Gut Check Reactions: Sam Shaw

Violet: I really could go either way with Sam Shaw. His match with Douglas Williams was well wrestled, and, unlike the other contestants, he had to contend with the surrounding Joey Ryan commotion ringside. However, his look and his persona need some work before he'll be ready for television. Lucky for Shaw, his fellow Gut Check winners have yet to return to the Impact Zone, so he probably has some time to work that stuff out.

Gut Check Winner Sam Shaw (AKA Not Joey Ryan)

At the rate the judges are going, Impact's going to have a whole new roster by the end of the year. Are they just going to accept everyone who isn't Joey Ryan?

Alex: I finally agree with the Gut Check judges (well, some of them).  Sam Shaw put on a pretty good match with Douglas Williams, and when he got his chance to "kick out", he didn't tell a sob story.  Instead, he basically just said "damnit, I want to be a wrestler, give me my shot!".  I can definitely get behind that more than I can a typical sob story like Alex Silva and Taeler Hendrix gave us.

As far as the judges and the judging goes, Gut Check is getting awfully predictable.  "Yes!", "No!", "Time to kick outttt".  It just isn't interesting television.  This week was no different, except for the fact that Al Snow said no based on the fact that he didn't watch the match because he was too busy getting his face blasted off by Joey Ryan.

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Impact Live: Impressions From the Impact Zone

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

We attended the 7/26 episode of TNA Impact Wrestling at Universal Studios, Florida.  Here is our take on the Impact Zone experience.

Alex:

My first impression of the Impact Zone was that it was much smaller than it looks on TV.  I knew it wasn’t huge, but the production crew does a great job of making the place look bigger than it really is.  The second thing I noticed was how many non-wrestling fans were in attendance.  The family that was sitting behind Violet and I kept flip-flopping between trying to figure out if Gunner and James Storm were the same guy and bashing Kurt Angle for being pathetic for doing pro wrestling after winning gold for the US.  I guess when you give out free tickets to all park goers (and anyone who wants to wait in line), you’re going to get a mixed bag.  There were a large number of actual wrestling fans, however, and they did a good job of getting chants going and leading on the non-fans as to who to boo and who to cheer.

During every commercial break, Jeremy Borash would get on the microphone and remind everyone to be as loud as possible.  He teased letting the loudest people backstage to meet some of the guys, but I don’t know if that ever happened.  It definitely worked, though, and got the non-fans to get on their feet and cheer, otherwise it would’ve been a pretty dead crowd.

The most exciting part of the show we attended was the Joey Ryan incident.  I was right up along the rail with my “87” sign when Joey showed up.  He damn near knocked my glasses off my face when he punched Al Snow over the railing.  It was exciting to be so close to the action, and then even more exciting to have the action occur right there in the crowd.  If you check the video, I’m the dork with the black glasses, black zombie t-shirt, and the 87 sign.  Yeah, I may have marked out like a little kid.  You can also spot Violet and I during and after the Zema Ion vs. Kenny King match.  We’re the dorks with the Zema Ion sign.

The worst part of the night was the wait to get into the building.  When we picked up our “numbered place holders” (they don’t do tickets, just place holders so that they don’t have to guarantee entrance to anyone), they told us to start lining up outside the studio at 6 pm.  At around 7 pm we were moved from that line to another line, where we stood for another half hour until we were finally let into the building (hallelujah air conditioning!).  I don’t know what they could do to make this process run more smoothly, but it was exhausting and frustrating.  Admittedly, it’s a free show, so I have no room to complain, but having hundreds of people stand in Florida heat at 6 pm is a little cruel.

Overall, Impact Live was a really fun experience.  They did a good job of keeping the crowd excited during the commercial breaks by teasing backstage passes and announcing the upcoming matches.  In my opinion, the atmosphere would be much better if they sold tickets, which would cut out a lot of the non-fans.  I don’t know if they’d draw enough fans to the Impact Zone every week, or if they would even be able to do that under their contract with Universal Studios, but it would help a lot.  There were quite a few chants that were right place, right time, but never got off the ground because not enough people understood them or cared about what we were chanting for.  That said, I would definitely attend another Impact Wrestling or PPV at Universal Studios.

Violet:

The first two hours of my experience attending the July 26th episode of Impact were less than pleasant. Universal personnel lined us up in direct sunlight starting at 6 pm. Luckily, there was a bathroom and a (overpriced) refreshments stand nearby to make the hour long wait a little bit more bearable. Around seven, we were herded in a surprisingly orderly fashion in to a covered area outside the Impact Zone. This alleyway we stood in for the next 30-40 minutes was even less comfortable than the direct sunlight we previously waited in. I had to use my Zema Ion sign to fan myself off, and the soda I bought while on the first line went flat and got too warm to drink.

After what seemed like ages, we were eventually let into the Impact Zone (where our tickets were never checked). On the way in, we could see all of the people on the "stand by" line hoping to be let in, and there were a lot of them. Between the long line of "stand by" hopefuls and the grueling wait we had to withstand, I'd like to think that there is a more efficient and kinder way for TNA to handle their guests. They might be stuck with some of the Universal Studio restraints, but I think charging a couple bucks for tickets would prevent them from having to turn people away. Also, it would weed out the people who went to the show just because it was there and free.

Although we would have liked to stand ringside for the whole show, I was pretty tired from the initial wait. Luckily, we snagged front row seats that were right off camera. We were able to jump down and stand ringside for matches that really interested us, and our seats were waiting for us when we headed back. However, our seats were surrounded by non-wrestling fans making wrestling-ignorant comments the entire match. I'm used to people making fun of wrestling being "fake" in my everyday life, but I really wish I didn't have to hear that sort of commentary during a show I was super excited to be at.

The show itself was a ton of fun. The crowd was really into the Storm vs. Styles match, so there were some fun dueling chants going on. (On a side note, the non-wrestling fans behind us immediately took a liking to Storm and cheered for him simply because he drinks beer.) The Joey Ryan commotion was a lot of fun, especially since Alex and I were standing right next to him when he socked Al Snow. Interestingly, the crowd was really behind Sam Shaw, and it was sort of nice to hear them cheer on the new guy.

As soon as the show started, I was over how tiring and infuriating the wait to get in was. If I'm ever in the Orlando area again, I will certainly attend another Impact show. With how small the Impact Zone is, I bet it's a blast to watch a PPV there, and I'd like to do that sometime.

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Wrestling You Should See: Volume 1

w/ Alex Archer

Chikara - King of Trios '09 - Rey de Voladores 4-way Elimination

El Generico vs. Jigsaw vs. Nick Jackson vs. Kota Ibushi

This match features 3 of the best independent wrestlers in the United States in Generico, Jackson, and Jigsaw, as well as the Japanese sensation, Kota Ibushi. This one is packed with near falls and "Holy Shit!" moments. In a match between 4 high flying, fast paced wrestlers, Kota Ibushi really stands out. His handspring-backflip-kick is just insane, and his "fighting spirit" moment with El Generico will give you goosebumps.

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WWE Money in the Bank Results and Afterthoughts

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

CM Punk defeated Daniel Bryan in a No DQ Match w/ Special Guest Referee AJ to retain the WWE Championship

Alex: Daniel Bryan and CM Punk put on a clinic. This was a great match that didn't get too over the top with the no DQ stipulation. Often, these matches turn into a weapons-fest, but they kept it minimal, only using the table and getting in some brutal chair shots. AJ played her part well and it looks like (hopefully) this trio will continue to work together.

Violet: Punk and Bryan wrestled a relatively long and engaging match. However, I feel like the quality of the match is overshadowed by how anticlimactic the ending was. WWE had done an uncharacteristically good job of building intrigue around the AJ/Punk/Bryan storyline for weeks only to deliver absolutely no payoff last night. AJ played a minimal role in the action of the match, and Punk won with little fanfare before the pin. I was expecting an exciting ending with a new storyline twist, but instead I got a rather bland ending that didn’t do the match or storyline justice.

Sheamus defeated Alberto Del Rio to retain the World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: I was mildly entertained, which is surprising considering this was a Sheamus match and everyone in the world knew the finish long before it happened. Sheamus won via Brogue Kick. Cool. I'm also not a fan of Ziggler getting punked out right after he won the briefcase.

Violet: This match was so slow and boring. As expected, Sheamus came away with yet another victory. Not only am I growing tired of Sheamus’s title reign, but I am sick of him winning every title match with a Brogue Kick.

John Cena won the Raw Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Alex: I think we all knew this was coming, as well. Adding Miz into the mix was a nice way to spice up the match and maybe get some doubt into people's minds as to who was going to win. The match itself was pretty entertaining. The fact that my main gripe is that it went on after the WWE Championship is a good sign that the match wasn't terrible. That said, I'm excited to see what Cena does with the briefcase, which I'm a little ashamed to admit.

Violet: How cool would it have been for Miz to win the briefcase and reestablish himself as a main event wrestler and a credible heel? Of course that didn’t happen, but it was still good to see him back. I had fairly low expectations for this match, and I surprised by how interesting the action was. I was not surprised, however, that Cena won.

Dolph Ziggler won the SmackDown Money in the Bank Ladder Match

Alex: I predicted Cody Rhodes or Ziggler to win, and after seeing Ziggler selling his bumps like he was dead (as usual), I really thought Cody had it wrapped up. It was great to see Ziggler get the win, I just hope that he isn't the first to cash in and lose. The match itself started off a bit sloppy, but it was so fast paced that any botches were ancient history within a few seconds. All of the guys involved did a great job.

Violet: This was the match I was most looking forward to, but I’m left feeling kind of ambivalent about it. It was very fast paced, which was a fun surprise. However, I’m fairly certain that the quick pace contributed to some sloppily executed spots. I wish that we got to see more of Sandow, and I wish we didn’t have to see the Cobra at all. I’m glad Ziggler scored a much deserved win, but I worry that he’ll be the first MITB winner to unsuccessfully cash in his briefcase (which was teased soon after his win).

Primo & Epico defeated the Prime Time Playas

Alex: Primo looked better than he's looked since entering the WWE. Other than that, it was a fun match, but in the end, this was just filler. At least the tag champs finally got involved in the only tag storyline going.

Violet: Well, it’s about time the tag champs get involved in the only tag team storyline in WWE. I’m a little confused as to why the number contenders would lose a PPV match, but I guess it helps to establish Primo, Epico, and Rosa as people we should be cheering for.

Ryback defeated Curt Hawkins and Tyler Reks in a Handicap Match

Alex: This was Ryback's best match to date. That isn't saying much, but it was good to see that he can sell when he needs to. I'm interested in what they're going to do with him next. So, job well done, I guess.

Violet: This was Ryback’s best match to date, but it was still too much of the same.

Layla, Kaitlyn, & Tamina defeated Beth Phoenix, Natalya, & Eve

Alex: Did this match even happen? Why waste everyones time with a 6-Diva tag match that means nothing to anyone? I really hope they do more with Eve than just stick her back into the clusterfuck that is the Diva's division. She played her character very well when she was Big Johnny's lackey.

Violet: What a waste of time.

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WWE Money in the Bank Predictions

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle
CM Punk (c) vs. Daniel Bryan for the WWE Championship with AJ as Special Guest Referee

Alex: WWE has done a great job with this storyline. I believe that AJ is going to be the deciding factor in this match, but I think there will be plenty of quality wrestling to go along with the love triangle story. I wouldn't be surprised if AJ helps Bryan win the WWE Championship, but I think she sides with Punk after all. I'd love to see Kharma return on the 1000th episode of Raw to join forces with Bryan and go after Punk and AJ for the WWE and Diva's titles (I'm hoping AJ takes the belt from Layla on Raw or Smackdown and Kharma isn't really gone).

