Tonight’s SmackDown does not have anything currently advertised for the women. However, it is the last show before Payback but both women’s matches set so far are from Raw.
Feel free to discuss hopefully some women on tonight’s show.
Alisha Edwards Earns Knockouts Title Match At Victory Road
The August 31 episode of IMPACT kicked off with a 10-Knockout number one contender’s battle royal to determine Trinity‘s opponent for Victory Road.
The match consisted of Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, KiLynn King, Jody Threat, Alisha Edwards, Jessicka, Courtney Rush, Killer Kelly, Masha Slamovich, and Vanna Black. Naturally, Black was the first to be eliminated by Slamovich.
Shaw and Evans managed to eliminate MK Ultra early on before Rush clotheslined herself out with Shaw. King tossed Jessicka out, Threat dropkicked Evans, and then it appeared to come down to King and Threat. As they battled in the ropes, Alisha ran back in from under the ring and tossed them both out to win.
Backstage, Alisha sent a message to Traci Brooks and Trinity ahead of her upcoming matches. It has been confirmed Alisha will challenge Trinity for the Knockouts World Championship at Victory Road.
Gia Miller spoke to Deonna Purrazzo following her loss in the Emergence main event. Despite coming up short, Purrazzo claims she is still the face of the division. She does feel, however, that Jordynne Grace‘s return announcement upstaged their moment. Purrazzo officially challenged Grace to a rematch at Victory Road since Grace has never beaten her.
Purrazzo will also be in action next Thursday when she takes on Dani Luna.
Below is the updated lineup for Victory Road on Friday, September 8:
- Knockouts World Championship: Trinity (c) vs. Alisha Edwards
- Deonna Purrazzo vs. Jordynne Grace
What did you think of this week’s IMPACT? Sound off with your thoughts below!
Check it out! Ring Post Journal’s 2022 Women’s Wrestling Year in Review is now available on Amazon in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats internationally. Relive the entire year in one book with a news timeline, detailed results, and win-loss records for WWE, AEW, IMPACT, NWA, and more!
Trinity & Jordynne Grace To Team With Gail Kim & Awesome Kong At IMPACT 1,000
We have a 10 Knockouts Tag Team Match set for IMPACT 1,000.
It was previously announced that Gail Kim and Awesome Kong would be returning for one more match and would team together. Now we know they will join the Knockouts World Champion Trinity, a returning Jordynne Grace, and a mystery partner. They will take on Deonna Purrzzo, Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, Angelina Love, and a mystery partner.
Also booked for this taping is Traci Brooks and Frankie Kazarian vs. Alisha & Eddie Edwards.
Statlander Scores Win Before All Out; Outcasts Set To Team On Collision
The August 30 episode of AEW Dynamite featured a trios bout pitting TBS Champion Kris Statlander, Hikaru Shida, and Britt Baker against Nyla Rose, Marina Shafir, and Emi Sakura.
Before the bell could ring, Sakura charged Shida and Baker in the corner with a crossbody. Shida started things off for her team, but then the heels dominated Baker for a bit. Statlander finally got the tag, but Sakura and Rose were quick with the double-team. Baker accidentally kicked Shida again, which led to a chokeslam from Rose.
After clotheslining Nyla out of the ring, Statlander hit a diving crossbody off the turnbuckle onto the heel trio. Back inside, Shafir was hit with the signature piledriver and Statlander scored the pinfall win while Shida and Baker argued about the kick.
After, Ruby Soho dropped the TBS Champ with No Future and then ran off with the title in hand before Baker and Shida could stop her.
We also heard from Toni Storm, who continues to spiral in her delusion.
Looking ahead, this Friday’s Rampage will feature Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue vs. Taya Valkyrie and Anna Jay. Then on Collision, The Outcasts will reunite as Saraya, Storm, and Soho take on Statlander, Baker, and Shida just 24 hours before All Out.
As of this writing, the only women’s bout confirmed for Sunday’s All Out pay-per-view in Chicago is Soho vs. Statlander for the TBS title.
What did you think of this week’s Dynamite? Sound off with your thoughts below!
Check it out! Ring Post Journal’s 2022 Women’s Wrestling Year in Review is now available on Amazon in digital, paperback, and hardcover formats internationally. Relive the entire year in one book with a news timeline, detailed results, and win-loss records for WWE, AEW, IMPACT, NWA, and more!
Gail Kim To Make In-Ring Return For One More Match
Gail Kim will be making a return to the ring for one more match at IMPACT 1,000.
Kim will be uniting with Awesome Kong in the match as a team. Their opponents have not been confirmed. She last wrestled in 2019 in a loss against Tessa Blanchard.
