TNA Knockouts PPV taping features Serena Deeb’s return match; Daffney shows up independently
Well, it had a difficult birth – with most of the former Knockouts banding together and turning down offers to work the show – but TNA have managed to put together a Knockouts only PPV as part of their taped “One Night Only” series after all, and managed to pull a coup out of the bag by featuring Serena Deeb‘s first match since October 2011. Deeb took on fellow OVW trainee Mickie James in the match, which it is believed will likely air in the July or August slot on TNA’s One Night Only calendar. (X-Travaganza will air in April, the Jokers Wild Tag Tournament in May, and TNA’s live Slammiversary will air in June). All of the early matches were termed as qualifiers for the main event “Queen of TNA” Gauntlet match, which is TNA’s Royal Rumble style timed-entrance Battle Royale with the final two facing off in a pinfall/submission standard match.
Interestingly, one former Knockout did show up despite not being booked – as Daffney, fresh off resolving litigation with the company, was seen protesting the show with an “I’m here independently” sign (in reference to her threat to challenge the so-called ‘Independent Contractor’ clause in TNA contracts).
Click back after the break for an exclusive pic of Daffney & Amber O’Neal at the show, along with full results, which also saw the return of other former Knockouts, a former Diva, Gut Check competitors and independent talent (more…)
Trinity talks to HONOUR
Former TNA and WWE star Trinity has been filling in her fans as to what she has been up to since stepping away from the ring in 2007 as part of her interview in the latest issue of HONOUR. She also looks at some of her memorable moments as part of a Knockout and also as an ECW Vixen when WWE relaunched the promotion in 2006.
Another interview sees Hannah and Holly Blossom answer questions about working in Ohio Valley Wrestling and Pro Wrestling: EVE, as well as what their future may hold.
Elsewhere, there are looks at Cherry Bomb, Mistress Belmont, the resurgence of Jazz, the downfall of the Knockouts Tag Team Titles, female managers and a second blog by CHIKARA‘s Veronica.
For all that and more – including reviews of SHINE 1 and The Wrestlers: Fighting With My Family – click the picture to the left and have a read.
Ringbelles Retro: A look back at Trinity
Last week, we were contacted through Twitter by a lady called Estelle. She informed us about a recent Facebook update made by former TNA and WWE employee Trinity, who had written this simple update:
I gotta go back to wrestling
Now we can read into this as much or as little as we like, but it did generate a buzz on her page. Had she gotten the itch to return to the ring and bust out more moonsaults? No clue, as it was never expanded on, but it caused us to have a look back at Trinity matches, as we believe that she had the skills, charisma and talent to go further than she did – both in TNA as well as the WWE revival of ECW. In addition, she had a look to her. Muscles but still feminine, and in her later wrestling days, using not much more than police tape to protect her modesty, she was also attractive enough to put on posters to draw fans, though neither company seldom did, which is a shame. Still in great shape at 40 – seriously, her and Tara must be in some sort of Awesome At Forty conest or something – and working as a stuntwoman and taking part in roller derby, she should be able to carve a spot for herself.
Still, let’s look back at one of her matches from the early days of TNA on April 2, 2003, where she took on Alexis Laree – better known these days under her real name of Mickie James. (more…)
Ringbelles Roundup (5 June 2012)
Pro Wrestling: EVE has officially announced a show on July 14 in Sudbury, UK, calling it a “special edition” show which will feature the debut of TNA’s Winter – who is a German-born Briton – and two returns – we have strong suspicions on who the returns will be – as well as “one time only” and “must see” matches.
In its press release that it released to Diva Dirt, EVE also points out that running a weekend of shows without iPPV would have “hurt EVE financially and potentially risk the company due to the restricted income without iPPV”. That’s a telling statement – which actually PRECEDED the announcement of Winter being part of the show – and implies that financially, EVE is lean at the moment.
The show will also feature three men’s contests, making it a split show of sorts. It claims it will draw the fans of the men’s promotions and give them a taste of women’s wrestling at the same time. It’s the same ethos that led to having the Jenny Sjodin v Alpha Female match at the London charity show in April, which is where Alpha won the title.
In theory, this makes sense – draw non-women’s wrestling fans in with what they are familiar with and then give them a taste of EVE’s product while they’re there. However, there is also the possibility of it dissuading EVE fans who may not be interested in the men’s matches. There is the possibility that the ones there for EVE won’t be hugely taken with the men’s contests, as that’s not what they’ve paid to see, and vice versa for the fans of the guys.
DVD Review: Queens Of Chaos (13 May 2005)
Before SHIMMER existed, France had its own female promotion, featuring wrestlers from around the world, culminating with the crowning of the first ever World Queens of Chaos Champion.
Results
1. Skye pinned Rebecca Knox with a Fisherman’s Suplex.
2. Erin Angel v Jersey went to a no-contest when Kid Kash interfered.
3. Kid Kash & Trinity defeated Sick & Nikita. Trinity pinned Nikita following a moonsault.
4. Sick beat Kid Kash with a magistral cradle.
5. Sumie Sakai defeated Sweet Saraya with a rolling cradle.
6. Nikita won a Rumble to become the World Queens of Chaos Champion.
Order of entry: Nikita, Sakai, Saraya, Angel, Knox, Jersey, Skye, Trinity
Order of elimination: Saraya by Angel; Jersey by Angel; Skye by Knox; Sakai by Knox & Trinity; Knox by Nikita; Angel by Nikita; Trinity by Nikita
Highlights
• Skye scored an upset pin over Rebecca Knox after being beaten on for much of the contest. Well, it’s considered an upset, but by this time, Skye had trained in Atlanta with William Regal, Chris Benoit, Dave Taylor and Bryan Danielson (now WWE‘s Daniel Bryan).
• Kid Kash interfered in the Erin Angel/Jersey match, caused havoc in his own intergender tag team match, and is beaten up by all the women when he tries to interfere in the main event.
• Sumie Sakai and Sweet Saraya signed a contract for their match, which is just an excuse to get some heel heat on Saraya ahead of the contest. The two had a pull-apart fight to close the angle.
• Nikita (now TNA‘s Winter) won the main event Rumble after starting the match with Sakai. Nikita was the only face left in the final four, and eliminated them all singlehandedly to win the title. (more…)
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