AZM vs Mercedes Mone vs Mina Shirakawa - NJPW STRONG WOMEN'S Championship Match May 9th 2025
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00:0019!
00:07Oh!
00:08A count of 19!
00:10Wait a minute!
00:11No!
00:12And Tina's trying to get time in this ring, but...
00:16And Shirakawa's frustrated, asking himself to say,
00:199 urges women work like they'll be alive for a title opportunity
00:23against Mercedes-Benz 1A now.
00:25Look, listen!
00:34I know you both want an opportunity for the Strong Women's Championship
00:38against Mercedes-Benz Monet.
00:40So listen.
00:42Three-way at New Japan Resurgence in Ontario, California,
00:47and you can settle it then, in the ring the right way.
00:50Mercedes, Mina, and Azumi.
00:52A three-way? A frickin' three-way?
00:54That means I can possibly lose this without being submitted or PIN?
00:58Both of them together, they're going to learn real quickly
01:01that there's a price to pay
01:03when you mess with Mercedes-Benz.
01:05Mm.
01:06All right, there's more money.
01:08There's a price to pay.
01:09Oh!
01:10Ah!
01:11Oh!
01:12Ah!
01:13Ah!
01:14Ah!
01:15Ah!
01:16Ah!
01:17Ah!
01:18Ah!
01:19Ah!
01:20Ah!
01:21Ah!
01:22Ah!
01:23Ah!
01:25Ah!
01:26Ah!
01:27Ah!
01:28Ah!
01:29Ah!
01:30Ah!
01:31Ah!
01:32Ah!
01:33Ah!
01:341, 2, 3, 2, 1.
02:041, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9, 10.
02:34He's been chasing a singles match with Mercedes Gade.
02:39Not able to get that here tonight,
02:42but Mia Shirakawa had it to the mix.
03:04Mia Shirakawa, Mia Shirakawa, Mia Shirakawa, Mia Shirakawa.
03:29From the newest side-ease to AEW here in the United States,
03:33none other than Mina Shirakawa,
03:35stepping outside the comfort zone of stardom
03:38and here into a professional wrestling ring in the United States.
03:42But Veda, as much as the future is envisioned at AEW for Mina Shirakawa,
03:47it would be a lot more glorious
03:49if she became the Strong Women's Champion today.
03:52Absolutely.
03:54Especially if she can defeat Mercedes-Bene,
04:07because personally, Mina, she's made it known that
04:12one of the deciding factors in her decision
04:15to leave stardom and to relocate to the United States,
04:19the basketball here full-time is because she wants another shot at Mercedes-Bene.
04:24Bene, of course, beat Mina for that British Women's Championship.
04:29Mina could take one of Mercedes' titles here tonight.
04:32C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O!
04:49C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O!
05:06Have you ever seen gold look that good?
05:10It is four belts, Mercedes-Bene tonight.
05:16AEW TVS Champion.
05:18Web Pro Undisputed British Women's Champion.
05:21But tonight, maybe for the final time,
05:24NJPW Strong Women's Champion.
05:27That title has never been more than this.
05:30Mercedes-Bene, like you said,
05:32there are no champions in a match like this.
05:35Mercedes does not have to be pinned.
05:37She does not have to submit in order to lose her title.
05:40C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O, C-E-O.
05:53So much gold belonging to Mercedes-Bene tonight.
05:56It is almost unbelievable.
05:58C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C-E-O C
06:28And with every single added piece of championship gold to the repertoire of Mercedes-Benz,
06:37there has been one more person stepping up in the world to want to knock her off the perch.
06:43We talk about being at the top of the mountain.
06:47Mercedes-Benz is truly at the mountaintop and the tallest of the world.
06:58The bell sounds, we are officially underway.
07:08It is your main event of the evening, a three-way match for the NJPW Strong Women's Championship.
07:15And well, Mercedes-Benz Sinead sizing up her opponent, and only she can.
07:20Let's not pretend that this confidence is not well-deserved from Mercedes-Benz.
