00:00Hello, wrestling fans, we are live here tonight.
00:04New Japan Pro Wrestling presents King of Pro Wrestling 2025 in Ryokoku Kokuki Kan.
00:09My name is Walker Stewart, alongside Chris Charlton.
00:12Chris, yoroshiki onegai shimasu.
00:14Yoroshiki onegai shimasu, and what better way to start off King of Pro Wrestling
00:17with two of the queens of professional wrestling,
00:20two of the best female athletes in the world, Walker Stewart,
00:23and a rivalry that has seen epic battles across 2025 already.
00:28Yeah, I paid attention to a lot of it throughout my own time here in the World Wondering Stardom,
00:32our sister organization of New Japan Pro Wrestling.
00:34Here comes one of the most legit badasses in the world of women's professional wrestling.
00:40And hell, you might be able to take women's out as the equator.
00:43It is Shuri, leader of God's Eye unit in stardom, a former IWGP women's champion.
00:49In fact, the previous IWGP women's champion, that came to pass changing hands in June 27,
00:552025, back at Stardom's The Conversion to the woman she is facing off against here tonight.
01:01It is the rematch that Shuri took the time off for to got surgery healed.
01:06It's back to now a new Japan Pro Wrestling ring to try and reclaim her gold.
01:10One of the absolute most badass female athletes,
01:14any athletes, you're right, in the world, trained by Sajiri.
01:19164cm and 58kg, the different women in the world.
01:25Shuri!
01:27An alum of UFC and a former IWGP women's champion, former Wilders Stardom champion.
01:35But if there's one woman walker that has Shuri's number, certainly at least in 2025,
01:40it's the IWGP women's champion as of now.
01:43A peer-re May Day
01:52Is in 2021
02:00Shuri's Not Loeschy
02:05On The Mow
02:07Sound Of F меш
02:10It is a conversation, Chris Charlton, that we're not only going to get into a little bit in our opener here tonight,
02:20but soon to come in our main event between Konosuke Takeshita and Zack Sabre Jr.
02:24When you qualify, Sari, she is not an athlete who was born by her own admission to represent the four letters of the IWGP,
02:33to represent New Japan Pro Wrestling, to represent the world wonder ring and stardom.
02:37Sari was born to represent professional wrestling as a whole, and is utilizing the IWGP Women's Championship,
02:45taking it to the world. A recent successful defense against Alex Winter over at Ring of Honor on Otter Club in Lakeland, Florida.
02:52We are walking into this one here tonight. It is the future of women's professional wrestling at stake,
02:57and a special matchup to kick off your King of Pro Wrestling card.
03:01champion of 158cm and 60kg, Tai Oshin, Sari!
03:06Sari, the 2024 Tokyo Sports Women's MVP, and certainly someone that represents IWGP walking in the original,
03:17I guess, Antonio Inokia's sense of the word.
03:20The pursuit of strength is something that obsesses Sari, and I think that is why this matchup walk is so key for it to happen here in Ryogoku,
03:29here at King of Pro Wrestling.
03:31You know what I mean? I think right now, the Tokyo MVP, on a women's sense, maybe in an overall sense,
03:38Saiya Kamatani close to lapping the field.
03:40And I think Sari has the World of Stardom champion in the back of her mind, and Shuri at the front of it.
03:46You're right about that.
03:47Bell sounds, one fault, 60-minute time limit.
03:51As Sari makes her New Japan Pro Wrestling debut, has never competed on an NJPW card prior to tonight.
03:58We'll talk about a little bit where she has competed before, though.
04:01It was back in 2011, World Women's Pro Wrestling Diana, if you believe it or not.
04:06The first time that these two women squared off in singles action, Shuri putting down Sari.
04:10But keep in mind, Sari, I mean, it was not what?
04:12She was 15.
04:12She was 15 at the time.
04:14And then they came back round to it.
04:17This year, a 30-minute full-time draw, a Sari-produced show, and that led to a rematch where they went 34 minutes.
04:24I mean, they can certainly go the distance.
04:27Incredible athletes these women are.
04:28Shuri, by the way, 9-1-1 singles over the last 365 days.
04:33The one and the one both belonging to Sari.
04:36If there's anybody that can beat Shuri, it's Sari.
04:39And I think that's the only person that can beat Shuri.
04:41Yeah, potentially so.
04:42And that's going to be something that we certainly peek into here tonight as Shuri and Sari.
04:47Definitely a mixed martial arts background.
04:49You talked a little bit about that UFC run for Shuri.
04:54Very similar ideologies coming out of the training for Sari as well.
04:58We recently saw in the stardom ranks, Kaoru Ito, the trainer for Sari, teaming alongside the IWGP women's champion in stardom against Shuri and Tomoka Inaba.
05:08And it ended up with a matchup where, by the end of it, no matter the result, it was Shuri coming in and saying,
05:13Hey, I want a challenge for the women's championship.
