"January 4th Stardom Gate"
January 4th (Thursday) TOKYO DOME CITY HALL (Attendance: 1536 people = Sold out)
Match Results
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| Yagami Ranna |
8 minutes 11 seconds |
Sayaka Kure ● |
| ○Yuzuki | Lady C | |
| HANAKO | Hinan | |
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| Hazuki |
9 minutes 21 seconds |
Starlight Kid |
| ○ Hanan | It's Fukigen★ | |
| Iida Saya | Rinnan● | |
| ◆Tag match 15 minutes 1 match | ||
| ○Mei Hoshirai |
8 minutes 42 seconds |
Mai Sakurai |
| Shirakawa Mina | Tekla ● | |
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| SAKI |
8 minutes 22 seconds |
Watanabe Momo |
| ○Saori Anno | Ryuaku Summer | |
| Mizumori Yuna | Tora Natsuko | |
| ◆6-person tag match 20 minutes 1 match | ||
| Kamiya Saya |
10 minutes 45 seconds |
Saki Kashima ● |
| AZM | Magnificent Ami | |
| ○Utami Hayashishita | MIRAI | |
| ◆Tag match 20 minutes 1 match | ||
| Megan Behn |
at 20 minutes and 00 seconds |
Suzuki Suzu |
| Maika | Julia | |
| ◆IWGP Women's Championship Match, 60-minute single fall match | ||
| <Champion> |
19 minutes 6 seconds |
<Challenger> |
| Iwatani Mayu | Juri | |
* Mayu Iwatani, the third champion, successfully defended her title for the third time
Match Details Report
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| Yagami Ranna |
8 minutes 11 seconds |
Sayaka Kure ● |
| ○Yuzuki | Lady C | |
| HANAKO | Hinan | |
Initially, the young trio from Queen's Quest, Lady C, Hinami, and Amasaki Mitsuyoshi, were scheduled to face the rookie trio of HANAKO, Yumizuki, and Yagami Ranna in a six-person tag team match. However, Amasaki was absent for several consecutive days due to illness. Newcomer Kurei Sayaka took Amasaki's place. This unexpectedly puts Kurei in competition with other rookie wrestlers of her generation. She will want to make the most of this opportunity. Also, the teamwork between HANAKO and Yumizuki, who faced each other in the Rookie King Tournament final the previous day, is a cause for concern. HANAKO's jealousy towards Yumizuki, who won the Rookie King title, is also a possibility... A new rivalry seems to be about to begin
HANAKO and Yumizuki, who entered first, were arguing about something. Yumizuki tried to force a handshake, but HANAKO pushed her away. Yagami then tried to calm them down and waited for the Lady team to enter. HANAKO asked for a handshake, saying, "Lady, please!" and the match started with these two. Lady put HANAKO in a headlock, and HANAKO threw her into the ropes, and they exchanged shoulder blows. HANAKO won the exchange, but Lady retaliated. HANAKO dodged a knee drop, but Lady also dodged the cover. Lady lifted Yagami up and did a giant swing10times. Hinami threw Yagami with a tomoe nage followed by an armbar. Hinami then gave Yagami a high body slam. Yagami countered and went on with a series of elbows. Yagami dodged Hinami's charge and hit a dropkick, a corner elbow attack, and a corner high kick. HANAKO unleashed a series of shoulder tackles on Hinami, followed by an Argentine backbreaker. She cornered both members of QQ and delivered a running body attack. As HANAKO charged forward, Yumizuki tagged in on her back, and the match was passed to her. Kurei delivered a swan dive arm whip followed by a dropkick to Yumizuki. Yumizuki dropped a dropkick on Kurei. Kurei countered, and the two women attempted a body slam. Yagami assisted, and Yumizuki landed a body slam. Kurei countered, and Yumizuki charged in with a running backbreaker. Kurei dodged, and Lady assisted, allowing Kurei to deliver a body slam. Kurei countered and delivered a spear. Yagami hit Lady with a high kick. Kurei pulled Yumizuki up, but she was rolled up. Kurei reversed and delivered a jackknife pin. Yumizuki countered and rolled her up for the three count.
