IWGP Women's Championship explained

Championshipname:IWGP Women's Championship
Currentholder:Mayu Iwatani
Won:April 23, 2023
Promotion:New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
World Wonder Ring Stardom
Created:July 29, 2022
Mostreigns:All titleholders
(1 time)
Firstchamp:Kairi
Longestreign:Mayu Iwatani
(+ days)
Shortestreign:Mercedes Moné
(64 days)
Oldest:Kairi
Youngest:Mayu Iwatani
Heaviest:Kairi
(115lb)
Lightest:Mayu Iwatani
(110lb)
Pastnames:
  • IWGP Women's Championship
    (2022-present)

The is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by the New Japan Pro-Wrestling promotion. The title is defended on shows promoted by NJPW in Japan, with talent from NJPW's sister promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom featuring as its primary contenders.[1] The inaugural champion was Kairi. The current champion is Mayu Iwatani, who is in her first reign.

History

Ever since New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) was founded in 1972, the company had never had a women's championship. On July 29, 2022, it was announced by Takaaki Kidani, owner of World Wonder Ring Stardom and former chairman of NJPW through parent company Bushiroad, that Stardom's roster would compete for NJPW's first-ever women's championship, the IWGP Women's Championship, at the co-promoted event Historic X-Over, set to take place on November 20.[2] [3] The title is promoted as being managed by the IWGP Championship Committee, NJPW's kayfabe governing body.

On August 23 at the press conference for Historic X-Over, the dates and venues for the inaugural tournament were announced. The tournament featured seven wrestlers, with four Stardom wrestlers and three foreign wrestlers participating in the tournament with the finals taking place on November 20.[4] On August 27, four representatives from certain stables of Stardom (referred to by the promotion as "units") were decided to compete in the four available slots. The representatives were Giulia (Donna Del Mondo), Mayu Iwatani (Stars), Starlight Kid (Oedo Tai), and Utami Hayashishita (Queen's Quest).[5] The representatives either picked themselves or appointed another unit member to furtherly compete for the title. On November 20, at Historic X-Over, Kairi became the inaugural champion after defeating Iwatani in the finals. The title was defended for the first time on January 4, 2023, where Kairi retained the title over Tam Nakano during the first night of Wrestle Kingdom 17.[6]

Inaugural championship tournament (2022)

Belt design

The design of the IWGP Women's Championship belt was inspired by the design of the second-generation IWGP Heavyweight Championship, which was presented to the former champion Shinya Hashimoto during his 489 days reign in 1996.[7]

Reigns

As of,, there have been three reigns between three champions. Kairi was the inaugural champion. She is also the oldest champion at 34 years old, while Mayu Iwatani is the youngest at 30. Iwatani's reign is the longest at + days, while Mercedes Moné's reign is the shortest at 64 days.

Iwatani is the current champion in her first reign. She won the title by defeating Moné at All Star Grand Queendom on April 23, 2023, in Yokohama, Japan.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: STARDOM, NJPW Announce IWGP Women's Championship. Fightful. Scott. Edwards. July 29, 2022. July 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20230301145537/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/stardom-njpw-announce-iwgp-women-s-championship. March 1, 2023. live.
  2. Web site: NJPW & STARDOM creating IWGP Women's Championship The title will primarily be defended on NJPW events.. Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Ethan. Renner. July 29, 2022. July 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20230127140305/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-stardom-creating-iwgp-womens-championship. January 27, 2023. live.
  3. Web site: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/stardom/4352204/. ja:【スターダム】「IWGP女子王座」新設し11月20日に初代王者決定戦 海外でも防衛戦を. tokyo-sports.co.jp. Tokyo Sports. Japanese. July 29, 2022. July 29, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20230415141402/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/232104. April 15, 2023. live.
  4. Web site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4d_yFEWY2k&t=793s. ja:【8/23(火)14:00~】11・20『Historic X-over』有明アリーナ大会 記者会見 #STARDOM. youtube.com. World Wonder Ring Stardom. Japanese. August 23, 2022. August 23, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105105513/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4d_yFEWY2k&t=793s. November 5, 2022. live.
  5. Web site: https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/stardom/4407272/. ja:【スターダム】IWGP女子出場ユニットがくじ引きで決定 CAとゴッズアイ落選. tokyo-sports.co.jp. Tokyo Sports. Japanese. August 27, 2022. August 27, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221105105514/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/233150. November 5, 2022. live.
  6. Web site: 2023.01.04 Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Tokyo Dome. January 4, 2023. New Japan Pro-Wrestling.
  7. Web site: Sai. Mohan. Design Unveiled For IWGP Women's Championship. Wrestling Inc.. February 1, 2023. April 22, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230427151914/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/978022/design-unveiled-for-iwgp-womens-championship/. April 27, 2023. live.