Blair Davenport is the 2023 Women’s Iron Survivor. Athena prepares to defend her ROH Women’s Championship against Billie Starkz. IMPACT Wrestling hosts Final Resolution. Laynie Luck chats with WrestleZone, and more.
Blair Davenport Is The Iron Survivor
Last Saturday, WWE hosted its second annual NXT Deadline premium live event, featuring two Iron Survivor Challenge matches. The lineup for the women’s match included Blair Davenport, Tiffany Stratton, Lash Legend, Fallon Henley, and Kelani Jordan. For this particular stipulation, these five competitors were tasked with scoring the most falls within a 25-minute timeframe. Entrants also did their best to avoid the penalty box. Whichever participant reached the most falls (translated into points) within the allotted time would then earn themselves a future shot at the NXT Women’s Championship.
The Women’s Iron Survivor Challenged emerged as the second bout on the main show for NXT Deadline. Blair Davenport and Fallon Henley kicked off the action. Tiffany Stratton, Kelani Jordan, and Lash Legend later entered the fray at the 5, 10, and 15-minute mark, respectively.
Who will survive?
Heading into the final minute of competition, Davenport and Legend were tied with two points apiece. Stratton and Henley each held one point. Unfortunately for Legend, she was trapped in the penalty box, slated to be released from it just ten seconds before time ran out. With Legend out of the equation, and Jordan and Stratton out of the ring, Davenport seized the opportunity to deliver a knee strike to Henley for a pinfall, officially giving herself the lead.
Upon her release from the penalty box, Legend charged toward Davenport, but it was too little too late. Time soon expired, and Davenport was crowned as the 2023 Women’s Iron Survivor Challenge winner.
Following her victory, Davenport announced that she would challenge Lyra Valkyria for the NXT Women’s Championship at NXT New Year’s Evil on January 2. When Valkyria then emerged onto the stage to stare down Davenport, she was attacked from behind by a returning Cora Jade.
Elsewhere on the card, Kiana James battled Roxanne Perez inside a steel cage. After an intense battle against the steel, Perez headed toward the door, presumably to close it shut. Unfortunately for Perez, her plan didn’t pan out quite as expected. At that same moment, Izzi Dame made a surprise appearance, shutting the door in Perez’s face. This distraction allowed James to capitalize and nail Perez with a Deal Breaker for the win.
RELATED: Cora Jade Returns At WWE NXT Deadline, Attacks Lyra Valkyria
Athena & Billie Starkz Prepare For Final Battle
After surpassing one year as Ring of Honor Women’s Champion, Athena is now tasked with defending her title in the main event of ROH Final Battle this Friday. The event, which takes place in Athena’s hometown of Garland, TX, will see Athena pitted against her former minion, Billie Starkz.
For the last few months, Starkz and backstage correspondent Lexy Nair received the opportunity to train under Athena at MIT (Minion In Training). Both Starkz and Nair seemed to be making progress throughout their training, but only one of them was recognized at the recent MIT graduation ceremony. Following Starkz’s victory over Marina Shafir on the November 30 episode of ROH on HonorClub, Athena and Nair headed down to the ring. They then informed Starkz that Athena was ready to commence the 2023 MIT graduation ceremony.
Equipped with a microphone, Athena announced that she would be unveiling the valedictorian of the 2023 class, and award them with an “Athena’s minion” t-shirt and a signed graduation certificate. While many were expecting Starkz to receive the recognition, Athena revealed Lexy Nair as the MIT valedictorian. This left Starkz in a state of utter confusion and disappointment.
When the three later began retreating up the entrance ramp, Starkz sent Athena crashing into the barricade beside them. Starkz then declared that Athena’s “forever fantasy” would soon be coming to an end. Now, Stark will challenge her former mentor for the title in the main event of ROH Final Battle.
RELATED: Athena Comments On Reaching One Year As ROH Women’s World Champion
IMPACT Final Resolution
Before IMPACT Wrestling officially rebrands into TNA Wrestling next month, the company held one last event under the IMPACT banner — Final Resolution. This event took place last Friday at the Don Kolov Arena in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. The card itself featured 12 total matches between the pre-show and main show.
The semi-main event of the evening saw Knockouts Champion Trinity teaming with Jordynne Grace to face Gisele Shaw and Deonna Purrazzo, who is reportedly set to leave the company soon.
Despite their best efforts to put their past issues aside, Purrazzo and Shaw ultimately fell short in this contest, with Grace pinning Purrazzo for the win. After the match, Purrazzo offered Shaw a handshake. Shaw denied Purrazzo’s gesture, opting to lay her out on the mat instead.
Elsewhere on the card, Jody Threat defeated Alisha Edwards with an F416.
Tag Match Recap
A recap of the tag match closing moments can be read below, courtesy of our live coverage page.
Trinity gets the tag and hits a jumping split on Shaw. She winds up for a big right before hitting a bulldog, cover. Grace throws Deonna out and then helps Trinity face plant Shaw into the mat. Deonna breaks it. Grace and Deonna scrap on the outside as Shaw stomps on Trinity, cover. Trinity manages to kick herself away to make the tag. Grace meets Deonna in the middle with punches.
Deonna’s pump kick lands but Trinity clocks her with a kick. Shaw kicks Trinity, back fist from Grace. Purrazzo spins Grace into the armbar. Grace rolls her back and out. Deonna spins Grace inside out but Trinity breaks. Shaw runs in and throws Trinity out only for Trinity to drag Shaw out. Inside, Purrazzo and Grace trade roll ups. Jordynne hits a powerbomb, Trinity hits the full nelson bomb and Jordynne covers Deonna for the win.
Winners: Jordynne Grace & Trinity
READ MORE: IMPACT Final Resolution Results (12/9/23)
Interviews
“The Too Turnt Party Unicorn” Laynie Luck spoke with WrestleZone’s Ella Jay about preparing for the Christmas holiday, winning the Freelance Tag Team Championships with GPA, getting married in 2023, wrestling Athena on AEW Dark Elevation, her recent training session with Knockouts Champion Trinity, and more.
MLW World Women’s Featherweight Champion Janai Kai chatted with WrestleZone about her title defense at MLW One-Shot, defeating Delmi Exo at MLW Slaughterhouse to win the title, what she’s learned from her manager Salina De La Renta, goals for the upcoming new year, and more.
Former WWE Superstar Gabbi Tuft spoke with WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard about her in-ring career as Tyler Reks, her desire to get back involved in the pro wrestling business, Dustin Rhodes, Curt Hawkins, waiting to get cleared, what she’s been up to since her in-ring retirement and starting her life as a transgender woman, and more.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena appeared on Under The Ring to discuss her origins in wrestling, how wrestling and women’s wrestling have changed since she started, her upcoming title match against Billie Starkz, what it’s like being the face of Ring of Honor in 2023, and more.
Former WWE Diva Cameron (Ariana Andrew) joined Steve Fall of WrestlingNewsCo to discuss a potential Total Divas return, plans for Pound Town Wrestling, returning to WWE at the 2024 Royal Rumble, how she got involved with Tough Enough, and more.
WWE Superstar Jade Cargill spoke with The Dallas Morning News about recently attending the Big 12 Championship game, her pending in-ring debut for WWE, potential opponents, and more.
