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| National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) President William "Billy" Corgan (left) and women's professional wrestling pioneer and NWA Empowerrr executive producer Mickie James-Aldis (right). (Image Source: SEScoops/Lightning One/FITE TV) |
Professional wrestling is set to make a grand return to St. Louis, Missouri after more than two decades as the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) under Lightning One Inc. and Smashing Pumpkins frontman William Patrick "Billy" Corgan is holding four nights of epic wrestling action on August 28-31, 2021 inside the Khorassan Ballroom at the Chase Park Plaza within the Chase Hotel and kicking off the series of exciting events is NWA EMPOWERRR, an all-women's wrestling PPV event helmed by women's wrestling pioneer and former multi-time women's champion Mickie James-Aldis. The event is sure to empower the continuing and progressive rise of women's professional wrestling that has been steadily enjoyed by wrestling fans around the world.
Through media interviews and appearances, the wife of the current and longest-reigning NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis believes that NWA EMPOWERRR is highly regarded as a platform for some of the best female athletes in the sport to not only showcase their prowess inside the ring, but also to celebrate the history and impact of women's professional wrestling and embrace its empowerment towards a brighter future and outlook. Aldis has been encouraging and inviting the best in the industry to come to EMPOWERRR and show the world what they can do and inspire young women and those who aspire to fulfill their goals and dreams in their respective fields. One case in point is the current two-time IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion Deonna Purazzo whom I believe par none can be considered as the best women's technical wrestler of today's generation. She has proved it when she defended her title at Slammiversary XIX last July 18 (PH time) against All Elite Wrestling (AEW)'s newest signing, Latina MMA star and former NWA Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa in a technical encounter of epic and unpredictable proportions. I can agree with the assumption of any professional wrestling fan that she can further prove her worth when she compete at EMPOWERRR.
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| Two-time IMPACT Wrestling Knockouts Champion "The Virtuosa" Deonna Purazzo (Image Source: IMPACT Wrestling) |
NWA EMPOWERRR, without question, is a new chapter in the storied, resilient and overwhelmingly inspiring rise of women's professional wrestling since the launch and formation of IMPACT Wrestling's Knockouts division in 2017 with IMPACT Hall of Famer Gail Kim-Irvine as its inaugural champion. Today, women's professional wrestling remains strong and resilient amidst the challenges that it has faced brought about by the global COVID-19 pandemic and last year's infamous #SpeakingOut movement with the newfound direction of IMPACT Wrestling's Knockouts division, the continuing build within All Elite Wrestling's women's division, the rebirth of Ring Of Honor's women's division, the plethora of talent within NWA's own and the highly-anticipated launch of Major League Wrestling's women's division if possible. For today's generation of female wrestlers trying and daring themselves to make an impact in a sport dominated by men, empowerment is more than just a word. Instead, it is encouragement and motivation for these athletes to stand for what they believe in and prove through their skills, prowess and game that they truly belong to the sport that they love and endure.
NWA EMPOWERRR is an event that, I think, professional wrestling fans in the Philippines should look forward to before the start of the long holiday season if they can literally "wake up" from the realities of what they have seen from what they have watched. Anyway, the ongoing rise of women's professional wrestling amidst the odds stacking against the industry has definitely changed not only the landscape of the sport in modern times but also a person's outlook on how female athletes can fare well in the world of professional wrestling as stars in their own right. And this conclusion will be proven at professional wrestling's first and true all-women's PPV event that gathers the best and the finest and celebrate the past, present and beyond.
By the way, NWA EMPOWERRR will be eventually followed by NWA 73, an action-packed celebration of NWA's 73rd year anniversary, on the following day and forthcoming episodes of NWA POWERRR emanating from the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri. You can catch these upcoming events as well as NWA POWERRR every Wednesday at 6:05 am (Philippine time) on FITE via FITE.TV or the mobile app for Android and iOS devices.
