Kyoko you know where? And her
I think it's posted on her Instagram also, And this
bar is in Musashi Koyama. It's in Tokyo. The closest
station is Musashi Koyama. You get out the exit, you
keep walking to the big main street and you see
her big face on the on the building. You you
(01:02:10):
cannot miss it.
Speaker 1 (01:02:12):
Okay, that's that's pretty awesome that you've got your own
mural on the building and everything. But so if fans
wanted to reach out to you, how would they do?
Speaker 2 (01:02:22):
So? And jojok okay, So she does the ex the
twitter at the Onama on Twitter handle. Excellent.
Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
I thought that.
Speaker 2 (01:02:52):
She'll send you the the ex handle. She can't. She
don't have it in hand. She don't really remember right
in hand right now. But she do also have an Instagram,
but X she do keep putting up the new things.
Speaker 1 (01:03:07):
So okay, no problem, I'll go ahead and I'll tag
it once this is posted and everything. Uh so Keino
do you have a recommendation for this week as well.
Speaker 3 (01:03:18):
Okay, I forget about that.
Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Okay, do you know that?
Speaker 3 (01:03:22):
Did I say that the wrestling movie.
Speaker 1 (01:03:27):
That's the ring I think you did before?
Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
Okay, oh gosh, I don't. Okay, So i'll you know
what I'm gonna recommend she since she came out with
the restaurant, I'm gonna recommend a restaurant. There's another restaurant
around Koko's. If you go to Kioko's Bar, there's another
restaurant who another wrestler is running and her name is
(01:03:50):
Kyle Rukage and restaurant name is mesh Quite. So just
just you could google Meshi Kuite and there's a a
really fresh everything meat fish if you come to Japan Tokyo,
I recommend going there, and then you could go to
(01:04:11):
Kilko's Bar after that.
Speaker 1 (01:04:15):
Sounds amazing, But uh, all right, so my recommendation for
this week, I'm gonna say an old video game that
I haven't played in a while but I'm thinking about
getting back into. It's called Braid. It it's kind of
like a Super Mario, has a very dark story behind it.
But enough about that. So you guys know how I
usually end the show do something nice for somebody you
never know who needs it out there. And miss Kilko
(01:04:38):
I thank you very much for being on the show.
It it's been an honor to have you and with
that we're out.
Speaker 4 (01:04:48):
Thanks for listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss
a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for
all of these shows add free head over to Patreon
dot com slash WWE podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:05:07):
Until then, we'll see you next time.
All right, everyone, this episode of Wrestle Magic, we're having
another interview with one of these legendary a j W women.
This time we're talking to Miss in the Way. And
as we begin, ma'am, how are you doing and what
have you been up to lately?
Speaker 2 (00:31):
I know, Ima, I know.
Speaker 3 (00:40):
It's even.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Okay, she's wrestling still, She's still a wrestler. She's wrestling
this bunch of matches still, and right now she's at
her own shop and it's kind of busy. Her shot
up his name a Kayu. It's very busy.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Now, oh wow. So what kind of shop is it?
Would you say it was a bar or a restaurant?
What kind is it?
Speaker 3 (01:12):
What's it gonna? No, my lounge?
Speaker 2 (01:33):
But wan.
Speaker 3 (01:40):
There. So it's it's like a bar lounge.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
It has it has drinks, alcoholic drinks, regular drinks, and
it also has some food, little dishes that they usually make.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
Okay, cool, So a nice little place to be sounds
like a cool place. So is that over in Tokyo
or somewhere state side or.
Speaker 2 (02:06):
Tokyo discas okay, So it's in it's in Tokyo. Yes.
The closest station is called musache Ikayama.
Speaker 3 (02:22):
Station.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
It's in closing Shinagawa Meguro area. It's it's it's right
by the train station.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
Okay. Cool, Very nice to see you've got a side
hustle for yourself and you're still wrestling after it's been
what like thirty years that you've been wrestling so far
man it.
Speaker 2 (02:43):
Koko s.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
Medics.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
It's been thirty six years this year.
Speaker 1 (02:54):
Wow, that's impressive, I must say, and uh, congratulations on
being able to have such a long lineage in the
wrestling business. But I also do want to ask, so
what does it take to be able to continue to
wrestle for that long?
Speaker 3 (03:08):
H Yeah? Snap, mine not range.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Need Okay. So really number one reason was she she
lost the timing of retiring, but really she was. She
(04:00):
used to be in the promotion a j W That's
that's where she started, and in a j W old
Japan Joshi Wrestling, twenty five year old was the the
n cut off line for a lot of wrestlers. That
age was you supposed to retire, but that they quit
(04:23):
that retirement age of twenty five. So she kept wrestling
for thirty six years that that she loved.
