For the first time in fifty years of New Japan Pro Wrestling, we will see the crowning of the IWGP Women’s Champion. Wrestlers from around the world and Stardom battled in a single elimination tournament, with Mayu Iwatani & KAIRI making the finals. These two are deeply entrenched in the history books of Stardom, with KAIRI also making a name for herself with a run in WWE.
Two of the ‘three daughters of Stardom’ make for a fittingly huge match to cap off this fantastic show. Only one can make further history tonight, and Mayu enters with a 3-2 singles record over KAIRI – giving her a slight edge. Add in that yesterday, KAIRI went 30 minutes with Saya Kamitani, and the disadvantage could be clear.
Icon Of Stardom vs. The Pirate Princess
The stage alone was immense, but the personal connection between them is what makes this potentially legendary. They’d shake hands, showing respect as this match began. Mayu would get a headlock in the middle of the ring, before being able to trip Kairi up and hit the dropkick to the face sending her to the floor.
Mayu would keep the pressure on, hitting a suicide dive to the floor – wiping her out. Back in the ring, Mayu would soar off the top rope with a shotgun dropkick, before another dropkick to Kairi on the ropes. The elbow would take a double stomp, followed by a knee drop and another stomp – before Kairi would roll to the floor to take a moment.
Kairi would get back into the ring, and right into the clutch of Mayu with a hammerlock. She’d get a bit of distance to move, and nailed a spear with the left shoulder. Kairi was able to follow up with some heavy handed chops to the chest, cornering Mayu before shooting her across the ring for a dropkick. Running neckbreaker would follow, before a battle up the ramp outside the ring.
Mayu would try and rush at Kairi for a kick, but was tripped with a drop toehold. Kairi would march up the ramp, before a running knee strike down the ramp. Back in the ring, Kairi would soar off the top rope with an elbow smash, before applying a headscissor hold. Mayu was able to fight free – before taking a spinning backfist and laughing it off before a strike to the face of Kairi.
Mayu Iwatani Is Not Human
Both would rise to their feet, and kept the hard strikes coming. Mayu would have nothing behind her eyes as she nailed a series of forearm smashes, before a brutal dropkick into the corner. Kairi would block the Springboard Poisonrana, placing Mayu in the tree of woe for the Marine Spike.
Mayu was able to counter, before the frankensteiner off the top rope. Kairi was placed in the drop zone, before a massive frog splash for a two count. A moonsault attempt would be avoided, with Kairi rolling towards the corner – causing Mayu to get nothing but canvas. Mayu would be speared into the corner, before The Anchor would be applied – but Mayu survived.
The elbow drop from Kairi was well scouted, with Mayu rolling to the floor. Kairi would instead hit a flying crossbody down to the floor. Back in the ring, the Fallaway Slam into a bridge would be enough to get a two count. Mayu would take the Cutlass Strike, but entered that sick twisted place – refusing to drop before blocking a spear mid-air with a superkick.
Mayu would hit the tombstone piledriver and a bridging Dragon Suplex, before Kairi would finally drop her with a Cutlass Strike. Tokyo Slam would put Mayu in the drop zone before an elbow drop to the spine, with a second burying the stake into the zombie that is Mayu – which was STILL not enough.
Kairi Earns The Right To Be Called Champion
Kairi would ask why Mayu is still fighting, pulling her up in the middle of the ring for some heavy elbow smashes. Mayu would be able to work into a Crucifix Bomb for a 2.9999… count. Sliding D was blocked with a kick to the arm – before the Dragon Suplex was hit for the second time – with Kairi BARELY rolling her shoulder off the mat.
Another Dragon Suplex would put the feet of Kairi in the ropes, meaning no valid pinfall but another drop on the neck. Kairi would avoid a superkick and pin Mayu, but she’d bridge out. Rolling backfist in the corner would see Mayu crumble to the mat. The Icon of Stardom was in the dropzone, and the voyage was at it’s end, as Kairi hit the elbow drop for the victory.
Kairi is the first ever IWGP Women’s Champion – and not a single person can deny she earned it. She will defend that belt at Wrestle Kingdom, and a challenger will be named sometime in the next month. Who will face Kairi on January 4th? Tam Nanako would make her way to the ring, and accepted that challenge.
Who will leave Wrestle Kingdom as champion? Let us know what you think in the comment section down below.
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