The folks at Ring of Honor wrote in to let us know that fans can catch the best Women of Honor match from the company’s ROH on HDNet series, for free on YouTube. The match is Nikki Roxx [TNA’s Roxxi] vs Sara Del Rey which originally aired in September. This is a cool freebie for us women’s wrestling fans, particularly those who can’t watch the series in their country. Check it out below:
ROH on HDNet will air a special ‘Best of 2009’ episode this coming Monday [12/28] at 8pm.
The Perfect 10 is back for a year-end special, counting down the top 10 Divas and Knockouts from the year gone by. Last year, Michelle McCool was #1 on the Perfect 10 of 2008, can she make it a repeat performance? Who has had the most memorable moments & matches of 2009? Check back over the next 10 days to find out how the countdown will unfold!
ALICIA FOX
We kick off the Perfect 10 of 2009 with a rising new Diva who exploded onto the scene in 2009. Her turn as Vickie Guerrero‘s wedding planner last year is but a distant memory as now she has emerged as one of the brighest young prospects in the land of Diva.
Alicia started the year on ECW, as a manager/part time wrestler, teamed with the short-lived DJ Gabriel. Showing us early on what she could do, Alicia looked impressive in early matches on ECW against Katie Lea and Natalya. However her big break came when she was moved to SmackDown in the supplemental draft of April.
Quickly aligned with the brand’s top heel Michelle McCool, Alicia worked a memorable series of matches with Women’s Champion, Melina and aided her her mentor in a Women’s Championship victory at The Bash in June. The very next night however, the bright lights of singles stardom shone on Alicia as she was moved in a 15 Superstar trade to Monday Night Raw with Gail Kim.
Fox quickly found her feet on Raw with two wins over the then Divas Champion, Mickie James and before she knew it, Alicia had found herself with a Divas Championship match against the veteran at October’s Hell in a Cell pay per view. Despite a solid outing, Fox was unsuccessful in her attempt however the next month, she earned her second title opportunity in as many months — this time facing new Divas Champ, Melina in front a capacity crowd at Madison Square Garden.
For a woman who started out the year as ECW’S ‘tiny dancer’, Fox has proven to be a welcome addition to the Divas roster, gaining praise from Melina and Diva legend, Trish Stratus. With her emergence this year, can she continue to shine in 2010?
Check back tomorrow for #9
Former Knockouts Champion, Angelina Love could be making a surprise return to TNA on January 4th as part of the big three-hour live episode of Impact. Reports are being attributed to news site Declaration of Independents, the lead writer of which is also the promoter of Women Superstars Uncensored, who recently used Angelina Love at their DVD tapings.
Meanwhile, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer also writes that TNA are looking to bring Love back in 2010.
Love’s release was possibly the biggest women’s wrestling bombshell of the year, she was let go in September after TNA discovered that she had been working under an expired visa. Prior to her departure, she had been a two time Knockouts Champion, both won this past year. Meanwhile, she and Velvet Sky were rumoured to be in line to become the first Knockouts Tag Team Champions, an honour which later went to Sarita and Taylor Wilde after Love’s release.
This is definitely a good look for TNA. Roll on January 4th!
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And over the next few days, we’re going to be reliving some of the goodies that TNA and WWE have put under our Christmas trees! Looking back at the Christmas themed matches we’ve seen the Divas and Knockouts involved in, the DD team will each be picking their favourite Christmas themed match and sharing with you over the next few days!
