For the first time in IMPACT history, the Knockouts headlined a pay-per-view event at Hard to Kill.
Mickie James and Deonna Purrazzo were the two women who made the history, squaring off in a Texas Deathmatch for the Knockouts Championship. Along with the Knockouts headlining the event, the first-ever Knockouts Ultimate X bout took place with Tasha Steelz capturing the X.
Appearing on GAW TV with Mickie James, So Cal Val & Victoria, Scott D'Amore discussed the Knockouts making history at IMPACT Hard To Kill.
"HERstory, I think we've done a lot of that in IMPACT Wrestling and I think we have a lot more to come with our Knockouts and female athletes. To me, one of the cool things there, I got the sense that there was so much support from the women and men for the Knockouts taking the main event slot, but I also, like all of us, if you're in this thing and don't want to be World Champion, you don't belong in this business. I think there were some egos that were a little bit knocked down and little bit bruised because the Knockouts took a slot that I think, for far too long, our men's World Title has always felt that was their slot. I've seen it happen over the years when a tag match or X-Division match went there. I think we saw a little bit of that. Everybody, in general, stands back and looks at it and says, 'hey, it's great, they deserve it,' but there is also the 'why isn't it me?' That gives a great bit of kick in the ass. You want that spot? That's not necessarily your spot. Go there and earn it," he stated.
D'Amore continued by saying, "The fact that Mickie and Deonna, two amazing athletes, from really two generations that are crossing over, there is no question that was the strongest story, no question it's two of the very best going out there. [Mickie and Deonna] deserve to be in that spot. It wasn't, 'this would be cool because...' and that's one of the reasons we didn't want to talk about it ahead of time. We didn't want to make it seem like a 'Hey, look, the Knockouts...' like using it as a marketing tool. We've been very matter of fact. It's the main event because it should be the main event. It shouldn't be that big of news that the Knockouts World Title was in the main event because it's two of the very best competitors in the world going out there and have had an amazing build up and deserve to be there. That doesn't take anything away from the men's World Title that went out there and killed it. Everybody, regardless of male or female, need to go out there, kick ss, work hard, and if you earn it, you're gonna get that opportunity."
James was victorious in the bout against Purrazzo, retaining her Knockouts Championship.
James is set to make more history when she returns to WWE to compete in the women's Royal Rumble as the Knockouts Champion. You can find D'Amore's statement on the deal by clicking here.
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