Finals Set To Crown First Ever IWGP Women's Champion

The finals of the IWGP Women's Title tourney could be a Match of the Year candidate.

Oct 23, 2022 October 23rd, 2022

With New Japan Pro-Wrestling and World Wrestling Ring Stardom having introduced the IWGP Women's Title, we now know which two competitors will be squaring off to crown the first ever IWGP Women's Champion.

Today's Goddess of Stardom Tag League 2022 event saw KAIRI vs. Mayu Iwatani set in motion to crown the inaugural IWGP Women's Champion at NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over next month.

At Night 1 of Goddess of Stardom Tag League, KAIRI bested Jazzy Gabert to earn herself a spot in the Women's Title tournament finals. Likewise, Mayu defeated Utami Hayashashita to earn her place up against KAIRI.

NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over will take place from on 20 November from Tokyo's Ariake Arena. At present, the line-up for that event reads as follows:

- Suzuki-gun's Taichi and Yoshinobu Kanemaru & meltear's Tam Nakano and Natsupoi vs. Suzuki-gun's El Desperado and Douki & Black Desire's Starlight Kid and Momo

- Hiroshi Tanahasa and Utami Hayashishita vs. Hirooki Goto and Maika

- Tom Lawler and Syuri vs. Zack Sabre Jr. and Giulia

- KAIRI vs. Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women's Title

Whoever emerges vicious in that KAIRI vs. Mayu match will see their first title defence take place at Wrestle Kingdom 17 in January. From there, the current plan is for the IWGP Women's Championship to be defended in both Japan and the US by STARDOM talent.

Andrew Pollard

Senior Writer

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