05:14I want my next opportunity.
05:16I made my return to stardom.
05:17Give me my title shot.
05:19Sari basically saying the way that Shuri did when she first won an opportunity.
05:23Well, actually, hold on.
05:24I'm going to go defend this championship overseas.
05:26Almost a bit of a mental play here.
05:28And then instantly calling out when she did go overseas, facing the challenge of Alex Windsor, as you noted.
05:33The only successful defense that Shuri had in her reign when she defended her over in Pro Wrestling Eve.
05:39So, I mean, I think there's certainly an aspect where both these women are almost obsessed with one another.
05:47Neither one willing to admit it, though.
05:50Underhook, suplex there, cover here for Shuri.
05:52And a kick out at one, two.
05:54For a half hat.
05:55So, I mean, as you see, from a pro wrestling aspect, Shuri, one of the early students of Tajiri, when he transitioned into a trainer back in the hustle days.
06:05And Sari, you mentioned some of her influences, also very heavily influenced by Kyoko Inoue, and spent a lot of time in the Hamaguchi gym.
06:14And we often talk about the people that came under Animo Hamaguchi and his daughter, Kyoko Hamaguchi, as well.
06:23Certainly the influences, guys, like everyone from Tomaaki Homo to Tetsuya Naito, Shingo Takagi.
06:29I mean, there's some of the booing, as well, that has been equally severely following Sari around over the last few months.
06:35Yeah, you've heard it in stardom.
06:36You will hear it here in her NJPW debut.
06:39And it's because, well, this is a woman who tends to question the caliber, the level of talent in any single organization that she steps into.
06:47From Maddie Gold, Pro Wrestling Noah, to here in NJPW.
06:50She has been born, put on this earth, Sari claims, to raise the level of competition in pro wrestling as a whole.
06:56Yeah, just absolutely wiped the bottom of her boot with Shuri's face right there.
07:02Well, and I think, you know, it was something that in her last defense over Suzu Suzuki, Suzuki making the point in the toy,
07:08it's not enough just to be strong if you want to be a big deal in professional wrestling.
07:12And, you know, I think Sari very, very, very focused on the bell-to-bell, very, very, very focused on, you know, proving her strength.
07:19And maybe some of that walker coming from maybe one or two more Sari experiences in her past in the U.S. before.
07:25Yeah, yeah, potentially so.
07:26And it certainly is made up for that past U.S. experience with that Ring of Honor defense against Alex Windsor.
07:34As Sari, oh, look at this, out of the women's champion.
07:37Nice, so it's a variation in the Moodle Lock, but look where the bridge is, right at the top of the spine,
07:42burying a skull into the spine of Shuri.
07:45What absolute agony on the part of the challenger there.
07:49It is a 1-1-1 career record between these two women.
07:55This is the rubber match, completely evened up ever since their first singles encounter in 2015.
08:00And, you know, Sari now, going to stutter step into the kick, right to the back.
08:07It's such a bad position, and Shuri going right back up.
08:10She seems to be in here, but that stutter step, but you don't know when the strike's going to come,
08:14but you know something's going to hit you like a ton of bricks, and now Shuri's going to do the same.
08:18Hard hit.
08:18You know, Sari may have put down Shuri before, gone to the 30-minute time limit before,
08:26with this woman cover here for the challenger.
08:28Bridge immediately out.
08:30Beautiful bridge out.
08:30Women's champion with a dropkick.
08:33A stiff one at that to the number one contender.
08:36Sari has never beaten Shuri, though, and Shuri's at 100%.
08:40It was a long-standing, lingering injury that very much led to Shuri's loss of that women's championship back in June in start-up.
08:48Now she's taken the time off, she's gotten the surgery, she's healed.
08:51Shuri's operating on another level beyond what Sari's been able to experience up until tonight.
08:56That's true, but I think even in opposite different opponents, different situations, Sari has had superiority.
09:01The only person, Shuri's wrestled several times in Yogoku Sumo Hall Walker,
09:05the only person to ever beat Shuri in this building was Julia.
09:10Sari's only had one singles match in Yogoku before now, and that was beating Julia.
09:14You know, I mean, I think you look at common opponents, and you say, Sari has the upper hand.
09:18Let's see who has the upper hand in this strike exchange.
09:21Oh, my God.
09:23These are stiff, stiff shots.
09:25The IWGP women's champion, standing advantageous at this point in time.
09:35Everyone wants to be the champion, everyone wants to be top dog.
09:40Heading into Riyogoku Sumo Hall, heading into the Tokyo Dome, coming up January 4th, 2026.
09:45Hey, look, I mean, Sari Kamatani said she wants to take stardom into a Tokyo Dome spot.
09:50You know, I mean, I think that was definitely a word that Sari would have taken to heart.
