The first pay per view of 2011 features Madison Rayne defending her Knockouts Title against Mickie James. Will the reign of Rayne continue or will the James Gang ride high tonight? The Diva Dirt team weigh in…
April: As I said in this week’s Impact Write-Up, I’m going to have to go with Mickie on this one. I think she’s been with the company long enough to cement herself as a Knockout and Madison’s time has come to an end. This feud between the two has been on since day one, added interference from Tara to side track Mickie but the time has finally come. The Knockouts division needs to be shaken up and a great start is a new champion, a new leader. Mickie has been a multiple champion in her professional career and the Knockouts title around her waist would be icing on the cake.
Cryssi: With the way things go in TNA, I’m not even sure about this title switch being a sure thing anymore. I love Madison as champion and I think TNA does too. That said, Mickie James is the biggest draw for the Knockouts that they’ve ever had. She’s so high profiled and we predicted that she would be a sure bet to be Knockouts Champion in 2011. I just don’t think it’s going to be at this PPV. It wouldn’t shock me to see her overcome the odds and defeat Madison, Tara, and Tara’s elbow, but it won’t be happening tonight. Madison is going to pick up a cheap victory, keep the Knockouts Championship, and lose it in a rematch to Mickie during one of the tapings that happen this week.
Eric: Going into this Sunday, there is a 90% chance that Madison Rayne drops the title to Mickie James. However, this is illogical TNA. I see Madison winning when Tara hits Mickie with the elbow pad. She then will drop it on an ordinary episode of Impact. Disappointed? Me too.
Erin: I’ve been burned a few times in assuming that Mickie will leap straight to the top of the Knockouts division. She spent quite some time battling Tara, and though we knew that it would eventually lead to this, a Knockouts Title shot against Madison, I certainly thought it would have happened sooner. If it had, I’d probably be convinced that Mickie was poised to take the title right away. Now, I’m not so sure. With how they took their time (relatively speaking) with her feud with Tara, I think they might want to do the same with Madison. A lengthy back-and-forth could be established, and for that to happen I think Madison will have to pull off a win, whether with Tara’s help or not–a Mickie win would likely shut this feud down. There’s no doubt in my mind that Mickie will soon hold that belt, but I don’t think it’s going to happen at Genesis.
David: I’ll admit I was skeptical that TNA would be a good fit for Mickie James. I was happy Mickie was offered a contract, but I wanted to see what TNA would do with her before forming an opinion one way or another (like I think we should do with Awesome Kong and the WWE). For the most part I have enjoyed how they’ve booked her and Mickie seems to be enjoying herself down in Orlando. Her feud with Tara featured some memorable moments and now, as she turns her attention to Madison Rayne, I’m excited to see her challenge for the Knockouts Championship. At Genesis she gets her chance to win the title, but I don’t think she’s going to leave the Impact Zone with the belt. There are a lot of moving parts in the Knockouts division right now (Velvet, Sarita, Tara) that I think Mickie may win the match but it won’t be by pinfall or submission. TNA has done a nice job making Mickie fans wait for her to win their championship, and I think after Genesis, she and her fans are going to have to wait a little while longer.
Melanie: This could go either way. TNA is pushing Mickie James as its new female star so I could them wanting to put their belt on her and turn her into a Trish Stratus-esque figure in the division. However, this is also the first encounter between her and Madison Rayne and usually, I wouldn’t call a title switch in the first bout. Personally, my perfect scenario would be Tara knocking out Mickie with her elbow brace, allowing Rayne to steal a victory. So I’m going to say Madison retains, but don’t be surprised if it’s Mickie.
Steven: From the moment Mickie James debuted in TNA, we all knew it would come to this. Mickie vs Madison for the Knockouts Title. To be honest, I don’t see Mickie James picking up the win tonight at Genesis and I can’t say that I want her to. I expect Madison to sneak out the win using some underhanded tactic and Mickie to continue challenging her until she finally picks up the win and the championship. Handled properly this rivalry could have same kind of memorable that the Mickie/Tara feud had. Expect Madison to retain the title tonight at Genesis.
Put your predictions in the comments!
29 Comments
at 11:15 pm
I haven’t taken Madison’s current reign very seriously. I think she really cruised through this reign. What has she really done? Been buried by Sarita and given the title by Tara. But then again… perhaps Mickie losing could validate Madison as champion? But I wouldn’t want a cheap win, I want a clean victory. If not, Mickie should totally take this out, then she can feud with Sarita while Madison and Tara go after the tag belts. :)
at 11:24 pm
Has Madison even defended the title at all, since she won it in October?
at 11:28 pm
@GlamSlamFan
Yes, Madison has defended the title at house shows
at 11:29 pm
it obvious that Mickie is gonna win and become the first triple crown lol
at 11:29 pm
i kinda want mickie to win, simply because i’m not expecting her to.
either way, i do praise tna for not slapping the title on mickie asap. she could easily have had it 3 months ago.
