Knockout is a term used by
Impact Wrestling
Impact Wrestling (stylized as ''IMPACT! Wrestling''), is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
Founded by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett in 2002, the promo ...
to refer to its
female
Female ( symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction.
A female has larger gametes than a male. Fema ...
talent. The term is applied universally to
wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and
managers/valets.
History
The term Knockouts is relatively new and was not used when Impact Wrestling (then known as NWA: Total Nonstop Action) debuted in 2002. The name originated from a DVD release in 2006 by the company, ''Knockouts: The Ladies of TNA Wrestling, Vol.1'', which focused on its then-current female stars. The name "Knockouts" as a catchall name for the women stuck after that. Female performers have been a part of TNA since the first national show, which featured
Alexis Laree,
Elektra,
Erin Bray,
Francine, Miss Joni, Sasha,
Shannon, Taylor Vaughn and Teresa Tyler, as well as other female talent, including backstage interviewer
Goldy Locks and valets
Aleesha Aleesha is a female given name, which may refer to:
People
* Aleesha Barber (born 1987), Trinidadian sprint hurdler
* Aleesha Rome, (born 1981), Australian pop singer
*Aleesha Young (born 1984), American bodybuilder
Fictional characters
* Aleesha, ...
and Fluff Dupp.
Bobcat
The bobcat (''Lynx rufus''), also known as the red lynx, is a medium-sized cat native to North America. It ranges from southern Canada through most of the contiguous United States to Oaxaca in Mexico. It is listed as Least Concern on the ...
also debuted as a valet in a match that was taped during the first PPV, but aired during the second PPV.
Miss TNA (2002)
A Lingerie Battle Royal to crown the first 'Miss TNA' was taped during the very first NWA:TNA weekly PPV on June 19, 2002, and was aired during the second PPV on June 26, 2002. Taylor Vaughn won the first Miss TNA crown. She defended the title against Francine, who soon afterward abandoned her pursuit of the title and engaged in a brief feud with
Jasmin St. Claire. Vaughn lost the title when she was defeated by male character
Bruce a few weeks later. Although male, he claimed that he should be entitled to wrestle for the Miss TNA crown because he was gay. Bruce held the crown for three months and during his time as Miss TNA he attacked many female wrestlers and fans, enraging the male stars of TNA including Jorge Estrada. The two then had a singles match with the stipulation that if Estrada won, Priscilla would become the new Miss TNA. Although Estrada won the match, the crown didn't change hands because he won by disqualification. In the next weeks, Bruce's tag team partner,
Lenny
Lenny or Lennie may refer to:
People and fictional characters
* Lenny (given name), a list of people and fictional characters
* Lennie (surname), a list of people
* Lenny (singer) (born 1993), Czech songwriter
Arts and entertainment Music
* ''L ...
, tried to get Bruce injured (since the runner-up would then take over the crown should the champion be injured). This led to the breakup of ''The Rainbow Express'', and Bruce's homosexuality was questioned by backstage interviewer
Goldy Locks, who claimed she had seen him in the shower with April Pennington. The storyline soon came to a close due to poor crowd reception, with Pennington and Goldylocks walking off together holding hands, as Lenny and Bruce fought over Pennington. The storyline ended with Bruce declaring himself straight and handing his crown over to Pennington. The Miss TNA crown wasn't mentioned on-screen afterward. Throughout 2002, TNA also featured Belladonna in a valet role and former ''
WWE Tough Enough
''WWE Tough Enough'' was an American professional wrestling reality competition series that was produced by WWE, wherein participants undergo professional wrestling training and compete for a contract with WWE. There were two winners per season ...
'' contestant Paulina as a bodyguard.
Post–Miss TNA (2003–2006)
Women's wrestling continued to be a feature of the weekly PPVs before an official women's division was established in 2007. In 2003, cage dancers (many of whom were independent female wrestlers who were then unknown at the time, including
Lollipop
A lollipop is a type of sugar candy usually consisting of hard candy mounted on a stick and intended for sucking or licking. Different informal terms are used in different places, including lolly, sucker, sticky-pop, etc. Lollipops are ava ...
) were used near the top of the entrance ramp, but this concept was abandoned shortly after its conception. One of TNA's early controversial moments ensued on the March 12, 2003 pay-per-view when Lollipop had her top ripped off during a catfight with
S.E.X. member Holly Wood and exposed her breasts throughout the fight. TNA also featured
ring girl Athena in many feuds and altercations.
From 2003-2004, TNA regularly used several female wrestlers on their PPVs and television programs, including
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...
,
Desire
Desires are states of mind that are expressed by terms like " wanting", " wishing", "longing" or "craving". A great variety of features is commonly associated with desires. They are seen as propositional attitudes towards conceivable states of ...
,
Alexis Laree,
Traci Brooks,
Cheerleader Melissa
Melissa Anderson (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Cheerleader Melissa. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she worked as Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed. ...
,
Nurse Veronica (who also competed as Simply Luscious), and
Cheerleader Valentina (who also competed as JV Love); however, they were often primarily depicted as
valets who occasionally wrestled. Of all the women utilized at this time, Trinity was the most active in the ring, as she feuded with Desire, Alexis Laree, and Traci Brooks, as well as competed in the
X Division. During this time, TNA also briefly featured an all-female faction named "
Bitchslap" that consisted of Nurse Veronica, Traci Brooks, Cheerleader Valentina, and Trinity (who only appeared twice with the group). They were engaged in a feud with TNA dancers Lollipop and April Pennington.
Independent female wrestlers were frequently featured on ''
TNA Xplosion'' and occasionally on TNA pay-per-views, including
Angel Williams (who would later return as Angelina Love),
April Hunter
April Hunter (born September 24, 1976) is an American retired professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, boxer, actress, writer, fitness model and glamour model. She has appeared in publications including ''MuscleMag International'' ...
, Brandi Wine,
Daizee Haze,
Lucy (who previously competed as Shannon and would later return as Daffney),
Malia Hosaka,
Mercedes Martinez,
MsChif, and
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
(who also wrestled as Poison).
