When former Knockouts Champion, Tara’s contract with TNA expires on May 21st, there will be a gap in the Knockouts division that needs to be filled. For the past year it seems, the entire division has revolved around Tara in one way or another, she is without a doubt the star power of that division and has been the top Knockout from the moment she came in to the moment she leaves. One woman doesn’t necessarily define a division, but with a spate of departures including the high profile loss of Awesome Kong and the streamlining of lesser used Knockouts including Traci Brooks, Alissa Flash and Roxxi, TNA hasn’t positioned itself very well for a division without Tara. So what happens when she leaves?
The ideal candidate to helm the new Knockouts division as top babyface would be the recently injured Angelina Love, but TNA has done themselves no favours by limiting the roles of two former Knockouts Champions — ODB and Taylor Wilde — in recent months because there’s no strong secondary babyface to help prop up the division and make up the numbers along with Angelina. The heel side looks stronger as currently, The Beautiful People at the moment hold all the gold. Daffney is another extremely strong character and worker that could be a real asset to the division. Then there’s Sarita & Hamada, arguably two of the best female wrestlers in the world, just sitting on the sidelines and going to waste. TNA has given us little reason to care about most of these Knockouts over the past several months. And with that, I think that post-Tara, TNA needs to draw a line under everything that the Knockouts division has stood for so far and ‘reboot’ the division almost. Do something bold, imaginative and attention-grabbing to draw attention back to this division.
With Tara and Kong gone, TNA will no doubt be hiring some new Knockouts soon; Betsy Ruth recently had a tryout with the company and there are a dozen of girls on the independents who would love an opportunity with TNA. Many of them are starting Twitter campaigns to try and catch Dixie Carter’s ear. Why not give them a shot but also find a way to grab the viewer’s attention and get them interested in the Knockouts again? I propose that TNA gives some of these hungry potential Knockouts an opportunity — on national television.
Similar to the Diva Search and the current WWE NXT competition, it’s my suggestion that TNA launches its own competition to find the next TNA Knockout. However, instead of scouring modelling agencies and cafes in LA for desperate actresses, use these independent girls that want to be in your company. Take advantage of girls like Lizzy Valentine, Shelly Martinez, Lorelei Lee and even our own Kristin Astara.
My idea is this: TNA chooses 8 girls from the independents who want to be a Knockout. Bring them down to Orlando for the Impact tapings and give them televised tryout matches… with a twist. Each week, over four weeks, two of the 8 girls will wrestle in an ‘exhibition’ match in the Search for a Knockout competition. After the match, TNA directs its viewers to its website to vote for the Knockout that impressed them the most. The four Knockouts over those four weeks who won the polls can then compete in a tag team match the next week or a fatal four-way match, then the fans vote again for the wannabe Knockout who impressed them the most and the two with the highest number of votes advance to the finals in week six. The final two wrestle each other, the fans vote and the winner is made the newest addition to the Knockouts roster.
Why is this a good idea? It gives some independent talent who want a shot with a major company to show what they can do on national television. It also gets the fane division becas excited about thuse there’s the voting element — they get to vote for the girl that they want to see. For the winner, there’s that six week journey that the viewer has taken with them that will hopefully help them get over. You will begin to care for these girls and when a winner is crowned, it just won’t be a random girl debuting on TV like Chelsea etc., she’ll be someone you already know and maybe rooted for. And of course, there’s great storyline potential for the winner right off the bat — she could easily go into a feud with an established Knockout who feels she has paid her dues and here’s this girl getting her contract through a competition.
And who is to say that some of the other 7 finalists couldn’t be contracted either? I mean, WWE did it with the Diva Search. These televised tryouts would give TNA’s higher-ups an idea of who is getting over with the crowd, it’d give them the opportunity to see these girls work a few matches, see their attitude backstage etc. This could hopefully result in a few girls being brought in to flesh out the division.
At this point, anything is worth a try and something dramatic could help take the attention away from the fact that all of these top Knockouts have left and the division is a shadow of it’s former self, and it could get people excited about the future of the division. For me, Tara’s departure is the end of an era — the final nail in the coffin of the division that was. Do something radical and different to set the new era apart from the old one.
