Women's Wrestling Wrap-Up: Elimination Chamber, IMPACT No Surrender

What an action-packed week in women’s wrestling it’s been! WWE Elimination Chamber makes history, IMPACT No Surrender delivers open challenges, the NXT Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic begins, and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

WWE Elimination Chamber Results

WWE made history over the weekend with three women’s matches on their Elimination Chamber pay-per-view in Saudi Arabia. In total, twelve women competed across those three matches.

Firstly, RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch put her title on the line against WWE Hall of Famer Lita in a first-ever matchup. Lita recently returned to in-ring action for the first time in nearly four years since previously competing at WWE Evolution 2018, before entering the 2022 Royal Rumble. Although she fell short there, she quickly turned her attention to “Big Time Becks” Becky Lynch. After accepting Lita’s challenge for a championship match, Lynch found herself competing against one of her heroes this past Saturday.

This championship match marked the first time in 16 years that Lita had competed for a singles title, and the Hall of Famer definitely pulled out all the stops. With an impressive showing of moves like the Stratussphere, Dirty Deeds, Twist of Fate and her signature Moonsault, Lita gave the RAW Women’s Champion a valiant fight.

GO LITA! GO LITA! GO LITA!@AmyDumas #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/Hvpjr4ssHb

— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022

In the end, however, Lynch delivered a Manhandle Slam to gain the pinfall. Therefore, Becky Lynch remains the RAW Women’s Champion and will go on to face the winner of the Women’s Elimination Chamber at WrestleMania.

Ahead of their clash at WrestleMania, Smackdown Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair and Ronda Rousey found themselves on opposite teams in Saudi Arabia. Flair teamed with Sonya Deville, while Rousey partnered with Naomi to bring an interesting tag team matchup. To up the stakes, Rousey competed with one hand tied behind her back.

Each competitor delivered solid offense in the matchup, but Rousey gained the win for her team by forcing Deville to tap out to the armbar. Now, Rousey’s next challenge will be Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at WrestleMania.

Speaking of WrestleMania, six women also competed for the chance to compete for the RAW Women’s Championship at WrestleMania. Inside the grueling Elimination Chamber, the following women vied for the title of number one contender: Liv Morgan, Nikki A.S.H., Doudrop, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair and Alexa Bliss.

Nikki A.S.H. and Liv Morgan started the Elimination Chamber, but those who entered later found themselves with the advantage. Subsequently, the final three inside the Chamber were the final in the matchup. Rhea Ripley would be hit with a KOD from Bianca Belair though, leaving Belair and Alexa Bliss as the final two. Bliss and Belair fought back and forth, including Belair providing an impressive counter handstand-like counter to Bliss’ signature DDT.

EST! EST! EST!@BiancaBelairWWE #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/5MLcitjCBH

— WWE (@WWE) February 19, 2022

In the closing moment, Belair would unleash another KOD to secure the pin and victory over Bliss. Bianca Belair now heads to WrestleMania against Becky Lynch in hopes of capturing the RAW Women’s Championship.

WWE Reveals Women’s Dusty Rhodes Classic Bracket

WWE recently revealed the official teams and brackets of the second annual NXT Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic. Eight teams will compete for a trophy, as well as a future title opportunity at the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships. Current champions, Gigi Dolin and Jacy Jayne are excluded from the tournament.

Last year, Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez defeated Ember Moon and Shotzi Blackheart in the finals of the tournament. Kai and Gonzalez would go on to compete for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships against then-champions Nia Jax and Shayna Baszler, in a losing effort. Shortly after, Kai and Gonzalez were crowned the inaugural NXT Women’s Tag Team Champions.

Six of this year’s competitors competed last year in the first-ever NXT Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic: Cora Jade, Dakota Kai, Raquel Gonzalez, Kayden Carter, Kacy Catanzaro, and Indi Hartwell. However, Kai and Gonzalez now find themselves on opposing teams. Indi Hartwell and Corda Jade are now teamed with new partners. As a result, Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro find themselves as the only returning team in the 2022 tournament, perhaps with an advantage.

Opening round matches begin tonight, February 22nd, on NXT 2.0 with two quarterfinal matchups set to take place. Former NXT Women’s Champion Io Shirai teams with former NXT UK Women’s Champion Kay Lee Ray to take on former rivals in 205 Live, Lash Legend and Amari Miller. Additionally, Diamond Mine’s Ivy Nile partners with the newest prospect Tatum Paxley against the returning team of Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro.

