Masha Slamovich

Masha Slamovich
Slamovich in June 2023
Birth nameAnn Khozine
Born (1998-06-18) June 18, 1998 (age 26)
Moscow, Russia
Professional wrestling career
Ring name(s)
  • Masha Slamovich[1]
  • Skinripper
Billed height5 ft 3 in (160 cm)
Billed weight136 lb (62 kg)
Billed fromMoscow, Russia
Trained by
DebutMay 21, 2016[2]

Ann Khozine (Russian: Анна Хозина, Anna Khozina; born 18 June 1998) is a Russian-American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Masha Slamovich. She is signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where she is the reigning TNA Knockouts World Champion in her first reign, as well as a former three-time TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Champion. She also makes appearances on the independent circuit and performs for Game Changer Wrestling (GCW), where she is the current JCW World Champion, in her first reign.

Early life

Ann Khozine was born in Moscow, Russia, and has dual U.S. and Russian citizenship. Khozine began training as a professional wrestler at age 16, training under Johnny Rodz.[3] In 2021, she earned a degree in criminal justice.[3]

Professional wrestling career

Independent circuit (2016–present)

In 2016, Khozine made her in-ring debut in Japan, wrestling on an independent women's professional wrestling show named Reina under the ring name Skinripper.[4] She also appeared in other promotions such as Pro Wrestling Wave and World Woman Pro-Wrestling Diana.[4] In February 2020, she returned to Japan and trained in the Marvelous Dojo under Chigusa Nagayo.[5] Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Slamovich stayed in Japan and toured with Marvelous throughout the year.[4] In 2019, Slamovich debuted for the Russian Independent Wrestling Federation (IWF), later returning to the promotion in 2022.[6] She lost to Ivan Markov in an intergender match at IWF Strike 119, which aired on 10 February 2022.[7]

On 3 December 2021, Slamovich made her debut for Expect The Unexpected Wrestling (ETU), being defeated by Billie Starkz. On 9 September 2022, she competed in a one night, ten wrestler tournament to crown the first ever ETU Keys To The East Champion. The tournament also included Mike Bailey, Akira, Alec Price, Gabriel Skye, Brandon Kirk, Scoot Andrews, Danny Demanto, Marcus Mathers, and Matt Tremont. Masha defeated Brandon Kirk in the first round, followed by a victory over Mike Bailey in the semi-finals. Slamovich defeated Marcus Mathers in the tournament final to be crowned the inaugural champion.[8]

On 2 January 2023 at Game Changer Wrestling (GCW)'s 56 Nights, Slamovich defeated Cole Radrick, later that night she won a "Do or Die" battle royal match to become the No. 1 contender for the GCW World Championship.[9] On March 17, Slamovich defeated Nick Gage at Eye for an Eye to win the title, becoming the first woman in the company's history to do so.[10] On June 4, Slamovich defended the GCW World Championship against Rina Yamashita at Cage of Survival 2, but then lost it to Blake Christian when he cashed in his Brass Ring for a title shot any time he wanted, turning the match into a triple threat.[11]

On 10 February 2024, Slamovich won the 16th annual Jersey J-Cup tournament where she defeated JCW World Champion Jordan Oliver in the finals, winning the title in the process.[12]

Westside Xtreme Wrestling (2022–present)

Slamovich competed in Westside Xtreme Wrestling's wXw Femmes Fatales tournament, making her first appearance at the 2022 edition in which she defeated Ava Everett in the first rounds, Anastasia Bardot in the semifinals and fell short to Aliss Ink in the finals.[13] On November 11, 2023 at Broken Rules XXI, she won the wXw women's title, defeating Ava Everett, in a last woman standing match.[14][15] On December 23, 2023, at wXw 23rd Anniversary, she faced Robert Dreissker in a winner-takes-all match also disputed for the wXw Unified World Wrestling Championship. Dreissker won the bout and unified both championships, subsequently retiring the wXw Women's Championship.[16]

Impact Wrestling / Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Championship pursuits (2019–2023)

Slamovich made her first appearance for Impact Wrestling during the 14 June 2019 episode of Impact! where she lost to Havok.[17] She also appeared on the 29 June episode of Xplosion where she was defeated by Jordynne Grace.[18] Slamovich made her return to Impact Wrestling on 17 September 2021, during the Knockouts Knockdown event, where she unsuccessfully challenged Deonna Purrazzo, who was the AAA Reina de Reinas Champion and Impact Knockouts World Champion at the time, in a non-title match.[19] After impressing Impact Wrestling officials, Hall of Famer Gail Kim came out after the match in an unaired segment and offered Slamovich a contract with the promotion.[20][21]

Throughout the first half of 2022, Slamovich went on an undefeated streak as she defeated various jobbers as well as contracted Knockouts such as Alisha and Havok.[22][23] On the 1 September episode of Impact!, in the main event match, Slamovich defeated Deonna Purrazzo to become the No. 1 contender for the Impact Knockouts World Championship, which was held by Jordynne Grace.[24] Slamovich challenged Grace for the title on 7 October at Bound for Glory, but was unsuccessful, thus ending her winning streak.[25]

On 13 January 2023, at Hard To Kill, Slamovich defeated Deonna Purrazzo, Killer Kelly, and Taylor Wilde in a four-way match to become the #1 contender for the Impact Knockouts World Championship.[26][27] On February 24, at No Surrender, Slamovich challenged Mickie James for the Knockouts World Championship, but was unsuccessful.[28] On April 16, at Rebellion, Slamovich fought for Team Bully and lost a 10-wrestler Hardcore War against Team Dreamer.[29]

MK Ultra (2023–2024)

On the May 11 episode of Impact!, Slamovich pinned Killer Kelly in a match while trapped in the latter's Killer Clutch submission, though Kelly refused to release the hold afterwards.[30] Some weeks later on May 25 and into Under Siege, the two were found to be brawling throughout the crowd, with a chain being used as a weapon by both women.[31][32][33] On June 9, at Against All Odds, Slamovich defeated Kelly in a dog collar match.[34] Slamovich turned face and joined forces with Kelly on June 22 episode of Impact!.[35]

On July 15, at Slammiversary, Slamovich and Kelly who are now known as MK Ultra, defeated The Coven (KiLynn King and Taylor Wilde) for the Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Championship.[36] They would hold the titles until 13 January 2024, at Hard To Kill, when they lost the titles to Havok and Rosemary,[37] only to regained them a month later.[38] On March 8 at Sacrifice, Slamovich and Kelly were defeated by Spitfire (Dani Luna and Jody Threat), ending their reign at 14 days. Slamovich turned on Kelly and attacked her to end MK Ultra.[39]

The System (2024)

Main article: The System (professional wrestling)

In April 2024, The System tried to convince Slamovich to team up with Alisha Edwards to challenge for the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship. On the Countdown to Rebellion pre-show, after Spitfire retained the titles against Decay (Havok and Rosemary), Slamovich and Edwards confronted Spitfire from the entrance ramp.[40] On May 3 at Under Siege, Slamovich and Edwards defeated Spitfire to win the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship, this marked her third reign with the title.[41] At Victory Road, Slamovich defended the TNA Knockouts World Tag Team Championship, alongside Tasha Steelz (who took the place of Alisha Edwards due to her not being medically able to compete) against Spitfire in a losing effort. After the match, Alisha and Steelz turned on Slamovich and attacked her, thus kicking Slamovich out of The System.[42]

Knockouts World Champion (2024–present)

On 26 October at Bound for Glory, Slamovich defeated Jordynne Grace to win the TNA Knockouts World Championship for the first time.[43]

Championships and accomplishments

References

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