IYO SKY wins the WWE Women’s World Championship. Maple Leaf Pro will crown its first ever women’s champion. Skye Smitson chats with WrestleZone and more!
IYO SKY Dethrones Rhea Ripley On WWE Raw
At WWE Elimination Chamber, Bianca Belair outlasted five other women in the 2025 Women’s Elimination Chamber to earn a WWE Women’s World Championship match at WrestleMania 41. At the time, Rhea Ripley held the respective championship. Coming out of WWE Raw, however, the title has since transferred hands.
In the main event of Raw, Ripley defended the WWE Women’s World Championship against IYO SKY. Heading into this title bout, SKY brought forth an undefeated singles record against “The Eradicator.” Thanks to Ripley’s preoccupation with Belair, that winning streak continued.
In the title match’s closing moments, Ripley and Belair got into a physical confrontation, which was later halted by the referee. Upon her return to the ring, Ripley set up SKY for a Riptide off the top rope. Before she landed it, Ripley looked over at Belair, providing an opening for SKY to reverse it with a hurricanrana. From there, SKY finished off Ripley with an Over The Moonsault for the win, and her first WWE Women’s World Championship reign.
“I have no words anymore,” SKY told Cathy Kelley following her victory. “It’s so surprising, but I made it, and the crowd gave such a great reaction to me, and my gosh. And also, I’m going to WrestleMania now, right? I always do my best and still keep going, keep doing that. So, I believe in myself always. I believe you guys. Damage CTRL, for life.”
Looking ahead, SKY will now defend her new title against Bianca Belair at WrestleMania 41. Due to the referee not calling for a disqualification when Belair struck her at ringside, though, Ripley may make a case for this match to be elevated to a triple threat.
READ MORE: Bianca Belair Wins 2025 Women’s Elimination Chamber, Earns Title Match At WrestleMania 41
Maple Leaf Pro To Crown Inaugural Women’s Champion
On May 11, Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling will crown its first ever MLW Women’s Canadian Champion. To achieve this, the promotion will hold an eight-woman tournament, beginning at the MLW Mayhem event, which emanates from Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
MLW Mayhem spans two nights, with the four opening round tournament matchups taking place on the first one, March 14. The following night, March 15, will host the two semifinals. The tournament will conclude at MLP North Rising from the former Maple Leaf Gardens.
At #MLPWrestling Northern Rising in Toronto, we are going to crown the first ever MLP Women's Canadian Champion! But first, there will be an 8-woman tournament at MLP MAYHEM in Windsor to decided the two finalists! Match-ups for the tournament coming soon!
— MAPLE LEAF PRO Wrestling (@MapleLeafPW) March 5, 2025
Tickets for MLP MAYHEM… pic.twitter.com/zpBb5gtpuP
So far, one quarterfinal matchup has been announced, that being Zoe Sager vs Kylie Rae. Both talents are part of the WWE ID program, with Sager hailing from Canada. Meanwhile, Rae represents “The Windy City” of Chicago.
The remaining tournament matchups have yet to be revealed.
Natalya Set For Two Non-WWE Appearances
The forbidden door has swung open for former WWE SmackDown Women’s Champion Natalya.
This week, wrestling fans learned that Natalya will venture out on a world tour, two stops which take her to promotions outside of WWE. Firstly, “The Queen of Harts” will make her Bloodsport debut at Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport XIII, which emanates from Las Vegas, Nevada on April 17. Her opponent for the event has yet to be named.
In recent months, fellow WWE star Shayna Baszler, Charlie Dempsey, Myles Borne, Karmen Petrovic, and The Creed Brothers have competed at other Bloodsport events.
Following her Bloodsport debut, Natalya will head to Philadelphia for an appearance at the National Wrestling Alliance‘s Crockett Cup on May 17. She will be in action in some fashion, but her opponent has yet to be announced.
Other advertised talents for the Crockett Cup include NWA World Women’s Champion Kenzie Paige, Natalia Markova, and Kyle Paige.
RELATED: Natalya Credits Bully Ray For Motivating Her, Shares The Catalyst For Her NWA Debut
INTERVIEWS
Former EVE Tag Team Champion Skye Smitson spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about Jamie Hayter’s recent return to Pro-Wrestling EVE, her double title match at EVE’s Women Behaving Badly show, taking inspiration from Marvel’s Venom, being a veteran in the locker room, fulfilling a dream match against Jetta, women who empower her, Mercedes Mone winning the RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship, and more.
Kamille (Kailey Latimer) and Damaris Lewis chatted with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about their roles as June Byers and Babs Wingo in “Queen Of The Ring”, working with Naomi (Trinity Fatu) on the film, Kamille’s run in NWA and AEW, cosplay in the ring, the film’s soundtrack and more.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Sonya Deville appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show about her ten years in WWE, her next moves following her departure, her background in MMA, her role as a WWE General Manager, and more.
NXT Women’s North American Champion Stephanie Vaquer joined Busted Open After Dark to discuss her upcoming match against NXT Women’s Champion Giulia, WWE being her dream destination, training at the WWE Performance Center, the differences between CMLL and NXT, and more.
TNA Knockout Steph De Lander appeared on Gabby AF to talk about the partnership between TNA and WWE, her marriage with Mance Warner, working with Matt Cardona, her dream tag team match, growing up as Nikki Bella fan, and more.
