Hello Diva Dirt fans, and welcome to an exciting edition of the Impact Write-Up. I’m Eleri, and I’ll be your host this week! Cue game show music… Or not. Enough about me; there’s lots to discuss!
After the rather dramatic end to Lockdown this past weekend, I think we’re all a wee bit concerned about Brooke Hogan‘s state of mind. There’s also the boiling tensions between Gail Kim and Taryn Terrell to think about. I cannot wait until it all comes to a head between the two of them. We were treated to a Knockouts tag team match on last night’s Impact, featuring the lovely Knockouts Champion, Velvet Sky, who teamed with my spirit animal, Mickie James to take on Gail Kim and the hometown hero, Tara. As per usual, the beautiful Taryn Terrell was the referee.
We kick things off with a recap of what went down between Gail and Taryn at Lockdown. On commentary, Tazz seems pretty convinced that Taryn cost Gail the Knockouts title at the pay per view, after Gail slapped her in the face and Taryn took matters into her own hands. Whatever you believe, Velvet walked away from Lockdown with her title still firmly in her grasp.
We’re onto Christy Hemme, who’s looking fierce in a sheer black top as she introduces Gail Kim first. While Gail makes her way to the ring, we are shown a backstage video of her offering her sympathies to Brooke Hogan, and then she reveals that Taryn has been put on probation after her actions in the title match this past Sunday! Gail looks pretty pleased with herself and she enters the ring, and proceeds to get in Taryn’s face. Taryn wants nothing to do with her at first, but Gail is intent on winding her up. Handbags away, ladies! You’ve got business to attend to. Tara makes her way out next, sporting an outfit the Chicago crowd can appreciate. She’s accompanied by Jesse, and just as the pair begin to show off in the ring, Hardcore Country sounds through the arena. Mickie James is out next, looking fabulous. She’s quickly followed by the Knockouts champ, Velvet Sky. Taryn calls for the bell and we are underway.
Gail and Velvet start us off. Velvet goes in for a headlock but Gail fights out and takes Velvet down with a shoulder block. Quickly back on her feet, Velvet is on the offense with successive arm drags. Gail recovers and attempts an arm drag of her own, but Velvet blocks her and drops Gail with a hard clothesline. Velvet tags in Mickie and the pair deliver a nice dose of double-team action, finishing with a double drop-kick to Gail. Mickie drags Gail to the corner, bouncing her head off the top turnbuckle. Ouch. Mickie climbs the ropes and starts hitting Gail as the crowd chants ‘1, 2, 3…’. Tara tries to intervene but Mickie drops her with a shot to the jaw. Gail staggers out of the corner and Mickie delivers a beautiful enziguri to her! Mickie goes for the first cover attempt of the match, but only manages a two count. Tara intervenes with a kick to the back of Mickie’s head as we head to commercial.
And we’re back, with Tara in control of Mickie as the match resumes. Tara has Mickie in the corner, but Mickie tries to fight back. Tara catches her in the Tarantula, and it does not look comfortable. Tara rolls back into the ring and distracts Taryn, just long enough for Gail to interfere on the outside. She rolls Mickie back into the ring and Tara goes for a cover, but it’s only a two count. Tara is starting to look desperate. She tags in her partner and they hit Mickie with a double slingshot suplex. Lord, that looked painful. Velvet tries to get the crowd going for Mickie as Gail goes in for the cover. It’s another two count. Gail sends Mickie into the corner, and then turns her attention to Taryn. Distracted for a second, Gail gives Mickie time to recover and the two-time Knockouts champ mounts a comeback! She hits Gail with a beautiful hurricanrana off the top rope, sending Gail across the ring. The ladies then lay each other out with a double clothesline!
The crowd’s getting behind the match as the hot tag is made on both teams, and in comes Tara to take on a fresh Velvet! She takes Tara down with successive clothesline, and then a back elbow. Velvet heads over to Gail on the outside and nails her with a kick to the mid-section. Velvet runs the ropes and Tara scoops her up, but Velvet slides through and hits a powerful side russian leg sweep on Tara. Velvet goes for the cover but Gail breaks it up after a count of one. Gail gets in Taryn’s face yet again, begging the referee to hit her first. Taryn doesn’t take the bait, and Gail pie-faces her! Taryn hits back with a slap to the face that knocks Gail down to the mat! Meanwhile, Mickie climbs to the top rope and takes down a dazed Gail with a press. Tara rushes in and catches Mickie, nailing her with the Widow’s Peak. The champ is back on her feet, and Tara turns right into her grasp. Velvet finishes Tara with the In Yo Face for the three count. Velvet and Mickie win! Velvet celebrates alone in the ring; that Widow’s Peak on Mickie did look very nasty, after all.
Later in the night, we’re shown an exclusive video of Brooke Hogan’s reaction to Bully Ray’s betrayal at Lockdown, which we covered a few days ago. She’s storming through the hallways, angry, swearing, throwing things around… It’s heartbreaking to see her a little later on; she’s so torn up. She proclaims while in tears: ‘I’ve had so many people take advantage of me in my life! I had no idea… that he would be one of them!’
Brooke looks absolutely devastated as the recap cuts to her from the footage of Bully Ray admitting that he used Hogan, and he screwed Brooke. As the recap cuts to her a final time, Brooke asks for her dad and says she doesn’t want to be there anymore. Oh Brooke!
Thoughts: Firstly, I loved the tag match. It told a brilliant story from beginning to end. I loved the double teams from both sides, especially the slingshot suplex on by Gail and Tara. It did not look nice! Gail was on great form tonight, and her interactions with Taryn were the highlight of the match for me. There were lots of stories being told, but that was the one shined above them all to me. I can’t wait to see where the feud between Taryn and Gail goes. I see only great things ahead. That said, the match kept Velvet elevated as Knockouts champ and she shined, too. Having her pick up the win was a great – albeit a little obvious – ending.
As for Brooke, I enjoyed her reaction. We’ve seen Divas and Knockouts cry – or at least try to – in the past, but she was great in that segment so props to her for that! I’m looking forward to next week to see where it goes. I have a feeling the Brooke/Bully Ray saga is far from over.
Thanks for tuning in to my very first recap, guys. I can’t wait to bring you more. For now, Eleri out!