Violet: This match is going to be exciting because Punk and Bryan are extremely talented and have proved in the past that they can have solid matches; AJ's evolving character is entertaining to watch; and I have absolutely no idea how the ending will play out. I predict some interesting storyline progression and an eventual win for Punk (if I had to choose).

Sheamus (c) vs. Alberto Del Rio for the World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: I think this is the match I'm least looking forward to. I think Sheamus wins, unfortunately. I don't think we'll see a cash in tonight, that is, if this match doesn't open the show like the WHC matches have been doing lately. I like Del Rio, but they just haven't made him see like a threat to Sheamus even with the attacks over the last few weeks.

Violet: I highly doubt that Del Rio will be the man to dethrone Sheamus. Furthermore, I don't see anyone overtaking Sheamus until the person who wins the briefcase cashes in.

John Cena vs. Big Show vs. Chris Jericho vs. Kane in a MITB Ladder Match (WWE Championship)

Alex: Over the last few weeks, all signs have pointed to Cena winning this match. I'm not sure if the WWE is doing that so people will buy the pay-per-view, or to hit us with a change-up. Unless some other former champ gets involved and takes the briefcase, I think Cena will leave with the contract.

Violet: Well, Kane and Jericho are certainly not going to win. Show and Cena are the two most likely candidates for this victory, and I'm not sure which is the worse choice. Overall, I predict this will be a very slow, fairly boring ladder match.

Dolph Ziggler vs. Tensai vs. Christian vs. Santino Marella vs. Cody Rhodes vs. Tyson Kidd vs. Sin Cara vs. Damian Sandow in a MITB Ladder Match (World Heavyweight Championship)

Alex: These is definitely going to be a much more fun match than the Raw version, and I fully expect Tyson Kidd and Sin Cara to have some of the best spots of the night. I think Cody and Ziggler are the frontrunners to come away with the briefcase, but because Ziggler has been beaten by Sheamus every week for as long as I can remember, my money is on Cody Rhodes.

Violet: Of the the two MITB matches tonight, this is the one I'm excited for. I expect to see Kidd, Christian and Sin Cara involved in some fun spots, and I can't wait to see how Sandow interacts with all of the guys since we haven't really seen him in anything substantial yet. I predict Rhodes or Ziggler for the win; however, I give the edge to Rhodes. Ziggler has already lost a few Championship matches to Sheamus (who I'm 100% positive will retain tonight), so it wouldn't make sense for him to get yet another shot at the title already. Rhodes also seems like the less obvious choice here, so I think WWE will try to surprise us by giving him the win.

Kofi Kingston & R Truth vs. Hunico & Camacho (pre-show)

Alex: A non-title match against two guys who haven't won in singles or tag competition in forever. Yep, this one is going to generate buzz... I would be lying if I said I was going to waste my time watching this one. Kingston and Truth win.

Violet: Have Hunico and Camacho won anything ever? Why not put the tag champs against one of the more prominent tag teams?

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TNA Destination X Results and Afterthoughts

w/ Alex Archer & Violet Buttle

Austin Aries defeated Bobby Roode to become the new TNA World Heavyweight Champion

Alex: What a moment it was to see Austin Aries celebrating with the TNA World Heavyweight Championship! Aries and Roode put on a great match with a great finish. I was expecting some kind of screwjob so that the title could stay on Roode until the end of the Bound For Glory Series, but I was wrong. Hopefully they give Aries a nice run for the next few months because I'm still banking on Storm winning the Series and facing Roode for the title at Bound For Glory.

Violet: Much to my surprise and excitement, Austin Aries won! Usually I’m bored by every Roode match, but Aries really brought out the best in him. I expect these two focus on each other until at least the next PPV, but it will be interesting to see what happens with after this feud ends.

