Toni Storm will challenge for the IWGP Women’s Championship. Athena makes Ring of Honor history. WWE kicks off its inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament. Jordan Blade chats with WrestleZone and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
WWE Women’s Speed Championship Tournament Kicks Off
In the upcoming weeks, WWE will crown its first-ever Women’s Speed Champion. Like its male counterparts, this champion will be determined through an eight-person tournament featuring three-to-five-minute matches. So far, three women have advanced in the tournament: IYO SKY, Naomi, and Kairi Sane.
The inaugural WWE Speed Women’s Championship tournament kicked off on September 4 with an opening round matchup between SKY and Lyra Valkyria. Valkyria and SKY fought back and forth throughout the bout, but a surprise pinfall ultimately sealed the win for SKY.
The following week, Naomi defeated Blair with her Feel the Glow submission to advance to a semi-finals matchup against SKY.
Most recently. Kairi Sane defeated Elektra Lopez with an Insane Elbow. She too now looks ahead to the semi-finals, where she will take on either Candice LeRae or Piper Niven.
RELATED: Lyra Valkyria On Competing In The First Women’s WWE Speed Tournament: It’s A Huge Opportunity
Toni Storm To Challenge Mayu Iwatani For IWGP Women’s Championship
Toni Storm may be down, but her fighting spirit is not out.
At AEW All In, Mariah May defeated “Timeless” Toni Storm to claim the AEW Women’s World Championship. Coming off that loss, many expected Storm to request a rematch for the AEW Women’s World Championship. In a turn of events, Storm has now shifted her gaze to another title, over in the land of STARDOM and NJPW.
Last weekend, Storm issued a challenge to IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani in a new vignette, set by a fireplace.
“Did you forget about me? STARDOM. Do you remember who I am? Because I have never forgotten you,” Storm said. “I have done a lot in your land. And I will always respect Japanese pro wrestling, but there is one thing that I must do. In 2017, I became the World of Stardom Champion. Some say it was a mistake. I must prove that it wasn’t. October 5th. Nagoya. I challenge you, Mayu Iwatani for the IWGP Women’s Championship. Mayu-san, you are the icon of stardom. You are the icon of Joshi Pro wrestling, but you couldn’t even wash my diaphragm. I will become IWGP Women’s Champion and I will ruin your life.”
Two days after Storm’s challenge, Iwatani officially accepted it. As such, she is now slated to defend the IWGP Women’s Championship at STARDOM’s Nagoya Grand Fight event on October 5. For Iwatani, this will mark her first title defense since June, when she defeated Tsukasa Fujimoto in Ice Ribbon by referee’s decision. For Storm, this will mark first STARDOM match since July 2019, when she, Iwatani, and Arisa Hoshiki beat Andras Miyagi, Kagetsu, and Natsuko Tora in six-woman tag action.
Athena Makes Ring of Honor History
Earlier this week, Athena cemented herself as the longest-reigning champion in Ring of Honor. This feat comes after Athena, the current ROH Women’s Champion, surpassed Samoa Joe’s previous 645-day reign as ROH World Champion.
The long-time women’s champion has commented on her impressive accomplishment through a post on Twitter. She wrote:
“I have tried to write this a billion times and figure out the right words to say and i still dont think i know what to say… But it boils down to this I am thankful for my minions that have supported me. I am thankful for all the trolls that give me the motivation to prove them wrong. I am thankful to every hussy I have beaten along the way to show everyone that I am the THE BEST IN THE WORLD!!!! With love and anger, Athena”
Athena’s reign as ROH Women’s Champion began with a win over Mercedes Martinez in December 2022. Since then, Athena has defended the title on 22 occasions, with the latest taking form against Queen Aminata at ROH Death Before Dishonor. Looking ahead, Athena is now slated to defend the title against Gisele Shaw at Maple Leap Pro Wrestling’s Forged In Excellence event on October 20.
READ MORE: Athena To Defend ROH Women’s Title At Maple Leaf Pro ‘Forged In Excellence’
INTERVIEWS
“The Submission Sniper” Jordan Blade spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about her recent return to Jiu Jitsu, winning a gold medal at her first International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation competition, the surreal experience of wrestling against Aja Kong last month, her friendship with Riley Shepard, the growth she’s seen in her 7 years in professional wrestling, wanting a match against Miyu Yamashita, and more.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Jade Cargill sat down with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard to talk about who she leans on for advice in WWE and AEW, the success of teaming with Bianca Belair (and Naomi), if she’s open to a run in NXT, why she’s looking forward to the 2025 Royal Rumble, and more.
Former NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria joined Denise Salcedo to discuss her WWE 2K24 debut, her unexpected Queen of the Ring journey, teaming up with Becky Lynch, her goal of wrestling in an Iron Woman match with IYO SKY, and more.
WWE Women’s Champion Nia Jax appeared on Unlikely With Adrian Hernandez to discuss her Last Women Standing match against Becky Lynch, winning her title at Summerslam, fans making comparisons to her and Jennifer Lopez comparisons, what she thought of her Smackdown Celebration, her Viral ‘Stink Face’ moment with Rhea Ripley, and more.
Former WWE Women’s World Champion Rhea Ripley joined Casual Conversations with The Classic to talk about her dream War Games team, Dirty Dominik Mysterio, the Terror Twins, feeling comfortable in her own skin, Judgement Day, tattoos and more.
Former WWE Divas Champion Kelly Kelly chatted with Straight Talk Wrestling about balancing family and work, potentially coming back to WWE so her kids can see her wrestle, favorite moments of her in-ring career, and more.