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33 Comments
Great article Melanie =] I love your idea about the search for a Knockout competition. The thing is though, with how much that’s been said about the change in mood at TNA lately, I’m worried that girls like Shelly Martinez or Lizzy Valentine who appeared there before the Hogan/Bischoff era began, will walk in thinking it was like how it was before they took over. If things have changed a lot since then, I hope that Shelly or Lizzy or even Kristin, have a good head on their shoulders and are put to good use on TV to get the spotlight I feel they deserve.
I’d love to see Lizzy, Kristin, Shelly, and Lorelei return, as well as maybe the likes of Amber O’Neal, Reyna Von Tash, Jessie McKay, and (going based off of Steven’s review of the last set of Shimmer tapings) Tenille, be placed in that eight woman competition. Maybe not Shelly since she’s been a prominant character on TNA before, but put in another strong indy girl such as Ariel.
I really dont see the division improving, more that Tara’s release will be it’s downfall. Eric is not a supporter of Womens Wrestling, so I see The Beautiful People facing Angelina Love a lot in the coming weeks, with a combination of Saritaylor, ODB, Hamada, and Daffney soon leaving. If they really get paid so little per appearance, I really would rather see those ladies work the indies and get more money and use of their talents. All in all though, great idea & article.
Gahhh, I forgot Leva Bates & Sassy Stephie too. Big fans of both of them
Great article Melanie, a Knockout Search but with Indie wrestlers instead of bikino models… I’m liking this already. =-)
I think girls like Lizzy, Kristin, Lorelei, Amber, anyone really as long as they can work well in the ring, would definetly benefit from this oppotunity as they would all get to work on TNA for a bit and then the fans would pick who they like best to keep in there. Sounds like a MUCH improved version of the Diva Search, heres hoping TNA use this in their upcoming episodes.
If we all support this idea (and as obviously what I’m going to say is…), then send it to Dixie on her Twitter, she listens to the fans. Btw doesn’t all of us saying this in the world make Dixie seem to gullable… oh well we want this naow!!! >=) lol
Oh also maybe get Becky James on there as well, team up with Rob Terry, have ourselves a Welsh couple in the mitts of this American promotion. WELSH PRIDE FTFW!!! >=P lol xD
TNA wouldn’t liking ever go for an idea like this – even if the women are the highest draw for the entire program they just wouldn’t envelope the time into this during the Hogan and Bischoff regime. Aside from that, a lot of independent talents (Lizzy Valentine, Mercedes Martinez, Alexxis Neveah, Lorelei Lee, Leva Bates, etc.) have already been tried out with the Orlando crowds and they just weren’t hot for them like they were Shantelle Taylor and Cheerleader Melissa so I wouldn’t look for them to return for a purposed competition.
The best route is to turn lemons into lemonade – use what you’ve got. With Tara gone, Knockouts like Sarita and Hamada who were shafted to the back-burner after her debut can finally get a proper singles push. For the past 11 months it’s been Non-Stop Tara and personally I don’t look at her departure as a nail in the coffin as much as an opening. Hogan and Bischoff obviously want to let the Beautiful People hold the reigns of the Knockouts and if they’re going to- so be it, if there’s good competition and Madison Rayne is one holding the main gold I don’t see a huge problem.
Their are alot of of talent women in the indies that can actual wrestling. So, I think they should just get some of those women and not Shelly who can’t even sell a move.
Also, they need to push Sarita, Taylor, and Hamada.
You know, considering TNA has featured girls that aren’t their own on Impact before (the Knockout Eve and Kong squash tour come to mind), this is actually a pretty viable idea.
Great idea. I’d LOVE to have Lizzy Valentine on TNA since she can really pull off a persona.
ya know, what does it for me with the knockouts isn’t necessarily the stories or the fueds, but the wrestling talent. i would be perfectly happy having random matches for a good few months, with no backstory, as long as the women doing the wrestling were great in the ring.
i do like the idea of a fan vote. they’re currently doing something sort of fan vote-y with the no.1 contendership for their main male title belt. don’t see why it couldn’t extend to other things – even say, who should be next to challenge madison for the title, let alone the idea of a indie “diva search” type competiton.
