It has been announced that Japanese women's wrestling legend Bull Nakano (real name Keiko Nakano), who defeated Alundra Blayze (aka Madusa) for the WWE (then-WWF) Women's Championship in 1994 in Japan, has officially retired from the professional wrestling industry as of today, which is also her 44th birthday:

"Bull Nakano retired from professional wrestling on her 44th birthday, Jan 8, 2012"

WWE Champion CM Punk retweeted the message, while WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross commented on Nakano's retirement, saying that the WWE was "happy we got to book her."

Nakano made her professional wrestling debut in 1983 in Japan, and is also best known for her stint in the then-World Wrestling Federation, where she defeated Alundra Blayze for the Women's Championship at the Egg Dome at the Big Egg Wrestling Universe event. She held the title for five months before being fired from the WWF after being found in possession of cocaine. Nakano also had a brief stint in WCW, in which she continued her feud with Blayze (now known as Madusa) before ultimately returning to Japan. During her career, Nakano also competed in Mexico's CMLL promotion and became the company's first Women's Champion. In 2006, Nakano joined an LGPA golfing tour.

To honor the career of Bull Nakano, the video of her match with Alundra Blayze for the WWF Women's Championship has been posted below for all of you to enjoy: