NJPW STRONG, IWGP Women’s titles defended in Osaka
Osaka, Japan – As the G1 Climax reached its thrilling conclusion in Ryogoku Sumo Hall on Sunday, August 13, the women of STARDOM were also making waves in their own premier singles tournament, the 5 Star Grand Prix. The summer battles continued to heat up at STARDOMxSTARDOM 2023, where two championships from NJPW’s oeuvre were fiercely defended.
The first title bout of the night featured the NJPW STRONG Championship held by Giulia, who faced off against the formidable heavyweight contender, Yuu, known for her work in the UK’s Pro-Wrestling EVE. Despite Yuu’s power and weight advantage, Giulia showcased her resilience as she fought from underneath. The match went on for over 15 minutes, with both competitors delivering punishing strikes. However, it was Giulia’s quick thinking and technical prowess that secured her victory. As Yuu attempted to execute a Last Ride, Giulia escaped and rolled her opponent up into a cross armbreaker. She then transitioned into the double armbar Bianca submission, forcing Yuu to submit.
Following the match, Giulia received a video challenge from IMPACT’s Deonna Purrazzo and Giselle Shaw, expressing their interest in the NJPW STRONG Women’s title. Momo Kohgo also staked her claim through a message on social media. With such fierce competition emerging, the NJPW STRONG Women’s title scene is definitely one to keep an eye on leading up to Multiverse United 2 on Sunday.
In the night’s semi-main event, Mayu Iwatani put her IWGP Women’s Championship on the line against Utami Hayashishita. Throughout the match, Hayashishita targeted Iwatani’s legs and back, inflicting immense pain on the champion. However, Iwatani’s determination and resilience shone through as she fought back with her signature grit. Despite a Dragon Suplex not securing the victory, Iwatani pulled off a rarely seen step-up poison rana, known as the Dragonslay, to secure the win and retain her title.
For fans eager to catch all the STARDOM action, make sure to visit STARDOM World for exclusive content.
Originally posted at NJPW1972