Mickie James has been crowned the new Impact Wrestling Knockouts World Champion.
The main event of Friday night’s Impact Hard To Kill pay-per-view featured James defeating Jordynne Grace in a Career vs. Title match to win the Knockouts World Title.
This is James’ fifth reign as champion. Grace began her second reign as champion on June 19 at Slammiversary, when she won the inaugural Queen of the Mountain match against Chelsea Green, Deonna Purrazzo, Mia Yim, and former champion Steelz. Grace held the title for a total of 208 days.
The main event of Friday night’s Hard To Kill was billed as the conclusion of James’ Last Rodeo tour. She announced in September that she intended to compete in the Knockouts division to earn a title shot, putting her career on the line in each fight. Since then, James has defeated Raychell Rose, Gisele Shaw, Yim, Green, Taylor Wilde, Purrazzo, and now Grace in Last Rodeo matches. The tour also saw James team with Grace and Wilde to defeat Green, Purrazzo, and Shaw, as well as team with Grace to defeat Steelz and Savannah Evans.
Following her victory over Grace, James was joined in the ring by her son, Donovan, for a post-match celebration that included James’ friends and family. Tara (fka Victoria, Lisa Marie Varon) entered the ring to join James in his celebrations. Tara and Impact Hall of Famer Raven appeared earlier in the show for a backstage segment with James, where they hugged and expressed their admiration for her.
Masha Slamovich became the new number one contender to James in Hard to Kill. There is currently no word on when Slamovich vs. James will take place.
Slamovich defeated Wilde, Purrazzo, and Killer Kelly in a Fatal 4 Way to earn a future shot at the Knockouts World Title. Slamovich caught Wilde with the Snowplow, dropping her on top of Kelly and Purrazzo while Kelly was under submission. She then pinned Wilde to secure the victory.
Click here for complete Hard to Kill results. Highlights from the main event title change at Center Stage in Atlanta, GA are included below:
.@REALLiSAMARiE gave @MickieJames some words of encouragement ahead of her MAIN EVENT match later tonight with @JordynneGrace for the Knockouts World Championship!#HardToKill pic.twitter.com/yUJ9qs4pWf
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
Double Submission!@DeonnaPurrazzo @RealTaylorWilde #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Qc35L6Q3GW
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
Snow Plow on EVERYBODY! @mashaslamovich #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Eu5zc4NbNH
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
This could be @MickieJames's LAST MATCH! It's MAIN EVENT time at #HardToKill! pic.twitter.com/Qz4T4xKIB6
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
.@JordynneGrace just slapped the taste out of @MickieJames' mouth! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/kQ2hY2nVes
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
Bulldog off the TOP ROPE! @MickieJames #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/SA6D2f1K6C
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
.@JordynneGrace turns the match around with a Juggernaut Jackhammer! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/ggO2sA62vl
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
.@MickieJames JUST escapes a Tombstone Piledriver!@JordynneGrace#HardToKill pic.twitter.com/Kla63JO4FQ
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
.@MickieJames HIT THE MICK DT BUT @JordynneGrace KICKS OUT!!!!#HardToKill pic.twitter.com/I8pY0IQBPM
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
SHE DID IT! @MickieJames is the NEW Knockouts World Champion! #HardToKill pic.twitter.com/wYiIqADwd0
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
EXCLUSIVE: Check out what @mashaslamovich had to say immediately after DESTROYING 3 other Knockouts and becoming #1 Contender for the Knockouts Championship!#HardToKill pic.twitter.com/RZBAfOXUNq
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) January 14, 2023