TNA briefly recognized the
NWA World Women's Championship
The NWA World Women's Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship created and promoted by the American professional wrestling promotion National Wrestling Alliance (NWA). The title was first won by Mildred Burke in 1937 de ...
in 2003. On March 12, 2003,
Leilani Kai
Patty Seymour (born January 23, 1960) is a semi-retired professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Leilani Kai. She began training with The Fabulous Moolah right after finishing high school. In the 1980s, as part of the World Wrestling ...
defeated Madison to win the NWA World Women's Championship in a dark match on a TNA pay-per-view. On April 19, 2003, Kai defended the title against Desire at a house show, but she was later stripped of the title by NWA President Bill Behrens due to missing several subsequent NWA shows. According to Kai, she skipped the shows because she felt the NWA governing board was not treating the Women's Championship with the respect it deserved, such as not televising title matches on the TNA pay-per-views and ''
TNA Xplosion''.
Fewer women's matches were featured toward the end of 2004 and throughout 2005; however, TNA did feature pay-per-view matches pitting Trinity against former WWE Diva
Jacqueline
Jacqueline may refer to:
People
* Jacqueline (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Jacqueline Moore (born 1964), ring name "Jacqueline", American professional wrestler
Arts and entertainment
* ''Jacqueline'' (1923 film), ...
and Traci Brooks. TNA also featured
Minsa in an on-air non-wrestling role.
Following the debut of the ''
TNA iMPACT!
''Impact!'' (stylized as ''IMPACT!''), also known as ''IMPACT! on AXS TV'',
is an American professional wrestling television program produced by the American promotion Impact Wrestling (formerly known as Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)) tha ...
'' television program in 2005, TNA featured former WWE Divas such as
Gail Kim,
Jackie Gayda, and
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
, as well as independent female wrestler
Sirelda
Jaime Dauncey is a Canadian retired professional wrestler, best known for her appearances with NWA Total Nonstop Action in 2006 under the ring name Sirelda and on the independent circuit as Jaime D.
Professional wrestling career
Early career ...
in prominent on-air roles and feuds. Although most of the prior female talent had left TNA by this time, Traci Brooks remained in an on-air role and TNA added a new ring girl,
SoCal Val (replacing Athena) and backstage interviewer,
Leticia Cline
Leticia Ann Bjork Passmore, Leticia Cline (born October 1, 1978) is an American journalist and model. She is best known as a former interviewer for TNA Wrestling, ''Maxim Magazine'', the reality show ''Beauty and the Geek'' and her ''Playboy' ...
(replacing Goldy Locks). Gail Kim competed in a few matches that were televised and/or taped throughout 2006 against Sirelda and Traci Brooks, while independent wrestler
Amber O'Neal competed at TNA house shows in matches against Kim and Jacqueline. In the fall of 2006,
Sherri Martel appeared on ''TNA iMPACT!'' in her final televised appearance before her death the following year.
Impact Wrestling Knockouts Division (2007–present)
![Gail_Kim_Jan_2013](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/27/Gail_Kim_Jan_2013.jpg)
The formation of an official women's division began at
Final Resolution
Final Resolution is a professional wrestling Impact Plus event held by Impact Wrestling in December. Initially introduced as a pay-per-view by TNA in 2005, the event originally took place in January until 2008, when TNA moved the event to December ...
in 2007 as TNA spent the early part of the year building up the feud between Gail Kim and Jacqueline, who made her on-air return at the pay-per-view also during the summer a feud between Christy Hemme and
Roxxi Laveaux
Nicole Raczynski (born April 19, 1979) is an American former professional wrestler. She is best known for her tenure in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring names Roxxi Laveaux, The Voodoo Queen, and Roxxi. She is also known for her time ...
took place. The first
TNA Women's Knockout Champion
The Impact Knockouts World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by Impact Wrestling. It is primarily contested for in Impact's women's division, known as the Impact Knockouts. The championship debuted on Oct ...
was crowned on October 14, 2007, at
Bound for Glory in a 10–Knockout gauntlet match which Gail Kim won with lastly eliminating Roxxi Laveaux. Around this time, TNA signed several additional female wrestlers and personalities, including
Angel Williams,
Amazing Kong,
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
,
Shelly Martinez
Shelly Leonor Martinez (born February 9, 1980) is an American model, actress, retired professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel and for Tota ...
, and
Talia Madison who were then renamed after the PPV, as well as valet
Karen Jarrett
Karen Jarrett (' Smedley and formerly Angle, born October 12, 1972) is an American professional wrestling valet and personality. She was formerly the senior vice president of the Impact Knockouts Division. She is the former wife of professio ...
and new backstage interviewer
Crystal Louthan
Crystal Louthan is an American professional wrestling interviewer and announcer. She is best known for her appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling.
Early life and career
Louthan worked as a model once appeared as a boxing ring girl on H ...
. In a stark departure to TNA's past programming where their female talent were often promoted as
eye candy with little to no emphasis on athleticism or wrestling ability, in the same fashion as their WWE Diva counterparts during that time period, TNA's women's division emphasized on serious wrestling competition between their female talent, as well as their credibility on par with their male counterparts. Since the inception of an official championship, matches and segments involving the Knockouts have contributed to drawing some of the better ratings of Impact shows.
Since 2008, TNA continued to expand the women's division by featuring various prospective independent talents, veterans, and reality show winners such as
Sharmell
Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (born November 2, 1970) is an American retired professional wrestling valet, dancer, beauty queen, and professional wrestler. As the wife of Booker T, she is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WW ...
,
Taylor Wilde
Shantelle Larissa Malawski (born January 26, 1986) is a Canadian professional wrestler. She is signed with Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Taylor Wilde.
Malawski was under a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract ...
,
Daffney
Shannon Claire Spruill (July 17, 1975 – September 1, 2021) was an American professional wrestler, wrestling manager and actress better known by her ring name Daffney.
Daffney began her professional wrestling career in World Championship Wre ...
,
Tara,
Hamada,
Sarita,
Mickie James
Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and Country music, country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling. She has also had tenures in WWE a ...
, and ''
Survivor: The Amazon'' winner Jenna Morasca while Lauren Brooke became the new backstage interviewer at Lockdown and
Daizee Haze who appeared in the first few years of the company returned in a one time match on May 1 losing to
Cheerleader Melissa
Melissa Anderson (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Cheerleader Melissa. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she worked as Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed. ...
who was also pulling dual role under the Raisha Saeed gimmick at that time.
