WrestleMania Goes Hollywood: Rhea Ripley dethrones “The Queen,” Bianca Belair continues her winning streak. Deonna Purrazzo secures herself a title opportunity. NWA Women’s Champion Kamille chats with WrestleZone, and more!
WrestleMania 39 Recap
The biggest event of the year has finally concluded. Over the weekend, WWE held their 39th annual WrestleMania extravaganza from Los Angeles, California, and as expected, there was plenty of action, and surprises.
This year, women were represented in four matches over two nights. On night one, the WWE Universe was treated with two Hall of Famers — Trish Stratus and Lita — linking up in six-woman tag team action. The duo would of course partner up with Lita’s fellow WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion, Becky Lynch, to take on Damage CTRL (Bayley, Dakota Kai, & IYO SKY). For Stratus, it marked her first WrestleMania appearance since 2011. For Lita, this moment marked only her second WrestleMania match ever, with her last occurring over two decades earlier at WrestleMania 18.
Damage CTRL put up a valiant effort against their opposition, but ultimately, it was Stratus, Lita, and Lynch who captured the victory. After Lita delivered a Litasault to Kai and SKY, Bayley looked to set up a Bayley-to-Belly. Unfortunately for Bayley, Becky Lynch managed to counteract her move with a supersized Manhandle Slam to gain the pinfall.
Later in the evening, Charlotte Flair laid her SmackDown Women’s Championship down on the line against Rhea Ripley. Both women received a huge ovation throughout the match, as they unloaded one of the hardest-hitting contests in WrestleMania history. The closing moments of the match saw Ripley drop Flair with an avalanche Riptide from the top rope before she went in for the cover. After 23 minutes of fierce competition, Flair was unable to kick out this time, crowning Rhea Ripley as the new SmackDown Women’s Champion.
As Ripley celebrated her victory in the ring, Flair offered a nod of approval to her opponent, a clear sign that the proverbial torch had officially been passed.
READ MORE: WWE WrestleMania 39 Night One Results (4/1/23)
The Action Continues On Night Two
The festivities continued the following night with a Women’s WrestleMania Showcase and a high-stakes matchup between Bianca Belair and Asuka.
During the second match of the evening, four teams competed in the Women’s WrestleMania Showcase Match: Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan vs. Natalya and Shotzi vs. Chelsea Green and Sonya Deville vs. Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler. The match itself produced a mix of high-flying spots and some technical work. In the end, Ronda Rousey trapped Shotzi inside her signature armbar, forcing her opponent to tap out and award the victory Rousey and Baszler.
Later in the night, Bianca Belair defended her RAW Women’s Championship against “The Empress of Tomorrow,” Asuka. While Belair utilized her strength and speed, Asuka unloaded a flurry of vicious strikes in attempts of taking down “The EST.” Asuka tried to surprise Belair with blue mist, but on instinct, Belair ducked out of the way, before being locked inside Asuka’s armbar. After escaping the armbar, Belair mounted Asuka up for a KOD, and with that, Belair secured the three count to retain her title.
With this win, Belair is now 3-0 on the main stage of WrestleMania.
READ MORE: WWE WrestleMania 39 Night Two Results (4/2/23)
Deonna Purrazzo Punches Her Ticket To IMPACT Rebellion
There’s been many questions regarding the status of the IMPACT Knockouts Championship in recent weeks, but one thing is for certain: Deonna Purrazzo is headed to Rebellion.
Last Thursday, IMPACT Wrestling linked up with New Japan Pro-Wrestling to produce a supershow event called Multiverse United. The card itself fused a combination of talent together, as NJPW brought forth the likes of KENTA, Hiroshi Tanahashi, KUSHIDA, and Jeff Cobb. One other notable name made their presence felt. Representing Tokyo Joshi Pro, Miyu Yamashita joined three other women in pursuit of clinching a shot at the Knockouts World Championship.
After Mickie James announced she had sustained a broken rib, IMPACT was forced to alter the stakes of their four-way women’s match at Multiverse United. But that didn’t stop the four competitors from bringing out all the stops. Battling alongside Yamashita were Deonna Purrazzo, Gisele Shaw, and Masha Slamovich, with the winner guaranteeing themselves the opportunity to wrestle at IMPACT’s Rebellion pay-per-view.
The fatal-four-way proved to be a feverish contest, but in the end, it was “The Virtuosa” who emerged victorious after landing the Queen’s Gambit on Gisele Shaw. With this win, Deonna Purrazzo now joins Jordynne Grace at Rebellion on April 16, where they will vie for the Knockouts Title. If reigning champion Mickie James is cleared in time for the event, she will be added to the match to make it a three-way. If not, then a new champion will be crowned.
