Women's Wrestling Wrap-Up Rok-C
Photo Credit: ROH

Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up: Rok-C Becomes ROH Women’s Champion, IMPACT Knockouts Knockdown Confirmed, PWI 500 History

By Ella Jay

Women’s Wrestling continues to ascend to new heights: Rok-C wins the Ring of Honor Women’s World Championship, IMPACT announces the return of the Knockouts Knockout, women make history on the PWI 500, and much more! Let’s break it down on this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!

Rok-C Crowned ROH Women’s World Champion

After months of stiff tournament competition, the inaugural Ring of Honor Women’s World Champion has finally been crowned.

Even since punching her Ticket to Gold in ROH’s Women’s Championship Tournament, “The Prodigy”, Rok-C, has dominated and impressed in every performance and remains undefeated in Ring of Honor competition. Throughout the tournament, Rok-C shocked the world by defeating former Women of Honor World Champion Sumie Sakai in the opening round, before going on to defeat fan-favorite, Quinn McKay and then seven-time former world champion, Angelina Love in the semi-finals to advance to the final round.

Similarly, Miranda Alize was previously undefeated in Ring of Honor competition, as she defeated “The Pink Dream” Alex Gracia, former SHIMMER Champion Nicole Savoy and “The Afro-Punk” Trish Adora in the championship tournament to also advance to the finals.

Alize and Rok-C would then meet at the 2300 Arena at ROH’s Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view to face off in the finals of the tournament to crown the new champion. The Philadelphia crowd made their voices heard in support of “The Prodigy”, fueling her eventual comeback. Both competitors went back and forth with hard strikes before Alize locked in the Miranda Rights submission. Rok-C managed to force a rope break, before both women took the action to the outside with a sequence of suicide dives, before narrowly avoiding a count-out. Soon after, Alize applied the Miranda Rights submission again, before Rok-C landed a crossface submission back on “The Lucha Baddie”. Alize managed to break the hold but was then kicked and hit with Rok-C’s Code Red, allowing “The Prodigy” to pick up the victory.

Rok-C is now the first-ever ROH Women’s World Champion.

Following her victory, Rok-C was joined by her family in the ring to celebrate, and ROH Board of Directors member Maria Kanellis-Bennett presented the new championship title to the “The Prodigy”.

Last week, it was announced that Rok-C, Miranda Alize and Max the Impaler had also signed contracts with Ring of Honor.

RELATED: Rok-C Wins ROH Women’s World Championship At ROH Death Before Dishonor

IMPACT Announces Knockouts Knockdown Event

IMPACT Hall of Famer, Gail Kim, recently announced and confirmed that IMPACT Wrestling is bringing back its all-Knockouts event: The Knockouts Knockdown. The event will be filmed this upcoming weekend in Nashville, Tennessee within The IMPACT Zone at Skyway Studios, starting Friday, September 17. It was also revealed that The Knockouts Knockdown special will air on IMPACT Plus and IMPACT Ultimate Insiders on YouTube on October 9th. IMPACT previously held Knockouts Knockdown events from 2013-2016, and 2017 where it was last held in Orlando, Florida.

Gail Kim also confirmed some talent for the show, including veteran Mercedes Martinez, Lady Frost, Renee Michelle, former Knockout of the Year Christy Hemme, and more. Additionally, IMPACT Knockouts Champion, Deonna Purrazzo will defend her title against a mystery competitor. Purrazzo is no stranger to mystery opponents, as she previously defending and successfully retaining her championship against Thunder Rosa at IMPACT’s Slammiversary pay-per-view in July.

Kim also announced that the event will feature the Daffney Memorial Monster’s Ball match as a tribute to the late Daffney, who competed in the first Knockouts Monster’s Ball against Taylor Wilde in 2009.

IMPACT Wrestling’s full statement on the announcement can be read below:

IMPACT Wrestling is bringing back an all-Knockouts event this upcoming weekend in Nashville, Tennessee: The Knockouts Knockdown will be filmed in The IMPACT Zone at Skyway Studios, starting Friday, September 17.

Knockouts Knockdown, confirmed and announced tonight by IMPACT Hall of Famer Gail Kim, will air on IMPACT Plus and for IMPACT Ultimate Insiders on YouTube – and was last held in 2017 in Orlando, Florida.

Knockouts Knockdown will feature several new Knockouts competing in the IMPACT ring – led by Mercedes Martinez, who once ranked No. 2 of the best 50 female singles wrestlers in the PWI Female 50. Mercedes has won championships around the world and, in 2019, was ranked in the Top 10 women’s wrestlers of the year by Sports Illustrated.

Knockouts Knockdown also will feature the return of multiple IMPACT Knockouts who have not appeared in The IMPACT Zone for years. Christy Hemme, it was announced Monday, will have a major role in Knockouts Knockdown. Hemme, part of the Knockouts Division when it began in 2007, is a former Knockout Of The Year award-winner.

“I am so excited for Knockouts Knockdown, when females from across the wrestling landscape will take over The IMPACT Zone, with female wrestlers, referees, announcers and more,” said Gail Kim, the first-ever IMPACT Knockouts Champion who was a record-setting 7-time Knockouts Champion for a combined 711-days.

Kim also confirmed that one of the matches set for the Knockouts Knockdown will be the Monster’s Ball, which will honor the late Knockout, Daffney, who was the first Knockout to participate in a Monster’s Ball Match – in 2009, at the Sacrifice pay-per-view – when she battled Taylor Wilde.