AJ Styles defeated Christopher Daniels in a Last Man Standing Match

Alex: I knew these guys would put on a good match, but after seeing them wrestle so many times over the past few years, I can't say I was looking forward to this one. I was pleasantly surprised by the match they had, though. Both guys worked their asses off and they didn't do the typical "knock opponent down, have ref count even though he's clearly going to get up". The Styles Clash off the ramp and through the table was insane. Unfortunately, this match won't end the atrocious Claire storyline.

Violet: This match was full of surprises for me. It was way more brutal than I expected, we didn’t see or hear from/about Claire, and Styles won. This was the match I was looking least forward to, but it kept me interested the entire time.

Zema Ion defeated Sonjay Dutt, Kenny King, and Mason Andrews in an Ultimate X Match to become the new X Division Champion

Alex: I'm so happy to see Zema Ion get the X Division Championship. He has a great look, a great character, and he can go in the ring and on the mic. He's definitely the right pick to represent the X Division. I'm looking forward to seeing him feud with either Kenny King or Sonjay Dutt. As long as they give these guys time every week, then the X Division is going to be awesome.

Violet: While I wish Ion had won clean, TNA definitely chose the right man to be X Division champion. In typical form, Ion was great in the ring and on the mic. His interaction with Sorenson was well executed, and it made me excited about their eventual feud. Ion wasn’t the only star here, because Andrews, Dutt, and King all put on a great show.

Somao Joe defeated Kurt Angle in a Bound For Glory Series Match

Alex: The only thing that surprised me in this match was the finish. I knew Joe and Angle would put on a hell of a show, but I truly thought Angle would come away with the win. I like the chokeout finish as Angle didn't actually have to tap, and it makes Joe look like a badass for choking out Kurt Angle.

Violet: I’m happy with the conclusion to this match, and it ended in a way that left both men looking strong. I like seeing Joe at the head of the pack in the Bound for Glory series. That’s not to say that I see Joe winning the whole thing (that’ll be Storm), but he does deserve the push and the attention. He’s one of the best big guys around.

Mason Andrews defeated Lars Only, Dakota Darsow, and Jigsaw in a Four Way Match

Alex: This match was pretty sloppy and not really what I was expecting. All four guys did a pretty good job, there just seemed to be a lot of "ok, who's spot is up now?" moments where all four guys were selling and looking for a cue as to what to do next. There were still some good spots, and it was nice to see all of these guys get some pay-per-view time.

Violet: This outing was much slower than most X Division matches are. I was glad that these four guys got a chance to showcase their work in front of a bigger audience than they typically perform in front of, but it proved to be a sloppy and underwhelming start to the PPV. I would have been fine with any of the four men progressing to the next stage of the tournament, and I think Mason Andrews can be proud of the work he did here.

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TNA Destination X Predictions

w/ Alex Archer, Violet Buttle, & Mike Bradford
 

Bobby Roode (c) vs. Austin Aries for the TNA World Heavyweight Championship

Alex: They've been doing a great job at building up Austin Aries as a legitimate threat to take the strap off of Bobby Roode.  I would love to see Aries come away with the title, but I think they're ultimately leading to Roode / Storm at Bound For Glory for the gold.  I'm really not sure how they're going to put him over (clean or otherwise), but I'm putting my money on Roode retaining.

Violet: As much as I'd like to Aries win here, I'm pretty sure Roode will retain. The obvious winner in the Bound for Glory series is Storm, and I can see TNA wanting him to finally prevail over Roode in order to win the title. However, I'm not sure where that would leave Aries, and I'd also be disappointed if he was out of the title picture so quickly.

Mike: I think Aries will get the upset in this one. The X-Division is the highlight of the PPV, and what better way to make cashing in the X title mean something then to have A Double win. Roode set his record, and if TNA wants to, they can continue the feud for a few more weeks with Roode getting lost in the championship shuffle with the eventual BFG winner.