After the match, HANAKO and Yumizuki glared at each other, exchanged a few words, and then left the ring
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| Hazuki |
9 minutes 21 seconds |
Starlight Kid |
| ○ Hanan | It's Fukigen★ | |
| Iida Saya | Rinnan● | |
STARS' team of Hazuki, Hanan, and Iida Saya will clash with Oedo Tai's Starlight Kid, Rina, and Fukigen★ in a six-person tag team match. This match will feature the NEW BLOOD tag team of Hanan and Iida, as well as Future of Stardom champion Rina, making it a battle centered around young talent. Hazuki, Kid, and Fukigen will add their technical skills to the mix
Iida and Fukigen start the match. Fukigen strikes a pose as they pretend to lock up. Iida breaks up and scolds Fukigen for his smoking pose. STARS tries to combine, but Oedo Tai stops them and traps Iida near the ropes. Rina delivers a body slam to Iida, and Oedo Tai follows up with kicks from both sides. Iida retaliates, catches Kid's charge, and unleashes a series of reverse chops. However, Kid dodges the last one and lands a chop. Still, Iida lands a jumping chop and calls in Hazuki. Hazuki hits Kid with a missile kick and a face lock. Oedo Tai interferes and tries to break up the match, but Hazuki drops both Rina and Fukigen at once with a dropkick. STARS delivers a face wash to Oedo Tai. Kid's elbow hits Hazuki, Kid delivers a hurricanrana, Fukigen hits him with a sports newspaper, Kid delivers a knee attack, and a standing moonsault. Rinami delivers a dropkick to Hazuki. Hazuki executes a brainbuster and passes the ball to Hanan. Hanan hits Rinami with a knee attack, but Rinami dodges the body attack and charges forward, only to be slammed down with a hip throw by Hanan. STARS attempts a combined face crusher, but Oedo Tai breaks it up and delivers a series of corner attacks to Hanan. Rinami lands a diving double knee drop and a Manji hold. Hanan is thrown into the corner and delivers a diving body attack. Rinami and Hanan exchange elbows. Hanan lands an elbow smash, and Rinami counters with a reverse pin followed by a jackknife. Hanan kicks out and Rinami goes for a Hydrangea. Iida cuts off Rinami's charge, and Hanan goes for a Famouser. However, Rinami's shoulder rises. STARS deliver a combined face crusher, and Hanan hits a blockbuster hold. The referee counted to three, and Hanan pinned Rinami
| ◆Tag match 15 minutes 1 match | ||
| ○Mei Hoshirai |
8 minutes 42 seconds |
Mai Sakurai |
| Shirakawa Mina | Tekla ● | |
This tag team match features Mai Sakurai & Thekla against Mina Shirakawa & Mei Seira. Sakurai & Thekla lost the Artist of Stardom Championship the previous day at the Yokohama event, making this a chance for them to start fresh. Shirakawa and Seira, on the other hand, form an unusual tag team that transcends unit boundaries
"I'll go," Sakurai declared, volunteering to be the first to face Seira. She faked a lock-up and struck a ladylike pose. When Seira tried to use the ropes, Sakurai delivered a dropkick. Thekla lured Seira into the corner and applied a hanging figure-four neck lock to her. Sakurai delivered a body slam to Seira, who countered with a cross body. Shirakawa hit Sakurai with a running elbow. Thekla interfered, but Shirakawa delivered a neckbreaker to Sakurai. Shirakawa delivered a dropkick to Thekla's knee and a knee crusher to Sakurai. Sakurai dodged Thekla's attempt at a figure-four and countered with a dropkick. Sakurai called Shirakawa a commoner when she applied a Paradise Lock. However, Shirakawa escaped and delivered a dragon screw near the ropes, then returned to the center and applied a figure-four leglock. Thekla broke the hold and saved Sakurai, who then delivered a scissors kick to Shirakawa. Thekla delivered a series of elbows to Seira before rolling her up for the pin. When Seira countered, Shirakawa landed an elbow and then rolled her up with a shooting star. Seira climbed to the corner but Thekla slapped her from below, and they exchanged elbows