Kenzie Paige is ready to show Gail Kim just how much progress she’s made in the ring.
WrestleZone Managing Editor Bill Pritchard spoke with Paige, the current NWA Women’s World Champion, ahead of her title defense at the 2025 NWA Crockett Cup. She will face off with WWE Superstar Natalya, but 7-time TNA Knockouts Champion Gail Kim will also serve as the special guest referee for the match.
Paige says she’s a huge fan of Gail Kim, who has also been a mentor of sorts for her over the years. Paige said that Gail has given her good feedback over the years and feels like Gail being the referee for her match almost feels like divine intervention.
“[I am a] huge Gail Kim fan. And I’ve also tried to [stay in contact] — I don’t bother her much, but I have tried to stay in contact and send matches as I’ve progressed and gotten better. Because she is someone, personally, that I really care about her opinion. From when I was way younger, wrestling Jordynne Grace on the independent scene to now she’s my special guest ref against Nattie Neidhart. For what it’s worth, she’s got to see a little bit of my growth and evolution as I say… That is a very big deal to me in my personal life.
“And to see everything kind of come into play, it’s like all one big circle for me. So, to have her as a special guest ref once again — like I said, I’ve tried to keep her up to date with what I am doing and everything I’ve done thus far. So, for her to be a part of this big moment and this big match-up is almost like God kind of set that up for me.”
Kenzie Paige fans the flames ahead of NWA Crockett Cup
Kenzie Paige also poked the bear a bit after Natalya told NWA owner Billy Corgan that she’s going to “beat the shit out of Kenzie and anyone else who gets in [her] way.” Paige pointed out the phrasing, speculating that it could also mean Gail Kim, too.
“Well, is that a threat towards Gail Kim? Because that’s what it sounded like. It kind of sounded like a threat to me,” Paige said.
The 2025 NWA Crockett Cup takes place on Saturday, May 17, at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia. Watch our full interview with Kenzie Paige below:
