TNA Women's Knockout Championship
Encyclopedia
The TNA Women's Knockout Championship, often referred to simply as the Knockouts Championship, is a professional wrestling
women's world championship
owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
(TNA) promotion
. It is primarily contested for in TNA's women's division
. It was debuted on October 14, 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory
pay-per-view
(PPV) event under the name the "TNA Women's World Championship"; it was later renamed the TNA Women's Knockout Championship in 2008.
It was the only female championship in TNA until the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship was introduced at their No Surrender
PPV event on September 20, 2009. Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won via the result of a scripted match. Overall, there have been 25 reigns shared between 10 wrestlers. The first champion was Gail Kim
. The current champion is Gail Kim, who is in her second reign.
, or just Knockout for short, is the term used by TNA to refer to its onscreen female employees; this is similar to TNA's main rival World Wrestling Entertainment
and their Divas
pseudonym. TNA's first women's accomplishment was announced at TNA's first weekly pay-per-view event on June 19, 2002. It was called the "Miss TNA" crown. The holder of the crown was determined in a lingerie battle royal
on June 19, 2002, which aired on June 26, 2002. The participants in the match were Alexis Laree
, Elektra
, Erin Bray, Francine
, Miss Joni, Sasha, Shannon, Taylor Vaughn
, and Teresa Tyler. Vaughn last eliminated Elektra to win the crown. The TNA Knockout of the Year is another award in TNA given to the knockout who achieved the most or had the best run that year. The most recent Knockout of the Year was Gail Kim
in 2007; no award was given out in 2008. On the August 20, 2009 episode of TNA Impact!
, backstage interviewer Lauren
announced that TNA were planning to host an eight-team single elimination tag team tournament
to crown the first-ever TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions. The tournament began on the following Impact! and continued on for four weeks, concluding on September 20 at TNA's No Surrender
PPV event. There, the team of Sarita and Taylor Wilde defeated The Beautiful People
(Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky
) to become the first champions. Two dvds on the topic of the TNA Knockouts have been released by TNA. The first was named "Knockouts: The Ladies of TNA Wrestling Vol.1" and was released on August 29, 2006. "Knocked Out: The Women of TNA Wrestling" was the second, being released on October 7, 2008.
defeated Ms. Brooks
, Christy Hemme
, Awesome Kong
, Roxxi Laveaux
, Talia Madison
, Shelly Martinez
, Jackie Moore
, O.D.B.
, and Angel Williams to become the first champion. The championship was renamed in 2008 to the TNA Women's Knockout Championship.
During the championship's history, it has had one design. It begins with a white leather strap that is covered with two small gold plates that are encrusted with silver. In the center of each plate stands a figure resembling a globe made out of gold. On the outer edge of the plate are red gems, which circle the entire plate. The center golden plate of the belt has TNA's official logo engraved in the very center with the word above it and the word "Champion" below it. At the very top of the center plate is a queen's crown. The word "Knockout" does not appear anywhere on the belt. This description is based on the current design of the TNA Women's Knockout Championship, as seen in the images throughout the article
. Overall, there have been 25 reigns shared between 10 wrestlers, with one vacancy.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
women's world championship
Championship (professional wrestling)
A Championship or "title" in professional wrestling is a recognition promoted by professional wrestling organizations.Championship reigns are determined by professional wrestling matches, in which competitors are involved in scripted rivalries...
owned by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling
Total Nonstop Action Wrestling is a privately held professional wrestling promotion founded by Jeff Jarrett and Jerry Jarrett. The company broadcasts its events on television and the Internet fifty two weeks a year with over a million weekly viewers on its primary television program, Impact...
(TNA) promotion
Professional wrestling promotion
A professional wrestling promotion is a company or business that regularly performs shows involving professional wrestling. Promotion also describes a role which entails management, advertising and logistics of running a wrestling event...
. It is primarily contested for in TNA's women's division
TNA Knockout
Knockout is a term used by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to refer to its female talent. The term is applied universally to wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and managers/valets. They are analogous to the Divas of rival WWE.-History:...
. It was debuted on October 14, 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory
Bound for Glory (2007)
Bound for Glory was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , which took place on October 14, 2007 at the Gwinnett Center in the Atlanta suburb of Duluth, Georgia. It was the third event under the Bound for Glory chronology...
pay-per-view
Pay-per-view
Pay-per-view provides a service by which a television audience can purchase events to view via private telecast. The broadcaster shows the event at the same time to everyone ordering it...
