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IMPACT Wrestling legend Gail Kim on why Tessa Blanchard is "the future"

Posted: Jan 6th 2019 By: Tony Quant

IMPACT Wrestling legend Gail Kim promises to be impartial when she referees Tessa Blanchard's title clash with Taya Valkyrie at Homecoming.

Kim, 41, will return to the ring for the first time since her retirement to officiate Blanchard's defence of the Knockouts Championship against her fierce rival.

The seven-time Knockouts Champion hung up her boots in July 2017 and has since worked behind the scenes at IMPACT as a producer and agent.

But the IMPACT Hall of Famer was thrust into this match-up after stopping Blanchard from choking the life out of a referee on an episode of IMPACT on November 29 last year.

The two nearly came to blows, before the 'Queen of Lucha Libre' Valkyrie intervened with a huge spear to send the third generation wrestling star Tessa packing.

Kim, from Ontario, Canada, spoke exclusively with Mirror Sport's Tony Quant about her upcoming role, thoughts on the two title rivals, the Knockouts division going forward and her memories of 'Mean' Gene Okerlund.

This Sunday at Homecoming you have a unique role as special guest referee. How do you prepare to referee a match and is it something you've done before?

I've been told in the past that I'm a terrible referee! The first guy who trained me, Ron Hutchinson, had me referee a match and when I got to the back he said "you are a terrible referee" and it always stuck with me. But I hope by now I would have got a little better! Any time I have refereed, I have way more respect for these guys who do it. Obviously as a wrestler you have a natural instinct in the ring, but as a referee you mostly have to stand out of the way and in this match I will call things fairly and down the line.

When the announcement was made that you would be the special guest referee, IMPACT Knockouts Champion Tessa Blanchard wasn't best pleased. How difficult will it be to remain impartial if she gets in your face?

I don't think it's going to be difficult at all. I feel grounded and feel like, hey, I was a wrestler once too. I don't feel intimidated by her. I feel really fair about it and everyone knows how invested I am in the Knockouts division and bringing it to another level. I want to continue with how well the girls are doing and being the backbone of it. I feel like the girls have a level of respect for me and hopefully Tessa will have it that day. I'm really looking forward to the match to be honest, their previous two matches have been unbelievable.

Looking at the two competitors, what are your impressions of both Blanchard and Taya Valkyrie?

Taya was the first one on my radar and as a fellow Canadian you have that connection. She was trained by Lance Storm and everyone that has come out of his school has been outstanding and all of them have the potential to succeed. Taya really impressed me and I got to work with her and it was really easy, we had great chemistry. Since she has come back and worked at IMPACT, she has a new attitude and I love this new Taya. In terms of Tessa, it's so funny because I had never seen her work until shortly before she came to IMPACT. I had heard a lot about her and other females had told me how great she was. I didn't know until she performed in front of me at IMPACT. This girl is the future, she reminded me in a lot of ways of me. She has a passion to be the best and to do the best for women’s wrestling. You can see it and as long as her attitude stays in check, she will make it. She will be the best in the future.

With Tessa and Taya at the top of the division, what other names do you feel will be key in driving the Knockout division forward in the coming years?

Well I don’t even think we have seen the peak of Tessa, at all. Jordynne Grace, she is really young and we saw her at ALL IN competing with some of the guys. In fact all of the girls that were part of the show were great. With Jordynne she is quite impressive and she will find her comfort zone soon and build her confidence. I have seen some great international talent also. In Mexico, Keyra who wrestled Tessa, it was a short match but from what little we saw from her, she was impressive. Shotzi Blackheart is another name from the independents, she did a stint on IMPACT, but then she got injured. I love hearing from fans about other girls on the independents. Lots of female are becoming fans and wanting to become wrestlers which is great. When I started there was me and two other girls to train with. It is a great time for women in the future.

We've seen other promotions host shows headlined by women and some even put on all women’s pay-per-views. How far away realistically do you feel IMPACT is before we see the Knockout division headlining shows?

IMPACT had women in the main event in the past quite frequently, I have been trying to tell people that we are in the stage of rebuilding. Literally when I retired, I felt like a stranger in the locker room because they had recruited a whole new generation of Knockouts. It is happening and we are seeing some great potential talent. I feel like it is all coming together.

You talk about being a stranger in the locker room. Lots of things have been changing at IMPACT over the last 12 to 18 months. What do you make of the current product and what is the vibe like backstage?

I have seen this company go through so many ups and downs where fans were for years saying stuff like "oh they are done, they are over", I have heard it for years. You kind of just look straight ahead and be positive. We are past the point where people were leaving and now we have found that stride I believe. I must admit once Sonjay [Dutt], Scott [D'Amore], Don [Callis] and that set-up came together, I am not going to lie, I was a bit worried. I have always been a believer in one true leader, but I have to say, the team effort has really been successful. Everyone has such a positive outlook and everyone wants IMPACT to succeed as a whole. It’s happening, you just have to give it time.

