Bull Nakano is well-deserving of her place in the WWE Hall of Fame

Opinions vary about the value of the WWE Hall of Fame, but as the biggest organization in the industry, there is importance that comes from being honored with that recognition. It’s especially important when women are highlighted by the company, which is why Bull Nakano’s announcement as a 2024 Inductee was met with widespread praise. Nakano is a trailblazer in this industry. Her legacy should be more well-known in the space and this award couldn’t be more deserved.

Bull Nakano retired nearly thirty years ago, hanging her career up in 1997 due to mounting injuries. But she’s someone whose legacy is still felt today, especially in Japan where women’s wrestling is a firm attraction, both in the country and beyond.

Nakano’s career was mostly spent in All Japan Women’s Pro-Wrestling, but it was her stints in WCW and WWF that put her on the map with most North American fans. Nakano’s presence as Alundra Blayze’s top foil helped the latter individual build her Hall of Fame career. That run in North America during the 90s gave fans a first look into what Japanese women’s wrestling was like. The ladies would put on some of the hardest-hitting contests in North America, matching their male Japanese colleagues and overshadowing the local talent. Nakano was a key part in that exposure.

Highlight videos of women’s matches from the 80s and 90s frequently float up on social media and Nakano was a dominant force from that era. Standing at 5’7” and billed at 201 pounds, Nakano was booked like a giant among her peers.

Nakano held multiple championships during her time. Most notable were her 917-day stint as the AJW Champion, 1,057-day run as the WWWA World Champion, and the 134-day run as the WWF World Women’s Champion.

The WWE Hall of Fame should look back at more pioneers and legends in wrestling, giving them their shine on the big stage. Bull Nakano fits perfectly in that role. Thankfully, she’s still with us to get that praise in person. She’s one of several women from decades ago who deserve more recognition for their work. Not only to women’s wrestling but professional wrestling as a whole. Well-deserved and long overdue.