(PPV) event under the name the "TNA Women's World Championship"; it was later renamed the TNA Women's Knockout Championship in 2008.
It was the only female championship in TNA until the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship was introduced at their No Surrender
No Surrender (2009)
No Surrender was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, which took place on September 20, 2009 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
PPV event on September 20, 2009. Like most professional wrestling championships, the title is won via the result of a scripted match. Overall, there have been 25 reigns shared between 10 wrestlers. The first champion was Gail Kim
Gail Kim
Gail Kim is a Canadian professional wrestler of Korean descent, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is the current TNA Women's Knockout Champion and one half of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Madison Rayne...
. The current champion is Gail Kim, who is in her second reign.
TNA Knockout
TNA KnockoutTNA Knockout
Knockout is a term used by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to refer to its female talent. The term is applied universally to wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and managers/valets. They are analogous to the Divas of rival WWE.-History:...
, or just Knockout for short, is the term used by TNA to refer to its onscreen female employees; this is similar to TNA's main rival World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
and their Divas
WWE Diva
Diva is a term used by World Wrestling Entertainment , an American professional wrestling promotion, to refer to its female talent. The term is applied to women who appear as wrestlers, managers or valets, backstage interviewers, or ring announcers....
pseudonym. TNA's first women's accomplishment was announced at TNA's first weekly pay-per-view event on June 19, 2002. It was called the "Miss TNA" crown. The holder of the crown was determined in a lingerie battle royal
Battle royal (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a battle royal is a multi-competitor match type in which wrestlers are eliminated until one is left and declared winner...
on June 19, 2002, which aired on June 26, 2002. The participants in the match were Alexis Laree
Mickie James
Mickie Laree James , better known simply as Mickie James, is an American professional wrestler and singer of mixed Native American-Caucasian descent, currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is a former two-time TNA Women's Knockout Champion.James began her professional...
, Elektra
Donna Adamo
Donna Adamo better known as Elektra is an American professional wrestler, professional wrestling manager and adult model who is best known for her time spent in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Early career:...
, Erin Bray, Francine
Francine Fournier
Francine Fournier , known simply as Francine, is an American former professional wrestling valet most known for her work in Extreme Championship Wrestling.-Extreme Championship Wrestling:...
, Miss Joni, Sasha, Shannon, Taylor Vaughn
Cathy Dingman
Katherine Dingman is a professional wrestler and valet she is known for her work in TNA, WCW, WWF and various independent promotions. She briefly appeared as B.B. in the WWF from late 1999 to early 2000...
, and Teresa Tyler. Vaughn last eliminated Elektra to win the crown. The TNA Knockout of the Year is another award in TNA given to the knockout who achieved the most or had the best run that year. The most recent Knockout of the Year was Gail Kim
Gail Kim
Gail Kim is a Canadian professional wrestler of Korean descent, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is the current TNA Women's Knockout Champion and one half of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Madison Rayne...
in 2007; no award was given out in 2008. On the August 20, 2009 episode of TNA Impact!
TNA iMPACT!
Impact Wrestling is a professional wrestling television program for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling that currently airs in the United States and Canada on Spike...
, backstage interviewer Lauren
Lauren Brooke (interviewer)
Lauren Thompson or Lauren Brooke is a U.S. television personality, print and voiceover model who works for Golf Channel hosting "Top Ten" and "Golf Now" , as well the "College Sports Minute". She is also known for previously working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling as a backstage interviewer...
announced that TNA were planning to host an eight-team single elimination tag team tournament
Single-elimination tournament
A single-elimination tournament, also called a knockout, cup or sudden death tournament, is a type of elimination tournament where the loser of each match or bracket is immediately eliminated from winning the championship or first prize in the event...
to crown the first-ever TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions. The tournament began on the following Impact! and continued on for four weeks, concluding on September 20 at TNA's No Surrender
No Surrender (2009)
No Surrender was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by the Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, which took place on September 20, 2009 at the TNA Impact! Zone in Orlando, Florida...
