Tam Nakano

Tam Nakano
, better known by her ring name , is a Japanese professional wrestler and singer. She is currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, where she is the current World of Stardom Champion in her first reign and the leader of Cosmic Angels.
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 Goddess of Stardom Champion. Nakano is also the winner of the 2019 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.
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 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 Goddess 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 Goddess 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.
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 but was unsuccessful.
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
World Wonder Ring Stardom
Artist of Stardom Championship (3 times) – with Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima (2), and Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka (1)
Goddess of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Natsupoi
Wonder of Stardom Championship (2 times)
World of Stardom Championship (1 time, current)
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)
Stardom Year-End Award (5 times)
Best Match Award (2019)
Best Match Award (2021)
Best Tag Team Award (2022)
Fighting Spirit Award (2020)
Shining Award (2022)
Luchas de Apuestas record
References
External links
blog
Living people
Sportspeople from Aichi Prefecture
Japanese female professional wrestlers
Japanese wushu practitioners
21st-century female professional wrestlers
Wonder of Stardom Champions
Goddess of Stardom Champions
1988 births