Women’s Wrestling Pioneer Chigusa Nagayo Makes a Rare Return to the Ring at ‘Queen of Indies’

The 58-year-old is one of several oft-overlooked performers on Saturday’s card in San Francisco.

Women’s wrestling continues to climb to new peaks in the United States.

Mercedes Varnado is wrestling for New Japan Pro-Wrestling and Stardom. Trinity Fatu just appeared in Impact. AEW has a superb world champion in Jamie Hayter, as well as a secondary champ in Jade Cargill, and WWE is powered on a weekly basis by superstars like Becky Lynch, Bianca Belair, Rhea Ripley and Bayley. Yet there is still exponential room for growth. Considering that independent wrestling is the heartbeat of the industry, it is only fitting that the next cutting-edge card is Queen of Indies.

Run by Pro Wrestling Revolution and West Coast Pro, the show will take place on Saturday in San Francisco. The card features Chigusa Nagayo, a women’s wrestling pioneer and true star of the industry. She will wrestle in a trios tag match with Takumi Iroha and Sandra Moone against Lady Apache, Nicole Savoy and Karisma, marking a rare chance to see Chigusa step back between the ropes.

“First of all, I would like to show my sincere thanks to West Coast Pro and Pro Wrestling Revolution for Queen of Indies, which is giving me a chance to stand in their ring,” says Chigusa, speaking through a translator. “I am no longer active in Japan. Now I train and show respect to all the wrestlers in the ring with me. Yet if someone attacks me or my teammates, I can still get physical.”

Chigusa debuted as a professional wrestler in 1980 and has enjoyed a legendary 43-year career. Her commitment and approach to the craft served as an inspiration for aspiring wrestlers around the globe. She showcased a style of hard-hitting, raw brutality, paving the path for women to embrace violence in the ring. But for all her success, she never envisioned that her hard-hitting, intense style would help transform her into a legend.

“Practice makes perfect,” says Chigusa, 58. “There is no other secret to what I have accomplished. And to tell the truth, I wanted to be a doctor when I was young. But because of a family problem, I had to give up that dream, and that eventually brought me to wrestling. What I do now is to pass down what I have learned to future wrestlers.”

In addition to the trios match, Queen of Indies will also feature an eight-woman tournament to crown the first queen of the independents. The field includes Masha Slamovich, Hyan, Lady Frost, Dulce Tormenta, Billie Starkz, Unagi Sayaka, Mia Momono and Maria. The show is part of Gabe Ramirez’s vision to showcase the most compelling talent in the world to a hungry audience.

“It is important to shed light to the incredible talent that is being overlooked in our industry,” says Ramirez, whose show airs live on IWTV. “Our King of Indies has been a trendsetter to all the tournaments that have taken place since 2001, and we want to start the same with Queen of Indies.”

Ramirez, who also ran November’s King of Indies show, booked wrestlers from across the globe for Queen of Indies. His working relationship with Marvelous, a joshi promotion in Japan, played a key role in bringing such an array of talent known primarily in that country.

“Working with West Coast Pro Wrestling opened the doors to working with Marvelous,” says Ramirez. “This opened the door for me to bring them to the United States and have them on our work visas. My contacts with Mexico and lucha libre are my priority, and having both Japan and Mexico on this event is very special—and not often done at this level.”

Another key piece of the Queen of Indies show is Lady Apache, who is also in the trios match. She is a lucha libre star in Mexico, where she has wrestled for the past three decades.

Apache has starred in Mexican promotions AAA and CMLL, as well as across Japan, becoming the most decorated women’s wrestler from Mexico. She has overcome incredible obstacles throughout her career, including when women’s wrestling was outlawed in Mexico City. But she has helped blaze a trail for a new generation to succeed.

“I will make history facing Chigusa, an icon of Japanese wrestling,” says Lady Apache, the reigning Pro Wrestling Revolution champ, speaking through a translator. “I feel very honored by what I have achieved throughout my career, but specifically the acceptance of my work and the love of the public has been fundamental to leaving a mark in wrestling and being part of its history. And this match against Chigusa will fulfill one of my most important dreams.”

Chigusa’s arrival in the U.S. will hopefully further enhance her legend. She detailed the key differences between joshi and American wrestling, which continue to gain more similarities.

“When it comes to American-style wrestling, their performances are so outstanding,” says Chigusa, who has two students—Slamovich and Hyan—wrestling in the Queen of Indies tourney. “Japanese style, fine techniques are highly valued. When these two combine, hybrid wrestling will be born. By learning things that we both need, we will be able to build up a wonderful wrestling style we have never seen until now.”

Many point to the classic in 1985 against Devil Masami as the greatest match in her career, but she holds a different opinion. (“It was my Hair vs. Hair match with Dump Matsumoto in 1985—I believe this was the most unforgettable battle in women’s pro wrestling history.”) She now has the chance to bring a taste of her greatness to the U.S. on a night that will celebrate women’s wrestling.

Queen of Indies is pro wrestling in its purest form. Featuring stars of the past and present, as well as integral pieces of its future, it is a joy for Ramirez to share this card with the world.

“It’s an opportunity to see talent from Japan, America and Mexico,” says Ramirez. “Chigusa and Lady Apache are legends in this sport, and to have them together, on the same show, in the USA, that has never happened. That alone is worth the cost of a ticket, and you also have the tournament featuring the top fighters in the world. It is going to be a historic night for pro wrestling.”

Justin Barrasso can be reached at JBarrasso@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @JustinBarrasso.