June 15, 2022 • 19 mins
Slammiversary Week Continues with the Legendary, Gail Kim! Gail joins Battle & Eli in studio to talk about the Queen of the Mountain, the Knockouts Division, bringing Mickie James in for the special enforcer, what's next for her and the Knockouts & more!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up you guys. Welcome into Impact Slam Aversary week
on the Battleground Podcast. Of course, we just recently dropped
our episode with Mickey James on Monday. Today's episode is
another legend. We're sitting down with Gal Kim. Also real quick,
just a heads up if you would like to be
with us in the Flava Zone. Of course, Tasha Stills
(00:21):
gave us some tickets to the Impact Wrestling tapings that
are coming up this Monday night. If you want to
be in there with us, well, here's what you gotta do.
All you gotta do is just shoot me a DM
on Twitter at Battle on Air and if you want
to be there, we got you. Just shoot me your
name say I want to be there with you guys
in the Impact Flava Zone. So that's all you gotta do.
(00:42):
Just hit us up and you could be with us
at the Impact Wrestling tapings on Monday night. Again, hit
me up on Twitter, just shoot me a DM at
Battle on Air if you want to go. But it
is time to get into the theme song. Our interview
with Gal Kim starts in three two one.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Why from the Parts Unknown Studios.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Into the Dumble Battle Crown the battle Bound, the Battle Round.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place for all things
pro wrestling.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
The Battle Road, the Battle Round.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now making their way to the microphones.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Get it up for your hosts.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Well down to the Battle Crown. All right, so here
we go. It's a big week on the show, celebrating
twenty years of Impact Wrestling. You know what that means, right, Eli, Yes, Yes,
Slammiversary is coming back and it's at the old stomping
Ground at the Fairground's pretty excited about that.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I can't see you over these monitors.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I know, it's very weird. We're we're actually in studio
for once. We're not doing this like via zoom, stream
yard whatever it is. We're in studio. Slammiversary is happening
on Sunday, June nineteenth, which, by the way, you can
still grab tickets impact Wrestling dot com. And uh well,
we've got a big planned shows of the week, so
let's get it kicked off. We're joined by the legendary
Gail Kim. Yeah, thanks for being on the show. It's
(02:15):
been a while since we last talked to you, so
a lot of things has changed since then, so let's
kind of jump into it. I mean, we're a little
bit removed from Tasha Still's becoming the new Impact Knockouts
World Champion after defeating your good friend Mickey James. I'm sorry,
what does Tasha bring to the table as a world chance?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Yes, and you know that that was a big deal
because Mickey James is a legend. Yeah, very respected within
the women's wrestling world, in the wrestling world in general.
So I'm sure you know Tasha feels really proud. I
kind of saw her before even she came into Impact
Wrestling and saw her potential then and it was kind
of fighting for her to come within the company. So
(02:55):
to see her grow within these last couple of years
and now she's knock Out champion and defeated Mickey James,
I mean, that's a huge, huge accomplishment for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And we actually recently just talked to Tasha, and you knows,
as much as Tasha wants to play the heel, she
had nothing but high praises for Mickey in the interview
and she's like, I don't really want to have to
continue to talk about Mickey and put her over, but
it was a great thing to get to get in
the ring with Mickey.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, even the ones with the biggest attitudes like her.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
You know, they appreciate those moments because they're the ones,
you know, the Mickey James type people personalities in our business,
those are the ones that accomplished a lot. And to
be just in the same ring as them, I mean,
it was an honor for me to be in the
ring with Mickey James. So you know, I cherish all
our moments together in the ring for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Would it's either you acknowledge it or you get embarrassed
like Mickey did with the Hona. So yeah, and you know,
bouncing off of that too, even going back to Fire
and Flavor with you know, the tag chain. I mean,
she's she's really made a mark. This story almost kind
of writes itself. You would you want to see Tasha
(04:05):
defend her title against her former partner Kiria Hogan, especially
considering Kiara face Mickey couldn't win the goal. I mean,
it kind of rites itself.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I mean I think it's a definite dream of theirs.
And you know, the success they had as a tag team,
their chemistry was undeniable. So it's kind of a bittersweet
moment when Kiara moved on, and yeah, and I think
the fans were actually I remember the fans being so stunned.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I mean their faces, their mouths were.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Just wide open, like what's happening right now because they
were on this you know, this just this major momentum.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And but it's great to see.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You know, sometimes things are just meant to be in
terms of your paths in this business. And you know,
without that happening than Tasha would probably never be knock
Gust champions. So you never know what the future holds.
I know that they're dear friends to this day, so
who knows. I see Kira back and you might see
that title match.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That would be great.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
That'd be great. Speaking of great, I mean there's a
you know, we talked to Tasha about this and being
in history of being like in the first Ultimate X
for the for the women's division, and now she's part
of the you know, the Queen of the Mountain, which
again it's her, Chelsea Geren, Dianna, Jordan Grace and Meam
all former champions by the way, so she got a
tough thing. But we recently found out when Mickey was
in here she's going to be a part of this match.
(05:25):
How did this all come together with Mickey's involvement, and
do you kind of worry about that being there in
the little.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I'm not worried.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I mean, listen, Mickey James is a true professional. She's
just gonna make sure that things are straight and narrow
right there. So I trust her instincts, I trust her
you know, opinion and all those things her role in
that match. But this is going to be a huge
history making match. And you know, I was telling everyone
I saw the graphic on social media the other day
(05:54):
and I was like, Wow, this is going to be
a hell of a match. And I've already put the
pressure on the girls. I said, we're going to steal
the show. Yeah, you know, it's an incredible card as
it is, and who knows who's going to show up
as well, because this is our twenty year anniversary than
nostalgic Faces, perhaps you might see I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I want to be surprised.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
And there's still some mystery opponents that we haven't announced,
so who knows what are we going to see that
It's going.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
To be exciting because I mean, you think back to
Slammiversary that we were at last year and is a
skyway studios and that was like a very intimate thing.
And now now that everything's kind of open up in
the world, you're getting a bigger crowd, you're getting you're
back out on the road, which is great to see
Impact doing that, and you're going back, I guess essentially
home to the fair grounds.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yes, it's definitely our home. And listen, I've been now
it's twenty years. I think I've been in part of
this company fifteen years now out of that twenty, yeah,
and I've seen every up and down, and you know,
more than anything, and we've had different management as well,
but we've always stayed together. We've always tried to put
out the best wrestling show, period and the talent has
(07:00):
always been almost like a family.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
We really sometimes are the underdog and we just want
to show what we can do. And Impact Dressing has
always given us that platform for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And I remember going back. If you think about it,
twenty years. It makes me feel old when I talk
about this, because I remember going back every Wednesday night
I was there at the pay per views. I was there.
I guess it was maybe the second show, maybe the third.
It was that municipal when it was the Big or Do.
And I think that was the night that Shamrock had
lost to Jarrett. I believe so. And I remember correctly.
I got in so much trouble at that show because
(07:32):
I was young and Jarrett won the title and me
being the young kid growing up. I am thirty three,
I believe, yeah, so I I was very young. So
I remember Jeff Jarrett won the match, and I'm sitting
there and I'm with my dad and my mom and
I just flipped Jarrett off. I give him the double
Birds and it goes damn smacked right in the back
of my head. And then I realized never to do
(07:52):
that again.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
But your mom did, or Jeff Jarrett did, My mom did.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
This was way before social media, so I wouldn't be
be able to be on World Star for that. But
so yeah, it's great to have impact back home at
the Asylum, the New Asylum. But I just remember there's
so many great memories of the Asylum. I remember seeing
new Jack there and handing him a chair when he
(08:17):
hit I think he hit Raven or Sandman over the
head with something. Just thinking about everything from the NWAT
and A days and the Cage Girls, and you see
how far Impact has come from that first day to
now and it's like Impact has been leading the charge
with everything. And you look at all these other companies,
they've been stealing stuff from Impact over the past several years.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, I'm not gonna deny that.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
And another thing I think is a testament too, is like,
even with all the different powers that be, kind of
the spirit of Impact has always. Yes, I mean, you
could pick any random year, Dixie years, Jeff Jarrett, whatever,
kind of the spirit of Impact is to say, and
I think a place to what you said, the family.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
And you know, we've been through the lowest lows and
whatever maybe and people were saying that we're going to disappear,
and hey, we're still here.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean the last five years have just been incredible
for Impact. I mean not only bringing in the talent,
but just.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
The storytelling, just everything, the product in itself and just
like you just said, the Cage girls, like look how
far the knockout time we've created a women's division that
has been going strong. Has been a correlstone at this Yeah,
a cornerstone at this company. When I entered into this company,
there was I think four or five us even when
Mickey first started, there was probably I don't know, there's
(09:37):
some cage dancers, and then there was like Kim I
believe and her and maybe Trinity in the.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Later years, and Tracy Brooks.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And now we have about twenty girls and they are
all participating on the show. And I've told the story
already bunch of times, but I feel so proud of
telling the story. So when Awesome Kong got inducted into
the Hall of Fame last year, we brought out all
the girls on the stage who were part of the
roster behind her, and Tracy Brooks was there that day.