Today’s pick is from Erin: My pick is Trish/Jacqueline/Stacy vs. Molly/Victoria/Ivory, the Santa’s Little Helpers match from 2002. These “Santa’s Little Helpers” matches are meant to be silly, and this match took full advantage of that, with the puritanical Molly Holly wearing in a floor-length dress and falling out of the ring when Stacy pulls it up to flash the crowd. The teams were rather good–the babyfaces had Trish and Jackie, and Stacy was used well for her limited skills, mostly there to be the sexy foil to Molly. Victoria, Ivory, and Molly made a stacked heel team too, with each one being fondly remembered by fans. Everyone saw some ring time, so it didn’t feel as rushed as recent versions of the match. I especially loved the dual pins by Jackie and Trish as Stacy chased an embarassed Molly to the back–everyone served a purpose that went beyond them wearing the sexy costumes, and I appreciate that enough thought was put into the match for that to happen. Though honestly, the sight of Victoria angrily chomping down on the candy cane during her entrance would have sealed the deal for me on its own.
Watch below:
Share your memories of this match in the comments, or if you’ve just watched it for the first time, tell us what you think too!
Check back tomorrow for the next installment.
Reports have been circulating on various sites that Beautiful People member, Lacey Von Erich could soon be on her way out of the company. Von Erich is reportedly on ‘thin ice’ with management.
Since joining TNA in September, Von Erich has been a controversial Knockout to say the least; the day after her debut aired on television, an interview with Miami Herald in which Von Erich had some choice words about former Knockout Angelina Love surfaced. This then led to former WWE Diva, Sunny piping in with her now infamous horrible tirade against Lacey. It had also been reported that Von Erich had an incident backstage with one of the company’s top Knockouts, Awesome Kong.
It should be noted that TNA planted the seeds for a new programme with Von Erich and The Beautiful People and the returning Roxxi this past Monday at the New Year’s Knockout Eve taping.
Is TNA [and TBP] better off without the VE? Or are you pro-Lacey? Sound off in the comments.
Former TNA Knockout, Sojo Bolt — also known as Josie — talked to Monday Night Mayhem this week, revealing that TNA had plans to give her a shot at the Knockouts Title. She also reveals what led to her release:
On plans for a Knockouts Championship opportunity:
[Once] I parted with The Kongtourage, they didn’t turn me face, and I was just another heel in the company. When I was scheduled for a title run with Angelina after she won, that was put on hold when they signed Tara, and when they signed Tara, that was a coup for TNA & for the Knockouts, and they had to run with that.
Sojo also reveals how she got lost in the shuffle within the division due to the influx of new talent and her eventual release:
I got lost in the shuffle of ‘Well she’s a heel, so we could use her for anything, but we got all these new girls, and we need to get them debuted,’ They really never saw me as a face, and I did talk to them about going face, but they were not interested. And as time went by, creative didn’t have anything for me, so when my contract was coming to an end, I was like you’re not using me now, and I’m under contract, let’s just see what happens in the future, and if they use me, bring me back.
As mentioned at the time, Sojo’s departure from the company was left open-ended for the company to use her in future. To listen to the interview, click here.
Premiere wrestling magazine, Pro Wrestling Illustrated have unveiled their decade-end awards with Trish Stratus being crowned the magazine’s Woman of the Decade.
Stratus retired as a 7-time Women’s Champion in September 2006.
There is still time to vote in our Woman of the Decade poll where Trish is currently battling Lita. Click here to vote.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year! And over the next few days, we’re going to be reliving some of the goodies that TNA and WWE have put under our Christmas trees! Looking back at the Christmas themed matches we’ve seen the Divas and Knockouts involved in, the DD team will each be picking their favourite Christmas themed match and sharing with you over the next few days!
Today’s pick is from Melanie: Here we have TNA’s ‘Santa’s Workshop Street Fight’ from 2007. I picked this because while we may be used to the cliched ‘sexy santa’ tag team matches in WWE — TNA took the gimmick match idea and turned it on its head, delivering in my opinion, the most memorable yuletide women’s match ever.
Watch below:
Share your memories of this match in the comments, or if you’ve just watched it for the first time, tell us what you think too!
Check back tomorrow for the next installment.
