Yoko Arai (新井 陽子, Arai Yōko, born December 13, 1986) is a Japanese retired
professional wrestler better known by the
ring nameYoko Bito (美闘 陽子, Bitō Yōko). Bito initially made her in-ring debut in December 2010 for
World Wonder Ring Stardom and quickly became one of the most popular wrestlers in the promotion, until announcing her retirement from in-ring competition in November 2012. Bito came out of retirement and returned to Stardom in April 2016, and returned to the ring in June of that year, before retiring again in December 2017.
Professional wrestling career
World Wonder Ring Stardom (2010–2012)
Bito entered
Stardom's
professional wrestling dojo in 2010 with a background in
karate and
handball. She, along with
Mayu Iwatani and
Kairi Hojo was a member of the first graduating class of Stardom's professional wrestling school where she was trained by
Fuka.[4] She made her debut on December 31, 2010, wrestling Eri Susa to a time limit draw.[5] On January 21, 2011, in the main event of Stardom's first ever show, Bito defeated
Yoshiko for her first professional win.[6] Bito made Stardom her home promotion, and in July, she made it to the finals of the tournament to crown the first ever
World of Stardom Champion, where she lost to
Nanae Takahashi.[7] In November, Bito teamed with
Yuzuki Aikawa, her main rival, to take part in the tournament to crown the first ever winners of the
Goddess of Stardom Championship. In the final, Bito and Aikawa defeated Yoshiko and
Natsuki☆Taiyo to become the inaugural champions.[8] Bito and Aikawa held on to the championships throughout the rest of 2011 and into 2012. In August 2012, Bito challenged Aikawa for the
Wonder of Stardom Championship, where she was unsuccessful.[9] This would turn out to be Bito's last match before announcing her retirement in November of that year, citing neck and back injuries as her reason and subsequently vacating the Goddess of Stardom Championship.
Return to Stardom (2016–2017)
After a near four-year absence from professional wrestling, Bito announced her return to the ring in April 2016, and made her official in-ring return on June 16 at
Korakuen Hall, losing to Kairi Hojo.[10] In August, Bito took part in the
2016 5★Star GP, winning all but one of her matches and tying for first place. On September 11, Bito defeated
Kay Lee Ray in a tiebreaker[11] and made it to the final, where she defeated
Tessa Blanchard to win the tournament.[12] On October 10, Bito unsuccessfully challenged
Io Shirai for the
World of Stardom Championship.[13] On November 11, Bito teamed with Kairi Hojo to defeat Shirai and Mayu Iwatani in the final of the
2016 Goddesses of Stardom Tag League.[14] On December 22, Bito teamed with Kairi Hojo to win the Goddess of Stardom Championship for the second time in her career, defeating
Oedo Tai (
Kagetsu and
Kyoko Kimura).[15] On January 15, Bito and Hojo made their first successful defence against Kay Lee Ray and
Nixon Newell,[16] but dropped the title to
Hiroyo Matsumoto and
Jungle Kyona on March 5.[17]
On September 23, 2017, Bito defeated Mayu Iwatani to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship for the first time.[18] She lost the title to Io Shirai in her third defense on November 19 and afterwards announced she would again retire on December 24.[19]