Athena vs. Syuri announced for NJPW New Beginning USA

A champion vs. champion match has been booked for New Japan Pro Wrestling’s New Beginning USA event later this month. 

Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Athena announced on social media that she will be facing Syuri on that show, and that Syuri’s IWGP Women’s Championship will be on the line.

This will be the second defense of Syuri’s current championship reign, and the first since she defeated Saya Kamitani to win the NJPW Strong Women’s championship in a title vs. title match at WrestleKingdom 20 on January 4. That match barely went 12 minutes but still got a ****1/2 rating from Dave Meltzer. 

Syuri’s last match in the United States was a Casino Gauntlet Match at AEW All In Texas last July. The winner of that match: Athena. 

Athena has been ROH Women’s Champion for over 1,100 days, having defeated Mercedes Martinez for the title in October of 2022. It appears her title will not be on the line against Syuri. 

NJPW New Beginning USA 2026 will take place at the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton, New Jersey, on February 27. Tickets are available here. 

Already booked for that show:

• El Phantasmo defending the NJPW World Television Title against Konosuke Takeshita
• Tomohiro Ishii defending the NJPW Strong Openweight Title against Oleg Boltin
• Syuri defending the IWGP Women’s Championship against Athena