In my opinion, TNA needs a Royal Butterfly….
I like your Knockout’s Search idea alot, but I have a strong feeling the TNA fans will just vote for whoever they think is the hottest. Most fans are like that. It sucks that life is like that. Why did god have to make so many perves? God made me a perve :(
I agree with every single word you said…like always =D! I guess TNA has too many good womens wrestlers if that makes any sense. There isn’t that Knockouts to begin with so with every push, another character gets downplayed. It’s like that in mens wrestling also. Look at Samoa Joe for instance. Where the hell has he been as of late? How long has it been since he was a champion? It’s really weird. Taylor, Sarita, Hamada ect. have all been downplayed so they can focus on Tara, Angelina and TBP. It would be great if they could utilize everyone, but it’s just too difficult I suppose. It kinda sucks that their’s always one diva/knockout fued going, whereas (I don’t know how to spell) with the men, several fueds go on at once. Randy vs. Edge, HHH vs. Sheamus, Batista vs. John Cena. But what do you expect with only one women’s match every week? Wrestling is dying. Not just women’s wrestling. Just wrestling in general.
I agree that there will be a gap in the KO division, but the point is, if TNA were to do a WWE Diva Search-esque competition, then surely, the WWE fans will claim that TNA copied them once again. This wouldn’t be unlikely either, as PWMania reports that TNA is working on a Tough Enlough styled show.
I think the biggest problem with this is that chances are, a lot of fans would base their votes on a) hotness and b) who actually won the match. The winner would have a clear advantage – unless they cheated, which would probably give the advantage to the other girl – because people would see them as ‘more impressive’ due to them winning the actual match. How would TNA choose a winner and loser?
It is a good idea though.
I love it :) The fans really love the Knockouts, but management just won’t give them the oppurtunities.
I love the idea of a TNA knockout competition. I think it would have worked out great if this were a year ago. But this is the hogan and bishoff era now. With our luck, we would get bikini contests and locked boxes. Whoever opens up the right box wins :/
I have hope for the TNA knockout division but I am not getting my hopes up. The one thing that has to change is the creative team. And unless they are done making the knockouts look like divas. There is nothing that anyone can do about it. I don’t think the creative team is completely at fault. Hogan and Bischoff are the ones that approve of the garbage we have been seeing, so obviously they are at fault to. Hopefully something changes.
And storyline, no storyline. It doesn’t matter. But having the knockouts in two minute matches isn’t acceptable whatsoever. The TNA knockouts were suppose to be an outlet for the people that wanted to watch an amazing woman’s division. And now look at it. It just irritates me.
the ko divison will be awful without Tara! tna will probably pick up another wwe reject like Mickie James or Ashley Massaro but i think they should get a new face altogether! but they need to be an awesome wrestler
jennifer blake would be PERFECT for TNA just now. shes hot, (like hogan & bischoff need), shes a great wrestler, and shes got some personality.. so she’d be great as one of the top faces.
Great Blog as always Melanie. Not a bad idea. I agree with the peeps on the fact that most fans would vote for the Sexiest Looking Lady not the Most Talented. Another thing TNA would again be criticized by fans for stealing another WWE concept instead trying to be somewhat original. If Dixie Carter had any business sense and really wanted to exploit and make the Knockout’s Division/Women’s Wrestling in general a big part of the company on par with the Men than she would reach out to Women’s Wrestling Organizations like Shimmer, WSU, etc… Work out a partnership with these organizations to showcase some of the best famale performers in wrestling today such as Sara Del Ray, Madison Eagles, Lizzy Valentine, Jennifer Blake. Daisy Haze, Brittney Savage, and of course the Joshie Ladies from Japan. Bring In/Showcase Tag Teams such as the Canadian Ninjas- Nicole Matthews and Portia Perez, The Home Wrecking Crew – Rain and Lacey, Team Blondage – Amber O’Neal and Kristin Astara, and reunite the Scream Queens – MsChif and Daffney. Of course this will never happen because No Company wants to / will share any money with the other. Money is Money, Business is Business, Every Company for Themselves. That’s just the way it is.
xflygurlx16 wrote: “the ko divison will be awful without Tara!”
