Keiko Aono (青野敬子, Aono Keiko) is a Japanese retired professional wrestler best known for her tenure with the defunct Japanese promotions JWP Joshi Puroresu, Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling and World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana.[3]

Keiko Aono
Aono in August 2010
Born (1973-04-08) April 8, 1973 (age 51)[1]
Kadoma, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)ECO
Haruyama #5
Keiko Aono
Keito
Santa ECO
Santa Keito
Billed height163 cm (5 ft 4 in)[2]
Billed weight70 kg (154 lb)
Debut1996
Retired2018

Professional wrestling career

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Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling (1996–2002)

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Aono shared a six-year tenure with Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling.

All Japan Women's Pro Wrestling (1996–2001)

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Due to LLPW holding various partnerships with many of the promotions from the Japanese independent scene, Aono briefly competed in All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling. She made her first appearance in the promotion at AJW Women's Pro-Wrestling Dream Future on May 18, 1996, where she teamed up with Sayuri Okino in a losing effort against Chihiro Nakano and Makie Numao.[4] At AJPW/LLPW a cross-over event promoted on March 10, 1999, Aono teamed up with Megumi Sato to unsuccessfully challenge Kayo Noumi and Miho Wakizawa for the AJW Tag Team Championship.[5] At AJW Odaiba W Explosion on July 11, 1999, she unsuccessfully challenged Kumiko Maekawa for the All Pacific Championship.[6]

Wrestle Association R (1995–2000)

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Aono competed as a female talent in Wrestle Association R. She made her first appearance at WAR LIVE-WAR-RISE '95 on June 2, 1995, where she teamed up with Jen Yukari in a losing effort against Eagle Sawai and Michiko Omukai.[7] She competed in several of the promotion's notable events such as WAR 8 Years Later Anniversary from July 13, 2000, where she teamed up with Shinobu Kandori to defeat Harley Saito and Noriyo Tateno.[8]

JWP Joshi Puroresu (2004–2016)

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Aono evolved in JWP Joshi Puroresu regularly between 2004 and 2011, and part time until 2016. She is a former JWP Tag Team Champion and Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Champion, titles which she won and defended together at JWP Osaka Pure Fire !! 2 on January 25, 2009, by teaming up with long-time tag team partner Yumiko Hotta by defeating Ran Yu-Yu and Toshie Uematsu.[9] She competed in various of the promotion's signature event such as the Natsu Onna Kettei Tournament, making her first appearance at the first-ever edition of the tournament from 2009 where she fell short to Toshie Uematsu in the first rounds.[10] At the 2010, edition, she teamed up wirth Asami Kawasaki in a losing effort against Kagetsu and Leon in the first rounds.[11] Aono competed in various other notable events such as the JWP Leon Produce ~ Leon 10th Anniversary from May 16, 2010, where she fought in a battle royal won by Mima Shimoda and also involving Command Bolshoi, Kazuki, Kaori Yoneyama, Sachie Abe, Sawako Shimono, Gami and many others.[12]

World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana (2011–2018)

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Aono spent seven years competing in World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana. During her time in the promotion, she chased for various championships promoted by it. She is a former World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Tag Team Champion, title which she won alongside Yumiko Hotta by defeating Kaoru Ito and Tomoko Watanabe at Diana 2nd Anniversary on April 24, 2013.[13] At a house show promoted on December 18, 2016, she unsuccessfully challenged reigning champion Jaguar Yokota and Mima Shimoda for the World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana Queen Elizabeth Championship, title contested for only in three-way matches.[14] She previously reached the world title scene as she unsuccessfully challenged Kaoru Ito for the World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Championship at a house show from July 26, 2015.[15] Aono competed in events produced for herself such as the Diana Keiko Aono 20th Anniversary from February 9, 2014, where she gauntlet match won by Alexander Otsuka and also involving Aliya, Megumi Yabushita, Kayoko Haruyama, Madoka and others.[16]

Aono retired from professional wrestling at Diana Kyoko Inoue 30th Anniversary on October 7, 2018, where she fell short to Chikayo Nagashima in singles competition.[17]

Independent scene (2011–2018)

