Mayu Iwatani: Mercedes Mone Is A Pro’s Pro, She’s Amazing

Mayu Iwatani reflects on her bout with Mercedes Mone. 

At Stardom All-Star Grand Queendom on April 23, 2023, Mayu Iwatani defeated Mercedes Mone to win the IWGP Women’s Championship. 

Speaking to NJPW’s website, Mayu commented on winning the title and reflected on facing Mercedes. 

“I was so happy! In the moment I really felt for the first time that it was a good thing I wasn’t the first champion. You know, I’d actually said to a lot of people there was no point in me going for that belt if I wasn’t the first, I wouldn’t challenge after losing in the tournament. I was encouraged not to give up, and sure enough little by little I started feeling ‘you know, I do kinda want that title’ and then ‘I’ll win it, I’ll definitely win it!’ And when I did, I felt in a way that it was better I never won it the first time,” she said. 

Speaking about Mercedes, Mayu commented, “Someone the presence that she has, it doesn’t seem real that I would be able to face her, right? Like it shouldn’t happen, but it did, and it was such an important experience. Mercedes is amazing. The way she carries herself, she’s just such a pro’s pro. The way she’s so good at getting a rise out of opponents and the people. Io Shirai and Nanae Takahashi are the two women I’ve always respected the most in wrestling, but Mercedes definitely joined that list.  I’m not really one to show frustration, and I’ve got a pretty long fuse. A lot of girls will grab hair at press conferences and go for that trash talk and I’m not the type to do that. With Mercedes I got really hot. She made me want to tear her apart, and that’s to her credit (laughs). That’s the superstar in her, she can do that and then when the time is right make sure all of the attention is on her and her alone in that ring.”

Iwatani has held the IWGP Women’s Title for over 300 days and has made three successful title defenses. 

She is set to defend the title against Mina Shirakawa at NJPW New Beginning in Sapporo.