AJ Styles vs. Christopher Daniels in a Last Man Standing Match

Alex: Although we've probably seen these guys fight more over the last 10 months than we've seen in the last 10 years combined (which is saying something), I'm still looking forward to what they can do in a Last Man Standing Match.  I think Daniels ends up going over with some kind of assistance from Kaz (or maybe even Claire?).  

Violet: I think a win for Styles here would be the beginning of the end for this awful storyline. Unfortunately, I think TNA is going to drag this one out a little bit longer.

Mike: I believe that Daniels will win this match to further the Springer-esque (Maury-esque for the younger crowd) Claire storyline. Just wait for the twist where Claire is the Fallen Angel's long lost sister or something like that. Thankfully the quality of the wrestlers in the match makes up for the story behind it.

Kurt Angle vs. Samoa Joe in a Bound For Glory Series Match

Alex: I think this might steal the show tonight if both guys are on their game.  The way things have been going for Joe lately, I'm assuming he loses a hard fought match and then shakes Angle's hand like he's done with Storm and Aries.  I'd really like to see Joe get some of his mean back, but I don't think it's going to happen at Destination X.

Violet: While I'm not sure who will win this match, I do have a feeling that both men are going to have a strong showing.

Mike: This match will hopefully be a clinic in submission and mat based wrestling. There's also potential for some hard strikes from both men which will help build the drama of the match. I'd like to see Joe go over, but something tells me that Angle is going to take this one. I hope I'm wrong.

Rubix vs. Dakota Darsow vs. Lars Only vs. Mason Andrews in an X Division Four Way Qualifier

Alex: This match is probably going to be a fun filled spotfest.  Like Violet and Mike, I think Darsow is going to get the nod here.  I'd honestly to see any of the other guys in this match get the win, but TNA seems to like Darsow quite a bit.

Violet: I think this will be a fun match, and I'm glad that these four guys are getting some more on-air time. Based on the fact that TNA seemingly likes Darsow, I think he'll get the win here. But, I don't expect to see the person who wins this match walking away with the title.

Mike: I've been really happy with the quality of matches we've been seeing from TNA lately. Seeing a bunch of indy guys getting some spotlight is welcome change from seeing cards loaded with ex-WWE guys lately. Strictly based on how much the announcers loved Dakota Darsow, I see him winning the match and getting the last spot in the X-Division tournament.

Four Way Ultimate X Match to crown the new X Division Champion

Alex: I'd like to see Zema Ion, Sonjay Dutt, or Kenny King come away with the X Division Championship (assuming they win their singles matches).  I think, realistically, you can rule Kid Kash and Douglas Williams out of the running.  They're both very talented, but they're already under contract and never get used.  What sense would putting the X Division Championship on them make?

Violet: I feel Zema Ion and Kenny King are the most likely winners. Before the tournament began, Zema Ion was the most relevant X Division wrestler behind Aries. I feel like he is the most deserving guy involved. But I could also see the title on King simply because of the buzz it could generate.

Mike: I could see TNA putting the belt on Kenny King right out of the gate just to spite ROH. It's hard for me to say that the Ultimate X match will be a show stealer because quite honestly, the card looks pretty good. If Kenny King isn't the chosen one, look for established guys like Zema Ion or Sonjay Dutt to have a run. 

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Monthly Televised Females Top 5

by Violet Buttle

June 2012

<o> \o/   <o> \o/    <o> \o/

AJ: Not only is AJ is one of the top Divas, but, arguably, she is one of the best things going on in the WWE today. The evolution of her character is fun to watch, and on June 29th episode of SmackDown, she proved that she is a talented in-ring performer as well.

Brooke Tessmacher: After several victories against Gail Kim, she finally defeated the long standing champ to win the Knockouts title for the first time at Slammiversary.

No longer "Brooke", but now a Champion.

