Shinobu Kandori

Real Name - Shinobu Kandori 

Birthdate - 11/3/64 

5'7" 165 lbs. - Yokohama, Japan

Athletic Background - Judo (Bronze Medallist)

Teacher(s) - (JWP Dojo)

Professional Background - JWP(`86-`87), UWA(`86-`87), Free/JWP(`88-`92), LLPW(`92-`04)

Aliases - none

Groups - none

Peak Years - `91-`95

Finisher(s) -

- Triangle Hold

- Cross Armbreaker

Favorites -

- Powerbomb

- Swinging Sleeper

- Fujiwara Armbar

- Tiger Driver

- Shotey

Ringwork Rating - 

Intangibles Rating - 

Place in History - During the third wave of joshi puroresu, there was no bigger star than judoka-turned-wrestler Shinobu Kandori.  After winning a bronze medal at the 1984 World Cup on top of three national championships, Kandori left judo (she always had a reputation for being hard-headed).  Her legitimacy was uncommon for pro-wrestling and she was an instant superstar.  JWP, the first rival to All Japan Women, had her to use as a top star with their deep roster.  However, she and Rumi Kazama began butting heads with management and left to form LLPW.  This new group with Kandori as their main star was a major factor in the series of interpromotional events that were the biggest women's wrestling events in history.  Kandori, the bad ass shooter, versus Zenjo's Akira Hokuto, was not only a great pairing, but the two had perhaps the greatest women's pro-wrestling match of all-time (and one of the best of all-time without the gendered qualifier).  It marked the high point of both of their careers and that particular generation of joshi puroresu stars.  The genre began declining and never recovered.  Shinobu Kandori found success in MMA, including a memorable series with Russian judoka Svetlana Goudarenko, but LLPW was never the premier company.  While it managed to outlast most of the others, the scene was ravaged the fall of pro-wrestling in Japan and has never recovered.  Kandori, however, found a new lease on life as a politician.  Following the legacy of Antonio Inoki, Atsushi Onita and, most significantly, Hiroshi Hase, she secured a seat in the national diet.  With her new career as part of the Liberal Democratic Party, Kandori put her pro-wrestling career behind her.  Shinobu Kandori is one of the most significant characters in the history of joshi puroresu.  No one carried her legitimacy and few could match her intensity.  Although she was the top star of a smaller company, Kandori maintained a status that allowed her to transcend and she worked several interpromotional matches and angles that were hot items.