Kim confirmed this news on Busted Open Radio. One of her former greatest rivals will not be her greatest partner. Kong has not had a match herself for over three years.
Kim has previously said she would come out of retirement to face Mickie James. Deonna Purrazzo has also said on numerous occasions that her dream would be to wrestle Kim.
Also set for the IMPACT 1,000 special is a mixed tag match with a returning Traci Brooks teaming up with Frankie Kazarian to face Alisha Edwards and Eddie Edwards. The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) will also be in attendance.
Kiana James vs. Tiffany Stratton For The NXT Women’s Title Set For Sept. 5
Kiana James has stamped her chance to face Tiffany Stratton for the NXT Women’s Championship. She won this opportunity in a Fatal Four-way Number One Contender match on the Aug. 29 episode of NXT. This match also included Blair Davenport, Roxanne Perez, and Gigi Dolin.
This match would main event and get great crowd reaction. The final moments of the match had Dolin looking to put Perez away with the Gigi Driver but Perez held onto the ropes. Perez then looked for victory herself when James snuck back into the ring. After taking out Perez, James swiftly took care of Dolin to get the pin on her and the victory.
Post match, Stratton would emerge and the two stood face-to-face in the ring.
Elsewhere on this week’s NXT, Thea Hail skipped class. Chase U had a class in regards to the rules of the current Heritage Cup Tournament. Noticeably missing was Hail from her seat. After class was over, she entered in time for study hall, but when requested to join Jacy Jayne appeared. Hail ditched further to head out with Jayne.
A second women’s match took place that left Dana Brooke irate. She teamed with Kelani JordN to take on Elektra Lopez and Lola Vice. The latter continue their winning was as Vice pinned Jordan. Brooke was furious, yelling from ringsize about the result.
Fallon Henley went receuiting Myles Borne to be a third with Briggs and Jensen for an upcoming six man tag team bout.
Diamond Mine is back together as well. The Creed Brothers son a cage match against The Dyad to be reinstated. Ivy Nile has her boys back.
Bianca Belair Reportedly Absent Due To Requested Time Off
Bianca Belair has reportedly requested some time off.
On the Aug. 18 episode of SmackDown, Bianca Belair was written off after her backstage attack by Damage CTRL. According to Fightful Select, Belair was selling the knee injury from SummerSlam and then the further attack on SmackDown. This storyline injury was a way to give the star some much needed time off.
The time table is uncertain on her absence. Fightful Select has heard differing things on how long she could be out, ranging from a few weeks (under a month) to possibly three months. Furthermore, Belair got constant praise within WWE during her title reign for the insane media schedule and community events she would take part in.
If more news comes out for Belair’s return we will provide the update.
Awesome Kong To Make In-Ring Return At IMPACT 1,000
The former two-time Knockouts Champion Awesome Kong is announced for the upcoming IMPACT 1,000 event. Per the announcement it states she will be back in the ring. An opponent has not been named at the time of this writing.
This will be the first time that Awesome Kong will be wrestling in over three years. Her last match was for AEW on Dark against Skyler Moore. The last match for TNA was against Velvet Sky in 2016.
So far confirmed for the IMPACT 1,000 event is the return of Traci Brooks to the ring as she teams with Frankie Kazarian vs. Alisha Edwards and Eddie Edwards. The Beautiful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) will also be in attendance.
NXT Discussion Post: 08.29.23
Tonight’s NXT has two matches confirmed –
Kelani Jordan & Dana Brooke vs. Elektra Lopez & Lola Vice
Number One Contender Match –
Kina James vs. Blair Davenport vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Gigi Dolin
Enjoy.
Becky Lynch ManHandles Zoey Stark Ahead Of Payback
The saga between Becky Lynch and Trish Stratus will finally come to an end this Saturday at Payback. Before we get there, Lynch had Zoey Stark to take care of. Stratus’ protege who has been with her since the start of the Lynch feud, took on Lynch in the main event of Raw. It was a Falls Count Anywhere bout.
The match basically became a 2 on 1 affair as Stratus did everything she could to help Stark win. This included stopping a ManHandle Slam that could have put Stark away in the timekeeper area. Stratus delivered a bulldog to Lynch instead which landed them through a table. Stratus dragged Stark over for the cover but Lynch kicked out.
The fight would continue in the crowd as all three women would climb on top of a large equipment box. Stark and Stratus went for a double bulldog but Lynch knocked Stark off the box. Stratus missed with the Chick Kick. Stratus and Lynch trade shots before Lynch goes for the ManHandle Slam. Stark stops it but inadvertently punches Stratus off the box and through a table.