07:30But has defeated Azumi before in three-way competition.
07:34Has pinned Mina Shirakawa in the Tokyo Dome.
07:37That's how she became the Red Pro Undisputed British Women's Champion.
07:41That makes it all the motivation more personal from Mina Shirakawa and Azumi in this one.
07:48Oh, up on the shoulders.
07:51Very quickly wanted to go for Loneemaker, but we're going to put a statement on that one.
07:59Whoa.
08:01As it is, we are heating up the action, hot and heavy.
08:04Azumi rolled right through and under the statement maker.
08:08Very quickly and early on from Mercedes-Benz tonight.
08:11Again, this could end in just seconds, but wait a second, look at Mina Shirakawa.
08:18Yeah, Shirakawa wants to take it off the rope and take through.
08:22Wow.
08:24I don't think this is exactly how Mercedes-Benz is out.
08:28Whoa, and she puts a stop to that double pitfall.
08:31Yeah, I don't know how that would have worked out.
08:33Let's see this.
08:34It's a function of the junction here, and now we're flipping and flying it all through.
08:39Azumi trips up on a double dropkick for Shirakawa and Azumi.
08:44And we're immediately seeing what makes these three-way matches so difficult.
08:49It is disorienting.
08:51And I will say this.
08:54Traditionally, in Joshua Burr Wrestling, a three-way singles match is not as usual as we're used to seeing outside of Japan.
09:04But Mina Shirakawa has actually competed in quite a few of them, and her record's pretty good.
09:08So she may have a little bit of an experience edge for this type of match.
09:13Here's a cover.
09:14Cover, only two for Azumi.
09:16And you're going to see the high-speed style.
09:18Azumi hit down, only two once again.
09:21And that glamorous figure four could have come from anywhere, but it's not here tonight.
09:27Has competed in so many matches in the high-speed division.
09:29It's stardom.
09:30And meanwhile, it is Azumi, a dropkick that will lay down in the shirt.
09:36Has been challenging for a lot of singles gold as of recently, as Azumi is back at a sellout,
09:42record-setting, historic venue in the Okohama Arena, where Azumi challenged a starlight kick.
09:47And one for the strong title.
09:48Game over short.
09:49I knew she had the strong women's style opportunity in the back pocket.
09:53Has to win.
09:54Mercedes, Azumi, fighting on the outside.
09:57Meanwhile, Mina.
09:58Oh, wait a minute.
10:00Mina Shirakawa!
10:15Now tossing Lene back into the ring.
10:22Going for a cover, Shirakawa.
10:24Now, Shirakawa could pin either Azumi or Mercedes Lene.
10:29She chose to bring Lene back into the ring because, again, I think that would just mean all that much more to her.
10:34Meanwhile, Mercedes has managed to turn it around.
10:37Yeah, it's been completely personal for Mina Shirakawa and Azumi.
10:41And I'll be honest with you, Mina.
10:42I'm not certain this as personal for the strong women's champion.
10:45She has a lot to deal with as Red Pro British Women's Champion, as AWTBS Champion.
10:50This is just another agenda on the plate for the CPL.
10:53Well, she's a week away from double or nothing.
10:55A couple weeks away from double or nothing.
10:57Finals with the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
10:59I mean, she could collect another title, but she could go in one belt lighter if Mina Shirakawa has anything to say about it.
11:08Oh, Shirakawa crossbody onto Azumi.
11:13Azumi tried to re-inject herself into this match.
11:16And meanwhile, Mercedes-Benz Mone, and yes, indeed, we are here in California tonight.
11:24Lucha Libre, well and alive.
11:28Tres amigos from Mercedes-Benz Mone.
11:36And it was Viva la Mone back in the Tokyo Tope, back in Ryogoku, and she's met these three women before.
11:43And we're going to see what Mercedes can do here as Azumi is stacked on that bottom rope.
11:49Shirakawa on the second.
11:51Oh, double knees to a double stack pin, Shirakawa.