As we all have become accustomed, this is the time of the year where folks sing carols, wrap presents, and the Divas amount to nothing more than skimpy red costumes. So we saw this coming, and it shouldn’t be surprise that this week’s Raw was absolutely pointless. In what has become an annual thing, Melina, Kelly Kelly (wearing pink–shocker!) and Gail Kim took on Maryse, Alicia Fox, and Jillian in a Santa’s Little Helpers match:
Mercifully, this match took place at the very beginning of the show and was barely short enough for a piss break. Gail and Jillian started things off, with Jillian getting early control. Gail turns the tables, ending with a cross body from the top rope. She goes for the pin, but Jillian kicks out. Jillian whips her into the corner, attempting her handspring elbow move, but is caught by Gail in a leg lock. Gail stays propped on Jillian’s shoulders while she walks towards the center of the ring, dropping onto her back and sending the back of Gail’s head slamming onto the mat. She goes for the pin, but Gail kicks out.
Jillian tags in Maryse, and the both of them whip Gail into the corner (who does some wicked selling, practically throwing herself into the turnbuckle). Maryse hits Gail with a back breaker and gets a 2-count. She goes to throw Gail into the corner but Gail reverses, tagging in Kelly. Kelly goes on a flurry of offense, hitting her programmed moves (clothesline, dropkick, frankensteiner). She then hits her K2 move, but Alicia and Jillian run in to break up the subsequent pin attempt. Thus, the whole match (or what vaguely resembled a match) unravels, with Melina and Gail taking out the heels. Maryse picks up Kelly, but Melina drop kicks her, allowing Kelly to land on top and get the pin. I don’t see how a weak splash is enough to pin her, but I won’t object to pulling the plug on this as fast as possible. Kelly gets the pin and the win for her team.
The babyfaces celebrate as the heels grimace, and that’s it for the Divas action tonight, if you don’t count Eve slowly but surely building up a remarkably predictable and uninteresting storyline with Chris Masters while sitting politely at ringside (and for the record, I don’t). I’m aware that this silliness happens every year, but I’d prefer it to take place at Tribute to the Troops (where the Divas are always dressed skimpily ad never really wrestle) rather than taking up valuable storyline time on Raw. But hey, it’s the week before Christmas, and I’m sure no one’s tuning in for some great story development. Hell, they had a skit with DX and Hornswoggle in a makeshift courtroom for Christ sake–it’s clear that the writers phoned it in.
I think, though, that it’s just another disappointment piled on an already growing mountain of disappointments. From last week’s head-scratcher to the weeks upon weeks of short matches and inconsistent stories, it’s been a long time since we as fans have felt satisfied with the WWE’s use of Divas on Raw. It’s a perfect metaphor for the way things are going when a 6-pack of Divas are packed into the ring to wrestle in ridiculous “sexy” outfits and still can barely get past the 2-minute mark. It was a throwaway segment on a throwaway show, but it still falls in line with what the Divas’ mission has been for a while now: look pretty, but don’t take up more than a few minutes of screen time–we need that for DX!
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TNA’s New Year’s Knockout Eve taping last night saw the company bring in four independent talents. The girls brought in were Amber O’Neal, April Hunter, Lizzy Valentine and Lorelei Lee.
Hunter & Lee were the opponents for the Knockouts Tag Team Champions, Sarita and Taylor Wilde while O’Neal and Valentine had a singles match.
The understanding is that last night’s taping was something of a tryout for the girls, much like the initial Knockouts Championship battle royal in October 2007. TNA may offer contracts to one or two girls at their discretion. A source tells us that Lee was considered the standout of the bunch and had the ‘right look’ for television.
Meanwhile, it appears that TNA has approached a specific type of girl in their hiring process for the show. As we noted in September, the company going forward seems to be set on hiring more ‘beautiful girls’, Diva-like girls you could say. Since then the company has hired Lacey Von Erich and Kristal Lashley, though in the case of the latter, her husband of course had a role in her hiring. The exception here is Roxxi, who was rehired and has a previous history with TNA.
