1. The Knockouts had the First ‘Last Woman (Knockout) Standing’ Match.
In June 2017, NXT’s ‘First Ever’ Last Woman Standing match, Nikki Cross and then NXT Women’s Champion Asuka tore the roof off the Full Sail roof. They put on a MOTY contender for 2017, which involved chairs, stairs, a trash can and a final superplex off a ladder through the commentary table! It was arguably the closest that anyone came to ending Asuka’s record-breaking streak, but it also solidified Cross as one to watch out for.
Amazing accomplishment yes, but the Knockouts have been doing Last Knockout Standing matches since 2011! Many forget that it was actually Mickie James and then TNA Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne at Against All Odds, who hold the honour of being the first to compete in one of these tough tests of endurance.
This match came about because Rayne was on a streak of knocking opponents out with a loaded glove. Tired of her antics, James relied on good old ‘hardcore country’ brawling to even the odds. Unfortunately for James, the odds were still stacked against her when Rayne had another set of brass knuckles hidden in her boot that she used to clock James and score the 10 count!
As mentioned, Taryn Terrell and Gail Kim went on to have another amazing Last Knockout Standing match that arguably propelled the former’s career. Angelina Love, Rosemary, Jade, and Sienna have also entered this territory, but it’s still relatively unexplored in the WWE. I for one would have loved it if Asuka VS Nia Jax competed in a Last Woman standing match!
