IMPACT has inducted a new member into its Hall of Fame.
On October 9, 2021, during IMPACT's Knockouts Knockdown event, Christy Hemme came out and announced that Awesome Kong was being inducted into their Hall of Fame. Awesome Kong took this opportunity and said that even though it's nice to be recognized for her accomplishments, she wanted to dedicate her induction to Daffney (Shannon Spruill), who passed away on September 1, 2021, at the age of 46.
Kong talked about how Daffney broke barriers for women in wrestling and asked that people "Do something that opens the door for the next generation cause if not you, who? If not now, when?"
Wrestling icon @MeanQueenK will be inducted into the IMPACT Hall of Fame at Bound For Glory. #KnockoutsKnockdown pic.twitter.com/xMDvR06Pc8
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 10, 2021
"Do something that opens the door for the next generation cause if not you, who? If not now, when?"
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) October 10, 2021
Incredibly powerful words from @MeanQueenK. #KnockoutsKnockdown pic.twitter.com/cfY2OAY3wu
Among her accomplishments with the promotion, Awesome Kong is a two-time Knockouts Championship and Knockouts Tag Team Championship (with Hamada). She is also the 2015 Queen of the Knockouts and won the Gauntlet for the Gold in 2016.
Awesome Kong was a dominant force during her time with TNA/IMPACT, with her first run lasting from 2007-2010. Her rivalry with Gail Kim is arguably amongst the most famous in IMPACT history. She would return in 2015, though only stayed for a year. She was, however, involved in inducting Gail Kim into the Hall of Fame back in 2016.
Awesome Kong stepped away from wrestling at NWA EmPowerrr, officially announcing her retirement.
Past inductees include Sting (2012), Kurt Angle (2013), Team 3D (2014), Jeff Jarrett (2015), Earl Hebner (2015), Gail Kim (2016), Abyss (2018), and Ken Shamrock (2020).
Check out Fightful's ongoing coverage of Knockouts Knockdown here. We will also have a post-show review immediately following its conclusion.