11:56And it is only two for Mercedes-Benz Mone.
11:58Let's try Azumi here on Versailles, and a cover is only two again.
12:03And scrambling now one more time.
12:05Still not enough, and we are going to do this all night, aren't we?
12:08Oh, that was a pass.
12:14Five minutes.
12:15Five minutes deep.
12:17And Mercedes still unable to get that pinfall.
12:21Will Viva la Mone, you almost get the sense that Mercedes is trying to end this match as quickly as possible?
12:26Knowing full and well, the longer this goes on, the more titles at stake.
12:31Double Viva la Mone.
12:32Eora, we were talking before, the champion doesn't really have an advantage in this matchup.
12:38And Mercedes, I guess her plan to counter that is to take on both opponents at once.
12:43Right now it's Shirakawa who she tosses inside.
12:47Into the cover.
12:48And it is a two count on Mina Shirakawa.
12:54Shirakawa has been in action a lot recently over in Ring of Honor.
12:59Competing more actively in all-league wrestling as well as one of the newest AEW signees.
13:04No longer burdened with the travel between U.S. and Japan with startup.
13:09And Mone, meanwhile, thinking Mone maker right here.
13:13That's how she puts Shirakawa down in the Tokyo Dome.
13:15Shirakawa well aware.
13:16Wow, maybe looking for one of her own.
13:18Oh, call it a Mina maker right there.
13:24And now going after that knee.
13:27I love that figure four.
13:31Now let's keep in mind here, Vanna.
13:33Mercedes with a history of knee injuries in her career.
13:37And that could come to play, but hey, here tonight, if Mone here tonight,
13:40if Mone here is Shirakawa wins her way with it.
13:43Oh, she's about to have a very recent history of knee injuries.
13:46Oh, no.
13:48Back again to the knee.
13:59Zeroing in on that figure four submission.
14:03And it is glamorous here tonight.
14:08The glamorous figure four.
14:10That is for Mina Shirakawa.
14:13Meanwhile, oh, wait a minute.
14:15Dives away.
14:17And Asami just wipes through Mone and Mina.
14:21Now zeroing in on Mina.
14:27Asami, only 22 years of age.
14:30Could become strong women's champion, La Mistyka.
14:34La Mistyka locked in for Asami.
14:37Mercedes is frantic as Shirakawa runs in and she gets caught double.
14:47Doubled up on the armbar.
14:49Two for the price of one of the La Mistyka.
14:51Now Asami has the rings hooked in.
14:56The rings hooked in.
14:58Double stacked.
14:59Mina and Mercedes.
15:00Oh, Mercedes powers through.
15:02Oh, no.
15:03Oh, that was a messy affair right there.
15:11Asami, her resilience, always remarkable, immediately able to recalibrate here now, climbing up top.
15:19And Mercedes telling Mina to get in here and take down one of the challengers with her.
15:33Impromptu teamwork here.
15:36The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
15:40There are no friends tonight, but Mercedes and Mina.
15:44Oh, Mercedes hung up now.
15:46And Mina the save.
15:47What does Asami think in here?
15:48Uh-oh.
15:49Uh-oh.
15:51Asami.
15:52Oh.
15:55Double, double stomp.
15:58It drags Mina over to the other corner.
16:06Asami might be thinking that double stomp.
16:09She's put many women away with it.
16:11Oh.
16:11And it might be tonight.
16:13Almost halfway across the ring.
16:15The cover.
16:15That's it.
16:16A new champion.
16:17A new champion.
16:17No.
16:18Oh.
16:18Had this not been a three-way match, Mercedes-Benz would have been defeated.
16:26But Mina now, with a big combination.
16:32Mina.
16:32No, no, no.
16:36Watch it.
16:38Double backstabber from Mercedes-Benz.
16:41ở.
16:45money.
16:49Fletching her knees.
16:52Putting it all on the line.
16:53With that backstabber.
16:55Mercedes 1A has run for Stephanie Vakert, Momo Watanabe, Emi Sakura, Hizuki, even Mina Shirakawa herself.
