The Minnesota based American Wrestling Association was still a very relevant promotion in the early 1980’s and winning that company’s World Championship meant something.  Many were shocked when a relatively unknown Austrian named Otto Wanz became their World Champion in 1982.

(Noriyo Tateno & Itsuki Yamazaki)

It is not argued that there were not athletic women in wrestling before the Jumping Bomb Angels; there most certainly was.  However, this was this female Japanese duo that became showcase moves that were not seen on American television before; by either men or women!  They were able to get over with the WWF audience despite not speaking English, nor being bombshells; they got over on their stellar ring work.  They were definitely pioneers in their field.  Had women’s wrestling evolved into more athletic contests instead of the “Diva’s” division, the work of Noriyo Tateno and Itsuki Yamazaki would be celebrated in the WWE today.

A capable Canadian wrestler who competed in numerous territories, Billy “Red” Lyons became best known to Canadian audiences as the host of Maple Leaf Wrestling.  He worked behind the scenes for the WWF, and was a decent broadcaster.  Any Canadian wrestling fan growing up in the Greater Toronto Area remembers Lyon’s “Don’t You Dare Miss It” catch phrase inviting fans to the local cards.  Fans of his wouldn’t miss watching his induction either.

Although the focus of the female portion of the Rock and Wrestling era centered on Cyndi Lauper, The Fabulous Moolah and Wendi Richter, people forget that it was Leilani Kai who worked the secondary Wrestlemania main event against Richter.  Kai was the dependable worker called upon when needed which would later be shown when she was paired with Judy Martin to give the Jumping Bomb Angels credible opponents.  She was also called to be the Wrestlemania X opponent against Alundra Blayze.  Kai was more important to women’s wrestling in the 1980’s than she ever got credit for.