Billy Corgan credits Mickie James with helping to mend fences between the National Wrestling Alliance and IMPACT Wrestling.
The relationship between Billy Corgan and IMPACT Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance and IMPACT Wrestling both have a storied history. Toward the end of the Dixie Carter era of TNA Wrestling, Billy Corgan became a business partner and on-screen authority figure of IMPACT Wrestling. That relationship would not end cleanly. IMPACT Wrestling also has its roots in the 2002 reboot of the national wrestling alliance with NWA TNA.
Now, both brands are coming together as part of the booking of NWA EmPowerrr. The women-only card will feature Deonna Purrazzo defending her Knockouts Knockouts Championship against Melina.
Speaking with The Battleground Podcast, Billy Corgan credits Mickie James for helping mend the fence between all parties and touts the success of the Supercard concept that is becoming more popular in professional wrestling.
“Well I think it’s all credit to Mickie, you know, she was the one that had the relationships to go back and kind of reopen that door, which from my end was closed due to some business stuff that had gone on. Then, Pat Kenney, who works behind the scenes in talent relations, has a long-standing relationship with people in IMPACT. I think it just kind of mended the fence and we found some business to do together and they’ve been a great partner in this. Obviously, Deonna Purrazzo’s gonna be on the pay-per-view, and it’s a real honor. Let’s not forget, I worked for that championship, so that championship means a lot to me. So to have it on an NWA show is a great honor and it's a tribute to everybody involved to help put it together. Because, I think it's now very obvious, you know, everybody calls it the forbidden door, but I've been saying it for years, you know, the future of the wrestling business is really great people working together, putting together these Supercards.”
Furthermore, Billy Corgan would reiterate that he feels it's best that Mickie James be a free agent but would, of course, welcome her with open arms if she wanted to sign with exclusivity to the National Wrestling Alliance.
“Well, as far as Mickie is a talent, Mickie wants to remain a free agent, which, as a friend of hers, I think is totally a wise business decision. Of course, if she wants to sign exclusively to the NWA, I would welcome that. But I think it's a good decision for her given exactly what we were talking about, she should be available on the open market to work with whomever she wants to in whatever way she wants to choose. She's earned that so I applaud her for that. As far as behind the scenes. Yeah, she's definitely in a leadership role. I wouldn't constrain Mickie to anyone. But obviously, she's very involved in what's happening in the women's division currently, but I wouldn't constrain her to that. I want someone with Mickie's skill set behind the scenes helping make the entire brand better. The NWA very much, in terms of the office, is very much -- everybody's behind pushing this card up the hill and the number one demand is to make the product as good as it can be, and distinctive as it can be.”
NWA EmPowerrr takes place this Saturday, August 28, 2021, and the NWA 73 event will take place the following day. Elsewhere on the same podcast, Billy Corgan opened up about getting Ric Flair to appear at the 73rd-anniversary show for the NWA. Learn more here.
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