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| Madison's Reign |
Stewart Allen |
How a B-list Knockout became Queen Bee of the division
Although it may have been ‘just another Knockouts match’ to many, Madison Rayne’s victory over Tara at TNA’s Sacrifice pay-per-view on 16 May was historic twice over. Firstly – and with all due respect to the fickle nature of wrestling retirements – the match marked the final appearance in the company for Lisa Marie Varon, formerly WWE Diva Victoria. But secondly, and certainly even more importantly, it was the first time that Rayne, despite being the reigning TNA Knockouts Champion, had ever picked up a win in TNA as a singles competitor since her initial debut in January 2009. Yes, really.
Certainly, Rayne’s road to the title was hardly auspicious. She snagged the gold at the Lockdown PPV on 18 April as part of a tag team match where, as reigning Knockouts Tag Team Champion alongside with Velvet Sky, she pinned Tara in a cage match to win Angelina Love’s Knockouts Title – a title that Love had herself ‘won’ by opening the correct box in the derisory Lock Box Challenge on Impact! several weeks prior. It was somehow fitting that TNA (who, in FSM’s opinion have been badly mishandling the Knockouts division of late) should somehow conspire to put the title on the only woman on the roster who had never won a singles match. Once the crown jewel in the never-ending quest for TV ratings, the division has seemingly lurched from one departure to the next as capable wrestlers like Gail Kim, Alissa Flash, Awesome Kong, Traci Brooks, Tara, Roxxi and now ODB have all moved on to pastures new (some through choice, some not).
But regardless of how she ended up with the belt, it’s safe to say that the title has been the making of Madison Rayne, who now carries herself with a swagger and confidence that wasn’t there a few months ago.
For the rest of this feature, check out issue 56 of FSM - available at WH Smith and all good retailers. (For US readers we are now carried at Borders and Barnes & Noble, so check for local availability or click here to subscribe.)
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