Fightful clears up a report from earlier that Killer Kelly had wrapped up her time with TNA. The original report was made by both PWInsider and Fightful agreeing at the time.
Now, Sean Ross Sapp clears up the confusion. Sources state that Kelly is taking time off. That led to a mix message of her having “finished up.” Her contract is good until Summer 2025.
The original report can be read here.
*Please note that this article contains spoilers*
TNA had their second night of tapings on Saturday. For night one you can click here.
Results below are courtesy of Cagematch.
It is being reported by both PWInsider and Fightful that the former two-time Knockouts World Tag Team Champion Killer Kelly has departed TNA.
Kelly finished up at the Sacrifice event. She had worked for the company over the last two years. She held the tag team gold on two occasions with her tag team partner Masha Slamovich known together as MK Ultra.
PWInsider is told that TNA will begin teasing a new potential partner for Slamovich in the weeks ahead.
*Please note that this article contains spoilers*
Full spoilers (courtesy of Bodyslam.net via Billy and Dobby) are below.
TNA iMPACT! Spoilers From Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Matches announced for tapings Saturday, March 23rd:
Ash by Elegance vs. Xia Brookside
Jordynne Grace /Josh Alexander vs Alex Hammerstone/Tasha Steelz
Bianca Belair has no love lost for Bayley, despite Naomi having Bayley’s back.
On the March 22 episode of SmackDown we first see Naomi getting ready for her match against IYO SKY backstage. Bayley enters and thanks Naomi for having her back last week and says she appreciates her as she doesn’t have too many friends anymore.
Bianca Belair interrupted and once again tried to convince Naomi that believing in Bayley is a bad idea. She says for the past two years Bayley along with Damage CTRL have done nothing but attack her. Naomi tries to diffuse the situation after Bayley admits she has to live with her past mistakes.
Naomi takes Belair aside and speaks with her. She explains where she is coming from but Belair understandably feels apprehensive of Bayley.
Later on, as Naomi was waiting in the ring for SKY to enter, the rest of Damage CTRL was on stage as SKY’s music was playing. However, the champion was backstage attacking Bayley. SKY eventually made her way out for the match. Damage CTRL did not come down to ringside.
The match was fun and refreshing as both women really made each other shine. Naomi almost put the champion away at one point with a massive superplex. However, when Naomi went for the split legged moonsault, Damage CTRL came rushing down with the distraction. This had SKY take advantage and hit Over the Moonsault for the win.
Post match, to no surprise, came the numbers game with a four on one attack on Naomi. Asuka even misted her in the face to add more insult to the situation. Belair’s music would hit and she came down to make the save. Naomi would also protect Belair as she climbed on top of her preventing the full attack from Damage CTRL.
Belair will be taking on Dakota Kai next week.
Backstage as Belair was trying to help wash out the mist from Naomi’s eyes, Tiffany Stratton walked by and said the mist was a good look for Naomi as Belair showed her frustration from that comment.
Also on this week’s show, Michin joined The OC as they faced Austin Theory and Grayson Waller. Michin did all she could to help The OC including an arm drag to Waller on the outside. However, The OC lost with Waller’s feet on the ropes during the pin.
The WWE Slammy Awards are returning on WrestleMania weekend, April 7. The last Slammy’s were digital in 2020 and 2015 before that.
The voting is done by fans and can be made from March 22 through March 27. Below are the categories and nominees. So VOTE!
Breakout Superstar of the Year
A storm is coming to SmackDown!
Jade Cargill has picked a brand and she has signed with SmackDown. On the March 22 episode, a vignette aired about Cargill’s arrival.
In the vignette, Cargill says she doesn’t even have to speak and she is the trending topic and headline. She adds that they are going to build statues of her and you don’t have to like it, but you can’t deny it.
We have seen Cargill in many backstage segments on all three brands since her signing last year. We have only seen her in a WWE ring at the Royal Rumble where she impressively eliminated Nia Jax and had a stare down with Bianca Belair.
With Cargill arriving just one week before WrestleMania XL, what will be her impact?
Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are two of the Four Horsewomen who many consider the pillars of the women’s evolution. Unfortunately over time, Lynch and Flair particularly haven’t kept the strongest bond.
