On the eve of IMPACT Wrestling's Sacrifice pay-per-view, it was announced that Mickie James would not defending her Knockouts Championship due to injury. This was hours before it was announced that IMPACT World Champion Josh Alexander was vacating his title to have surgery to repair a torn tricep.

Fightful Select reports that James suffered a rib injury at the last set of tapings. On Thursday's episode, James was speared by Jordynne Grace. Grace was aiming for Bully Ray, but he sidestepped just in time for the champion to be nailed. It's unclear if that's where the injury took place or if it was written in to give her a reason to be out on television.



During a sit down segment with Gia Miller and Santino Marella at Sacrifice, James said she didn't know how long she would be out. She will also miss her match at the Multiverse United show next week. Her goal is to defend the Knockouts title at Rebellion.

If she can't defend her title next month, Marella has a plan. Grace will face the winner of the match at Multiverse United at Rebellion for the Knockouts Championship. If James is cleared, it will then be a triple threat match for the title. If James isn't cleared by Rebellion, she will vacate the title.



The Multiverse United match will see Deonna Purrazzo, Masha Slamovich, Gisele Shaw, and Miyu Yamashita battle for the spot at Rebellion.