TNA shook up its Knockouts division in a major way on the AMC premiere of TNA Impact, as Knockouts World champion Lei Ying Lee issued an open challenge that drew an unexpected response from WWE NXT talent.
Lee was originally scheduled to defend her title against Dani Luna at TNA Genesis this Saturday, but Santino Marella announced that Luna had been pulled from the match due to international visa issues. With no challenger officially lined up and refusing to sit the weekend out, Lee declared she would defend her championship against anyone willing to step forward.
That invitation was quickly met by Sol Ruca and Zaria, who made their way onto the stage to confront Lee and Xia Brookside. Ruca took the microphone and praised Lee’s fighting spirit, calling the open challenge an “incredible opportunity for all of women’s professional wrestling,” before hinting that bringing gold home to NXT would make the moment even sweeter. She then shocked the champion and the live crowd by nominating her partner Zaria for the title shot instead of stepping in herself.
Zaria initially appeared caught off guard before grounding herself and accepting the match. She signed the contract on Marella’s back to make the Genesis bout official, then shook hands with Lee in a show of mutual respect.
Lei Ying Lee’s TNA Knockouts Title Win At WWE NXT Gold Rush
Lee Ying Lee enters Saturday’s title defence on strong form. She captured the Knockouts World Championship at WWE NXT Gold Rush by defeating Jordynne Grace and then champion Kelani Jordan, and has recorded one defence so far against her own partner, Brookside. This weekend, she will face a challenger no one expected.
Lee was formerly a member of the WWE NXT roster, as she first signed with WWE in 2017 under the name Xia Li. Despite having a lengthy run with the company, debuting in the Mae Young Classic on July 13, 2017, and having her final match on the February 19, 2024, episode of Raw.