Speaker 1 (04:32):
Wow, that's incredible and I'm glad to see they were
able to still keep going and be healthy with it
and everything. That is incredible. I'm very impressed with that now.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
So the mother no ke Sizani sanjo uk income.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Still in the schedule, it ni money.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Okay, so really actually, I've been having a lot of
injuries about like recently it's a little minor once, but
like two years ago, she she cut she injured.
Speaker 3 (05:25):
Her Oh okay, you kill yes, both both legs.
Speaker 1 (05:34):
Oh wow, that's that hurts.
Speaker 2 (05:38):
That was the big injury that she had two years ago.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that. Wow. I am
sorry that you've been dealing with that. But glad to
see that you're still in good spirits and you still
seem happy with where you're at.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
I know.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
The more the more this, I know make it a
(06:15):
lot of people saying the retirement retirement to her, but
she keep she could keep on wrestling, and she loves wrestling,
so she's gonna keep on doing whatever as long as
her body is allowing her to do.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
Hey, if it's what you love, you might as well continue.
And I don't blame you. Continue for as long as
you feel that you can. Honestly, if you think you
can go forever, do it till the end, if that's
truly what you love. I don't blame you at.
Speaker 2 (06:41):
All, Ada, I know I can't go there. Job. Thank you,
thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Okay, so let's get into the inner view portions. So
let's start at the beginning. So can we talk about
your childhood a little bit and what inspired you to
become a wrestler.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
And I know, but it is like listening show, so
they know the got to.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
Tell you this since.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know.
Speaker 3 (07:42):
Once in Nanita, you know there that the the guy is.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
A lot of people do not believe her. But as
soon as she came out crying as a baby, like
she knew she wanted to be a wrestler. She already
made up her mind as soon as she came out
to this world. And she always wanted to be the strongest,
(08:20):
and she wanted to be rich, and she wanted to
be famous, and she thought the pro wrestling was what
she wanted to do to be that to get her
dream come true. And she always wanted to be the
strongest woman, the strongest wrestler in the world.
Speaker 1 (08:41):
I can definitely believe that. You know, sometimes you just
know what you wanted to be from a very early age,
so that's understandable. Something else that I also noticed about
I've been watching a few of your matches and getting
acquainted with a little bit of your career and seeing
your move set. I've seen a lot of You've done
a pretty good amount of high flying. I see a
(09:01):
lot of moves that require a lot of strength, so
I definitely believe you were definitely showing that you had
it in you, like slamming Bowlnakano a couple of times
so that it was impressive to me, and as well
as a lot of submission olds. So you definitely made
a balanced move set. But I could see what you
mean about showing that you were the strongest. I definitely
believe that.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
So they were so.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Haring. She's very happy for that. You you, I guess
(09:54):
you knew all this stuff. Then you studied the study
her wrestling.
Speaker 1 (10:00):
Oh absolutely, and uh, Honestly, the matches that I was watching,
I was very impressed with you, and I'm very glad
that I have this opportunity right now after seeing it
because a lot of the things that I saw in there,
I was thinking it potentially has inspired some of the
things that I saw in the early two thousands, sometimes
even with the men's wrestling, and it was better than
most of the women's wrestling I had seen up to
a certain point in my life. So I'm very glad
(10:23):
that I've gotten to experience some of your work. And
I'm very happy to have you here.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I know, but I know, meet it, I know, meet
it there, I know and dance I didn't think, buddy.
(10:54):
So she's very very happy with your comment.
Speaker 1 (11:09):
I'm glad. So another question that I do want to
ask about, so what was your face paint that you
always were inspired by?
Speaker 2 (11:19):
No make so were.
Speaker 3 (11:26):
The s and mine thanking? Yeah with this, but that's
(11:46):
what baby Mamo to be America the pain and stated
not the skettle and then the crow skettle on the
(12:12):
guys there and Kai seven masters I know ia there
and a cruise and all the on there had paint
(12:35):
to hi Hi n you know pat nights.
Speaker 2 (12:45):
Okay, So we actually in a j W there was
three nos like you couldn't do and that was no liquor,
no tobag gold cigarette, and no men. That was the
three rules they cannot do. And actually she broke one
(13:07):
of them and she had to either retire right then
and there or she had to go. She really wanted
to be a babyface, but she had to be the heel,
so she started to do the makeup. She said, okay,
I'll do the heel, but her favorite carlo was red,
(13:30):
so they had to ask. She had to ask miss
bull Nacano for the permission if she could use the
red because usually the heel they used black. So she
asked Bunakano if it was okay to use her favorite
color red, and then that's when it's all started. Like
(13:51):
if Bacano said no, this face painting would have never started.
It will never exist. It and the package that she
just showed, I'm sure the listener can see it. But
she sell this uh face mask, but it's for like
to glow your skin type of face mask. But her design,
(14:15):
her makeup design. You put the mask on and it
looked like you could be.
