Chelsea Green claims the throne as the inaugural WWE Women’s United States Champion. ROH Women’s Champion Athena and Billie Starkz prepare to main event ROH Final Battle. Maya World chats with WrestleZone and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
WWE Crowns Inaugural Women’s United States Champion
A new chapter in the WWE history book began last weekend as the company crowned its first-ever Women’s United States Champion at Saturday Night’s Main Event. After two rounds of intense tournament competition, the contender pool for this title was narrowed down to just Chelsea Green and Michin.
On her path to the finals, Green defeated the likes of Bianca Belair, Blair Davenport, and Bayley. Meanwhile, Michin bested Lash Legend, Piper Niven, and Tiffany Stratton. In the concluding moments of the tournament finals, Michin encountered Niven again when the latter momentarily distracted the former from the apron. This distraction proved pivotal as it allowed Green to slap Michin and transition into an Unprettier for the pinfall. As such, Green cemented herself as the inaugural Women’s United States Champion.
Instead of the traditional red, white, and blue color scheme, though, Green has a different vision for her reign.
“I always knew this was gonna happen, so I know you’re surprised, and that’s so cute,” Green said in a WWE digital exclusive. “But I’m not. I’ve been doing this for 10 years, I worked my entire life to be an overnight success, and this is my time. This is my night. Red, white, and green.”
Looking ahead, Green can expect many eyes to be on her, with Michin being the first to insert her name into the potential challenger pool.
RELATED: Booker T Believes Chelsea Green Is Deserving Of Being The First Women’s United States Champion
Athena & Billie Starkz To Main-Event ROH Final Battle
Last year at Final Battle, Billie Starkz emerged unsuccessful in her pursuit of the Ring of Honor Women’s World Championship. Fast forward one year, Starkz has an opportunity to change that as she again challenges Athena for the very title at the 2024 ROH Final Battle event, which emanates from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City.
According to Athena, she and Starkz will specifically face off in the main event of Final Battle, making them the first ROH women to ever do so in the famous NYC venue.
“To my knowledge, and I’m speaking specifically with Ring of Honor, no woman has main evented that venue,” Athena told Denise Salcedo. “As far as I know of, I’m the first and only women’s main event within Ring of Honor on a pay-per-view, so it’s really cool to just get another notch on the belt of history making, the inspiration to every division as I like to call myself amongst other things. It’s really cool and nerve-wracking at the same time because we know that we have to deliver. We know that we’re going to go in. I’m going to beat the tar out of her, I’m going to win.”
Recently, Athena’s title reign eclipsed two years. Starkz, of course, will be looking to end that, while also seizing retribution for the mistreatment she experienced in Athena’s M.I.T. program.
Elsewhere at Final Battle, Red Velvet will defend her ROH Women’s World Television Championship against Leyla Hirsch.
RELATED: Athena Calls ROH Journey ‘Wild and Unexpected’
Sumie Sakai To Retire in 2025
On January 11, the in-ring career of Sumie Sakai comes to an end as she competes in her official retirement match at NJPW Battle in the Valley.
This development comes after Sakai approached Hiromu Takahashi in the aftermath of NJPW Strong Style Evolved, asking if he’d be her final match opponent. Takahashi agreed, but suggested that they instead make it a six-person tag match. As such, Takahashi, IWGP Women’s Champion Mayu Iwatani, and one name to be determined will take on Sukai and two partners of her choosing for the special occasion.
“Will be having my retirement match at NJPW STRONG #njbitv on January 11, 2025,” Sakai wrote on X. “I am also very happy to be able to stand in the same ring as Hiromu Takahashi, who I respect and love both as a professional wrestler and as a friend. Find my team with 1 male wrestler and 1 female wrestler.”
Sakai, now 53 years old, wraps up her career with a number of accolades backing her, including her reign as the inaugural ROH Women of Honor World Champion. Most recently, Sakai briefly reigned as the SPARK Joshi World Champion in April 2024.
RELATED: Viva Van Looks Back On Making History In Vietnam
INTERVIEWS
ROW Women’s Tag Team Champion Maya World spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about winning the tag titles alongside Jada Stone, her dream tag team opponents, defending the Inspire Pro Pure Prestige Championship against Sumie Sakai, ranking on the PWI Women’s 250, a backstage interaction with TBS Champion Mercedes Mone, favorite Christmas films and music, and more.
AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May joined Niko Exxtra to discuss AEW Worlds End, her shocking turn on Toni Storm, thoughts on Mercedes Mone’s trash talk, whether she sees herself as a model or sticking with wrestling, the AEW’s women’s division and more.
Former TBS Champion Kris Statlander chatted with Interstate 70 Sports Media about her recent title match against Mercedes Mone, turning heel on Willow Nightingale this year, wanting to wrestle in Japan in 2025, her setbacks with injuries, and more.
RevPro Undisputed British Women’s champion Mina Shirakawa spoke with Denise Salcedo about her AEW Dynamite main event, aspirations for championship gold in the US, her friendship with Mariah May, her thoughts on the AEW Women’s Division, her experiences in Japan, and more.
The Brickhouse” Kamille appeared on Covalent TV to discuss her remarkable journey to AEW, her impressive 813-day reign as NWA Women’s Champion, her faith, how she plans to showcase her true self in the ring, her ambitions in AEW, her rivalry with Mercedes Mone, and more.