![Sarah Stock & Shantelle Malawski](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cc/Sarah_Stock_%26_Shantelle_Malawski.jpg)
The division would see the start of many various changes when in August, Gail Kim's contract with TNA expired and instead of renewing it, she decided to return to rival
WWE for a second run. At the start of the following year in 2009,
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
debuted in TNA on January 8 and became the third member of
The Beautiful People alongside existing members Angelina Love and Velvet Sky which made the tag team a stable and the
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship was introduced at
No Surrender and Sarita and Taylor Wilde became the first
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions when they won the final match of an eight–team tournament.
The women's division would see a start of vast departures in fall of 2009 beginning when Angelina Love left the company on September 3 due to visa work issue, Love was replaced by Lacey Von Erich in the Beautiful People stable and then immediately returned to the company the following year on January 14. Later on,
Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens (born September 4, 1977) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Awesome Kong. She also worked with Ring ...
, Alissa Flash, Roxxi, Traci Brooks, Roxxi, ODB, and Tara (although would return two months later on July 11 at
Victory Road) all departed from the company mutually or due to controversial circumstances. Madison Rayne made history by becoming the first person to hold both the Women's Knockout Championship and the Knockouts Tag Team Championship simultaneously at
Lockdown
A lockdown is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks (such as COVID-19) that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely.
The term is used for a prison ...
. On August 8, Francine appeared in a pre-taped interview at the ECW reunion themed Hardcore Justice and Lacey Von Erich, Hamada, and Taylor Wilde departed from the company at the end of the year. Despite departures during this time period, the division continued to grow.
![Brooke Tessmacher Knockout Tag Champion](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a0/Brooke_Tessmacher_Knockout_Tag_Champion.jpg)
Despite initially departing the company in individual time periods, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Awesome Kong, Alissa Flash, Traci Brooks, Roxxi, ODB, Jacqueline, SoCal Val, Mickie James, Thea Trinidad, Karen Jarrett, Christy Hemme, Taryn Terrell, Brooke, Katarina, and Madison Rayne would return to the company in later years either full-time or short lived runs and through special appearances.
In the years of 2011-2013 in which on March 15, 2011, Daffney's contract with TNA expired and was not renewed. then 7 months later, Gail Kim returned to TNA, after spending the past three years with WWE during her second run.
Taeler Hendrix was signed to a contract through the company's
Gut Check Challenge, becoming the first ever woman to win the contest and in August 2012,
Taryn Terrell
Taryn Nicole Dryden (née Terrell; born December 28, 1985) is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer, and a retired professional wrestler.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real ...
joined the division as the official referee although later on would be transitioned into an active role to receive a push to feud with Gail Kim. Sarita departed from TNA entering the year of 2013 after her contract would expire.
Lei'D Tapa
Seini Draughn (née Tonga, born 27 November 1982) is a German-born Tongan American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model, mixed martial artist and former women's American football player. Having been previously working f ...
became the second female talent signed to a contract through the
Gut Check Challenge. In the summer, the
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship would be deactivated when on the June 20, 2013 episode of ''Impact Wrestling'', Knockouts Division Executive
Brooke Hogan stripped ODB and Eric Young of the title because Young was a male talent. This ultimately resulted in the titles being no longer being listed among TNA's active championships. The women's division would see again the start of vast departures when
SoCal Val,
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
,
Tara,
Mickie James
Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and Country music, country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling. She has also had tenures in WWE a ...
, and
Taeler Hendrix all departed from the company entering the month of July to mid-Fall mutually; Rayne was originally granted a maternity leave in early March due to real life pregnancy, Hendrix's departure made
Lei'D Tapa
Seini Draughn (née Tonga, born 27 November 1982) is a German-born Tongan American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model, mixed martial artist and former women's American football player. Having been previously working f ...
the only female talent signed from the short-lived
Gut Check Challenge, and SoCal Val's departure left
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
as the longest tenured female talent within the company. The vast departures lead to
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
,
Gail Kim,
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
,
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
,
Brooke Brooke may refer to:
People
* Brooke (given name)
* Brooke (surname)
* Brooke baronets, families of baronets with the surname Brooke
Places
* Brooke, Norfolk, England
* Brooke, Rutland, England
* Brooke, Virginia, US
* Brooke's Point, Palawan ...
,
Taryn Terrell
Taryn Nicole Dryden (née Terrell; born December 28, 1985) is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer, and a retired professional wrestler.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real ...
,
Lei'D Tapa
Seini Draughn (née Tonga, born 27 November 1982) is a German-born Tongan American professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, model, mixed martial artist and former women's American football player. Having been previously working f ...
,
Hannah Blossom
Hannah or Hanna may refer to:
People, biblical figures, and fictional characters
* Hannah (name), a female given name of Hebrew origin
* Hanna (Arabic name), a family and a male given name of Christian Arab origin
* Hanna (Irish surname), a fami ...
,
Holly Blossom,
Rebel
A rebel is a participant in a rebellion.
Rebel or rebels may also refer to:
People
* Rebel (given name)
* Rebel (surname)
* Patriot (American Revolution), during the American Revolution
* American Southerners, as a form of self-identification ...
, and
Brittany
Brittany (; french: link=no, Bretagne ; br, Breizh, or ; Gallo: ''Bertaèyn'' ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica during the period ...
remaining and continuing on with the company.
Taryn Terrell
Taryn Nicole Dryden (née Terrell; born December 28, 1985) is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer, and a retired professional wrestler.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real ...
would be granted a maternity leave in August due to real life pregnancy.
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
would return to the company in late November after departing from the company earlier in the March.
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
would win the Knockouts Championship at the
Sacrifice
Sacrifice is the offering of material possessions or the lives of animals or humans to a deity as an act of propitiation or worship. Evidence of ritual animal sacrifice has been seen at least since ancient Hebrews and Greeks, and possibly exis ...
pay-per-view for a record-breaking sixth time A few days later, Lei'D Tapa departed from the company after her contract expired.
Throughout August, vignettes hyping the debut of
Havok would air on ''Impact Wrestling''. Havok made her debut by attacking Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell after their title match on the September 3 broadcast of ''Impact Wrestling''. During the tapings of ''Impact Wrestling'' on September 16, Havok defeated Kim in the main event of ''Impact Wrestling'' to win the TNA Women's Knockout Championship for the first time; the match aired on
tape delay on October 1. Havok lost the championship three days later to Taryn Terrell in a three-way match that also involved Gail Kim; the match aired on tape delay on November 19.
