The women of professional wrestling have come a long way from when they first appeared on the scene way back in the day. Women like the Fabulous Moolah and Wendi Richter used to dominate inside the ring decimating anyone who stepped in their paths. Then the Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling (GLOW) took center stage and destroyed the competition as they took to the squared circle. Soon after, the women of wrestling fell into a different role and became managers or valets if you will. They would stand outside and cheer on those who they managed or lend a hand, purse, or nails every once in a while to help out. Today…well, they’re almost kind of back where they started and back in the ring kicking butt and taking names. Never underestimate the power of a woman that knows how to use her fists.
The women of TNA don’t want to be seen as prissy, stuck-up, and definitely don’t want to be called divas. They are rough the tops of their pretty little heads to the tips of their toes and will step right up to you if you even look at them funny. Beautiful and sexy. Powerful and dangerous. They are the Knockouts from TNA Wrestling and will do whatever it takes to hold the TNA Knockouts’ Title. Names like Traci Brooks, ODB, Jacqueline, and Roxxi Laveau have long been announced as coming down to the six-sided ring. But recently it has been the likes of Taylor Wilde, Angelina Love, Karen Angle, and the amazing Awesome Kong that have seen their hands raised in victory.
This DVD takes a deep look inside the lives and careers of all those that grace TNA with their lovely presences. Interview segments with the Knockouts reveal how they’ve gotten started out in the wrestling business and what’s it like working their way up the ranks. Each Knockout also discusses what it’s like facing off against one another and who they consider to be some of their toughest opponents. Included in between the different interviews are video clips and pictures showing the Knockouts during their time with TNA and even beforehand. It’s great seeing some of the looks and gimmicks the ladies used to have before coming into their own.
It’s a great main feature that showcases the women’s division in TNA, and how they try to focus on their wrestling ability more then just being eye candy. These women want to make women’s wrestling come back to a higher quality like it was a long time ago. With the talent level of the women shown in this feature, it’s no surprise that the women’s division is getting a lot more focus and air time in TNA and all of professional wrestling. They’ve worked hard to compete not only with each other, but the men’s division of wrestling so that they can have their own personas and identification.
~ Bound For Glory 2007: Knockouts Gauntlet
~ Genesis 2007 Four Way Dance: Roxxi Laveau Vs. ODB Vs. Angelina Love Vs. Gail Kim
~ Turning Point 2007: Angelina Love & Velvet Sky Vs. Roxxi Laveau & ODB
~ Turning Point 2007: Awesome Kong Vs. Gail Kim
~ Final Resolution 2008: Awesome Kong Vs. Gail Kim
~ Impact 2008: Awesome Kong Vs. Gail Kim
~ Slammiversary 2008: Jay Lethal/So Cal Val Wedding
~ Sacrifice 2008: Makeover Battle Royal
~ Lockdown 2008 Tag Team Grudge Match: Awesome Kong & Raisha Saeed Vs. Gail Kim & ODB
~ Impact 2008 $25,000 Challenge and Knockout Championship: Awesome Kong Vs. Taylor Wilde
The event is shown in 1.33:1 Full Screen format and it all looks good. The interview segments with the Knockouts are in Widescreen format and also look good. No pixilation problems and all is well.
The event is heard in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound and everything can be heard just fine throughout the interviews and matches.
Photo Gallery – This is added on to the end of the main feature and shows a lot, and I do mean a lot, of photos of all the Knockouts.
Gail Kim’s Last TNA Interview: August 21, 2008 – This is her final upon her departure from TNA. It is strictly an audio (telephone) interview that is heard as clips and pictures of her time in TNA are shown. It’s a pretty good exit interview as she discusses her time in TNA, what she’ll miss most, and how it was becoming the first women’s champion in TNA. The interview is rather short clocking in at only three and a half minutes.
Gail Kim’s Last Match: TNA Impact August 21, 2008 – Gail Kim’s final opponent in TNA would be none other then Awesome Kong in a street fight. This is a pretty decent battle for her final match and a nice way to go out. Being a street fight, it was taken all over the Impact Zone and plenty of weapons were used. Man, Awesome Kong is just a beast.
Oddly enough, this is one of the better DVD releases from TNA. Let’s face it: their PPVs just aren’t that good to begin with, so when they come out on DVD they’re no big prize. This is just a fantastic look inside the lives of all the TNA Knockouts from their time in TNA to their earlier work and even way back when before they got started in wrestling at all. Its fun listening to some of the stories they have to share about each other even though all of them stay in character most of the time. The matches are all included in the main event so they can’t really be considered special features even though they kind of are. As for the actual “special features,” all we get is Gail Kim’s final interview and match on their own disc. The only reasoning I can think of for adding another whole disc for just those is that Kim’s decision to leave TNA came after production on the DVD was already done. Anyway, it’s not much but it’s still something. Knocked Out is a pretty good compilation of matches along with a lot of history on all the beautiful women of TNA.
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TNA Home Video presents TNA Knocked Out. Featuring: Karen Angle, Gail Kim, Awesome Kong, ODB, Roxxi Laveau, and many more. Running time: 210 minutes. Rating: Not Rated. Released on DVD: October 7, 2008. Available at Amazon.
