The hallowed halls of the Tokyo Dome have witnessed countless moments of professional wrestling immortality, but the dawn of 2026 brought with it a specific kind of intensity that only the grandest stage in Japan can foster. As the sun set on Tokyo and the neon lights of the Bunkyo district flickered to life, the atmosphere inside the stadium was electric, charged with the anticipation of a historic collision. For years, the integration of high-level women’s wrestling into the traditional New Japan Pro-Wrestling landscape has been a journey of steady evolution, moving from exhibition showcases to pivotal championship matches. At Wrestle Kingdom 20, that evolution reached a definitive crescendo. The stakes were not merely personal pride or a single piece of silverware; instead, the wrestling world stood still for a high-stakes Winner Takes All encounter that would define the hierarchy of the industry for the foreseeable future. Syuri, the reigning IWGP Women’s Champion and a woman widely regarded as the most dangerous striker in the sport, stood across the ring from Saya Kamitani, the holder of the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship. It was a clash of styles, generations, and philosophies, with both athletes entering the ring knowing that only one would leave with the heavy burden and the immense glory of carrying two of the most prestigious titles in the modern era.
The narrative surrounding this match was built on a foundation of unresolved business and a lopsided history that Kamitani was desperate to rectify. For the better part of her career, Saya Kamitani has been the "Golden Phoenix," a flyer whose grace and agility often left audiences breathless. However, despite her meteoric rise through the ranks of Stardom and her successful ventures abroad, a victory over Syuri had remained the one achievement that eluded her. Syuri, a former mixed martial artist with a background rooted in the uncompromising world of shoot-style fighting, has long served as the ultimate litmus test for anyone claiming to be the best. To face Syuri is to accept a level of physical punishment that few can endure, and for Kamitani, this match represented the final hurdle in her quest for true elite status. As the opening bell echoed through the massive dome, the tension was palpable. The crowd, usually reserved during the early technical exchanges, was vocal from the outset, recognizing that they were witnessing a pivotal chapter in the history of the "Lion Mark" promotion’s expansion into the women’s division.
The early stages of the contest were a masterclass in psychological warfare and technical proficiency. Syuri, ever the tactician, sought to ground the high-flying Kamitani immediately. She utilized her superior grappling pedigree to dictate the pace, transitioning seamlessly between suffocating headlocks and intricate armbars. Every time Kamitani attempted to create distance to utilize her signature speed, Syuri was there to cut her off, using her positioning to remind the challenger of the gap in their ground game. The veteran champion seemed intent on systematically dismantling Kamitani’s offense before it could even begin. However, the Kamitani of 2026 is a far more resilient and battle-hardened competitor than the one who had fallen to Syuri in years past. Showing a renewed sense of urgency, she found a pocket of space, dodging a lethal roundhouse kick that whistled through the air with terrifying velocity. Seizing the momentum, Kamitani launched herself with a spectacular springboard crossbody to the floor, wiping out Syuri and signaling to the thousands in attendance that she would not be intimidated by the champion’s reputation.
As the match spilled back into the ring, the physicality escalated to a level that bordered on the uncomfortable. Syuri, seemingly frustrated by Kamitani’s defiance, began a focused assault on the challenger’s left arm. This wasn’t just standard wrestling offense; it was a calculated attempt to neutralize Kamitani’s ability to strike or hoist Syuri for her more impactful maneuvers. A thunderous slam directly onto the weakened limb followed by a transition into a deep cross armbreaker left Kamitani screaming in agony. The Tokyo Dome held its collective breath as Kamitani reached desperately for the ropes, her fingers clawing at the canvas until she finally found the bottom strand. The reprieve was short-lived, as Syuri followed up with a brutal DDT on the unforgiving ring apron, a move that left Kamitani crumpled on the floor. At this point, many in the audience wondered if the match would reach an early conclusion, but Kamitani’s fighting spirit—a quality she has cultivated through years of grueling main events—kept her in the fight.
The middle portion of the encounter saw a desperate Kamitani attempting to fight through the fog of pain. Despite the damage to her arm and the lingering effects of Syuri’s buzzsaw kicks, she managed to catch the champion with a stunning top-rope frankensteiner that sent shockwaves through the ring. Followed by a crisp Blue Thunder Bomb, the momentum seemed to be shifting in favor of the underdog. Kamitani even managed to execute her devastating Star Crusher, a move that has ended the nights of many formidable opponents. However, Syuri is not merely a champion; she is a force of nature. She kicked out at the last possible microsecond, her eyes glazed but her resolve unbroken. The back-and-forth nature of the closing minutes was a testament to the conditioning of both women. A sudden poisonrana from Kamitani nearly sealed the deal, but the veteran instincts of Syuri allowed her to roll through and retaliate with a series of stiff elbow strikes that echoed like gunshots throughout the arena.
The final sequence of the match was a blur of high-impact offense and desperate counters. The two rivals traded near-falls that had the fans rising to their feet in a rare display of unbridled emotion for a Tokyo Dome opener. Kamitani, looking for one last opening, attempted to scale the turnbuckles, but Syuri’s striking prowess proved to be the equalizer. A devastating head kick stunned the challenger, allowing Syuri to bridge into a massive German suplex that folded Kamitani like an accordion. Sensing that the end was near, Syuri did not let up. She pulled a dazed Kamitani to her feet, looked her in the eye with a cold, predatory focus, and delivered one final, sickening buzzsaw kick to the side of the head. As Kamitani collapsed, Syuri immediately transitioned into her finishing maneuver, planting the challenger firmly into the mat. The referee’s hand hit the canvas for the third time, and a roar of respect and disbelief erupted from the crowd. Syuri had done it.
The image of Syuri standing in the center of the ring with both the IWGP Women’s Championship and the NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship draped over her shoulders is one that will be etched into the annals of New Japan history. By capturing the STRONG title and retaining her IWGP crown, she has effectively unified the two most significant prizes in the company’s female landscape, establishing herself as the undisputed focal point of the division. This victory was more than just a successful title defense; it was a statement of dominance that reaffirmed her status as a generational talent. For Saya Kamitani, the loss is undoubtedly a bitter pill to swallow, especially given how close she came to upsetting the hierarchy. However, her performance at Wrestle Kingdom 20 proved that she belongs on the grandest stage, and while she may have left the ring empty-handed, her stock as a top-tier performer has never been higher.
Looking ahead, the landscape of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s women’s division has been irrevocably altered. Syuri now sits atop a mountain that she built herself, holding the keys to both the domestic and international aspirations of the promotion. The dual-championship status grants her a level of leverage and prestige that few in the history of the sport have ever achieved. As the "double champion," she will be the target for every hungry challenger from Stardom, the United States, and beyond. The pressure of carrying two titles is immense, but if anyone possesses the mental fortitude and physical capability to shoulder that burden, it is the woman who just conquered the Tokyo Dome. The 4th of January has always been a day for legends to be made and legacies to be cemented. In 2026, Syuri ensured that her name would be spoken with the same reverence as the icons who preceded her, ushering in a new era of excellence for women’s wrestling under the bright lights of Wrestle Kingdom. As the dust settles on this historic night, the message is clear: the era of Syuri is not just continuing; it is expanding, and the rest of the world has a lot of catching up to do.
