IMPACT Wrestling crowns a new Knockouts Champion at Rebellion. New contenders emerge for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships. First-round matches unveiled for the Queen of the Indies. Katie Arquette speaks with WrestleZone, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
New Knockouts Champion Crowned
Upon the announcement that Mickie James would not be cleared to defend her title at IMPACT Rebellion, a new Knockouts Champion would soon be crowned. As such, Jordynne Grace and Deonna Purrazzo stepped up to compete for the title Sunday night.
IMPACT Rebellion marked Purrazzo and Grace’s third singles bout in IMPACT Wrestling, with “The Virtuosa” emerging victorious in both previous encounters. With the Knockouts Championship on the line, Jordynne Grace looked to reverse her fate in the main event of the evening.
Purrazzo and Grace brought out all the stops in the 17-minute battle. In the end, though, only one woman could claim the victory…and that woman was Deonna Purrazzo. After Grace hit her Grace Driver finisher, Purrazzo powered out of the subsequent pinfall attempt. Shortly after, Purrazzo sealed her win with the Queen’s Gambit, ushering in her third reign as the Knockouts World Champion.
And so, the Age of The Virtuosa begins once again.
A recap of the Knockouts Championship match can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.
IMPACT Knockouts World Championship: Jordynne Grace vs. Deonna Purrazzo
Grace and Purrazzo feel each other put early on. They’re evenly matched in the opening minutes, and Purrazzo goes or an early pin attempt. Purrazzo takes control and drops Grace with a kick to the head. Grace rallies and hits a stalling vertical suplex. Purrazzo briefly traps Grace in an arm-bar, but she escapes. They battle on the ramp, and Puzzazzo shoves Grace to the floor. She hits a moonsault off the ramp. Back in the ring, Grace hits a Flatliner and traps Grace in the Koji Clutch, but Grace turns it into a pin attempt to escape. Purrazzo counters the Grace Driver. Grace hits both a spinebuster and a Grace Driver for a two count, as Purrazzo refuses to go down easily. Purrazzo hits the Queen’s Gambit for the win.
Winner and new IMPACT Knockouts World Champion: Deonna Purrazzo
Following her victory, Purrazzo issued a celebratory statement.
“I’ve told you all, I’ve told you all since I stepped foot into IMPACT Wrestling that this Knockouts World Championship belonged with ‘The Virtuosa’ Deonna Purrazzo. And Jordynne Grace, she just can’t defeat me. Let me be the first to welcome you all back to the Age of the Virtuosa. Long may she reign,” Purrazzo said.
Earlier on the pre-show, reigning Knockouts Tag Team Champions The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) successfully defended their titles against the Death Dollz (Rosemary & Jessicka).
RELATED: IMPACT Rebellion Results (4/16/23): Steve Maclin vs. KUSHIDA, More
New Contenders Emerge For WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships
After winning the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships on April 10, it didn’t take for targets to emerge on the backs of the new champions — Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez.
Last Friday on SmackDown, Morgan and Rodriguez were poised to celebrate their recent victory, but instead, they were confronted by a pair of challengers. As Morgan and Rodriguez touted themselves as a perfect team, Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville begged to differ. Up for the challenge, Morgan and Rodriguez vowed to speak with WWE official Adam Pearce to make the title match official.
Accordingly, Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez will defend their WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship against Sonya Deville and Chelsea Green this Friday on SmackDown. Before the teams meet, though, Green and Deville asserted their dominance with a win over Mia Yim and Candice LeRae last night on RAW. As Morgan and Rodriguez watched from ringside, Green and Deville approached the champions after the match. Green then threw a drink in Morgan’s face.
RELATED: WWE Raw Results (4/17/23)
First-Round Matchups Revealed For Queen of the Indies Tournament
A Queen will soon be crowned.
Next month, West Coast Pro Wrestling & Pro Wrestling Revolution will collaborate to host their first-ever “Queen of the Indies” event, featuring a highly competitive eight-woman tournament. Over the last few months, WCP has begun unveiling the participants, and now, the brackets are set.
Competitors will travel to San Franciso, California on May 13th as they vie for the title of Queen of the Indies. The tournament will include several top independent wrestling stars, with representatives from Marvelous to make it a truly “global” showcase. Amongst the competitors are also some of wrestling’s top free agents, and one standout talent from IMPACT Wrestling — Masha Slamovich.
