Sports
TNA wrestling coming to Bell County Expo
Saturday, 23 June 2012 by Chuck Kelly
It will be mayhem tonight at the Bell County Expo Center - people hitting, kicking, pulling hair and screaming - all in the name of entertainment. The event is labeled "Night of the Knockouts" starring a select group of favorites from TNA IMPACT, the popular nationally-televised professional wrestling organization. It will be an action-packed evening for central Texas fans of all ages and gender.
Eight of TNA's brightest male wrestlers will square off in the ring; Rob Terry will face Doug Williams, Gunner takes on Garrett. Kid Kash and Sabin will tangle and Crimson and Matt Morgan will battle to the finish.
Highlight of the event will be a six-woman tag match including current stars, led by multiple-time Women's World Champion Mickie James, who won the Knockouts Championship on April 17, 2011 in a steel cage match.
I spoke with Mickie, who was filming an IMPACT show at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, about the growth and popularity of today's wrestling scene.
"I think it's the escape-ism," she said, explaining "You know everyone, most all of us, grew up on 'super heroes' and wrestling has like the real-life super hero aspect to it. You kinda lose yourself in the character and storyline of each match....you can sort of live vicariously thru each wrestler, good guy or villian. It's the entertainment and showmanship. You can get lost in it."
Mickie told of watching wrestling with her dad as a kid. "It was OUR time together," she commented. After high school in 1998, she attended a wrestling school and then had her first match (a loss) March 1, 1999.
From starting crowds of 20-30 fans at a VFW Hall, she now performs before as many as 90,000.
Women athletes have made a huge inroad into the business today and we asked"Why"?
"I think it adds a different spice and it makes it more realistic. It is more viable and believable because now there is a Women's Championship and Women's Tag Team Championship, so you believe that women are tough and capable. Women fans, especially, appreciate the women who get into the ring and they respect the fact that we aren't pinups or models, we're athletes," she answered. "Women, as you know, are a lot feistier than the guys. You break up a boy fight in real life and they're just throwing punches and stuff....but girls are pulling hair, scratching and screaming. We're just catty and crazy."
When questioned about the dangerous aspect of her profession and the possibility of injuries, Mickie put the "fake" charge about wrestling to rest.
"I have suffered several injuries but I'm fortunate. None have been too serious," she said, then added "I've had cracked ribs, sprained neck, broken nose, teeth knocked out, stitches above my eye, separated both shoulders twice and had knee surgery...just another day at the office."
Seven female wrestlers will appear on tonight's card at the Expo Center in a six-woman tag match. Mickie James, Tara and Winter will take on Angelina, Velvet Sky and Sarita (whose partner, Rosita, will be in her corner).
When asked who she would prefer as an opponent, the World and Knockouts Champion answered, confidently:" I don't care. I'm going to win anyway....it doesn't matter who they are!"
It's TNA IMPACT wrestling at its best...the "Night of the Knockouts" at the Bell County Expo Center tonight --- see you at ringside!
