Bull Nakano

Bull Nakano is a former Japanese professional wrestler known for her time in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling and WWE. Her real name is Keiko Aoki and she was born in January 1968. In the annals of women’s pro-wrestling, few names command respect quite like Bull Nakano.

She began her professional wrestling career at just 15 and soon became a force to be reckoned with. Throughout her wrestling career, Nakano won 11 titles. She retired from the ring at the early age of 29 due to injuries. After that, she became a professional golfer. In 2024, WWE announced that Nakano would be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in the Class of 2024.

Early Life

Bull Nakano’s real name is Keiko Aoki. She was born on January 8, 1968 in Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan. Details about her early life before professional wrestling are not scarce. However, it is known that she had a huge interest in the squared circle from a very young age. She even made her professional debut at the young age of 15.

Bull Nakano Wrestling Career

Bull Nakano in Japan (1983-1996)

Bull Nakano's wrestling career kicked off at a shockingly young age – just 15! Starting in Japan's All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), she wasted no time making a name for herself. By 16, she'd already captured the AJW Junior Championship. This early success earned her a new, more intimidating ring name: Bull Nakano.

Nakano didn't go solo for long. She teamed up with the veteran wrestler Dump Matsumoto, forming a fearsome heel duo. Together, they dominated the tag team scene, grabbing the WWWA World Tag Team Championship in 1986. This wasn't their only international venture; they even took their talents to the World Wrestling Federation that same year.

When Matsumoto retired, Nakano kept the tag team titles flowing, winning them twice more with different partners. But her sights were set on singles glory too. Victories in prestigious tournaments and championships like the All-Pacific Championship solidified her reputation as a top competitor. As the 90s dawned, AJW saw Nakano as a potential star, positioning her as their "ace." This culminated in a lengthy reign as the WWWA World Single Champion, a title she held for almost three years. However, her dominance eventually came to an end.

Mexico CMLL (1992-1993)

Bull Nakano took a brief break from All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling around June 1992, during which she traveled to Mexico to Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre. There she became the first ever Women’s World Champion of CMLL and spent about a year in the promotion.

Stints in America - WWF and WCW (1992-1995)

After her three-year title reign in All Japan Women’s Pro Wrestling came to an end, Bull Nakano ventured out to the international audience, including both the biggest companies in the world - WWF and WCW.

At SummerSlam 1994, she challenged WWF Champion Alundra Blayze for the Women’s Championship but lost. At the Big Egg Wrestling Universe in November of that year, she defeated Blayze to finally become the WWF Women’s Champion in Tokyo. She held the gold for 134 days before losing it back to Blayze on the April 3, 1995 episode of Monday Night RAW.

In 1995, she traveled to North Korea to participate in Collision in Korea PPV which was jointly organized by New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). The event was a two-night event with a record attendance of 165,000 fans on the first night and 190,000 fans on the second night.

Nakano kept busy in 1995. She teamed up with another wrestler, Akira Hokuto, to win a match at a WCW World War III. Later that year, she started a fight with a Madusa. Madusa won their match and even got to smash Nakano's motorcycle!

Retirement and Rise Wrestling

Bull Nakano's wrestling career ended due to injuries in 1997. But she wasn't done with the sport entirely. In 2012, she put on her own wrestling show, recreating her classic matches. This event also served as her official retirement ceremony.

Fast forward to 2017, Nakano joined a wrestling promotion as a trainer alongside her former rival, Madusa. Things got interesting though, when Nakano turned against another wrestler during a match and even formed a new bad-guy group! It seems the competitive spirit in Bull Nakano never truly retired.

Most recently, in 2023, Nakano took on a leadership role in a new women's wrestling promotion. She even helped crown their first champion!

WWE Hall of Fame (2024)

On March 6, 2024, WWE announced that Bull Nakano was to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame as an inductee in Class of 2024.

Bull Nakano Net Worth 2024

As per various sources, Bull Nakano is worth around a whopping $12 Million in 2024. Her net worth is credited to her earnings from pro-wrestling as well as golfing. She is also among the richest female wrestlers ever. While not much is known about her lifestyle, it can be safely assumed that she can live the lifestyle she wishes from the earnings she has amassed through her talent and hard work.

Bull Nakano Husband

It is reported that Bull Nakano is married to Daisuke Aoki. However, the details of Aoki are private and not known to the fans. It is just known that Aoki has been a very supportive husband to Nakano, with the former wrestler once discussing how he helped her get to her feet during her low phase.

“I lived while hiding my stomach that was swollen with ascites, but I was finally found by my husband. So I went to the hospital together and decided to stay in the hospital.” - Bull Nakano speaking to Oricon News.

Bull Nakano Awards and Achievements