In October 2021, the two decorated Superstars had a fall out backstage and it showed on screen their rough friendship from a title exchange segment. They would not work on screen together again until WarGames in November 2023.
In an interview on Peter Rosenberg’s podcast Cheap Heat, Lynch was asked about her current relationship with Flair.
She spoke as follows:
“Yeah, I think [they’re] good. Look, I think, in writing this book, at no point and certainly not that I…I certainly did not intend to in any way be disparaging against her, and I don’t think I am. I think I’m fair in trying to give her perspective in things. Because I don’t think it’s fair to completely bury somebody in a book, especially in a world that is so subjective. Because they don’t have the opportunity to defend themselves. So I talk about our fallouts, but I at least try to paint it from her perspective as well as from my own. Working together, yeah, it was easy because I think the undercurrent of all of it, fallouts and all, is love.
You get more upset by somebody hurting you if you’ve loved them, or you do love them than from somebody that you had no relationship with at all. That is the thing with Charlotte. We were best friends, we were like sisters, then we fell out, wrestling came between us. Then we came back together, then the notorious fallout with the titles, but I think throughout all of that, if she ever needed anything, I’d be there for her, and I think if I ever needed anything, she’d be there for me. I think that trumps all. I think life is too short to hold these animosities for too long. I think if you hold them too long, they weigh down on you. There’s just no point in that. We’ve lost some people in the last year, in the last few years, and it just reminds you how precious this life, and how special this thing that we’re doing is, and we can have those disagreements, we can have those conflicts, and rivalries, and we can not always see eye to eye in business, and that’s what makes business better, when people feel like it’s real. But at the end of the day, you gotta remind yourself what’s important,” Lynch said. (Fightful)
Since working together again, Lynch is on her way to challenge Rhea Ripley at WrestleMania while unfortunately Flair is sidelined with an ACL injury.
The March 21 episode of TNA IMPACT was headlined by Jordynne Grace defending her Knockouts World Championship against Tasha Steelz.
Grace initially took control, but when they spilled to the outside, Steelz neutralized the champ with a pump kick and neckbreaker. After the break, Grace fought back with a wicked spinebuster and attempted a Muscle Buster, but Steelz escaped.
The two then went counter for counter until Steelz landed Sliced Bread. Steelz managed to launch Grace from the top rope to the mat for a nearfall. After another round of trading counters, Grace hit the spinning backfist followed by the Juggernaut Driver to retain.
Elsewhere in the show, Ash By Elegance had her third match, this time against Seleziya Sparx. Sparx refused to kiss Ash’s hand, which resulted in punishment for most of the bout. In the end, a suplex followed by Rarified Air finished the bout for Ash.
After, Ash prepared to hit Rarified Air again, but this time with a chair on top of Sparx. That was until Xia Brookside ran down and stood between them. Ash ultimately backed down and signaled that she’s watching Brookside.
We also heard from Decay and MK Ultra, who look to be clashing again soon as both teams have their eyes on Spitfire’s tag titles.
Next week, the first Knockouts 8-4-1 match will take place to determine who will challenge Jordynne Grace at Rebellion. Participants were not revealed, but the bout will start as an 8-woman tag. The winning team with then face off in a four-way to determine the new number one contender.
What did you think of this week’s IMPACT? Sound off below!
Some fantastic health news for the former Diva’s Champion!
In February, Maryse announced the scary news that she was diagnosed with Serous Borderline Ovarian Tumors. She stated she would have to undergo a hysterectomy as a result.
In an update:
As you know, 2 weeks ago I went in to surgery to have my ovaries/uterus/tubes/cervix/omentum removed. I also had staging (removal) of the lymph nodes in my abdomen to see if the disease had spread.
Pathology confirmed that it had not which is amazing news! More amazing news is that I am tumor free! The diagnosis did confirm that I had Primary Peritoneal Serous Borderline Tumors with involvement of ovaries/uterus/tubes.
Just to give you an idea of the rarity – 7 cases per million of women in the US per year! The fact that we not only found this but found this at this manageable stage is unbelievable and literally saved my life as this would have most likely been lethal.
Next, I will continue to rest following my surgery and then will follow up with specialists at MD Anderson in Houston.
I can never say thank you enough to my doctor @drthaisaliabadi and her team! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU!!!!