17:17Going shot for shot.
17:25Oh, but now, zeroing in on the reigning champion.
17:31It's personal, we said it from the beginning.
17:33Shirakawa and Azmi both want to be the ones to put down the CEO.
17:42Working together here.
17:47Oh, Azmi might have just outsmarted the lot.
17:51No, no, no, Mercedes, Cypher, Utaki, the cover.
18:06Partnerships don't last long.
18:09In a match like this, there can only be one winner, and right now, it looks like it's going to be the CEO.
18:14Locked and loaded, Mercedes away, knees in the corner.
18:34And it's time for the re-line.
18:37Filiara, one more.
18:38And if I had to cover on Azmi again, two only.
18:44Leg was hooked, but it wasn't enough.
18:50From Ryagoku, Sumo Hall, two years ago with Azmi.
18:55The Tokyo Dome to kick off the year with Mina Shirakawa.
18:59Mercedes 1A is running through the lot of them.
19:02And we'll see, but they can't do it tonight.
19:04It is up top.
19:08Oh, sleeper slam off the heavens.
19:12And to find the cover, Mina Mina broke it up by Mercedes again.
19:16Mercedes, looks to steal the pin.
19:18Tries to, and it is not enough.
19:23Going after Azmi.
19:25Moneymaker up on, no.
19:27Shirakawa, I mean, wants the submission, but Azmi not going to allow it.
19:37Oh, wait a second.
19:38Oh, DDT.
19:42With Mercedes tracking that submission as well.
19:46Two for the price of one.
19:47Mina Shirakawa.
19:49Looks like she has chosen Azmi to end this.
19:53Just planted.
20:08And you can sense the urgency on Shirakawa, and it's got to be there.
20:11You have the CEO wiped out.
20:13If you want to become strong women's champion, you can take every advantage you can get.
20:18Figure four locked in.
20:19Oh, and the CEO snapped down.
20:23Not for long.
20:26Meteora breaks up the submission.
20:45Right back to that injured knee.
20:49Oh, wait a minute.
20:51What is Shirakawa thinking here?
20:54Stack it up bodies.
20:56Stack it up legs.
20:58Oh, it's not a pinfall attempt for Azmi.
21:02Taito knows what's going on here.
21:04Double figure four.
21:07Wrenching it on Mina Shirakawa.
21:11Shirakawa.
21:13Nice double impression on Mone right now.
21:17It only single that of Azmi.
21:18Shirokawa.
21:24Shirakawa.
21:25More determined than ever.
21:26Look at Azmi.
21:27Mone.
21:28They grabbed hands.
21:29They decided they're not going to tap out here.
21:31They can't allow the other one to.
21:33That means you lose your shot.
21:35That's a strong women's title.
21:41Dragging.
21:42Dragging Shirakawa over to the ropes.
21:44And finally forcing a break on the submission.
21:47Oh, smart on Mercedes.
22:03Create your separation.
22:04Find your distance.
22:06Find yourself again.
22:06You can't take too much time doing that on the outside.
22:12Mina's going for the end here.
22:15I was going to be able to escape.
22:16Oh, the right hand from Mina.
22:22Oh, what a knee.
22:25And what a cover.
22:26No.
22:34Mina.
22:35T-D-T.
22:37Let's try it again.
22:38Find it one more.
22:40No.
22:41Again.
22:42So close.
22:43Shirakawa.
22:46Thinking maybe glamorous driver Mina here.
22:49That would do it for sure.
22:51We could see a glamorous driver.
23:02No.
23:02Mina.
23:03Mina.
23:03The shoulder's down.
23:05No.
23:07Shirakawa.
23:08Goes through.
23:09Jackknife.
23:10No.
23:10Mina.
23:11Shoulders down again.
23:12And it's only one.
23:14Mina.
23:15Mina.
23:15Mina.
23:16No.
23:16No.
23:16No.
23:18Azumi.
23:19Double up.
23:20Double up.
