The legendary Manami Toyota has retired from professional wrestling.
After decades in the wrestling business, the 46-year old Toyota called it quits this week on a thirtieth anniversary show. The event featured several one minute time limit matches, that saw her defeat 12 opponents, lose to ten and draw with 29. Following that, she faced Tsukasa Fujimoto -- Toyota's protege and successor. Toyota would defeat her twice, before dropping a third match to end her career.
Toyota was a fixture in Japan and made several trips stateside for CHIKARA events as well. American fans may most remember Toyota from when she teamed with Mariko Yoshida to take on Akira Hokuto and Bull Nakano on the New Japan Pro Wrestling and WCW co-branded "Collision in Korea" show in April 1995.
The early 1990's Japanese women's wrestling boom found Toyota having legendary matches from 1992 to 1995 with regularity. Memorable ones include bouts against Aja Kong, Mima Shimoda, Akira Hokuto, Toshiyo Yomada, and more. There were also a series of tag team matches where Toyota teamed with Hokutu to face Yamada and Kyoko Inoue that gained heavy acclaim.
Toyota won five "Tag League the Bests", and was a four-time winner of the Japan Grand Prix in addition to several other championships throughout her career.