Speaker 3 (14:21):
Face mask. That's what she sells at her bar.
Speaker 1 (14:24):
Okay, that's pretty cool. I like that a little bit
of marketing too. That's pretty cool. But so was there
any significance behind the design itself, like the ie mask
shape or was that just something that you just came
up with and liked.
Speaker 3 (14:38):
I know, I know, Kyoko, I know no idea that.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Malanka.
Speaker 5 (14:50):
It's it's really just original.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
She she she made it up. That's her original. She
never really seen like painted wrestler, painted face wrestler before,
so that was her original design.
Speaker 1 (15:14):
Okay. And I know that you had mentioned about the
color red. From what I saw, it looked like there
was either a green or a yellowish color that you
used to wear as well. Was that Was there any
significance to that or was that just something to throw
off the red?
Speaker 3 (15:28):
So it kind oh you know? Then?
Speaker 2 (15:52):
Oh wow, I'm very impressed Maverick, that you know about that,
because like a few a few times a year, she
does change the color because they have a tag league
and then whoever that she's with as a tag team,
she's trying to match the color with them.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
So that's a different color that you're seeing.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
She's very impressed that you know about That's.
Speaker 3 (16:23):
What.
Speaker 2 (16:24):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
But all right, so what influences or role models did
you have coming up in the business?
Speaker 3 (16:40):
Indicated the more I know, do you know about you?
So do you put that down there to him?
Speaker 2 (17:09):
Okay, Before she became a wrestler, she really didn't have
anybody who she was wanted to be, or who she
was the fan, or she wanted was looking up to.
She just wanted to be the strongest wrestler that's out there.
But once she became a wrestler, yes, she she felt
like wow, like it's very strong, very inspiring. But before
(17:34):
that she didn't really have anybody.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
I see, Well, sometimes you just become your own role model.
I guess that's one way to see it.
Speaker 2 (17:47):
Therebun Jibundy know Ja So used to must.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
Send saw you Okay, Yes, she.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
She always wanted to be somebody who she could inspire
somebody else as a wrestler.
Speaker 1 (18:13):
Okay, that's a pretty cool way to look at it.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
Uh So.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
Moving on to the next question. So you had debuted
back in the late nineteen eighties, So what was the
training process like? And uh what was the debut process
like for.
Speaker 3 (18:26):
A A j A W.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
I was about to say a w by accident.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
Okay, Uh, Kyoko someone thank you. I need no debut,
so go there. I know, turining debut, what do you
can't do it?
Speaker 3 (18:46):
But Jaga it did scuat.
Speaker 2 (19:08):
Okay. So her trainer the when she became a wrestler
was a Jago Yokota, and back then it was so different.
It was it was so different from now. It was
squat one thousand times and set ups one thousand times
(19:28):
and stuff like that. Was that number was just crazy.
That was normal back then in a j W.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Okay, so they made sure you were in shape. That's impressive.
Was there a time limit for how long you had
to hit one thousand or was it just keep going
till you can do it?
Speaker 3 (19:43):
Put it? Discuss at all?
Speaker 2 (19:56):
And so once the thousand is done, it goes the
next training. So whoever, that's slow. The training times get
longer and longer.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
Mm hmm.
Speaker 1 (20:09):
Interesting. Interesting. So did you feel like it was a
good thing to have or did you think that it
was overbearing and just not necessary.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
I know, I know through.
Speaker 3 (20:33):
It whatever.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
More that.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
I know.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Okay, So nowadays you have to take a water break,
you have to take some break when they're practicing and training.
But that time during the a j W, it was
like more like a spartan exercise that you have to
do it. They will let you know that, they will,
(21:36):
you know, make sure you have to do it. They
sometimes they get physical if you don't do it, and
that was normal for them. So she went through that
that time she was she wanted to just cry and
leave and they not want to do any of those training.
(21:56):
But if she thinks think about it now, that uh
it worked because she could take anything in that ring
right now because of that training that she had.
Speaker 1 (22:09):
I see, so it really did build you up in
a way that it could not nobody could break you
at that point. I like that thought process that it
really did build you up.
Speaker 2 (22:19):
It's sanderstands. I think that was the biggest thing, like mentally,
especially physically of course, but mentally as it was, it
became really important for her.
Speaker 3 (22:37):
It became really strong from that training.
Speaker 1 (22:40):
I see. So what do you remember most about your
early days in a j W?
Speaker 3 (22:54):
So Nanny can share the madam, Yes there be in
(23:14):
this skettle Nanda mm hm, who can do?
Speaker 2 (23:23):
Yes?
Speaker 3 (23:26):
Share? You got and music? You got the musical, the
lokotos and I just canno coming like you can cake
and I too come okay. So you know the monakaka,
(23:47):
the yep, you know, the can I took you are
the sketle, I know even the kodak the we go
get I okay.