WrestleZone will provide an update on Mickie James’ injury status as more details become available.
A brief recap of the closing moments of the four-way Knockouts match can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page:
Shaw tries pinning Deonna inside. Masha kicks Shaw to cut off uppercuts on Deonna. Deonna and Masha trade strikes. Purrazzo hits a hurricanrana and pumpkick before landing the moonsault, cover broken by Miyu. Miyu unloads with kicks on Masha. Miyu hits Shaw with a running knee, cover broken by Deonna. All four are in to hit kicks and clotheslines. All four are down and the ref counts. Shaw and Deonna meet, while Miyu and Masha duke it out.
It comes down to Deonna and Masha. Deonna applies the fujiwara armbar. Miyu hits Deonna with a kick off the ropes, but Shaw kicks Miyu and spears Masha. Masha hits Canadian Destroyer on Shaw. Masha picks Deonna up but Purrazzo counters with a German into two more. Masha picks Deonna up for the air raid crash in the corner. Miyu skull kicks Masha, Shaw kicks Miyu. Deonna powerbombs Shaw and hits Queens Gambit for the win.
Winner: Deonna Purrazzo
SEE MORE: IMPACT x NJPW: Multiverse United Results (3/30/23): Mike Bailey vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi
NWA 312 Preview
This weekend, the National Wrestling Alliance heads to the “windy city” of Chicago to present their 312 pay-per-view. There are three women’s matches on the card, and all of them have championship implications.
Firstly, NWA will crown its first Women’s Television Champion. In February, the company started an eight-woman tournament to determine who would hold the inaugural title, and now, they’ve reached the final two. Kenzie Paige — a former tag team champion in NWA — has begun carving a legacy for herself as a singles star. Paige stunned the arguable tournament favorite, KiLynn King, in the first round, before moving on to Ashley D’Amboise in the semi-finals. Paige’s luck would continue, as she emerged victorious yet again, and solidified her spot in the tournament finals. As Paige looks to complete the trifecta, she’ll have to overcome some steady opposition first.
Joining Paige in the finals is Max The Impaler. After defeating Natalia Markova via disqualification in the tournament opener, the “Warlord Of The Wasteland” collided with “La Wera Loca” Taya Valkyrie in the semi-finals. Valkyrie fought hard to deter her larger opponent, but in the end, Max The Impaler rose to victory.
This Friday, Kenzie Paige and Max The Impaler will make history as they battle to become the first-ever NWA Women’s Television Champion. But that isn’t the only title on the line at 312.
After shocking fans with their successful Champion Series cash-in, Madi Wrenkowski and Missa Kate will defend their newly NWA Women’s Tag Team Championships against the Pretty Empowered 2.0 — Ella Envy and Roxy (Rylee Rockett). Envy and Roxy previously dethroned The Renegade Twins in February to claim the titles, but shortly after their win, Wrenkowski and Kate swooped in to cash-in Wrenkowski’s title shot. Now, Pretty Empowered 2.0 have opted to utilize their rematch clause.
Similar to Wrenkowski, La Rosa Negra has also cashed in her Champion Series title opportunity. But she’s aiming to capture the company’s biggest prize for women. On April 7, La Rosa Negra will now challenge reigning champion Kamille for the NWA Women’s Championship. Can La Rosa Negra be the one to finally unseat the dominant “Brickhouse”?
INTERVIEWS
NWA Women’s Champion Kamille spoke with WrestleZone‘s Ella Jay about her upcoming title defense against La Rosa Negra at NWA 312, how she’s grown as a competitor, why she thinks the audience has warmed up to her, her female inspirations, and more.
Former NXT Women’s Champion Roxanne Perez appeared on Contralona to discuss her health status, the origins of her nationality, her title defense at NXT Stand & Deliver, WrestleMania 39, and more.
SmackDown Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley chatted with Denise Salcedo about how she became a star in WWE, inspiring her fans, Wrestlemania 39, and more.
WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Becky Lynch joined Stephen A Smith to discuss why the female wrestling audience has grown, how wrestling was a way out for her, why she calls herself “The Man,” and more.
Former NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler spoke with Emily Mae Heller of Sportskeeda about teaming with Ronda Rousey, her favorite WrestleMania moment, her favorite movies, advice for people in combat sports, and more.