Lynch finally connects Stark with the ManHandle Slam off the box and onto another table to get the pin and the victory. Raw goes off the air with Lynch emotional as she holds up her Bray Wyatt arm band.
Elsewhere on Raw we saw the final build for the Women’s World Title match that will take place at Payback. A promo video of Raquel Rodriguez as Rhea Ripley’s challenger played early in the night. This followed by an in-ring promo where Ripley took to the mic. She said that Rodriguez was big and strong but is no Rhea Bloody Ripley. Ripley would continue to talk down about her challenger as Rodriguez made her way out.
A brawl between the two ensued and it would be Rodriguez who stood tall after a fall away slam took Mami out of the ring.
NXT Women’s Champion Tiffany Stratton was in the crowd and shown before the main event. This perhaps stirs the notion that Becky Lynch may be heading to NXT after she is done with Trish Stratus.
Stratton made the recent mistake of calling Lynch a former NXT Women’s Champion on last week’s NXT.….this resulted with The Man responding on social media that she hasn’t held that title…yet. Stratton corrected herself on air but stated it doesn’t matter as Lynch was irrelevant.
What we do know is Stratton’s next opponent will be decided this week as four women will battle it out for the number one contender spot. Kiana James, Gigi Dolin, Blair Davenport, and Roxanne Perez.
Spoilers: Impact Tapings From Aug. 28
*This article contains spoilers from the Emergence Fall Out Tapings*
Emergence took place on Sunday and bot Trinity and MK Ultra retained their titles from that event. Next is Victory Road before we get to Bound for Glory. Victory Road takes place on Sept.8 and the tapings done on Aug. 28 leads us to that.
Below are the results courtesy of Fightful –
Airing 8/31
– Alisha Edwards wins battle royal to earn Knockouts Title match at IMPACT Victory Road. Masha Slamovich, Killer Kelly, Gisele Shaw, Jessicka, KiLynn King, Jody Threat, Savannah Evans, Vanna Black, and Courtney Rush competed.
Airing 9/7
– Deonna Purrazzo def. Dani Luna
– Contract signing with Alisha and Trinity. Eddie Edwards and Alisha put Trinity through the table. Kazarian makes the save.
Check in with Diva Dirt for more news and results from the Knockouts of IMPACT.
Tag Team Match Added To Aug. 29 NXT
A women’s tag team match has been confirmed for this weekend. Kelani Jordan continues to make bold statements on social media. She and Dana Brooke will team up as they will be facing Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez.
This is the second women’s match confirmed for this show as there will also be a number one contender match. Kiana James vs. Blair Davenport vs. Roxanne Perez vs. Gigi Dolin is on the card. The winner will be the next to face Tiffany Stratton for the NXT Women’s Title.
Check back in with Diva Dirt every Tuesday night to chat about the NXT women live.
Raw Discussion Post: 08.28.23
We have reached the last Raw before Payback which takes place this Saturday on Sept. 2.
Set for that event is the Women’s World Championship match between the champion Rhea Ripley and Raquel Rodriguez. So, expect some final build for that tonight. Rodriguez after announcing she was cleared to compete last Monday also showed up on Tuesday’s NXT to take out Ripley from her match causing her and Dominik Mysterio to lose against Dragon Lee and Lyra Valkyria.
What has been confirmed for tonight is a Falls Count Anywhere match between Becky Lynch and Zoey Stark. Lynch will be taking on Trish Stratus for the end of their feud in a steel cage at Payback this weekend.
As always, feel free to discuss tonight’s show below.
Traci Brooks Set For In-Ring Return At IMPACT 1,000
IMPACT is ready to have their 1,000 episode special on Sept. 9. This event will take place in White Plains, NY. It has been confirmed that Awesome Kong and The Beauitful People (Angelina Love and Velvet Sky) will be at this event.
OG Knockout Traci Brooks will be in action at this event. This will be her first in-ring match since 2012. She will be teaming up with Frankie Kazarian as they take on Alisha Edwards and Eddie Edwards. The men in this match have been feuding with Alisha getting involved when she can.
Trinity Taps Out Deonna Purrazzo To Retain At Emergence
Trinity remains the Knockouts World Championship at Emergence over the weekend after defeating Deonna Purrazzo. The match took place in the main event. Gail Kim was on commentary for this match.
In final moments of the match, Trinity attempted Starstruck but was able to keep it locked in as Purrazzo had targeted the champions arm throughout the match. Purrazzo tried to deliver the Queen’s Gambit but could not get it executed. Finally, Trinity would get the Starstruck in again after a Code Red, this time she used her leg for extra leverage as Purrazzo taps out.