The full 2022 NXT Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic bracket includes the following opening-round matchups:

Io Shirai and Kay Lee Ray vs. Lash Legend and Amari Miller
Ivy Nile and Tatum Paxley vs. Kayden Carter and Kacy Catanzaro
Indi Hartwell and Persia Pirotta vs. Wendy Choo and Dakota Kai
Cora Jade and Raquel Gonzalez vs. Yulisa Leon and Valentina Feroz

The 2022 Women's #DustyClassic bracket is set!

Tune in Tuesday night on @USA_Network as the battle for the ? begins! #WWENXT https://t.co/ZSGAViLc53

— WWE NXT (@WWENXT) February 21, 2022

Additionally, WWE released the following statement on WWE.com on the tournament:

“The second annual Women’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic is set to kick off this Tuesday following the announcement of this year’s bracket.

The 2022 Dusty Cup features a variety of newly formed and veteran partnerships, all vying for an opportunity to challenge Toxic Attraction for the NXT Women’s Tag Team Championships. The inaugural Dusty Classic winners Raquel Gonzalez & Dakota Kai are once again in the tournament although joining forces with new teammates.

After earning her respect, Cora Jade will pair up with Big Mami Cool while in a surprising move, Kai and up-and-comer Wendy Choo will look to take their unlikely pairing all the way to the mountaintop of the tag team division. Both teams will have their young partnerships tested against tag team veterans with Jade & Gonzalez squaring off against Valentina Feroz & Yulisa Leon and Choo & Kai taking on Indi Hartwell & Persia Pirotta who look to earn another title opportunity after falling to Gigi Dolin & Jacy Jayne at NXT Vengeance Day.

Another surprising partnership comes in the form of Amari Miller & Lash Legend who started off as rivals in Legend’s debut match on 205 Live. They will take on the powerhouse duo of Io Shirai & Kay Lee Ray in the opening round of the tournament.

The final opening round matchup features Diamond Mine’s newest prospect Tatum Paxley and “The Pitbull” Ivy Nile looking to start their alliance off on the right foot against the formidable Kacy Catanzaro & Kayden Carter, the only returning tag team from the 2021 Dusty Classic.

Will the variety of new partnerships prove victorious, or will an established tag team put their experience to use, and more importantly which team will take the first step towards etching their name on the Dusty Cup and earning a title opportunity?

Find out when the 2022 Women’s Dusty Classic kicks off Tuesday night with opening round matches between Shirai & Ray and Miller & Legend as well as Nile & Paxley against Catanzaro & Carter on NXT 2.0 at 8/7 C on USA!”

IMPACT Wrestling No Surrender Results

IMPACT Wrestling recently held their 2022 No Surrender pay-per-view over the weekend, with some high stakes matchups. Deonna Purrazzo issued a challenge, Mickie James defended the Knockouts Championship, Jordynne Grace competed for the Digital Media Championship, and Tenille Dashwood and Havok battled it out.

Firstly, Tenille Dashwood squared off with Havok on the countdown preshow. The final moments occurred when Dashwood landed a top rope crossbody, then revving up for a Spotlight Kick. Before she could deliver that kick though, Kaleb with a K, who stood ringside, provided a momentary distraction to Dashwood. After Kaleb received an incoming call from the IMPACT Tag Team Champions The IInspiration, Havok capitalized on the distraction to deliver a Tombstone for the pinfall.

Later on, Jordynne Grace invoked her rematch against Matt Cardona for the Digital Media Championship. Cardona had previously defeated Grace for the title on a recent episode of IMPACT. At No Surrender, Jordynne Grace enacted some revenge on Cardona. Though she didn’t win back the championship, Grace unleashed a low blow on Cardona, resulting in a disqualification finish. Following the bell, Grace hit a steel chair shot to the back of Matt Cardona.

Next, Deonna Purrazzo laid out an open challenge. As the AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion, Purrazzo has recently begun a series of open challenges for competitors to challenge her for either of her championships. Most recently, Santana Garrett answered the challenge last week on IMPACT Wrestling in a losing effort for the ROH Women’s World Championship.