Speaker 2 (24:14):
So it's like she had to during the a j
W run. She had to have over three hundred matches
a year, so it's really was she if she had time,
she just enjoyed sleeping. The sleeping was the most time.
That that's all she remembered, the sleeping time. If she
(24:35):
has time for sleep, like even if it's like, uh,
she thought one time it was four o'clock. She thought
it was four a m. But it was four pm.
She was sleeping until when she didn't have match. And
even though she had to do certain things that she
had to do like cut her hair, go to you know, beauty,
beauty someone anything, she wouldn't she she had to do that,
(24:59):
but just sleep was the biggest thing. But the only
thing was during the match. Like when she was in
the Newcomer, they didn't really have matches, so that was
kind of tough for her because she could have had matches.
But when she became really good and start having a
(25:21):
lot of matches, even though it was more than three
hundred matches a year, she felt like it was fun
that how can I do this match? How can I
go against this opponent? That she it was fun planning
for that match.
Speaker 1 (25:39):
Every time I see I see and you mentioning about
sleeping a lot. That kind of makes me think of
like how a teenager is after high school all the time.
So now it's making me question, So how old were
you when you made your debut and when you were
in training for ajw it.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
To Kukasawa on the Non Sign of Dooky debut, she Masakato.
Speaker 3 (26:04):
Cut good.
Speaker 2 (26:11):
She was nineteen years old. She just graduated high school.
So she was nineteen.
Speaker 1 (26:18):
Okay, okay, so pretty young but not like you know,
not like sixteen or anything like that. That's very cool
that you were able to get in there young, and
I'm glad to hear that you were always constantly thinking
about how can I do these different matches because you
can see a little bit of your style and your
philosophy in every match coming out in the storytelling that
you were able to portray. And I really appreciated the
(26:39):
work that you were able to put into it.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So no, ye, buddy, I know, but kyogo.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
This so no he I take a come get it
was there said the county. There are quite quite don't
(27:21):
don't you this neck? But so you but said yeah,
is gonna there my so yeah then okay some and
(27:42):
I know most but saying.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Okay, so they while they were well, she was having mads.
Certain opponents then not really get like show planned man
that she'll go this way, but the opponent wouldn't really
get into the same thing that she was thinking about.
But certain wrestlers that she had a match with, they
(28:13):
could go back and forth, back and forth, like if
she get to do some style, they do some other styles,
she'll do some other you know, she'd just keep on
going back and forth. And I think that's made her
feel like, oh, this is fun opponent, fun match, and
she feels like those matches are the one that fans
feel like it's one of those best bouts because she
(28:36):
could feel the other opponent like they really got into it,
really good matches.
Speaker 1 (28:44):
I see, I see. That's really cool that you were
able to bounce off each other's styles that way and
create a great match afterwards. That's really awesome that you
were able to figure out her feel that you could
really do that with some opponents that way. I don't
really like that you were receptive to bouncing back and
forth like that.
Speaker 2 (29:02):
So they were, isn't it think?
Speaker 3 (29:09):
So you e E I did? Do you want.
Speaker 2 (29:14):
To?
Speaker 3 (29:20):
You must say, saying shoe Congo saying shoe, shoe, my
Kui said thistle, and.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
So it's like she didn't have to It feels like
it was a conversation. They didn't have to conversate, but
it was felt like a conversation where they were doing
their each style and example, the most wrestlers that went
against like that was Manami, Toyota, Aja Kon, and for her,
(30:03):
those are like one of the best threes. Of course
there were other wrestlers, but that was the most the
best three wrestlers that she feels.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
She feels like that, I see, totally understandable and I
can agree with that. But one thing I do also
want to ask about is so I did want to
ask about this earlier, but it's just been in the
back of my head. So how was your relationship with
Jaguar Yakota and your training with her and everything.
Speaker 2 (30:35):
Jaga san.
Speaker 3 (30:38):
M you got the disc about so quo not cotes not.
Speaker 2 (31:02):
More.
Speaker 3 (31:05):
We're gonna same bike so that more coutes.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
So you.
Speaker 3 (31:14):
Know, I know she nice. The Mastasinami you see to
not as soon as I did. Yoka is my personal
Then the more you're takena I know, I know.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
You okay, So when she when Jago your Quota became
her trainer. It's it was because other people when she
was still retau when she when she became Koko trainer,
she just retired as a wrestler. She retired once, so
(32:01):
she wasn't a wrestler, so she was just a trainer.
