While tonight might be about the NJPW roster, we have Stardom represented here tonight at Rumble on 44th Street. Mayu Iwatani will be part of the match to decide the first ever IWGP Women’s Champion later next month, but tonight will defend the SWA Championship against KiLynn King. Fans of AEW will recognize King from AEW Dark, and fans of NWA will recognize her as a mainstay of the women’s division.
King is no joke in the ring, and Mayu is going to really have to fight to remain champion. The SWA World Championship has a unique gimmick, with it only being defended against challengers from different countries. In addition to being the first Stardom championship match in a NJPW ring, it’s also the first NJPW match to have a female referee – so already making history.
KiLynn King Enters The Biggest Match Of The Year
King would lock up hard with Mayu as this match began, showing her power – before Mayu would be able to show her technical wrestling and speed. Mayu would end up in a front headlock as King showed her grappling skills, before being taken to her feet and into a side headlock. King would hold on tight as Mayu tried to break the hold, and was sent off the ropes the second time – with King coming back with a shoulder tackle.
Mayu would cut King down to size, and nailed a running dropkick. King would look for a scoop slam, before a knife edge chop in the corner would punish the champion. Mayu had lost control of the pace of the match, as King hit a scoop slam for a two count. King would hit a forearm to the face, before sending Mayu off the ropes – and halting a Sunset Flip before Mayu got a pinfall attempt.
Mayu would be able to use her speed to strike King down, setting up a stiff dropkick on the bottom rope. King would roll to the floor, and Mayu kept the pressure on with a Torpedo Suicide Dive – driving King into the stairs. Back in the ring, King would gain some control and looked for a superplex – but Mayu was able to fight free and hit a shotgun dropkick off the middle rope for a one count.
Mayu would look for a Dragon Suplex, and King broke free before taking a back elbow and a superkick. King fell in the splash zone, with Mayu coming off the middle rope with a double stomp. A moonsault would be teased, but King was able to roll away so Mayu got nothing but air and canvas.
Mayu Iwatani Shows Why She Is A Living Legend
King would hit a roundhouse kick to the head, before setting up the Pumphandle Bomb. Mayu would slip free, but would be slammed onto the Lion Mark with a One Arm Powerbomb – barely kicking out before three. The damage was adding up on the champion, and she’d throw some desperate forearm smashes – before a chop to the throat and double axe smash to the back.
A deep cover would get King a two count, and a spin out Pumphandle Slam would again see Mayu kick out. King would show some frustration, as she grabbed a sloppy Fireman’s Carry – not securing the arms and taking elbow smashes to the head before a Crucifix Driver. King would hit a roundhouse kick to the head, before running into a Snap Dragon Suplex. Kneeling superkick would follow, before Mayu went to the top rope once again.
Frog Splash would follow, and King was still able to kick out. Buzzsaw Kick into Superkick would follow, with King asking for more and getting another kick to the jaw. Moonsault would follow, and King would stay down for the three count – Mayu remaining SWA World Champion.
Can Mayu Iwatani win the IWGP Women’s World Championship at Historic X-Over? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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