At No Surrender, “The Virtuosa” found herself face to face with “The Lucha Baddie” Miranda Alize. Alize previously competed in the ROH Women’s World Championship tournament last year, making it all the way to the finals. In September, she clashed with “The Prodigy” Rok-C in the finals with the championship on the line, but fell short. Now, Alize called out another opportunity for the championship–this time, against Deonna Purrazzo.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1495216708876972036?s=20&t=UY8VT2-Oza8OrvciixiUTA

The closing moments of the matchup included Miranda Alize delivering a brutal knee to Purrazzo, before clenching in her Miranda Rights submission. Deonna managed to roll out of the submission and reverse the momentum into her favor. Applying her signature Venus de Milo submission, Deonna Purrazzo captured the victory with a tap out from Alize. Therefore, Deonna Purrazzo retained the ROH Women’s World Championship.

Finally, in women’s wrestling action, Mickie James defended the Knockouts World Championship against Tasha Steelz, who made history last month becoming the winner of the first-ever Ultimate X match at IMPACT’s Hard to Kill event. There, she earned a future opportunity for the Knockouts Championship. Finally at No Surrender, Steelz cashed in that opportunity against “Hardcore Country”, Mickie James.

Alongside Savannah Evans, Tasha Steelz utilized outside interference to her advantage. At one point, Steelz preoccupied the referee, allowing Evans to launch James into the steel ring post. James fought back though, later landing a top rope Thesz Press. Chelsea Green then appeared to even the odds in James’ favor.

In the end, Tasha Steelz collided with Chelsea Green, who stood on the ring apron, after James pushed her into the ropes. There, James scored the pinfall for the victory, and then James and Green celebrated on the ramp after the match.

https://twitter.com/IMPACTWRESTLING/status/1495232051787837444?s=20&t=0VmaOTRXhjq2xu-czEIkHg

Taya Valkyrie Returns To AAA

Though Deonna Purrazzo retained her Ring of Honor Women’s World Championship at No Surrender, her next challenger for her Reina De Reinas Championship has been confirmed.

Taya Valkyrie returned to AAA in-ring action this past Saturday, vying to become the number one contender for the Reina de Reinas Championship. At AAA Rey de Reyes, Valkyrie clashed in a fatal five-way match against Keyra, Lady Maravilla, Flammer, and Lady Shani. In the end, Valkyrie emerged victorious to earn a title opportunity against current champion, Deonna Purrazzo.

To her credit, Taya Valkyrie is a former three-time Reina de Reinas Champion. The last time these two squared off was at IMPACT Wrestling’s Hard To Kill event in 2021, but now, Valkyrie is ready to duke it out once again with “The Virtuosa”.

The time and place of this championship matchup has yet to be announced, but Deonna Purrazzo is already set to defend her Ring of Honor Women’s World Championship this weekend at New Texas Pro against VertVixen.

https://twitter.com/WrestlingCovers/status/1495222850285936646?s=20&t=iHLkVP83Hxf5qN-QrY8rvw

INTERVIEWS

IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James spoke with WrestleZone’s Bill Pritchard about Tasha Steelz, her match at No Surrender, her performance with Chapel Heart, working with Chelsea Green, and more!

Girl Fight Champion Billie Starkz appeared on Notsam Wrestling to talk about her journey to wrestling, balancing being a high school student with a wrestling career, support from her peers, reaction from the rest of the world, and more.

WWE Hall of Famer Lita spoke with Sports Illustrated about the opportunity to work with Lynch, whether there was any potential of signing with AEW and her favorite moments from last month’s Royal Rumble.

IMPACT Knockout Tasha Steelz joined Jaychele Nicole to discuss representation in wrestling, making history in the first-ever women’s Ultimate X match, challenging for the Knockouts’ Championship, sisterhood in wrestling, and more.

Australian superstar Frankie B chatted with A Wrestling Gal about her PWA tryout, her journey back to wrestling after an ankle injury, transitioning to a backstage host and interviewer, her recent debut match, her trip to Italy, and much more.

“Killjoy” Kolbe Max joined the Hot Tag Hooligans Podcast to discuss her young start in pro wrestling, influences in her career, match psychology, The Walking Dead, and more.

UPCOMING EVENTS:

DUSK Pro Wrestling: Dawn of Dusk – March 6th

https://twitter.com/DUSK_ProWres/status/1493675545367773187?s=20&t=7-WSCDlMQJPVKBrBYr8WnQ