The IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament begins to shape up. IMPACT Wrestling paves the road to Bound For Glory. Candice LeRae returns to WWE, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up:
Three Competitors Confirmed For IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament
The inaugural IWGP Women’s Champion will be crowned later this fall at the first ever NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over joint event. As earlier announced, the IWGP Women’s title tournament will feature seven wrestlers in total. Four Stardom representatives will compete in the opening rounds of the tournament, as decided by the pending standings of the 5 Star Grand Prix. Accordingly, the Stardom talent will commence their opening round bouts on October 22nd.
Meanwhile, KAIRI will automatically advance to the semi-finals of the tournament. As announced by STARDOM, the former World of Stardom Champion cemented herself as the third overall competitor confirmed for the IWGP Women’s Championship Tournament.
https://twitter.com/we_are_stardom/status/1573145256660709376?s=20&t=7Daf8EMkvLEp1INTcm3Spw
KAIRI finds herself in the semi-finals, effectively earning a first-round tournament bye. There, she will face the winner of Jazzy Gabert versus Ava White. The aforementioned will compete in an opening round match at New Japan Pro Wrestling’s Royal Quest II event on October 2nd. Gabert and White will serve as part of the International Bracket, battling it out in London this weekend.
The winner of the tournament will be crowned the first ever IWGP Women’s Champion on November 20th at the NJPW x STARDOM Historic X-Over crossover event.
RELATED: First IWGP Women’s Champion To Be Crowned At NJPW x Stardom Historic X-Over
IMPACT Victory Road Results, Monster Ball Match Confirmed For AXS TV
The path to Bound For Glory is a little clearer now.
Over the weekend, IMPACT Wrestling held their Victory Road event, with a number of Knockouts in action. Amongst the action, included Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in a highly anticipated “Pick Your Poison” bout against Max The Impaler. Grace’s Bound For Glory opponent Masha Slamovich hand-selected “The Warlord Of The Wasteland” to be the poison.
Max and Grace demonstrated a great battle on strength, with Max gaining the initial upper hand. The Knockouts Champion would go on to reverse her momentum and eventually land a Grace Driver to gain the pinfall.
Following her victory, Jordynne Grace made a special announcement for “The Russian Dynamite”. Ahead of their Knockouts Championship collision on October 7th, Masha Slamovich must meet her own poison next. As a result, Slamovich will meet Allie Katch in a Monster’s Ball match this week on IMPACT Wrestling.
A full recap of the “Pick Your Poison” match can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.
Pick Your Poison: Jordynne Grace vs. Max The Impaler
Jordynne and Max show off their strength to start. Grace dives to the outside, but Max catches her and viciously slams Grace into the apron to knock the wind out of her. Max does a lot of rolling in and out of the ring to reset the ten count as Jordynne is picked apart on the outside. Grace musters enough strength to deliver an Alabama Slam on the ramp. Jordynne weakens Max in the ring before Max comes back with an explosive spear, nearfall. Grace manages to hit a sunset flip powerbomb on Max out of the corner. Jordynne quickly flips Max into the Grace Driver for the win.
Winner: Jordynne Grace
Also on the Victory Road card, Tasha Steelz battled Killer Kelly on the pre-show. Steelz arrived with Savannah Evans in her corner to neutralize the potential of the powerful Kelly. Both competitors battled back and forth, but in the end, an outside weapon would cost Killer Kelly the match. As Evans entangled Kelly in the ropes with a chain, Kelly then grabbed a hold of it to strike Steelz with it.
Unfortunately for Kelly, the referee caught her. Therefore, Tasha Steelz won via disqualification. Kelly then wrapped the chain around the official, choking him out in the process before more officials rushed to stop it.
Mickie James’ Last Rodeo Continues
Mickie James’ Last Rodeo continues on to Bound For Glory.
Following a challenge from “The Quintessential Diva”, Mickie James’ next step on her farewell tour would be Gisele Shaw at Victory Road. The two would engage in an impressive performance, but the veteran prowess of James would be too much for Shaw to overcome. Mickie James would then land a Mick-DT to secure the victory. Shortly after her win, James set her sights on her next challenger.
