Yuria Tauchi (田内 友里愛 Tauchi Yuria, born March 22) is a Japanese professional wrestler currently signed to World Wonder Ring Stardom, under the ring name Tam Nakano (中野 たむ Nakano Tamu), where she is the leader of Cosmic Angels and the current World of Stardom Champion in her second reign, while also being a former two-time Wonder of Stardom Champion, having held the both the World and Wonder titles at same time while becoming the second person to do so, a former one-time Goddess of Stardom Champion and a current four-time Artist of Stardom Champion (with multiple different partners), as well as being the winner of the 2019 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.
Nakano began her career in the Actwres Girl’z promotion as an idol dancer in 2015 before training under Yuna Manase and making her debut as a professional wrestler in July 2016. Nakano left the promotion in 2017, and began to compete in World Wonder Ring Stardom as a freelancer before officially signing with Stardom in November 2017. Nakano, embraced on a cute (kawaii) pop idol gimmick and became one of Stardom's biggest and most accomplished stars, headlining Stardom's pay-per views multiple times.
Nakano is known for her bitter rivalry with Giulia that transected multiple Stardom pay-per-views until Giulia's departure from Stardom at the end of March, with their last match being on March 20, which ended in a time limit draw, with both women also teaming for one-time only on March 30, which they lost.
Due to her big popularity and reactions of the crowds, much also for her bitter rivalry with Giulia and due to her double title reign as both the World and Wonder of Stardom Champion, Nakano was the recipient of the 2023 Tokyo Sports Joshi Puroresu Grand Prize.
Early life[]
Tauchi began dancing at the age of 3 and eventually became a dance instructor in 2012. She joined the underground idol group known as Katamomi Joshi, and was active with them until April of 2015. In interviews since she has stated that she struggled a lot in the group, and would argue with management and go home crying most days. She then joined the group Infom@te, who performed before and during professional wrestling shows for the Actwres girl'Z promotion. Gaining some popularity as an idol and using her existing martial arts knowledge, in 2016 Tauchi began training to wrestle for the promotion under Yuna Manase, and made her professional debut as "Tam Nakano" (中野 たむ Nakano Tamu) in July 2016,
Professional wrestling career[]
Actwres Girl’z and freelancing (2016–2017)[]
On July 18, 2016, Nakano made her professional wrestling debut losing to Saori Anou. During this time, Nakano began continued to regularly compete in Actwres girl'Z. Nakano held a produced show along with Atsushi Onita for Cho Sento Puroresu FMW (FMW), where she and Natsumi Maki defeated Asami Hisato and Saori Anou. During the match, Nakano was caught in an explosion leading her to be rushed to a near hospital Despite the concern of those around her, Nakano himself was determined to continue wrestling in tthe match.
Nakano announced her departure from Actwres girl'Z on June 6, 2017, when she announced she would be leaving the promotion to become a freelancer at the end of July. Nakano’s first match as a freelancer took place 2 days later, when she and Manami Katsu defeated Miss Koharu and Miss Mongol.
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2017–present)[]
Nakano appeared at the World Wonder Ring Stardom show in Korakuen Hall on July 16, 2017, and announced her intentions to compete in the 2017 5★Star GP. On August 13, Nakano qualified for the tournament after defeating Natsuko Tora. Nakano finished the tournament with 1 win and two points, unable to advance to the finals. On September 9, Nakano turned heel for the first time in her career, joining the villainous Oedo Tai unit. In October, Nakano suffered an injury and was unable to compete, but continued to appear with Oedo Tai as a manager, and introduced her mascot, a stuffed panda known as Producer P. On November 1, Nakano officially signed with the promotion. On January 21, 2018, as a result of being the last person eliminated in a special Queen’s Quest vs Oedo Tai gauntlet match, Nakano was kicked out of Oedo Tai. She subsequently turned face and began teaming with Mayu Iwatani. On February 18, the duo unsuccessfully challenged Tam’s former stablemates Hana Kimura and Kagetsu for the Goddess of Stardom Championship. On April 1 at Stardom Dream Slam 2018 in Nagoya, Nakano teamed with Stardom ace Io Shirai to defeat Oedo Tai (Kagetsu and Sumire Natsu) in a blast exploding bat deathmatch. On September 30, Nakano, along with Iwatani and Saki Kashima, defeated J.A.N. (Jungle Kyona, Natsuko Tora and Kaori Yoneyama) to win the Artist of Stardom Championship, Nakano's firt title in professional wrestling.
