The NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over event that happened today (Nov. 20) in Tokyo earned the “Historic” part of its name in a few ways. It was the first time the two Bushiroad promotions have co-produced an entire show, it was billed as The Great Muta’s last New Japan appearance, and it featured the finals of the tournament to crown the first-ever IWGP Women’s champion.
In that final, KAIRI (who was known as Kairi Sane during her almost five year WWE run) emerged from the International bracket. Mayu Iwatani came out of the Japanese bracket, setting up a showdown between two old rivals who’ve held pretty much every title the joshi promotion has.
Mayu, who’s also been ROH's Women’s champ, controlled the early going and was able to work over the former NXT Women’s champion’s arm in the process. It made it difficult for KAIRI to utilize her submission finisher, but that just fired her up to fly from the ring post and press the action on the floor. Iwatani survived that, setting up a finishing sequence of nearfalls that saw KAIRI kick out of multiple Dragon Suplexes and Mayu kick out of several elbow drops.
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— njpwworld (@njpwworld) November 20, 2022
#新日本プロレス×#STARDOM Historic X-over⭐️
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第9試合 LEC 水の激落ちくんPresents IWGP女子初代王座決定トーナメント決勝戦@MayuIwatani @KAIRI_official‼️
初代王者となるのは⁉️
PPVの購入はこちら
⇒https://t.co/gQsxRkcYil
※購入には無料会員登録が必要#NJPWxSTARDOM #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/Pdm6AzOh9k
Finally, the Pirate Princess delivered a flying elbow her opponent couldn’t kick out of, and KAIRI captured the new title.
In an emotional show-closing promo, she issued a challenge for her first defense at Wrestle Kingdom 17. Tam Nakano accepted, and that’s one of two big matches that was announced here for Jan. 4 in the Tokyo Dome.
KAIRI made history at Ariake Arena tonight, but will have to meet Tam Nakano first on her championship voyage at Wrestle Kingdom 17!#NJPWxSTARDOM report: https://t.co/GbJEdTfUBR
— NJPW Global (@njpwglobal) November 20, 2022
Order the Historic X-Over replay now!https://t.co/PrwEF0w8B8 pic.twitter.com/tFlxBb570d
Here’s a full rundown of the results from Historic X-Over:
• Clark Connors, Alex Coughlin, Gabriel Kidd & Kevin Knight def. Oskar Leube, Yuto Nakashima, Ryohei Oiwa & Kosei Fujita
• MIRAI def. Ami Sourei, Saya Iida, Natsuko Tora, Hanan, Hina, Rina, Hazuki, Koguma, Momo Kohgo, Waka Tsukiyama, Saki Kashima, Ruaka, Miyu Amasaki, and Super Strong Stardom Machine in a STARDOM Ranbo
• CHAOS (Lio Rush, YOH, Tomohiro Ishii & YOSHI-HASHI) def. House of Torture (EVIL, SHO, Yujiro Takahashi & Dick Togo)
• Queen’s Quest (Saya Kamitani, AZM & Lady C) def. Donna del Mondo (Thekla, Himeka & Mai Sakurai)
• Giulia & Zack Sabre Jr. def. Syuri & Tom Lawlor
• Tam Nakano, Natsupoi, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru def. Starlight Kid, Momo Watanabe, El Desperado & DOUKI
• Utami Hayashishita & Hiroshi Tanahashi def. Maika & Hirooki Goto
• United Empire (Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis, TJP, Francesco Akira & Gideon Grey) def. Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, SANADA, Hiromu Takahashi & BUSHI)
• Kazuchika Okada, The Great Muta & Toru Yano def. United Empire (Jeff Cobb, Aaron Henare & Great-O-Khan)
• Will Ospreay def. Shota Umino to retain the IWGP United States championship
• KAIRI def. Mayu Iwatani to become the inaugural IWGP Women’s champ
On to the Tokyo Dome!
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