Pay-per-view air date: August 28, 2021
It’s hard to say there’s another show that promised and delivered not only great action but such huge sincerely emotional moments as NWA EmPowerrr pay-per-view, the first card broadcast from the legendary Chase Ballroom in St. Louis.
No bad matches (not all great but none bad), some great surprise appearances, and some truly historic moments. Fantastic introductory video package with interviews with talent on the show and some classic footage. They started with a comedy bit with some grainy black and white lost footage of then-NWA tag champs Shooter Steven and Crusher Kratos (current champions Aron Stevens and JR Kratos). A minute or two too long and since this was the all-women’s show, it felt out of place to me.
The show’s executive producer, Mickie James, came out and cut an emotional promo, easily one of the best she’s ever done.
Diamanté defeated Chik Tormenta and Kylie Rae
Good wrestling start with a 3-way match featuring AAA’s Chik Tormenta vs AEW’s Diamanté vs the NWA’s Kylie Rae. A fast-paced match that allowed all three to have their own shining moments. Diamanté won, hitting Tormenta with a Code Red (misidentified by commentary as the Canadian Destroyer).
The Hex defeated Hell on Heels
NWA Women’s World Tag Title Finals Qualifiers
In the first of two NWA Women’s World Tag Title finals qualifiers, The Hex–Marti Belle and Allysin Kay–beat Hell on Heels–Sahara 7 and Renee Michelle. Solid match. Had some awkward moments, but a lot of strong efforts from all parties with the lesser experienced HoH putting up a good fight, but falling to the veterans.
KiLynn King and Red Velvet defeated The Freebabes
NWA Women’s World Tag Title Finals Qualifiers
AEW’s KiLynn King and Red Velvet got the other spot in the finals, winning their match over the Freebabes–Miranda Gordy and Jazzy Yang with Hollyhood Haley J (wearing Joe Doering’s coat). Nice action. A good win for Velvet and King. Good backstage interview with The Hex by May Valentine.
Tears All Around. Great Moment.
Gail Kim, who James credits as one of the women who helped her put this show together, alongside Madusa and Jazz, came out to speak to the live audience. She was cut off and menaced by her old IMPACT Wrestling rival, Taryn Terrell, and her allies, Jennacide and Paola Blaze. Before things got bad for Kim, Awesome Kong came to the ring and cleared Terrell’s proteges from the ring. Awesome Kong then announces her formal retirement. Tears all around. Great moment.
Deonna Purrazzo (c) defeated Melina Perez
for the Impact Knockouts Championship
IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts champion “The Virtuosa” Deonna Purrazzo successfully defended her KO title against Melina Perez in a good match. Perez still looks a little rusty, but she was good enough here. Purrazzo was at the top of her game and elevated the entire match.
Perez was particularly good when it looked like the referee was going to stop the match and she had to fight to keep going. Purrazzo wins by applying her double chicken wing Venus Di Milo while also half crabbing Perez’s leg. Great finish. Well deserved ovation.
The Hex defeated KiLynn King and Red Velvet
NWA Women’s World Tag Title Finals
The Hex won the NWA Women’s World tag title over Velvet and King, the first champions crowned since 1983 (Joyce Grable and Wendi Richter were the last champions). Belle is the first (recognized) Dominican champion in NWA history. Good match. Velvet and King didn’t work heel, but they definitely worked a bit stiffer and aggressive than they had earlier with the Freebabes. All four women shook hands after the match.
Kamille (c) defeated Leyla Hirsch
for the NWA World Women’s Championship
NWA World Women’s champion Kamille defeated AEW’s “Legit” Leyla Hirsch in what could be seen as the match of the night. Hirsch gave up a lot of height but is a petite powerhouse and used her great grappling and technical prowess to push Kamille. Both women definitely stepped their game all the way up and gave us all a match worthy of being called a “world title match”.
Main Event: NWA Women’s Invitational Cup
They closed with the inaugural NWA Women’s Invitation Cup, a gauntlet battle royal, to determine a challenger for the world title at the 73rd Anniversary show. I thought this was a mistake. It was a fine match, but there was no way for it to match the world title match. And doing 2 min intervals doesn’t allow the wrestlers to really hit a stride before someone else is coming out.
The match started with Chelsea Green (her third pay-per-view for a third company in the month of August) and Kiera Hogan followed in order by Bianca Carelli (daughter of Santino), Thunder Kitty, Jennacide (who looked great here), Lady Frost, legendary veteran Debbie Malenko, Jamie Senegal, Masha Slamovich, and St. Louis’ own, Tootie Lynn.
There was a HUGE mess made of Frost’s entrance as they locked on her on the floor, ignoring the in-ring action completely. The final four were Hogan, Green, Lynn, and Slamovich with Lynn and Green outlasting the other two women. Green hit the young star with her Unprettier finish and won. This felt like a time where the hometown fave should have won, but I have no complaint about Green.
This was a great show and I’m already anticipating next year’s event.
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