Mayu Iwatani Marks 1 Year As IWGP Women’s Champion

“The Icon” of Stardom, Mayu Iwatani, has hit a landmark goal in her reign marking 1-year as the NJPW IWGP Women’s Champion.

It’s April 23rd in Japan which means it’s officially been ONE YEAR of Mayu Iwatani as IWGP Women’s Champion!

Despite a tough start to it with no defenses for so long, “The Icon” has done everything in her power to truly establish that championship and make it her own.

Such an… pic.twitter.com/NPvJIqTBhP

— Scott E. Wrestling (@ScottEWrestling) April 22, 2024

Iwatani won the championship against Mercedes Moné back in April of 2023 at All Star Grand Queendom. Since then, Iwatani has had four successful title defenses against Utami Hayashishita, Stephanie Vaquer, Syuri, and Mina Shirakawa. 

The title was inaugurated back in July 2022, with the first holder being current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, Kairi Sane. This title is the first women’s championship introduced in the New Japan Pro-wrestling promotion (followed by the NJPW STRONG Women’s Title), with the Stardom roster competing for the title as its sister promotion. Only three women have held the title since its introduction.

Iwatani is scheduled to face Sareee at All Star Grand Queendom, April 27, 2024, for the championship.

All Star Grand Queendom 2024

?? 4/27 at 3:00p Tokyo | 7:00a LON | 2:00a NY | 11:00p LA

?? IWGP Women’s Championship match: @MayuIwatani (c) vs. @Sareee_official

?? Streaming details announcing soon! pic.twitter.com/hc1RSOebPQ

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) April 16, 2024

Iwatani also has an upcoming biopic about her life, Runaway Wrestler, releasing nationwide in Japan, May 17.

The biopic about Mayu Iwatani’s life, Runaway Wrestler, releases nationwide in Japan on May 17th pic.twitter.com/ODulsLncj3

— We Are Stardom (@we_are_stardom) April 15, 2024