IMPACT Wrestling gears up for Slammiversary. Britt Baker and Ruby Soho battle in the opening round of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, and more. Let’s break it down in this week’s Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
IMPACT Slammiversary Preview
IMPACT Wrestling gears up for their biggest show of the summer.
On Saturday, July 15, IMPACT will return to Windsor, Ontario to not only celebrate their 21st anniversary, but also to present their annual Slammiversary pay-per-view. As of this writing, three Knockouts’ matches have been announced for the card.
In one of the biggest matches of the evening, Knockouts Champion Deonna Purrazzo will defend her title against Trinity. Since arriving to IMPACT Wrestling, Trinity has made it clear that she intends to score some championship gold. In four days, she will receive an opportunity to do that. The question is: will it be against Deonna Purrazzo?
This Thursday on IMPACT, Purrazzo will defend her title in an open challenge. While the identity of her opponent has yet to be revealed, Purrazzo will have to retain her title there if she wants to proceed to Slammiversary.
Elsewhere on the Slammiversary card, former rivals Killer Kelly and Masha Slamovich will team up in the pursuit for some tag team gold. There, Kelly and Slamovich will challenge The Coven (Taylor Wilde & KiLynn King) for the Knockouts Tag Team Championships.
Recently, Killer Kelly found herself in a 2-on-1 disadvantage as Wilde and King unleashed a post-match beatdown on her. Luckily for Kelly, Masha Slamovich rushed down to aid her. Kelly later returned the favor, evening the odds for Slamovich while she battled KiLynn King. With their rivalry now seemingly behind them, Kelly and Slamovich look to cement themselves as Knockouts Tag Team Champions.
Another tag team match has also been added to the Slammiversary card, but this time, it’s a six-person bout. On the Countdown to Slammiversary, Jodi Threat will team up with Jessicka and Courtney Rush to take on the team of Gisele Shaw, Savannah Evans, and Jai Vidal. This match comes after Threat stepped up to even the odds for Rush and Jessicka.
RELATED: IMPACT Wrestling Announces Steve Maclin’s Replacement At Slammiversary
Ruby Soho vs. Britt Baker
Old rivals collide once again.
Last week on AEW Dynamite, Ruby Soho and Britt Baker battled in the final opening round matchup of the 2023 Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. This matchup, of course, comes as a rematch of the final of last year’s inaugural tournament, which saw Baker defeat Soho.
This time, though, Soho had some extra leverage, as she arrived with Saraya and Toni Storm by her side. Despite the numbers disadvantage, Baker put forth a valiant effort against Soho. In the end, though, the odds were too much to overcome.
Following the interferences of Saraya and Toni Storm, Ruby Soho was eventually able to put Baker away. After Storm pulled Soho to safety from the Lockjaw, Baker slid to the outside, nailing Saraya and Storm in their faces. With Storm and Saraya now neutralized, Baker turned her attention back to Soho.
In the closing moment of the match, Soho secured Baker into a roll-up position. As the referee began counting it, though, Soho reached over to Storm for some added leverage. This move allowed Soho to gain the three count.
With this victory, Ruby Soho will now go on to face Skye Blue in the semi-finals of the tournament. That bout will unfold on tomorrow’s episode of AEW Dynamite. The other side of the bracket will see Willow Nightingale and Athena collide in the other semi-finals matchup on Friday’s episode of AEW Rampage.
Here is a full recap of Baker and Soho’s opening round matchup, courtesy of our live coverage page.
Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Women’s Quarterfinal: Ruby Soho (with The Outcasts) vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
Baker and Soho feel each other out. Soho quickly leaves the ring to regroup. Back in the ring, Baker takes Soho down again. Baker drops Soho with a slingblade. Saraya and Storm distract Baker. Soho capitalizes and slams Baker at ringside. Saraya attacks Baker when the referee isn’t looking. Soho controls the action and grounds Baker. The former champion rallies and drops Soho with a twisting neckbreaker. Baker rocks Soho with a kick. Storm interferes, and Soho suplexes Baker.
Storm helps Soho hit Baker with the title belt, and Ruby gets a near fall with the No Future. Soho tries to trap Baker in the Lockjaw and transitions into another hold. Baker escapes and goes for the Lockjaw, but Storm drags Soho out of the ring. Storm grabs Baker’s leg, but Britt fights her off. Soho stacks Baker up, and Storm holds her down to clinch the pin.
Winner: Ruby Soho
RELATED: AEW Dynamite Results (7/5/23)
INTERVIEWS
AEW backstage interviewer Renee Paquette joined Wilde On to discuss her roles as a commentator for Sportsnet, WWE and AEW, hosting “The Sessions with Renee Paquette,” being a mom, moving to LA at the age of 19, and more.
Former wXw Women’s champion Ava Everett appeared on Pro Wrestling INDIEstrated to discuss competing and training in Germany, defending the wXw title on U.S. soil, her title vs. title match against Delmi Exo, and more.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena appeared on Grapsody to discuss her departure from WWE, signing with All Elite Wrestling, her recent match against Billie Starkz, her run as the ROH Women’s World Champion, and more.
Former WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion Shayna Baszler spoke with WrestlingNewsCo’s Steve Fall about WWE’s women’s tag team division, the internet’s dislike for Ronda Rousey, possibly adding a mid-card title to WWE’s women’s division, and more.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Captial Championship Wrestling: Capital Cup Tag Team Tournament – July 15
