Various: Mickie James on Knockouts Title Win, Billy Graham Health Update, Status of Several Free Agents

Mickie James Comments on Her Impact Knockouts World Title Win & Title Reign Goals

Impact Wrestling’s Hard To Kill 2023 event this past Friday in Atlanta, Georgia featured Mickie James defeating Jordynne Grace in a career vs. title match for the Impact Knockouts World Championship.

James recently reflected on Twitter about her recent Knockouts World title victory.

I feel on top of the world and like I’ve been shot straight out of a cannon against a brick wall at the same time. Thank you for one helluva a weekend. #TheLastRodeo may be over but #HardcoreCountry lives forever. #5x @IMPACTWRESTLING Knockouts World Champion pic.twitter.com/tOPgUIEtgz

— Mickie James~Aldis (@MickieJames) January 15, 2023

A recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast featured James as the guest. One of the topics discussed included James’ thoughts on her current goal of wanting to be a traveling champion for Impact and defend her Knockouts World title in various promotions.

“I would love that. I would be honored to do that. I did say, if I won this championship, that I intend on making this my greatest reign ever and to become the greatest Knockouts World Champion of all time. In order to be a world champion, it needs to be represented worldwide. IMPACT has been so gracious to me and it’s no secret that they are down to do great business. They always try to do what is best for the company and really have an open mind when it comes to a lot of things and are progressive about a lot of things. You talk about that match with Sasha [Mercedes Mone], that’s one match we never got at WWE. We never had a singles match and it’s one thing we always wanted. With her at Stardom and New Japan, that opportunity to have that singles match would be incredible. To go against someone at AEW, that’s a door I’ve never walked through before. Britt Baker or Jamie Hayter, she’s the champion, I love her. She’s fantastic. Someone like Jade Cargill, who is an anomaly, she’s an attraction, that would be two parallel universes, two different worlds colliding. That would be cool. I was blessed to go back to WWE for the Rumble last time, but there are a lot of women, Charlotte (Flair), Bayley, Becky (Lynch), people who I never really had a chance to be me in that ring and show what I could truly do. That match with Asuka is probably my greatest match when I was back at WWE the last time, and I had some incredible moments and got to do WrestleMania with Alexa (Bliss), but I didn’t have the opportunity to present Hardcore Country until the Rumble, but also remind people of who Mickie James is in the ring. That’s one thing about this time with IMPACT, I reminded a lot of people and earned that respect back on a serious note. I would pray for something like that. I would really like to make this title reign something remarkable and special. I don’t know how many I have left in me.

It’s not about wins or losses, obviously I want to be a champions champion, I don’t want to lose, but to be able to have the opportunity to test myself against a whole new class of women when there are opportunities now that were never available before. It’s exciting. It would be a really good, not only wrap-up to my career, but for this title run to be special for me and to the fans. It would be an opportunity to give the fans something different and unexpected all the way around.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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“Superstar” Billy Graham ICU Status Update

As noted before, WWE Hall of Famer Superstar Billy Graham is currently dealing with a bone infection that has spread to his bone ears and portion of his skull. Graham has been in intensive care for the past week following a heart stoppage incident.

Graham’s wife Valerie recently provided a health update on Facebook stating that Graham’s health situation has recently become stable enough that he has been transferred out of intensive care and into Progressive Care Unit.

Hi folks. Billy’s wife Valerie has supplied an update. She thanks you so much for your prayers, and would be so grateful if you would please keep them coming. Any donation to Billy’s gofundme would be greatly appreciated. They are facing mounting treatment and rehabilitation costs. Thank you and God Bless.

https://www.gofundme.com/f/superstars-emergency-medical-fund

“They said his heart rate and blood pressure are stable enough to transfer him to the PCU on the 3rd floor so that’s what’s happening right now.

They had to wait for him to finish dialysis before they could move him. He’s nervous about being out of ICU but I explained it’s because he’s getting stronger.”

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Several Current Free Agent Indies Wrestlers Status Updates

Fightful Select reported that their sources recently provided several new updates regarding the current free agent status of several notable indies wrestlers.

In regards to former Major League Wrestling talent KC Navarro, it was reported that despite WWE inviting him for a tryout this past December, he is currently still a free agent.

In regards to former Ring of Honor talents Cheeseburger and Rhett Titus, it was reported that both are also currently still free agents. Cheeseburger and Titus have both made recent appearances for AEW and ROH since ROH’s sale to AEW CEO Tony Khan.

In regards to former National Wrestling Alliance talent Colby Corino, it was reported that Corino is currently expected to sign a new contract with WWE.

In a separate report, Fightful Select reported that Major League Wrestling talent Myron Reed’s contract with the company recently expired and he is currently a free agent.