The KO division was at it’s peak during 2007-2008, that was way before Tara was in TNA. Even when the KO division started to suck (early’2009) she wasnt part of it yet. Most of Tara’s feuds were kinda boring, and her matches never really reached the level she had in WWE. So replacing her with Mickie James can only make things better.
An interesting article, although I don’t necessarily like the NXT idea of voting for new Knockouts it all seems a bit too similiar, plus with the Rankings System in place it just seems that if this idea went ahead, everything important in TNA would be put down to some crappy vote to cover up a lack of direction.
TNA’s problem is that when it introduced the Knockouts division, it was a diverse one because at the time every girl had to stand out, I believe that is what made the girls so successful up until this point where it has become the same old, same old. Think about it we had a bankable star- Gail Kim, the voodoo queen – Roxxi, the monster – Awesome Kong, the eye candy – Traci Brooks, the ladette- ODB etc. these days its, barely seen tag team -Saritaylor, bankable star – Tara and blondes – TBP and Angelina. There’s nothing to it, I hope TNA’s move back to Thursdays will take them back to basics rather than scrape at the bottom of the barrel with the same old to appeal to the casual viewers. Whilst I think Tara was one of the best things for the divisions image, it was also the worst. I mean how many Knockouts got pushed to the bottom to make room for her? It was the true beginning of TNA choosing WWE stars over growing their own talent (or at least the start in the Knockouts division)
I think to go forward they need to stop pandering to TBP, especially Madison who has the least character of them all, or they at least need to break her away because she just seems so awkward in the group and she’s suppose to be representing the KO division. I seriosuly think TBP days are over and should be ending soon, they’ve done the same old crap for years and it never gets anymore interesting, I mean people say Lay-Cool are WWE’s copycat versions, but they change things up in a while and you step into the ring knowing that you could be in for a challenge (at least with Michelle) whereas TBP these days? I don’t know they just have no beleivability anymore. I think a good top face SHOULD be Taylor Wilde, the girls so young that they should make the most of her, because she could be a long-term success and plus she’s the first to hold all Knockout gold yet is still disregarded. When Taylor burst onto the scene people loved her, but then it just dropped and for some reason she became a backwards character and then compensated that by adding her with Sarita who barely had any character/gimmick given to her either.
Of course the main problem with breaking up TBP is the KO Tag team division, which would suffer without them as a the staple team. However, I’d rather see Madison get a character and Lacey and Velvet do something else than cling onto a title created to score points against WWE. There’d be nothing wrong with keeping LVE and Velvet together either, minus the fact that they’re probably the lesser talented of the girls (Cue people to talk about their ‘indy’ history, which of course automatically means they’re the best there ever is)
I do think the division needs new girls, I’d love to see Lizzy Valentine and Kristin Astara, however the problem is they’d just essentially be nothing but another Beautiful People combo knowing TNA writers and what point would there be in that? I’d like to see after Tara’s exit, Taylor and Sarita continue to tag against TBP up until they lose and Sarita snaps and turns on Taylor. This would give a great effect as both girls have chemistry and a similiar style, this would push Taylor and Sarita up and do no damage to the TBP who would continue in the tag division and also with Madison as champion, although I would like to see her break away at some point – but it might all be a bit too Angelina.
Course that wouldn’t happen as Angelina has the image and everything TNA love to be the top face. I’d like to see ODB come back as a face (because she’s forever changing) ODB would be a great representitive of the division as the fans face, rather than the top face (so she wouldn’t be aimed as the top, but the fans would like her just a much) with ODB taking the role of standing up for the other Knockouts. Meanwhile, I think Daffney should be worked upon with her stable and build her up that way, almost like they did with the Invasion in WWE, with Debra being the ‘First Lady’ this power position within the stable could allow Daffney to get a good feud going, with her allies backing her up as well as her own deamour.