on the corner. Thekla then hit a spider German suplex. After Sakurai's brainbuster, Thekla delivered a diving body press. Seira countered, and as Thekla charged, Shirakawa landed an elbow and Seira hit a missile kick. As Thekla countered, Shirakawa and Seira delivered dropkicks. However, Thekla dodged, and Sakurai delivered a dropkick, followed by a stunner to Shirakawa. Thekla attempted a body attack, but Seira dodged it and hit Sakurai. Using Shirakawa as a springboard, Seira performed a moonsault and a tornillo press. Seira then rolled Thekla up with a Magistral and was unable to kick out for the three count
| ◆6-person tag match 15 minutes | ||
| SAKI |
8 minutes 22 seconds |
Watanabe Momo |
| ○Saori Anno | Ryuaku Summer | |
| Mizumori Yuna | Tora Natsuko | |
The Cosmic Angels & Colors combined team of Saori Anno, Yuna Mizumori, and SAKI will face the Oedo Tai team of Natsuko Tora, Momo Watanabe, and Ryuka in a six-woman tag team match. All eyes will be on Anno, who defeated MIRAI to become the Wonder of Stardom Champion at Ryogoku on December 29th , as she competes. However, she is expected to be targeted by Natsuko and Momo…
Natsuko pointed to Mizumori and called out, "Hey Mizumori, come on!" The bell rang with Natsuko and Mizumori as the starters, and they locked up and tested their strength. Natsuko put Mizumori in a headlock, and Mizumori threw her into the ropes, and they clashed shoulders. Mizumori charged after a series of elbows, but Natsuko sent her flying with a shoulder tackle. The Oedo Tai members launched a series of corner attacks on Mizumori, and Natsuko and Ruanka attacked in combination. Momo hit Mizumori with a soccer ball kick and a series of middle kicks. Mizumori retaliated, stopped Momo, and delivered a shoulder tackle, a flying shoulder tackle to Natsuko, and a dropkick to Momo. SAKI blocked Momo's middle kick, and after a big boot from Anno, delivered a Campana. Ruanka broke up the pin, and Momo delivered a series of dropkicks, a middle kick, and a brainbuster. Ruanka hit SAKI with a senton and a shoulder tackle. Mizumori and SAKI performed an atomic drop together, and SAKI delivered a big boot. Anno applied an Indian Deathlock to Ryuka, and when Momo entered the ring, she delivered a Brainbuster in the same position. Ryuka hit a Crossbody, and Natsuko hit a Cannonball on Anno, before Ryuka delivered a Fisherman Suplex. Anno countered a Neck Hanging, but Ryuka held her down. Ryuka hit Anno with a Neck Hanging Bomb. She declared she was going for the finish and climbed to the corner, but SAKI broke it up and delivered a Superplex. Anno attempted a Fisherman Suplex, but Natsuko broke it up. Anno was kicked out of, but she announced she was going for the finish and took Ryuka's back. Ryuka escaped and delivered a Lariat. She went for another one, but Mizumori delivered a Lariat, and Anno delivered a German Suplex. Anno was cut off, but she hit Ryuka with a Tantandol. The three count was called, and Anno defeated Ryuka
| ◆6-person tag match 20 minutes 1 match | ||
| Kamiya Saya |
10 minutes 45 seconds |
Saki Kashima ● |
| AZM | Magnificent Ami | |
| ○Utami Hayashishita | MIRAI | |
Queen's Quest's Utami Hayashishita, Saya Kamitani, and AZM will clash with God's Eye's MIRAI, Ami Sorei, and Saki Kashimasix-woman tag team match. At the Triangle Derby six-woman tag team tournament held the previous day in Yokohama, God's Eye's Syuri, MIRAI, and Ami Sorei defeated Donna del Mondo's Giulia, Mai Sakurai, and Thekla to win the tournament and also claim the Artist of Stardom Championship. This match will be MIRAI and Sorei's debut as a trio champion, and it will also be a chance for revenge for Utami, Kamitani, and AZM, who were eliminated from the tournament after a time-limit draw against Suzu Suzuki, Mei Seira, and Megan Beane. Furthermore, Utami and Kamitani are also Goddesses of Stardom Champions, making this a champion vs. champion showdown between the Goddesses and the Artist of Stardom.