(10:08):
Two had come to visit and they both hadn't been
there for years, and separately it had moments with them
when they saw all the girls standing on the stage
and they both had tears in their eyes, going, Wow,
I can't believe what this division has become. And I'm
so proud of what it's become, and that we've never
stopped giving these women the opportunity. It's just still a cornerstone,
(10:30):
just like the X division. He has always been a
cornerstone of the business in our company.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
And it's funny too, because a lot of in this
kind of post Forbidden Door era. A lot of times
when we ask people like whoo, who's your dream?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Who do you want?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
A lot of times it's Impact people. Yeah, camp over
there gets mentioned a lot, Diana. I mean a lot
of times it was like.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Who do you want?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I want to go to Impact? You know that women
division set and I.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Hear the women telling me all the time we watched
your generation and that's why, you know, we wanted to
be here. We want to be part of the best
women's wrestling division and the world, and it's just it's
incredible what we've accomplished and what we're gonna accomplish for
the future.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Right absolutely, Well, this was kind of a surprise, maybe
not as surprise as what we're talking about earlier, but
the influence defeating the inspiration for the Knockouts Tech Team Champions.
I think the inspiration they had a lot of momentum
obviously coming out as free agents and everything, and I
(11:26):
don't want to say surprise the people, but you know,
landed an impact. Yes, right off the bat made it
made an impact.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Sorry about that. Do you.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
What was it like having working with the inspiration while
they were an impact and what do you think of
the Influence's title reign so far.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Oh, I mean they were very similar if you notice, Yeah,
very similar type personalities, so very entertaining. I have to
say I could watch them week in and week out
just do their little backstage segments.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
To be honest, but inspiration. I was really excited.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
And to be honest, where else could they go in
the wrestling world where you have a great women's division,
where you have a lot of women to face, and
they were a tag team, you know, they were a
packaged deal, and so I thought it was a perfect
fit for them, you know. Unfortunately they have decided to
step away from the business for other opportunities, but I'm
(12:18):
glad that they had the opportunity with us.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I feel like they had a great experience and great time.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Hey they're already knockout tag team champions already.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Yeah, and they got to kind of really show themselves, you.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Know, and be themselves and yeah, just be comfortable.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I mean, they were tag champs in the other company,
but they don't really put the emphasis.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Yeah, we definitely care about all our women and having
all the girls shine. Yeah, their true authentic selves.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Absolutely, Yeah, absolutely. Of course, Impact Slammiversary is going down.
You can still grab tickets at Impact Wrestling dot Com.
It is Sunday, June nineteenth, so kind of staying on
I guess this forbid and door the women's division. Yes,
people that are not strangers to Impact Wrestling, the Hecks,
the NWA Women's Champions, right, So could we ever see
(13:04):
like down the road and the NWA Women's Champions versus
the Impact Knockout Stack ever?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Never say never, but I would definitely say that's probably
a question for Mickey James since she's kind of in
that both worlds right now. Because I'm pretty much in
that bubble of Impact Wrestling. But I'm open for all
women wrestlers right to put their titles on the line
and take that chance against our division.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
I mean, there's so many people knocking on our door
female wise right now. I feel I feel proud. I
feel proud that people want to be a part of
this division. Part of this company just speaks for you know,
the upper management in terms of how they've been leading.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
The charge with us. I'm really happy.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
I Like I said, I've gone through so many ups
and downs with this company, and I feel like we're
on a great stride and great momentum and we're really
happy right now as a family.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Yeah, well, we're talking Slammiversary. It's obviously one of the
marquee events with impact. Is there a year that stands
out for you as your favorite? I mean, I mean
it's kind of like kids.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Yeah, it is, and I'm gonna have to say, I
guess it's two thousand and seven when we created the
women's division. I mean yeah, because you fight for something
for so long and when it actually comes to fruition,
if it feels I know, right, just because bye overnight.
But I have to say, even when I stepped into
this company, because I'd kind of almost stepped away from
(14:34):
the business because my passion was kind of killed at
one moment, and just coming back, Scott Damore called me
who's actually in charge right now, which is great and
he was part of my early independent career. So I said, okay,
I'm gonna come by and visit you guys at Universal.
Stepping into that studio, I saw that Bobby Rude, the
(14:54):
pe d Williams, Tracy Brooks, all these people I work
at Independen scene with my passion came flooding back overwhelmingly
and it's never changed. Since you know, and now I'm
retired and I'm able to work with the next generation
and see all these people and like fellow Canadians.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You know, look at the main event for Slimniversary.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Yeah, I mean it's Eric Young, a fellow Canadian who
I grew up on the Independencene with, and Josh Alexander,
who is the future of wrestling right now and the
current so it's gonna be exciting.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I mean, I still want the girls to steal the show.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I really think that that of the Mountains going to
steal the show, because I mean I was I was
telling him and I even told this Tasha. I was
like the Women's ultimate X. I think that was the
show's dealer.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah. Oh, I'm happy to hear that.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, so far everyone announced being former world champions. I mean,
I don't remember a match right off the top of
my head where everyone literally was a form yeah, you know,
and it's just it may have been a fluke, but
I don't think it was in intentional thing.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
You wanted the best of the best.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It's almost kind of a uh almost arounds me like
a gladiator game in a sense, like, oh, you're going
to defend the title defending its all the former like
what like, it's just yeah that.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Hey, it's a historic match, you know, you want to
bring the best of the best, and so these girls,
you know, obviously, like you said, all former champions, they
have earned their spot to have this moment for themselves.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So the winner's going to walk out the knockout.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Jests the one we're very interested.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's going to be the fun one for sure. So
we don't want to take up too much of your time.
Of course, Impact Slimmiversary it is going down on June nineteenth.
You can still grab tickets Impact Wrestling dot Com. What
does the rest of twenty twenty after Slimmiversary look like
for you?
Speaker 5 (16:38):
For me?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Yeah, oh, well for me, you know, I get a
lot of uh because once I retired, I think it's
scary for athletes in general to retire because this is
all you've known and your passion and you don't know what.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Your next step is.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
And I just naturally progressed to becoming a producer for them,
and uh, I think everyone knows I'm very loyal and
invested in this company and the women's division and everything
on top of that, and so I just want to
grow within the company, help it move into a new direction.
I hopefully, I think the fans will be surprised, because
(17:11):
I think we have big plans in terms of where
we want this company to go and just be more exposed.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
To a bigger.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Audience really yea, and for everyone to enjoy what we
all love too, to see the talent, the incredible talent
that's on this roster.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well, and it's like you've kind of, you know, almost
in a sense, reclaimed the goodwill of the fans. And
now it's just like and.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
I think, you know, we're definitely going there. People love it,
and I get comments all the time that you know,
we're the best wrestling show right now. I mean, we
really do have incredible storylines, incredible talent, everyone contributing from
top to bottom. It's a really good time for us
right now. And I'm so happy. You know, people thought
that we would disappear and we're twenty years later standing
(17:58):
here and we're going to have a big future.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Oh yeah, absolutely definitely for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Where can people keep up with you online?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
I would say social media for the most part. I'm
only on Twitter and Instagram, so no Facebook or anything
like that. And it's gille Kim.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
It's me. That's my handle on both, so you'll find
me there, easy peasy there.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
It is Impact Wrestling celebrating twenty years slam Aversary pay
per view Sunday, June nineteenth, where you could still grab
tickets Impact Wrestling dot Com if you can't make it
to Nashville, which you can watch it all on Fight Gail,
it's been honored to have you in.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
The studio today.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
It was my honor and we'll do it again, sou Yes, definitely.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast.
Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review.
To stay up to date with the show, follow them
at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.
What's up you guys. Welcome into Impact Slam Aversary week
on the Battleground Podcast. Of course, we just recently dropped
our episode with Mickey James on Monday. Today's episode is
another legend. We're sitting down with Gal Kim. Also real quick,
just a heads up if you would like to be
with us in the Flava Zone. Of course, Tasha Stills
(00:21):
gave us some tickets to the Impact Wrestling tapings that
are coming up this Monday night. If you want to
be in there with us, well, here's what you gotta do.
All you gotta do is just shoot me a DM
on Twitter at Battle on Air and if you want
to be there, we got you. Just shoot me your
name say I want to be there with you guys
in the Impact Flava Zone. So that's all you gotta do.
(00:42):
Just hit us up and you could be with us
at the Impact Wrestling tapings on Monday night. Again, hit
me up on Twitter, just shoot me a DM at
Battle on Air if you want to go. But it
is time to get into the theme song. Our interview
with Gal Kim starts in three two one.
Speaker 2 (01:00):
Why from the Parts Unknown Studios.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
Into the Dumble Battle Crown the battle Bound, the Battle Round.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Welcome to the Battleground Podcast, your place for all things
pro wrestling.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
The Battle Road, the Battle Round.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Now making their way to the microphones.
Speaker 3 (01:27):
Get it up for your hosts.
Speaker 1 (01:29):
Well down to the Battle Crown. All right, so here
we go. It's a big week on the show, celebrating
twenty years of Impact Wrestling. You know what that means, right, Eli, Yes, Yes,
Slammiversary is coming back and it's at the old stomping
Ground at the Fairground's pretty excited about that.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
I can't see you over these monitors.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
I know, it's very weird. We're we're actually in studio
for once. We're not doing this like via zoom, stream
yard whatever it is. We're in studio. Slammiversary is happening
on Sunday, June nineteenth, which, by the way, you can
still grab tickets impact Wrestling dot com. And uh well,
we've got a big planned shows of the week, so
let's get it kicked off. We're joined by the legendary
Gail Kim. Yeah, thanks for being on the show. It's
(02:15):
been a while since we last talked to you, so
a lot of things has changed since then, so let's
kind of jump into it. I mean, we're a little
bit removed from Tasha Still's becoming the new Impact Knockouts
World Champion after defeating your good friend Mickey James. I'm sorry,
what does Tasha bring to the table as a world chance?
Speaker 4 (02:32):
Yes, and you know that that was a big deal
because Mickey James is a legend. Yeah, very respected within
the women's wrestling world, in the wrestling world in general.
So I'm sure you know Tasha feels really proud. I
kind of saw her before even she came into Impact
Wrestling and saw her potential then and it was kind
of fighting for her to come within the company. So
(02:55):
to see her grow within these last couple of years
and now she's knock Out champion and defeated Mickey James,
I mean, that's a huge, huge accomplishment for sure.
Speaker 1 (03:05):
And we actually recently just talked to Tasha, and you knows,
as much as Tasha wants to play the heel, she
had nothing but high praises for Mickey in the interview
and she's like, I don't really want to have to
continue to talk about Mickey and put her over, but
it was a great thing to get to get in
the ring with Mickey.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
Yeah, even the ones with the biggest attitudes like her.
Speaker 4 (03:22):
You know, they appreciate those moments because they're the ones,
you know, the Mickey James type people personalities in our business,
those are the ones that accomplished a lot. And to
be just in the same ring as them, I mean,
it was an honor for me to be in the
ring with Mickey James. So you know, I cherish all
our moments together in the ring for sure.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Would it's either you acknowledge it or you get embarrassed
like Mickey did with the Hona. So yeah, and you know,
bouncing off of that too, even going back to Fire
and Flavor with you know, the tag chain. I mean,
she's she's really made a mark. This story almost kind
of writes itself. You would you want to see Tasha
(04:05):
defend her title against her former partner Kiria Hogan, especially
considering Kiara face Mickey couldn't win the goal. I mean,
it kind of rites itself.
Speaker 4 (04:14):
I mean I think it's a definite dream of theirs.
And you know, the success they had as a tag team,
their chemistry was undeniable. So it's kind of a bittersweet
moment when Kiara moved on, and yeah, and I think
the fans were actually I remember the fans being so stunned.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
I mean their faces, their mouths were.
Speaker 4 (04:33):
Just wide open, like what's happening right now because they
were on this you know, this just this major momentum.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
And but it's great to see.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You know, sometimes things are just meant to be in
terms of your paths in this business. And you know,
without that happening than Tasha would probably never be knock
Gust champions. So you never know what the future holds.
I know that they're dear friends to this day, so
who knows. I see Kira back and you might see
that title match.
Speaker 2 (05:02):
That would be great.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
That'd be great. Speaking of great, I mean there's a
you know, we talked to Tasha about this and being
in history of being like in the first Ultimate X
for the for the women's division, and now she's part
of the you know, the Queen of the Mountain, which
again it's her, Chelsea Geren, Dianna, Jordan Grace and Meam
all former champions by the way, so she got a
tough thing. But we recently found out when Mickey was
in here she's going to be a part of this match.
(05:25):
How did this all come together with Mickey's involvement, and
do you kind of worry about that being there in
the little.
Speaker 2 (05:30):
I'm not worried.
Speaker 4 (05:31):
I mean, listen, Mickey James is a true professional. She's
just gonna make sure that things are straight and narrow
right there. So I trust her instincts, I trust her
you know, opinion and all those things her role in
that match. But this is going to be a huge
history making match. And you know, I was telling everyone
I saw the graphic on social media the other day
(05:54):
and I was like, Wow, this is going to be
a hell of a match. And I've already put the
pressure on the girls. I said, we're going to steal
the show. Yeah, you know, it's an incredible card as
it is, and who knows who's going to show up
as well, because this is our twenty year anniversary than
nostalgic Faces, perhaps you might see I don't even know.
Speaker 2 (06:11):
I want to be surprised.
Speaker 4 (06:12):
And there's still some mystery opponents that we haven't announced,
so who knows what are we going to see that
It's going.
Speaker 1 (06:19):
To be exciting because I mean, you think back to
Slammiversary that we were at last year and is a
skyway studios and that was like a very intimate thing.
And now now that everything's kind of open up in
the world, you're getting a bigger crowd, you're getting you're
back out on the road, which is great to see
Impact doing that, and you're going back, I guess essentially
home to the fair grounds.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
Yes, it's definitely our home. And listen, I've been now
it's twenty years. I think I've been in part of
this company fifteen years now out of that twenty, yeah,
and I've seen every up and down, and you know,
more than anything, and we've had different management as well,
but we've always stayed together. We've always tried to put
out the best wrestling show, period and the talent has
(07:00):
always been almost like a family.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know.
Speaker 4 (07:02):
We really sometimes are the underdog and we just want
to show what we can do. And Impact Dressing has
always given us that platform for sure.
Speaker 1 (07:10):
And I remember going back. If you think about it,
twenty years. It makes me feel old when I talk
about this, because I remember going back every Wednesday night
I was there at the pay per views. I was there.
I guess it was maybe the second show, maybe the third.
It was that municipal when it was the Big or Do.
And I think that was the night that Shamrock had
lost to Jarrett. I believe so. And I remember correctly.
I got in so much trouble at that show because
(07:32):
I was young and Jarrett won the title and me
being the young kid growing up. I am thirty three,
I believe, yeah, so I I was very young. So
I remember Jeff Jarrett won the match, and I'm sitting
there and I'm with my dad and my mom and
I just flipped Jarrett off. I give him the double
Birds and it goes damn smacked right in the back
of my head. And then I realized never to do
(07:52):
that again.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
But your mom did, or Jeff Jarrett did, My mom did.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
This was way before social media, so I wouldn't be
be able to be on World Star for that. But
so yeah, it's great to have impact back home at
the Asylum, the New Asylum. But I just remember there's
so many great memories of the Asylum. I remember seeing
new Jack there and handing him a chair when he
(08:17):
hit I think he hit Raven or Sandman over the
head with something. Just thinking about everything from the NWAT
and A days and the Cage Girls, and you see
how far Impact has come from that first day to
now and it's like Impact has been leading the charge
with everything. And you look at all these other companies,
they've been stealing stuff from Impact over the past several years.
Speaker 2 (08:39):
Okay, I'm not gonna deny that.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
And another thing I think is a testament too, is like,
even with all the different powers that be, kind of
the spirit of Impact has always. Yes, I mean, you
could pick any random year, Dixie years, Jeff Jarrett, whatever,
kind of the spirit of Impact is to say, and
I think a place to what you said, the family.
Speaker 4 (09:00):
And you know, we've been through the lowest lows and
whatever maybe and people were saying that we're going to disappear,
and hey, we're still here.
Speaker 2 (09:06):
Yeah, you know.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
I mean the last five years have just been incredible
for Impact. I mean not only bringing in the talent,
but just.
Speaker 4 (09:14):
The storytelling, just everything, the product in itself and just
like you just said, the Cage girls, like look how
far the knockout time we've created a women's division that
has been going strong. Has been a correlstone at this Yeah,
a cornerstone at this company. When I entered into this company,
there was I think four or five us even when
Mickey first started, there was probably I don't know, there's
(09:37):
some cage dancers, and then there was like Kim I
believe and her and maybe Trinity in the.
Speaker 2 (09:43):
Later years, and Tracy Brooks.
Speaker 4 (09:45):
And now we have about twenty girls and they are
all participating on the show. And I've told the story
already bunch of times, but I feel so proud of
telling the story. So when Awesome Kong got inducted into
the Hall of Fame last year, we brought out all
the girls on the stage who were part of the
roster behind her, and Tracy Brooks was there that day.
