00:04.
00:10History will be made tonight as the first ever strong women's champion
00:14will be crowned here in Long Beach.
00:17It is a historic day today, what it's been, it is to be here at the Walter Pyramid.
00:30Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
00:57Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
01:23japan
01:24but she has quite a tall task ahead of her
01:27so she does
01:31i don't want to thank you but it smells like money
01:36money
01:40money
01:41money
01:43money
01:44the first ever iwg team
01:47women's world champion
01:48booking to get
01:50back in the winning column
01:52C'est parti !
02:22C'est parti !
02:26Take a look around.
02:28Every single person in the pyramid on their feet has their phones up.
02:32Money.
02:34Money.
02:37Mercedes is the CEO.
02:39She is the draw.
02:42And some feral action here.
02:46I do, yeah.
02:48She's got this power.
02:51History in the making.
02:53Mercedes Mooney all about making history.
03:15And there's a one-of-a-kind energy in this building right now.
03:19You see our official.
03:21Scarlett Donovan here making history herself by officiating these bouts here tonight.
03:34And I was talking to our English colleague, Chris Charlton.
03:40And, you know, it's no secret that the New Japan office, they see the potential, the superstardom that exists for
03:50Mercedes-Money.
03:51But to me, that just opens up a wide-open opportunity for Stephanie Bakur.
03:55Absolutely.
03:56I mean, we saw a little bit of that dichotomy in that IWGP Women's Championship match that happened at All
04:04-Star Queendom.
04:05Chris himself was kind of laying out that binary between someone like a Mercedes-Money, who is, of course, the
04:11draw.
04:11But then on the other side, we had Mayu Iwatani, the icon, the heart of stardom.
04:17And Mayu was victorious that night.
04:20Now, I can't predict the future, but like you said, someone like a Stephanie Bakur.
04:25Do not overlook her, because right now, she is about to win this.
04:30One, two.
04:31Beautiful roll-up.
04:32Absolutely.
04:33You see the flags of Chile and Mexico for Stephanie Bakur.
04:36And look at this wrist lock takeover right now.
04:38One.
04:40Into a wrist lock there, into an all-arm bar.
04:43I mean, sometimes when people think the result of your match is a foregone conclusion with you not as the
04:48victor,
04:49that is a heck of a motivator.
04:51And Stephanie is looking great right now.
04:53Oh, great series of counters there.
04:55Leads to almost a flying mare there by Mercedes-Money.
05:00Look at that beautiful trip.
05:03And Stephanie and Mercedes going move for move here in the first bout side headlock takeover.
05:09I think the psychology here in the first couple of minutes of this opening contest is,
05:13I think, on the part of Bakur is to show Mercedes-Money that she can hang and have the advantage.
05:20And right now, she's on to—she's caught in this—look at that.
05:24May be able to free herself.
05:26Side headlock takeover again.
05:27Well, and then let's also keep in mind, as we saw that series of quicks,
05:32pinfalls.
05:33You wanna end these opening matches as quickly as possible, because regardless of who wins,
05:38you still have one more match.
05:40It's gonna be our historic main event, and you don't even know who your opponent will be yet.
05:43And now they both have the same idea, and they stare eye to eye.
05:47What a moment.
05:49Nice even exchange.
05:50Yes, you're right, Vader.
05:51You wanna try to sustain as a minimal amount of damage as possible, because this is a tournament.
05:58We got a great shot of that amazing one-of-a-kind gear from Mercedes-Money, which appeared to have
06:03Snoop Dogg LBC in the house.
06:06You've seen a closer look at it before, and it does, absolutely.
06:08It is covered in many little Snoop Doggs.
06:11Long Beach in the house.
06:12Oh, goodness.
06:14And Stephanie back here.
06:15Just looking—not looking to make friends here, Alex.
06:17Just trying to win the match.
06:18Beautiful leapfrog there.
06:19Oh, yeah.
06:20Oh, nice trap.
06:21One, two.
06:22Oh, caught.
06:23Two.
06:25And we're off to a sensational start here.
06:27Our opening contest was on fire.
06:29Our first contest here in the women's tournament.
06:32Wow, Mexican arm drag from Mercedes-Money.
06:36Beautiful.
06:37Oh, my gosh, she's got the arm set.
06:39She's got the submission.
06:40Into the crossface here.
06:42Great positioning by Stephanie Veda to keep that arm out of the ground.
06:45Oh, no.
06:46She was able to get her arm out of the way there.
06:48And now, crawling towards the ropes, but keep in mind, you also have to drag your opponent
06:54with you.
06:54And Mercedes breaks the hold.
06:57And Mercedes staying on top of Stephanie Vakur.
07:02Right hand, open hand.
07:06And if you saw the bout against Mayu, you saw the bout against Kyrie, you know that Mercedes
07:10not afraid.
07:11Wow!
07:12Looks like takeover there.
07:15Not afraid to make the most of the five counts.
07:17And into the corner.