Kashima extends his hand to MIRAI and Sorei for a handshake, but when they accept, he pulls their hand and slams it into QQ. However, QQ attacks as a trio, and the match officially begins. Sorei puts AZM in a headlock, but Kashima doesn't attack and dashes to the corner to tag MIRAI. MIRAI and Sorei unleash a series of chops on AZM. Sorei hits AZM with a chop followed by a body slam. AZM hits Sorei with a soccer ball kick and a missile kick. Kamiya enters the ring, dodges MIRAI and Sorei's clotheslines, and hits them both with a Frankensteiner and a dropkick. Sorei hits Kamiya with a double chop and an Argentine backbreaker. He hangs him in the corner and hits him with a running body attack and a lariat. MIRAI dodges Kamiya and hits him with a shoulder tackle, a series of running elbow attacks, a running lariat, and a missile kick. Utami delivers a dropkick to MIRAI, then attempts an Argentine backbreaker, which MIRAI rolls up. Utami kicks out, and MIRAI goes for a Miramare, but Utami escapes to the ropes. MIRAI and Utami clash shoulders. Utami gains the upper hand, and QQ traps her in the corner. However, MIRAI dodges the trio's dropkick. MIRAI slips past QQ and hits Utami with a lariat, and AZM jumps on MIRAI, but is slammed to the mat. Kashima is forced into the ring to tag in, and hits Utami with a corner knee attack, a diving foot stomp, a hurricanrana, and a big boot. Utami kicks out, and Kashima goes for a double armlock. Utami counters with a side slam. Sorei cuts Utami off, and MIRAI delivers a dropkick. Kashima pins her. Utami didn't let Kashima tag in and threw her with a German suplex and a series of lariats. QQ hit Kashima with a triple dropkick. Utami hit a bat hanging dropkick but only got a two count. Utami pulled Kashima up and went for a German suplex. Kashima managed to roll her up in a desperate attempt, but AZM broke it up. AZM dodged MIRAI and Sorei and Kamiya did a swan dive. Utami and Kamiya did a Magic Killer, and Utami hit Kashima with a German suplex for the three count
| ◆Tag match 20 minutes 1 match | ||
| Megan Behn |
at 20 minutes and 00 seconds |
Suzuki Suzu |
| Maika | Julia | |
Initially, a tag team match between Giulia & Maika and Suzu Suzuki & Megan Bane was announced, but backstage after the main event at Ryogoku on December 29th , Giulia called for a tag team match with Suzuki, resulting in a change of card. Giulia and Suzuki will now team up to face Maika & Megan. This also marks a rematch between Giulia and Megan, who competed for the STRONG Women's Championship at Ryogoku. Maika, who won the championship match against Suzuki and achieved her long-held dream of becoming World of Stardom Champion, will appear in Divine Kingdom with Megan, with whom she won the tag league. As the new champion of the red belt, she will face Suzuki once again, and it will also be a match between her and Giulia, both from the same stable. This match is happening at Giulia's request, but what is her true intention? After the Yokohama event the day before, Giulia commented, "I want to convey my thoughts, or rather, my honest feelings right now." This will be the first time Giulia and Suzuki have teamed up since the "Dream Tag Festival" in Yokohama on September 10th last year . What will Giulia's answer be in response to this match?
