Next title defense is set for Mayu Iwatani.
New Japan Pro-Wrestling announced that Mayu Iwatani will defend her IWGP Women's Title against Mina Shirakawa at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo on February 23.
STARDOM this weekend made it official that the IWGP Women’s Championship will be defended on February 23 at New Beginning in Sapporo, when Mina Shirakawa of E Nexus V will challenge the champion, STARD’ Mayu Iwatani.
Iwatani has held the IWGP Women’s title since April of 2023, when she defeated Mercedes Mone to become the third holder of the gold. Since then defences over Utami Hayashishita, Stephanie Vaquer and Syuri have folllowed over a title reign that is soon to surpass 300 days. Shirakawa is former Wonder of STARDOM Champion in her own right, and with desires to be the international face of the promotion, has issued a challenge to be the holder of the globally facing belt.
New Beginning in Sapporo now sees the first defence of the IWGP Women’s Championship in NJPW since Lonetsar Shootout in Texas this past November, and the first in a domestic NJPW event since Sakura Genesis 2023.
Here is the current lineup for NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo:
NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo (2/23)
- IWGP Global Championship: David Finlay (c) vs. Nic Nemeth
- New Japan World Television Championship: Hiroshi Tanahashi (c) vs. Matt Riddle
- NEVER Openweight Championship: EVIL (c) vs. Shota Umino
- IWGP Women's Championship: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
- El Desperado vs. SHO
- Los Ingobernables de Japon (Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi, Yota Tsuji, Hiromu Takahashi, and BUSHI) vs. SANADA, Taichi, Yuya Uemura, DOUKI, and Taka Michinoku)
- Toru Yano & Tomoya vs. ???
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