10:02Sari now off the ropes, the women's champion, and a dropkick.
10:07Man, washing the face of Shuri.
10:10Sari is definitely one of those athletes, Chris.
10:17You can't exactly see the gears turning inside her head the way that you can with other competitors.
10:22Very difficult to read.
10:24Yeah, I know.
10:25I think, like, that might be behind some of those boos as well, perhaps.
10:31Oh, Sari often someone more to wear her heart on her sleeve.
10:35I mean, the sound telling the story there.
10:47Absolutely so.
10:48Oh!
10:51Jeez!
11:00Come here!
11:04The stiff crack of bone on bone, skull on skull.
11:09Well, you talk about in the mirror of our opening bout to our main event, and Zack Sabre Jr.
11:14and Takeshi have knocked each other out on several occasions already over just two matches.
11:19We might have a double KO right here.
11:21Daichi Mariyama being absolutely the right person in charge of this one.
11:26constantly trying to beat one another at their own game here, Chris.
11:41Headbutt for headbutt.
11:42Strike for strike, Shuri.
11:43Oh, nice.
11:45Rough landing here for Shuri.
11:47Shuri back up, though.
11:48Right for it.
11:49See, there you go again.
11:50Tit for tat.
11:51German for German now.
11:52Shuri stands on top.
11:54Yeah.
11:55Yeah.
11:56Sadie, I think, wanted to bounce up to her.
11:57If he could not, that was a deep, deep kick from the right side.
12:02This is what we talk about when we say legitimate badass fighter and the former women's champion here in Shuri,
12:08but looking to become the first ever two-time IWGP women's champion tonight.
12:13No, no, no, got the strike, dragon, screw leg whip out of Sadie tonight.
12:19IWGP class, and right to the upper thigh of a challenger.
12:26Shuri not gonna go anywhere, that leg outstretched, walk up.
12:29No, no, no.
12:30Oh.
12:31Two boots right to that thigh.
12:34It's a lot like we saw a few nights ago in Cork and Hall in the preview tag here in Startup.
12:42I think she's trying to take away those mid-kicks of Shuri that we saw earlier on.
12:48Now, is there enough base for Shuri to try and see, what is she doing, what in the world?
12:52I'm not too certain about this, it's go big or go home, you're Ryugoku, Goku, Gikata.
12:56It's the women's title on the line, Chris.
12:59Ooh, that arm, it's gonna snap down.
13:02Try and get that hammerlock a little deeper.
13:08Come on, come on, come on.
13:12Come on, come on, come on.
13:16Come on, come on.
13:17Give up, give up, give up, Shuri, give up.
13:22Shuri trying to do everything she can to break bottom half.
13:25No, no, no, she's gonna get closer to the rope.
13:27She's gotta get there and she does.
13:28What a way to kick off getting a pro wrestling walker.
13:35Absolutely so.
13:36The IWGP Women's Championship is the standard for women's pro wrestling all over the world.
13:41Ten minutes gone, in a flash already.
13:44Bam, Ropong DDT out of Shuri tonight.
13:48Adam Shuri tonight.
13:59What's she going for?
14:00Maybe that's Shuri Skywalker.
14:01Yeah, potentially.
14:02Got it.
14:03And Shuri, new IWGP champion, no.
14:07Such a difficult thing to do, Chris.
14:13You may be used to competing in Ryugoku's small hall, but it's New Japan Pro Wrestling.
14:17A different atmosphere, different energy.
14:19Mmm, now she's got it down.
14:21Driven and cover here for Shuri.
14:24New title holder.
14:25Survey says no.
14:26Two of her best hits, but Shuri saying now up to the UN.
14:31Oh, Shuri.
14:46Can she?
14:47It's that leg.
14:48That leg.
14:49She's clutching a leg on the way up.
14:50It's a typical position to be in.
14:51Sadi fights out of it, though.
14:52She's gonna want that uranage sometime soon.
14:55She's trying to get underneath.
14:56Now she does.
14:57Whoa, whoa, whoa.
14:58Look at this.
14:59Up, down with the powerbomb.
15:02And not even going for the cover, going straight into the full Matt Walker.
15:06Yeah, this is dangerous, and referee Dicey Mariamma might need to step in on this one right
15:09here.
15:10She is obsessed.
15:11She is obsessed with proving herself stronger than Shuri.
15:19Sadi out of the corner.
15:21Oh, a murder stop.
15:23Cover here for Sadi.
15:25Two.
15:29Oh, you thought that was the murder stop.
15:35Now, double it and give it to the next person.
15:37Here we go.
15:38Sadi taking it from the heavens tonight, Chris.
15:39Oh, just sickening.
15:44It's over.
15:46It's gotta be the cover.
15:48No.
15:48No.
15:49A lot of people seeing Sari and Shuri for the very first time here tonight in Neil Gokic and
15:58having to respect both champion and challenger.
