In a three-way match at Sakura Genesis on Saturday morning, Mercedes Mone defeated Hazuki and STARDOM’s High-Speed Champion AZM to successfully defend her IWGP Women’s Championship.
The match was won when Mone hit the Mone Maker to AZM while on top of Hazuki.
Following the battle, STARDOM’s “Icon” Mayu Iwatani appeared to square off against Mone, making their April 23 match at the All Star Grand Queendom in STARDOM official.
In the main event of Historic X-Over, KAIRI defeated Iwatani to become the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion.
Mone’s first title defense resulted from AZM challenging the former WWE star for a title match after Mone kept mentioning her and pronouncing her name incorrectly. Hazuki entered the picture at the Cinderella Tournament press conference, throwing out her name for what was later confirmed to be a triple threat match.
Mone still has one match left under the terms of her NJPW/STARDOM contract.
Highlights from the match can be seen below:
.@MercedesVarnado "Running Double Knee??"
Watch Sakura Genesis live in LIVE in English on https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA (outside Japan)#njSG #njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/UmC0nBwalW
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) April 8, 2023
.@MayuIwatani Challenges for IWGP WOMAN CHAMPIONSHIP‼️
Watch Sakura Genesis live in LIVE in English on https://t.co/CcdQ1XamUA (outside Japan)#njSG #njpw #njpwworld pic.twitter.com/Ijr7eb4STy
— njpwworld (@njpwworld) April 8, 2023
