# Tam Nakano

Yuria Tauchi (田内 友里愛, Tauchi Yuria, born March 22, 1988), better known by her ring name Tam Nakano (中野 たむ, Nakano Tamu) is a Japanese professional wrestler and singer. She is signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is the leader of the Cosmic Angels stable.
Nakano began her career in the Actwres girl'Z promotion as an idol in 2015 before training under Yuna Manase and making her debut as a professional wrestler in July 2016. Nakano left the promotion in 2017 and began working for Frontier Martial Arts Wrestling (FMW) and Stardom as a freelancer, before officially signing with Stardom in November 2017. Nakano is a former three-time Artist of Stardom Champion, two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion and one-time Goddesses of Stardom Champion. Nakano is also the winner of the 2019 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League. Nakano was the recipient of the 2023 Tokyo Sports Women's Wrestling Grand Prize.

## Professional wrestling career
### Actwres Girl’z and freelancing (2016–2017)

Tauchi began dancing at the age of 3 and eventually became a dance instructor in 2012. She joined the underground idol group known as Katamomi Joshi, and was active with them until April 2015. In interviews since she has stated that she struggled a lot in the group, and would argue with management and go home crying most days. She then joined the group Infom@te, who performed before and during professional wrestling shows for the Actwres girl'Z promotion. Gaining some popularity as an idol and using her existing martial arts knowledge, in 2016 Tauchi began training to wrestle for the promotion under Yuna Manase, and made her professional debut as Tam Nakano (中野 たむ, Nakano Tamu) in July 2016, losing to Saori Anou. Nakano continued to regularly compete in Actwres girl'Z until June 2017, when she announced she would be leaving the promotion to become a freelancer. Nakano's first match as a freelancer took place 2 days later, when she and Manami Katsu defeated Miss Koharu and Miss Mongol.

### World Wonder Ring Stardom (2017–present)

Nakano appeared at the World Wonder Ring Stardom show in Korakuen Hall on July 16, 2017, and announced her intentions to compete in the 2017 5★STAR GP. On August 13, Nakano qualified for the tournament after defeating Natsuko Tora. Nakano finished the tournament with 1 win and two points, unable to advance to the finals.

#### Oedo Tai (2017–2018)

On September 9, Nakano turned heel for the first time in her career, joining the villainous Oedo Tai faction. In October, Nakano suffered an injury and was unable to compete, but continued to appear with Oedo Tai as a manager, and introduced her mascot, a stuffed panda known as Producer P. On November 1, Nakano officially signed with the promotion. On January 21, 2018, as a result of being the last person eliminated in a special Queen's Quest vs Oedo Tai gauntlet match, Nakano was kicked out of Oedo Tai.

#### Stars (2018–2020)

She subsequently turned face and began teaming with Mayu Iwatani. On February 18, the duo unsuccessfully challenged Tam's former stablemates Hana Kimura and Kagetsu for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. On April 1 at Stardom Dream Slam 2018 in Nagoya, Nakano teamed with Stardom ace Io Shirai to defeat Oedo Tai (Kagetsu and Sumire Natsu) in a current blast exploding bat deathmatch. On September 30, Nakano, along with Iwatani and Saki Kashima, defeated J.A.N. (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Kaori Yoneyama) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship, Nakano's first title in professional wrestling. At Mask Fiesta 2018 on October 28, Nakano, under the ring name Dame de Panko, teamed up with La Gatita and Mayuchica to defeat Bear Dog, Black Jungle Fairy and Night Bear.
As of the 2019 Stardom Draft, Nakano has been an active member of Iwatani's stable Stars. In the 2019 Cinderella Tournament, Nakano faced her old stablemate Kagetsu in the first round, with the two fighting to a time limit draw, thus both were eliminated. On May 16, Iwatani, Kashima and Nakano lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Tokyo Cyber Squad (Kimura, Konami and Kyona), ending their reign at 228 days. On June 16, Nakano challenged Arisa Hoshiki for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, but was unsuccessful. Nakano, along with Iwatani and Kashima, won back the title on June 23, however, lost it in the next month on July 20. On November 15, Nakano, along with Hoshiki, won the annual Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, when they defeated Bea Priestley and Jamie Hayter in the finals. After winning the Tag League, Hoshiki and Nakano challenged Konami and Kyona on November 24 for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship, but were unsuccessful.
In July 2020, a feud began between Nakano and Giulia, initially for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, that would continue intermittently for several years. On July 26, at Cinderella Summer in Tokyo, Nakano lost to Giulia in the finals of a tournament for the vacant Wonder of Stardom Championship. On October 3, Nakano challenged Giulia again for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, however, was unsuccessful in the second time.

