Awesome Kong: When I Asked TNA/IMPACT For A Raise, I Wanted 1/10th Of What Kurt Angle Made

Awesome Kong was one of the pioneers of the women’s evolution during her time in TNA/IMPACT, specifically her feud with Gail Kim. 

Kong and Kim feuded throughout 2007 and 2008 over the TNA Knockouts Championship and set the standard for women’s wrestling at the time. 

Speaking to Chris Van Vliet on Insight, Kong discussed her feud with Kim and how she believed it should have led to a raise for her. 

“That was definitely a spark to this inferno of women’s wrestling now because they are doing it. It’s just wrestling now, not even women’s wrestling, they are just workers out there now, going out there and doing the deal. It used to be that the women were ‘popcorn matches,’ they always put us in the second match so people would go to the bathroom or get their popcorn. It’s getting much more respect and women are demanding more respect. Outside of Gail and I, our program being successful and that being an influence over wrestling, I’d like to say I had a lot of influence on women advocating for themselves because in TNA, I would not keep my mouth shut. I just couldn’t understand some of the things that was going on. ‘That’s backward. You can’t tell me that when Kong and Gail pop up on the screen and y’all telling me that the numbers are spiking high all night and I’m not worth X amount of money on paper?’ They would put you through this gauntlet, this maze of asking for a raise or to implement change. One of the times I asked for a raise, I found out what Kurt (Angle) had made. All I wanted was 1/10th of what he was making. You look me in eye and tell me I’m not worth 1/10th of Kurt Angle. Just tell me that. If you can’t tell me that, then pay me that. One or the other. You tell me I’m not worth 1/10th of Kurt Angle, then what am I doing here? I have to figure out some other stuff. If you (can’t) tell me that, then pay me,” she said.

Kong noted that she was one of the top female wrestlers and was coming home to one couch, one fork, and one spoon. 

Kong would leave IMPACT in 2010 to join WWE, but eventually return in 2015. She was inducted into the IMPACT Hall of Fame at Bound For Glory 2021. 

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