TNA Knockouts on the Rise
Caution: This one contains some *SPOILERS*
There's been quite a bit of movement in the TNA Knockouts division recently. If you didn't hear, former five-time champion Angelina Love is back working with the company. She made her return this past week on Impact Wrestling, asking Velvet Sky if she'd be interested in putting the "girl band" back together. Anybody that seems suspicious has every right to be. The long-term goal seems to be turning Velvet and Angelina heel, adopting the old Beautiful People gimmick against current champ Madison Rayne.
In other news, the split between Gail Kim and Lei'd Tapa is in the works. We might be in for two separate Knockouts feuds going on at the same time, which isn't a bad idea. My push for equality in pro wrestling continues… I do wonder if Kim and Tapa splitting is to set up Chris Sabin and the Alpha Female partnership. Not sure if trading 'A' for 'B' is really any different in the long run. Unless they actually have plans in place for Gail after the obligatory blow-off match, they're just taking a minimal spotlight from one act and giving it to another. We'll see.
Big Red Button
TNA seems to have hit the big red "reset" button with the fallout of their Lockdown PPV. Team MVP and Bully Ray have driven Dixie Carter off television…for now. I hope the transition is more or less permanent, but I'm just waiting for her return, or the next huge heel faction to rise up.
Bobby Lashley is back. MVP is in place as the new decision-maker; no word on whether or not he will continue wrestling, or how frequently. The Wolves seem to be on hand for the long run, which is good because they might end up replacing Bad Influence if their contracts expire and a new deal can't be reached. All of the major storylines have more or less wrapped up. The major focus going forward will be on Bobby Roode vs. Bully Ray, Magnus controlling "The Monster" Abyss, the ongoing title feud with Samoa Joe, and the Knockouts matches I've mentioned. Speaking of Joe, he's currently in place to be the new top babyface in TNA.
Even with how much TNA Lockdown frustrated me, the company is in a good place. I love their roster. With Dixie Carter off television – crossing my fingers – all my major issues have blissfully vanished into thin air. Can they keep up a good streak of wrestling matches, simple angles and payoffs? We'll see.
