The history of joshi puroresu (women’s professional wrestling) in Japan is vast and stretches to every corner of the professional wrestling landscape, where women are allowed to perform regularly. Many wrestling historians and long-time fans in English-speaking countries see Manami Toyota as one of the best professional wrestlers of all time, regardless of gender or sex. However, her story cannot be told without mentioning the unicorn promotion, All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling (AJW).
While this piece will not go into great detail regarding AJW, it’s worth mentioning AJW was founded in 1968 by Takashi Matsunaga, Toichi Mannen, sister Reiko Yoshiba, and numerous others. Takashi served as Chairman and Representative Director, while Mannen served as President of the company until 1975. Three out of his four brothers would eventually become involved with AJW. Younger brothers Kunimatsu and Toshikuni would eventually serve as President during the history of AJW, while older brother Kenji would serve as Vice President.
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AJW would become the most successful women’s wrestling promotion in the world. In the 1980s, the company would surpass both All Japan Pro-Wrestling (AJPW) and New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) in ticket sales, making it one of the highest-attended promotions in the world during that decade. While Manami Toyota is not the sole in-ring reason for the success of AJW, she played a role in building upon the success of past generations along with AJW contemporaries Aja Kong, Bull Nakano, Akira Hokuto, Kyoko Inoue, Yumiko Hotta, and others.
Toyota gained fame for her unique blend of athleticism, charisma, endurance, and nearly unmatched psychology — which often left members of the crowd crying after a performance that saw a heartbreaking defeat or glorious triumph. She had the luxury of facing numerous great opponents throughout her career, especially during her time with AJW when her matches against Aja Kong, Akira Hokuto, and Kyoko Inoue continue to gain plaudits today along with her tag team affairs alongside Toshiyo Yamada.
While Toyota may not be a popular name among fans that grew up with and continue to favor the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) product, her place in the grand scheme of professional wrestling is unquestionable, even in western nations. Among those territories, the place of women in the business of professional wrestling is a common topic spoken about on social media.
Throughout its nearly 40 years in operation, AJW proved that wrestling fans in Japan would not hold gender against the women of AJW, appreciating their wrestling on the same level that they did of AJPW and NJPW. In the west, during the days of tape trading, AJW matches — especially those of Manami Toyota were popular on forums and with the most avid wrestling fans. There hasn’t been a woman’s promotion in an English-speaking nation to come close to reaching the heights of AJW, despite certain critics claiming Japan is behind the times with having separate women promotions.
However, the existence of joshi puroresu promotions made it possible for wrestlers like Toyota to become draws in the industry without fear of being stuck lower on the card in a promotion founded on the basis of men being the main attraction.
“After dropping out from High School during my first year and relocating to Tokyo, I received coaching from Jaguar Yokota, who had debuted a year younger than myself,” Toyota begins regarding training under Jaguar Yokota, who went on to become an AJW Hall of Famer. She would continue to detail her experiences in the AJW Dojo. “We were the class of 1987 and we became the 2nd generation. Up until the end of my 3 years at the bottom of the dojo strata, every day was grueling and every day I had thought about quitting. It was coming from the bottom and rising up the ladder that I began to enjoy wrestling more and more.”
Toyota’s perseverance through the trials and tribulations at the AJW Dojo led her to a career full of accolades, championships, and tournament victories, “It’s a tremendous honor to strive to stand at the very top,” Toyota says regarding her ten-plus five-star rated matches by Dave Meltzer, along with her match of the year awards from Wrestling Observer in 1993 (April 11 w/Toshiyo Yamada vs. Dynamite Kansai and Mayumi Ozaki) and 1995 (May 7 against Kyoko Inoue).
“It is a tremendous honor for me,” Toyota responds when asked about the recognition she receives overseas among wrestling historians, journalists, and fans invested in wrestling around the world — including recently receiving Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Stanley Weston Lifetime Achievement Award (Issue available here for digital purchase).
Toyota details what made her feel like she ‘made it’ as a professional wrestler with a detailed response:
I think that I first saw a raise in my momentum when I challenged for the Red Belt [WWWA World Single Championship] after winning the Japan Grand Prix. Then as I captured the All-Pacific [All Pacific Championship], 3WA Tag [WWWA Tag Team Championship], and my final aim the WWWA [World Women’s Wrestling Association] singles title, I felt, “My time had finally come, maybe?”