But when she was like really wrestler. While she was
she didn't retire, everybody couldn't really say much because she's
a sempi. She has a higher authority in that world,
so she wasn't a sempi anymore. She became she's she
(32:25):
has retired, and she felt more motherly like. So there
was no they couldn't joke about anything to Sampie like
a higher person. But she they were able to joke
around or talk about certain thing that they were going through,
(32:46):
like personal stuff also, so she really felt like she
was more like a motherly figure.
Speaker 1 (32:51):
Then, Okay, that's cool. I'm glad that you were able
to have that relationship with your trainer at that point
and not feel so on a or anything like that
with her. That's a really good that you were able
to have that relationship. I'm really glad for that. Okay,
So next question that I did want to ask about.
So I had read a little bit and I saw
(33:12):
a matter or two about the tag team that you
were in called double you know, and I wanted to
ask about. So did they just put you two together
because your guys' last names. Did they call in a
meeting like, hey, we're thinking about doing this, or did
they just put it together one day on a car
and say, yeah, this is your guys team name. Now,
this is who you're going to be.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
So I know, you know, you know, you know with
you know.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Music Hi. I think so, I think that the a
j W thought of in the beginning, it was like
because they both had that same last name.
Speaker 1 (34:00):
Okay, did they think that you guys were related or
something or was that just coincidence? Uh?
Speaker 3 (34:06):
I know?
Speaker 2 (34:08):
No, H goes in in a way to you know my.
Speaker 3 (34:17):
Hi, and the the that towlds you are, I know,
I know what you know and Antonio know because you
guys know course don't don't dremp gandastic to your car.
(34:42):
You know that ant and I know mass g John
my standing and that you know the Marquel.
Speaker 2 (35:00):
I know.
Speaker 3 (35:07):
Hi.
Speaker 2 (35:12):
Okay, So back in the days in a j W,
they were like more like really honest about things, and
they used to be like, yeah, they did put together
because their last name is together. But she was called
the ugly you know a way, and the other one
missed tacago you know, it was called the pretty you
know way. So they called because if they both called
(35:35):
their name, you know, they both turn around, so they
had to call one ugly you know and the other
one in the pretty you know way. So it was
it was like that. But in the beginning, yes, they
were together tagged because of their last name was the same,
but it really their style and everything really got into
(35:58):
it like it matched each other there, so they really
became a good tag team.
Speaker 1 (36:03):
That's what I was about to bring up, actually was
I thought that your guys's move sets, from what I
had seen, complimented each other very well. And I thought
they were similar but not the same, and it worked
well that you guys really did work well together, and
I really appreciate watching. I believe it was YouTube versus
Bnami Toyota, and there was I don't remember the last
name of the other person. I want to say it
(36:24):
was yum Motto. I don't remember the last name.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Santo stuck up.
Speaker 1 (36:42):
I know.
Speaker 3 (36:51):
Three could I could happy and there then I discover no,
no there Iki very h's so big, but that was
moster Henzo steps then not skettle and something personal there
(37:16):
you know now you know market could I know three
caculdn no saying Wami was that that is your net?
That that mon because I know you could, I know
(37:38):
that you know very you could Diamond attack. You know
this the skettle and the tiny marcinize you Heno steps
and occuse you that's Diamond, that's ar taco to so
(38:00):
okay kicking you must start okay?
Speaker 2 (38:06):
So I she think you watched the show that they
with the Hagawa Toyota Manami versus. The story behind that
was they were ninety ninth champion and they just wanted
to be the hundredth champion, but you have to give
(38:30):
the belt back once to be the hundredths champion. They
cannot hold the belt to be hundreds champions, so they
decided to give the belt back so they knew they
were gonna win. The tag was so good that they
already had a confidence of winning, so they gave the
belt back and then they went against this tag and
then they became a hundredth champion.
Speaker 3 (38:53):
Themselves.
Speaker 1 (38:55):
Ah, okay, that's a that's really cool that you were
able to become the hundredth champion. That's interesting that you
had to give it back so that you could do that.
Speaker 2 (39:01):
I didn't I.
Speaker 1 (39:02):
Didn't ever think about anything like that, and I didn't
know that's what was going on either at the time.
But I just looked up the name. It was Toshio
Yamada was the name that I was looking for.
Speaker 2 (39:12):
Oh ya, you know.
Speaker 3 (39:21):
So YouTube, Okay, should exactly remember.
Speaker 1 (39:32):
Okay, that's fair. It's been a while, so I don't
blame you. But uh, all right, So moving on from there, So,
did you face any resistance as a woman entering the
wrestling business?
Speaker 3 (40:04):
No, Susan I discover does know.
Speaker 2 (40:20):
I know? Oh so, she said, as a female wrestler,
it felt like because she was a female. Uh, female
has a softer body move so she could do like
(40:43):
a different style. And just because the women's wrestler when
they come in as an entrance with the music, it's
it's way more pizazz like, it's it's more costume, is
looking nice more than like a men's wrestler. So as
a woman's wrestler, she felt like there was so much
(41:05):
she could do than a men's wrestler.
