On Thursday February 16, there was a 10 Knockout Battle Royal to determine the next Number One Contender for Gail Kim’s Knockout Championship, and not only did the Knockouts deliver…they were the highest rated segment on the show. Again.
TNA Knockouts – February 16, 2012 iMpact Match
10 Knockouts Over the Top rope Battle Royal
Backstage: Gail & Madison Rayne work out their problems while walking out to the ring area.
- Order of elimination:
Winter by ODB following a splash
Brooke Tessmacher thrown out by ODB
Rosita press slammed out by ODB
Mickie James is pushed off the top turnbuckle by ODB
ODB is eliminated by a running knee from everyone else
Tara by a Baseball Slide drop kick from Angelina Love
Angelina Love flipped over the top rope by Sarita
Sarita after Velvet Sky pulls down the top rope
Velvet Sky is then thrown over the top rope by a sneaky run-in by Madison Rayne
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgvpLCzlTmQ
Winner: Madison Rayne
Note: According to PWTorch.com, the Knockouts had not only the highest segment of the night, but were substantially higher than any other quarter on Thursday night’s iMpact.
Q5: Impact jumped to a 1.23 rating for the Knockouts battle royal and pre and post-match activity. There was also one commercial break. (even vs. 2011-Q5 average of a 1.23 rating)
The next closest ratings draw was the 8th Quarter (Main Event) which only pulled a 1.11.
Thoughts: Lots and Lots of action. I liked that they did a lot of eliminations in the first few minutes and then after we got down to three we had a pretty decent wrestling match. Velvet Sky works very very well with Sarita and Angelina Love. And the ending was great. I wonder where Karen’s Angels will go from here. I’m hoping to see them lose the KO Tag Champions here soon and then start a Heel-Heel feud. I don’t want to see Madison Rayne turn face. She is a natural born heel. Her acting. Her move set. Her look. She just looks like a big ole’ meanie. And I’m really liking this Gail Kim. She’s ruthless. And it’s intriguing. We watched her flop so bad in WWE, because she didn’t have a character at all, but in TNA she not only has a character, but she has a strong character that feels real. That’s definitely another leg TNA has up on WWE: Their Knockouts have their own individual characters, and while some of them are similar (Mickie James & ODB; Velvet Sky & Brooke Tessmacher) they are different enough to not seem all the same.
And WOW! For I believe the Third time already in 2012 the Knockouts were the top watched segment yet again. I think it’s time for an all Knockouts show: Dixie Carter make it happen.