As “The Russian Dynamite” makes her way to California, she will lace up her boots to face “The Renaissance Woman” Hyan, in the duo’s first singles match together since 2021. Another notable name in the tournament is Billie Starkz — who reportedly signed a contract with AEW recently. On May 13, she will go one-on-one with Japanese superstar Unagi Sayaka in the first round.
The next opening round matchups features two of wrestling’s hottest free agents: the “Ice Cold Killer” Lady Frost and luchadora Dulce Tormenta. Rounding out the tournament will be former GCW Women’s Champion Queen Aminata and Marvelous’ Maria.
Here is a better look at the opening round of the Queen of the Indies”
- Queen Of Indies 2023 First Round Match: Lady Frost vs. Dulce Tormenta
- Queen Of Indies 2023 First Round Match: Hyan vs. Masha Slamovich
- Queen Of Indies 2023 First Round Match: Unagi Sayaka vs. Billie Starkz
- Queen Of Indies 2023 First Round Match: Maria vs. Queen Aminata
Queen of the Indies will also have a few non-tournament contests as well. Former SHIMMER Champion Nicole Savoy will come out of retirement as she partners with Karisma and Lady Apache in a six-woman tag team match against Chigusa Nagayo, Sandra Moone and Takumi Iroha. Another tag team battle has been announced, as Mylo & Rachelle Riveter take on Brooke Havok and Johnnie Robbie.
Leading up to the event, Marvelous will also host a tryout. Through the tryout, one woman and one man will earn the opportunity to partake in a Marvelous tour in Japan. The female winner of the tryout will also wrestle Mio Momono at Queen of the Indies.
INTERVIEWS
“The Queen of the Silver Screen” Katie Arquette speaks with WrestleZone‘s Ella Jay about MCW’s upcoming Ladies Night 2 event, working with her “favorite frenemy” Ray Lyn, her female inspirations, her background in acting, and much more!
Former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez spoke with WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard about her recent storylines in NXT, legends she’s learned from and leaned on in WWE, which match best represents her title reign and more.
Independent star Avery Jax appeared on Women’s Wrestling Talk to discuss their sexuality, what got Jax into wrestling, love for gaming, married life, and more.
Former RAW Women’s Champion Nia Jax joined Ring the Belle to discuss winning the RAW women’s championship at WrestleMania, making history entering the men’s Royal Rumble match, her viral “My Hole” moment, her surprise return at Royal Rumble 2023, and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
Maryland Championship Wrestling: Ladies Night 2 – April 22
Mission Pro Wrestling: Edge of Glory – April 22
Pro-Wrestling EVE: Lucky 13 All – Hail The Queens – May 5
Pro Wrestling NOVA: Sabotage – May 14
Superstars Of Wrestling Federation: The Rising – May 13
NFW x PGWA: Revolution Rising II – May 27
RESULTS:
Battle Club Pro: Women’s Crush Wednesday 3 – April 12
- BCP ICONS Title: Cosmic (c) defeats Renee Michelle
- Jordy Lee defeated Nikii Duke
- Ruthless Lala & Sammi Chaos defeat Edith Surreal & Kikyo
- Megan Bayne defeated Christina Marie
- Janai Kai defeated Miyu Yamashita
- CCW Tag Team Title: Scorpio SZN (Brooke Valentine & Jordan Blade) (c) defeat Damaris Dawkins & Gia Scott
- Masha Slamovich defeated Sumie Sakai
Capital Championship Wrestling: Dead-Zone – April 15
- Battle Of The Throne Tournament First Round: Ray Lyn defeated Notorious Mimi
- Battle Of The Throne Tournament Semi Final: B3CCA defeated Janai Kai
- CCW Global Fighting Title: Battle Of The Throne Tournament Semi Final: Billie Starkz (c) defeated Heather Reckless
- Battle Of The Throne Tournament Semi Final: Ray Lyn defeated Delmi Exo
- CCW Title & CCW Network Title Four-Way Match: Miyu Yamashita defeated KiLynn King (c) and Killer Kelly and Steph De Lander
- CCW Title & CCW Network Title Match: Christina Marie defeated Miyu Yamashita (c)
- CCW Global Fighting Title Battle Of The Throne Tournament Final Three Way: Billie Starkz (c) defeated B3cca and Ray Lyn