The girls brought in last night are of a certain look and physique that one could identify with the WWE Divas, most of them are notably blonde. We can confirm that at least two other names that TNA contacted also fit this look. It seems TNA is putting more of an emphasis on look than ability. Keep in mind, this is a division that has celebrated different looks, shapes, sizes and colours. The top three Knockouts right now, Kong, ODB and Tara are all unique looking.
Our source ponders how Hulk Hogan’s input in the company will affect the division and hiring process of girls going forward. “This is a man who hired models for bikini contests on his Australian tour,” they say.
Newly returned TNA Knockout, Roxxi was injured last night at the New Year’s Knockout Eve taping. TNA President, Dixie Carter wrote on her Twitter that Roxxi broke her ankle in two places.
Get well soon!
Tonight’s Raw is hosted by New York Yankee, Johnny Damon. Will his role in the show lead to a baseball-themed gimmick match for the Divas? Will we get a Christmas-themed gimmick match?
Discuss the show in the comments!
Join us later tonight for the Post-Raw Show with Steven & Tiffany!
The identity of the blonde golf club wielding assailant in the opening segment of tonight’s Raw is short-lived ECW Diva, Courtney Taylor. Courtney is currently training in FCW, which is located in Tampa, FL., the site of tonight’s Raw, so that should explain it.
The skit was obviously a reference to Tiger Woods’ current marital troubles, with Taylor playing the role of Woods’ wife Elin.
A memory that shall forever be treasured, no doubt. First last week’s VMA reference and now this? When will realise their attempts at pop culture references are not funny?
At tonight’s New Year’s Knockout Eve taping, the company announced the first scheduled match for the January 4th live episode of Impact on Spike TV.
New Knockouts Champion, Tara will defend the title against the winner of the Knockouts tournament that was taped tonight [and will air on New Year’s Eve]. To find out the winner of that tournament and effectively, Tara’s opponent for January 4th, click here.
The January 4th episode of Impact will air on a Monday night, going head to head with WWE’s Raw and will feature the debut of Hulk Hogan.
Below are spoilers for next week’s big 4 hour New Year’s Knockout Eve special for Impact. Click the ‘+’ to read.
Thoughts after the cut:
16 women are now just down to two! After three weeks of voting, it’s time for the final vote. Who will be the Woman of the Decade as voted for by you?
The women still in the competition and vying for your votes are: Lita and Trish Stratus.
The final vote count takes place next Monday, when we’ll reveal the winner.
Former Knockouts Champion, Awesome Kong is helping Knockouts fans rein in the Christmas season with an awesome comedy skit. Kong stars as ‘The Meanest Elf’. Just what could that mean? Watch below:
If that doesn’t get you in the Christmas spirit, nothing will! Show Kong some love on Twitter for the awesome video!
Diva of the Year, Maria has revealed how she believes her 32,000+ Twitter followers helped her to her shocking Slammy win a week ago today.
Speaking in a behind the scenes interview with G4’s Attack of the Show, Maria says she was shocked by the win because she had been away ‘working on a charity’ [The Celebrity Apprentice] and thought that the WWE Universe had forgotten her. Watch the interview below:
Kanellis also reveals how she would have loved to have worked with Ivory as well as worked with Trish and Lita some more. She also says the worst bump she’s taken is from the recently demised Umaga.
Among Maria’s ambitions include her own television show and she also plans to release an album next spring. It seems as though Maria is using her WWE career as a launching pad for other projects in the entertainment industry like Mickie James and Stacy Keibler, both of whom are on WWE’s proverbial ‘shit list’. I find it surprising that part of the reason WWE is riding Mickie is because she’s working on a project outside of WWE using her celebrity [which WWE no doubt thinks they gave her], but Maria has also noted several times on Twitter that she’s working on her own CD — yet no backlash there. In fact, it seems Maria is getting a push going into the premiere of The Celebrity Apprentice next March. I guess you only get ragged on if you’re ‘fat’ and working on an outside project?
