The countdown to WWE NXT Deadline begins. Mercedes Mone gears up for NJPW Strong Style Evolved. Katrina Creed speaks with WrestleZone, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
NXT Iron Survivor Challenge Qualifiers
The countdown to NXT Deadline has begun with the first set of Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers. On this week’s episode of NXT, Wes Lee and Je’Von Evans secured their spot in the respective Men’s Iron Survivor Challenge. Meanwhile, Sol Ruca and Cora Jaded faced off to determined to the first entrant in this year’s Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge.
In 2022, Cora Jade competed in the Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge, with one fall to her name. Last year, Jade returned at NXT Deadline to attack then NXT Women’s Champion Lyra Valkyria. This year, Jade was defeated by Sol Ruca in the first Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying matchup after taking an explosive Sol Snatcher.
Ruca has since commented on her victory over Jade, noting her intentions of now becoming the sole survivor at NXT Deadline.
“Cora Jade actually tagged me on Twitter saying that tonight was going to be light work for her, but I think I proved to her and the entire women’s division not to fly too close to the sun, or you’ll get burned,” Ruca said in a WWE digital exclusive. “… I have conquered the unknown in all walks of my life, whether that was in gymnastics, acrobatics and tumbling, and especially in surfing. I mean, I’ve conquered Mother Nature herself, the most unpredictable thing you can conquer. So come Deadline, it doesn’t matter who’s in that ring with me. I will be the sole survivor.”
Iron Survivor Challenge qualifiers will continue in the coming weeks, with the likes of Giulia, Stephanie Vaquer, and Zaria already confirmed for them. Like last year, five women are expected to compete in their respective match at Deadline, but as Ruca pointed out, only one will be the lone survivor. This lone survivor will also receive a future shot at the NXT Women’s Championship, which is currently held by Roxanne Perez.
Elsewhere on NXT this week, Fallon Henley successfully defended her NXT Women’s North American Championship against Kelani Jordan.
READ MORE: WWE NXT Results: Review, Grades, Card For November 12
Mercedes Mone’s Next NJPW Strong Title Defense Confirmed
At NJPW Fighting Spirit Unleashed, the likes of Anna Jay, Hazuki, Koguma and Trish Adora battled for a future shot at the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. In the end, Hazuki emerged victorious after hitting Adora with a La Magistra.
Before she could celebrate her win, however, Hazuki met the current NJPW STRONG Women’s Champion, Mercedes Mone. Mone warned Hazuki that she’d be going up against “the greatest of all time.” Hazuki, not being one to back down, began brawling with Mone in the center of the ring. Mone ultimately gained the upper hand with a backstabber that left Hazuki sprawled out onto the mat.
Mone will defend her NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship against Hazuki at the 2024 NJPW Strong Style Evolved event on Sunday, December 15. The two previously wrestled in a three-way bout at NJPW Sakura Genesis 2023. There, Mone successfully defended the IGWP Women’s Championship against Hazuki and AZM.
RELATED: Mercedes Moné: I Wanted To Have More For Women’s Wrestling, AEW Was The Place To Make That Happen
Janai Kai Retains MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship
AT MLW Lucha Apocalypto, Janai Kai put her MLW World Women’s Featherweight Championship on the line against CMLL’s Lluvia and Persephone.
Despite the CMLL representatives teaming up against her, “The Demon Kick” was eventually able to fend them off by dodging a splash from Lluvia. As a result, Lluvia inadvertently crashed into Persephone, allowing Kai to then kick her out of the ring. With Lluvia out of the equation, Kai trapped Persephone in the Demon Clutch for the submission victory.
Following Kai’s win, “The God Queen” Delmi Exo confronted her, claiming that Kai had greatly underestimated her. Kai subsequently invited Exo to fight her in the ring. When Exo attempted to enter the ring, however, a masked member of the Contra Unit snuck up behind her, prompting Exo to fight them off with a chair shot. Exo then turned her attention back to the ring, only to find that Kai had retreated to the backstage area.
READ MORE: MLW Lucha Apocalypto Results (11/10): Mistico, Alex Kane, And More
INTERVIEWS
“Queen Cobra” Katrina Creed spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about her previous experience in interviewing bands and musicians, her psychology degree pursuit, the origins of her snake-related nickname, the personal and professional significance of wrestling on Ring of Honor in 2023, making her UK debut at Pro Wrestling EVE this year, feedback she received from Will Ospreay, names she’s like to wrestle from Europe, and more.
Former TBS Champion Kris Statlander joined Ring the Belle to chat about her Zoolander-inspired outfit from All Out 2023, hilarious backstage moments with her pet lizard Boots, her Chicago Street Fight with Willow Nightingale, former friendships with Stokely Hathaway and Orange Cassidy, and more.
WWE Women’s World Champion Liv Morgan spoke with Uncrowned about her appearance in the Chucky television series, defeating Rhea Ripley at WWE SummerSlam, joining the Judgment Day, aspirations for more screen work outside of WWE, incorporating an extreme style into her matches, and more.
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone chatted with the Battleground Podcast to discuss her time in AEW so far, Kamille’s arrival as her enforcer, whether AEW should create an all-women’s weekly show, the possibility of another all-women’s PPV, future goals for 2025, whether we’ll see her return to The Mandalorian, and more.
AEW referee Aubrey Edwards appeared on Casual Conversations with The Classic to talk about her earliest wrestling memories, breaking into the business, refereeing, podcasting, video games, five years of AEW, craziest bump, online criticism and more.
Former WWE Women’s Champion Melina joined MuscleManMalcolm to discuss her time in WWE, potential interest in signing a WWE Legends deal, having the first WWE Women’s I Quit Match against Beth Phoenix, and The Bloodline storyline, and more.