AJW was in the midst of a boom period during the 1980s; as mentioned earlier, the company was doing great business and selling numerous tickets to its growing fanbase. Toyota speaks on the atmosphere at AJW events during that period, “At that time, due to the popularity of the Crush Gals, there were many female junior high/ high school fans. Amongst these circles of fans, they created their own fan clubs.”
The Crush Gals were a 4x WWWA Tag Team Champions in AJW; the team was made of Lioness Asuka and Chigusa Nagayo. The Crush Gals were not just a hugely popular tag team; they were an idol group that released music with reports of one of their singles selling over 100,000 copies. The Crush Gals were likely the biggest stars ever made by AJW, but a rule AJW would eventually abolish saw them forced to retire from the company after reaching the age of 26.
Toyota took part in the V-Top Tournament Women’s Tournament at AJW’s famous Big Egg Wrestling Universe on November 20, 1994. The event was led by AJW and featured representatives from the following joshi promotions: GAEA Japan (GAEA), JWP Joshi Puroresu (JWP), and Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (LLPW). Individuals from Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW), Michinoku Pro Wrestling (MPW), and World Wrestling Federation (WWF, now WWE).
“It was my second time performing at the Tokyo Dome*. In the first round of the V Top Women’s Tournament, I was pitted against Aja Kong, and despite losing in that first round, I feel pride in the fact that I took part in the match that received the highest ratings for the entire event,” Toyota reminisces about the historic women’s professional wrestling event.
“It is a tremendous honor,” Toyota declares concerning those who believe she is one of the best wrestlers of all time regardless of gender or sex. “On November 3, 2017, at the Yokohama Osanbashi Hall, with the support of so many friends, I gave it my all and left behind no regrets whatsoever,” she explains referencing her retirement event, feeling that she accomplished everything in wrestling she wished.
When asked about her favorite matches during her career, Toyota would speak about two famous opponents and matches directly.
When looking back at my wrestling life after retirement, I would think it was my Tokyo Dome Best Bout match with Aja Kong maybe? Another that also comes to mind was my 60-minute draw with Kyoko Inoue at Korakuen hall. For me. I respect Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue as both fantastic rivals and geniuses.
Aja Kong is a legendary figure from AJW’s history who was also a favorite among tape traders. Along with being a massive draw for AJW, Kong brought an element of brute physicality, which matched well with Manami Toyota’s more dynamic and free-flowing offense.
Kyoko Inoue is not as well known as Toyota or Kong in English-speaking circles, yet her May 7, 1995 match against Toyota in Korakuen Hall is a testament to her talent and ability to connect with the AJW audience. Inoue also had a fair amount of athleticism during her prime, adding a different element to her matches than seen against Kong.
Unfortunately, for fans of professional wrestling and women in the business, AJW underwent a slew of financial issues and closed in April 2005, “Regrettably at the time the company was involved in various projects, so it was beyond any of our control,” Toyota begins speaking on the topic of AJW’s closure. “However, despite the company folding, my friends who had performed in All Japan Women’s, have not forgotten the All Japan Women’s spirit.”
The aforementioned Aja Kong and Kyoko Inoue have yet to retire from in-ring competition, with the latter founding the joshi promotion World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (Diana) in 2011, which continues to run approximately 35 events per year.
“Recently, I have had considerably fewer opportunities to go to watch shows; however I am occasionally invited to talk shows as a guest,” Toyota says, describing her current involvement in professional wrestling relating to watching and attending events.
Toyota would end the interview by speaking about her life after retiring from the ring.
Whilst taking care of my body that has seen its fair share of use over the years, I am attempting things that I have not been able to do up until now and enjoying my new life.
Thanks to Gaming Lariat Japanese translator Jack “The Mack” Toner for the translation.
*Manami Toyota’s match during Big Egg Wrestling Universe (November 20, 1994) against Aja Kong at the Tokyo Dome was her first time wrestling at the venue. Her second Tokyo Dome match happened during the Weekly Pro Wrestling @ Tokyo Dome event (April 2, 1995). Her third and final match at the Tokyo Dome took place during the NJPW Toukon Memorial Day 30th Anniversary event (May 2, 2002).
