This week on Impact initiated the first week of the Knockouts tag team tournament, as well as the anticipated debut of Hamada.
Traci Brooks and Sharmell, looking pretty snazzy in their matching MEM wear, hype up their impending encounter with Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed. Sharmell ever-so-graciously describes Awesome Kong as “elephant-like” in her endeavor to talk a big game. Say what you will about Sharmell’s “work-rate,” but she sure makes up in charisma what she lacks in ring ability.
At the start of the competition, Impact makes up for their lack of gratuitous shots of Velvet’s ass this week with some upclose shots of Traci’s… enhancements. Giggidy giggidy goo!
Traci dodges Kong and makes a quick tag to Sharmell. Kong tags out, and Sharmell takes the attitude to Raisha. Raisha pushes Sharmell down, who tags out. Raisha takes the fight to Traci and Irish whips her into the corner and hits her with a flying clothesline. Raisha follows up with a scoop slam and an elbow drop. Traci kicks out at two. Raisha takes Traci down with a suplex. Traci overcomes Raisha and whips her into Sharmell’s corner. Sharmell grabs hold of Raisha, but pays for her over-zealousness. Traci subsidizes on the distraction with a clothesline and a cover. When Raisha kicks out, Traci attempts to strangle her and choke her against the ropes. Traci takes a running start and then lands on Raisha mercilessly agains the ring ropes. Traci quickly goes for the cover, but Raisha kicks out at 2. Traci attempts to drag her opponent to the opposing corner, but Raisha powers out. She then retreats to her own corner and tags in Awesome Kong.
Kong takes Traci down with a series of clotheslines and smashes her in the corner. Kong sets her up for the Awesome Bomb, but Traci manages to scurry away. She runs the ropes, only to be tackled again with full force. Kong drags Traci into position, goes up the second rope, and dive-splashes all near 300 pounds of awesome on top of her with the Awesome Press. What surely would turn into a victory for Kong’s team, is interrupted by Sharmell who would prefer not to see her team lose in vain. While Kong is preoccupied with Sharmell, Raisha makes the blind tag and covers Traci for the 3-count. Once again, there seems to be trouble on the horizon looming between Kong and her sidekick. Looks like Raisha/Melissa won’t be doing double duty for much longer. Nonetheless, Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed are slotted for the second round of the tag team tournament.
Next up is the long awaited debut of Hamada.
Backstage, Daffney indulges the world on her extra-curricular activities and her inability to plan and follow a gameplan. Sounds oddly enough like my Audio Communication professor… you know, minus the sheep skinning bit (as far as I know.) Tazz apparently digs Daffney’s gothic chick vibes, what he refers to as “Zombie Hot.” A trend that is now slated to sweep over the East Coast.
Hamada makes her illusive entrance. Which, dare I say, is pretty damn badass? Unfortunately, Daffney does not allow us much time to revel in the badassery as she takes an eager shot to her opponent. Daffney flips Hamada over onto the mat and delivers a neck snap. She sits Hamada up and kicks her back down, setting her up with a brutal neck twist. Daffney goes in for an early cover, but Hamada kicks out.
Both ladies try to overpower the other with an exchange of stinging chops to the sternum. Daffney gets the better of Hamada with an uppercut, but Hamada immediately retorts with a boot to the face. Daffney crawls into the corner and Hamada proceeds to stomp a mudhole. Hamada whips to Daffney to the ropes and Daffney then reciprocates a swift kick to the shoulder. She charges toward Hamada, is sent over, and lands on the apron. However, before Daffney can capitalize, Hamada strikes in the head as TNA takes its ever habitual Knockout commercial break.
Back from commercial, Daffney takes out Hamada with a forearm shot into the corner. Hamada drops to the mat, and Daffney lands a diving elbow. She goes for the cover yet again, but Hamada gets the shoulder up. Hamada is led into the corner, but mauls Daffney with yet another mortal kick, followed up by an enzuigiri. Hamada builds up momentum with a chain of back elbow shots. She rocks Daffney with a couple headbutts and a jumping DDT. Hamada goes for her first cover of the match, but Daffney kicks out.
Daffney ducks an attempted roundkick and delivers a Shining Wizard of her own. Vexed by the nearfall, she sends Hamada out to the floor. The match then proceeds outside of the ring. Daffney looks to take advantage of the “no disqualification” aspect of the match but misses a chairshot opportunity. Tazz has a brief Joey Styles moment, there. Hamada rings the steel chair around Daffney’s neck and pushes her into the turnbuckle. Hamada then calls for the table in a far cuter fashion than Brother Ray could ever deliver. She then plants Daffney and delivers a picture perfect moonsault, splitting the table in the process to an array of “TNA” and “This is awesome” chants.
For the finish, Hamada puts Daffney away with the Hamada/Michinoku Driver (sitoutscoop slam piledriver.)
An impressive showing for both Daffney and Hamada, and a great debut for TNA’s “newest” Knockout. Oddly enough, I noticed that Alissa Flash and Hamada now share somewhat of a similar finisher. Alissa Flash took Sarita out with her variation of Great Sasuke’s Michinoku Driver weeks ago, as did Hamada this week against Daffney. Funny how that works. Also, major kudos to “TNA’s Resident Shedevil,” Daffney for putting her body under that amount of continual abuse.
Tazz did his usual job of putting over the Knockouts, this time by somewhat likening Hamada to Sabu. Sabu may be the King of Botches, but his daredevil antics and “never-say-die” mentality are to be admired. So, I’d imagine Hamada would consider that a compliment. One thing’s for certain. The amount of liveliness that has been recently injected into the division now marks the inception of a new Knockout era.