Ground Breaking & Barrier Breaking Intergender Knockouts History (2015–2021)
Towards the end of the year of 2015 in October, for the first time ever, the TNA Knockouts entered a tournament for the vacant
TNA World Heavyweight Championship; Awesome Kong, Gail Kim, Madison Rayne, and Brooke were revealed to being the representatives of the women's division in the group. Brooke announced her departure from the company on November 24. On December 29, just weeks before TNA's début on ''
Pop TV'',
Maria Kanellis signed with the company. At
Bound for Glory, Awesome Kong,
Taryn Terrell
Taryn Nicole Dryden (née Terrell; born December 28, 1985) is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer, and a retired professional wrestler.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real ...
, and
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
made a special appearance to induct Gail Kim in the
TNA Hall of Fame. Throughout 2016, the division included various competitors who just joined the company. Most of them had title reigns with the Knockouts Championship, such as
Jade
Jade is a mineral used as jewellery or for ornaments. It is typically green, although may be yellow or white. Jade can refer to either of two different silicate minerals: nephrite (a silicate of calcium and magnesium in the amphibole group ...
,
Sienna
Sienna (from it, terra di Siena, meaning "Siena earth") is an earth pigment containing iron oxide and manganese oxide. In its natural state, it is yellowish brown and is called raw sienna. When heated, it becomes a reddish brown and is call ...
and
Allie
Allie is a unisex given name, a nickname and, more rarely a surname. It is a diminutive form of several names beginning with ''Al-''. It may refer to:
Given name or nickname Female
* Allie (wrestler) (born 1987), Canadian professional wrestler
* ...
. In 2017, at
Slammiversary XV, Sienna defeated
Rosemary
''Salvia rosmarinus'' (), commonly known as rosemary, is a shrub with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or blue flowers, native plant, native to the Mediterranean Region, Mediterranean region. Until 2017, it was kn ...
in a
unification match
Championship unification is the act of combining two or more separate professional wrestling championships into a single title.
History
In professional wrestling, championships may be unified to consolidate the number of championships in a give ...
which saw the TNA Knockouts Championship and
GFW Women's Championship get unified. During Sienna's reign the title was renamed to ''Impact Wrestling Knockouts Championship''. Shortly after, at
Bound for Glory, Gail Kim won the title for the record–setting seventh time and also became the first woman to
retire
Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload.
Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...
while holding the title. Kim would transition to behind the scenes as a producer. After Kim's retirement, the Knockouts Championship would become vacant in late 2017 as a 6-woman tournament would be held in which
Laurel Van Ness defeated Rosemary in the finals to win the championship for the first time.
Two years later,
Gail Kim would come out of retirement in a storyline with
Tessa Blanchard
Tessa Blanchard (born July 26, 1995) is an American professional wrestler. She is best known for her time in Impact Wrestling, where she became the first female wrestler to win the Impact World Championship and is also a former Impact Knockouts ...
. Both eventually faced off at
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising, or insurrection is a refusal of obedience or order. It refers to the open resistance against the orders of an established authority.
A rebellion originates from a sentiment of indignation and disapproval of a situation and ...
as Blanchard defeated Kim. Kim would officially retire. Four months later, Tessa Blanchard became the first woman to main event at
Slammiversary XVII
Slammiversary XVII was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by Impact Wrestling. It took place on July 7, 2019 at the Gilley's Dallas in Dallas, Texas. It was the fifteenth event under the Slammiversary chronology.
Eigh ...
against
Sami Callihan in an
intergender match
Intergender wrestling, also known as mixed wrestling, is a type of professional wrestling match between a man and a woman and may also refer to tag team matches with both men and women on each team.
Intergender tag team matches are not to be confu ...
. Most of the year of 2019 revolved around Tessa Blanchard and her continued feud with
Sami Callihan and his faction,
Ohio Versus Everything. Towards the end of the year of 2019 on the company's premiere on AXS Television, Blanchard became the number one contender for the Impact World Championship after winning a mini tournament. In this year also,
Taya Valkyrie
Kira Renée Magnin-Forster (born October 22, 1983) is a Canadian professional wrestler, fitness competitor, and model better known by the ring name Taya Valkyrie.
She is currently appearing for Impact Wrestling, where she is a current two-time ...
became the longest reigning Knockouts Champion surpassing
Taryn Terrell
Taryn Nicole Dryden (née Terrell; born December 28, 1985) is an American model, actress, stuntwoman, ring announcer, and a retired professional wrestler.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), under her real ...
.
At
Hard To Kill, Tessa Blanchard became the first woman to win the Impact World Championship. Blanchard also became the first woman in professional wrestling to win a major male world championship.
On August 24 at the second night of ''Emergence'' special,
Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna Purrazzo (born June 10, 1994) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she is a former two-time Impact Knockouts World Champion and a former Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion. She also appe ...
defended the Knockouts Championship against
Jordynne Grace
Patricia Forrest Parker (born March 5, 1996) is an American professional wrestler and powerlifter currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Jordynne Grace. She is currently the Impact Knockouts World Champio ...
in the first Knockouts 30-minute
Iron man match in Impact history, where Purrazzo was victorious with two falls over one.
On October 23, 2021
Jordynne Grace
Patricia Forrest Parker (born March 5, 1996) is an American professional wrestler and powerlifter currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Jordynne Grace. She is currently the Impact Knockouts World Champio ...
became the first Knockout (women) to become the
Impact Digital Media Champion a intergender title that is a mostly male dominant title in
Sunrise Manor, NV at
Bound for Glory of 2021 by defeating
Chelsea Green
Chelsea Anne Cardona (born April 4, 1991) is a Canadian professional wrestler, stuntwoman and model. She is best known for her time in Impact Wrestling where she is a former impact Knockouts champion and Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion ...
,
Crazzy Steve
Steven Scott (born March 4, 1984) is a Canadian professional wrestler, currently signed with Impact Wrestling, under the ring name Crazzy Steve, where he is a former Impact World Tag Team Champion. He also wrestles on the independent circuit fo ...
,
Fallah Bahh
Francis Flores (born August 12, 1985) is an American professional wrestler best known for his time with Impact Wrestling, where he performed under the ring name Fallah Bahh. He began his wrestling career on New Jersey's independent circuit, wre ...
, John Skyler, and
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
in a tournament final
intergender six-way match
Many types of wrestling matches, sometimes called "concept" or "Glossary of professional wrestling terms#Gimmick, gimmick matches" in the Glossary of professional wrestling terms, jargon of the business, are performed in professional wrestling. So ...
to become the inaugural champion.