PPV event. There, the team of Sarita and Taylor Wilde defeated The Beautiful People
The Beautiful People (professional wrestling)
The Beautiful People was an alliance of professional wrestlers that appeared in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , consisting of Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Cute Kip, Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich. The stable was known for their narcissistic gimmick, and holding the TNA Women's Knockout...
(Madison Rayne and Velvet Sky
Velvet Sky
Jamie Szantyr is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a former TNA Women's Knockout Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her former Beautiful People partners Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich...
) to become the first champions. Two dvds on the topic of the TNA Knockouts have been released by TNA. The first was named "Knockouts: The Ladies of TNA Wrestling Vol.1" and was released on August 29, 2006. "Knocked Out: The Women of TNA Wrestling" was the second, being released on October 7, 2008.
Creation
TNA first announced in early September 2007 through their TNA Mobile service that they planned to start an official women's division and debut a women's title soon. Later that month, TNA began to promote a 10 knockout gauntlet match to be held on October 14, 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory PPV event to crown the first-ever TNA Women's Champion. At the event, Gail KimGail Kim
Gail Kim is a Canadian professional wrestler of Korean descent, who is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she is the current TNA Women's Knockout Champion and one half of the TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champions with Madison Rayne...
defeated Ms. Brooks
Tracy Brookshaw
Tracy Brookshaw is a Canadian professional wrestler, professional wrestling valet and professional wrestling referee, better known by her ring name Traci Brooks. She is currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling , where she has spent most of her career.-Early life:Brookshaw grew up on a...
, Christy Hemme
Christy Hemme
Christina Lee "Christy" Hemme is an American actress, singer, model, professional wrestling valet and former professional wrestler. Hemme is currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, as a backstage interviewer and ring announcer.-Early life:Hemme was born in Poway, California, but she...
, Awesome Kong
Kia Stevens
Kia Michelle Stevens , better known by her ring names Amazing Kong, Awesome Kong and Kharma. She is signed with WWE, but has been inactive since May 2011 due to pregnancy...
, Roxxi Laveaux
Nicole Raczynski
Nicole Raczynski is an American professional wrestler, best known for working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Roxxi...
, Talia Madison
Velvet Sky
Jamie Szantyr is an American professional wrestler currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Velvet Sky. She is a former TNA Women's Knockout Champion and TNA Knockouts Tag Team Champion with her former Beautiful People partners Madison Rayne and Lacey Von Erich...
, Shelly Martinez
Shelly Martinez
Shelly Leonor Martinez is a Mexican American model, actress, professional wrestler and valet. She is known for her work with World Wrestling Entertainment on its ECW brand under the ring name Ariel and for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling under the ring name Salinas as valet to The Latin American...
, Jackie Moore
Jacqueline Moore
Jacqueline DeLois Moore is an inactive American professional wrestler, who was most recently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling...
, O.D.B.
Jessica Kresa
Jessica Kresa is an American professional wrestler and actress better known as ODB , currently working for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, where she is a former three–time TNA Women's Knockout Champion....
, and Angel Williams to become the first champion. The championship was renamed in 2008 to the TNA Women's Knockout Championship.
Belt designs
Reigns
The inaugural champion was Gail Kim, who defeated Ms. Brooks, Christy Hemme, Awesome Kong, Roxxi Laveaux, Talia Madison, Shelly Martinez, Jackie Moore, ODB, and Angel Williams in a 10 knockout gauntlet match on October 24, 2007 at TNA's Bound for Glory PPV event. At days, Madison Rayne's third reign is the longest in the title's history. Tara's fourth reign holds the record for shortest reign in the title's history at day. Angelina Love holds the record for most reigns, with five. Gail Kim is the current champion in her second reign. She won the Championship by defeating previous champion Velvet Sky on November 13, 2011, at Turning PointTurning Point (2011)
Turning Point was a professional wrestling pay-per-view event produced by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling promotion, that took place on November 13, 2011 at the Impact Wrestling Zone in Orlando, Florida...
. Overall, there have been 25 reigns shared between 10 wrestlers, with one vacancy.
See also
- TNA KnockoutTNA KnockoutKnockout is a term used by Total Nonstop Action Wrestling to refer to its female talent. The term is applied universally to wrestlers, backstage interviewers, and managers/valets. They are analogous to the Divas of rival WWE.-History:...
- TNA Knockouts Tag Team Championship