This is the second time Purrazzo has tapped out to Trinity.
MK Ultra (Masha Slamovich & Killer Kelly) walked out of IMPACT Emergence still Knockouts World Tag Team Champions. They did a double pin on Courtney Rush to retain. There was a change in one of the teams as Taylor Wilde was taken out back stage earlier in the day. As a result, Santino Marella made Jody Threat the tag team partner of KiLynn King. Threat was present at the place where Wilde was taken out. They joined the Death Dollz and Gisele Shaw & Savannah Evans as the four teams in this match.
The match started off with one-half of the tag champs Masha Slamovich taking on Gisele Shaw. Shaw had a recent singles victory over Slamovich giving her. The Death Dollz showed their veteran team status as they tricked both King and Threat into make tags to their team when they shouldn’t have.
By the end of the match after all teams hit their moves, it was two-on-one with Rush being pinned by both Slamovich and Kelly.
The next set of tapings are set to take place on Aug. 28. Trinity will be taking on Dani Luna while there will be a 10 Knockouts Battle Royal to determine Trinity’s opponent at Victory Road on Sept. 8.
What did you think of Emergence? Share your thoughts below.
Jordynne Grace Set For IMPACT Return At Victory Road
Jordynne Grace is on her way back to IMPACT Wrestling!
During the broadcast of IMPACT’s Emergence, a promo aired for the upcoming Victory Road event and it featured Grace. Grace announced her departure (temporarily) from the ring and stated she was a free agent back in May.
Grace is a former two time Knockouts Word Champion, Knockouts World Tag Team Champion, and was the inaugural Digital Media Champion.
Victory Road will take place on Sept. 8.
Kenzie Paige Dethrones Kamille As NWA World Women’s Champion
The 812 day reign of Kamille has come to an end as Kenzie Paige became the new NWA World Women’s Champion at NWA 75 two day event.
On the first day of NWA 75 on Aug. 26, Kenzie had won the Burke Invitational Match to earn the number one contender spot. She had also defend the NWA Women’s TV Championship which she lost to Max the Impaler. This all while Kamille successfully defended against Natalia Markova.
The second day of the show wouldn’t fair so well for Kamille as she would finally lose The Burke after holding it for well over two years.
Kenzie’s Pretty Empowered (Ella Envy and Kylie) teammates won the NWA World Women’s Tag Team Titles once again as all three women now hold gold. They defeated M95 (Madi Wrenkowski and Missa Kate) to end their reign at 197 days.
Tony Khan “Answers” Why More Women Weren’t On All In Card
And the criticisms (rightfully) continue for AEW Women’s Division.
AEW had its All In event at Wembley Stadium in London, England on Sunday Aug. 27. The show had 11 matches on the card with only one women’s match for the AEW Women’s World Championship. This included a two-hour pre-show which had two male performers with two matches (MJF and Adam Cole) on both the pre-show and the main event.
CEO Tony Khan continues to give excuses for the lack of women on his shows. AEW officially started in 2019 and for the past four years (minus some pay-per-view events as an outlier) the women continue to only get one match per weekly show and even most pay-per-views.
At this particular event the women’s match that featured Hikaru Shida defending the AEW Women’s World Title against Saraya, Toni Storm, and Britt Baker was the shortest match on the main card at 8:50. A match that didn’t even break double digits.
Lyric Swinton of Womens Wrestling Talk questioned Khan about there being only one women’s match on the card. The match did have a call back to the original All In. But Swinton questioned why we didn’t see names such as Athena, Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander or others and if we will see more women’s matches on the All Out card and future pay-per-views.
Khan continues what he has done over the past four years and that is give excuses. He answers her concern with saying that Statlander vs. Ruby Soho will take place at All Out next weekend. He also commented that he will have to see how Saraya is doing after her match that took place today as she was crowned the new champion.
He goes on to say that the “pacing” of the show was his biggest concern. And even though there are great talents in the women’s division that there is only so many top stars he can put on one show.
“I think the pacing of the show tonight was probably the best we’ve ever had. The best show we’ve ever done. So I think adding any more would have been challenging. Also we have so many stars across both the men’s and women’s division – great wrestlers…..I tried to pace it perfectly and I think we did pretty great.”
Khan goes on to say he wants to try and get all the top stars in he can and goes back to pacing of the show as his reason. He also said he wanted the call backs to the original All In to be there. And with only one women’s match on that card I guess he did do just that.
So what do you think of Mr. Khan’s continued excuses about the poor utilization of the AEW women’s division?