I’m overwhelmed by the amount of support I’m getting from family, friends and fans all over the world! To all my women, please keep being your own advocate and trust yourself always!
Several names are being reported by Tokyo Sports as leaving the STARDOM promotion at the end of March. One name already known was Giulia, however we can add Utami Hayashishita, MIRAI, Yuzuki, and Mai Sakurai.
All five names are expected to join Rossy Ogawa’s new promotion. Ogawa is STARDOM co-founder who was fired earlier this year. It is also stated that Utami doesn’t have interest in leaving Japan whereas Giulia has already been reported to be joining WWE likely down the road.
Utami, 25, has won the highest title in STARDOM, the World of Stardom Championship. She is also a former SWA World Champion, Future of Stardom Champion, Artist of Stardom Champion, and has also won the 2020 5Star Grand Prix.
MIRAI, 24, is back to back Cinderella Tournament winner in 2022 and 2023. She is also a former Wonder of Stardom Champion and Goddesses of Stardom Champion. Currently, she holds one-third of the Artist of Stardom Titles.
Sakurai, 33, joined STARDOM in 2021. In 2023, she made it to the finals of the Cinderella Tournament and was part of the Bari Bari Bombers with Giulia and Thekla. The trio held the Artist of Stardom Titles for 221 days.
Yuzuki, 19, just debuted at the end of 2023 for STARDOM. Been a member of the STARS stable.
And we are down to two!
Queen Aminata and Billie Starkz have made it to the finals as they are the final two women out of a sixteen person tournament to crown the first ROH Women’s TV Champion.
On the March 21 episode of ROH, Aminata defeated Red Velvet while Starkz won over Mercedes Martinez. In a backstage interview, Diamante, who is Martinez’s tag team partner called Starkz win a fluke. Regardless of who becomes the first champion, Diamante and Martinez want first dibs.
Kiera Hogan also wants first dibs at the inaugural champion, but first she has unfinished business with Diamante. Diamante won their first encounter but Hogan wants to get her win next week.
Other results include Hikaru Shida making her in-ring ROH debut as she defeated Rachael Ellering. The ROH Women’s World Champion Athena watched this match closely as Shida challenges her at Supercard of Honor.
And another ROH debut took place as Mina Shirakawa took on Anna Jay in the main event. Shirakawa walked away with the victory.
We are ever so close to finding out which two women will be in the finals to crown the inaugural ROH Women’s TV Champion.
On today’s ROH episode, both semi-final matches will air. Queen Aminata will be taking on Red Velvet while Billie Starkz challenges Mercedes Martinez.
Other matches include:
March 20 saw a special three-hour block of AEW programming featuring Dynamite followed by a live Rampage in Toronto.
Dynamite opened with Mercedes Moné appearing before the live crowd to address her unfinished business with Willow Nightingale, which now involves Skye Blue and Julia Hart.
Once their names were invoked, Blue and Hart attempted to attack Moné, but The CEO was able to hold them off. Blue and Hart then grabbed chairs from under the ring before Nightingale and Kris Statlander ran down to stand by Moné.
Later on backstage, Kris and Willow addressed their Rampage main event when Moné walked up. Mercedes and Kris properly introduced themselves and thanked each other for having their backs last week and tonight. When Willow tried to speak, Moné cut her off and said, “You’ve done enough.”
Back to the ring, Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa joined forces to take on Toni Storm and Mariah May. Purrazzo and May battled early on while Rosa and Storm brawled at ringside.
Luther was able to distract Rosa at one point, which led to Storm connecting with the hip attack. Purrazzo received the hot tag and was able to clear the ring for a bit.
Rosa snuck a tag in and managed to roll Storm up for the three-count, much to the dismay of “The Virtuosa,” who seemingly wanted to pick up the win herself.
Then to conclude Rampage, Statlander and Nightingale battled Skye Blue and Julia Hart in a thrilling Street Fight. Kris and Willow ambushed Skye and Julia with chair shots on the ramp. Once in the ring, Willow booted Hart while she was wedged in a chair.
The heels tried to take back over as Blue held Willow in position while Hart grabbed a spike. However, Willow ducked and Hart accidentally spiked her own partner. Stat then sent Hart crashing through a table propped in the corner.
