IWGP Women's Championship#Reigns
{{Short description|Wrestling world championship}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|championshipname = IWGP Women's Championship
|image = File:IWGP_Women's_Championship_belt.png
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption = The IWGP Women's Championship belt
|currentholder = Syuri
|aired =
|promotion = New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW)
World Wonder Ring Stardom
|mostreigns = All titleholders
(1 time)
|firstchamp = Kairi
|longestreign = Mayu Iwatani
(735 days)
|shortestreign = Mercedes Moné
(64 days)
|oldest = Syuri
({{age in years months and days|February 8, 1989|April 27, 2025}})
|youngest = Mayu Iwatani
({{age in years months and days|February 19, 1993|April 23, 2023}})
|heaviest = Syuri
({{convert|128|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|lightest = Mayu Iwatani
({{convert|110|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|pastnames =
|titleretired =
|pastlookimages =
}}
The {{nihongo|IWGP Women's Championship|IWGP女子王座|IWGP Joshi Ōza|lead=yes}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/stardom-njpw-announce-iwgp-women-s-championship|title=STARDOM, NJPW Announce IWGP Women's Championship|work=Fightful|first=Scott|last=Edwards|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230301145537/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/stardom-njpw-announce-iwgp-women-s-championship|archive-date=March 1, 2023|url-status=live}} The inaugural champion was Kairi. The reigning champion is Syuri, who is in her first reign.
History
File:STARDOM WORLD CLIMAX 2022 IMG 6853.jpg]]
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.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-stardom-creating-iwgp-womens-championship|title=NJPW & STARDOM creating IWGP Women's Championship The title will primarily be defended on NJPW events.|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|first=Ethan|last=Renner|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230127140305/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/njpw-stardom-creating-iwgp-womens-championship|archive-date=January 27, 2023|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/stardom/4352204/|script-title=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|work=tokyo-sports.co.jp|author=Tokyo Sports|language=Japanese|date=July 29, 2022|access-date=July 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230415141402/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/232104|archive-date=April 15, 2023|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4d_yFEWY2k&t=793s|script-title=ja:【8/23(火)14:00～】11・20『Historic X-over』有明アリーナ大会 記者会見 #STARDOM|work=youtube.com|author=World Wonder Ring Stardom|language=Japanese|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105105513/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4d_yFEWY2k&t=793s|archive-date=November 5, 2022|url-status=live}} 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).{{cite web|url=https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/prores/stardom/4407272/|script-title=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|work=tokyo-sports.co.jp|author=Tokyo Sports|language=Japanese|date=August 27, 2022|access-date=August 27, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221105105514/https://www.tokyo-sports.co.jp/articles/-/233150|archive-date=November 5, 2022|url-status=live}} 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.{{cite web|title=2023.01.04 Wrestle Kingdom 17 in Tokyo Dome|url=https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/130385?showResult=1|access-date=January 4, 2023|work=New Japan Pro-Wrestling|archive-date=January 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104075148/https://www.njpw1972.com/tornament/130385?showResult=1|url-status=dead}}
= Inaugural championship tournament (2022) =
{{8TeamBracket-NoSeeds
|byes = 1
|RD1-group1 = October 22
|RD1-group2 = October 2
|RD1 = Round 1
Royal Quest II
{{small|(October 2)}}
IWGP Women's Championship Tournament First Round
{{small|(October 22)}}{{cite web|url=https://www.njpw.co.jp/375338|script-title=ja:IWGP女子王座の設立が正式決定！ 11.20有明アリーナで棚橋＆林下vs後藤＆舞華！ローラー＆朱里vsザック＆ジュリア！ タイチ＆金丸＆たむ＆なつぽいvsデスペラード＆DOUKI＆スターライトキッド＆桃！|work=njpw.co.jp|author=New Japan Pro Wrestling|language=Japanese|date=August 23, 2022|access-date=August 23, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230218202551/https://www.njpw.co.jp/375338|archive-date=February 18, 2023|url-status=live}}
|RD2 = Semifinals
Goddesses of Stardom Tag League 2022
Night 1
{{small|(October 23)}}
|RD3 = Finals
Historic X-Over