Speaker 3 (41:09):
I see.
Speaker 1 (41:10):
Uh, there's only one men's wrestler that I will say
probably takes the cake on entrance and outfit being a
little bit more crazy, And that would be seth Rawlins.
If she's familiar with the things he's been doing.
Speaker 2 (41:23):
Oh uh, dance, w war, skedo, chagar sonjo.
Speaker 3 (41:42):
So oh.
Speaker 2 (42:00):
Never yeah, because the entrance really make it, especially for
the pro wrestlers. She wanted to be make it like
a gorgeous, a beautiful. She wanted to make a good entrance,
(42:23):
so she did her own things. She did her own
style the entrance as a woman's wrestler.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
I see, I see, and uh. Something that I noticed
about uh, I think it was more in the early nineties.
It sounded like you had van Halen playing as your
entrance music. Was that accurate? And are you a fan
of van Halen?
Speaker 3 (42:43):
So cutue name so the new bank hitting national so
no fun on the yeah you too.
Speaker 2 (43:06):
Well you know.
Speaker 3 (43:09):
Stem this. She became a fan once she listened to it.
Somebody brought her.
Speaker 2 (43:18):
The music and actually she did not know who it was,
but once she heard that music in Japan, all the
fans knew once that music come on. It was with music.
So as soon as she heard the music, listen to
the music, Yes, she became a fan.
Speaker 1 (43:35):
I see, So what made you change you later on?
Then if I'm okay with if you're okay with me
asking that.
Speaker 3 (43:42):
I know and I just got she she had to
change it because of the copyright use and stuff like that.
(44:05):
She's not sure, but it okay.
Speaker 2 (44:26):
So back then, Fuji Television, a huge TV company, had
the A j W back, so it was them who
made a similar song to van Halen song. So I'm
sure it was that TV company that said it's a
copyright issue. So they made the song entrance music that
(44:49):
was really similar to that.
Speaker 1 (44:52):
Okay, that makes sense because I was going to say
it did still sound like a van Halen esque once
it was changed, just wasn't you know, it wasn't an
actual like song from them, but you could still tell
that it had some inspiration we could say from van Halen,
which if that's what you liked, I'm glad they were
able to stick with it for you and this.
Speaker 3 (45:18):
Hi T.
Speaker 2 (45:26):
Episode.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
Hi Hi.
Speaker 1 (45:30):
Okay. So you were part of some legendary matches in
the nineties. Do any of them stand out as meaningful
or challenging to you today.
Speaker 3 (45:39):
It's a cute you know, you know it's I'm not.
Speaker 2 (45:46):
I know, do you show sing?
Speaker 3 (45:57):
I know? Want your mind? Is someone some accent plastics
the schedule and look know it's the moon. This is
only what you go, I'm saying. Someone see it took
(46:27):
over sent the most look the knacka that's you go
knocka look at it. I said, stop get scaling that
buddy Oka my look at it was another st.
Speaker 2 (46:51):
Okay so And during the nineties she had sixty minute matches,
sixty minute match draw matches, and she went against Manami
Toyota sixty minutes, lioniz Osca for sixty minutes, and she
believed another person was calaru Ito for sixty minutes. But
she was just so happy that she could wrestle the
(47:14):
favorite wrestling that she loved for sixty minutes in front
of the from the audience. So even though they couldn't
it was all draw matches, she was just so happy
that she was able to wrestle for sixty minutes in
front of the audience. And that was the most thing
that she remembered.
Speaker 1 (47:33):
Ah, that's really cool. I like that outlook that you
just really liked being able to wrestle for that long
in front of the crowd. If I may say so myself,
I really enjoyed watching some of your matches with Manami Toyota.
I thought they were very impressive. Both of your guys
move sets worked well together. And then my personal favorite
match that I saw though was Bowlnakano against you, because
(47:55):
seeing how she was hitting her leg drop on you
over and over and you just kept kicking out, it
felt inspirational for a second, like you just did not
want to quit, and I felt like that was the
story that you were giving off. And then when you
won finally, it was a nice moment. I really liked
watching it.
Speaker 2 (48:12):
I know, yeah Ti Manko and Ti Buddhist and Nan
and Nano okay I got the actually taking Koko Sanga
(48:35):
and shurely stand the skeeddo so there are in shok
there and story most going I know, right, you know
cuts to you so so they got suco ino sta.
Speaker 3 (48:57):
Only do you know Mata when his start must see
doing you only them what what the them? During the baron.
Speaker 2 (49:13):
There?
Speaker 1 (49:15):
I know.
