TNA could be losing more of their knockouts

On the heels of losing both Gail Kim and Shelly "Salinas" Martinez within a span of several weeks, Total Nonstop Action (TNA) wrestling could be in danger of losing MORE of their Knockouts as several of their contracts are set to expire in Oct. and TNA has yet to offer any of them a new contract, despite the fact that the Knockouts have had the highest rated segments of TNA Impact for the last six-to-eight months.

The Knockouts in question, Awesome Kong, ODB, Velvet Sky and Angelina Love, were signed to TNA contracts last Oct. following their respective tryouts in the Knockout Battle Royal at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view and have been integral parts of the Knockout Division ever since.

With the exception of Kong (pictured below), who was brought to TNA from Japan as a result of Samoa Joe and a few others putting in a good word for her, the other three have been on the WWE's radar before but for one reason or another, things did not work out the first time around.


Photo courtesy of Jill McKee

Love (pictured below) was previously under a WWE developmental contract for a couple of years and was suppose to be the manager of John Bradshaw Layfield but tore her ACL in Jan. 2006 and the spot was given to Jillian Hall. Despite being close several times to be calling up to the main roster, Love couldn't catch a break and was released in May 2007.


Photo courtesy of tnawrestling.com

Sky (pictured below) has worked for WWE several times in the past, most notably a match against Victoria for Heat in July 2005 when she was an unknown and did guest spots during a Layfield championship celebration in Feb. 2005 and an episode of Heat in Jan. 2006 with the Heart Throbs. Sky also auditioned for the Diva Search contest in 2007 but was unable to make the final cut and should be noted that her current boyfriend is WWE Superstar Gregory "Hurricane" Helms.


Photo courtesy of tnawrestling.com

As for ODB (pictured below), WWE had her under their nose in their previous developmental territory, Ohio Valley Wrestling (OVW) from 2006-07 and despite being the most popular female in the territory, WWE was never interested din signing her to a developmental contract. She also tried out for the inaugural season of Tough Enough in 2001 and made the top 25 but missed the final cut for the show.


Photo courtesy of Jill McKee

With three of these ladies having previous ties to WWE, one would think TNA would step-up to the plate and offer these ladies more money as they have proven to be a huge success and ratings grabber for the company. Also, TNA needs to be aware that WWE has the money to swoop all of them up in one snatch should TNA drop the ball with them and given TNA's track history when dealing with expiring contracts, its a safe bet one of these ladies could be joining Kim in the WWE.

If TNA wants to be seen as a legitimate company that cares and rewards its wrestlers, now would be a good time to prove that sentiment and they can do so by giving not only these ladies but the other ladies, such as Roxxi and Taylor Wilde, a well-deserved and well-earned pay-raise when their contracts expire.

Of course, that probably would have been more realistic several weeks ago before the company gave into Sting's demands and gave him and six-seven figure contract for a limited number of dates.

Maybe its just me but I think the ones who have proven to draw ratings and interest for nearly a year should be reward with a big contract and not someone who has been in-and-out of the company for three-years and has done nothing to boost ratings or interest in the company during his time.