WWE Hall of Famer Bull Nakano will tell the story of her life in professional wrestling in a new autobiography, Bull Nakano: Monster, scheduled for release on January 8, 2027.
Nakano announced that Wani Books will publish the autobiography. The date carries added personal significance for the legendary wrestler, as January 8 is also her birthday. She described the book as a comprehensive account of a life devoted to professional wrestling, covering both her years in the ring and the period that followed her retirement.
The book is expected to include behind-the-scenes recollections of major chapters in Nakano’s career, including her battles with Aja Kong, her involvement with the Gokumon-to faction and the Golden Cage death match. Nakano also said she has written about her emotions, hardships and experiences that she feels she can discuss only now.
“My autobiography, ‘Bull Nakano: Monster,’ will be released on January 8, 2027, by Wani Books!” Nakano wrote. “Thirty years after my retirement, I will reveal the secrets behind the scenes of my time in the ring, including my battles with the ‘Bad Ass’ Aja Kong, the ‘Gokumon-to’ faction, and the ‘Golden Cage’ death match.”
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A career story told in Nakano’s own words
Nakano’s announcement makes clear that Monster will not be limited to a chronological review of matches and accomplishments. She intends for the book to address the reality behind a career that made her one of the most recognizable and intimidating figures in women’s wrestling.
Her in-ring presentation was built around a dominant, forceful presence. The name Bull Nakano itself became synonymous with a larger-than-life persona, one capable of standing apart in an era filled with distinct personalities and fierce competition. Yet her statement suggests that readers will also see the internal side of that journey: the thoughts, pressures and struggles that existed beyond the public image.
“I will also share my thoughts and struggles during that time,” Nakano said. “I have written about the good times and the hard times, as well as things I can only talk about now. I have also opened up about my life after retirement.”
That framing gives the autobiography a potentially wide scope. It will look back on major rivalries and factions, but it will also address the consequences of building a career in a physically demanding, intensely competitive industry. Nakano’s decision to include life after wrestling is especially notable, as retirement can be a major transition for performers whose identity and public legacy have been shaped by the ring.
The book’s title, Monster, reflects the enduring image associated with Nakano’s career. It is a fitting label for a wrestler whose presence, style and reputation helped make her a standout across multiple stages of the wrestling world. At the same time, her announcement points toward a more personal account than the title alone might imply.
Aja Kong, Gokumon-to and the Golden Cage death match
Among the specific subjects Nakano identified are her matches against Aja Kong. Their rivalry remains one of the most significant points she has chosen to revisit, and Nakano referred to Kong as the “Bad Ass” Aja Kong in her announcement. The inclusion of those encounters indicates that Monster will revisit some of the defining competitive conflicts associated with her career.
Nakano will also discuss Gokumon-to, the faction tied to an important period of her professional wrestling story. Factions often become central to how fans remember a wrestler’s character, alliances and rivalries, and Nakano’s decision to address Gokumon-to directly should provide her perspective on that part of her time in the business.
Another chapter expected to be covered is the Golden Cage death match. Nakano specifically named the match while describing the material in the autobiography, placing it among the memories and experiences she intends to explore in detail. The reference signals that the book will not avoid the more extreme or distinctive elements of the era in which she performed.
Rather than simply revisiting these events as highlights, Nakano has indicated that she wants to explain what happened behind the scenes and how she felt during those moments. That distinction could be central to the appeal of the autobiography. Wrestling history is frequently remembered through famous matches, characters and results, but performers’ accounts can offer a different view of the circumstances surrounding those events.
Honoring a life dedicated to professional wrestling
Nakano described Monster as a compilation of her life, emphasizing that professional wrestling was not merely one phase of her career but something to which she dedicated herself. The announcement is therefore positioned as both a career retrospective and a personal memoir.
“This book is a compilation of my life, which I dedicated to professional wrestling,” Nakano said. “I hope fans who enjoyed my career and those who support the current generation of female wrestlers will enjoy it.”
That message recognizes two audiences. The first is the longtime fan base that followed Nakano during her active years and remembers the major rivalries, stipulations and factions she named. The second is made up of supporters of today’s women’s wrestling scene, who may know Nakano primarily through her historical standing, her influence or her later honors.
Her career provides a bridge between those audiences. Fans who watched her compete can revisit familiar landmarks through her own recollections, while newer viewers will have an opportunity to learn more about the person behind an influential wrestling legacy. Autobiographies can be especially valuable in that respect because they preserve the voice of the performer rather than leaving their history to be told solely through match footage, statistics or secondhand memories.
Nakano wrestled for more than 30 years before retiring from the business in November 2017. Across that long span, she established a legacy strong enough to remain a major point of reference when discussions turn to the history of women’s professional wrestling. Her upcoming book will give her a platform to look back on both the celebrated and difficult periods of that journey.
WWE Hall of Fame recognition followed in 2024
Nakano’s place in wrestling history was further recognized when she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2024. The honor brought additional attention to a career that had already earned enduring respect from fans and fellow performers.
The Hall of Fame induction underscored the scale of Nakano’s impact and placed her work before a global audience. For many WWE viewers, it also offered a prominent reminder of the influence that wrestlers from outside the company’s regular historical narrative have had on the wider industry. Nakano’s career was defined by the kind of presence and performances that could resonate across generations and promotions.
With Monster arriving after that recognition, the autobiography has the potential to serve as a significant next chapter in how Nakano’s story is documented. Hall of Fame honors celebrate achievement, but a memoir can offer something more intimate: the opportunity for the honoree to explain the personal cost, ambition and determination behind the accomplishments.
Nakano has promised reflections on the good times and the hard times alike. That balance is likely to be one of the book’s most important qualities. Wrestling careers are often remembered through triumphs, iconic images and landmark matches, but the difficult moments are also part of the story. By addressing both, Nakano appears prepared to present a fuller picture of her life.
Release date set for Nakano’s birthday
Bull Nakano: Monster will be released on January 8, 2027, through Wani Books. The birthday release gives the project a symbolic personal touch and turns the launch into a celebration of Nakano’s life as well as her professional accomplishments.
For fans of Nakano, the autobiography promises new context around the events and opponents that helped define her legacy. For readers interested in the evolution of women’s wrestling, it will offer the perspective of a major figure whose career extended over decades and whose influence remains visible in the respect she continues to receive.
Nakano has asked fans to stay tuned as the release approaches. With battles against Aja Kong, Gokumon-to, the Golden Cage death match, her struggles during her active career and her life after retirement all set to be addressed, Monster is positioned as a detailed look at the wrestler behind one of the most formidable personas in professional wrestling history.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.