Knockouts Division authority figure
In August 2008, it was announced on ''TNAwrestling.com'' that Traci Brooks was officially in charge of the Knockouts Division as the
Knockouts Division Commissioner, also known as the "Knockout Law". On screen credit was given to
Jim Cornette
James Mark "Jim" Cornette (born September 17, 1961) is an American author and podcaster who has previously worked in the professional wrestling industry as an agent, booker, color commentator, manager, promoter, trainer, and occasional prof ...
(at the time, the highest position of on-screen authority the fans saw), who was fed up with the Knockouts, and needed someone who "spoke their language" to control them. In January 2009, Brooks stopped appearing in TNA and Cornette resumed control over the Knockout division. Brooks returned on the March 12, 2009, edition of ''Impact!'' as a referee. She was released on March 4, 2010. Since the year of 2009, there has been five female talents who were appointed the role of authority figure in the women's division.
Promotion
The popularity of women in TNA has resulted cross-promotion with other brands featuring the TNA Knockouts.
TNA Knockout DVDs and Television specials
* In 2006, TNA released the first Knockouts DVD entitled ''Knockouts: The Ladies of TNA Wrestling'' which featured
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
,
Gail Kim,
Jackie Gayda,
SoCal Val, and
Traci Brooks; much similar to their rival company female talent, this video release was the first and only DVD where the Knockouts were featured in select outdoor locations.
* In 2008, TNA released their second Knockouts DVD on October 7, 2008 entitled ''TNA Knockouts: Knocked Out'' which featured
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
,
Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens (born September 4, 1977) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Awesome Kong. She also worked with Ri ...
,
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
,
Gail Kim,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline may refer to:
People
* Jacqueline (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Jacqueline Moore (born 1964), ring name "Jacqueline", American professional wrestler
Arts and entertainment
* ''Jacqueline'' (1923 film), ...
,
Karen Jarrett
Karen Jarrett (' Smedley and formerly Angle, born October 12, 1972) is an American professional wrestling valet and personality. She was formerly the senior vice president of the Impact Knockouts Division. She is the former wife of professio ...
,
Lauren
Lauren may be a given name or surname.The name's meaning may be "laurel tree", "sweet of honor", or "wisdom". It is derived from the French name Laurence, a feminine version of Laurent, which is in turn derived from the Roman surname Laurentius. ...
,
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
,
Raisha Saeed,
Rhaka Khan
Trenesha Biggers (born December 25, 1981) is an American former model and professional wrestler. She is best known for her appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Rhaka Khan; she also appeared with WWE as Trenesha, co ...
,
Roxxi,
Salinas,
Sharmell
Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (born November 2, 1970) is an American retired professional wrestling valet, dancer, beauty queen, and professional wrestler. As the wife of Booker T, she is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WW ...
,
SoCal Val,
Traci Brooks,
Taylor Wilde
Shantelle Larissa Malawski (born January 26, 1986) is a Canadian professional wrestler. She is signed with Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Taylor Wilde.
Malawski was under a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract ...
, and
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
documenting the 1st anniversary of the launching of the division. Karen Jarrett was chosen for the cover, with an alternative cover featuring Christy Hemme.
* In 2017, Impact released the first female anthology entitled ''The Essential Gail Kim Collection'' which revolved around Gail Kim's professional wrestling career including her time with the company in her two tenures showcasing favorite matches and her Hall of Fame induction.
The popularity of women in Impact Wrestling has also resulted in the company devoting pay-per-view to television specials to the women's division. At the end of the year of 2009 on December 31, TNA promoted a special four-hour, all Knockout episode of ''Impact!'', titled ''New Year's Knockout Eve'', which featured a tournament for the number one contendership to the Women's Knockout Championship.
April Hunter
April Hunter (born September 24, 1976) is an American retired professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet, boxer, actress, writer, fitness model and glamour model. She has appeared in publications including ''MuscleMag International'' ...
who competed with the organization in its early years returned in this special competing in a tag team match. Six years later, TNA announced the second Knockouts-themed show for the first time which aired on April 17, 2015 titled 'TKO: Total Knockouts'.
In the year of 2010, TNA premiered an all Knockout highlight pay-per-view special on October 1, titled TNA Knockouts: Mad Sexy Volume 1, featuring the best matches in the history of the Knockout division. as Volume 2 premiered February 1, 2011. Three years later, TNA recorded an all knockouts pay-per-view on March 7, which aired on September 6th, titled
TNA Knockouts Knockdown. It was part of special series of pay-per-views released by TNA called
TNA One Night Only
''One Night Only'' was a series of professional wrestling events held by Impact Wrestling launched in April 2013. The concept was announced on January 11, 2013 by then-Total Nonstop Action (TNA) President Dixie Carter as a part of a change to their ...
. Since the start of the first event,
Trinity
The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...
,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline may refer to:
People
* Jacqueline (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Jacqueline Moore (born 1964), ring name "Jacqueline", American professional wrestler
Arts and entertainment
* ''Jacqueline'' (1923 film), ...
,
Alissa Flash
Melissa Anderson (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Cheerleader Melissa. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she worked as Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed. ...
,
Sojournor Bolt
Josette Bynum (born September 11, 1977) is an American retired professional wrestler and promoter. Bynum is best known for her stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Sojournor Bolt (or "Sojo Bolt" for short). She is also known for ...
,
MaryKate,
Thea Trinidad
Thea Megan Trinidad Büdgen (born December 27, 1990) is an American professional wrestler and actress. She is currently signed to WWE, where she performs on the SmackDown brand under the ring name Zelina Vega, and is a member of Legado Del Fant ...
, and
Shelly Martinez
Shelly Leonor Martinez (born February 9, 1980) is an American model, actress, retired professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel and for Tota ...
made special appearances for the company's annual event.
TNA Knockouts Trading Cards
TRISTAR Productions
TriStar Productions (TSP) is an American film and television production company, a division of TriStar Pictures and a joint venture between Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) and former 20th Century Fox chairman Tom Rothman.
The new company share ...
released a TNA Knockouts trading card series on April 28, 2009. The set featured
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
,
Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens (born September 4, 1977) is an American actress and retired professional wrestler. She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA)/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Awesome Kong. She also worked with Ring ...
,
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
,
Dixie Carter
Dixie Virginia Carter (May 25, 1939 – April 10, 2010) was an American actress. She starred as Julia Sugarbaker on the sitcom ''Designing Women'' (1986–1993) and as Randi King on the drama series ''Family Law'' (1999–2002). She was nomin ...
