Aja Kong

Erika Shishido (宍戸 江利花, Shishido Erika, born September 25, 1970) is a Japanese professional wrestler better known by her ring name Aja Kong (アジャ・コング, Aja Kongu). She is the founder of the Arsion all-women professional wrestling promotion and has won several championships in both singles and tag team divisions throughout her career, primarily while with All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling.[6]

Aja Kong
Kong in November 2019
Birth nameErika Shishido (宍戸 江利花, Shishido Erika)
Born (1970-09-25) September 25, 1970[1][2]
Akishima, Tokyo, Japan
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)Aja Kong
Aja Shishido[3]
AmeErika[4]
Erika
Billed height1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Billed weight103 kg (227 lb)[1]
Billed fromTokyo Tachikawa[1]
Trained byJaguar Yokota[5]
Debut1986[1]

Early life

Born Erika Shishido, her mother is Japanese and her father is Henry Manigault (deceased),[7] an African-American man who worked for US Army at Tachikawa Airfield.[8] Although her parents were de facto married, they were forced to divorce when Erika was five years old, due to her father's sudden repatriation and grew up in a single-mother family. Her mother was ostracized by all her relatives who did not like her relationship with Erika's father.

Erika and her mother moved from Tachikawa to Akishima, Tokyo when Erika was in the 5th grade of elementary school. Erika started learning karate at the recommendation of her mother from elementary school. Erika was teased for her "mixed blood" and had fights almost daily, and she continued to suffer from serious bullying up until she graduated from junior high school. She was part volleyball club in her junior high school.

Professional wrestling career

All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (1986–2005)

Shishido was trained by All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling (AJW) and graduated as part of their class of 1986. She made her debut that summer against Noriyo Toyoda.[1] She immediately joined Dump Matsumoto's heel stable Gokuaku Domei ("Atrocious Alliance"), along with classmate and tag team partner Nobuko Kimura. After the stable dissolved in 1988 due to Matsumoto's retirement, Shishido and Kimura went their separate ways, but re-formed in 1990 as Jungle Jack. Now called Aja Kong and Bison Kimura, they entered a two-year feud against their former allies Bull Nakano and her heel stable Gokumon-to. During their partnership they won the WWWA World Tag Team Championship twice. They lost a hair versus hair match on January 11, 1991, resulting in both women being shaved bald.

Kong herself also pursued Nakano for the WWWA World Single Championship during the early 1990s. She failed in several attempts before finally achieving her goal on November 15, 1992, ending Nakano's three-year reign.

World Wrestling Federation (1995)

In 1995, Kong made an appearance in the American World Wrestling Federation (WWF) as the sole survivor of a women's elimination match at the pay-per-view Survivor Series by pinning all 4 members of her opposing team, including WWF Women's Champion, Alundra Blayze.[9] Kong also appeared on two episodes of Monday Night Raw and was victorious in both bouts. During one bout, she broke the nose of Chaparita Asari.

Kong was being built up as a challenger for the WWF Women's Championship held by Alundra Blayze. Kong was scheduled to face Blayze at the Royal Rumble pay-per-view in January 1996, but the company elected to end its women's division after Alundra Blayze showed up on WCW Monday Nitro with the WWF Women's championship and threw the belt into a garbage can.

Arsion (1997–2004)

In 1997, Kong left AJW and started the independent promotion Hyper Visual Fighting Arsion (usually referred to as simply Arsion). She led the organization until February 12, 2001, when she walked out of a tag team match and announced she was quitting.

Freelance in Japan (2004-present)

On April 30, 2004 at the joshi promotion Gaea Japan's event Limit Break, Kong wrestled Amazing Kong in the latter's Japanese debut.[10] Later in the night, the duo formed a tag team called W Kong.[10] The duo defeated Chigusa Nagayo and Lioness Asuka for the AAAW Tag Team Championship on May 5.[11] The team defended the championship all summer, eventually losing to Manami Toyota and Carlos Amano on September 20.[12] They also held tag team championships in Japanese women's promotions AJW and Ladies Legend Pro-Wrestling. On June 6, 2006, wrestling as Erika and Margaret, the team defeated Wataru Sakata and Ryoji Sai for the Hustle Super Tag Team Championship. They lost the titles on October 9, 2006 to American tag team Bubba Ray and Devon in a three-way match which also included the team of Sodom and Gamora. On August 26, 2015, Kong reformed the W Kong tag team with Amazing Kong.[13]

Kong also wrestled for Mayumi Ozaki's promotion, Oz Academy where she is affiliated with the Jungle Jack 21 stable.[1] She has also held the promotion's championship.

Freelance in the United States (2011-2012, 2017-2019)

In December 2011, Kong took part in American promotion Chikara's JoshiMania weekend, losing to Sara Del Rey in the main event of night one on December 2.[14] The following day, Kong defeated Ayako Hamada in the main event.[15] On the third and final night of the tour, Kong teamed with Mio Shirai and Tsubasa Kuragaki to defeat Hanako Nakamori, Manami Toyota and Sawako Shimono in a six-woman tag team match.[16]

Kong returned to the United States on April 11, 2015, working for Shimmer Women Athletes.[17] Kong was brought in as a surprise to take part in Tomoka Nakagawa's retirement event.[18]

On November 11, 2017, Kong returned to Shimmer Women Athletes joining the Trifecta heel stable with Mercedes Martinez and Nicole Savoy to replace the recently departed (for WWE) Shayna Baszler and appeared in matches the following night as well.

