Indi Hartwell believes a title win at Bound For Glory will cement her spot on the TNA roster.
Hartwell is the current number one contender to the TNA Knockouts Championship. She has an opportunity to win her first major singles championship since she held the NXT Women’s Championship when she faces Kelani Jordan at Bound For Glory.
Hartwell spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard ahead of the event about her thoughts going into the match. After she left WWE, Hartwell spoke about potentially landing in TNA and said she didn’t want to just be another girl on the roster.
“I don’t want to be a Knockout, I want to be the Knockout,” she said during an appearance on Busted Open Radio. Now that she’s days away from a huge title match, does she feel like a win would validate her original comments?
“I think it definitely does. Coming into TNA calling myself ‘the’ Knockout, I wanted to be the woman that is on the poster, the woman that is at the forefront of the division,” Hartwell said. “And obviously, I feel like the champion is the forefront of a division. And right now, our champion is someone who’s not even signed with the company.
“A lot of people have their opinions on that; I have my opinions on that,” she noted. “So definitely, getting the win Sunday and getting that title, I think, will really solidify me as the Knockout.”
Indi Hartwell is the one constant on the road to Bound For Glory
Indi Hartwell is referring to the current champion, Kelani Jordan, who is on the NXT roster. Jordan surprisingly won the Knockouts title at Victory Road after Ash By Elegance was forced to relinquish the title. The path to Bound For Glory also saw Masha Slamovich pulled from the title picture. Despite that, Hartwell’s spot as number one contender didn’t change.
Despite the respective changes in the Knockouts division, Hartwell believes things balance out in a way. She knows that The Elegance Brand made matches with Ash more challenging. However, she also isn’t totally familiar with Jordan as an opponent.
“She doesn’t have anyone with her, but I don’t know her that well, even though I got to have that front-row experience being referee in her [Victory Road] match,” Hartwell said. I got to see what she’s all about. And we were in NXT together. Actually, her first live event match in NXT, I tagged with her. So, we do have some experience, but that is as a team, not against each other.”
Indi Hartwell reflects on TNA Hall of Fame weekend
TNA’s Hall of Fame inductions have become a major part of Bound For Glory weekend each year. This year marks a first, as three women—Mickie James and the Beautiful People‘s Velvet Sky and Angelina Love—will be inducted in 2025.
Hartwell expressed her excitement for the TNA Hall of Fame weekend, noting the historical context, as well as how each one played a role in her wrestling fandom.
“I think it’s amazing that we’re seeing three women getting inducted into the Hall of Fame. And it’s so well deserved, all of them,” she stated. “I think I tweeted this, [but] growing up, I hated the Beautiful People. But obviously, that means that they were doing their job well, because as I got older, I learned to appreciate them. Even though their entrance music was like nails on a chalkboard. But I’m looking forward to hearing it [this time].
“And then Mickie, she’s a legend,” Hartwell added. “She’s someone who I really idolized growing up. Her stuff with Trish, I loved all of that, and that was a huge part of when I first really became obsessed with wrestling. So, congratulations to them, and I can’t wait to see it.”
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