Backstage, Velvet Sky and Angelina Love confront Madison Rayne about her “mystery tag partner.” It is revealed that the Beautiful People have drawn Madison and her partner in the first round. Madison shows some gonash by sticking up to her former mentors. In an attempt to breakup the commotion, Jeremy Borash “accidentally” steps on Madison. Chivalry isn’t dead, folks.
The tournament has begun to a considerably slow start, but I am intrigued by the development between Awesome Kong and Raisha Saeed, as well as the alleged return of Roxxi.
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11 Comments
Daffney V.S. Hamada was really awesome, Hamada is by far one of the most talented women on TNA, I can’t wait to see more action from her, she makes me want MORE!!
I love Sharmell’s personality, she has a great amount of charisma and it’s impossible for me not to like her, what I dislike is “her” hair!
Traci’s wrestling style comes out as a bit boring and all, but I guess she improved…
Great week for the Knockouts, Hamada making an amazing debut, Daffney looking better than ever inside the ring, Raisha Saeed probably fading away, Madison showing personality for the first time ever…great week for the TNA ladies, oh, am I the only one who forgot that the TNA Knockouts Championship existed?!
something has been bothering me,TNA keeps saying womens tag team TITLE,not TITLES,but TITLE,does that mean a team will share only 1 belt because they really should get 2 belts,1 for each member,i hope they don’t end up sharing 1 belt,that would be stupid
Madisons partner is Roxxi but most likely,they will lose to angelina and velvet:(
Man,hamada is great but why is she teamed with sojo who couldn’t be less over if she tried
@PedroPedroso17 No, you are not the only one!
The thing that I love about TNA, no matter how much I bitch about their mistakes, is the fact that they let their knockouts show personality. Three awesome promos/segments, not to mention two matches, in one night? I’m almost past the point of caring about all the Knockout’s title drama.
The match was just perfect. Hamada and Daffney are 2 of the best workers in the KO division and it really showed. Hamada’s moonsault was just plain pure awesomeness. You won’t see a Diva doing that. What makes the match even more special is when the crowd chanted “This Is Awesome”. I’m so excited for next weeks tapings. The only thing I don’t like is that Hamada has to pair w/ Sojo. But you never know, maybe Hamada and Sojo will make it all the way! =)
Much like Sarita’s debut, I am glad TNA didn’t book Hamada’s debut as a squash. Daffney controlled a good portion of the match and she looked credible. I guess it compensates how much of a jobber they made her look in the feud against Taylor Wilde. She lost the match, but she looked good. And Hamada WOW. She has put on some weight in the last few years but she can still get it done in the ring, so it’s not the case of Chris Harris/Braden Walker in WWE last year :lol:
The tag tourney began promising enough. Good call to put Kong and Saeed over. Seriously, Sharmell needs to be a backstage interviewer. She may not be a wrestler but she might be one of the top 3 female talkers in TNA (along with Angelina Love and Daffney). She conveys so much more on the mic than Lauren. Wonder if this match is the beginning of the end of Kong and Saeed. Will be VERY interested if Daffney and Alissa Flash win their 1st round match. How would they handle two Melissa Anderson characters in the same ring?!
The DUD was the ODB/Deaner crap. At least last year ODB was taken somewhat seriously despite the gimmick. Somehow she’s become even more obnxious and over-the-top than ever. Grabbing her boobs, calling the KO’s title the “Knocked up” title and the general garbage angle with Cody Deaner. He’s become worse than Cute Kip. No Surrender MUST be the end of this nonsense. What a contradiction….the division is stronger than ever in terms of talent and they are going to crown tag champs, but unfortunately this ‘feud’ (which reeks of Beth/Santina) should be a strong contender of the Gooker Award this year, on Wrestlecrap.
As for TBP/Madison Rayne I am very intrigued about it. On one level, because Madison can now get a chance to potentially shine. She is a talented, energetic worker but as a babyface as seen by her SHIMMER work. She never fitted with Love and Sky. Secondly her mystery tag partner. It’s been reported since yesterday about Roxxi. Would be interested if does turn out to be Nevaeh or perhaps Moose (someone who had brief history with TBP last year).
There was two things that annoyed me about iMPACT last night is that the tag brackets are a bit of a spoiler. Unless they can get someone else to take the role as Saeed then any fan with half the interest knows that Alissa Flash and whoever won’t take on Saeed and Kong.
The second is the whole Deaner and ODB debarcle, despite liking the booking style of D’Amore I hope Cornette books the PPV match. If you look at the way he did the Rob vs Hernandez match you’ll understand.
Another great piece Tiffany and I agree with the cleavage shots as I mentioned last week that’s the only thing TNA production seem to shoot.
I don’t think D’Amore has any booking/creative power, he’s only a road agent.
Thanks Melanie, I didn’t know he was a road agent my bad, but I’d still rather have Cornette over Russo for the Sacrifice match.
Seriouly I did not like Hamada at all. Is clear that she have talent and I respect that but I dont see anything special on her. TNA is exagarating hiring to many females…..Is not bad but 20 females in one show(That airs once a week) is not a pretty thing.
Sharmell’s mouth is GOLD. nuff said.
Traci & Sharmell vs. Kong & Raisha
it was ok, nothing too z0mg.. but yeah, I did love Kong’s splash on Traci, it was great, she did have a great elevation which made it look more :O
Hamada vs. Daffney
oh god, i felt so tickly watching this, I LOVE HAMADA! shes such a breath of fresh air, once we’ve seen the horrible sick match involving Deaner, TBP, and ODB. The match kept me on the edge of my seat, and the moonsault was amazingg, and then the powerdriver was great :D overall great match :)
Love Hamada. Love that moonsault.
But I’ve gotta say, I’m missing Don West’s ridiculous commentary constant references to how he wishes the Beautiful People were there…