Earlier in the evening, Mia Yim made history, becoming the first Knockout to compete in a Triple Threat Revolver. Although she fell short, Yim’s efforts caught the eye of the “Hardcore Country” legend. James would then issue a challenge to “The HBIC” to face her at IMPACT’s biggest event of the year, Bound For Glory. The two veterans will now square off for the first time in nearly a decade.
Will Yim be Mickie James’ final stop? Or will James extend her winning streak?
A full recap of Mickie James vs Gisele Shaw can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.
Mickie James vs. Gisele Shaw
Shaw brings a “Happy Retirement” balloon with her to the ring. Mickie works the arm to start. Shaw hits a twisting armdrag after flipping off the top rope. Mickie stretches Shaw until Shaw reaches the rope. Gisele does a shoulder breaker to her knee. Gisele hits a suplex, cover. Mickie gets Gisele wrapped up in the apron before hitting a dropkick. Gisele sends Mickie face first into the middle turnbuckle. Gisele does a corkscrew over the top rope with her foot hitting Mickie in the face.
Back inside, Gisele has a neck hold in on the mat. Mickie works her way up but can’t escape just yet. Mickie punches out and then they trade blows. James catches the knee and splits Shaw before booting her in the face, cover. Mickie lands a neckbreaker, cover. Shaw hits a backbreaker into a flatliner for a nearfall. Mickie with a flapjack. She goes up top and lands senton for a two. Gisele hits a spin kick, nearfall. Mickie lands MickDT for the hometown victory.
Winner: Mickie James
READ MORE: IMPACT Victory Road Results (9/23/22)
Candice LeRae Returns To WWE, Makes Main Roster Debut
The Poison Pixie” is back in WWE.
Candice LeRae shocked the WWE Universe when she made her return on RAW. This past Monday, LeRae officially made her main roster debut in action against former RAW Women’s Champion, Nikki A.S.H. LeRae arrived to a great ovation from the live crowd and thousands watching at home. In a decisive victory over A.S.H., LeRae would make her mark on the red brand.
The closing moments of the match can be read below, below courtesy of our live RAW coverage page:
LeRae lands a dropkick. Nikki falls out of the ring. LeRae tries a baseball slide but Nikki traps LeRae in the ring skirt. Nikki unloads on LeRae. LeRae fires up and lands a flurry of offense. LeRae goes up top. Nikki cuts her off. LeRae manages to hit a swinging neck breaker off the second rope for the win.
Winner- Candice LeRae
READ MORE: Candice LeRae Returns On 9/26 WWE RAW, Makes Main Roster Debut
RAW Women’s Title Match Receives Stipulation At WWE Extreme Rules
Also on Monday Night RAW, Bayley challenged Bianca Belair to a ladder match stipulation for their upcoming bout at Extreme Rules. There, Belair will defend her RAW Women’s Championship against “The Role Model”.
"At #ExtremeRules, I feel like winning the #WWERaw #WomensTitle in a #LadderMatch!" pic.twitter.com/5SBqBAYTzx
— WWE (@WWE) September 27, 2022
READ MORE: Stipulation Added To RAW Women’s Title Match At WWE Extreme Rules
INTERVIEWS:
AEW star Leila Grey appeared on Koffin Radio to discuss getting into wrestling, joining OVW, joining AEW’s Baddies, her WWE match against Raquel Rodriguez, and more.
Independent talent Vicious Vicki joined In & Out the Locker Room to discuss her return after injury, her childhood ambitions, family recipes wrestlers she used to imitate as a kid, and more.
Independent star Aria Blake appeared on Wilde On to discuss her life partner TJ Perkins, his return to wrestling, her OnlyFans and more.
RESULTS
Capital Championship Wrestling: Venom – September 17th
- Gabby Ortiz defeatED Amber Rodriguez
- Heather Reckless vs. Vert Vixen – Double Count Out
- The Renegade Twins (Charlette Renegade & Robyn Renegade) defeat Damaris Dawkins & JC Storm
- CCW Global Fighting Championship Four-Way (vacant): Rebecca Scott defeated Dani Mo and Katie Arquette and Sofia Castillo – TITLE CHANGE !!!
