KAIRI’s next challenger steps forward.
The IWGP Women’s Championship was on the line at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17. The reigning champion KAIRI defended her belt against Tam Nakano and retained the championship.
Post-match, the lights in the Tokyo Dome went out and the cameras cut to a video package which ultimately signaled the arrival of Mercedes Mone f.k.a. Sasha Banks. When she met KAIRI face-to-face in the ring, she took out the IWGP Women’s Champion.
Mercedes stated that she’s going to be in New Japan and STARDOM. She and KAIRI are scheduled to clash at NJPW Battle in the Valley on February 18th in San Jose, California.
For a decade, Mercedes was with WWE. Mone and Trinity Fatu (Naomi) walked out of the company in May 2022 while holding the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Fatu is in Japan with Mercedes.
The Battle in the Valley show will also feature Jay White and Kazuchika Okada.