Hamada, basically just needs a chance to talk or do something. Hell, I’d even prefer to see ODB teaching Hamada English in segments (as they did with Goldust and Yoshi Tatsu) this could allow for a new tag team division, a face one at that. With ODB’s charisma and Hamada’s moves they could carry eachother quite well.
Knockouts I’d like to see in the division would include: Rain, Daizee Haze. the return of Sojourner Bolt, Sara Del Ray and Jennifer Blake. I think each girls has something to offer, I’d have said MsChif but she has stated numerous times where she stands with the company. Course I’d like to see Kong and Alissa back, but right now I don’t see it happening.
P.S. Chelsea has to go, she is becoming the new Lacey, overexposed and undertalented. At least Brooke has stepped in the ring and shown some potential before. As for Santana G, something with her doesn’t click with me, she’s basically a mannequin there and there’s no need for mannequins.
Hmm, I like this idea. But if TNA does something like this or not well, im just not sure they can be bothered to do it for the knockouts.
I keep having this idea for there to be an elite knockout stable with Sarita Hamada and Alissa flash :)
I like the idea aside from letting the fans vote – like, in a way I think it would be good but in a bigger way I think that it would not. BUT could it be worse than letting the management choose who they want to keep/push…? Eh. Cause the job they’ve been doing recently hasn’t been exactly bang-up!
I loved the article and the idea, but I honestly believe that if TNA did something like this, they would probably go all Diva Search and the finalists would only be hot girls, either they could wrestle or not.
Btw, going all Diva Search wouldn’t be bad, IF TNA had a good development territory, like FCW. Many people criticized the Search, but it lead some of those ladies to a good way. Sure some of them didn’t turn out great, but that isn’t WWEs fault. I believe they just didn’t try enough.
Michelle Mccool and Layla were good discoveries and Tiffany is going the same way, The potential of girls like Maryse and Eve might be overrated, but they become quite popular (especially Maryse).
I love that idea, Melanie. It would definitely be an awesome thing to see, and it would be consistent, something TNA lacks greatly :P
Melanie love your article! The idea of like “Knockout Search” Puts me a little bit excited but I dont think TNA would do that cause as you can see since TNA made some changes TNA as been in a Big loss….
So I think to regroup the Knockouts Divison to their best, should be matches like Sarita vs Hamada, Daffney vs Angelina vs Taylor etc…. Has you can see Knockouts have been treated like sh*t lately…. Another thing I feel TNA need to do is search for Indie girls like Melanie said, but not like a Diva Search cause TNA problably would mess up all thing and it would become an confusing thing. So I sugest TNA search Indies like:
Salinas- Has you all heard Shelly Martinez aka Ariel aka Salinas told the fans to go talk with Dixie Carter on Twitter and tell Her to re-hire Salinas. This would be an great add to TNA, first cause as you know Salinas as alot of potential not only on segments but in matches. I would love seeing them Bring her back! If Tna does that I have a great role for her. She came as a heel after attacking Misteriously all Daffney opponents, then she was revealed as Daffneys Gothic Follower. LOL
Another Women TNA shoud Hire:
Portuguese Princess Ariel- First off cause im Portuguese and i would love to see some Portuguese pride in TNA lol. Second cause she as Amazing skills and could put on Entertaining Matches with Sarita and/ or Hamada or any other Knockout!
April Hunter and Lorelei Lee- This two have great Team chemistry and I love them LOL! They have what it takes to be Knockouts! I Mean their match at Knockouts Eve was awesome !
Mickie James- Just like happened once could hapen again. Mickie could be like Tara bringing the exciting to TNA and Kick some asses lol! She could be the second Savior of TNA LOL!
Kristin Astara – Bring her to TNA the girl as tons of qualities! Is pretty, knows how to kick some asses and as great wrestling abilities, and can put on quite a show! No more words! LOL
Sara Del Rey- TNA needs her! She is a great Wrestler and like Kristin Astara, she can put on quite a show! And she is and great actor to, so that means she can do entertaining segments!