As of the 2019 Stardom Draft, Nakano has been an active member of Iwatani's stable STARS. In the 2019 Cinderella Tournament, Nakano faced her old stablemate Kagetsu in the first round, with the two fighting to a time limit draw, thus both were eliminated. On May 16, Iwatani, Kashima and Nakano lost the Artist of Stardom Championship to Tokyo Cyber Squad (Kimura, Konami and Kyona), ending their reign at 228 days. On June 16, Nakano challenged Arisa Hoshiki for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, but was unsuccessful. Nakano, along with Iwatani and Kashima, won back the title on June 23,, however, lost it in the next month on July 20. On November 15, Nakano, along with Hoshiki, won the annual Goddesses of Stardom Tag League, when they defeated Bea Priestley and Jamie Hayter in the finals. After winning the Tag League, Hoshiki and Nakano challenged Konami and Kyona on November 24 for the Goddess of Stardom Championship, but were unsuccessful.
On July 26, 2020 Nakano challenged Giulia for the vacant Wonder of Stardom Championship, but was unsuccessful as Giulia became the new champion. On October 3, Nakano challenged Giulia again for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, however, was unsuccessful in the second time. On October 29, Nakano left STARS after turning on Iwatani, being subsquently joined by Mina Shirakawa and announced that a new member would join them. On November 15, Nakano revealed that Unagi Sayaka would join them in their new unit being named Cosmic Angels. On December 16, 2020 Nakano, Shirakawa and Sayaka defeated Oedo Tai (Bea Priestley, Natsuko Tora and Saki Kashima) to win the Artist Of Stardom Championship. On March 3, 2021 at All Star Dream Cinderella Nakano defeated Giulia to win Wonder of Stardom Championship, as result Giulia had to shave her hair. On October 3, Nakano, Shirawaka and Sakaya lost the the Artist of Stardom Championship to the team of Donna Del Mondo composed by Himeka, Maika and Natsupoi. On October 9, after Nakano went to a time limit draw against Mayu Iwatani for the Wonder of Stardom Championship, her stablemate Unagi Sakaya challenged her to a title match. On December 29, Nakano would lose her Wonder of Stardom Championship to Saya Kamitani.
From July 31 until October 1, Nakano took part in the 2022 5★Star GP, competing in the Red Stars block, which she won with a record of eight wins and four losses, advancing to the finals of the tournament. In the finals, Nakano was defeated by Giulia. On December 29, Nakano and Natsupoi lost the Goddess of Stardom Championship to Yuu and Nanae Takahashi.
On April 23, 2023, at All Star Grand Queendom, Nakano defeated Giulia to win the World of Stardom Championship for the first time in her career. May 27, at Flashing Champions, Nakano defeated Mina Shirakawa in a Winner Takes All match to retain her World Championship and also win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the second time in her career. On July 2, at Mid Summer Champions 2023, Nakano lost the Wonder of Stardom Championship to MIRAI, ending her second reign at 36 days. At Stardom x Stardom: Osaka Summer Team on August 13, Nakano successfully defended her World of Stardom Championship over Megan Bayne. On November 20, Rossy Ogawa announced that the World of Stardom Championship would been vacated due to the severity of Nakano's injury with a new champion being crowned at Dream Queendom 3 on December 29.
Nakano made her in ring return on February 4, at Stardom's Supreme Fight 2024, teaming with Yuna Mizumori in a winning effort against Moonlight Venus (Mina Shirakawa and Waka Tsukiyama). On March 10, 2024, at the second night of the 2024 Cinderella Tournament, after Giulia lost the Strong Women's Championship to Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia was ambushed by the members Oedo Tai; this led to bitter rival Nakano to go for the save. After saving her, both women embraced and left the arena. In the backstage area, Nakano and Giulia while both remebering their common past, Nakano requested Giulia one final match, which Giulia accepted. On March 20, Nakano and Giulia faced each other in a time limit draw. After the match, Giulia announced her departure from the promotion, both women berated each other before being seperated by the referee with Giulia making her farewell to Nakano. On March 30, Giulia along with her bitter rival Nakano teamed for the last time with them losing in a four-way match against the team of Saori Anou and Natsupoi, Oedo Tai's (Momo Watanabe and Natsuko Tora) and Queen's Quest's (AZM and Miyu Amasaki). On August 31, Nakano defeated Natsuko Tora to win World of Stardom Championship in her second reign.
