Bonjour, Knockout fans! Eleri is back and it feels like she’s been away for years. She’s not sure why she’s writing about herself in the third person, but she sort of likes it. Despite this, she’ll go back to normal. Hi guys! Last night’s Impact show gave us the long awaited ladder match between Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell. After months, their bitter rivalry has grown to new heights. They competed in a Last Knockout Standing match, but even that wasn’t enough. There’s added pressure this time around, too, with a number one contender’s contract hanging high above the ring. People have been talking about this match since its announcement weeks ago, and before we begin I’d like to direct your attention to this video here:
One of the pioneers of the ladder match, and someone who’s been in more than most other people combined, Jeff Hardy, has nothing but praise for the Knockouts who put their bodies on the line. He knows how tough a ladder match is, and he has huge respect for Gail and Taryn. Actually awesome to see one of the guys saying something like that, especially one like Jeff. But this Write-Up isn’t about him! Let’s get to it!
First out, we have… Mickie James? Our Knockouts Champion will be ringside for the coming match. Awesome. I love this woman. The first participant out is Gail Kim. She looks fierce and ready to fight, and I love the colour of her attire. Gail is looking for revenge, after losing to Taryn in their last knockout standing match. Seriously though, that match was grueling Gail. Don’t be so hard on yourself. I am so jealous of Gail Kim’s body, by the way. She is absolutely beautiful. Anywho, Taryn’s out next looking like TNA’s very own Barbie, and she looks gorgeous in doing so.
Gail goes right for Taryn as the blonde enters the ring. ODB calls for the bell and we are underway. Gail punishes Taryn in the corner with repeated kicks to the abdomen, then choking the blonde with her foot. Gail pulls her out and goes for an irish whip, but Taryn manages to dodge and delivers a clothesline as the crowd begins to chant for ODB. Taryn with another clothesline, followed by a big suplex. Taryn throws Gail out of the ring. Gail lands hard on the ramp as Taryn sizes her up, then spears her through the ropes! Ouch. We’re off to an awesome start.
Gail with the upper hand now. She grounds Taryn, slamming the blonde face first into the ramp. Gail then heads for a nearby ladder. She tries to set it up but Taryn’s back in now. Taryn grabs the other end and they play a nice little round of tug of war, before Taryn drives Gail back into the corner, the ladder colliding with Gail’s ribs. Taryn then drop kicks the end of the ladder and it collides with Gail’s ribs again! Oh my!
The pair exchange blows and Gail goes for the ladder again, but Taryn stops her. Gail falls into the ladder as it falls into the corner. Taryn hits a neckbreaker and grounds Gail for the time being. Taryn tries to get to the ladder but Gail grabs her opponent’s foot. They exchange blows again and Taryn tries to send Gail head first into the propped up ladder. Gail counters and tries a crossbody, but Taryn catches her with a knee to the abdomen on her way down! Taryn sets up the ladder and begins to climb but Gail is back on her feet. She gets the blonde down and Taryn comes at her with some forearms to the face. Taryn sends Gail into the ladder but Gail catches Taryn, sending the blonde face first into the black steel. Ouch.
The crowd gets behind the girls and Gail lines up the ladder. Taryn’s back up and they go at it again, before Gail rolls out of the ring and tries to lock Taryn in the figure four around the ring post. Taryn fights out of it, sending Gail to the floor.
We’re back from commercial and Taryn and Gail are both on the ladder. They exchange shots at the top, and the ladder falls over! They’re both sent careering into the ropes and both bounce off, slamming into the mat. Okay, really ouch this time. Taryn gets the upperhand and sends Gail running to the ropes, but on Gail’s way back Taryn shoves the ladder into her opponent’s face. The noise that made was anything but good. Oh my God that must have hurt. Gail’s legs are wrapped up in the fallen ladder. The canadian is barely moving, and Taryn can’t untangle her, so she goes to get another ladder instead. Perfect, that’ll diffuse the situation nicely.
While Taryn’s busy on the outside, Gail has resurfaced and is lining up the other ladder below the contract that’s up for grabs. Taryn introduces the second ladder and jams it between two steps of the other one so that it’s sitting pretty on the ropes. In the meantime, she’s gone back to head of Gail, who’s climbing her way to victory. Taryn unleashing on Gail in the corner! Taryn positions Gail on the second ladder. The crowd is on its feet now as Taryn scales the turnbuckle but Gail rolls off and to the mat! The disappointed sound of the crowd carries through the arena.
Taryn begins to climb the ladder but Gail pulls her foot through, then locks her in the figure four around the ladder! That has to hurt so much! Gail heads up the ladder and Taryn manages to go after her, but you have to question how much strength she has in her legs at the moment. Taryn manages to get the upper hand and starts choking Gail at the top of the ladder while she’s hanging off it! She lets go and Gail drops to the mat. Taryn’s at the top of the ladder but she can’t reach the contract. Her knee is starting to give out, so instead she cross bodies off the ladder onto Gail!
Taryn’s on her feet first. She rolls Gail onto the second ladder again, then joins her. They throw shots back and forth as the ladder bounces beneath them. Taryn attemps a bulldog but Gail shoves her off. Taryn hits the mat hard. Gail is down on the other side as Taryn cries out in pain, holding her knee. Gail goes for the Eat Defeat but Taryn counters into a version of the dragon sleeper hold. If she choked Gail out she’d have no problems winning this match.
But Taryn has her too close to the ropes! Gail manages to get out by tying Taryn’s hair to the ring ropes! That is dirty tactics, Gail! Clever, but dirty! Gail scales the ladder. Taryn gets free but it’s not in time! Gail grabs the contract and falls back to the mat. There’s your new number one contender for Mickie James’ Knockouts title.
Taryn looks heart broken. Gail looks ready.
Thoughts: Woah. That was good. I don’t care if you dislike either one of those girls, you cannot take anything away from what they just gave us. That was physical, psychological and a damn good match. The spot where Taryn shoved the ladder into Gail’s face and looked like she knocked her out was awesome. Gail tying Taryn’s hair to the ropes was conniving and the figure four around the ladder was awesome. My only gripe is that I would have liked to see Taryn hit the spot where she had Gail on the ladder and she was on the top turnbuckle. It would have been siiiick.
Alright, so we have a Heel vs. Heel feud for the title. Interesting. I’m thinking they’ll go down the who’s better route, as in the better wrestler, talker etc. I’ll always back Mickie, but I take nothing away from Gail. She was awesome, and so was Taryn. I look forward to seeing where this goes! For now, Eleri out!
