Jackie Sato
| Naoko Satō | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
October 30, 1957 Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan |
| Died | August 9, 1999 (aged 41) |
| Professional wrestling career | |
| Ring name(s) | Jackie Satō |
| Billed height | 5'8" |
| Debut | April 27, 1975 |
| Retired | March 20, 1988 |
Naoko Satō (佐藤尚子 Satō Naoko?, October 30, 1957 – August 9, 1999), better known as Jackie Satō (ジャッキー佐藤 Jakkī Satō?) was a professional wrestler from Yokohama, Japan. In the 1970s, while wrestling for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW), she formed the tag team, the Beauty Pair, with Maki Ueda. Following in the steps of Mach Fumiake, the Beauty Pair was part of an important shift in the culture of Japanese women's wrestling, attracting more female fans by becoming pop icons. In their mainstream success, Satō and Ueda paved the way for the even more popular team, the Crush Gals, of the 1980s.
Though she had played basketball in high school, Jackie Satō became a professional wrestler after graduation. She joined AJW in 1975, and had her debut match against her future tag team partner, Maki Ueda, on April 27 of that year. On February 24, 1976 the Beauty Pair was formed, and they won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship that night. During their championship reign throughout most of 1976, the Pair created excitement by using their top ten hit single to announce their entrance, and were regularly feted by their adoring fans who threw confetti and streamers into the ring.
Satō also had success as a singles wrestler. She won the WWWA World Heavyweight Championship on November 1, 1977 from Maki Ueda in a Beauty Pair showdown, and held it twice more during the late 1970s, defeating Monster Ripper and Nancy Kumi. She lost the title the final time to the younger Jaguar Yokota on February 25, 1981. On February 27, 1979, Satō defeated her former partner, Ueda, in a "loser retires" match. Satō's own retirement ceremony was held on May 21, 1981.
...
Wikipedia