AEW and ROH star Willow Nightingale became the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Champion after defeating Mercedes Mone at NJPW Resurgence in Long Beach, California on Sunday. 

The 29-year-old defeated Japanese star Momo Kohgo in the semi-finals of the tournament earlier in the night, while Mone got past Stephanie Vaquer in the semis to set up a match between Mone and Nightingale in the final, which headlined Resurgence.

The duo soaked in the atmosphere at the Walter Pyramid arena as the crowd chanted “This is awesome” before the start of the match. Nightingale got the win over her much-celebrated opponent after landing two powerbombs to become the first-ever NJPW Strong Women’s Champion.