Speaker 3 (49:18):
Think you know you know Minnesota gid, but you know
most the stand the schedule, so the more and money
when the hotel are dated, theresetta know there I know
(49:39):
in the schedule more what the guy then okay, okay,
you can take so then you know the easy to
you know had mot instantly know what share this.
Speaker 2 (49:53):
M hm okay. So with Bono, yes, she was a
Bonano all that time during the bus uh during when
they had to move the the area to the next match,
she was always with her and she did moon salt
guilletine drop over and over again. And the respect was
(50:20):
to take the take all the style that they kick
each other, they put out each other, and that was
like a respect not to to take it in with
their body physically and just to win over Bonakano.
Speaker 3 (50:39):
That was like a.
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Most respectful way to tell her thank you, like appreciate,
appreciation and with the respect. So that's what it meant.
So she was really trying to win the match just
to show her respect to Boncano.
Speaker 1 (50:57):
See I see, and that's a it was a very
good match, which I will say. But moving on from that,
so I do want to ask about your time in
w w F a little bit. It seemed like you
had just a couple of matches there but you still
performed very well. The tag team match you were in
with Lundre Blaze, it felt like the spotlight really was
on you and it showed your abilities very well. But
(51:17):
I do want to ask you about how was your
experience coming over to w w F versus working in
a j W.
Speaker 2 (51:26):
W W suppose buddy my so no kicking kicking kicking h.
Speaker 3 (51:56):
Im not saying no, not that guy is there? Tony
and me your knee, we said, go can master see
and know.
Speaker 5 (52:15):
Just what.
Speaker 3 (52:20):
This? What that made you that? And does things?
Speaker 2 (52:26):
No?
Speaker 3 (52:26):
There made you gip it down this neck? That's Tuki
with the debutsuki and know it's joking. And my my guy,
I know we know personal and sty Toka and kip
it you know them and then stand there maybe look
(52:49):
and made you not not the schedule and let's go.
I know, I know that's not I don't know others
(53:15):
Adam the high like this.
Speaker 2 (53:25):
Okay, Medusa, it's high.
Speaker 4 (53:35):
Hoo this.
Speaker 2 (53:43):
Okay?
Speaker 3 (53:43):
So Alandro Blaze was her name is Medusa?
Speaker 5 (53:48):
Right?
Speaker 2 (53:50):
So actually when Medusa was out, she was like Kyoko
was like a newcomer. So she was she was like
attendant for Medusa in the beginning so when she had
a song out in Japan, she had a song Medusa
(54:13):
had a song out in Japanese, and they had to
put the costume. She used to zip up her zipper
in the back. She used to give her the microphone
get ready for her and stuff like that for the
song and stuff. And they used to call her adamo Chan.
That was Koko's nickname. Medusa used to call her that
(54:34):
because that was the character that she used to imitate.
So they start calling her adamo Chan. But the most
thing when WWF was the stage was so big that
she was she always was thinking about how can the
top floor all the way in the back the audience
(54:56):
could see her since it's a huge stadium that she
had to wrestle all the time. So that was the
only thing she always thought about, like about the audience
and the fans if they could see her.
Speaker 1 (55:11):
Okay, So what about some culture shocks coming to the US.
Did you see your experience anything that felt different than
what you were expecting or anything like that, just in
the US in general, not just performing.
Speaker 3 (55:23):
American I know, Sam, I know, I know, I know,
(55:57):
and trying to be Christmas Okay.
Speaker 2 (56:19):
So the she was kind of shocked because they had
doctor checked before the matches. The doctors make sure they
good to go with the match. That was different from Japan.
And they also said pro wrestler is a star, so
they cannot wear no sweats. They have to look nice
(56:39):
when they're entering even though they're entering the venue. They
wanted everybody to look nice to come in, not the
sweats and.
Speaker 3 (56:48):
Stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (56:49):
And the most thing that she was shocked was like
they had a catering like a buffet, and she really
wanted to eat a lot of the different things, but
she already had, you know, she was having a match
that day. But she did eat eat some because because
that was like really different from Japan, they didn't have
(57:11):
all the catering and all the food that was ready
for the wrestlers.
Speaker 1 (57:16):
Okay, that's an interesting thing to look at when you're
going between different countries and seeing how they treat you.
But uh, all right, so coming down to the end here,
but so what do you hope your legacy on wrestling will.
Speaker 2 (57:30):
Be kokos and dishing juve?
Speaker 1 (57:35):
You know?
Speaker 3 (57:36):
Do you?
Speaker 2 (57:47):
No?
Speaker 3 (58:00):
There s not so not there that they have because
you send you so locause you like hiday me don
this get up and the more high text them the
gig and to you no no there and know its
like you know on the name thanka, don't gonna eat
(58:23):
them more. You know, I don't get up Nka that's
a night. So this called mik epping omal.
Speaker 6 (58:36):
The cart you see the car don'ts together but tosing
me now image day this your no no there thnka
se s I men.