,
The Governor,
Jacqueline
Jacqueline may refer to:
People
* Jacqueline (given name), including a list of people with the name
* Jacqueline Moore (born 1964), ring name "Jacqueline", American professional wrestler
Arts and entertainment
* ''Jacqueline'' (1923 film), ...
,
Jenna Morasca,
Lauren
Lauren may be a given name or surname.The name's meaning may be "laurel tree", "sweet of honor", or "wisdom". It is derived from the French name Laurence, a feminine version of Laurent, which is in turn derived from the Roman surname Laurentius. ...
,
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
,
ODB ODB may refer to:
People
* Ol' Dirty Bastard (1968–2004), American rapper and founding member of the Wu-Tang Clan
* ODB (wrestler) (born 1978), Stage name of American professional wrestler Jessica Kresa
* Original David Baker (born 1972), a monik ...
,
Raisha Saeed,
Rhaka Khan
Trenesha Biggers (born December 25, 1981) is an American former model and professional wrestler. She is best known for her appearances with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Rhaka Khan; she also appeared with WWE as Trenesha, co ...
,
Roxxi,
Sharmell
Sharmell Sullivan-Huffman (born November 2, 1970) is an American retired professional wrestling valet, dancer, beauty queen, and professional wrestler. As the wife of Booker T, she is best known for her time with World Wrestling Entertainment (WW ...
,
SoCal Val,
Sojournor Bolt
Josette Bynum (born September 11, 1977) is an American retired professional wrestler and promoter. Bynum is best known for her stint in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the name Sojournor Bolt (or "Sojo Bolt" for short). She is also known for ...
,
Traci Brooks,
Taylor Wilde
Shantelle Larissa Malawski (born January 26, 1986) is a Canadian professional wrestler. She is signed with Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Taylor Wilde.
Malawski was under a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract ...
, and
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
. Also included are cards pairing the Knockouts with male TNA wrestlers.
Playboy
Shortly before leaving Impact Wrestling, backstage interviewer
Leticia Cline
Leticia Ann Bjork Passmore, Leticia Cline (born October 1, 1978) is an American journalist and model. She is best known as a former interviewer for TNA Wrestling, ''Maxim Magazine'', the reality show ''Beauty and the Geek'' and her ''Playboy' ...
appeared on the cover of the November/December 2007 issue of ''
Playboy's Sexy Girls Next Door'', which included her nude photo shoot.
In an interview with ''
The Sun'',
Traci Brooks confirmed that ''
Playboy
''Playboy'' is an American men's lifestyle and entertainment magazine, formerly in print and currently online. It was founded in Chicago in 1953, by Hugh Hefner and his associates, and funded in part by a $1,000 loan from Hefner's mother.
K ...
'' magazine (which previously had a partnership agreement with WWE prior to the organization converting to PG-rated television content) reached a new partnership agreement with Impact Wrestling. Brooks was originally scheduled to be featured in the November 2009 issue including becoming the first Impact Wrestling Knockout to appear in ''Playboy''. However, Playboy decided not to publish Brooks' photo shoot in their magazine. The photo shoot was instead released online through their Cyber Club website on September 17, 2009.
Other
Publications
Beautiful People members
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
and
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
were featured on the cover and in a pictorial in the December 2009 issue of ''
Muscle & Fitness
''Muscle & Fitness'' is an American fitness and bodybuilding magazine founded in 1935 by Canadian entrepreneur Joe Weider. It was originally published under the title ''Your Physique'', before being renamed to ''Muscle Builder'' in 1954, and acq ...
'' magazine, which also included photos of
Lauren Brooke
Lauren Brooke is the pen name of popular author Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers who have written the books for "Heartland". Beth Chambers went on to write the series "Chestnut Hill" which Cathy Hapka also contributed toward.
In 2007, ''Heartl ...
and
SoCal Val. Velvet Sky was named "Woman of the Year" by ''Modelsmania'' magazine after featuring on the cover and in a pictorial in the August 2013 issue of the publication. Earlier that year Sky was reunited with former teammate Angelina Love when they featured together on the cover and in a pictorial in the January/February 2013 issue of ''Modelsmania'' magazine.
Media
In 2009,
Taylor Wilde
Shantelle Larissa Malawski (born January 26, 1986) is a Canadian professional wrestler. She is signed with Impact Wrestling, where she performs under the ring name Taylor Wilde.
Malawski was under a World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) contract ...
and
The Beautiful People (
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
and
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
) appeared in the U.S. reality show ''
MTV Made'' to compete in a match involving a teen trained by
A.J. Styles
Allen Neal Jones (born June 2, 1977), better known by his ring name AJ Styles (also stylized as A.J. Styles), is an American professional wrestler. He is currently signed to WWE, where he performs on the Raw brand. Regarded as one of the best ...
.
Some of the current and former Impact Knockouts have had short television and movie careers outside of Impact Wrestling. Former backstage interviewer
Lauren Brooke
Lauren Brooke is the pen name of popular author Linda Chapman and Beth Chambers who have written the books for "Heartland". Beth Chambers went on to write the series "Chestnut Hill" which Cathy Hapka also contributed toward.
In 2007, ''Heartl ...
hosts ''Top Ten'' and ''Destination Golf'' on the
Golf Channel
Golf Channel (also verbally referred to as simply Golf) is an American sports television television network, network owned by the NBC Sports Group division of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. Founded in Birmingham, Alabama, it is currently ...
.
SoCal Val appeared in a television commercial for Morphoplex.
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee Hemme ( ; born October 28, 1980) is an American former professional wrestler, singer and model. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (now known as Impact Wrestling) as a ring announcer and one of the o ...
had roles in ''
Bloodstained Memoirs
''Bloodstained Memoirs'' is a professional wrestling documentary released online via an official stream in 2009. It is compiled by interviews featuring wrestlers synonymous with different eras in wrestling (1970s to 2000s) and different wrestling ...
'', ''Fallen Angels'', and ''Bubba's Chili Parlor''. Hemme has also pursued a singing career and released songs on
MySpace and
iTunes
iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mul ...
.
Traci Brooks had a role in ''Zombie Beach Party''.
