Mariko Yoshida - Japanese Women Wrestling

Ring name(s) Mariko Yoshida
Billed height 5'4" (163 cm)
Billed weight 140.8 lbs (64 kg)
Born February 15, 1970,Hiroshima
Pro Wrestling Debut October 10, 1988

Mariko Yoshida, (born February 15th, 1970 in Onomichi, Hiroshima) is a female professional wrestler best known for her work with the ARSION wrestling promotion, where she was also head trainer.

Yoshida debuted for All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW or Zenjo) on October 10, 1988 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall in a match against Keiko Waki. Before her neck injury in late 1992 - which would cause her to miss two years of ring time - Yoshida was easily one of the best young stars in AJW, often showcasing beautiful Lucha Libre inspired aerial maneuvers to go along with her very good matwork skills.

 

In 1997, she left AJW to join Aja Kong's ARSION promotion, becoming their head trainer. There she was repackaged as a technical wrestling master, and was pushed as a major star. She has been nicknamed ARSION no Shinjutsu, or "ARSION True Heart". Forgoing the high-flying techniques of her run in Zenjo, her style in ARSION was centered around mat wrestling and submission holds derived from shoot wrestling, along with more elaborate lucha-inspired submissions.

In 2006, Yoshida was presented with the Cauliflower Alley Club's Future Legend Award, becoming only the second female after Cheerleader Melissa, to win this award.