@glamslamfan, no she hasn’t. she’s only worked three matches since winning the title. four if you include jennifer blake’s unaired tryout. pretty surprising how inactive she’s been as champion, actually.
at 11:30 pm
actually, make that four matches.. forgot about the tag title finals.
at 11:31 pm
I think it’s a little too early- Madison keeps the title when Tara uses the elbow brace on Mickie and the ref sees it, and calls for the DQ. This should keep going until the next PPV- then Madison drops the title.
at 11:31 pm
The Primal Scream – Mickie has been in TNA only a short time, yet with her arduous and impressive battles against Sarita and Tara, it seems as though she’s been around longer. Madison has done a good job in keeping the number 1 contender at bay from the Knockout’s Championship, but is this the end of the road? They can drag it out with more matches and further trickery from the bellowing champ however, I feel as though they’ve done plenty already and it’s time for Madison Rayne to pay the piper. Some people argue that it’s too early, Mickie James hasn’t been around long enough. I beg to differ, Mickie has proven herself time and again, arguably the most exciting female wrestler in modern times. She’s young, she’s talented and in her prime. Mickie is the superior Knockout and considering her experience in dealing with the likes of Tara and Madison; she will be prepared. Mickie James is savvy in the ring and her winning the Championship is a great way to kick-off the New Year. Madison has improved tremendously, but what goes up must come down and Mickie James will teach her that lesson tonight at Genesis. Tonight, Mickie James will make history as the first ever female wrestler and superstar to hold all 3 major titles. Bank on it! (((MICKIE JAMES)))
-The Primal Scream -
at 11:33 pm
If Madison beats Mickie, then it needs to be by cheating. Then Mickie still has a claim to be # 1 contender. Or Mickie win by DQ but I have a feeling tonight starts the age of Mickie in TNA.
at 11:35 pm
yeah i agree that it would be best for the feud for madison to pick up the win especially since Mickie has pretty much controlled this feud she has one-upped madison at every chance (including stripping her naked).
id love for the next ppv match to be turned into sarita vs velvet vs mickie vs madison (c) with sarita picking up the win by pinning velvet and then they can transition into a sarita/mickie feud where mickie can finally pick up the belt
that way their favorite heel KO atm (madison) doesnt have to actually lose the belt
at 11:39 pm
@Jayd211
Not a bad idea but I think a triple threat match with Sarita vs. Mickie vs. Madison for the belt would be better. Sarita is my second favorite Knockout in TNA (Mickie is #1). So Sarita vs. Mickie feud would be awesome.
at 11:40 pm
some part of me want madison too keep the title for a other month and the other part i kinda enjoy the feud and the other part want mickie to win the title badly cause madison last reign as champ was kinda drag and a fresh face would be nice i kinda want mickie to feud with sarita badly and creat a bad blood feud between them and i also wanna see daffney feud with mickie.and Madison and tara should go after the tag titles win it from angelina and winter so we have finally a physical feud between angelina and winter.
at 11:58 pm
For My Prediction I woudnt mind to see Madison win ! I think if Madison retains it will livin up their fued a bit more , and LITERALLY be her 1st title defense since winning it in October I dont liek Madison as Champion! But if she retains I wont be dissapointed.
If Mickei wins on the other hand , of course I would be Going Crazy! Mickie will make history as the first ever Diva/Knockout to have held the Divas & Womens Championship & The Knockouts Championship! Now Thats HARDCORE COUTRY!!!!
at 12:20 am
Mickie is obviously going to make history but hopefully not tonight. Madison should hold that title for another few months, i want mickie to win the title eventually but not tonight. Her winning the title hasn’t been hyped, and i want the moment to feel really good something like her winning the title from michelle in less then 15 seconds because it’s a big history moment.
I want to see more of madison vs. sarita and less mickie vs. madison because sarita can carry madison a lot better.
TNA need more buildup to the madison & mickie feud, the tara & mickie feud was very credible and entertaining but there wasn’t much of madison and mickie which was technically the whole point of mickie and tara’s feud.
So hopefully madison wins with sarita interfering or even maybe daffney.
at 12:23 am
I have no idea who going to win.
In my head I see Madison Rayne winning
but then I see Mickie winning.
at 12:32 am
@LaceyVonErichFan i don’t see sarita interfering since she is busy with velvet bit on the other hand maybe daffney as a female immortal ”hope not”.
@ diva dirt team you guys should do an after show for the ko’s sometimes you guys make me feel that you prefer the divas over the knockout.
at 12:34 am
AE
They have done a couple after shows for TNA but not as many the WWE so good point you made becuase I have notice that too.
at 12:37 am
Madison. I really think TNA is gonna do the right thing by letting Mickie and Madison feud it out awhile.
at 12:43 am
@A.E
I think velvet and sarita is all over because if it wasn’t they would have done some kind of segment unless sarita interferes and velvet attacks, that would make sense.
at 12:50 am
LaceyVonErichFan i hate to argue here but the velvet sarita storyline is far from over because it’s the typical bully storyline were velvet prevail eventually so it might end in either against all odds or at the next taping depend on the ppv outcome.
at 12:52 am
that if of cource tna drop the storyline like they did with madison and sarita.
at 12:52 am
that if of course tna drop the storyline like they did with madison and sarita.
at 12:58 am
piggie james will win. oops i mean mickie!
at 1:05 am
grow up how old are you five it not funny to call someone a pig.
at 1:13 am
what a jerk