Alissa Flash
Melissa Anderson (born August 17, 1982) is an American professional wrestler, better known by her ring name Cheerleader Melissa. She is best known for her work in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she worked as Alissa Flash and Raisha Saeed. ...
has a role in the 2010 documentary ''False Finish''. Former backstage interviewer
Leticia Cline
Leticia Ann Bjork Passmore, Leticia Cline (born October 1, 1978) is an American journalist and model. She is best known as a former interviewer for TNA Wrestling, ''Maxim Magazine'', the reality show ''Beauty and the Geek'' and her ''Playboy' ...
appeared in the fifth season of the reality series ''
Beauty and the Geek
''Beauty and the Geek'' is an American reality television series that premiered on The WB on June 1, 2005. It has been advertised as "The Ultimate Social Experiment" and is produced by Ashton Kutcher, Jason Goldberg and J.D. Roth. The show's ti ...
'' in 2008, as well as the
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio and television personality, comedian, and author. He is best known for his radio show, ''The Howard Stern Show'', which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terre ...
reality series ''Bowling Beauties''.
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
had a role in the 2008
indie
Indie is a short form of "independence" or "independent"; it may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media
Gaming
*Independent video game development, video games created without financial backing from large companies
*Indie game, any game (board ...
film titled ''Good Intentions'' starring country music star
LeAnn Rimes
Margaret LeAnn Rimes Cibrian (born August 28, 1982) is an American singer, songwriter and actress. She originally rose to success as a country music artist at age 13 with 1996's "Blue". She has since crossed over into pop, contemporary Chris ...
and
Luke Perry
Coy Luther "Luke" Perry III (October 11, 1966 – March 4, 2019) was an American actor. He became a teen idol for playing Dylan McKay on the Fox television series ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' from 1990 to 1995, and again from 1998 to 2000. He ...
. In 2012,
Tara appeared in the U.S. reality show ''
MTV Made'' coaching an aspiring teen trying to be a professional wrestler while
Brooke Tessmacher
Brooke Nichole Adams (born December 4, 1984) is an American model and professional wrestler, better known by the ring name Brooke Tessmacher.
She is best known for her time with Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), where she is a three–t ...
and
Velvet Sky
Jamie Lynn Szantyr (born June 2, 1981) is an American color commentator and retired professional wrestler, currently signed to NWA. She is best known for her time in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a ...
also former Knockout
Angelina Love
Lauren Williams (born September 13, 1981) is a Canadian professional wrestler She is best known for her time in TNA/Impact Wrestling under the ring name Angelina Love. She is currently signed with National Wrestling Alliance (NWA).
Between ROH ...
appeared in the episode. In June 2012, Velvet Sky had the lead role in
Montgomery Gentry
Montgomery Gentry is an American country music duo founded by singers Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry, both Kentucky natives. They began performing together in the 1990s as part of two different bands with Montgomery's brother, John Michael Mo ...
's music video for their song "
So Called Life". In July 2012,
Mickie James
Mickie Laree James (born August 31, 1979) Additional January 6, 2017. is an American Professional wrestling, professional wrestler and Country music, country singer. She is currently signed to Impact Wrestling. She has also had tenures in WWE a ...
featured in
Bucky Covington
William Joel "Bucky" Covington III (born November 8, 1977) is an American country music singer. He placed eighth on the 5th season of the Fox Network's talent competition series ''American Idol''. In December 2006, he signed a recording contrac ...
's music video for his song "
Drinking Side of Country". In June 2013, Mickie James starred in a
Dr Pepper
Dr Pepper is a carbonated soft drink. It was created in the 1880s by pharmacist Charles Alderton in Waco, Texas, and first served around 1885. Dr Pepper was first nationally marketed in the United States in 1904. It is now also sold in Euro ...
advert, which was part of the company's new advertising program. It featured "one of a kind" individuals talking about the role of Dr Pepper in their lives.
Championships and accomplishments
Current championships
Retired championships
Hall of Famers
Miss TNA
The first Miss TNA was crowned on June 26, 2002, when Taylor Vaughn won a 9-woman lingerie battle royal. The title was abandoned in November 2002.
Impact Wrestling's Knockouts Year–End Awards
The
Impact Wrestling
Impact Wrestling (stylized as ''IMPACT! Wrestling''), is an American professional wrestling promotion based in Nashville, Tennessee. It is a subsidiary of Anthem Sports & Entertainment.
Founded by Jeff and Jerry Jarrett in 2002, the promo ...
Knockout of the Year Award formally known as the TNA Wrestling's Babe/Knockout of the Year contest is a contest where fans vote on Impact Wrestling's official website for who their favorite
Impact
Impact may refer to:
* Impact (mechanics), a high force or shock (mechanics) over a short time period
* Impact, Texas, a town in Taylor County, Texas, US
Science and technology
* Impact crater, a meteor crater caused by an impact event
* Impac ...
Knockout for that year, the winners were announced during the
Year End Awards on ''
iMPACT!''. The award was established in 2003 and ended in 2007. The award was reestablished in 2018.
Queen of the Knockouts (2013–2016)
TNA held a series of matches featuring various Knockouts at
TNA One Night Only: Knockout Knockdown. The winners of these matches would advance to a battle royal, with the winner being crowned the "Queen of the Knockouts". It took place on March 17, 2013 from the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida and aired on PPV on September 6, 2013. No queen was crowned in 2017.
Queen of the Cage
The Queen of the Cage match was a professional wrestling match exclusive to TNA. The match was determined annually at the
Lockdown
A lockdown is a restriction policy for people, community or a country to stay where they are, usually due to specific risks (such as COVID-19) that could possibly harm the people if they move and interact freely.
The term is used for a prison ...
pay-per-view event. In 2008, the match began as a
reverse-battle royal involving eight wrestlers. The first two wrestlers that entered the cage then competed in a one-on-one match that was won via pin fall or submission. The winner became the number one contender for the TNA Women's Knockout Championship. In 2009, the match was a
traditional four-way match. The match type has since been dropped.
Inaugural Impact Wrestling Knockouts (KO) Championship holders
Impact Knockouts Tournaments
New Year's Knockout Eve Tournament (2009)
The New Year's Knockout Eve Tournament took place on the December 31, 2009, edition of ''Impact!''. The winner of the tournament would earn herself a shot at the
TNA Women's Knockout Championship
The Impact Knockouts World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by Impact Wrestling. It is primarily contested for in Impact's women's division, known as the Impact Knockouts. The championship debuted on Octob ...
on the live three hour Monday night edition of ''Impact!'' on January 4, 2010.
