I had already started work on this column when I saw Talon's memo about wanting everyone who visits the site (and I'm sure the columnists too) to try and be more positive about the current state of TNA. One of the main reasons I reduced the amount of Knockout Shots columns I wrote was because I found myself becoming less and less inspired by the division that I loved the most. What was once a thriving, creative and exciting product full of original women and original ideas, was becoming stagnant, bland and cookie cutter.
Dare I say the Knockouts division was becoming..... deep breath..... Diva-esque. It's true, it was becoming so much like a WWE produced division that it was quite depressing. Thankfully, a few things lately have begun to kick start my excitement and inspire my own desire to talk about all things Knockouts again. And in this edition of Knockout Shots, I want to focus on some of the things that I think have the potential to deliver some impact and shake up the female division of TNA again but more importantly, things that have just excited me lately.
Mickie James vs. Miss Tessmacher (April 18th Impact)
I have heard a bunch of different complaints about this match but you'll get none from me. I felt like this was one of the best Knockout matches in a long, long time. Mickie and Tessmacher were given a good amount of time and put together a good match and worked their butts off to tell a good story. Aside from the in-ring aspect, there was also storyline development and a glimmer of the heel turn that Mickie James may be about to unleash on us soon (which I can't wait to see). Credit to ODB as well for doing a good job as the referee. I have actually found the Minnesota native to be quite entertaining as an official so far. Here's hoping it can lead to something bigger for her in the end.
Some have accurately pointed out that as of yet, there isn't that much content on the Knockouts site but I'm sure that if they took the time to actually put the site together in the first place, then they will spend some time adding new content as time goes on. Just look at how much TNAsylum has grown since its inception. I really like the website and from a strictly aesthetic standpoint, it looks very elegant and eye-catching. In particular, I like how when you move across each Knockout on the home screen, it displays a different "Dare to be...." description to fit the personality of that particular lady. Another fun piece is Madison Rayne's weekly column. Give it some time and I think the Knockouts website will be another big step in the most revolutionary division in women’s wrestling.
Speaking of the Knockouts website, the brains behind it (and the beauty in front of it) is none other than TNA’s resident redhead ring announcer, Christy Hemme. Christy has started to become more involved behind the scenes of the Knockouts division and undertaken such tasks like directing Knockouts videos, recording theme music and as I've said, putting together the new website. Christy seems to be very creative and very driven behind showcasing a new side of the Knockouts division and may I say, it's about time someone did. So far I have liked what I have seen Ms. Hemme produce, and I look forward to seeing what other plans she has for the division. Essentially what Christy is doing his fulfilling the role that Brooke Hogan holds on screen: someone directing the portrayal of the Knockouts division in order to better showcase it. I think TNA should go out on a limb and give Christy full control of the division both on and off screen, just to let us see what she can do with it. Could be exciting!
Two Knockout matches on one show?
I seriously cannot recall the last time we got two Knockout matches on one episode of Impact, yet that is exactly what happened on the April 25th episode with Tara vs. Taryn Terrell and Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James. It's such a rarity now for this to happen, that I actually found myself quite shocked. As a huge fan and supporter of the Knockouts, I say good job TNA. Keep it coming.
