It is time once again for all of us to come back together to rate another amazing joshi pro wrestler, and this time we’re going to be taking a look at the recently retired “Cutest In The Cosmos,” Tam Nakano. Tam Nakano was one of the more divisive wrestlers on the scene because she could bring the intensity and hard-hitting nature of old-style joshi in her matches, but she also loved telling intricate stories that had its own lore that sometimes was a bit too much for people to handle.
Tam Nakano started her career in July of 2016 under the watchful eye of Yuna Manase who was one of the main trainers in Actwres Girl’z, and she quickly used her idol background to help her start to mold what her pro wrestling career was going to become. Within the first few months of her career beginning, she wrestled for quite a few companies, including the aforementioned Actwres Girl’Z, DIANA, REINA, AJPW, and even FMW which is quite a diverse group of companies to work for. A lot of her early matches included her Cosmic Angel teammates Saori Anou and Natsumi Maki (Natsupoi) which shows just how strong that bond that the three had together truly was.
In 2017, she continued to work for many different companies, but eventually found a bit of a home in STARDOM where her career would end many years later. During the early part of her STARDOM career she wasn’t taken all that serious as a wrestler, as her skills still weren’t polished and she was rough around the edges, but one thing that Tam always had was a fire inside of her to prove doubters wrong while making the best out of any situation she was put in. As a comedic part of “Oedo Tai”, Tam always shined brightly with the cast of characters in the group, and when her rights were eventually taken from “Oedo Tai” for her services, she ended up finding a nice home in the “STARS” faction.
During her early years in STARDOM, Tam didn’t have a lot of championship success on her own, only getting the chance to be a champion as a part of the Artist of Stardom champions with the likes of Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima. She was able to win the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League with Arisa Hoshiki, but the two weren’t able to capture the titles with Arisa having to retire shortly after that. In 2020, she won the Artist of Stardom championship again, but this time with two members of a faction that she was the leader of in “Cosmic Angels” and that’s when her career really started to take off.
Tam’s storytelling in her matches and feuds were impressive up until that point, but once she was seen as being one of the main event talents in the company, it all went to the next level. In 2021, she captured singles gold by winning the Wonder of Stardom Championship in a match against her rival Giulia that is still one of my favorite STARDOM matches of all time. At that point, we could finally see Tam start to reach that potential we had seen many years ago. Over the next few years, she went on to win tag team gold with Natsupoi, having a second reign with the Wonder of Stardom Championship, and having two reigns with the World of Stardom Championship, all while being one of the biggest main event draws in company history.
BushiRoad may not have really known what they were doing when they first took control of the company, but luckily for them one of their biggest and best marketable superstars was ready to take the reigns to help guide the company towards a prosperous future. While Tam has now road off into the proverbial sunset after an amazing match, and an all-time post match spectacle, the mark she’s left on not only STARDOM but the business will be felt for many years to come. While not everyone loved her way of telling stories, I truly believe that her storytelling has brought in more fans than it’s chased away, and we should definitely appreciate what she’s given to us. The big question is where does she stack up talent wise against other wrestlers that we’ve already rated and will rate in the future?
Keep on reading to find out!
A wrestler’s ability to use power related moves and how well they are known for using their power inside of the ring.
My Rating: 7
By no means is Tam Nakano known as a “power wrestler,” however, there were many matches where her power impressed me when it came to suplexing competitors who were quite a bit bigger than she was. She didn’t really use a lot of power moves, but just seeing her being able to lift a lot of people means that I have to give her some credit power wise. Her use of the “Violet Screwdriver” is one of the ways she proved her power to all of us because that’s not a move that someone weak could do.
Matt Turner’s Rating: 7.5
“Tam has great power and core strength, it shows in her suplex variety”
@ MattTurnerOF on X
DaveTCS’ Rating: 7.5
“Not a power wrestler, but her ability to pick up people for her “Twilight Dream” is impressive, especially the one on Natsuko Tora that won her a second World of Stardom Championship.“
@ Dave_TCS4Life on X
PlugPedro’s Rating: 8
“No comment given.”
@ plugpedro99 on X
OVERALL POWER RATING: 7.36
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s ability to do throws and suplexes as well as their ability to do their moves cleanly without messing up.
My Rating: 8.5
I had to think on this one a bit, because, in all honesty, Tam Nakano can sometimes be a bit sloppy in the ring, but at the same time I don’t think that it takes away from the matches as much as it might for others. That sloppiness plays into her desperation to get the job done and when she really needs to lock in, she normally hits all of her moves very well. She’s also known for quite a few suplex variations which is one half of this rating, so 8.5 is a pretty strong rating and fair for what she brings to the table. The “Twilight Dream” is a beautiful modified tiger suplex that is like poetry in motion when she hits it.
Matt Turner’s Rating: 7
“Tam uses a great amount of technical wrestling to set up her strikes and suplexes.”
@ MattTurnerOF on X
Pep’s Rating: 8.5
“No comment given.“
@ Peps_Wrestling on X
Fernando Ibarra’s Rating: 7.5
“No comment given.”
@ Jferimsw on X
OVERALL TECHNICAL RATING: 7.67
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s ability to perform at a high speed as well as their ability to perform high flying moves.
