Gail Kim Didn't Know Awesome Kong Was Retiring At NWA Empowerrr

NWA’s first ever all-female event Empowerrr was a celebration of women’s wrestling, and saw the retirement of one of the most beloved names of the past 20 years; Awesome Kong.

However, it seems as though Kong’s retirement was a surprise to many, with long-time rival Gail Kim informing the Battleground Podcast that she was caught off-guard by the news:

“It really started with just me coming on board at first. Mickie [James] asked a numerous amount of women to be a part of that. I said, ‘As long as Impact is cool with that, of course.’ I always want to support all the women in this business. Mickie is a go-getter, a legend in her own right and an incredible woman. I knew the passion behind the project that she had. I really didn’t even know what they wanted me to do besides produce at that point. She said, ‘Maybe you can come out and cut a promo.’ I said, ‘Yea, sure, no problem.’

“I would say, probably a week after that, she informed me about Kia [Awesome Kong] accepting. Wrestling has always been one of those things that I actually get really emotional about. I always tell the story that my husband gets mad that I didn’t cry at our wedding, but I will cry about anything wrestling that moves me. When she said she never got that final moment with you to say thank you, I’m feeling emotional now, so I got excited. Honestly, I didn’t know what she was going to say in the ring that night. I found out at the same time as all the fans were watching that she was retiring. Mickie and I both didn’t know.”

H/T: WrestlingNews.co