We recently had to say goodbye to the legendary wrestling interviewer 'Mean' Gene Okerlund. Do you have any nice stories of thoughts on any interactions you had with him?

It's so nice that everyone was saying the same thing about him and that was that he was always a pleasure to be around. He was just so fun and approachable and kind and classy, I have so many positive things to say. I truly think everyone's heart was broken when the news was announced. There will never ever be anyone like him - ever. He truly is irreplaceable and has left such an impression on everyone. It was certainly an emotional day when he passed.

IMPACT Wrestling Homecoming will be shown live on Fite.tv . Fans in the UK can watch the show, at 1am on Monday, January 7, for $19.99 (around £16).

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Spotlight in History

1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
2026 Ronnie Morton def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title

Week of Sun 11-01 to Sat: 11-07

11-01 1960 Tony Jiminez & Jesse Jiminez became the TSW Louisiana Tag Team Champions
11-01 1981 Ted DiBiase def. Paul Orndorff for the MSW North American Heavyweight Title
11-01 1982 Al Madril def. Frank Dusek for the WCCW Television Title
11-01 2008 El Hoto def. Martin Justice for the OECW Southwestern Title
11-01 2008 The New Age Syndicate (Scott Sanders & Shawn Matthews III) def. The New York Express (Jeff Knight & Thomas Knight) for the OECW Tag Team Titles
11-01 2013 Steven Sterling def. Bobby Starr for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-01 2014 Guy Atticus became the IZW Impact Division Champion
11-01 2014 Kevin James Sanchez def. Kareem Sadat for the SWCW Hardcore Title
11-01 2019 Brock Landers def. Tego for the ASP Inter-County Title
11-01 2020 Double D became the EPW Heavyweight Champion
11-01 2020 Drake Gallows became the EPW All-American Champion
11-01 2020 Revan became the EPW Internet Television Champion
11-01 2020 The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) became the EPW Tag Team Champions
11-01 2020 High Times (Father Padge & Dean Lambert) def. The Sidekicks (Kevin James Sanchez & Gemini [2nd]) for the EPW Tag Team Titles
11-01 2025 Iron Mountain (Duke Blanchard & Jack Davenport) def. The Trendsetters (Andre West & Nelly Rivers) for the WFC Tag Team Titles
11-02 1978 Ray Candy def. Ernie Ladd for the TSW Arkansas Title
11-02 2002 Terry Montana def. Shadow of Death for the OCW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 Ty Magnus def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 John O'Malley def. Ty Magnus for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 X-Cal def. John O'Malley for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2003 Outcast def. X-Cal for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-02 2013 Kevin Morgan def. Drake Gallows for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-02 2013 What Wrestling Should Be (Jermaine Johnson & Jordan Jacobs) def. Team Bull (The Bronze Bull & Bobby Starr) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-02 2013 Miss Diss Lexia def. Erica for the IZW Queens Title
11-02 2014 Les Mayne def. Rick Russo for the MSWA Mid-South Heavyweight Title
11-02 2019 Clint Poe became the EmpCW All American Champion
11-02 2019 War Party (Gorgeous Garcia & Nytronis A’Teo) def. The Saints of Pro Wrestling (Scott Sanders & Shawn Sanders) for the EmpCW Tag Team Titles
11-02 2019 Dexter Hardaway def. Double D for the EmpCW Heavyweight Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. Naiomi Sanders for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Unicorn def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. Unicorn for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 C. M. Burnham def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Karnage def. C. M. Burnham for the BPW 365 Title
11-02 2019 Naomi Sanders def. Karnage for the BPW 365 Title
11-03 2001 The VIP Crew (Rocco Valentino & Vinnie Valentino) def. The Texas Outlaws (Beau Dalton & Butch Dalton) for the OPW Oklahoma Tag Team Titles
11-03 2001 Splash Jackson def. Big Daddy Moore for the OPW Oklahoma Hardcore Title
11-03 2012 The Old School Suckas (Randy Price & Bryan Cruize) def. Big Business (Damon Windsor & Kevin Morgan) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-03 2012 Erica def. Angel Blue for the IZW Queens Title
11-03 2018 Damon Windsor def. Randy Price for the WCR Revolutionary Title
11-04 1985 Rick Rude def. King Parsons for the WCCW American Heavyweight Title
11-04 1988 Kerry Von Erich def. Jerry Lawler for the WCCW World Title
11-04 2005 Beau Dalton & Bobby Dalton became the SRPW Tag Team Champions
11-05 1979 Jim Garvin & Herb Calvert def. Oki Shikina & Sugar Bear Harris for the TSW United States Tag Team Titles
11-05 1980 Hector Guerrero & Ron Sexton def. Ron McFarlane & Doug Somers for the TSW Tag Team Titles
11-05 2002 Jeffrey Parker def. Li'l Joe for the ACW Hardcore Title
11-05 2004 Luc Lapointe def. Prophet for the SRPW Boys and Girls Club Title
11-05 2004 Dirty Harry Sanchez def. Beau Dalton for the SRPW Hardcore Title
11-05 2004 Beau Dalton def. Dirty Harry Sanchez for the SRPW Hardcore Title
11-05 2005 Justin Lee & Michael Faith became the TPW Tag Team Champions
11-05 2011 Michael York & Ignition became the ComPro Tag Team Champions
11-05 2011 Brandon Walker def. Steven Sterling for the ComPro Showtime Title
11-05 2011 X-Rated (Kevin James Sanchez & David Kyzer) became the SWCW Tag Team Champions
11-05 2016 Kareem Sadat def. Dean Lambert for the EmpCW Independent Hardcore Title
11-06 1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
11-06 1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
11-06 1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
11-06 2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
11-06 2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
11-06 2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
11-06 2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
11-06 2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
11-06 2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
11-06 2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
11-06 2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
11-06 2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
11-06 2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
11-06 2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
11-06 2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
11-06 2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
11-06 2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
11-06 2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
11-06 2026 Ronnie Morton def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title
11-07 1984 Bill Dundee def. Adrian Street for the MSW Television Title
11-07 2008 The Gentlemen Thugs (Cast-Iron Cothern & Shane Morbid) def. The Old School Express (Jason Jones & Jake Boulder) for the MStW Southern Tag Team Titles
11-07 2009 Dustin Heritage def. Randy Price for the IZW Impact Division Title
11-07 2015 The Terror Squad (D Money & Montego Seeka & Marce Lewis, Nytronis A'Teo & MVP) became the IWR Tag Team Champions