16:01Oh, wait a minute, wait a minute.
16:07Here it is.
16:08Yoranage, out of Sadi, it's how she put down Shuri.
16:12She sees her going for the cover again.
16:13She wants it one more.
16:14One more time.
16:16No, it'll take two.
16:17Oh, waving it off, saying no, no, no, she can put it away here.
16:23Sadi going for overkill.
16:25Yoranage.
16:26No.
16:27One in the world.
16:28Three of those Yoranages, and still Shuri kicking out.
16:41We talk about a Ryukoku opener, you're seeing it here.
16:44Now the wrist clutched, Shuri trying so hard to get to that top rope, manages to do so.
16:51We're not gonna be able to avoid Sadi here, off the ropes.
16:55Whoa.
16:56My God.
16:57That could be a knockout shot to any lesser opponent.
17:02But you're not talking about the least.
17:05This might be.
17:06Sadi caught, captured Yoranage.
17:14That's gotta be it.
17:16Shuri, this time it is.
17:19Wow.
17:24We're starting off hotter than ever here in Ryukoku.
17:27Sadi, one more time.
17:29It's gotta be one more time.
17:31No, she escaped again.
17:33Got that arm bar in.
17:34Yeah, immediate, immediate.
17:35But for how long?
17:36Shuri with the break.
17:37And the knee strike for the cover for Luen, too.
17:42She's still, still got arm control now, head control.
17:47Not for very much longer.
17:48No, no time to breathe in this one.
17:50Turn in!
17:52A violent strike of the knee from Shuri turns in.
17:55What's that right?
17:56Buzzsaw from a trainer to the disciple, the cover.
18:00Could it?
18:01No.
18:02Both of these women, Walker, we have to think about what's it gonna take?
18:11It's been non-stop action since the battle here, Chris.
18:14I have no idea.
18:15One more Buzzsaw Roundhouse.
18:18Now, Shuri on Dream Street.
18:24God.
18:25God.
18:26To the back of the head.
18:27Unprotected.
18:28Sickening.
18:29Sickening.
18:30The most dangerous spot to get hit.
18:34And now, a lethal finish.
18:36Now, Shuri Sekai to the world.
18:39Got it.
18:41Cover for Shuri.
18:43Yeah.
18:44We have a new IWGP Women's Champion.
18:4914分 56秒.
18:51Shuri's winner.
18:56Well, the queen is dead long live the queen at King of Pro Wrestling.
19:03A different breed of woman is Shuri.
19:06And she is once again IWGP Women's Champion.
19:10The first ever two-time IWGP Women's Champion in history.
19:15Crown tonight.
19:17We're gonna have to rename the whole event, Chris.
19:19The queen of Pro Wrestling has been established.
19:22Shuri's winner.
19:23Shuri's winner.
19:24Shuri's winner.
19:25Shuri's winner.
19:26Shuri's winner.
19:27Shuri's winner.
19:28Shuri's winner.
19:29Shuri's winner.
19:30Shuri's winner.
19:31Shuri's winner.
19:32Shuri's winner.
19:33Shuri's winner.
19:34Shuri's winner.
19:35Shuri's winner.
19:36Shuri's winner.
19:37Shuri's winner.
19:38Shuri's winner.
19:39Shuri's winner.
19:40Shuri's winner.
19:41Shuri's winner.
19:42Shuri's winner.
19:43Shuri's winner.
19:44Shuri's winner.
19:45Shuri's winner.
19:46Shuri's winner.
19:47Shuri's winner.
19:48Shuri's winner.
19:49Shuri's winner.
19:50Shuri's winner.
19:51Shuri's winner.
19:52Shuri's winner.
19:53Shuri's winner.
19:54Shuri's winner.
19:55Shuri's winner.
19:56feature live English coverage.
19:57Hey, including right here, Neil Goku,
19:59right at the end of December.
20:00Yeah.
20:10This is certainly a humbling exchange
20:13and a loss for Sirene tonight.
20:16Well, I've got a feeling it might not be the last time, though.
20:191-1-1 in 2025.
20:26Well, you couldn't ask Walker for a more electric start
20:35to King of Pro Wrestling right here
20:37in the Okoku Civil Hall, brand new IWGP Women's Champion.
20:41Yeah, congratulations go out as God's Eye
20:44going to be reigning very victorious on the evening,
20:47heading into our next Startup event.
20:49Live with English coverage,
20:50Crimson Nightmares soon to come November 3rd.
20:53You'll hear more about that on Tweet or Startup
20:55on all social media.
20:56Well, congratulations to the new IWGP Women's Champion.
21:00A lot to talk about here tonight, Chris.
21:02Walker Stewart, Chris Charlton, we thank you so much
21:04for joining us.
21:04What a way to start.
21:05What an electric night it is going to be
21:08with the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship on the line.
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