Knockouts Knockdown Returns—NXT Star to Appear—AEW showcases more Former NXT Stars

The Impact Wrestling Knockouts Knockdown (which is an all-female event) will be returning and will be filmed this Friday, and many stars are set to appear, including Mercedes Martinez, who was released from her NXT/WWE contract this summer.

Daffney will also be honored at the event, and even more former NXT stars are set to appear in AEW as well. All that and more in this piece.

The Impact Knockouts Knockdown returns this weekend

Hot off the heels of the NWA all-women’s event, Impact has decided to bring back the Knockouts Knockdown, which was last put on in 2017.

As has been reported by wrestlingnews.co, to appear is of course Mercedes Martinez of recent NXT fame, and even Christy Hemme. Of the event, Impact wrestling legend, Gail Kim has said:

“…I am so excited for Knockouts Knockdown, when females from across the wrestling landscape will take over The IMPACT Zone, with female wrestlers, referees, announcers and more…”

via Gail Kim /wrestlingnews.co

The event will also have a special dedication to the late Daffney (a top former Knockout), and of that Kim said:

“…There is so much planned, so much excitement for Knockouts Knockdown—I know the fans will be excited to watch it live this weekend, starting Friday afternoon, at The IMPACT Zone in Nashville…Doing something to honor Daffney’s memory is something that everyone involved with the event and others are thrilled to be able to do…She was a great wrestler and a better person. No one will forget Daffney; we want to honor her…”

via Gail Kim /wrestlingnews.co

Martinez was released by WWE in August; specifically on the 6^th. It would seem that a non-compete clause doesn’t apply with her and perhaps wasn’t specified in her contract.

She has been wrestling for 21 years this November and has had an impeccable career on the independent circuit and even wrestled in AEW…specifically in 2019…when at that year’s All Out, she took part in Casino Battle Royale…she subsequently wrestled on Dark all before signing with WWE in 2020.

It’ll definitely be exciting to see how she does in Impact and with the likes of Deonna Purrazzo; it should be interesting for sure.

More NXT stars wrestling for AEW

Not one to miss out on opportunity, Tony Khan and AEW are definitely taking advantage of the released stars of NXT (or perhaps those whose contracts have simply expired).

As has been reported by webisjericho.com, Arturo Ruas (Adrian Jaoude) the 39 year old martial artist, Santana Garrett and even Stallion Rogers (formerly Curt Stallion) and Anthony Greene (August Grey) made appearances and wrestled at last weekend’s tapings.

As you may already know, dear readers, Dark is now being taped at Universal Studios.

Each of the aforementioned former WWE stars’ matches may potentially launch AEW careers for themselves respectively, but of course time will tell. Let’s see how they do and we wish them luck moving forward.

NEXT: Foley On WWE—Storm on why Daffney in WWE Never Was—Brodie Lee Honored by Ex-WWE Star

It was particularly great to see Santana Garrett who took on Diamante at the tapings, and even though she lost, it was great to see her in an AEW ring, where she can potentially now face old foes and new ones too; it was great to see them all, in fact.