Billy Corgan Credits Mickie James With Repairing NWA-IMPACT Wrestling Relationship

Ahead of NWA’s upcoming Empowerrr PPV on August 28, there has been some cross-over work done between the NWA and IMPACT Wrestling, with former IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James is helping produce Empowerrr, and has appeared on IMPACT TV to recruit stars for the show, such as Deonna Purrazzo.

Now, according to NWA head Billy Corgan, it was James who helped repair the NWA/IMPACT relationship, telling The Battleground podcast:

“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 honour. 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 honour 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.”

IMPACT (then TNA) and the NWA’s relationship was all but ended after TNA withdrew from the NWA in 2004, but continued to use their titles until 2007. Corgan himself also had bad blood with IMPACT, having invested in the company in the dying days of the Dixie Carter regime.

As for Mickie James’ future, Corgan has reiterated that she is technically a free agent:

“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.”

H/T: Fightful