Saraya Crowned New AEW Women’s World Champion
Saraya becomes a champion for the first time since 2014. She wins the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In at Wembley Stadium in London, England in a Four-way bout. The match also included Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and Hikaru Shida who was champion going into the event.
This ends Shida’s second reign at 24 days.
The final moments of the bout saw Baker try to lock Shida in the Lock Jaw. Shida fought it off and as the two fought, Saraya used the spray paint on Storm. Storm entered the ring with the AEW Women’s Title belt, and hit her with Knight Cap. As Outcast members Saraya and Storm weren’t able to work together through this match.
Saraya pinned Storm for the victory.
Statlander vs. Soho Confirmed For AEW All Out
All In taking place this weekend and All Out taking place next weekend. While the women weren’t showered with matches at All In, we are getting a TBS Championship match at All Out.
As confirmed on yesterday’s episode of Collision Ruby Soho will be challenging Kris Statlander for the belt.
As for the women’s match that took place on Collision this week, Willow Nightingale defeated Robyn Renegade.
Mickie James Returns To The Ring At RevPro Event
Mickie James returned to the ring this weekend as she faced Alex Windsor and Hyan in a Triple Threat for the RevPro British Women’s Championship. This was James’ first match since March with IMPACT Wrestling. She has to relinquish the Knockouts World Title in April due to injury.
Windsor was the champion heading into the event and she would beat the odds by still walking out as the champ.
In an interview just days before she returned to the ring, James said the following to MuscleManMalcolm about returning from injury.
“I feel good. I think it was a reset I needed, that I didn’t really need a break, if you will, that I didn’t really understand,” James said.
“I felt like I was doing so great, and really on a roll. It kind of sucked in the moment, but actually having the time off and being able to spend the summer with Donovan and take the time to let the bone heal correctly. We have this desire, we feel like we need to, ‘Oh no, I can just keep going, keep going.’ Spiritually, I think too, I needed a little time, a little break. I’m feeling good now.”
You can watch the full interview below –
Mercedes Moné Shown In The Crowd At AEW All In
Mercedes Moné has been spotted in the crowd at Wembley Stadium in London, England for today’s All In event. AEW has made notice of the seven time world champion in attendance as you can see in the post below.
Moné has not been in the ring since she participated in the inaugural NJPW STRONG Women’s Championship in May. She was injured in that match which resulted in Willow Nightingale becoming inaugural champion. Giulia now holds the belt.
As for All In, Moné will likely be keeping a close eye on the women’s match as Hikaru Shida defends the AEW Women’s World Title in a Four-way against Toni Storm, Britt Baker, and Saraya.
Diva Dirt will have the results of All In later in the day.
The Outcasts Achieve Victory Heading Into All In
Saraya and Toni Storm picked up a huge victory for The Outcast on this week’s Rampage. They faced Britt Baker and the AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida. As a team The Outcasts were victorious but on Sunday at All In all four of these women will be fighting for the championship.
Saraya picked up the win by pinning Baker.
During the match, the TBS Championship Kris Statlander came out and took Ruby Soho away from the equation so she would stop interfering.
IYO SKY Retains In First Title Defense; Kiyah Saint Debuts On Level Up
On the Aug. 25 episode of SmackDown, IYO SKY had her first televised defense of the WWE Women’s Championship. Her challenger – Zelina Vega.
The match was a very good showing for the challenger with Vega who looked as though she could have won the title. This included a huge Meteora from the top rope. However, after a spill to the outside SKY gets Vega back in the ring to deliver the double knees before hitting her moonsault for the win.
After SmackDown on NXT Level Up there was a debut by Kiyah Saint. She faced Kiana James in a losing effort.
Alexa Bliss Gives Tribute To Bray Wyatt
Alexa Bliss was unable to attend the Aug. 25 SmackDown tribute episode for the loss of Bray Wyatt. Wyatt sadly passed away yesterday on Aug. 24. She explains due to late notice she wasn’t able to get to the SmackDown location.
She filmed her own tribute to Wyatt that you can view below.
SmackDown Discussion Post: 08.25.23
Tonight’s SmackDown has been changed tremendously as it intends to be a tribute show to Bray Wyatt. Wyatt shockingly passed away yesterday at the young age of 36.
What had previously been advertised tonight for the women with IYO SKY defending her WWE Women’s Title against Zelina Vega seems to still be listed to happen. Below you can see SKY, Bayley, and Vega’s posts in the passing of Wyatt.
Join the Diva Dirt discussion tonight and share your condolences and favorite moments of Bray Wyatt.