Michin recalls pinning IYO SKY as important moment in her current WWE push

WWE SmackDown has had a big year under the leadership of Triple H, and with the support of TKO. The show wrapped up with FOX and returned to the USA Network. This year was also big for several blue brand superstars, especially Mia Yim (Michin), who ended 2023 on a high with IYO SKY. The veteran has now offered a unique insight into her current push.

World Wrestling Entertainment's inaugural Holiday Havoc Match was held on the final standard SmackDown episode of 2023, featuring Michin, Bianca Belair, Shotzi, and Zelina Vega vs. Damage CTRL's SKY, Bayley, Asuka, and Kairi Sane, with Dakota Kai. In the end, The EST hit The Role Model with a KOD, but The Genius of the Sky leveled her with a Moonsault. Michin then hit her with Eat Defeat, followed by a top rope Senton to put SKY through a table for the pin.

Michin's pin secured her a shot at the WWE Women's Championship on the New Year's Revolution special, but then-champion IYO retained in just over 10 minutes. Yim had been re-branded as Michin for almost a year at this point, but this is where her lengthy push seemingly began on SmackDown, despite the loss.

The 35-year-old took to X (fka Twitter) and responded to a throwback fan post as today marked one year since the Christmas Week edition of SmackDown. She recalled the eight-woman Holiday Havoc match and said this is where "it all" began.

"The start of it all 💪✨," Michin wrote.

Michin has wrestled 42 matches this year in WWE, according to online records. Counting non-televised and TV bouts, this includes 23 wins and 19 losses for the 35-year-old LA native.

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Michin advances in WWE Speed

Michin is in the running to become the second WWE Speed Women's Champion. She previously defeated Ivy Nile in the opening round of the ongoing tournament, then advanced with a quarterfinal win over Katana Chance last week.

She will now compete in the semi-final by facing the winner of this week's quarter-final match between Zelina Vega and Natalya. Michin vs. Vega/Natalya will apparently take place next week to kick off 2025, then the winner will face Candice LeRae for the title, expected for the following week.

LeRae has not defended since beating IYO SKY in October to become the inaugural champion. The current Speed Champion of the men's division is Dragon Lee, who dethroned the second champion Andrade in late November.