Knockouts Knockdown (2021)

Knockouts Knockdown was an annual professional wrestling event originally held by Impact Wrestling, then known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) from 2013 to 2017. It was traditionally an all-women's event showcasing the company's women's division, dubbed the Knockouts. Knockouts Knockdown was itself part of the One Night Only series of pre-recorded specials introduced in 2013, after the promotion discontinued most of its monthly pay-per-view events.[1]

The event featured professional wrestling matches that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing scripted feuds and storylines. Wrestlers portray heroes, villains, or less distinguishable characters in scripted events that build tension and culminate in a wrestling match or series of matches. Storylines were produced on Impact's weekly television program.[2]

On September 13, it was announced that the event would feature a Monster's Ball match in honor of Shannon Spruill, better known in professional wrestling as Daffney, who was one of the first women to compete in a Monster's Ball against Taylor Wilde.[3][4] On the October 7 episode of Impact!, Alisha Edwards, Jordynne Grace, Kimber Lee, and Savannah Evans were announced as participants.[5][6]

On the September 23 episode of Impact, producer Gail Kim announced an eight-woman, one night tournament for Knockouts Knockdown, where the winner would earn a future shot at the Impact Knockouts Championship.[7][8] The tournament consisted of staple Impact Knockouts against talent from around the world. The following competitors would participate in the tournament:[9]

• Mercedes Martinez[10]
• Lady Frost[11]
• Renee Michelle[12]
• Chelsea Green[13]
• Tasha Steelz[14]
• Jamie Senegal[15][16]
• Rachael Ellering[17]
• Brandi Lauren[18]

On the August 12 episode of Impact!, Madison Rayne came out of retirement and attacked Taylor Wilde to help Tenille Dashwood win the match.[19] Since then, Rayne, Dashwood, and Kaleb with a K, now known as The Influence, would begin to set their sights on Decay's (Havok and Rosemary) Impact Knockouts Tag Team Championship, titles Dashwood had her eyes on for some time. They attempted to gain a title match at Knockouts Knockdown through Gail Kim on the September 23 episode of Impact!, but were instead booked for a number one contender's match next week against Jordynne Grace and Rachael Ellering, who joined Wilde in her feud with The Influence.[8] Rayne and Dashwood would win,[20][21] and were set to challenge Decay at Knockouts Knockdown.[22]

On the September 23 episode of Impact!, it was announced that Deonna Purrazzo would defend the Impact Knockouts Championship at Bound for Glory against Mickie James.[8][23] The following week on Impact!, Purrazzo would invade James' ranch and attack her, but James would continue to fight back.[20][21] On the October 7 episode of Impact!, Impact EVP Scott D'Amore enacted a no-contact clause between the two, meaning they could not touch each other until Bound for Glory.[5][24] That night, Gail Kim organized a "Pick Your Poison" series between James and Purrazzo, with the latter facing James' handpicked opponent, Masha Slamovich, at Knockouts Knockdown.[6][25]