NJPW Strong Women's Title Announced - NJPW, STARDOM, CMLL & AEW Talent Confirmed for Tournament
New Japan Pro Wrestling Strong will soon crown its first Women's Champion in a tournament next month, it has been confirmed.
Last year, New Japan Pro Wrestling crowned its first IWGP Women's Champion when KAIRI bested Mayu Iwatani at the NJPWxSTARDOM Historic X-Over event in November 2022. KAIRI would hold the title until February when she lost to Mercedes Moné at NJPW Battle in the Valley. Moné's reign ended earlier this month when she lost the title to Iwatani.
In a statement issued to njpw1972.com, it was confirmed that the NJPW Strong Women's Champion will be decided at the NJPW Strong Resurgence event on May 21. A one-night four-woman tournament will decide to the first champion, featuring talent from NJPW, STARDOM, CMLL, and AEW.
In the first round, CMLL luchadora Stephanie Vaquer will face Mercedes Moné. Vaquer is a former AULL Women's Champion and is currently one-half of CMLL's Occidente Women's Tag Team Champions. In addition to her recent IWGP Women's Title reign, Moné is a one-time WWE NXT Women's Champion, one-time SmackDown Women's Champion, and five-time Raw Women's Champion. 'The CEO' is also a three-time WWE Women's Tag Champion, making her a Grand Slam Champion in the promotion.
The winner of Moné Vs. Vaquer will face the winner of the match between STARDOM's Momo Khogo and AEW's Willow Nightingale. Khogo is yet to hold gold but did win the STARDOM Year-End Award for 'Best Unit' in 2022. Nightingale, who also competes for ROH, is a former Queens of Combat Tag Champion, and Chikara Tag Champion. She has also held the New York Wrestling Convention Fusion Championship once, and Starlet Championship twice.
