The NWA and Mickie James are making moves for their all-women Empowerrr PPV on Saturday, August 28 from St. Louis, MO. Two title fights were booked last week, and now comes news of notable additions to fill out the lineup. Santino Marella’s daughter, a veteran comeback, and a familiar duo for the NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament were announced.
Empowerrr is headlined with Forbidden Door action. Kamille will be defending the NWA World Women’s Championship against AEW’s Leyla Hirsch. Hirsch won the honor by defeating Bunny in a #1 contender match on Dynamite.
On @AEWonTNT, @AEW star @LegitLeyla earned a shot to make history taking on #Kamille for the NWA Women's World Championship at the 1st NWA all women's ppv #EMPOWERRR!
— NWA (@nwa) August 9, 2021
The winner will defend the next night on #NWA73!
Don't miss out!
➡️https://t.co/EwS9rKtwdZ pic.twitter.com/5Cm5elUwYY
Mickie James didn’t stop there. She ventured over to Impact Wrestling to convince Deonna Purrazzo to take part on the show. The Virtuosa will be defending the Knockouts Championship against Melina.
On the fence about buying tix to #EMPOWERRR?
— NWA (@nwa) August 9, 2021
We're so excited that after last weeks @IMPACTWRESTLING, we can 100% confirm @DeonnaPurrazzo is in action, defending the Knockouts Championship against the legendary @RealMelina!!!
DON'T MISS IT!
➡https://t.co/EwS9rKtwdZ pic.twitter.com/BoAkyqkFn5
Next up is the NWA Women’s Invitational Cup. The winner will earn a title shot for the following night on the NWA 73 PPV. Chelsea Green, Tootie Lynn, Jamie Senegal, and Lady Frost were previously announced. NWA added two more intriguing names.
Bianca Carelli received the nod to participate. She is the daughter of Santino Marella.
From a legend in Women's Wrestling to a brand new face, please show love for the ultra talented (and daughter of the multi-time champion @milanmiracle), @CarelliBianca!
— NWA (@nwa) August 10, 2021
We can't wait for her to show the world what she can do!
Don't miss #EMPOWERRR
➡ https://t.co/EwS9rKtwdZ pic.twitter.com/AbT3eW4y17
Santino is a proud papa, and Bianca plans to make the most of the opportunity.
Thank you so much @MickieJames ! I’m very much looking forward to showing the world what I can do grateful for this opportunity ♀️ https://t.co/PcE9z4yEVv
— Bianca Carelli (@CarelliBianca) August 10, 2021
Bianca is young in her career, so it will be interesting to see how well she operates in the ring at her experience level. On the NWA’s part, it is a smart choice to create buzz for Empowerrr.
Debbie Malenko was also revealed as a participant in the NWA Women’s Invitational Cup.
We're proud to announce, with her recent return to #prowrestling, @DebbieMalenko has entered the NWA Women's Invitational Cup!
— NWA (@nwa) August 9, 2021
Trained by the great Boris Malenko -- from AJW to MMA, battling through injury and a major return, NOBODY demonstrates what #EMPOWERRR is about more! pic.twitter.com/i0dSSEW76s
Malenko is making a comeback after experiencing success in Japan winning the AJW Championship and the AJW Tag Team Championship during the early 1990s. A knee injury cut her career short. Debbie was trained by Boris Malenko and Dean Malenko. They bestowed the Malenko surname upon her.
He and his father The great Boris Malenko were my trainers. The name was given to me. Greatest honor ever for a wrestler.
— Debbie Malenko (@DebbieMalenko) August 10, 2021
That is as strong as an endorsement as can be for her skill level. Mickie James put Debbie over as a badass and pointed to her match against Akira Hokuto.
Over in the NWA’s women’s tag team division, a tournament will determine new champions. A pair of familiar faces was announced as the first squad in the competition.
IT'S OFFICIAL & WE ARE SO EXCITED!
— NWA (@nwa) August 11, 2021
Per the Post Show! (& approved by @MickieJames) #NWAFam @Sienna & @MartiBelle are Officially entering the #EMPOWERRR Women's Tag Team Tournament!!
SEE YOU IN ST. LOUIS!!
➡️ https://t.co/EwS9rKtwdZ pic.twitter.com/2hLdorMoyI
Allysin Kay and Marti Belle were key cogs in the women’s division for Billy Corgan’s revival of NWA studio wrestling with Powerrr. Kay was the NWA World Women’s Champion for 272 days before losing the gold to Thunder Rosa. Belle was by Kay’s side as her best friend then turned to the dark side as an enemy of Kay. It looks like Kay and Belle are back on the same page for tag team action. Both women are also competitors in the ROH women’s championship tournament.
The NWA Empowerrr card for August 28 currently stands at:
- NWA World Women’s Championship: Kamille (c) vs. Leyla Hirsch
- Impact Knockouts Championship: Deonna Purrazzo (c) vs. Melina
- NWA Women’s Invitational Cup: Chelsea Green, Tootie Lynn, Jamie Senegal, Lady Frost, Debbie Malenko, Bianca Carelli, plus four more
- NWA Women’s Tag Team Championship tournament: Allysin Kay & Marti Belle, plus three more teams
The show will be available through Fite TV. Options include Empowerrr on Saturday, August 28 and the NWA 73 PPV on Sunday, August 29 as standalone events or a two-pack bundle for both PPVs to save some money.
How is Empowerrr shaping up in your eye?