07:19Big back elbow there.
07:21That's Stephanie.
07:22Oh!
07:23Beautiful.
07:24Monet in.
07:26And Mane.
07:27Oh, goodness.
07:29Knees in the corner now, lifting her opponent onto the top rope.
07:33Oh, she's got her.
07:34Oh!
07:35Oh!
07:36Ranking armor!
07:37Wow!
07:39Now, this is not going to end the match in the ropes, but this is a lot of damage for
07:45Mercedes Monet.
07:46Oh, no doubt about it.
07:47She could have dislocated her shoulder from that submission.
07:50I mean, did you see how much force?
07:51Missed.
07:51I was just thinking that Alex as Vakur.
07:54Beautiful!
07:54Ring for a crossbody.
07:56One, two.
07:57Wow!
07:58Beautiful trap there.
07:59And that could have sent Vakur to the finals here.
08:02Swing and miss on the double axe.
08:04Big thrust kick.
08:05And Vakur looks sensational here tonight.
08:07And you have seen her confidence grow as this match goes on.
08:11You know, it has to be a little into a submission here.
08:14It has to be a little disorienting to hear all of these people.
08:18A thunderous ovation for your opponent.
08:21And it seems like over time that has just fueled on Vakur.
08:26And I'll tell you this, I wanna give credit to Mercedes Monet too,
08:29because she did not take Stephanie lightly.
08:32She knows, cover, two.
08:35She knows that among CMLL fans, that Stephanie is often pegged as the star that will break out.
08:42That will be the big South American, Mexican star in Japan, in America.
08:47She is almost the chosen one among fans.
08:49She is the blue chip prospect who's, who, who, Mercedes Monet, honestly.
08:54Oh, Sunset Flip.
08:55Could have a, a matchup problem with, as Stephanie.
08:59Let's not forget these in our plans.
09:01That's five minutes.
09:02Mentors and trainers, Ricky Marvin, Ultimo Guerrero, Gran Apache, Viano Ford.
09:08Cover here.
09:09Two.
09:09She is well-trained, seasoned, sharpened.
09:13She came to play.
09:16And you know what, Mercedes has already made history.
09:20She was the second ever IWGP Women's Champion.
09:23She could become the first New Japan Strong Champion, but what if Stephanie,
09:27what if Stephanie Vakura is able to, I would say this would be the spoiler of the tournament.
09:32Oh my goodness.
09:32If she could defeat Mercedes in the first round.
09:34God.
09:35And Mercedes, after losing that championship to Mayu, she needs to rebuild herself.
09:41She needs to come back.
09:42Yes, she is still the CEO.
09:43Yes, she is still a superstar, but she is not a champion right now.
09:47What a dragon screw we just witnessed by Stephanie Vakura.
09:51And she's got Mercedes Monet on the ground in the middle of that ring.
09:55Yeah, Monet.
09:55Oh, great pin there.
09:56One.
09:57Two.
09:57Two.
09:58Okay.
09:59Mercedes still in here, but you can see she's taking some damage.
10:04Well, and as we said before, you have to, oh, Mercedes pulling Stephanie into the ropes.
10:10You have to keep in mind that whatever happens in this match.
10:13Oh.
10:14Whomever wins, it's gonna be our main event for the final.
10:17That is not a long time to recover.
10:19Not at all.
10:20Oh, wait a second.
10:21Down to the outside.
10:23Monet has occurred in her crosshairs.
10:26Oh.
10:28Climbing those knees into the sternum and chest and stepping them up there on the outside.
10:33And the drawers go wild.
10:36And this is truly vintage Mercedes Monet.
10:40She gives Nicole every single time, putting her body on the line.
10:53Four women on the doorstep of history.
10:55Trying to become the first.
10:57Oh.
10:58Oh.
10:58Oh.
11:01Mercedes Monet just shoved the head of Stephanie Buckere on the floor on the outside with that
11:07DDT.
11:08Can't you capitalize?
11:10And shooting the half immediately.
11:11Two.
11:12Oh.
11:13Goodness.
11:14Two and three fourths there.
11:17So much on the line Ian.
11:19So much on the line Ian.
11:24And Monet has Vakur in the center of the ring.
11:29Looking for the Irish up into the corner.
11:30Reverse by Vakur.
11:33And Monet.
11:34All the way up top.
11:37And.
11:38Oh.
11:38One, two, and three.
11:41Oh.
11:42Man, she kicked out at the bend last second.
11:44She was able to lift her shoulders up.
11:47What a match.
11:48Two and nine tens.
11:50Those milliseconds getting closer and closer to a three count here.
11:54The winner.
11:54Advances to our main event here tonight.
11:57Where we will crown the first ever strong women's champion.
12:03See, I mean, these two right here are making that title.
12:08That title.
12:08That very first strong opening way women's title means so much.
12:13And into the red corner, Stephanie with a headbutt.
12:16Oh, man.
12:19I mean, she's putting her own body on the line with that.
