NJPW Confirm Final For IWGP Women’s Title Tournament
The finals to crown NJPW’s first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion has been decided and will feature two of STARDOM’s top women’s wrestlers.
NJPW and STARDOM became sister promotions to each other after New Japan’s parent company Bushiroad bought STARDOM. As such, the two companies have cross-promoted in the past, but nothing on this level. STARDOM wrestlers have appeared on New Japan shows in recent years, and NJPW’s first big attempt at bringing women onto their roster was when Joanie ‘Chyna’ Laurer wrestled against a few wrestlers (including company legend Masahiro Chono) back in 2002.
A tournament began on October 3rd at NJPW Royal Quest to determine the inaugural champion. Per the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the finals will see Mayu Iwatani face Kairi (the former Kairi Sane) at Historic X-Over on November 20th.
The title’s name, IWGP, refers to the “International Wrestling Grand Prix”, which is the ‘governing body’ that oversees all of New Japan’s title matches and defenses. And like other NJPW titles, it will be defended globally.
Other matches scheduled for New Japan Historic X-Over include:
- Hiroshi Tanahashi & Utami Hayashishita vs. Hirooki Goto & Maika
- ‘Filthy’ Tom Lawlor & Syuri vs. Zack Sabre, Jr. & Giulia
- El Desperado, DOUKI, Starlight Kid & Momo Watanabe vs. Yoshinobu Kanemaru, Taichi, Matsupoi & Tam Nakano