11-06

Frank Dunbar Nov 6th Today!
Darin Matthews Nov 6th Today!
Brian Faith Nov 6th Today!
Lu Kim Nov 6th Today!
Ken Patera Nov 6th Today!
Dominik Whiteheart Nov 7th
King Kong Bundy Nov 7th
Nigel Rabid Nov 7th
Joey Ryan Nov 7th
Faded Ghoul Nov 7th
Keith Watkins Nov 7th
Silverado Nov 7th
Treach Phillips, Jr. Nov 8th
Rika Wildlee Nov 8th
Dizzy Davis Nov 8th
Austin Mulitalo Nov 8th
Joyce Grable Nov 9th
Jean-Claude Boudreaux Nov 9th
Lance Osburn Nov 9th
Kolossus Nov 9th
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Gil Knutson Nov 9th
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Bob Orton, Jr. Nov 10th
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Big Smooth Nov 13th
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Armin Syzlack Nov 15th
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Sean Pearl Nov 15th
Brieanna Bringle Nov 16th
Chase Bristow Nov 17th
Brent Wall Nov 17th
Kikutaro Nov 17th
Kenny K Nov 17th
Josh Hogan Nov 17th
Drake Gallows Nov 17th
Johnny Weaver Nov 17th
Johnny Graves Nov 17th
Snowman Nov 17th
Chris Russo Nov 18th
Everett Kibbons Nov 18th
Reaper Nov 18th
Ricky Gibson Nov 19th
Turnbuckle Tim Nov 19th

1977 Dick Murdoch def. Jerry Oates for the TSW North American Title
1978 Jerry Stubbs became the TSW Mississippi Champion
1999 Joey Casanova became the OPW Oklahoma Light Heavyweight Champion
2010 Jermaine Johnson def. Aaron Neil for the IZW Heavyweight Title
2010 Awesome X (Kevin Morgan & Xavior) def. Aerial Assault (Ky-ote Joe & Eric Rose) for the IZW Tag Team Titles
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Heavyweight Champion
2021 Koko became the WAH Living Hope Champion
2021 Tino Valentino became the NCWO Oklahoma Champion
2021 For God And Country (Pastor Brent & Cpl. Punishment) def. Most Wanted (Dan Webber, Reese, & T-Arsenal) for the WAH Tag Team Titles
2021 Danni Bee became the NCWO Women's Champion
2021 Samedi def. Tommy Dean for the CPW Heavyweight Title
2021 Ky-Ote became the NCWO Choctaw Nation Champion
2021 Akbar Farat def. Tino Valentino for the NCWO Heavyweight Title
2022 Jason Jones def. Dimitri Alexandrov for the WFC Prime Title
2022 Leo Fox became the ASP Mid-American Champion
2022 Olivier Vegos def. Skylar Slice for the ASP Women's Title
2022 High Ratings (Maui Mike & Beau Betten) def. Chosen Influence (Malik Mayfield & Luke Richmond) for the ASP Tag Team Titles
2022 Gatekeeper def. Mr. Nasty for the ASP 5-Star Title
2022 Tino Valentino became the ASP Heavyweight Champion
2026 Ronnie Morton def. Nate Bourne for the RDW Na'Cho Momma's Hardcore Title

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