Two Former Knockouts Champions Returned At Last Night’s Impact Wrestling Tapings (Photos)

Two former Knockouts Champions returned to Impact Wrestling at last night’s television tapings in Orlando, Florida: Winter and Madison Rayne.

Winter returned under the name Katarina Leigh, which is her real first and middle name. She accompanied Grado for a match against Kongo Kong (who was accompanied by Jimmy Jacobs). Katarina Leigh might have turned on Grado after losing to Kong, as she left him behind while he got beat down by Kong and Jacobs. Moose then came out to make the save.

Scoop #13: Kongo Kong with Jimmy Jacobs vs Grado with Katarina Leigh pic.twitter.com/YEJ57M0sx9

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) April 24, 2018

Scoop #14: Kongo Kong defeats Grado

Katarina Leigh leaves Grado after the match

Kong & Jacobs beat down Grado until Moose makes the save pic.twitter.com/TVhNVVZuq9

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) April 24, 2018

Impact Wrestling announced on Monday that Katarina Leigh would be making her return in the coming weeks.

We are delighted to announce @katarinasinfamy will be making her return to IMPACT in the coming weeks. pic.twitter.com/rYzmtMVlkR

— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 23, 2018

As for Rayne, it looks like she returned to feud with new Knockout Tessa Blanchard. Rayne joined her husband, Josh Mathews, and Don Callis at the announce table for a match between Blanchard and Keira Hogan. Blanchard continued attacking Hogan after pinning her, which resulted in Rayne making the save.

Scoop #25: Keira Hogan vs Tessa Blanchard

Madison Rayne is out for commentary pic.twitter.com/omdATIAF4Z

— Jacob Cohen (@MrJacobCohen) April 25, 2018

@MadisonRayne pic.twitter.com/ymXYmL0lwj

— daniel garcia (@danielg36711995) April 25, 2018

This may be a short stint for Rayne. She was apparently released from her contract last July but returned in November for a set of tapings (she did not work January’s tapings). Rayne has said that she is a free agent, which allows her to compete for Ring of Honor and various independent promotions. She also tried out for WWE last October at the Performance Center but her returns to Impact would indicate that she was not offered a contract.