“There is so much planned, so much excitement for Knockouts Knockdown – I know the fans will be excited to watch it live this weekend, starting Friday afternoon, at The IMPACT Zone in Nashville,” Kim said. “Doing something to honor Daffney’s memory is something that everyone involved with the event and others are thrilled to be able to do.

“She was a great wrestler and a better person. No one will forget Daffney; we want to honor her.”

WrestleZone will provide further details as they become available.

RELATED: IMPACT Knockouts Knockdown Event To Return On 10/9, Mercedes Martinez To Compete

2021 PWI 500 Unveiled

This year, women claimed more spots than ever before on Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s 500 issue. In total, 29 women ranked on the 2021 PWI 500, including the Pan-Afrikan World Diaspora Wrestling World Champion, Trish Adora. Adora stands at the highest-ranking woman this year at #44, after dominating the professional wrestling scene with appearances in notable promotions such as Ring of Honor, Game Changer Wrestling, Beyond, WWR+ and many more throughout the past year. Also ranked, was crowd favorite, Allie Katch (fka Allie Kat), who has become highly respected and recognized for her work in promotions like Game Changer Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Magic, and she recently debuted in AEW on Dark. Former IMPACT Knockouts Tag Team Champion, Jordynne Grace was also ranked highly.

Women’s wrestling is continuing to thrive, as proof through the historic precedent and growing numbers set on this year’s PWI 500 issue. But as they say, onwards and upwards towards next year.

Here is a run-down of every woman who ranked on this year’s PWI 500 list:

  • #44 – Trish Adora
  • #111 – Allie Katch
  • #179 – Jordynne Grace
  • #192 – Edith Surreal
  • #230 – Laynie Luck
  • #245 – Erica Leigh
  • #291 – Charli Evans
  • #314 – Delmi Exo
  • #318 – Ashley Vox
  • #324 – Davienne
  • #382 – Mei Suruga
  • #388 – Kylie Rae
  • #390 – Mickie Knuckles
  • #398 – Jordan Blade
  • #399 – DARK Sheik
  • #403 – Ziggy Haim
  • #409 – Willow Nightingale
  • #411 – Jessica Troy
  • #420 – Masha Slamovich
  • #425 – Kasey Catal
  • #429 – Emi Sakura
  • #441 – Billie Starkz
  • #445 – Saki Akai
  • #453 – Killer Kelly
  • #461 – Jamie Senegal
  • #468 – Janai Kai
  • #471 – Alice Crowley
  • #499 – Kaia McKenna
  • #500 – Lulu Pencil

INTERVIEWS

Independent star Mia Friday recently chatted with The Hot Tag Hooligans to talk about her career, school, influences, her music and more.

SHIMMER tag team champion Delmi Exo recently appeared on A Wrestling Gal to discuss her adventures on YouTube, her Batman collection, her thoughts on Nikki A.S.H, the return of SHIMMER, launching Pro Wrestling Grind, and much more.

Smackdown superstar Zelina Vega spoke with Yahoo Sports about receiving praise from Paul Heyman, the crowd reaction at Money in the Bank, the 9/11 Memorial and more. 

IMPACT Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo recently appeared on Oral Sessions with Renee Paquette to discuss her career, her creative dissatisfaction within NXT, finding her passion in IMPACT post-release, her current obsession with the Civil War and more.

PROGRESS Women’s Champion Gisele Shaw joined Spencer Love of Love Wrestling to discuss her early career in Alberta, the current British women’s wrestling scene, manifesting goals, Lance Storm, Mariah May, and more!

Independent phenomenon Billie Starkz chatted with The Turnbuckle Tavern about juggling school and an independent wrestling career, wrestling for GCW and Black Label Pro, wrestling the likes of Shotzi Blackheart, Jake Something, Deonna Purrazzo, and more.

Former IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James appeared on the BattleGround Podcast to discuss NWA EmPowerrr, NWA 73, her plans in IMPACT, Deonna Purrazzo, the forbidden door, her time in WWE and more!

“The Conduit of Karma” Kaia McKenna joined Bell to Belles to speak about her last year in wrestling, dream opponents, the emotional aspect of professional wrestling, and more!

ROH Women’s World Champion Rok-C chatted with Jim Varsallone wrestling at a young age, history with Miranda Alize, ROH’s Womens World Championship Tournament and more.

WOMEN’S WRESTLING RESULTS

Mission Pro Wrestling: Tussle In Tulsa

Capital Championship Wrestling: Kingdom Takeover

UPCOMING EVENTS

CATCH Pro-Wrestling: CATCH3

Ella Jay
Ella Jay

Ella Jay is a writer, podcaster, interviewer, and host in the wrestling space.
Her love for professional wrestling sparked at the age of 11, finding Friday Night SmackDown while scrolling through channels. Ella watched and attended numerous wrestling events growing up, captivated by the likes of Jeff Hardy, Mickie James, and Shawn Michaels. 

Ella currently resides in Buffalo, NY and has a Bachelor's in Psychology and minored in Creative Writing at Canisius College. She also highly enjoys reality television and crime shows, specifically: Survivor, Big Brother, Law & Order: SVU, and NCIS.
Follow Ella on Twitter: @itsellajay

EMAIL: ellajayofficial@gmail.com

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