Mercedes Mone will have two challengers in her first defense of the IWGP Women's Championship.
NJPW has announced that Mone will defend the IWGP Women's title against AZM and Hazuki in a three-way match at Sakura Genesis on Saturday, April 8. The match was made official with Mone accepting challenges that had been issued by both AZM and Hazuki.
The winner of the match will be in line to defend the IWGP Women's Championship against Mayu Iwatani at Stardom's event at the Yokohama Arena on Sunday, April 23.
NJPW wrote:
Since winning the IWGP Women’s Championship at Battle in the Valley, Mercedes Mone has been hitting red carpets and conventions in VIP style with the title, but has yet to make her first defense. Meanwhile, with the door open to challengers from around the world, two have stepped up from STARDOM.
First, High Speed Champion and young superstar of Queen’s Quest AZM would take to the microphone at a press conference recently to state that since Mercedes had mentioned her name as a prospective opponent, she’d be happy to step up. Later, the Wild Heart of STARS, Hazuki threw her hat into the ring as she proposed a three way match- even Mayu Iwatani said she would take on the winner April 23 at STARDOM’s Yokohama Arena event.
In a message released on social media today, Mercedes would issue her response. saying that ‘double the challenge means double the Mone’ the CEO took on the three way at Sakura Genesis April 8. Can Hazuki capture IWGP gold? Will AZM (that’s ‘A Zu Mi’), disrespected by Mercedes’ backhanded praise, make this title spectacular something more personal?
Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE, returned to pro wrestling at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 this January. She made her NJPW in-ring debut at Battle in the Valley last month, defeating Kairi to win the IWGP Women's title.
Sakura Genesis is taking place at Sumo Hall in Tokyo and will air live in English on NJPW World. The updated card for the show is listed below:
IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada defends against SANADAIWGP Women's Champion Mercedes Mone defends against AZM and Hazuki in a three-way matchIWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion Hiromu Takahashi defends against Robbie EaglesIWGP Tag Team Champions Hirooki Goto & YOSHI-HASHI defend against Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis)NJPW World Television Champion Zack Sabre Jr. defends against Shota UminoTetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi & BUSHI vs. Taichi, Yoshinobu Kanemaru & DOUKITama Tonga, Hikuleo & Master Wato vs. KENTA, David Finlay & El PhantasmoJeff Cobb, Aaron Henare & Francesco Akira vs. EVIL, Yujiro Takahashi & SHOClick Here: France Rugby Jersey