For the first time since March 2023, the iconic Meiko Satomura has graced a WWE ring once more, lighting up an international WWE live event in Osaka, Japan. But this return comes with a bittersweet twist: according to reports, the legendary wrestler is gearing up for a retirement tour, marking the end of her illustrious career.
Tokyo Sports spills the tea, revealing that insiders close to Satomura hint at her plans to retire from the squared circle in 2025. While the exact date of her final match is still up in the air, it looks like the spring season, coinciding with her 30-year in-ring anniversary in April, might be when the curtain falls.
Satomura’s career reads like a fairy tale of wrestling glory. She burst onto the scene in April 1995, defeating Sonoko Kato at a Gaea Japan event. The very next year, she and Kato became the first-ever AAAW Tag Team Champions. Fast forward to 2020, Satomura inked a deal with WWE, taking on dual roles as a performer and coach for “NXT UK.” Although “NXT UK” closed its doors in 2022, Satomura remained a key player in WWE.
During her time in “NXT UK,” Satomura etched her name in history by dethroning Kay Lee Ray (aka Alba Fyre) to become the final NXT UK Women’s Champion. This reign culminated in a unification match at WWE Worlds Collide 2022, where Mandy Rose emerged victorious. Satomura has since made a handful of appearances on “NXT” TV, her latest bout being a hard-fought loss to NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez.