This Saturday, Impact Wrestling is streaming live and free on their Twitch channel, the co-branded event with RISE Wrestling, RISE of the Knockouts, from Chicago, Illinois. Impact has been working with the developmental women’s promotion for the past several months, but RISE has apparently hit some snags and it’s future seems uncertain beyond this weekend. Here’s hoping they find the help they need, as RISE has become a very needed source of guidance for women on the indie circuit, and their new alliance with Impact Wrestling was looking to be an exciting one. Here’s a run down of a pretty stellar card for this Saturday’s event.
Bones of Contention (Karen Q & Ray Lyn) vs. Twizted Sisterz (Thunder Rosa & Holidead)
One of the newer tag team combinations in RISE, Ring of Honor WOH star Karen Q teams up with another indie star, Ray Lyn, as the Bones of Contention, and the rapidly rising duo faces an indie tag team of veterans, Holidead and Thunder Rosa (who made her ROH debut recently, as well as portraying Kobra Moon on Lucha Underground). Both teams are looking to become top contenders for the Guardians of RISE Tag Team titles, being crowned later in the card.
Kimber Lee vs. Shazza McKenzie
Due to illness, Aussie indie veteran (and 2x SHIMMER Champion) Madison Eagles has had to withdraw from the event, so it’s been reduced to a singles match up between former CHIKARA Grand Champion Kimber Lee and another Australian star, Shazza McKenzie. McKenzie is a former Heart of SHIMMER Champion and the current Pro Wrestling Australia (PWA) Women’s Champion in Australia, and even as a singles match, this will be an exciting pairing.
Madison Rayne vs. Kikyo
RISE star Kikyo (also a veteran of SHIMMER, SHINE and other promotions) takes on 5x Impact Knockouts Champion Madison Rayne in another test for Rayne, whose in the middle of a comeback run in Impact as she gets ready to face Su Yung at Slammiversary XVI in Toronto on July 22.
Allie vs. Mercedes Martinez
An indie dream match, former 2x Knockouts Champion Allie will face a true indie icon in Mercedes Martinez, a former 2x SHIMMER Champion, 3x Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU) Champion, 5x World Xtreme Wrestling (WXW) Women’s Champion and current SHINE Tag Team Champion. Mercedes also had a solid run in last year’s inaugural Mae Young Classic in the WWE, making the final four before bowing out to Shayna Baszler. This is the first time the two have faced each other since early 2017, when Martinez defeated Allie for the WSU Championship.
Tessa Blanchard vs. Kris Wolf
Tessa Blanchard is a new addition to Impact’s Knockouts Division, and despite coming up short several times, is still one of the most gifted wrestlers on the indie circuit. She’s facing Stardom‘s Kris Wolf in what should be an exciting singles match up. They’ve faced each other five times previously (four with Stardom, once with Bar Wrestling) and Tessa has always come up on top, be it singles or tag team action. Wolf will be hoping to finally secure a win over the third generation star.
Guardians of RISE Tag Team Championship (Four Corners Elimination Match): Paradise Lost (Dust & Raven Ash) w/ Rosemary vs. Team Blue Nation (Jessica Troy & Charli Evans) vs. Wily Smilies (Kylie Rae & Miranda Salinas) vs. Fire & Nice (Chelsea Green & Britt Baker)
Hopefully RISE manages to pull itself out of its despair and carry on past this weekend, as they’re crowning the inaugural RISE tag team champions with a four corners elimination match for the Guardians of RISE titles. Rosemary‘s stable of Paradise Lost (Dust, aka Zoey Skye, and Raven Ash, aka Melanie Cruise) will have the Demon Assassin their corner, so they’re automatically the favorites going in, but they face some stiff competition. Australia’s Team Blue Nation have been impressive of late, and the new duo, the Wily Smilies, are gaining momentum after building up solid singles runs the past year. Fire & Nice is a veteran tandem featuring former Knockouts Champion Chelsea Green and Britt Baker, and pose the biggest threat to Paradise Lost to claim the titles.
Phoenix of RISE Championship Match (30 Minute Iron Woman Match): Delilah Doom (c) vs. Shotzi Blackheart
RISE Champion Delilah Doom puts her title on the line against former Phoenix of RISE Champion Shotzi Blackheart, who made her own Impact debut at the last set of tapings in Windsor, Ontario. The two rivals will settle their score in a 30 minute Iron Woman match, to settle once and for all who is the better Champion.
Impact Knockouts Championship Match (Falls Count Anywhere): Su Yung (c) vs. Saraya Knight
The main event sees “The Undead Bride” Su Yung put her championship on the line in a falls count anywhere match against one of women’s wrestling’s true pioneers, UK legend “Sweet” Saraya Knight (co-founder of World Association of Wrestling (WAW) in Norfolk, England and mother of WWE Superstar Paige). This will be violent, bloody and all out stiff, just the way that both competitors like it.