#### Cosmic Angels leadership (2020–present)

On November 15, Nakano, along with fellow Stars members Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka formed a new group within Stars named "Cosmic Angels", as the trio defeated Kashima, Rina and Tora. On December 16, Cosmic Angels defeated Kashima, Priestley and Tora to win the Artist of Stardom Championship. On December 20, after Cosmic Angels had their first successful title defense against Gokigen Death, Iwatani and Starlight Kid, Iwatani announced that Cosmic Angels are leaving Stars to be their own unit.
On March 3, 2021, at All Star Dream Cinderella, Nakano defeated Giulia in a Hair vs. Hair match for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, which was her first singles title in the promotion. On December 29 at Stardom Dream Queendom, she was defeated by Saya Kamitani in a match for the title, ending her reign with 301 days.
On June 26, 2022, Nakano faced Natsupoi in the first steel cage match at Stardom, which Nakano was victorious. On July 9, during a multi-woman match, Natsupoi betrayed her own unit Donna Del Mondo by attacking their leader Giulia, Nakano's rival, and joined Nakano's Cosmic Angel unit, thus turning face in the process. On July 9, at Stardom Mid Summer Champions#Mid Summer Champions in Nagoya, Nakano had her first match for the World of Stardom Championship where she challenged Syuri for the title, but was unsuccessful. On August 21, at Stardom x Stardom: Nagoya Midsummer Encounter, Nakano alongside Natsupoi defeated FWC (Hazuki and Koguma) to win the Goddesses of Stardom Championship. Together, now known as meltear, Nakano and Natsupoi had two successful title defenses before losing the championship to 7Upp (Nanae Takahashi and Yuu), on December 29, at Dream Queendom 2, ending their reign at 130 days.
On April 23, 2023, at All Star Grand Queendom, Nakano defeated Giulia to win the World of Stardom Championship for the first time in her career. May 27, at Flashing Champions, Nakano defeated Mina Shirakawa in a Winner Takes All match to retain her World Championship and also win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the second time in her career. On July 2, at Mid Summer Champions 2023, Nakano lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to Mirai, ending her second reign at 36 days. At Stardom x Stardom: Osaka Summer Team on August 13, Nakano successfully defended her World of Stardom Championship over Megan Bayne. On November 20, Rossy Ogawa announced that the World of Stardom Championship would be vacated due to the severity of Nakano's injury with a new champion being crowned at Dream Queendom 2023 on December 29.
On August 31, 2024 on night 12 of the 5Star Grand Prix, Nakano defeated Natsuko Tora to win the World of Stardom Championship for a second time. On December 29 at Dream Queendom, Nakano lost the title to Saya Kamitani ending her reign at 120 days. On February 24, 2025 at Stardom Path of Thunder, Nakano teamde with Sayaka Kurara to defeat Kamitani and Tora. Per the stipulation, Kamitani was forced to grant any request Nakano wanted, with the latter challenging Kamitani to a Loser Leaves Stardom match on March 3. On March 3 at Stardom Nighter, Kamitani defeated Nakano, but would grant Nakano one last opportunity at the World of Stardom Championship at Stardom All Star Grand Queendom 2025 on April 27 in a Career vs. Career match. On March 4 at a press conference, Nakano announced that her Stardom contract had been (kayfabe) terminated, but would continue to perform from the promotion as a freelancer.

### New Japan Pro-Wrestling (2021–present)

On January 5, 2021, at the second night of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)'s Wrestle Kingdom 15, Nakano made her first NJPW appearance where she, alongside Mayu Iwatani, lost to Giulia and Syuri in a dark match. On August 8, 2022, at the second night of Wrestle Kingdom 16, Nakano had her first match on the main card of NJPW, where she alongside Saya Kamitani defeated Iwatani and Starlight Kid. On November 20, 2022, Nakano participated in the first NJPW and Stardom collaboration event, Historic X-Over, in an eight-person mixed tag team match, where Nakano alongside Natsupoi (as meltear) and Suzuki-gun (Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru) defeated the teams of Black Desire (Momo Watanabe and Starlight Kid) and Suzuki-gun (El Desperado and Douki).
On January 4, 2023, on the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 17, Nakano challenged the inaugural IWGP Women's Champion Kairi for the title, but was unsuccessful.
At Forbidden Door on June 30, 2024, Nakano and Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander and Momo Watanabe on the Zero Hour show.

## Personal life

Tauchi is trained in kung fu and pays tribute to this with her ring attire and fighting style. Tauchi released her first album EP with fellow wrestler Natsupoi as their meltear persona called "Tears Tail" on April 19, 2023

## Championships and Accomplishments

* Pro Wrestling Illustrated
** Ranked No. 76 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 100 in 2019
** Ranked No. 9 of the top 150 female wrestlers in the PWI Women's 150 in 2021
** Ranked No. 5 of the top 250 women's wrestlers in the PWI Women's 250 in 2023
* World Wonder Ring Stardom
** Artist of Stardom Championship (4 times) – with Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima (2), Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka (1) and Natsupoi and Saori Anou (1)
** Goddesses of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Natsupoi
** Wonder of Stardom Championship (2 times)
** World of Stardom Championship (2 times)
** Goddesses of Stardom Tag League (2019) – with Arisa Hoshiki
** 5★Star GP Award (4 times)
*** 5★Star GP Fighting Spirit Award (2017)
*** 5★Star GP Finalist Award (2022)
*** 5★Star GP Outstanding Performance Award (2019)
*** 5★Star GP Red Stars Best Match Award (2020) vs. Giulia on September 13
** Stardom Year-End Award (5 times)
*** Best Match Award (2019) vs. Arisa Hoshiki on June 16
*** Best Match Award (2021) vs. Giulia at All Star Dream Cinderella
*** Best Tag Team Award (2022) with Natsupoi
*** Fighting Spirit Award (2020)
*** Shining Award (2022)
* Tokyo Sports
** Women's Wrestling Grand Prize (2023)

## Luchas de Apuestas record

| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
| Tam Nakano (hair) | Giulia (hair) | Tokyo, Japan | All Star Dream Cinderella | March 3, 2021 | |