TNA will be taping it’s special ‘New Year’s Knockout Eve’ special tonight at the Impact Zone. The four hour show will air on you guessed it, New Year’s Eve. The company has revealed details of the special and unlike what we had earlier reported, it won’t be a tag team tournament, rather a singles tournament for the #1 Contendership to the Knockouts Title. Apologies for the mistake.
The tournament will feature 8 of the Knockouts in competition to determine who will challenge Tara for the Knockouts Title. As mentioned at the time of reporting, the company has been reaching out to different girls and will be bringing in some girls tonight for the show — what role they will play, I’m not sure because they have more than 8 girls on the roster to use in the tournament. Read the preview below:
On New Years Eve (Thursday, December 31), TNA Wrestling counts down to 2010 with four hours of Total Nonstop Action on SpikeTV! The huge night will feature the TNA Knockouts in action in a one-night tournament to determined the #1 Contender for the Knockouts Championship. Plus, TNA Knockout Tag Team Champions Taylor Wilde and Sarita will be in action.
We had previously been asked not to reveal the names until the spoilers came out but a few have been leaked already by other outlets. Of those names, we can confirm that Amber O’Neal and Lorelei Lee will be in action as a tag team. My guess is they will be Saritaylor’s opponents for the night. Check back tonight for full spoilers.
Watch the official preview below:
We’ve modified our Unwrapped feature a bit. On top of our grading, we’ll give you the chance to give your own grade to each photoshoot, “branding” each like so:
Alicia Fox‘s The Bends
Grade: Sweet. I love the copper tones in her ring gear, and her unique poses fit the mood of the shoot while putting a different spin on the typical “ring gear” poses, which usually constitute standing around and putting on your best “tough” face. Alicia shows her personality in these photos–the stretching and balled fist poses being standouts–and makes it a fun shoot. In a few of the shoots it looks like she’s literally coming at you. It’s 3D–no special glasses needed!
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
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Natalya‘s Cross My Heart
Grade: Sweet. Natalya’s back to posing in her Hart ring gear, but at least these are pretty interesting, what with the fringed shoulder accents and interesting designs on the gear. It’s certainly eye-catching, and manages to look interesting even though it’s about her 20th pair of tights in hot pink and black. The poses are a bit different from the usual and they show that she’s becoming increasingly comfortable with photoshoots–she looks like a natural. The photoshoot manages to not blend into the many other similar shoots, but with so many of them, you think she’d be doing more actual wrestling..
• Click to see the rest of the photoshoot.
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Read more to see the rest of this week’s photoshoots.
Spoilers for this week’s early SmackDown tapings are in. Click the ‘+’ to read. This Christmas episode airs on Friday, December 25th:
Thoughts after the cut:
The culimination of a career-changing year has led to Tara becoming the Knockouts Champion just in time for Christmas.
The fairytale ending to Tara’s year occured just moments ago at TNA’s Final Resolution pay per view when she defeated ODB in the scheduled Knockouts match. Despite twice teasing the Widow’s Peak, Tara eventually won the match with a rollup.
Tara joins Awesome Kong and Angelina Love in the ranks of multi-time Knockouts Champions.
Welcome to the Diva Dirt Style Jury! No more are the separate ‘Best’ and ‘Worst’ lists, instead, we have come up with a scientific approach *cough* to compiling our weekly fashion column. The Diva Dirt team will weigh in on the different looks from the week gone by & mark each look with a score out of ten. The look with the highest average score will be our best look and the look with the lowest average score will be the worst look. Click each photo to see the look in full size.
Let the proverbial runway show begin!