Professional wrestling style and persona[]
Nakano's wrestling style revolves mainly around a technical, high-flying. and acrobatic approach, while also blending her kung fu background. Since joining Stardom, she began having a pop idol cute gimmick, with her often portraying herself as a pop idol, as well, often dancing based on choriogoraphies, as well as often posing in cute poses in resemblance to cute anime characters.
In 2020, her ring gear and hairstyle was designed to look such as pop idols, while Yuki Hero Pro Wrestling, the company that produced her gear, commented on their that they "worked hard and whatched Pretty Cure to make the cutest costume in the universe. Her theme song "Twilight Dream" was produced by her with the lyrics of the song reflecting her past background with Mayu Iwatani and her unit background.
Personal life[]
Tauchi is trained in kung fu and pays tribute to this with her ring attire and fighting style.
In March 2020, during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan, at lockdown, Nakano began making beauty and cooking videos on her social platforms under the hashtag "#僕の彼女は二冠チャンピオン" (translated to "My girlfriend is a double crown champion"), which had an impact on her and other Stardom wrestlers (mostly with the members of Donna Del Mondo), leading to real life grudge between her and fellow wrestler Giulia.
Tauchi released her first album EP with fellow wrestler Natsupoi as their meltear persona called "Tears Tail" on April 19, 2023.
Nakano also holds a license of fireworks operations.
In wrestling[]
- Finishing moves
- Twilight Dream (Bridging hammerlock tiger suplex)
- Violet Screwdriver (Vertical suplex piledriver)
- Violet Shoot (Running knee strike)
- Signature moves
- Andromeda (Cartwheel armbreaker takedown transitioned into a pin)
- Argentine backbreaker rack
- Cutter
- Destiny Hammer (Diving Knee Strike)
- Diving senton
- Handspring elbow
- Indian deathlock
- Moonsault
- Multiple suplex variations
- Fisherman
- Tenku Otoshi (Bridging high-angle German)
- Tiger
- Vertical
- Multiple kick variations
- Reverse roundhouse
- Sliding drop
- Soccer
- Sole butt
- Spin
- Super
- Running bicycle knee strike
- Tiger Driver (Double underhook powerbomb)
- Nicknames
- "Kagayaku Sutādamu Dorīmu" (Japanese for the "Shining Stardom Dream")
- "Uchū ichi Kawaī Aidoru Resurā" (Japanese for the "Cutest Idol Wrestler In The Universe")
- "Tampurin"
- Entrance themes
- "Violet Kung Fu Girl" by Eigenkreation
- "Twilight Dream" by Yuria Tauchi (Stardom; 2020-Present)
- "Double Frontier" by Yuria Tauchi and Natsumi Maki (used while teaming with Natsupoi)
Championships and Accomplishments[]
- Pro Wrestling Illustrated
- Ranked No. 76 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Female 100 in 2019
- Ranked No. 9 of the top 100 female wrestlers in the PWI Women's 100 in 2021
- World Wonder Ring Stardom
- World of Stardom Championship (2 times, current)
- Wonder of Stardom Championship (2 times)
- Goddess of Stardom Championship (1 time) – with Natsupoi
- Artist of Stardom Championship (4 times, current) – with Mayu Iwatani and Saki Kashima (2), Mina Shirakawa and Unagi Sayaka (1) and Natsupoi and Saori Anou (1, current)
- Goddesses of Stardom Tag League (2019) – with Arisa Hoshiki
- 5★Star GP Award (2 times)
- 5★Star GP Technique Award (2019)
- 5★Star GP Best Match Award (2020) vs. Giulia on September 13
- Stardom Year-End Award (6 times)
Luchas de Apuestas record[]
| Winner (wager) | Loser (wager) | Location | Event | Date | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tam Nakano (hair) | Giulia (hair) | Tokyo, Japan | All Star Dream Cinderella | March 3, 2021 |