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Gail Kim recently made the huge announcement that the IMPACT Knockouts Knockdown event would be returning in October to IMPACT Plus.
Kim, an IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Famer, is one of the most respected female wrestlers in professional wrestling history. She was the inaugural IMPACT Knockouts Champion and also holds the record of winning the Knockouts Championship the most number of times with seven separate title reigns.
Since retiring from professional wrestling in 2018, Gail Kim has transitioned into a backstage agent and producer with IMPACT Wrestling.
Sportskeeda Wrestling's Rick Ucchino and Kevin Kellam recently interviewed Gail Kim during another episode of InSide Kradle.
A variety of topics were discussed in the interview, including the upcoming Knockouts Knockdown event, NWA Empowerrr, Mercedes Martinez and many more.
Let's take a closer look at five things we learned from IMPACT Wrestling star Gail Kim's Sportskeeda interview.
#5 Gail Kim on the anticipation for the IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown event
IMPACT Wrestling's upcoming Knockouts Knockdown special event on IMPACT Plus in October will be the first since 2017, in which Gail Kim was herself a participant.
Kim was asked about the reaction to her announcement and the already huge anticipation for the event.
The IMPACT Hall of Famer said it was a team effort that could make the show possible and credited IMPACT Wrestling for giving Christy Hemme and herself the reigns for the event:
"Yeah I think it's because also we haven't done it for so long and I feel like the last time we did it, was I a participant in it? So I've probably retired from that point and been a participant. So it's very different to go from being in it to helping plan it and put in the effort and heart to bring all these great, talented women together.
"I just love it, I've always loved going from being in the ring to being behind the scenes and being able to contribute to something that I love. IMPACT Wrestling has always been a great place for women's wrestling. I'm not the one you should give full credit to, it's really a team effort of all these people. They've really given their reigns to myself and Christy Hemme to put in a lot of input from women because sometimes it just hits different."
#4 Gail Kim is delighted to be working with Christy Hemme at IMPACT Wrestling once again
Gail Kim previously announced that Christy Hemme would be a major part of the Knockouts Knockdown event in October.
When asked about working once again with Hemme, the former Knockouts Champion revealed that they both have contrasting views of professional wrestling, which helps create a better product:
"Yeah, I just love it. I think a lot of people don't see much of Christy Hemme but she's my best friend, I speak to her all the time. We're always constantly thinking of things for women's wrestling because that truly is our passion. We discovered from working with each other from years ago, 10-15 plus years ago, that we actually have different strengths in this business. When we come together it's Ying and Yang, she's so creative, loves all the storytelling parts of it, I love all the wrestling parts of it. When we come together it just creates a beautiful thing."
#3 Gail Kim discusses making Knockouts Knockdown a tribute to former IMPACT Wrestling star Daffney
During the interview, Gail Kim revealed that several members of the IMPACT Wrestling roster and beyond want to be part of the show to pay tribute to former IMPACT star Daffney, who tragically passed away aged 46 years old recently:
"They were all hitting me up because they love that we're doing this for Daffney, who was a former Knockout. Who was the first girl to ever participate in a Monster's Ball. Obviously, a tragedy for our wrestling community and everyone cared so much. So for us to be able to do this, I've got non-stop messages from the girls, just wanting to do everything for Daffney. Literally my heart is bursting at all of it, it sounds so cheesy but it's true and accurate to the 100th degree."
#2 Gail Kim reveals Mercedes Martinez's role at IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown event
Gail Kim previously announced that former WWE NXT Superstar Mercedes Martinez would be making her IMPACT debut at Knockouts Knockdown.
Kim admitted that she was incredibly anxious to see Martinez face off against several members of the IMPACT roster:
"Yeah, I mean I already love our knockouts roster but there's so many great women wrestling out there and wrestlers. Of course Mercedes is a very respected veteran of this business. I think she's been wrestling longer than me and I'm already retired. I'm so anxious to see her face anyone of our knockouts, to be honest."
The IMPACT Wrestling Hall of Famer also dropped an exclusive piece of news, revealing that Mercedes Martinez will participate in a Knockouts Championship Number One contenders tournament at Knockouts Knockdown:
"I will drop a little nugget of surprise then, I will announce what she's doing there. Besides the Monster's Ball, we're are going to have a number one contenders tournament for singles matches for the number one contender to face the champion after Bound For Glory. She will be a participant in that tournament."
#1 Did NWA Empowerrr get the ball rolling for IMPACT Wrestling's Knockouts Knockdown event?
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown comes off the heels of the incredible NWA Empowerrr in August, produced by Mickie James.
Gail Kim was asked if the success of Empowerrr influenced the announcement of Knockouts Knockdown. The IMPACT Wrestling producer revealed that there were discussions several months ago to bring back the event, however a date at the time wasn't finalized:
"We did talk about it months ago, we honestly just didn't have a date set. But once Mickie announces that, of course, we're going to give our support and everything we've got towards that. Because that 'Forbidden Door' has been opened for a while now, it just hasn't really been opened for the women. When Mickie called me and she already had the green light with actual dates, events and location and everything. I went, 'Yeah, let's go.' I thought it was a huge success, I think this whole year has been amazing for women's wrestling. In my announcement I said 'it's the year of women's wrestling' and I truly believe that."
The former Knockouts Champion stated that the timing was a coincidence but IMPACT Wrestling was more than happy to support Mickie James and NWA Empowerrr:
"So I was just excited that Scott [D'Amore] mentioned a couple of months ago that he wanted to bring it back and I said, 'Great. Finally it's been since 2017.' So, it was kind of a coincidence with timing, we just waited which is fine, absolutely fine because they're two very different events but just as special in their own regard."