12:22And really going to town on the second IWGP Women's World Champion.
12:28And it's Bakur.
12:29Nobody home.
12:35History in the balance here tonight.
12:37Mercedes.
12:37Oh, man.
12:39Driving those knees directly to the skull.
12:43Of Bakur.
12:47The second IWGP Women's Champion looking to become the first strong champion here tonight.
12:51Up on top of the red corner.
12:54Drown coming alive in Long Beach.
12:55Big risk.
12:56A little bit crossbody.
12:57Oh, reversal.
12:5870.
12:59One.
12:59One.
13:00Two.
13:01Oh.
13:02Into a submission.
13:03A crossface of her own.
13:05A trademark, a hallmark of hers in CMLL.
13:08Oh, man.
13:09And she's got a long way to go to that rope.
13:12And I'll tell you what.
13:13Mercedes Monet does not often find herself in this crossface.
13:16It's a signature maneuver of hers as well.
13:19Does she know how to get out of it?
13:22Can she drag herself through the ropes?
13:24Who cares about that hold really tight?
13:27Can Mercedes get through the ropes?
13:28Oh.
13:29And the leg reached out.
13:31And it's that goes for the stack.
13:33Two.
13:35Oh.
13:36And a crossface of her own.
13:39Monet.
13:43And that knee damaged earlier by Stephanie Bakur.
13:46Yeah.
13:46I don't know that she has it.
13:48Locked in as tight to trap the arm.
13:50It's allowing Bakur to get to the ropes.
13:52And you can see Mercedes was looking at the ropes.
13:54She was watching.
13:5510 minutes in the past.
13:5610 minutes.
13:57As her opponent was able to break the hold,
13:59you can see that the frustration, the desperation,
14:02is finally starting to send it.
14:03Look at the money maker.
14:04Look at the money maker.
14:05Indeed.
14:06No.
14:06Nobody home.
14:07Catches the right.
14:08Bakur.
14:09DDT.
14:10Rolls her up.
14:11Catches.
14:12One.
14:12Two.
14:13And no.
14:16Two.
14:21And somebody Bakur.
14:22Here, look for the package pouch.
14:25On the neck.
14:26Yes.
14:28Neck to knee.
14:29Dragging Mercedes into center ring.
14:31One.
14:31Two.
14:32And throw.
14:33My goodness.
14:34That was hit.
14:35That was very, very close.
14:36And these are the most important, the most significant minutes of this matchup.
14:41This is where it all comes down to.
14:43Well, Mercedes kicked out, but she is still down.
14:48And now being dragged back up into position.
14:51Oh.
14:52Oh.
14:53Wait a minute.
14:53It's a cradle.
14:54One.
14:54Two.
14:55Hit.
14:55Oh.
14:56Barely.
14:57Great counter there from Monet.
14:58As the right is caught.
15:00Forearm delivered by Stephanie Bakur.
15:02Oh, man.
15:03What a follow through on that forearm.
15:04Mercedes just collapsed.
15:06One.
15:06Two.
15:07Oh.
15:08And the lights may have been out temporarily.
15:11That might have been a kick out on instinct.
15:13Oh.
15:13Oh.
15:13Mercedes got out of the way.
15:16And.
15:17Oh.
15:17Rolling through.
15:18Monet.
15:19Wait a minute.
15:21Looking for the money maker again.
15:23Oh.
15:24Oh.
15:25Into the corner.
15:27Oh.
15:28One more.
15:32And this time.
15:33Beta could it be.
15:35Money maker.
15:36Oh.
15:37Oh.
15:37Oh.
15:39Got it.
15:39Hooks the leg.
15:40Two.
15:41Three.
15:42Yeah.
15:43Yeah.
15:43Yeah.
15:45Yeah.
15:47Beautiful.
15:50Beautiful.
15:50Beautiful.
15:52Money.
15:54What a match.
15:56Absolutely.
15:57Money.
16:00Money.
16:02Money.
16:09And Long Beach we have one half of tonight's main event.
16:14Yeah.
16:15Before we let this celebration, which is very deserved, go too far as Mercedes Monet gestures to her waist where
16:23she hopes, she hopes to be able to head the New Japan Strong Women Championship.
16:29But before the celebration goes too far, let's keep in mind, it's not over yet. Mercedes Monet advances to our
16:36main event.
16:37It's going to be Mono Coco or Will O'Reilly.
16:40We will find out next who will meet her for that championship.
16:44But let's take a moment to talk about Stephanie Becker.
16:48Amazing.
16:49If you didn't know her before, Ian Riccoboni, Alex Kozlov, you know her now.
16:53Unbelievable.
17:03Well deserved standing ovation for Bakara's star making performance hanging.
17:07Yeah.
17:09With a bonafide A-list wrestler, star of the Mandalorian.
17:13Just really just an amazing effort.
17:16Thank you.
17:17Thank you.
17:20Thank you.
17:21Well, you know, you have to keep in mind.
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