ALICIA FOX
Erin: Is this a top and a skirt or a dress? Either way, I’m not too keen on it. The pattern could be cute on another clothing item, but here it looks a bit too “Malibu Barbie” for me. 4/10
Melanie: It’s er, unique? I know Alicia has her own quirky style and all, that’s cool but I just can’t… 3/10
THE BELLA TWINS
Erin: It’s not the smartest thing in the world to wear such short, tight dresses for an Evening Gown match, but the dresses themselves aren’t bad at all. I prefer the one with less lace, though. 7/10
Melanie: I like these outfits. I don’t think we can ever expect anything mind-blowing from the Bellas, but this is a step in the right direction. 6/10
Read on for more of this week’s outfits and to see who’s been branded our winner and loser.
In the final pay per view of the year, ODB defends the Knockouts Championship against Tara at TNA’s Final Resolution. Following a heated rivalry, which one will come out on top and be the champion? The Diva Dirt team weigh in:
Erin: ODB was triumphant in the “Drunken Street Fight”, so I get the feeling that it’s Tara’s turn to get the upper hand. ODB’s had the Knockouts Championship for some time too, so a title switch could be helpful in mixing things up. I get a sneaking suspicion that ODB’s heel turn had a lot to do with setting up a title win for Tara, as an all-babyface feud wouldn’t have been as effective, even though some feel this feud as it is is hardly the bee’s knees. Anways, I think it’s Tara‘s time to shine, and hopefully this time she’ll hold the title longer than the blink of an eye.
Melanie: It seems to me that TNA has waited till the end of the year to deliver Tara and the fans a fantastic Christmas present. There is no way that Tara won’t walk out tonight as the new Knockouts Champion. Okay, that sounds very definite and if it doesn’t happen I’ll sound like an idiot but that’s how confident I am. I have to say, I have really liked the way this feud has been booked; it hasn’t been a number of run-ins as with Tara/Kong, rather it’s been more personal and heated. I don’t think this match will be very good, I hope I’m surprised but the story behind it should sell the animosity and that’s what could make the match. Tara will be the new Knockouts Champion tonight.
Steven: Let’s face it ODB’s title run has been quite uneventful. Saddled with Cody Deaner for the better part of the year, she hasn’t been able to break away from her comedy act until recently when she turned on Tara. Tara on the other hand has been on quite a roll lately. Her feud with Awesome Kong opened eyes and gave her back some of the momentum she lost after her short title reign earlier this year. I expect Tara to leave with the strap at Final Resolution and feud with ODB throughout early 2010. It seems TNA is ready to pull the trigger and make Tara the face of the Knockouts Division, and it’s about time.
Tiffany: Tara hasn’t been booked very strongly in this feud thus far, and I suppose that means (by wrestling definition) that she has a chance at picking up the championship. ODB has already scored a pinfall over Tara last week, so it really could go either way. I will vote for Tara, however, out of sheer hope and blind faith in TNA.
The Divas of SmackDown [and ECW] have been ‘Santa suiting up’ [bonus points if you get the reference] this weekend on the house show circuit. The team of Mickie James, Maria and Savannah have been taking on Michelle McCool, Layla and Beth Phoenix in ‘Santa’s Little Helpers’ matches and Diva Dirt reader Harmony was there to catch the action on Friday night in Miami!
She writes:
First, Tiffany asked one of the fans at the top who was the World Heavyweight Champion and moved them to front row.
Second, Natalya managed Tyson Kidd and David Hart Smith against Jimmy Wang Yang and Slam Master J. After Hart Dynasty won, they did a nice promo about their match with DX next week.
Right after that it was a 6 Diva tag match with Mickie, Maria and Savannah vs Layla, McCool and Beth. At the beginning of the match, Mickie and Michelle were showing off their muscles seeing who was better then Beth picked up Michelle and put her on her shoulders and then Maria went on Mickie’s shoulders to show off. I couldn’t see much of the match since tag partners were in the way but from what I saw it was a really good match, Savannah got in it at the beginning and seems to be pretty good at wrestling. Mickie, Maria, and Savannah won and celebrated.
Tiffany was announcer for the ECW title match. Rosa managed Zack Ryder, she got involved a little bit by choking Christian.
Check out Harmony’s festive Santa pictures below!
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