Forgive me if I don’t seem too excited for the new Knockouts Champion, Tara after her win over ODB at Genesis last night. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for her but I just can’t help but feel as though we fans will need to keep looking over our shoulders in case she drops it again. Surely TNA wouldn’t make that mistake again?! I’d hope to think that last night was the end of the game of ‘championship hot potato’ [TNA's words, not mine] and we can draw a line under the ridiculously often title switches that have plagued the belt since July last year. It’s time to bring some prestige back to the Knockouts Championship and I hope Tara’s current run will do just that.

Last night, she defeated ODB in a two out of three falls match in two straight falls in what we can only hope was the final death knell for this feud. Watch below:

Under Hulk Hogan’s new iniative to make TNA about the wrestling, the Knockouts got plenty of time for their two out of three falls bout and I hate to toot my own horn, but I had predicted that Tara would take the win in two straight falls. [Toot toot!] In all seriousness, I think both Knockouts used their time well and delivered the best match of their series of bouts, a [hopefully] fitting end to this feud.

It isn’t as though either Knockouts are green in the ring but the main complaint has been that they lack chemistry together, their matches haven’t lit up our screens in the past but I would argue that is also somewhat down to the lack of time they’ve had in their matches. Here, I think we got a perfect length bout between the two and I believe they had more chemistry here than they have shown in the past.

The first fall started slow but that is a given due to the nature of the match. Particular standouts in this fall included the exchange of chops between the similarly styled wrestlers, showboating their skills and Tara hits a beautiful enzugiri. The fall here is won by Tara with a small package.

I really liked the set up for the second fall as we had ODB, who lost the first fall, trying to catch up by turning up the aggression. I can’t say I think ODB is the most exciting wrestler to watch but I was really captured by her here, I think the hard, aggressive style suits her well when she puts the shtick away and just goes balls out. The spot on the outside was well done with ODB hitting a baseball slide on Tara, knocking her off the apron. It’s always nice to see the Knockouts go to the outside and given the two competitors in this match, perhaps they should have utilised this more. ODB drops Tara face first onto the side of the ring which looked great, but she then got back into the ring to break the 10-count. I would have liked to see more outside action, perhaps some brawling.

It was interesting to see ODB apply the body scissors grounding Tara, nice tactical maneuver but it went far too long. I think this whole spot was about a minute or two.

ODB hits a nice powerslam but Tara manages to come back really quickly, hitting the Widow’s Peak for the win. Nice way to end the match but the spot seemed a little rushed.

All in all however, I thought this was a step up over their previous bouts — not necessarily a great match but not a bad one either, and a good way to end this feud, assuming it is the end.

With all the title changes with the belt over the past several months, it’s time to rebuild the prestige of the Knockouts Title and the only way to do that is picking a champion and sticking to her. Tara’s blink-and-you’ll-miss title reigns have done no one any favours and have only made fans lose stock in the belt. Tara needs a lengthy run with the belt and needs some decent challengers to step up to the plate. I know I keep saying it, but I think Alissa Flash would be perfect for the spot of next challenger and I think putting on a series of matches between these two over the next couple of months will rebuild that prestige and get fans excited for the belt again.

Match Rating: 2.5/5

Didn’t we just do this a month ago? Don’t worry, it’s not a repost from last month! Tara has earned her third reign as Knockouts Champion, defeating ODB in a two out of three falls match.

Tara beat ODB in two straight falls, the first with a small package and the second with the Widow’s Peak.

Let’s hope she gets to hold onto it this time.

Tonight’s Genesis pay per view will see ODB and Tara compete for the Knockouts Championship in a two out of three falls match. Who will walk out with the gold?

Discuss the show as it happens in the comments!

The first pay per view of 2010 comes to us courtesy of TNA who present Genesis tonight. ODB and Tara battle over the Knockouts Championship in a best two out of three falls match. Who will leave as the Knockouts Champion? The Diva Dirt writers weigh in:

Erin: This feud, in my opinion, hasn’t really earned a 2 out of 3 falls match, especially one for the Knockouts Title so soon after the last title match. I suppose this could be considered Tara’s rematch, and it shouldn’t be completely unrealistic to suggest that she could win back her title, but why would they have given it to ODB in the first place only to hand it back to Tara in their next match together? Maybe ODB’s win on the big live Impact was to make the show seem upredictable~ and the Genesis match will serve to put things back where they were? I’ll stick with that reasoning, because otherwise I can’t see a reason why they had Tara lose the title so soon (again!), only to have them face off for the title again two weeks later. There’s been no buildup to this match, so it would make sense for this to serve as a “reset” button on Tara’s title reign. At least, I hope so. Tara for the win.

Melanie: This is a match that almost unanimously no one wants to see. Of all the feuds, of all the Knockouts… an elongated two out of three falls bout with these two? This feud has lit no one on fire and the matches between the two have not been anything to write home about. Tara is great in the ring and I respect her mucho but I’m not crazy about the chemistry between her and ODB. I’d pay to see a two out of three falls match between Tara and Hamada or Alissa Flash or Sarita — not ODB. I’m with Erin here, it seems as though TNA was going for the shock value and hype on the live Monday Impact hence why ODB won the title there. I see Tara getting her revenge here and taking the belt, hopefully not to lose it just 20 days later [if we're incrementing 5 each time -- first run lost it after 10, then 15]. A straight wrestling match, two out of three falls, seems in Tara’s favour so I wouldn’t be surprised to see her take it in two falls if we’re pressed for time. Even as a big Tara fan I can admit that becoming a three time Knockouts Champion in such little time is far too bloated. Please give her the run she deserves this time!

Steven: I know I’ve said this a million times, but this feud has run it’s course and needs to end. That said, I see ODB retaining this Sunday at Genesis. If ODB manages to pull out the win, this match could serve as the blow off match for this rivalry and open the door for a new challenger. However, with the way TNA has been playing Hot Potato with the title as of late, the opposite is completely plausible. Either way, we’ll most likely be seeing three Tara vs ODB matches come tonight and that’s enough to last a lifetime.

The ODB-Tara saga continues this Sunday in a two out of three falls match at TNA’s Genesis pay per view.

Oh joy! Of all the feuds, right? I truly hope this is the blow-off for these two with Tara getting the title back and feuding with someone new. Alissa Flash, where you at, girl?