2022 has been a massive year for New Japan Pro Wrestling. While celebrating their 50th anniversary, NJPW has made some major announcements – with the biggest being the creation of the IWGP Women’s Championship. Working alongside another company owned by BUSHIRoad in Wonder Ring Stardom – NJPW is bringing a major cross promotional event in November, and on that night – we will see the first ever IWGP Women’s Champion crowned. We now know the match that will decide that title.
KAIRI To Face Mayu Iwatani For IWGP Women’s Championship At NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over
During night one of the Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2022 – the two semi-final matches of the tournament would take place. Mayu Iwatani would defeat Utami Hayashishita, while KAIRI defeated Jazzy Gabert – putting the finals as Mayu vs. KAIRI. This is a big match, given the rich history both ladies have in Stardom.
Many will recognize KAIRI as Kairi Sane – having worked in WWE previously, where she won the NXT Women’s Championship and WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. She recently returned to Stardom, where she is a former World of Stardom & Wonder of Stardom Champion. Having won just about every prize in Stardom, Kairi adding the IWGP Women’s Championship to her trophy case would be huge.
Mayu Iwatani meanwhile would stick around in Stardom after WWE signed both KAIRI and Io Shiari. She remains one of the top stars in the company, with a title history to match that of KAIRI’s, with their last singles meeting in 2017 seeing Mayu defeat Kairi to win the Wonder of Stardom Championship. Some will see this finals match as an overly safe bet govern the history of both ladies, but they’re also sure to give a match to kick off this championship with a bang.
Other confirmed matches for this event include the following.
Syuri & Tom Lawlor vs. Giulia & Zack Sabre Jr.
Hiroshi Tanahashi & Utami Hayashishita vs. Hirooki Goto & Maika
Suzuki-gun (Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru) & Cosmic Angels (Natsupoi & Tam Nakano) vs. Suzuki-gun (DOUKI & El Desperado) & Oedo Tai (Momo Watanabe & Starlight Kid)
Are you excited for this event? Who will leave as IWGP Women’s World Champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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