Giulia and Maika start the match. They move slowly and stare each other down. Giulia extends her hand and Maika accepts, shaking hands. They lock up and Maika pushes back. Maika breaks free and they lock up again and test their strength. Giulia grabs Maika's arm, and Maika takes it back. Giulia goes for a headlock and takes the match to the ground. Maika goes for a head scissors, but Giulia escapes and they stare each other down again. Both tag out and Suzuki jumps in, but Megan counters with a shoulder tackle. Megan body slams Suzuki. She also body slams Giulia, and Maika slams both of them. Then Maika lifts Megan up and slams her onto Suzuki. Megan corners Suzuki and delivers a chop, Maika hits Suzuki with a running lariat and a shoulder tackle. Suzuki reads Maika's movements and spears her. Giulia hits Maika with a dropkick, a front neck lock, and a brainbuster. Suzuki hits Maika with a series of punches in the corner. Suzuki taunts Maika, saying "Come on, fight back," and delivers a series of stomps, stomps on her face, and knees. Giulia slams Maika into the corner and hits her with a hair whip and a dropkick from the side. Maika hits Maika with a rock bottom and hands her over to Megan. Megan hits Giulia with a dropkick, a running body attack, and a suplex. Giulia and Suzuki try to tag in, but Megan hits them both with a back drop. Megan helps Giulia up and takes her back. Giulia tries a stunner but Megan counters and rolls her up. Giulia kicks out and hits a series of elbows and a dropkick. Suzuki enters the ring to tag and hits Megan with a series of elbows. Suzuki tries to pull her hand away, but Megan resists and hits her with a slap, a running elbow attack, and a running knee attack. Megan catches her and applies a stamp hold. Maika hits Suzuki with an elbow. They exchange elbows and Suzuki falls to the ground, but she gets a counter elbow. Suzuki kicks Maika with a soccer ball kick, then charges in with a spear, but Maika dodges, and Suzuki hits a sliding German suplex. Suzuki delivers a dropkick from under the ring, and Giulia holds Maika down to help. Suzuki goes for the cover, but Maika kicks out. Maika hits Suzuki with a powerslam, but Suzuki kicks out. Maika hits an elbow, Suzuki dodges a lariat, Giulia hits an elbow, and Suzuki slams her to the mat. Giulia hits Maika with an elbow, Maika throws her into the corner, but Giulia dodges and hits an elbow attack. Swing DDT. Maika hits Giulia with a series of brainbusters. Giulia counters the third one, but Maika slams her forward and puts her in a sleeper hold. Megan puts Suzuki in a reverse Boston crab. Maika tightens the hold with a body scissors, but Giulia escapes. Maika tries to hit a Flame Drop, but it's countered, and they exchange slaps.15minutes have passed. As Giulia charges forward, Maika thrusts her fist out for a lariat. Giulia goes down. Megan enters and applies a neck hanging tree to Giulia. Giulia tries a neck lock, but Megan throws her backward. Giulia kicks out, and Megan lifts her up. Suzuki makes a break and Giulia hits a DDT. Giulia and Suzuki hit a double big boot, and Suzuki tries a plancha to the outside, but Megan catches her. However, Giulia hits a dropkick. Giulia and Suzuki hit missile kicks simultaneously from the corner, but Maika makes a timely break. Giulia calls Suzuki over and they double roll up and put her in a face lock. 2 minutes remaining. Giulia tries to lift Maika, but Maika makes a break. Maika and Megan slam Giulia onto the mat. Megan tries a Liger Bomb, but Suzuki makes a successful break. Maika puts Giulia on her shoulders. Megan climbs to the corner, but Suzuki makes a break and hits Maika with a German suplex. Giulia hits a superplex double arm. Suzuki joins in and Maika hits them both with a powerbomb.30seconds remaining. With everyone down, Giulia got back up and charged forward. Megan delivered a flying lariat. Ultimately, time ran out and the match ended in a draw. Giulia applauded Maika, then they exchanged a glare.