My Rating: 8
Tam isn’t a high speed competitor, but she’s been known to use some high flying in her matches which normally includes a dive from the top rope down to the outside on her opponents. She also uses her running knee the “Violet Shooting” on her opponents quite often which helps her rating quite a bit as well. Tam’s lack of fear when it comes to being a part of big spots is something I will always appreciate about her, because she was always willing to put it all out on the line.
Fernando Ibarra’s Rating: 8.5
“That dancing background is really useful.“
@ Jferimsw on X
Ryan Dilbert’s Rating: 7.5
“No comment given.“
@ ryandilbert on X
DaveTCS’ Rating: 8.5
“She might not be the fastest or the most athletic, but she can definitely move. Her dropkicks and spin kicks are impressive, as is her leaping ability from the top rope.“
@ Dave_TCS4Life on X
OVERALL AGILITY RATING: 7.80
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s ability to use submissions and chain wrestling as realistic looking offense.
My Rating: 7
Tam has good basic submissions, but I definitely don’t see her as a submission wrestler or anything like that. Obviously when you’re in the business long enough you pick up a few holds, but for me she was never someone I looked to for that type of style of wrestling. Her chain wrestling is pretty good though, especially when she’s in there rolling with another veteran of the ring.
FAR5222’s Rating: 8.5
“No comment given.”
@ FAR5222 on X
DaveTCS’ Rating: 8
“Not necessarily a pure grappler, but she can make every move look real. On a side note, she’s also one of the best sellers of the pain of being trapped in submission holds.”
@ Dave_TCS4Life on X
Matt Turner’s Rating: 7
“Tam has a few submissions in her arsenal most notably the hanging Dragon Sleeper and Northen cross/head scissors submissions”
@ MattTurnerOF on X
OVERALL GRAPPLING RATING: 7.47
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s ability to use strikes effectively as a realistic part of their offense.
My Rating: 8.5
I feel like one of Tam’s strongest attributes is actually her striking as she always used flashy kicks and is also known for her strong forearm smashes. Plus she’s definitely not afraid to get into a big time slap fight or throw her head towards her opponents with reckless abandon. I’m not sure she quite has the skill that some wrestlers with higher scores have, but she was always more than happy to stand there and trade with any opponents standing across from her.
Ryan Dilbert’s Rating: 8
“Some of the best slaps in the business.”
@ ryandilbert on X
Cult Of Joshi’s Rating: 9
“Have you ever seen a wrestler’s face after she’s been slapped by Tam Nakano? Yeah.“
@ CultofJoshi on X
DaveTCS’ Rating: 9.5
“An excellent striker. Her kicks are especially lethal.”
@ Dave_TCS4Life on X
OVERALL STRIKING RATING: 8.78
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s ability to use good psychology in their matches to make them make sense and tell a story.
My Rating: 10
Tam had some physical limitations when it comes to her athleticism and the such, but one thing she always seemed to excel at was telling good stories both inside and outside of the ring. There are few wrestlers in the joshi landscape who tells a story the way she does, truly making you feel like you’re watching an episodic television show, but way better than what you get to watch in American-based wrestling. While I haven’t always agreed with the outcomes to her stories, she’s never shied away from taking gambles, and believing in what she was cooking up. Inside the ring, she conveyed so many different emotions during her time in STARDOM especially and that’s simply not something a lot of people can do. Whether you needed serious drama, comedy, or a feud based on absolute hate, Tam could provide you with it, and make the person she was feuding with look even better in the process.
Fernando Ibarra’s Rating: 10
“When Tam tells a story, you sit down, watch and probably cry.“
@ Jferimsw on X
Cult Of Joshi’s Rating: 10
“Tam’s ability to tell a story in and out of the ring is unmatched. She always gets you invested, whether you want to be or not!“
@ CultofJoshi on X
Ryan Dilbert’s Rating: 9.5
“This is her greatest attribute. Nakano knows how to amplify the emotions of a match.”
@ ryandilbert on X
OVERALL PSYCHOLOGY RATING: 9.00
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s looks when it comes to marketability. This includes both their physical look as well as their wrestling attire.
My Rating: 9.5
There’s no doubt that Tam’s marketability isn’t all about what she does in between the ropes. She’s the “Top Kawaii in the Cosmos” for a reason, and those good looks is definitely one of her draws to bring in new fans. Her gear has always looked cool to me, even back when it was panda themed with black and white dominating the look. It went to the next level when she started adding in the purple as it quickly became the color she was known for. When she comes out with her awesome giant halberd or giant wand, she honestly looks like a character from the Koei (Dynasty / Samurai) Warrior games which hits home for me since it’s one of my favorite franchises. She shows that you can be cute, and be an absolute killer in the ring. I also know first hand that when she stares into your eyes face to face, it’s hard to look away!
Matt Turner’s Rating: 10
“Tam is in a class of her own when it comes to looks and presentation. Her gear on every show stands out and her entrance on big shows makes you feel like you are watching someone special.“
@ MattTurnerOF on X
Ryan Dilbert’s Rating: 8.5
“Tam exudes regality, and her gear is so theatrical and unique. Larger than life for sure.”
