Three and Out

The time has come to end the misery. The whole pointless, unnecessary debacle has gone on way too long and even the most optimistic of us have long since lost all hope. I am of course talking about the Knockouts Tag Team Titles and for me, a huge fan of the Knockouts division, I've seen enough. Right now the Television Title is in a state of limbo due to the bizarre decision by TNA management to keep that title around the waist of someone who was headed out the door but whatever. The time has come to add the Knockouts Tag Team Titles to the TV Title and put them all in the figurative trash can of TNA history along with The Johnsons, Claire Lynch and numerous other ideas that ultimately failed to ever make sense.

I originally named this column "Knockouts Triple Crown" and I was going to lay out a whole scenario where TNA could squeeze one last drop of usefulness out of the Knockouts Tag Team Titles. I was going to suggest that Brooke Hogan force ODB into a match with Miss Tessmacher in a unification match where both Knockouts tag belts and the Knockouts singles title be on the line and whichever lady leaves victorious would be crowned the Knockouts Triple Crown Champion, who would then go on to carry the three belts but defend them as a collective championship (much like the All Japan Triple Crown). Yeah, this is what I was going to do. I still think it could still be done and it might be something different that could prove to be interesting. But then I realized just how many times I have previously written about the Knockouts Tag Team Titles and forwarded ideas that could help salvage some scrap of dignity and purpose for those belts.

I'm at the point now where I throw my hands up and say "I'm out!" I'm out of ideas, I'm out of hope and I'm out of any explanation as to why TNA ever introduced the Knockouts Tag Team Titles in the first place. When you look at the names that have held the belts – Awesone Kong, Hamada, Taylor Wilde, Sarita, Angelina Love, Velvet Sky, Madison Rayne, Winter – you'd think there would be a rich history attached to those belts. Those are some of the best female names to have ever graced a TNA ring, yet the history of the Knockouts Tag Team Titles is that of neglect, nonchalance and never giving the girls holding the belts the respect or support that they deserved.

The history of the Knockouts Tag Team Titles is a history of what might have been had the opportunities not been squandered and the talent not been wasted. If the belts were discarded tomorrow they would join the ranks of the WCW Cruiserweight Tag Team Titles and the WWE Light Heavyweight Title, championships that were introduced with the best intentions to help showcase divisions that their respective companies were proud of but ultimately, for different reasons, were moved to the scrap heap of wrestling championships.

When the final book on the history of TNA Wrestling is written, there will no doubt be an entire chapter dedicated to the Knockouts division. But alas, I fear the Knockouts Tag Team Titles will just be a foot note, a small sentence somewhere that mentions that they existed but not much more. It’s unfortunate really, and as a fan of TNA and the Knockouts division, I wish more had been done with them.

I still like my idea of a Knockouts Triple Crown and if I had a role in booking the Knockouts division it’s something I might try IF, and only IF, TNA insisted on still having Knockouts Tag Team Titles. But really, there is only so long you can beat a dead horse. It’s been three years, the belts suck and I'm out of caring anymore. It’s time to put those double straps away for good. Unless of course TNA gets more TV time and signs a bunch of new Knockouts.....then that’s a different story, my friends.