Asuka survives the Elimination Chamber. Mercedes Monè claims the IWGP Women’s Championship. Becky Lynch set to challenge for WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships with a mystery partner. Taryn From Accounting speaks with WrestleZone, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up.
Asuka Wins Women’s Elimination Chamber
“The Empress of Tomorrow” entered the 2023 Elimination Chamber with some stiff competition against her, but in spite of the odds, she maneuvered her way to victory.
With a challenger needed for the RAW Women’s Championship at WrestleMania 39, six women stepped inside the grueling structure. From Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Liv Morgan, Natalya, Raquel Rodriguez, Carmella, Nikki Cross, and Asuka all collided to earn that title shot.
Canada’s own Natalya began the match alongside former SmackDown Women’s Champion Liv Morgan. The two battled back and forth until the third entrant, Raquel Rodriguez, was released from her pod. One by one, each woman joined in on the chamber contest, with Cross suffering first elimination after being thrown through one of the pods.
Following Cross’ elimination, Asuka officially made her way into the Elimination Chamber, immediately targeting Carmella. Later in a joint effort of Natalya’s Sharpshooter and Asuka’s armbar, Liv Morgan could not escape, causing her to pass out from the double-team of submissions. As the fray trimmed down to four, Natalya and Raquel Rodriguez fell next, with Carmella and Asuka teaming up to eliminate the powerhouse in Rodriguez.
Down to the final two, Carmella stunned Asuka with a German Suplex, but the Grand Slam Champion didn’t stay down for long. The closing moment of the match saw Asuka apply her signature armbar submission, forcing Carmella to tap out. Therefore, Asuka is headed to WrestleMania.
.@WWEAsuka won the #WWEChamber Match to earn the right to challenge #WWERaw Women's Champion @BiancaBelairWWE at #WrestleMania.
Results: https://t.co/JXuCl4O0rx pic.twitter.com/j4PAm3FffS
— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2023
With this win, Asuka will now clash with Bianca Belair for the RAW Women’s Championship, as “The EST” meets “The Empress of Tomorrow” on-screen for the first time in nearly a year. Can Asuka end Belair’s reign of dominance, or will Belair keep her WrestleMania singles streak alive?
In addition to punching her ticket to “The Show Of Shows,” Asuka cemented herself in an elite group of performers. Through her victory inside the Elimination Chamber, Asuka became the first women’s wrestler in WWE history to complete the trio of Chamber Money in the Bank, and Royal Rumble victories. Among her male counterparts, only Edge, John Cena, Randy Orton, and Brock Lesnar have reached this feat.
RELATED: WWE Eliminatioher n Chamber Results (2/18/23)
Mercedes Moné’s World Tour Begins
In the first match of her post-WWE career, Mercedes Moné surely made a statement.
Last Saturday, Mercedes Moné collided with reigning IWGP Women’s Champion KAIRI at NJPW’s Battle In The Valley pay-per-view, and to no surprise, the two issued a banger of a match. During her entrance, Moné revealed her new, but familiar, gear. Accompanied by a green cape, fur leg warmers, and a gas mask, Moné emerged onstage with bright blue attire — an ensemble reminiscent of former Tokyo Cyber Squad leader, Hana Kimura.
Mercedes Mone’s Hana Kimura Tribute Entrance ? pic.twitter.com/8Syjug8YOL
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) February 19, 2023
Once the action finally commenced, KAIRI and Moné were all business, battling feverishly for over 26 minutes. In the end, however, Mercedes Moné prevailed victorious.
After countering an Insane Elbow, Moné climbed the top rope to unleash her signature Frog Splash. KAIRI wisely rose to her knees, shifting her momentum into a crossface submission. Moné soon escaped, though, landing the Money Maker to secure the pinfall and the IWGP Women’s Championship.
Respect is shown. #njBITV pic.twitter.com/godN39PJEl
— FITE (@FiteTV) February 19, 2023
Following her emotional win, Moné spoke with FITE’s Emily Mae Heller. “I feel like I could throw up, I felt like I was about to throw up before my match,” Moné said. “I threw up before the press conference because I was so, so nervous because this is everything I want. This is everything that I’ve been working for since I was ten years old. The dream to go to Japan, the dream to wrestle the best. Tonight, I beat the best.”
Moné continued, vowing to carry the championship with honor. “KAIRI gave me the absolute fight of my life. I mean, she snatched me pretty much bald. You exposed my hair, girl, you almost snatched this wig off, you snatched all my nails off on my left hand. You about smacked my face off, but I never gave up because I am not a quitter,” she declared. “I am a money maker. I am Mercedes Moné, and I’m about to put the IWGP Women’s Championship on the map. I’m about to take this title global. New Japan Pro-Wrestling, this is only just the beginning because Moné changes everything.”
RELATED: NJPW Battle In The Valley Results (2/18/23)
Becky Lynch Set To Team With Lita For WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship
When Becky Lynch wants something, she gets it (most of the time).
Following her unsuccessful attempt to secure a spot inside the Elimination Chamber, Becky Lynch pivoted her focus to the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. Interrupting Bayley’s edition of Ding, Ding Hello! on RAW this week, Lynch shocked Damage CTRL as she arrived with a new gameplan and a new tag team partner.
Revealing her desire to challenge for their tag titles, Lynch welcomed Lita into her inner circle. After putting their prior differences aside, the two set their sights on Dakota Kai and IYO SKY. Bayley accepted the challenge on behalf of Damage CTRL, but vowed Kai and SKY would still retain. Lynch and Lita, however, quickly yanked the titles from the hands of Kai and SKY, taunting the current champions.
Later on, WWE made the match official. Next Monday, Dakota Kai and IYO SKY will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against the newly formed team of Becky Lynch and Lita.
Damage CTRL just got challenged by the team of @BeckyLynchWWE & @AmyDumas!#WWERaw pic.twitter.com/cFIB0QSAak
— WWE (@WWE) February 21, 2023
RELATED: WWE Raw Results (2/20/23)
INTERVIEWS:
Former LPW Challenge Champion Taryn From Accounting spoke with WrestleZone about her time in Love Wrestling, her friendship with Steven Crowe, advice she’s gotten from Mickie James, teaching in the Middle East, and more.
Wrestle Pro Women’s Champion Lady Frost chatted with SEScoops’ Steve Fall about her departure from IMPACT Wrestling, why other wrestlers were jealous of her WWE RAW debut in 2018, what’s next for her, and more.
Former WWE 24/7 Dana Brooke spoke with Sportskeeda Wrestling’s Emily Mae about being involved with WWE Community, WWE’s NIL program, her WWE 24/7 Championship run, a potential match with Bianca Belair, and more.
Former IMPACT Knockout Reby Hardy appeared on Kickin’ Back with Kat to discuss, motherhood, wearing many hats, and a possible return to the ring, and more.