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament (2009)
TNA announced a Knockouts tag team tournament for the new
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship on the August 20, 2009 episode of ''TNA Impact!''. Round one matches started on the August 27, 2009 episode of ''TNA Impact!''.
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament (2010)
On the December 9, 2010, edition of ''Impact!'' TNA vacated the
TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship, after one half of the previous champions,
Hamada, had been released by the promotion, and set up a four–team tournament to determine new champions.
The finals of the tournament would take place on the December 23 edition of ''Impact!''.
* Winter
Winter is the coldest season of the year in polar and temperate climates. It occurs after autumn and before spring. The tilt of Earth's axis causes seasons; winter occurs when a hemisphere is oriented away from the Sun. Different cultures ...
replaced Velvet Sky, who had been attacked backstage by Sarita.
Impact Knockouts Championship Tournament (2017)
On November 23, 2017 it was announced after Gail Kim
retired
Retirement is the withdrawal from one's position or occupation or from one's active working life. A person may also semi-retire by reducing work hours or workload.
Many people choose to retire when they are elderly or incapable of doing their j ...
and
vacated
A vacated judgment (also known as vacatur relief) makes a previous legal judgment legally void. A vacated judgment is usually the result of the judgment of an appellate court, which overturns, reverses, or sets aside the judgment of a lower court. ...
the
Impact Knockouts Championship
The Impact Knockouts World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by Impact Wrestling. It is primarily contested for in Impact's women's division, known as the Impact Knockouts. The championship debuted on Oct ...
that it would be a 6-Women
tournament
A tournament is a competition involving at least three competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:
# One or more competitions held at a single venue and concentr ...
to determine who would be the new Knockouts Champion where two
triple threat matches will happen and one
finals
Final, Finals or The Final may refer to:
*Final (competition), the last or championship round of a sporting competition, match, game, or other contest which decides a winner for an event
** Another term for playoffs, describing a sequence of cont ...
.
Impact Knockouts Tag Team Revival Championship Tournament (2020-2021)
Over the course of 2020, Impact Wrestling (which had been renamed from TNA in 2017) signed several female talents such as
Nevaeh,
Tasha Steelz
Latasha Harris (born April 3, 1987) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling under the ring name Tasha Steelz. She is a former Knockouts World Champion and a former two-time Knockouts Tag Team Champion. She also ...
,
Deonna Purrazzo
Deonna Purrazzo (born June 10, 1994) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling, where she is a former two-time Impact Knockouts World Champion and a former Impact Knockouts World Tag Team Champion. She also appe ...
, and
Kimber Lee
Kimberly Ann Frankele (born June 27, 1990), better known by her ring name Kimber Lee, is an American professional wrestler who is currently a free agent. She is known for her work on both the American and international independent circuits, most ...
, all of which were paired with already established names on the roster. After months of competition between the tag teams in the Knockouts division, on October 24 at the
Bound for Glory pay-per-view,
Madison Rayne
Ashley Nichole Lomberger (née Simmons; born February 5, 1986) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Madison Rayne, where she is also the coach of the women's division. She is best know ...
announced that after nearly eight years of inactivity, Impact Wrestling is reviving the Knockouts Tag Team Championship. It was also announced that an eight-team tournament would take place over the next two months to determine the next champions. The brackets were announced in November, with the final taking place at the
Hard To Kill pay-per-view in January 2021. At Hard To Kill, Fire N Flava (
Kiera Hogan
Kiera Hogan (born September 16, 1994) is an American professional wrestler currently working for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). She is best known for her time in Impact Wrestling, where she is a former two-time Impact Knockouts Tag Team Champion (wi ...
and
Tasha Steelz
Latasha Harris (born April 3, 1987) is an American professional wrestler currently signed to Impact Wrestling under the ring name Tasha Steelz. She is a former Knockouts World Champion and a former two-time Knockouts Tag Team Champion. She also ...
) defeated
Havok and
Nevaeh in the tournament final to win the revived titles.
2021 Homecoming Tournament
This was a
mixed tag team tournament which was the focus of
Homecoming event on July 30, 2021 to crown the Homecoming King and Queen.
Knockouts Knockdown Tournament (2021)
On the September 23 episode of ''
Impact!'', producer
Gail Kim announced an eight-woman, one night tournament for the
Knockouts Knockdown event, where the winner will earn a future shot at the
Impact Knockouts Championship
The Impact Knockouts World Championship is a women's professional wrestling world championship owned by Impact Wrestling. It is primarily contested for in Impact's women's division, known as the Impact Knockouts. The championship debuted on Oct ...
.
Gut Check Winners
Impact
Gut Check (also known as TNA Gut Check) is a reality series that was established in 2004 where both
male
Male (symbol: ♂) is the sex of an organism that produces the gamete (sex cell) known as sperm, which fuses with the larger female gamete, or ovum, in the process of fertilization.
A male organism cannot reproduce sexually without access to ...
and
female
Female ( symbol: ♀) is the sex of an organism that produces the large non-motile ova (egg cells), the type of gamete (sex cell) that fuses with the male gamete during sexual reproduction.
A female has larger gametes than a male. Fema ...
Indy
Indy may refer to:
Computing and technology
*Indy (software), used for Internet access to music
*Internet Direct, or "Indy", a software library
*SGI Indy, a computer workstation
Periodicals
*''The Indy'', shorthand for newspapers that include " ...
Stars are contestants and compete for a Impact
contract
A contract is a legally enforceable agreement between two or more parties that creates, defines, and governs mutual rights and obligations between them. A contract typically involves the transfer of goods, services, money, or a promise to tran ...
. The following list shows only the female Gut Check winners only and the years that they've won.
''Pro Wrestling Illustrated''
PWI Female 50 / Female 100
See also
*
Women in WWE
Throughout its history, women have served in various onscreen roles in the American professional wrestling promotion WWE. In the 1990s, WWE (then known as the World Wrestling Federation) introduced the term Diva to refer to its female performe ...
*
Women of Honor
Women of Honor is a term used by Ring of Honor (ROH) to refer to its female talent. The term is applied universally to wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and managers/valets.
Promotion and History of Women in ROH (pt.1)
Early years and par ...
References
External links
Official TNA Knockouts websitewrestlingknockouts.com
Official TNA websiteimpactwrestling.com
The official TNA rosterimpactwrestling.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tna Knockout
Professional wrestling slang
*
Women's professional wrestling