Giulia: "Good day everyone gathered at TDC Hall! Ah... I'm sorry for suddenly announcing the card change after the Ryogoku tournament today. And thank you for accepting it. That's because... I have something to tell you. I'd like Thekla and Sakurai to listen to it together in the ring. DDM, first of all, Maika, congratulations on winning the red belt. It suits you perfectly. Donna del Mondo was originally a unit that the three of us—me, Maika, and Shuri—started. That's right, back then the three of us would often drink together, and we were just fresh out of our debuts, desperately trying to keep up. We promised each other, in our own ways, that we would definitely reach the top. From the moment Maika put on that red belt at Ryogoku, I wondered if that promise had already been fulfilled..." That's what I think. In other words, Donna del Mondo, it's been a tumultuous four years, but we're disbanding today. I'm really sorry it's so sudden. But look at those three. They've worn the red belt, and Maika stayed with DDM for four years until she reached the top. That's really cool, I thought it was amazing, Maika's perseverance is seriously strong. But I think Maika has her own thoughts as well. And look at the former Donna del Mondo members, they've all become such big names, Thekla and Sakurai have grown so much, and honestly, I want to go back to being just one Giulia, just one of those people, when I first came to Stardom. I'll pass the mic to Maika now."
Maika: "Julia, do you have any idea how close I've been to you? I've seen how incredibly serious you actually are, and how you have truly mind-blowing actions and thought processes, and I've been there to support you and tackle challenges together. If you spend this much time with someone, of course I'm going to lose a screw or two in my head too. We think alike. I'm going to go my own way, in my own way."
Thekla: "Giulia... I see. Thank you so much for bringing me to DDM. Right now I have a lot to think about, and my body is exhausted, so I'm going to rest for a bit. But when Thekla returns to this Stardom ring, she will come back stronger than ever. I don't know for sure at that time, but we might become rivals. Either way, I look forward to working with you in the future."
Julia and Thekla hug
Sakurai: (Tears) Julia, thank you for letting me join DDM even though I was hopeless. When I joined DDM, there were seven other members, and I joined as the eighth. The other seven always supported me and gave me advice, and I think I was able to grow because of them. But especially Julia, you watched me practice at the dojo every day on days when there were no matches. I really think I grew because of that. I'm grateful. But you know, I'm going to get even stronger! I want to get stronger! I want to absorb everything from Julia. So I'm going to follow Julia
Sakurai hugged Maika and Tekura
Giulia: "I'm sorry for creating this kind of atmosphere at the start of the year. But, but, but, isn't it more like us to be this cheerful? Donna del Mondo is really disbanding today. But the wrestlers who have been involved with DDM will surely continue to grow bigger and bigger, and what I want to say is that even though we've disbanded, each of the wrestlers isn't disappearing from the world of pro wrestling. So, keep an eye on them, that's all. We've caused a lot of trouble for you all over the past four years, but thank you so much for all your support. I'd like to end with that. Sakurai, Thekla, Mirai, Natsupoi, Himeka, Maika, Syuri, and Giulia. We are the women who will explode onto the world stage, Donna del Mondo, Arrivederci!"
Maika: "Farewell!"
Maika's comment
"As Giulia said in the ring, DDM is disbanding, and honestly, I don't think there has ever been a unit that has been so full of ups and downs over the past four years. And honestly, there were times when I myself thought about leaving, but I'm glad that I was able to spend the end of DDM with everyone like this. Now that I have this red belt, I want to forge my own path in a way that only I can do. And today, my tag team partner Megan and I will continue as a tag team, Divine Kingdom, and we will continue to work together as a tag team forever."
Comments from Julia and Suzuki
Giulia: "January 4th is Pro Wrestling Day. In January, Donna del Mondo will be celebrating its 4th anniversary. So many things have happened in these past four years, and now all my memories are flooding back. First, there was my arrival in Stardom, then there was the farewell to Suzu who is here, and then our reunion. All the DDM wrestlers have become big names in their own ways, but even amidst all that, there was the original DDM of Maika, Syuri, and Giulia. The goal and dream that these three set for themselves was to reach the top in Stardom, and that was achieved at the end of the year. At that moment, I felt that Donna del Mondo had truly accomplished what it had to do. We're not the type of people who like to do things half-heartedly. The Donna del Mondo girls were the kind of people who wrestled more freely and uninhibitedly than anyone else, so I don't think this was a mistake. We may have surprised the audience a little, but this is the Donna del Mondo way." As I said in the ring, it's not like everyone's leaving. I think this is a constructive disbandment so that we can all grow even bigger from here on out. I'm sure everyone has more things they want to do, and I thought this was the only way to allow them to do so more freely, and I think this timing is the best. Thank you so much for all your support over the past four years. I hope you'll continue to support me as an individual wrestler. And, since I'm now an independent, because I'm independent, well, you (Suzuki) will have to team up with me sometimes, even if you don't want to. I want you to keep that in mind. There's nothing I can do about it. I couldn't fulfill my dream of putting Suzu in DDM, but you never know what's going to happen in pro wrestling. Tekla will be taking a break starting tomorrow, but we'll definitely meet again in the ring, and Sakurai seems to be coming along, so it's all good, everyone will go their own way. So, well, if we do end up in the same match sometimes, I hope we'll do our best."