(10:08):
Two had come to visit and they both hadn't been
there for years, and separately it had moments with them
when they saw all the girls standing on the stage
and they both had tears in their eyes, going, Wow,
I can't believe what this division has become. And I'm
so proud of what it's become, and that we've never
stopped giving these women the opportunity. It's just still a cornerstone,
(10:30):
just like the X division. He has always been a
cornerstone of the business in our company.
Speaker 3 (10:34):
And it's funny too, because a lot of in this
kind of post Forbidden Door era. A lot of times
when we ask people like whoo, who's your dream?
Speaker 4 (10:40):
Who do you want?
Speaker 3 (10:41):
A lot of times it's Impact people. Yeah, camp over
there gets mentioned a lot, Diana. I mean a lot
of times it was like.
Speaker 1 (10:47):
Who do you want?
Speaker 3 (10:48):
I want to go to Impact? You know that women
division set and I.
Speaker 4 (10:51):
Hear the women telling me all the time we watched
your generation and that's why, you know, we wanted to
be here. We want to be part of the best
women's wrestling division and the world, and it's just it's
incredible what we've accomplished and what we're gonna accomplish for
the future.
Speaker 3 (11:06):
Right absolutely, Well, this was kind of a surprise, maybe
not as surprise as what we're talking about earlier, but
the influence defeating the inspiration for the Knockouts Tech Team Champions.
I think the inspiration they had a lot of momentum
obviously coming out as free agents and everything, and I
(11:26):
don't want to say surprise the people, but you know,
landed an impact. Yes, right off the bat made it
made an impact.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
Sorry about that. Do you.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
What was it like having working with the inspiration while
they were an impact and what do you think of
the Influence's title reign so far.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
Oh, I mean they were very similar if you notice, Yeah,
very similar type personalities, so very entertaining. I have to
say I could watch them week in and week out
just do their little backstage segments.
Speaker 2 (11:55):
To be honest, but inspiration. I was really excited.
Speaker 4 (11:58):
And to be honest, where else could they go in
the wrestling world where you have a great women's division,
where you have a lot of women to face, and
they were a tag team, you know, they were a
packaged deal, and so I thought it was a perfect
fit for them, you know. Unfortunately they have decided to
step away from the business for other opportunities, but I'm
(12:18):
glad that they had the opportunity with us.
Speaker 2 (12:20):
I feel like they had a great experience and great time.
Speaker 4 (12:23):
Hey they're already knockout tag team champions already.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Yeah, and they got to kind of really show themselves, you.
Speaker 2 (12:29):
Know, and be themselves and yeah, just be comfortable.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
I mean, they were tag champs in the other company,
but they don't really put the emphasis.
Speaker 4 (12:37):
Yeah, we definitely care about all our women and having
all the girls shine. Yeah, their true authentic selves.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
Absolutely, Yeah, absolutely. Of course, Impact Slammiversary is going down.
You can still grab tickets at Impact Wrestling dot Com.
It is Sunday, June nineteenth, so kind of staying on
I guess this forbid and door the women's division. Yes,
people that are not strangers to Impact Wrestling, the Hecks,
the NWA Women's Champions, right, So could we ever see
(13:04):
like down the road and the NWA Women's Champions versus
the Impact Knockout Stack ever?
Speaker 4 (13:11):
Never say never, but I would definitely say that's probably
a question for Mickey James since she's kind of in
that both worlds right now. Because I'm pretty much in
that bubble of Impact Wrestling. But I'm open for all
women wrestlers right to put their titles on the line
and take that chance against our division.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:32):
I mean, there's so many people knocking on our door
female wise right now. I feel I feel proud. I
feel proud that people want to be a part of
this division. Part of this company just speaks for you know,
the upper management in terms of how they've been leading.
Speaker 2 (13:45):
The charge with us. I'm really happy.
Speaker 4 (13:48):
I Like I said, I've gone through so many ups
and downs with this company, and I feel like we're
on a great stride and great momentum and we're really
happy right now as a family.
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Yeah, well, we're talking Slammiversary. It's obviously one of the
marquee events with impact. Is there a year that stands
out for you as your favorite? I mean, I mean
it's kind of like kids.
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Yeah, it is, and I'm gonna have to say, I
guess it's two thousand and seven when we created the
women's division. I mean yeah, because you fight for something
for so long and when it actually comes to fruition,
if it feels I know, right, just because bye overnight.
But I have to say, even when I stepped into
this company, because I'd kind of almost stepped away from
(14:34):
the business because my passion was kind of killed at
one moment, and just coming back, Scott Damore called me
who's actually in charge right now, which is great and
he was part of my early independent career. So I said, okay,
I'm gonna come by and visit you guys at Universal.
