If you play video games, you’ll know how distracting side quests can often be from the main story line. Some are more open to completing the side quests than others.
If TNA Knockouts World champion Masha Slamovich knows one thing about side quests, it’s that she loves them. Apart from being a new champion in the ring, Slamovich loves anything that keeps her physically active and challenges her outside of it.
“I really love sports, fitness, the outdoors, I can always be found hiking, rock climbing, biking, rollerblading, swimming […] badminton,” she told SlamWrestling.net.
But perhaps her biggest side quest is matcha. The idea came to her from seeing Cesaro’s (now Claudio Castagnoli in AEW) coffee adventures. Anything from dragon fruit to mango to vanilla. The seemingly endless customization options can get overwhelming. Masha’s Matcha is a side quest that was always meant to be.
Like being champion.
It took Slamovich a number of failed opportunities before she finally dethroned Jordynne Grace in Detroit last month at Bound For Glory. For her, it was all part of the plan.
Masha Slamovich is the new Knockouts Champion at TNA Bound For Glory at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Photo by Brad McFarlin
“I think that from every loss there comes a lesson … I was not at my final form. All of the puzzle pieces have not yet fallen into their places, and now that this past Bound for Glory was the perfect time and the perfect place. And sometimes we don’t even know why the universe keeps us waiting until a later point in time,” she said. “Bound for Glory 2024 just solidified that because that was the perfect moment, that was the way that it was always meant to be. So I think that those other losses, really, they don’t matter … In the long run, it was a lesson. And I worked harder. I worked on my wrestling, I worked on my presentation, and everything that needed to come together for me to finally become the TNA Knockouts champion.”
As Slamovich’s title reign only began within the last month, she has no concrete plans for her career. That’s the way she likes it. “I think I just have a grander idea of the kind of footprint that I want to leave on professional wrestling.”
There’s something to be said for having a clear plan in place but life often throws people piledriver after suplex after DDT.
Jordynne Grace hugs new Knockouts Champion Masha Slamovich at TNA Bound For Glory at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Photo by Brad McFarlin
“I think that my mindset leaves a lot more room to be happy and surprised by the situations that you end up in, in wrestling, as opposed to … if anything deviates from this path that you have for yourself, you immediately, you’re like, you feel lost, you feel like something was failed, you feel like you’re you know it all feels like it’s not happening the right way … So it keeps me in a positive mindset, almost,” Slamovich said.
“During the pandemic, things would happen, and I didn’t get to have certain matches and certain moments because of things that were outside of my control, and that’s just something you have to accept in wrestling. And instead of being upset and bitter … find a way to tell yourself that everything happens for a reason and move on to the next thing,” was the advice she shared.
“I think that that really helps to keep you focused and to keep you from falling into like states of depression or something like that. And also, I’ve just had such a journey on my career. I mean, if you would have told me that I’d be wrestling for PWG, I’d be having my debut in Japan, I’d be like, you’re insane. But I just gotta stay ready for whatever life throws my way, because apparently I have no idea what that is.”
Born in Moscow, the 26-year-old dual citizen (USA and Russia) has been wrestling for 10 years, dating back to her time in high school. She made her debut in a Japanese independent promotion, using the name Skinripper. Since then, she’s spent time in Westside Xtreme Wrestling (wXw) and continues to be an active participant in the independent scene every chance she gets. Side quests.
Being pleasantly surprised with how side quests turn out can be a game-changer, mentally. It’s like getting distracted from the main story of a video game and then realizing that completing the side quest actually aids you in the main story.
When it comes to defending her title, Slamovich welcomes any and all who would want to challenge her. “I want to be a fighting champion, and I want to put my title on the line and prove to everybody why I have it.”
From matcha to hiking to perhaps one day pursuing further education, the TNA Knockouts World Champion always accepts side quests. They are a key part of her story and will be for the foreseeable future. Whether it be dream matches against the likes of Meiko Satomura (both trained under Chigusa Nagayo) or former three-time X-Division champion Amazing Red, Masha Slamovich is open to it all.
“Generally, in my career, there are things that I plan on doing that I don’t even know yet. The journey is taking me somewhere far greater than I can imagine,” she concluded.
Masha Slamovich will be at the London Music Hall this Sunday, Nov. 17, for Smash Wrestling’s “Brace for Impact“.
RELATED LINKS
- Masha Slamovich socials: Instagram * Threads * Twitter / X.
TOP PHOTO: Masha Slamovich at TNA Bound For Glory at the Wayne State University Fieldhouse in Detroit, Michigan, on Saturday, October 26, 2024. Photo by Brad McFarlin