Suzuki: "I'll do it."
Julia: "No more squabbles, right?"
Suzuki: "No way (laughs). Let's get along."
Suzuki leaves the field
Julia: "Thank you very much."
| ◆IWGP Women's Championship Match, 60-minute single fall match | ||
| <Champion> |
19 minutes 6 seconds |
<Challenger> |
| Iwatani Mayu | Juri | |
* Mayu Iwatani, the third champion, successfully defended her title for the third time
Mayu Iwatani will defend her IWGP Women's Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 14. Last year, on April 23rd at Yokohama Arena, Iwatani defeated Mercedes Monnet to win the coveted IWGP Women's Championship. Last year, on November 11th in Dallas, she defeated Stephanie Buckel to successfully defend her title for the second time, but she injured her finger in that match and was sidelined. However, she returned on December 29th at Ryogoku , and this will be her third match since then. Her first singles match since her return is a title match. Her opponent is Syuri, who has volunteered to challenge for the title. The two previously faced each other for the red belt. In their first singles match, Syuri lost to the champion Iwatani, and declared that she would join Stardom in order to win the red belt. When Syuri became champion, she defeated Iwatani in a title defense at Ryogoku. Furthermore, Syuri also won against Iwatani in last year's 5★STAR GP, giving her a 2-1 lead in singles matches. Will Iwatani be able to even the head-to-head record and successfully defend her title, or will Shuri, who captured the Artist of Stardom title in Yokohama the previous day, achieve the remarkable feat of winning the title for two consecutive days?
When Iwatani extended her hand for a handshake, Shuri slowly responded. After a brief break in their tentative exchange, Shuri went for Iwatani's back. After a speedy struggle for the back, Iwatani threw Shuri into the ropes, but Shuri didn't respond. Iwatani jumped on her and rolled her up for a pin. Shuri kicked out and tried to kick, but Iwatani dodged it. Iwatani went for a dropkick, but Shuri dodged it and countered with a dropkick of her own making, calling her a "fool." Shuri followed with a knee attack and a front neck chancery. Shuri then delivered a standing guillotine from the corner. Iwatani attempted a hurricanrana followed by a dropkick and a tope to the outside, but it was dodged. Shuri then delivered a swinging DDT outside the ring. Iwatani caught Shuri as she tried to return and threw her onto the apron with a dragon.19count. They exchanged elbows, and Iwatani's rapid-fire strikes sent Shuri collapsing. Shuri got back up and delivered a series of middle kicks. Iwatani attempted a thrust kick, but Shuri countered with a high kick. Elbows were exchanged twice, followed by high kicks. Both were down. When they got up, Iwatani delivered a Dodonpa and a corner dropkick. Iwatani climbed to the corner, and Shuri followed, exchanging elbows. Shuri landed a headbutt and a superplex, while Iwatani delivered a German suplex. Iwatani put Shuri on the corner and delivered a headbutt, then a superplex Frankensteiner.Tenminutes had passed. Iwatani attempted a frog splash, but only got a two count. As Iwatani tried to climb to the corner, Shuri landed a middle kick and a slap. Shuri also climbed up and grabbed Iwatani's arm, delivering a superplex followed by an armlock and a sleeper hold. When Iwatani escaped, Shuri hit a Codebreaker and a Ryuen, but Iwatani kicked out. Shuri hoisted Iwatani onto her shoulders, but was hit with a reverse Frankensteiner and a series of thrust kicks. Iwatani attempted a moonsault press, but Shuri kicked out at the last moment. Iwatani pulls Shuri up and goes for the Dragon Suplex. Shuri grabs the ropes, but Iwatani kicks her up and throws her for a Dragon Suplex. Shuri immediately hits a Codebreaker and a German Suplex.15minutes