{{small|(November 20)}}
|RD1-team1 = Mayu Iwatani
|RD1-score1 = Pin
|RD1-team2 = Momo Watanabe
|RD1-team3 = Utami Hayashishita
|RD1-score3 = Pin
|RD1-team4 = Himeka
|RD1-team5 = Jazzy Gabert
|RD1-score5 = Pin
|RD1-team6 = Ava White
|RD1-team7 = Kairi
|RD1-score7 = Bye
|RD1-team8 = –
|RD1-score8 =
|RD2-team1 = Mayu Iwatani
|RD2-score1 = Pin
|RD2-team2 = Utami Hayashishita
|RD2-team3 = Jazzy Gabert
|RD2-team4 = Kairi
|RD2-score4 = Pin
|RD3-team1 = Mayu Iwatani
|RD3-team2 = Kairi
|RD3-score2 = Pin
}}
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.{{cite web|first=Sai|last=Mohan|title=Design Unveiled For IWGP Women's Championship|url=https://www.wrestlinginc.com/978022/design-unveiled-for-iwgp-womens-championship/|work=Wrestling Inc.|date=February 1, 2023|access-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427151914/https://www.wrestlinginc.com/978022/design-unveiled-for-iwgp-womens-championship/|archive-date=April 27, 2023|url-status=live}}
Reigns
File:Syuri in April 2024.jpg]]
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, 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 735 days, while Mercedes Moné's reign is the shortest at 64 days.
Syuri is the reigning champion in her first reign. She won the title by defeating Mayu Iwatani at All Star Grand Queendom on April 27, 2025.
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes|defenses=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and World Wonder Ring Stardom (ST★RDOM)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number = 1
|champion = {{sortname||Kairi|Kairi Sane}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|November 20, 2022}}
|days = {{age in days nts|November 20, 2022|February 18, 2023}}
|event = Historic X-Over
|defenses = 1
|notes = Defeated Mayu Iwatani in the finals of a seven-woman single-elimination tournament to become the inaugural champion.
|ref = {{cite web|first=Bryan|last=Rose|title=First IWGP Women's Champion crowned at NJPW/Stardom Historic X-Over|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/first-iwgp-womens-champion-crowned-at-njpw-stardom-historic-x-over|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|date=November 20, 2022|access-date=November 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202031748/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/new-japan/first-iwgp-womens-champion-crowned-at-njpw-stardom-historic-x-over|archive-date=February 2, 2023|url-status=live}}
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 2
|champion = {{sortname|Mercedes|Moné}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|February 18, 2023}}
|days = {{age in days nts|February 18, 2023|April 23, 2023}}
|location = San Jose, CA
|event = Battle in the Valley
|defenses = 1
|notes =
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 3
|champion = {{sortname|Mayu|Iwatani}}
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|April 23, 2023}}
|days = {{age in days nts|April 23, 2023|April 27, 2025}}
|event = All Star Grand Queendom
|defenses = 9
|notes =
|ref = {{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/stardom-all-star-grand-queendom-live-results-mercedes-mone-vs-mayu-iwatani|title=Stardom All Star Grand Queendom live results: Mercedes Mone vs. Mayu Iwatani Giulia faces Tam Nakano in the show's main event.|work=Wrestling Observer Newsletter|first=Chick|last=Fritts|date=April 23, 2023|access-date=April 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427223118/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/other-wrestling/stardom-all-star-grand-queendom-live-results-mercedes-mone-vs-mayu-iwatani|archive-date=April 27, 2023|url-status=live}}
}}{{PWtitlereign
|number = 4
|champion = Syuri
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|April 27, 2025}}
|days = {{age in days nts|April 27, 2025}}+
|event = All Star Grand Queendom
|defenses = 0
|notes =
}}
{{BundleEnd}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.njpw1972.com/champions/iwgp-womens-championship Championship history on official website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221224002829/https://www.njpw1972.com/champions/iwgp-womens-championship |date=2022-12-24 }} {{in lang|en}}
- [https://www.njpw.co.jp/champions/iwgp-womens Championship history on official website] {{in lang|ja}}
{{IWGP Women's Championship}}
{{Navboxes
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{{World Wonder Ring Stardom}}
{{New Japan Pro Wrestling}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:IWGP Women's Championship}}
Category:New Japan Pro-Wrestling championships
Category:Women's professional wrestling championships