After the break, Willow and Blue stood on top of the announce desk where Blue managed to hit Code Blue. Back inside, both Blue and Stat poured out bags of tacks before going up top. Blue weakened Stat and powerbombed her into the mess.
To make matters worse, Blue put a handful of tacks in Stat’s mouth and superkicked her for a nearfall. Willow ran back in and planted Blue through two ringside tables with a Death Valley Driver. Meanwhile, Stat was not able to land a 450, which allowed Julia to apply Hartless for the submission win.
What did you think of this week’s Dynamite and Rampage? Sound off below!
After a successful debut last week at Big Business, Mercedes Moné will be at Dynamite tonight.
Also, the AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will team up with Mariah May to take on Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa.
Former Divas Champion Alicia Fox, now known as Vix Crow, is returning to the squared circle at the upcoming all women HER event. She will he facing another former champion, Mickie James.
This will be their first one-on-one match since October, 2009. Outside of Royal Rumble appearances, Crow hasn’t has a match since April, 2019.
The HER event will be taking place on April 12 and can be order through Triller.
In an exclusive with GabbyAF, James goes over the card including appearances from Lisa Marie Varon (Victoria), TNA Knockouts World Champion Jordynne Grace, SoCal Val, Bull Nakano, and more.
Hanan wins the STARDOM 2024 Cinderella Tournament. This win gives her a future championship opportunity as a “wish”. She defeated Ruaka in the semi-finals and Ami Sourei in the finals on Wednesday.
At the young age of 19, Hanan has already been a Future of Stardom Champion and is currently one-half of the New Blood Tag Team Champions with Saya Iida. She is a member of the STARS stable. She makes her wish to challenge for the Wonder of Stardom Title. This title is currently held by Saori Anou.
Also at this event Giulia and Tam Nakano went to a 15 minute draw while Maika retains the World of Stardom Championship against Utami in a near 30 minute bout.
Bayley is set to take center stage at WrestleMania XL for the first time in her career in a singles match at the big event. As the winner of the 2024 Royal Rumble, she has chosen her former stablemate and friend IYO SKY, for the WWE Women’s Championship.
Jumping back 11 years on March 20 and you will see Bayley’s NXT debut. The debut was against Paige. Paige won the match via submission befor Summer Rae attempted a sneak attack.
You can watch the match below.
WWE has posted on its social media today to celebrate Bayley’s career with a photo gallery of rare and unseen photos.
WWE Performance Center Recruit, Lainey Reed will be making her debut this coming Friday on NXT Level Up. She will be facing Jaida Parker. The episode will air on Peacock on March 22 after SmackDown.
Real name, Tylynn Register, Reed signed with WWE in Spring of 2023. She is the only woman from her class still signed (Melanie Brzezinski and Alexis Gray have been released). Reed is a rodeo champion and track and field star.
Reed has wrestled alongside other newer talents Carlee Bright and Adrianna Rizzo at live events.
As a special episode for Women’s History Month, WWE’s The Bump hosted Natalya, Liv Morgan, and Shayna Baszler.
During the discussion, the three stars were asked to name which women inspired them today. Morgan named Natalya. Baszler and Morgan noted that Natalya fights for other women.
“I’m always inspired by Natty. I watched ‘Total Divas,’ and I knew I had a tryout coming up, and I’m watching ‘Total Divas’ and I’m seeing the life that you guys live, and I wanted that so, so, so badly, and just all that you continue to do. You’ve had an unparalleled career in WWE, and you continue to use your voice, you continue to make sure that the women are represented in all our premium live events, including WrestleMania. It’s just, what you do is so much more than an in-ring scenario. You’re truly a pioneer and someone that I always look up to, and I hope that I can have as decorated and respected career as you have,” says Morgan.
Baszler adds, “I think people don’t really know how Natty goes to bat for the women.”
“She’s like an unsung hero,” says Morgan.
Baszler continues, “I think at the same time, she’s doing that while still being a mainstay actively in the ring in the women’s division. It’s not like she’s retired into this other role, and she’s doing that behind the scenes and that’s her job. Her job is to be in the ring, trying to beat us up, and she’s still able to do that.”
”She fights for everyone else as ferociously as she fights for herself, and I think there’s something to say in that,” concluded Morgan.
Natalya showed appreciation for the kind words.
