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A respected figure in professional wrestling whose influence extends to numerous performers behind the scenes has retired after a remarkable 25-year career. Meiko Satomura, the former NXT UK Women’s Champion, had her official retirement match on April 29th in Tokyo, Japan.
It was held under the banner of Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling, the promotion she co-founded. The contest saw it be a tag team encounter. The Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling event saw Satomura team with Nanami, where they went over.
今日、引退試合を見届けてくださった皆様、ありがとうございました。
30年間で出会ったたくさんの方に囲まれてリングを降りられたこと、本当に幸せです。
プロレスの新時代をさらに素晴らしいものにするために、今以上に人生懸けます‼️
ありがとうございました。#SENJO # #SATOMURAfinal #里村明衣子 pic.twitter.com/8aLjQ3D42B— 里村明衣子 meiko satomura (@satomurameiko) April 29, 2025
Prior to the match, legendary wrestler Kenta Kobashi presented Satomura with a bouquet of flowers, a symbol of respect and recognition for her contributions to the sport. However, the night held further surprises for Satomura. Following her tag team victory, Aja Kong took to the microphone and asked to team up with Satomura for one final match.
This request set the stage for an impromptu main event, uniting two long-standing rivals in a final match. Satomura and Kong joined forces to take on a team consisting of Hashimoto, Senka Akatsuki, Takumi Oroha, YUNA, and Mika Iwata. This emotional and highly anticipated match ultimately concluded in a five-minute draw.
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She continues to be involved with the NXT brand in a coaching capacity. Satomura also maintained an in-ring presence for WWE in 2024 during the company’s tour of Japan, with her last WWE match being a singles championship bout against Bayley for the WWE Women’s Championship. Her final televised match under the WWE banner aired against Roxanne Perez at NXT Roadblock in March 2023.
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Satomura’s extensive professional wrestling career began in the mid-1990s, including a stint in WCW during its efforts to establish a prominent women’s division. She further showcased her talent on an international stage by participating in WWE’s Mae Young Classic tournament in 2018, where she advanced to the semifinals.
In mid-2019, she also served as a guest coach at the WWE Performance Center in Orlando, demonstrating her commitment to nurturing emerging talent. That same year, Satomura had the unique opportunity to train with then-SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks at the Sendai Girls’ dojo in Japan.
While officially signed with WWE since 2020, Satomura’s in-ring appearances for the company have become less frequent in recent years.
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