TNA Sacrifice Fallout: The Knockouts World Championship Deserves Better

Now, here is where the fantasy booking begins. Ash by Elegance “relaunched” herself after Genesis, and logic dictated that she would be Lee’s next challenger. It made too much sense. Ash was a woman who did not lose her belt in the ring, looking to reclaim her former glory and return her clique to dominance. Standing in her way: her division’s new custodian, looking to usher in a new period of stability.

It could have led to two outcomes. The more logical one sees Lee retain to legitimize her reign, then Luna reemerges for a staredown. The classically trained martial artist vs. the rough, maniacal brawler – that clash of styles is just too tantalizing to ignore.

In the other, Ash regains the title, then she and the Elegance Brand rub their success in the fans’ faces. Luna then appears, setting the stage for a clash of personalities. Ash, the “glamorous” snob who likes to flaunt her “status” alongside her “entourage,” against Luna, the gritty “counterculturist” who has toiled her way to the top, who cannot relate?

Ancillary Damage

It is bad enough that TNA has not put Ash back in the Knockouts title picture right after her return. What is worse, however, is the direction she is possibly heading in.

At No Surrender, Ash cornered her stablemates M and Heather by Elegance during their tag title defense against Xia Brookside and Indi Hartwell. The heels won, but after the match, Mickie James appeared and started brawling with Ash.

As if that was not enough, however, Ash soon took James out of commission. This put Ash in the crosshairs of another Knockouts legend in ODB, who took to assist others in spilling meat cups onto the Elegance Brand. Finally, at Sacrifice, ODB and a returning James banded with fellow legend Taryn Terrell and went on the attack.

Yes, that is what Ash and her allies may be consigned to doing at Rebellion: putting over a bunch of part-timers for nostalgia. It may be a great feel-good moment for those who fondly remember TNA’s pre-Anthem days, but it is a massive step backwards for those seeking narrative sense.

End Of My TNA Rant

When one comes to think of it, all this could have been avoided had Santino Marella not played favorites and given Grace, his daughter, a title shot. Now, an entire division is suffering the consequences of his actions.

This entire situation is just the latest in a multitude of nonsensical narrative decisions TNA has made in the past. Just this past November, Santana lost the World title to Frankie Kazarian after 32 days in a most baffling way. After being attacked by the NXT roster, Santana sized Kazarian up for the Spin the Block, only for his arm to seize, causing him to be rolled up.

Santana would eventually regain the title, and his path seems clear after Sacrifice: defending against Nic Nemeth and Eddie Edwards (and maybe even Slater). For the women, however, questions over the future of their top title still abound…