Mercedes Moné Wins IWGP Women's Title At NJPW Battle In The Valley

And NEW...

By Andrew Pollard / February 19, 2023

NJPW

While so much of the wrestling world was busy watching Sami Zayn desperately try to defeat Roman Reigns for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title at Elimination Chamber last night, NJPW's Battle in the Valley event saw Mercedes Moné beat KAIRI to become the new IWGP Women's Champion.

In her first match since walking out on WWE last May, Mercedes picked up the win with her Moné Maker finishing manoeuvre.

A back and forth 26-minute affair, the former Sasha Banks took on a heel role in this contest, mocking her opponent and at one point even trying to put the Pirate Princess through a table. Unfortunately for Moné, that table attack would be reversed, though that wouldn't be enough to stop the Blueprint from eventually hitting the Moné Maker for the win.

Despite her heelish antics, Moné and KAIRI shared a post-match hug. It's also worth noting that Mercedes paid tribute to the late Hana Kimura with her ring gear and entrance attire.

Mercedes Mone & KAIRI embrace! Congrats to Mercedes. Your new IWGP Womens Champion!pic.twitter.com/DYBn5mBVEM
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) February 19, 2023

The full results for Battle in the Valley read as follows:

- Kushida, Volador Jr., Kevin Knight and The DKC defeated Mascara Dorada, Josh Alexander, Adrian Quest and Rocky Romero

- KENTA defeated Fred Rosser to become the new Strong Openweight Champion

- The Motor City Machine Guns defeated West Coast Wrecking Crew to retain the Strong Openweight Tag Team Championships

- Eddie Kingston defeated Jay White in a Loser Leaves NJPW contest

- Tom Lawlor defeated Homicide

- Zack Sabre Jr. defeated Clark Connors to retain the NJPW World Television Championship

- Mercedes Moné defeated KAIRI to become the new IWGP Women's Champion

- Kazuchika Okada defeated Hiroshi Tanahashi to retain the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship

Authored by Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks, Jamie Hayer, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.

Posted On: 19th Feb 2023