Layla: Layla retained the Divas Championship in a match against Beth Phoenix at Over the Limit. In addition to a few short televised appearances since then, Layla had her strongest in-ring showing yet against AJ on SmackDown at the end of the month.

Taeler Hendrix: Taeler is the first female contestant to be on TNA’s Gut Check, and she’s the second contestant to be awarded a contract.

Kharma: She hasn’t even wrestled this month, yet Kharma remains one of the most interesting women in the WWE.

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The Five Best T-Shirts in Professional Wrestling Today

by Violet Buttle

Jeff Hardy is a lunatic.

In no particular order…

 
Jeff Hardy- The only place Hardy’s name appears on this shirt is at the base of the design on the front, and that’s fine. This shirt doesn’t need Hardy’s name plastered across it for knowledgeable wrestling fans to know from first glance that he clearly had a hand in designing it. The colors and the swirls in the illustration mimic the face paint that Hardy has been wearing to the ring as of late, and, to make it even more Hardy-esque, it glows in the dark!

"Best in the World!"

CM Punk- Although I prefer his white “Best in the World” shirt, the grey one still has a solid design.  The incorporation of stars that Punk always sports on his tights is a nice touch.

Backing it up, every night.

 Dolph Ziggler- Between the hot pink and the slogan that leaves no room for illustration, this shirt is perfectly Ziggler.

So American, so Davey

 Davey Richards- Richards’ American Wolf persona is clearly represented in this tee. Richards is pretty corny and so is this shirt; therefore, it’s a perfection illustration of who he is as a wrestler.

Freaking Rock Stars

 



The Young Bucks- This shirt is fun and so are the Young Bucks. The silhouette of them posing sums up what the team is about without using words.

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Gut Check Reactions: Taeler Hendrix

Violet: First and foremost, during her introduction video that aired on June 21st, Hendrix claimed that she had been diagnosed with cancer when she was 21. However, on the June 28th episode of Impact, the judges pointed out several times that Hendrix was misdiagnosed with cancer (meaning she never had the disease). I'm not sure if Hendrix initially misrepresented her experience or it she is a victim of the TNA editing staff, but either way the information was clearly manipulated in order to garner more audience votes for Hendrix. This bothers me.

The Newest TNA Knockout, Taeler Hendrix

Additionally, I am confused by Al Snow's comments concerning Hendrix. What indication had she given that would make him think that she would be difficult to deal with? I think that in order to make a claim like that, you ought to be able to back it up with factual evidence. Which he never did.

Overall, I'm not sure if the Gut Check judges made the right decision here. Though she wasn't bad in the ring, I'm not crazy about Hendrix's look (that hair!) or her in-ring persona (no charisma!). There are plenty of talented women in the Knockouts division that aren't doing anything currently, so it doesn't really make sense for them to add another woman to the roster.  TNA should be using the Gut Check segment to build up their nearly empty X Division instead.

Alex: As excited as I was initially about Gut Check, I am equally disappointed in it now.  The backstage clips of Taz, Al Snow, and Prichard talking about the contestants and using "industry talk" are awful.  I understand that the business has been exposed a thousand times over and kayfabe isn't what it used to be, but that doesn't mean that you should take time out of your show to tell the fans that.

Even with that out of the way, let's look at who they've accepted so far: Alex Silva and Taeler Hendrix.  Alex Silva had 0 charisma and was jobbed out in a 2 minute match where he got in very little offense.  Taeler Hendrix was decent in the ring, but her work on the mic was lacking and her look is atrocious.  What do these two have in common?  A sob story.  Silva lost his dad, and that's what they played up.  Taeler (maybe?) had cancer at a young age, and that's what they played up.

Taeler Hendrix is a decent in ring performer that could eventually be a player.  Although, the way the Knockouts Division has been going lately, she is an unneeded addition to the roster and will undoubtedly get lost in the shuffle (if she ever actually joins the main roster: see Alex Silva).

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We'll take a look at TNA's Gut Check each month and discuss whether or not we feel the judges made the right call.

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