@ ryandilbert on X
Fernando Ibarra’s Rating: 10
“Beautiful in all aspects.”
@ Jferimsw on X
OVERALL LOOKS RATING: 9.51
Based On: 9 Creators & 21″Crowd” Entries
A wrestler’s natural star power when it comes to marketability. It also includes their ability to talk on the mic and charisma shown.
My Rating: 10
Tam Nakano is one of the most marketable stars that joshi pro wrestling has had in years, and that’s not by mistake. The woman worked her ass off to not only get herself and stories over inside of the ring, but also outside of it with her great use of social media, along with tabloids like Tokyo Sports. Her gift of the gab is truly special, and she made all of her fans truly “believe in Tam” anytime she opened her mouth. Tam’s star power is something that STARDOM will be missing for quite some time, and while Saya Kamitani has ascended up towards the levels that Tam was at, I’m not sure anyone else will be able to reach that level anytime soon. I feel like Tam Nakano’s star power will be talked about years in the future, but we’ll have to wait and see.
PlugPedro’s Rating: 10
“Legit one of the biggest stars and draws in joshi in the last decade. Whether or not her matches were gonna be good that show, she would always be the talk of the town by the end of it. She has been apart of Stardom’s biggest moments and she will go down as the biggest star to ever go out in her own way.”
@ plugpedro99 on X
Matt Turner’s Rating: 10
“Arguably the biggest joshi draw of this generation. Tam is responsible for the biggest gates in Sumo Hall, Korakuen Hall, Yokohama Arena, etc. Her impact on the sport is immeasurable.”
@ MattTurnerOF on X
Fernando Ibarra’s Rating: 9.5
“She could be the main character of any story and the top star of any company.“
@ Jferimsw on X
Cult Of Joshi’s Rating: 10
“Don’t make eye contact. You will fall in love.”
@ CultofJoshi on X
OVERALL STAR POWER RATING: 9.81
Based On: 9 Creators & 21 “Crowd” Entries
I was honestly thrilled with the turnout that we got for this “Joshi Wrestler Index” of Tam Nakano as the fans definitely showed up and showed out for this wrestler. It was the second highest turnout behind only the very first edition which was Sareee, as we were able to get nine content contributors including myself, along with 21 members of the community that wanted to give their thoughts on this awesome wrestler.
I always leave a text box at the end of the Google Form that the members from the community get to fill out so that they can put any comments they may have about the wrestler so that I can share those here in the article. This time we had quite a few people chime in with things like: “The Top Kawaii for life. The personification of hard work paying off”, “Though Tam possessed that 2nd stage, Super Saiyan mode the top echelon of joshi have, the most important aspect Tam brought is weaving a story. Even leaving into retirement, there was story written in the last few shots of Grand Queendom for Saya”, and “The purest storyteller and weaver of high drama.”
The biggest supporter of Tam out of everyone who left comments on her had this to say: “I feel like she’s 1 of 1 in terms of psychology. Like on paper, she shouldn’t even be rated by numbers, her psychology scale is something out of a forgotten rating system that died out and was forgotten thousands of years ago because she is incomparable to anyone else. Totally different level. In addition to her star power, Tam should unquestionably be considered a legend in joshi and will be missed greatly.”
Those are some pretty strong words for a great wrestler who will be remembered for a long time. With all of that said though, let’s take a look at her finalized ratings and see where she stacks up compared to the other wrestlers we’ve ranked thus far.
An overall rating of 8.43 is very high, and it places her third place currently out of the wrestlers that we’ve rated so far! When it comes to the different categories, Tam Nakano ranked: sixth best in power, fifth best in technical, third best in agility, fifth best in grappling, fourth best in striking, second best in psychology, second best in looks, and first in star power. As expected, while her physical abilities didn’t jump off of the page, the mental and marketability ratings really took over for her.
JOSHI WRESTLER INDEX OVERALL RANKINGS
- Sareee – Freelancer: 8.79
- Utami Hayashishita – Marigold: 8.57
- Tam Nakano – Retired: 8.43
- Momo Watanabe – STARDOM: 8.29
- DASH Chisako – Sendai Girls: 8.05
- Ryo Mizunami – Freelancer: 8.03
- Suzume – TJPW: 7.33
Thank you to everyone who decided to chime in on this edition of the “Joshi Wrestler Index” because having this much support really does mean a lot to me. This project is all about bringing the community together and seeing where everyone’s opinions lie on a certain wrestler. Stuff like this is fun for me, and hopefully it makes for a fun read for you as well. Like always, I’d appreciate if you give the wonderful content creators a follow by clicking their link below and supporting the coverage of the best pro wrestling in the world. Come back next time for another big edition as we’ll cover one of, if not, the greatest joshi wrestler of all time.
PlugPedro99 – Ryan Dilbert – Peps_Wrestling – Fernando Ibarra – DaveTCS – Cult Of Joshi – Matt Turner – FAR5222 – Myself
Next Wrestler Being Rated: Mayu Iwatani
Don’t let her jump to Marigold cloud your judgement on her skills
RESURA 