Speaker 3 (58:50):
I saw you linka sos in there. It's the more
you ma and you look they musket about.
Speaker 2 (59:12):
Okay. So as a as a pro wrestler. Back in
the days when you had to be a wrestler, there
was certain rule that you had to be one hundred
and sixty centimeters that's about five foot three or something
like that. But with the sixty kilograms that's about one
(59:35):
hundred and thirty pounds or something. You have to have
more than that. And that was like a minimum they
got they had to have. This was a rule that
you have to have that physic physical But she always
wanted to be the image as a pro wrestler. If
somebody's watching her, she will order more rice, She'll order
(01:00:01):
another dish, just to show that wrestler's image is big
and super it's extra, it's different, like they want. She
always wanted to show her that she's a professional like that.
And the image is like, even though it's raining, she
wouldn't put the umbrella up. She'll walk in the rain
(01:00:23):
without the umbrella. It's just an image. But she's fifty
six year olds now and she always want people to
see her as a pro wrestler, is strong and it's
like a hero.
Speaker 3 (01:00:37):
That's what she wants portray as a kilcoy.
Speaker 1 (01:00:42):
I see, I see.
Speaker 4 (01:00:43):
I like that.
Speaker 1 (01:00:43):
You always want to be that side of you, that
wrestling persona that you have created. But all right, so
we are getting towards the end here, So I do
want to ask you, ma'am, as we always ask at
the end of Wrestle Magic, do you have any kind
of recommendation for the audience? Could be a movie, TV show, restaurant,
video games, poems, Catherine's dog greats, doesn't really matter. It
just something that you like.
Speaker 2 (01:01:04):
Now it's a psyg I know you must singer, must
she must when you come to Japan, please come to
(01:01:24):
my bar a kayu past And she's selling the face mask.
Like earlier, I told you, it's like you could become Kyoko.
Maybe Marick, you could take a picture of that, maybe
put it up on the website or something anything. But
(01:01:47):
she sells that, so you could be Kyoko you know where.
Also everybody could be Kyoko you know where? And her
I think it's posted on her Instagram also, And this
bar is in Musashi Koyama. It's in Tokyo. The closest
station is Musashi Koyama. You get out the exit, you
keep walking to the big main street and you see
her big face on the on the building. You you
(01:02:10):
cannot miss it.
Speaker 1 (01:02:12):
Okay, that's that's pretty awesome that you've got your own
mural on the building and everything. But so if fans
wanted to reach out to you, how would they do?
Speaker 2 (01:02:22):
So? And jojok okay, So she does the ex the
twitter at the Onama on Twitter handle. Excellent.
Speaker 3 (01:02:47):
I thought that.
Speaker 2 (01:02:52):
She'll send you the the ex handle. She can't. She
don't have it in hand. She don't really remember right
in hand right now. But she do also have an Instagram,
but X she do keep putting up the new things.
Speaker 1 (01:03:07):
So okay, no problem, I'll go ahead and I'll tag
it once this is posted and everything. Uh so Keino
do you have a recommendation for this week as well.
Speaker 3 (01:03:18):
Okay, I forget about that.
Speaker 2 (01:03:21):
Okay, do you know that?
Speaker 3 (01:03:22):
Did I say that the wrestling movie.
Speaker 1 (01:03:27):
That's the ring I think you did before?
Speaker 3 (01:03:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 2 (01:03:29):
Okay, oh gosh, I don't. Okay, So i'll you know
what I'm gonna recommend she since she came out with
the restaurant, I'm gonna recommend a restaurant. There's another restaurant
around Koko's. If you go to Kioko's Bar, there's another
restaurant who another wrestler is running and her name is
(01:03:50):
Kyle Rukage and restaurant name is mesh Quite. So just
just you could google Meshi Kuite and there's a a
really fresh everything meat fish if you come to Japan Tokyo,
I recommend going there, and then you could go to
(01:04:11):
Kilko's Bar after that.
Speaker 1 (01:04:15):
Sounds amazing, But uh, all right, so my recommendation for
this week, I'm gonna say an old video game that
I haven't played in a while but I'm thinking about
getting back into. It's called Braid. It it's kind of
like a Super Mario, has a very dark story behind it.
But enough about that. So you guys know how I
usually end the show do something nice for somebody you
never know who needs it out there. And miss Kilko
(01:04:38):
I thank you very much for being on the show.
It it's been an honor to have you and with
that we're out.
Speaker 4 (01:04:48):
Thanks for listening to the WWE podcast. Don't forget to
subscribe on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss
a show, or head to wwepodcast dot com and for
all of these shows add free head over to Patreon
dot com slash WWE podcast.
Speaker 1 (01:05:07):
Until then, we'll see you next time.
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