Ronda Rousey is one to not hold back what she thinks and she certainly speaks freely in her new book, “Our Fight” which comes out on April 4.
Rousey is a former three-time Women’s World Champion and exited the company for a second time after last year’s SummerSlam. In her upcoming autobiography she talks about Vince McMahon, Saudi Arabia, and the Divas era where women had to put up with a lot of “sexist bullshit.”
You can read the excerpts below.
On Vince McMahon:
“NXT was founded by and under the control of Triple H, real name Paul Levesque. In addition to being my in-ring WrestleMania nemesis, he is arguably one of the best professional wrestlers in history and one of the better people on the business side. He is married to Stephanie McMahon, who is the daughter of WWE’s Emperor Palpatine, Vince McMahon. Vince took over the company from his father in the early 1980s and spent the better part of forty years playing a real-world pro-wrestling version of Monopoly, buying up and absorbing smaller promotions until he basically owned them all.
It’s hard sometimes to know where the evil, unethical, slimeball character of Vince McMahon played out for the cameras ends and the actual questionably ethical, many times sued, and multiple times accused of sexual misconduct Vince McMahon begins. That blurred line between character and reality is a recurring theme within the WWE Universe.”
On Saudi Arabia:
“[Pay-per-views are] held in major cities like New York, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia, as well as now twice a year in Saudi Arabia, a nation that restricts the rights of women in a way that I’m certain Vince McMahon wishes he could.”
On WWE Culture:
“WWE loves to do well-produced video segments about the legacy of women within the organization, but the truth is women have largely been footnotes. For the longest time, they were relegated to serving male characters in a valet role, an overly sexualized supporting character that takes cheap shots when the ref isn’t looking. Over time, as the level of female talent grew and society as a whole started to shift, the organization gradually expanded the role of female wrestlers.
WWE bills itself as a sports entertainment organization, and just like in the mainstream entertainment industry, there was, by all accounts, a casting couch culture where men backstage in powerful positions pressured female talent for sexual favors in return for airtime. There were so many public accusations and scandals it’s hard to keep track, and more that I’m sure the WWE managed to sweep under the ring.
Women weren’t just being demeaned backstage, but center stage. Up until 2007, “Bra & Panties Matches,” where female wrestlers won the match by stripping their opponent down to her underwear, were an actual f*cking thing. Even after that gimmick was retired by WWE executives—I’m sure very reluctantly and with a lot of lamenting about political correctness—it was still clear that the organization placed more value on a woman’s physical appearance than her physical ability.
The Divas Era with its pink rhinestone butterfly title belt dawned around the same time. Women, while now portrayed as wrestlers, were still expected to look a certain way—think lots of makeup, little clothing, and huge boobs. It would take almost another decade, years after I proved women could be a huge combat sports attraction, before women truly started to get time in the squared circle (what diehards call a pro wrestling ring).
And it was only after WWE was basically armbarred into it, following a global social media backlash to #givedivasachance after Divas were given a total of thirty seconds— less time than it takes most people to read this paragraph—for a nationally televised tag match.
Four women were given less time to collectively wrestle than every single man on the roster got for his intro music alone. Presented this information as a person outside of the wrestling world you might draw the conclusion that there is a troubling foundational sexist, patriarchal culture within the WWE. You would be right. I have nothing but respect for the female wrestlers who paved the way for women wrestlers today. And nothing but disgust for the amount of sexist, degrading bullsh*t they were put through.”
All quotes provided by Inside the Ropes.
We have a women’s match set for NXT’s Stand & Deliver which takes place on Day One of WrestleMania XL on April 6. The match is for the NXT Women’s Championship as Lyra Valkyria defends against Roxanne Perez.
On the March 19 episode of NXT, Perez took on Tatum Paxley. In a rather short encounter, Perez came out with the win. She won with a crossface submission.
Post match, Perez requested NXT General Manager Ava to once again give her the NXT Women’s Championship, due to Valkyria’s absence from Perez’s attack two weeks ago. However, Valkyria made her return and attacked Perez. Paxley tried to help the champion, but Perez pushed Valkyria onto Paxley before locking in the crossface. Most importantly targeting Valkyria’s injured left arm.
Back in medical, Valkyria requested that Ava make the match between her and Perez at Stand & Deliver. Ava approved.
