Yoko Bito

Bito in November 2017

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Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan

**Yoko Arai** (新井 陽子, *Arai Yōko*, born December 13, 1986) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by the ring name **Yoko Bito** (美闘 陽子, *Bitō Yōko*). Bito initially made her in-ring debut in December 2010 for World Wonder Ring Stardom and quickly became one of the most popular wrestlers in the promotion, until announcing her retirement from in-ring competition in November 2012. Bito came out of retirement and returned to Stardom in April 2016, and returned to the ring in June of that year, before retiring again in December 2017 only to return to the promotion four years later.

## Professional wrestling career

### World Wonder Ring Stardom (2010–2012)

Bito entered Stardom's professional wrestling dojo in 2010 with a background in karate and handball. She, along with Mayu Iwatani and Kairi Hojo was a member of the first graduating class of Stardom's professional wrestling school where she was trained by Fuka. She made her debut on December 31, 2010, wrestling Eri Susa to a time limit draw. On January 21, 2011, in the main event of Stardom's first ever show, Bito defeated Yoshiko for her first professional win. Bito made Stardom her home promotion, and in July, she made it to the finals of the tournament to crown the first ever World of Stardom Champion, where she lost to Nanae Takahashi. In November, Bito teamed with Yuzuki Aikawa, her main rival, to take part in the tournament to crown the first ever winners of the Goddess of Stardom Championship. In the final, Bito and Yuzuki Aikawa defeated Yoshiko and Natsuki☆Taiyo to become the inaugural champions. Bito and Aikawa held on to the championships throughout the rest of 2011 and into 2012. In August 2012, Bito challenged Aikawa for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, where she was unsuccessful. This would turn out to be Bito's last match before announcing her retirement in November of that year, citing neck and back injuries as her reason and subsequently vacating the Goddess of Stardom Championship.

### Return to Stardom (2016–2017, 2021)

After a near four-year absence from professional wrestling, Bito announced her return to the ring in April 2016, and made her official in-ring return on June 16 at Korakuen Hall, losing to Kairi Hojo. In August, Bito took part in the 2016 5★Star GP, winning all but one of her matches and tying for first place. On September 11, Bito defeated Kay Lee Ray in a tiebreaker and made it to the final, where she defeated Tessa Blanchard to win the tournament. On October 10, Bito unsuccessfully challenged Io Shirai for the World of Stardom Championship. On November 11, Bito teamed with Kairi Hojo to defeat Shirai and Mayu Iwatani in the final of the Goddess of Stardom Tag Tournament. On December 22, Bito teamed with Kairi Hojo to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship for the second time in her career, defeating Oedo Tai (Kagetsu and Kyoko Kimura). On January 15, Bito and Hojo made their first successful defence against Nixon Newell and Kay Lee Ray, but dropped the title to Hiroyo Matsumoto and Jungle Kyona on March 5.

On September 23, 2017, Bito defeated Mayu Iwatani to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the first time. She lost the title to Io Shirai in her third defense on November 19 and afterwards announced she would again retire on December 24. On Janaury 30, 2021 Stardom announced that Bito would made her second return to the promotion on March 3 alongside the returns of Yuzuki Aikawa, Miho Wakizawa, Hiromi Mimura, Momoe Nakanishi, Koguma Haruka, Kato Yuna and Manase participating in the All Star Rumble at All Star Cinderella where she ended up losing the match.

## In wrestling

* **Finishing moves**

* *B Driver* (Cradle back-to-belly piledriver)
* *Doll B* (Jumping corkscrew roundhouse kick) – adopted from Fuka

* **Signature moves**

* Missile Dropkick
* Vertical Suplex

## Championships and accomplishments

* ***Nikkan Sports***
	+ Joshi Tag Team Award (2011) with Yuzuki Aikawa

* **World Wonder Ring Stardom**
	+ Goddess of Stardom Championship (2 times) – with Yuzuki Aikawa (1) and Kairi Hojo (2)
	+ Wonder of Stardom Championship (1 time)
	+ Goddess of Stardom Tag League (2011) – with Yuzuki Aikawa
	+ Goddess of Stardom Tag League (2016) – with Kairi Hojo
	+ 5★Star GP (2016)
	+ Best Match Award (2017) vs. Takumi Iroha on October 17
	+ Best Tag Team Award (2016) with Kairi Hojo
	+ Outstanding Performance Award (2011)