Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: Jazz Headlines Women’s Wrestling Hall Of Fame, All Elite Willow

Jazz will headline the first ever Women’s Wrestling Hall Of Fame. Willow Nightingale is officially All Elite. IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament finals set, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame Set To Commence

The inaugural Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame will culminate later this fall with WWE Legend Jazz set to headline.

In partnership with the International Pro Wrestling Hall of Fame, Documentarian Christopher Annino will aid in launching the first official Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame (WWHOF). Based in Albany, NY the IPWHF will feature a designated area for some of the debuting association’s plaques and respective honors. 

Though it will be mainly a virtual Hall Of Fame, Annino recently spoke with Slam Wrestling, unveiling the organization’s plans for its first official Hall of Fame class and its mission statement. “Establishing this Hall of Fame is important to chronicle the accomplishments of women who have not yet received proper recognition or been documented in the history books,” Annino said. 

WWHOF will aim to “educate, promote, and preserve the history of Women’s Wrestling”, per their official website. In addition, Annino noted that the organization will be inclusive to four different aspects of women’s wrestling: pioneer, amateur, professional and non-wrestling. 

With nods to Olympic style, freestyle, and NCAA athletes, the amateur category will honor females with significant contributions in those departments. The pioneer category will be female wrestlers who served as trailblazers and helped pave the way. Professional wrestlers who made impressive contributions will also be honored. Lastly, the WWHOF also recognizes females in non-wrestling roles such as referees, coaches, managers, valets, promoters, executives, broadcasters, journalists, announcers, and historians.

The Women’s Wrestling Hall of Fame will hold its first induction ceremony on December 17th at the former ECW Arena. During the Icons of Wrestling Convention, the first class will be honored, with former WWE Women’s Champion Jazz headlining the inaugural class. 

In addition to Jazz, the following talent will also be honored among the 2023 inductions:

• Jazz
• Cora Livingston (Pioneer)
• Mildred Burke
• Debrah Ann Miceli (Madusa)
• Beverly “Hammer” Shade
• Babs Wingo (Pioneer)
• Marva Scott
• Ethel Johnson
• Luna Vachon
• Toni Rose & Donna Christanello (Tag Team)
• Susan “Tex” Green (Pioneer)
• Rita Marie Chatterton (Referee)
• The entire Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling (GLOW) promotion
• 2004 Olympic Gold Medalist Iryna Merleni

More on the WWHOF and its founding members can be found on the organization’s website.

RELATED: Jazz On Possible WWE Hall Of Fame Induction: ‘I Would Love To Be Inducted By Paul Heyman’

IWGP Women’s Championship Finals Set 

The finals of the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament are now officially locked in. 

This past weekend, the semi-finals of the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament concluded on the first night of Goddesses of Stardom Tag League on October 23rd. There, former WWE NXT Women’s Champion KAIRI capitalized on her first-round tournament bye, defeating Jazzy Gabert with her Insane Elbow.

The former “Alpha Female” initially beat Ava White at Royal Quest II on October 2nd to advance to the semi-finals, rounding out the International portion of the bracket. Elsewhere on the home side of the tournament, their respective opening rounds began in Japan on October 22nd. 

Former World of Stardom Champion Utami Hayashishita first defeated Himeka to advance. Later, Mayu Iwatani battled Momo Watanabe in the final opening round. In the end, Iwatani defeated her former rival.

On November 20th, Kairi and Mayu Iwatani will now meet at NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over in the tournament finals. There, the winner will be crowned as the inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion.

READ MORE: IWGP Women’s Title Tournament Finals Set For NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over

Willow Nightingale Is All Elite

Willow Nightingale is officially All Elite.

Upon defeating Leila Grey last Friday on AEW: Rampage, “The Babe With The Power” received some good news from announcer Tony Schiavone. Nightingale has now officially earned a contract with All Elite Wrestling.

Nightingale recently challenged Jade Cargill for the AEW TBS Championship earlier this year but fell short in the bout. In the weeks following, Nightingale assumed more frequent appearances in AEW, before solidifying her contract with the company.

RELATED: Willow Nightingale Signs With All Elite Wrestling

Taya Valkyrie Set To Defend MLW Featherweight Championship

Last week, Major League Wrestling announced a major upcoming title defense.

Reigning MLW Women’s World Featherweight Champion Taya Valkyrie will compete at the company’s FIGHTLAND ’22 event with her title on the line. Initially, MLW declared the bout as an open contract, with Valkyrie set to compete against an unknown opponent.

That open challenge has since been answered by Trish Adora. Recent hailing at number 50 on the PWI 500 list, Adora remains one of the hottest free agents in professional wrestling. Now, she will meet Taya Valkyrie in hopes of capturing the MLW Women’s Featherweight Championship.

October 30th will mark the second-ever match between “La Wera Loca” and “The Afro-Punk,” as the two first locked up at Garden State Pro Wrestling earlier this July. There, Valkyrie successfully retained her AAA Reina De Reinas Championship.

Valkyrie first claimed the Featherweight Title in May 2022 by overcoming Holidead on an episode on MLW Fusion. In the months following, she went on to successfully defend her championship on multiple occasions. Last month, she defeated Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo in a triple-threat match at The Wrestling Showcase to retain. Most recently, Valkyrie tackled Lady Flammer at MLW Super Series, again walking out with her title. Next, she awaits Trish Adora.

RELATED: Taya Valkyrie: I’m Having Fun Wrestling Everywhere, But My Goal Is To Sign With A Company Full-Time

INTERVIEWS:

Former Knockouts Champion Tasha Steelz joined GAWTV to discuss her first memories of IMPACT Wrestling, her next moves, creating exclusive content, and more.

Former NXT Women’s Tag Team Champion Cora Jade spoke with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about advice from Shawn Michaels, Halloween Havoc, Death Matches, her admiration for AJ Lee, and more.

Independent star Rachel Armstrong joined the Hot Tag Hooligans to talk about her career, finding her niche inside of it, balancing college with her career and more.

CSW Academy star Shelly Benson appeared on Wilde On to discuss dating, tattoos, astrology, pursuing professional wrestling, and more