Other moments on this week’s NXT includes Arianna Grace making Gigi Dolin “Ms. NXT in training.”
Sol Ruca returned to action as she faced Brinley Reece. Solid match from both but Ruca would be victorious with her ever impressive Sol Snatchee finisher. Post match, Blair Davenport attacked Ruca.
Fallon Henley tried to stop Brooks Jensen who was at his wits end, but Jensen said he needed to find his way. Kelani Jordan joined Henley backstage, saying she wanted to attack Kiana James and Izzi Dame.
Thea Hail met with Ava backstage, where she told Hail that she would face Jazmyn Nyx next week. James and Dame met with Jacy Jayne & Jazmyn Nyx to speak ill about Hail. After Jayne and Nyx left, Henley and Jordan attacked Dame and James.
Alpha Academy arrived and confronted Meta Four. Otis said he was jealous of Trick Williams getting the kiss from Lash Legend last week. Legend says she can’t wait to get her hands on Williams…but of course “not like that.”
During Williams’ match against Noam Dar, Legend lured Williams in for a kiss but attempted to slap him. Williams blocked the slap.
Matches for tonight:
Roxanne Perez vs. Tatum Paxley
Sol Ruca vs, Brinley Reece
Lola Vice vs. Karmen Perrovic
Becky Lynch is about to release her first book. The book, titled ‘Becky Lynch: The Man: Not Your Average Average Girl’, is set to release on March 26. She will be having a book tour to go along with the release.
Several WWE names have glowing reviews of the book. They can be read below.
Stone Cold Steve Austin: “Becky’s writing style is infectious and contagious. Just like her personality. From hard times and hard decisions, to changing the landscape of sports entertainment, the self-described ‘underdog’ has always been destined to do great things. I’m sure there is more to come. And that’s the bottom line, because Stone Cold said so.”
John Cena: “Quin’s story is one of perseverance, humility, and raw emotion. Her authenticity allows us to feel her struggles and mature alongside her as the story unfolds. Anyone who’s ever wondered what it takes and what it’s like to become a WWE superstar will not be able to put this down. It might just be the new Underdog’s Guide to the Galaxy. A trailblazer, a groundbreaker and a great example of my 3 favorite words…Never Give Up.”
Seth Rollins: “Effortlessly authentic, poignant without ever trying too hard, and a little rough around the edges—that’s my lovely wife, and it’s also her lovely book. I am so proud and so inspired. Between being a full-time WWE Superstar, a full-time mother, and a GOAT life partner, my one and only somehow casually found the bandwidth to pen a perfect memoir…because of course she did.”
Stephanie McMahon: “Becky Lynch: The Man is the story of a remarkable woman who had the guts to put it all on the line. Taking risks that would take her from flight attendant to one of the biggest WWE Superstars in the world, Becky Lynch defies every stereotype. The crowd loves her because she is vulnerable and real, and I have no doubt you will too!”
Mick Foley: “Becky Lynch: The Man is one of the finest wrestling books—or memoirs of any kind—I have had the pleasure to read. Actually, it was equal parts, honor and pleasure; Becky allowed me in on the ground floor of her creative process, and I read with great joy as she found her voice as a writer. I am so glad she has chosen to share that voice and her remarkable life story with all of us.”
Maria Menounos: “If you don’t know why they call Becky Lynch ‘the Man,’ you will after reading this book. Becky is my friend, but I had no idea about her unreal journey. From immigrating from Ireland, to helping to orchestrate the ascension of women’s wrestling, this is a must-read for any WWE fan but also for anyone with big dreams and odds stacked against them.”
Lynch visited the White House over the weekend and met President Joe Biden. She added her book to the White House library. Lynch has also officially become a U.S. citizen.
STARDOM has announced several talents who will be in action at their American Dream event which takes place on April 4. The event will in Philadelphia during WrestleMania week.
Talents such as Willow Nightingale, Mariah May, Stephanie Vaquer, and Xia Brookside will be on the card. Nightingale is the former and inaugural NJPW STRONG Women’s Title while Vaquer is the current champion.
May and Brookside also did a run in STARDOM as a tag team. May is currently a member of the AEW roster while Brookside is a Knockout in TNA.
Diva Dirt will provide the matches once announced.