And Last but not least ………………..
————————————————————————————————————————————————> Katie Lea ! – TNA if you dont hire this girl, its YOUR LOST! I mean she has Tons of talent! She is one of the best wrestler there is and If u use her the right way you can welcome your new Best Wrestler of TNA !
Well thats it ….!
with hogan in charge wit eric the KO’s division is gonna die slowly like wwe;s after the diva search,i hate that tna is just as bad as wwe in only giving the woman the tiniest time frame when they should get a 10 minute segment….
@MariaKanellislover I pretty much had everybody you stated on your list, but for some reason the site didn’t accept the post, which has happened before, and I didn’t feel like rewriting the whole long message over again. Besides April Hunter, Sara Del Rey, and Katie Lea I had, Portia Perez, Nora (Molly) Greenwald, Trinity, Kellie Skater and LuFisto. I had them all broken down into characters of how they could be used.
April Hunter – sexy bodybuilder
Sara Del Rey – monster
Portia Perez – innocent, but deadly
Trinity – dangerous high-flyer (I still mark for her moonsault of the six sides of steel)
Katie Lea – tag with Daffney
LuFisto – short, sassy and hardcore
Kellie Skater – i love her “nigh-indestructible” gimmick
Nora Greenwald – the submission expert
I love this idea! It would give the indy women a chance to really shine and show their talent, plus get the fans involved. And I think fans of wrestling like us could outvote anyone who’s voting on the ‘hotness’ factor, unless they separated the voting into two catagories: wrestling ability & looks.
Seriously, I’m not sure why TNA doesn’t hire the DD writers. 9 times out of 10 y’all have better ideas than what they come up with. ^__^
Number one way to salvage the Knockouts Division.. Stop listening to internet fans that will NEVER be happy. So, if they bring in a new hoard of women, they are still only going to get 10-15 minutes a week. Are you all telling me you would want to complain about how someone is “misused” because someone you don’t like IS being used?
The Knockouts Division works for ratings because it is really really simply booked. It has been good vs bad on iMPACT! ever since it started. No complicated “over the top rope, 354543634643-man battle royal that you can only win by climbing out a giant hole, but make sure you pin someone before you do or you are disqualified because you left the cage before someone else pinned you” match. No one cares for that bull.
That is why The Beautiful People are a perfect act to use. Three separate personalities can make it on the show in a number of ways… And they consistently the highest ratings despite the fact that they are as redundant as they come. You know Madison is gonna bump around. You know Velvet is gonna to complain and scream. You know Lacey is gonna knock someone the heck out.
Now is a brilliant time for Lacey to branch out on her own and prove Vel and Mad wrong!!!
who wil be # one face now??
Well, Bischoff thinks like ebmich. (keep on pushing TBP b/c sex sells) Good for short-term ratings but is overall a regressive philosophy that does nothing to grow the division.
But eb’s also right. TNA still has more talent than they have time for in the women’s division. Bringing in more women won’t help as long as all you get is a TBP vs flavor of the week segment. Sarita, Hamada and Taylor are barely used.
What TNA really needs to do is get another hour of programming. Their roster is very crowded. Get an hour long X-division show and give the open segment to the KO’s. Then you can actually build something with the women’s division. Could get Del Rey or Melissa Anderson to play a tough/monster heel. Mickie James could be a top face. Other women from the indies could be used as single match jobbers to keep things fresh. Hamada or Sarita could defeat other KOs in X-division style matches on the other show as a sort of specialist, ETC.
But they likely won’t get another show and the KOs won’t get more time. They could still use a new monster heel to shake things up and strike fear into TBP. Hire Del Rey or let Hamada do it. And get the singles title off TBP or get rid of the tag belts.
like everyone else i love the idea too. but shelly martinez who’s one of my faves..would have to be totally reinvented..as pretty much an Ariel Clone..it could be done in a NXT context..but about just about the actual wrestling but hogan and bishoff are gonna push guys who are too old or not Over yet…