The Pirate Princess’ first title defense will take place at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s marquee event.
NJPW announced that KAIRI will defend her IWGP Women’s Championship against Tam Nakano at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 on January 4. KAIRI became the first-ever IWGP Women’s Champion at NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over when she beat Mayu Iwatani.
You can read the full statement from NJPW on the match below.
The first ever IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI will have her first defence in the Tokyo Dome opposite Cosmic Angels’ Tam Nakano. After KAIRI’s historic victory November 20 in Ariake over Mayu Iwatani, Nakano answered the call for a first challenger, and though the ‘Cutest in the Cosmos’ issued her challenge with characteristic zeal, there were daggers in her words as she promised a ‘special hell’. Tam’s ability to undercut her colourful demeanour with a vicious aggression underscored her 301 day run with the Wonder of STARDOM Championship in 2021, a title that KAIRI had helped mould in her earlier years. Indeed, mutual respect was evident when KAIRI teamed with Tam in one of her earliest matches back in STARDOM this spring opposite Miyu Amazaki and Utami Hayashishita. That match showed how brutal both women could be as a team, and now that violence will be turned on one another January 4.
NJPW
KAIRI actually won her match at Historic X-Over with an injury. The match joins Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay on the show.
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