have passed. Shuri lifts Iwatani up, but Iwatani reverses and hits a Piledriver. Iwatani kicks Shuri in the face. Shuri kicks back, and Iwatani declares she's going for the finish and hits a Dragon Suplex. She breaks free and goes for a two-stage Dragon Suplex. However, Shuri's feet get caught on the ropes. Iwatani tries to climb to the corner but falls down. Shuri pulls Iwatani's legs as she gets up. Iwatani kicks her out and escapes, but Shuri hits a knee attack and a Buzzsaw Kick. Iwatani kicks back, and Shuri puts her on her shoulders and hits Shukai. However, Iwatani manages to counter. Shuri lifts Iwatani up and slams her head into the corner, then hits her with a flurry of elbows. Iwatani hits a German Suplex and a Thrust Kick. She hits a Reverse Frankensteiner from the corner. The referee counted to three, and Iwatani successfully defended her title.
Iwatani: "Good evening everyone who came to the 1.4 TDC Hall! I successfully defended my title for the third time! Thank you so much to Shuri for fighting me today. Now it's 2-2, and I'll have a singles match against Shuri. I'm sure everyone who watched today knows. I almost lost that match. It was really, really close. I'm exhausted. Please give me a little more appreciation for my efforts on 1.3 and 1.4! (Responding to shouts of "Congratulations") Thank you. I'm really glad I did my best today. I have another match soon after the 1.3 and 1.4 shows2024exciting, so please continue to support us! I think many of you will be going to the 1.4 Dome show, so I'll wrap this up now. Thank you so much for coming today!"
Comment from Juri
Shuri: "Uh, uh... I lost the IWGP match on January 4th. I'm so incredibly frustrated, I don't really know what to say right now...2022won the Women's Pro Wrestling Award and declared myself a female Inoki. I really wanted to wear the IWGP belt that Antonio Inoki wore around my waist today. And I wanted to take that belt from Mayu Iwatani. I will absolutely, absolutely never give up. I will definitely wear that belt around my waist. Absolutely! I will make it happen! (tears)"
Iwatani's comment
"I'm tired... It's tough... It's too tough. Every single time I defend this belt, my head, my head really starts to spin. My memory, my memory goes blank, really. But now the IWGP belt is back in my hands. There's still so much more to come, so Iwatani Mayu's history with the IWGP has just begun. The feelings of everyone who is after this belt are really, really heavy. Every time I see everyone crying and shouting because they couldn't get this belt, I wonder if I'm worthy of being champion, and because there aren't many title defenses for this IWGP belt, even if you want to change history with this belt, you can't really change it. You can't really make it. It's so frustrating. I want to have more title defenses. I want to become a wrestler who can engrave my name in history as the champion of this belt. The feelings of everyone who is frustrated because they couldn't get this belt, With all of that on her shoulders, Mayu Iwatani will continue to defend her title and make history. She will not run away from any opponent. She will keep winning against any opponent. No matter how beaten she gets, she will keep winning and be the one to hold this belt in the end. As IWGP Champion Mayu Iwatani, she will continue to walk through Mayu Iwatani's history with this belt. Thank you so much for coming today. I'm really disappointed that I don't have a match scheduled for the January 4th Tokyo Dome, but I think there were a lot of people who watched today's matches and thought, "I really wanted to see a women's match, a Mayu Iwatani match." I will do my best so that I can have more IWGP title defenses scheduled next year and the year after. I didn't get to have a match, but I'm heading to the January 4th Dome. See you later. Bye-bye