All Elite Wrestling (2019, 2021)

On May 25, 2019, Kong made her All Elite Wrestling (AEW) debut, as she teamed with Emi Sakura and Yuka Sakazaki where they unsuccessfully challenged the team of Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Mizunami.[19] In February 2021, Kong was announced as a participant in a tournament for the AEW Women's World Championship as part of the Japanese bracket. Kong made it to the semi-finals, where she lost to Mizunami after being counted out.[20]

Personal life

Shishido's mother is Japanese and her father, who served in the military,[21] is African American.[21] Shishido has a half brother and sister via her father. She also has 2 nieces and 2 great nieces.

Championships and accomplishments

References
  1. "Aja Kong's profile". Oz Academy. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  2. Powell, Jason (September 25, 2015). "WWE lineups for Toronto, Rochester, Cleveland, Syracuse, Erie (correspondents needed), ROH in New York and Pennsylvania (correspondents needed), Jimmy Garvin, Aja Kong". ProWrestling.net. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  3. "The Best Tag Team League 1989". Pro Wrestling History. Retrieved 2017-07-25.
  4. "AyakoHamada" 2005年. AyakoHamada.com (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-09-15. Retrieved 2013-04-05.
  5. Triggs, James (July 29, 2009). "CvC: Jaguar Yokota for Greatest Women's Champion". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on November 26, 2021. Retrieved October 20, 2023.
  6. "Aja Kong at Online World of Wrestling". Archived from the original on 2009-05-12. Retrieved 2007-10-20.
  7. In TV Asahi program "Anata ni aitai” (『あなたに逢いたい』 - "I want to meet you"), she searched for her father as part of her project, but because her father was a former soldier, they were not allowed to disclose information due to security issues and subsequently abandoned the search. Then at TBS broadcast of Information dramatic Mokugeki!, the subjected was revisited. They had discovered the identity of the man, but turned out he had already died.
  8. Pat, Laprade. Sisterhood of the squared circle: the history and rise of women's wrestling. ISBN 9781770413078. OCLC 954430292. Retrieved 2018-09-22.
  9. "AJA KONG MANHANDLES THE COMPETITION: SURVIVOR SERIES 1995 (5:03)". WWE. Retrieved January 28, 2016.
  10. "Limit Break April 30th Yoyogi gym". Gaea Japan. Archived from the original on 2014-07-14. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  11. "Junction May 5th Korakuen Hall". Gaea Japan. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  12. "New Energy = September 20, 2004". Gaea Japan. Archived from the original on 11 July 2011. Retrieved 9 January 2011.
  13. 因縁再燃…奈七永にＷコングが宣戦布告. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2015-08-27. Archived from the original on 2018-10-05. Retrieved 2015-08-27.
  14. Martin, Adam (2011-12-03). "12/2 Chikara JoshiMania Night #1 results". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-04.
  15. Martin, Adam (2011-12-04). "12/3 Chikara JoshiMania Night #2 results". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  16. Martin, Adam (2011-12-05). "Second report of Chikara JoshiMania Night #3". WrestleView. Archived from the original on 2011-12-06. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  17. Bentley, Martin (2015-04-12). "Shimmer Volumes 72 & 73 results from Berwyn, IL". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2015-04-12.
  18. Bentley, Martin (2015-04-13). "Tomoka Nakagawa retires and more: Shimmer Volumes 74 & 75 results". Pro Wrestling Insider. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  19. Powell, Jason (25 May 2019). "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho, The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. and Fenix for the AAA Tag Titles, Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes, Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Rae". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  20. Powell, Jason (February 22, 2021). "2/22 AEW Women's Championship Eliminator tournament results: Powell's live review of Yuka Sakazaki vs. Emi Sakura and Aja Kong vs. Ryo Mizunami in second-round Japan bracket matches, Tay Conti vs. Nyla Rose and Britt Baker vs. Madi Wrenkowski in U.S. bracket first-round matches". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved February 23, 2021.
  21. "Asiaweek". 17. Asiaweek Limited. 1991: cxlix. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  22. "All Japan Singles Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  23. "All Japan Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  24. "All Pacific Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  25. "WWWA World Singles Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  26. "WWWA World Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  27. "All Japan Women's Pro-Wrestling Hall of Fame". Puroresu Dojo. 2003. Archived from the original on 12 November 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-09.
  28. "Queen of ARSION Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  29. "Twin Star of Arsion Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  30. "Never Mind 2013". Dramatic Dream Team (in Japanese). Retrieved 2013-12-23.
  31. "Ironman Heavymetalweight Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved 2015-02-15.
  32. "AAAW Singles Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  33. "AAAW Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  34. "Hustle Super Tag Team Title". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  35. "JWP Tag Team Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  36. "OZ Academy Open-weight Queen Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  37. "OZ Academy Tag Team Title (Japan)". Wrestling-Titles.com. Retrieved August 3, 2015.
  38. "2011年ファンが選んだ Best Wizard". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on May 1, 2012. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  39. 2018年Best Wizard詳細～ファンの皆さまによるベストバウト＆MVP投票をじっくり発表！. Oz Academy (in Japanese). January 8, 2019. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  40. ファンが選んだベストバウト表彰式. Oz Academy (in Japanese). Livedoor. January 16, 2013. Archived from the original on April 6, 2023. Retrieved January 17, 2013.
  41. "2010年 Best Wizard". Oz Academy (in Japanese). Archived from the original on February 1, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2012.
  42. 【センダイガールズ・新宿】橋本千紘 アジャに敗れ王座陥落. Tokyo Sports (in Japanese). 2017-01-10. Archived from the original on 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2017-01-10.
  43. "Cagematch|World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana World Championship". cagematch.net. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
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