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While competing as part of Diana's roster, Aono often evolved in the Japanese independent scene due to the latter promotion's partnerships. At Sendai Girls Dantai Taikou Flash Tournament, an event promoted by Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling on October 27, 2011, she teamed up with Diana promotion mates Annie Social, Jenny Rose, Kaoru Ito and Kyoko Inoue to defeat Team Freelance (Jaguar Yokota, Manami Toyota, Mio Shirai, Nancy Mari and Sakura Hirota).[18] At PURE-J Chase The Chance Vol. 4, an event promoted by Pure-J on September 30, 2018, she teamed up with Rydeen Hagane in a losing effort against Manami Katsu and Saki.[19] At BJW BJ-Style #20, an event promoted by Big Japan Pro Wrestling on September 17, 2018, Aono fell short to Kyoko Inoue in singles competition.[20] On one of Pro Wrestling Zero1's 2017 Tenkaichi Jr. festival nights from April 10, Aono competed as a female talent as she teamed up with Inoue in a losing effort against Aja Kong and Hiroyo Matsumoto.[21]

Championships and accomplishments

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References

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  1. ^ Saalbach, Axel. "Keiko Aono • General Information". wrestlingdata.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  2. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "Keiko Aono/Career Data". cagematch.de (in German). Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  3. ^ InternetWrestling Database (IWD). "Keiko Aono/Profile & Match Listing". profightdb.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  4. ^ Quebrada. "AJW Joshi Puroresu The Dream & Future 1st Junior All-Star War Commercial Tapes 5/18/96 Tokyo Ota-ku Taiikukan". quebrada.net. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "LLPW - 1999/03/10 (TV Airing)". archive.org. Wrestling History. September 25, 2021. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  6. ^ Quebrada. "AJW ATHENA Satellite TV 7/25/99 ODAIBA W EXPLOSION '99 taped 7/10 & 7/11/99 Tokyo Odaiba Fuji TV Studio". quebrada.net. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  7. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip. "WAR LIVE-WAR-RISE '95 - Tag 3". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  8. ^ TheSportsDB. "WAR/LatestResults/8 Years Later (13 Jul 2000)". thesportsdb.com. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  9. ^ BBM Mobile (January 25, 2009). 1/25 JWP Osaka Pure Fire!!2 大阪・デルフィンアリーナ道頓堀 観衆232人(超満員). bbm-mobile.com (in Japanese). Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  10. ^ (結果)10月4日(日)後楽園ホール. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. October 4, 2009. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  11. ^ (結果)8月7日(土)八王子学園都市センター・イベントホール. JWP Joshi Puroresu (in Japanese). FC2. August 8, 2010. Retrieved March 31, 2013.
  12. ^ Quebrada. "JWP JAPAN WOMAN PRO-WRESTLING 2010 DVD VHS". quebrada.net. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  13. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Champions and Championships/Diana Tag Team Titles". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (December 18, 2016). "Events/Diana". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  15. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (July 26, 2015). "Events/Diana". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  16. ^ Kreikenbohm, Philip (February 9, 2014). "Diana Keiko Aono 20th Anniversary". cagematch.net. Retrieved April 6, 2023.
  17. ^ Dark Angelita (October 11, 2018). "Diana: "Kyoko Inoue 30th Anniversary y Keiko Aono Retirement"". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  18. ^ Byers, Ryan (November 15, 2011). "Into the Indies 11.15.11: Dantai Taikou Flash Tournament (Part 1)". 411mania.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  19. ^ Ring Shop Pro (September 30, 2018). PURE-J女子プロレス Chase the Chance vol.4 2018.9.30 板橋グリーンホール. ring.shop-pro.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  20. ^ Dark Angelita (September 24, 2018). "BJW:"BJ-Style #20" Hama y Nakanoue, líderes en solitario". superluchas.com (in Spanish). Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Pro Wrestling Zero1 (April 10, 2017). ZERO1「被災した我々だからできる『プロレス力で熊本を元気にするぞ・2DAYS』-天下一jrリーグ戦. z-1.co.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved April 4, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  22. ^ Wrestling Titles. "Daily Sports Women's Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.
  23. ^ Wrestling Titles. "JWP Tag Team Title". wrestling-titles.com. Retrieved April 4, 2023.