Meiko Satumora announces retirement

Meiko Satumora has announced that she will retire from professional wrestling next year.

The former NXT UK Women’s Champion, who has been active for three decades in her career, will play her final match in April 2025 at the historic Korakuen Hall in Japan.

Satumora made her announcement via a post on X of Sendai Girls’ Pro Wrestling, a promotion she founded in 2005. Satumora, who is currently signed to WWE, revealed that her retirement streak will include a series of matches for Sendai Girls, beginning in September.

【#my name I hate my words】

Image: 皆さまへ。

📺放送中
┗ https://t.co/n6vsdaNuEM#SENJOphoto.twitter.com/SsvxgjbZPw

— センダイガ－ルズプロレスリング-SENDAI GIRLS PROWRESTLING- (@senjo2006) July 27, 2024

Satomura began working for the women’s promotion Gaea Japan in 1995, and her retirement marks the 30th anniversary of her wrestling debut. Satomura served with Gaea Japan until the promotion closed in 2005, prompting her to form Sendai Girls. In addition to her appearances for Chikara and World Wonder Ring Stardom, she also had a brief stint with WCW in 1996.

Satomura’s last match for WWE was in March 2023, in an NXT Women’s Championship match against Roxanne Perez at Roadblock. During her time in NXT, she competed in the Mae Young Classic and was the last to hold the NXT UK Women’s Championship, which she held for 451 days before it was merged with the NXT Women’s Championship. In her first match since announcing her retirement, Satomura is set to face Bayley at a WWE Live Event in Japan on Saturday, July 27.

Stars React to John Cena’s Retirement

Satomura isn’t the only veteran embarking on a retirement tour, as John Cena also announced that his final match will take place next year. While some of Cena’s former opponents have mixed feelings about the news, others are eager to make a name for themselves and challenge the 16-time champion in his farewell bout.