Stepping into that studio, I saw that Bobby Rude, the
(14:54):
pe d Williams, Tracy Brooks, all these people I work
at Independen scene with my passion came flooding back overwhelmingly
and it's never changed. Since you know, and now I'm
retired and I'm able to work with the next generation
and see all these people and like fellow Canadians.
Speaker 2 (15:12):
You know, look at the main event for Slimniversary.
Speaker 4 (15:14):
Yeah, I mean it's Eric Young, a fellow Canadian who
I grew up on the Independencene with, and Josh Alexander,
who is the future of wrestling right now and the
current so it's gonna be exciting.
Speaker 2 (15:25):
I mean, I still want the girls to steal the show.
Speaker 1 (15:27):
I really think that that of the Mountains going to
steal the show, because I mean I was I was
telling him and I even told this Tasha. I was
like the Women's ultimate X. I think that was the
show's dealer.
Speaker 2 (15:38):
Yeah. Oh, I'm happy to hear that.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, so far everyone announced being former world champions. I mean,
I don't remember a match right off the top of
my head where everyone literally was a form yeah, you know,
and it's just it may have been a fluke, but
I don't think it was in intentional thing.
Speaker 2 (15:57):
You wanted the best of the best.
Speaker 3 (15:59):
It's almost kind of a uh almost arounds me like
a gladiator game in a sense, like, oh, you're going
to defend the title defending its all the former like
what like, it's just yeah that.
Speaker 4 (16:08):
Hey, it's a historic match, you know, you want to
bring the best of the best, and so these girls,
you know, obviously, like you said, all former champions, they
have earned their spot to have this moment for themselves.
Speaker 2 (16:20):
So the winner's going to walk out the knockout.
Speaker 3 (16:22):
Jests the one we're very interested.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
That's going to be the fun one for sure. So
we don't want to take up too much of your time.
Of course, Impact Slimmiversary it is going down on June nineteenth.
You can still grab tickets Impact Wrestling dot Com. What
does the rest of twenty twenty after Slimmiversary look like
for you?
Speaker 5 (16:38):
For me?
Speaker 4 (16:39):
Yeah, oh, well for me, you know, I get a
lot of uh because once I retired, I think it's
scary for athletes in general to retire because this is
all you've known and your passion and you don't know what.
Speaker 2 (16:50):
Your next step is.
Speaker 4 (16:51):
And I just naturally progressed to becoming a producer for them,
and uh, I think everyone knows I'm very loyal and
invested in this company and the women's division and everything
on top of that, and so I just want to
grow within the company, help it move into a new direction.
I hopefully, I think the fans will be surprised, because
(17:11):
I think we have big plans in terms of where
we want this company to go and just be more exposed.
Speaker 2 (17:18):
To a bigger.
Speaker 4 (17:21):
Audience really yea, and for everyone to enjoy what we
all love too, to see the talent, the incredible talent
that's on this roster.
Speaker 3 (17:30):
Well, and it's like you've kind of, you know, almost
in a sense, reclaimed the goodwill of the fans. And
now it's just like and.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
I think, you know, we're definitely going there. People love it,
and I get comments all the time that you know,
we're the best wrestling show right now. I mean, we
really do have incredible storylines, incredible talent, everyone contributing from
top to bottom. It's a really good time for us
right now. And I'm so happy. You know, people thought
that we would disappear and we're twenty years later standing
(17:58):
here and we're going to have a big future.
Speaker 1 (18:00):
Oh yeah, absolutely definitely for sure.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
Where can people keep up with you online?
Speaker 4 (18:05):
I would say social media for the most part. I'm
only on Twitter and Instagram, so no Facebook or anything
like that. And it's gille Kim.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
It's me. That's my handle on both, so you'll find
me there, easy peasy there.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
It is Impact Wrestling celebrating twenty years slam Aversary pay
per view Sunday, June nineteenth, where you could still grab
tickets Impact Wrestling dot Com if you can't make it
to Nashville, which you can watch it all on Fight Gail,
it's been honored to have you in.
Speaker 5 (18:29):
The studio today.
Speaker 2 (18:30):
It was my honor and we'll do it again, sou Yes, definitely.
Speaker 5 (18:35):
We hope you enjoyed today's episode of the Battleground Podcast.
Make sure you give it five stars and a nice review.
To stay up to date with the show, follow them
at Battleground Podcast on Instagram.
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