23:21Oh.
23:21Oh, I can't believe it.
23:23So close.
23:25Back up on the shoulders.
23:27Money.
23:27No.
23:28Watch it again.
23:29Azumi.
23:31Sushi.
23:32Azumi.
23:33Sushi.
23:34Oh, I can't believe it.
23:38Azumi back up.
23:49Oh.
23:49Right on the back of her head.
23:52Mercedes.
23:55Charge is in.
23:56Put it away.
23:58We saw it earlier on.
23:59Azumi.
23:59We'll see it again tonight.
24:02Money.
24:02No, no, no.
24:03Bad positioning.
24:04Bad timing.
24:05Azumi.
24:06Define the mark.
24:07Destroy her.
24:10Mercedes is out.
24:11Mina.
24:11Mishrakawa.
24:13Mina.
24:15Azumi.
24:15Tried to be the cover.
24:16Two.
24:20Chiricahua connects.
24:26Azumi keeping it at high speed.
24:28The Mistic on takedown.
24:29Mina's out.
24:30Mina's out.
24:32Shoulders down.
24:33No.
24:34Wait, Mercedes talked to the apron.
24:41Trying to dispose of the champion.
24:45And for good reason.
24:46Shoulders down again.
24:47Azumi with it.
24:49Ah.
24:51Azumi sushi.
24:52Azumi sushi inbound.
24:54Cover.
24:55Cover.
24:55Over.
24:56Rotates.
24:56Down again.
24:57Azumi sushi.
24:59Azumi sushi.
25:00Azumi sushi.
25:01Azumi sushi.
25:05And the look.
25:06On Mercedes-Mene's face.
25:19Says it all.
25:22This has got to be like a flashback for Mercedes.
25:25This story repeats itself.
25:26But in some sort of parallel universe.
25:28Because this time.
25:29It's Mercedes who's left in the cold.
25:32In a three-winning match.
25:34Azumi.
25:35The new New Japan Strong Women's Champion.
25:39Unbelievable.
25:40Mercedes-Mene looks absolutely distraught.
25:46And you can't blame the woman.
26:02When's the last time you've seen Mercedes-Mene lose a championship in professional wrestling?
26:10What?
26:11Since the NBA champion women's title?
26:13She has been conducting title after title.
26:16And you've got to think that it stinks even more to know.
26:20That she herself was not involved in that final goal.
26:23And she's not happy with me to share it now either.
26:31Mercedes is not playing against her for the win.
26:34The win would be a championship.
26:36Yes.
26:41We're not talking here tonight.
26:42Between Mena and Mercedes.
26:44They're headed to the back and presumably headed back to AEW as well.
26:53That is certainly not over.
26:56But now Azumi, she has the microphone.
27:04I'm a new champion!
27:10The new champion, Azumi.
27:12My team is so happy.
27:42It's, uh, Azumi time!
28:06It is Azumi's time indeed, and the era of the CEO is over in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
28:34And now, she stands on top of the New Japan Strong Women's Division, and she has defeated
28:53Krisanis Mune, defeated Mina Shirakawa, it really is Azumi time.
28:58And wrestling fans, if you love your New Japan Pro Wrestling, you're gonna wanna stick around,
29:02because in about 3 hours time, we're gonna be live on the other side of the world, on MJPW World Official.
29:09It will be the kickoff to Best of the Super Junior 32 Night 1.
29:14Our good pal Chris Charlton is on standby over there for English coverage for Chiba.
29:19Of course, Night 2 to come in post-production, and it will be live through the rest of the tournament.
29:23The kickoff to Best of the Super Junior in the aftermath of Resurgence.
29:27So much to talk about heading into Best of the Super Junior.
29:30So much to talk about heading into Dominion.
29:32But that has been all for us here in Toyota Arena here in Ontario, California.
29:38For Beta Scott, Ivan Walker Stewart, this has been New Japan Pro Wrestling, the King of Sports.
29:44Go King Kenyo! Sayonara! Bye-bye!