A Chaotic Theory: What Will The Future Hold For Awesome Kong?
by Chad
For awhile now Awesome Kong has been a pillar in the TNA Knockouts division. She is one main reason why the Knockout division gained so much popularity. She has dominated the division like no other Knockout has. And she has also opened the doors for a change in women’s wrestling. She broke the Vince McMahon ‘Diva’ mold, and became a very popular superstar through sheer strength and talent. But now that TNA and Awesome Kong has had a fallen out, what will happen next for her?
Awesome Kong debuted on TNA’s October 11, 2007 edition of iMPACT! and defeated Gail Kim. And for years to come she would play an influential role in the growth and development of TNA’s Knockout division. Awesome Kong’s appearance on iMPACT! marked a huge event for women’s professional wrestling. The hype that was built around her was not because of her talent unfortunately, because she is very good at what she does, but because of her, well, awesome size. The wrestling world was used to seeing what Vince McMahon and the WWE Universe brought to the table. Images of dainty, cute, prissy female “wrestlers” would plaster our televisions whenever the WWE would mention the word ‘Diva’. A bouncy, blonde, female “wrestler” would “fight” another bouncy, blonde, female “wrestler” and they would call that a match. A couple slaps here, a kick here and 1…2…3! ‘Ladies and Gentlemen we have a winner!’ What!? Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think all of the women in WWE’s Diva division are talentless, but that’s for a different column.
The smartest thing that TNA has done for their Knockout division was debut a wrestler like Awesome Kong. By revolutionizing the way the world looked at female wrestlers, it opened our eyes to a whole new experience. For the first time we got to see ‘real’ women walk to the ring, with the pure intent to maim and hurt someone. Not fluttering down like a butterfly, with cameras flashing in their face. We would get to see them get into the ring and square off with another ‘real’ wrestler and actually expect to see a good match. As a fan of female wrestling, my only hopes before TNA’s Knockout division, to see an outstanding match between two women, was surfing on the web or YouTube.com for some indie shows. But now with the help of Awesome Kong and many other talented female stars like, ODB, Sarita, Hamada and now Tara, we all get to experience it at least once a week.
But what happens now? In case you have missed what has been going on behind the scenes at TNA, please allow me to fill you in. Awesome Kong and Hulk Hogan’s right-hand man, Bubba the “Lovesponge”, got into some sort of altercation. The rumors go back and forth about what it was they were fighting over. Apparently, Bubba had some rather unpleasant things to say about the Haitian relief efforts, and Kong, a big supporter and fundraiser for the relief effort, took strong offense to what he had to say. Words were said, someone got hit (Bubba) and the drama began. Since Bubba and Hogan are two peas in a pod, it obviously didn’t sit well with him that his friend was just punched in the face by a wrestler, let alone a female wrestler. And since Awesome Kong has been there building up the Knockout’s division way before Bubba and his ‘Lovesponge’, it didn’t sit well with her either.
Awesome Kong has asked for her release from TNA. Again there are conflicting reports as to say whether they will release her from her contract or not. A couple of weeks ago, many top rated online wrestling magazines, reported that TNA has released her from her contract. And now reports are coming back that TNA may not have released her, as a matter of fact Tara, reported to an article than Awesome Kong has not been released from her contract. As of today, Awesome Kong, remains on the TNA roster and they have not released any statements as to her departure from the company.
It is only a matter of time before TNA doesn’t have a choice but to release Awesome Kong. Rumors have already reported that she has refused to go across seas and wrestle for the company, hence the reason why she is no longer one half of the TNA Knockout Tag-Team Champions. So if and when TNA release’s Kong from her contract, where will she go? I think if the WWE has any interest in her and if she does make the jump, then Vince McMahon wouldn’t know what to do with her. I see a lot of her matches in the WWE will be matches against men. I see a lot of Awesome Kong escorting male wrestlers to the ring. It would be a whole new ‘Chyna’ syndrome. He just wouldn’t take advantage of her star potential and she would get lost in the WWE crowd. So, if not the WWE, then where? The best bet, in my opinion, would be for Awesome Kong to go back to Japan and continue to make a legitimate name for her. Maybe she could team back up with her old partner, Aja Kong, and bring back the Double Kongs. While I am a huge fan of Awesome Kong, and would love to see her back on my TV every week. I don’t think it would be a wise move for her to head to the WWE.
But who knows what will happen in this crazy wrestling world that we all love. Maybe we all might be surprised and TNA and Awesome Kong will come to an agreement. But the most likely scenario, is that we say goodbye to one of the best Knockouts ever, at least for now. But then again, that’s just my chaotic theory!
Joe says
Hey Chad,
Welcome to the site! The “impact” that Awesome Kong has had on contemporary women’s professional wrestling cannot be measured. When the day comes (and it’s coming sooner rather than later) where Kong is a sideshow in WWE (I’m thinking that they’ll make her Mark Henry’s love interest or something wasteful like that), it’ll mark the end of something great in women’s wrestling.
Great column and again – welcome to the site!
Joe
mark says
Please. TNA royally screwed this up. McMahon is going to drop the belt on her and leave it on for longer than anyone else in the company holds a belt. She’ll be his new Moolah and the women’s answer to Big Show. As much as I like TNA, only the departure of BP could have as crushing an effect.
Chad says
Hey Joe,
Thanks for the welcome wagon, I appreciate it. I hope that my “insights” can bring something exciting to the site.
Oh and Mark, I agree with you that TNA may have screwed up in the Awesome Kong situation, but don’t look at McMahon to take advantage of her talents. Trust me on this one.
ian182 says
Great article!!!
Lynn Angela Pisco says
2010 will be an excellent year for Awesome Kong . She has the power and strength as well as full confidence within herself. So, the time has come upon this day to enter one of the most exciting shows on the planet . Be assured, soon enough the time, that all of these ladies ( including Beth Phoenix and Michelle McCool ) will have to start thinking about what they are up against ! Like perhaps maybe , at this year’s annual spectacular ” special surprise explosion ” live pay per view which be held on Sunday August 15, 2010 for ” The World Wrestling Entertainment’s SUMMERSLAM ” . The women 1.) must settle matters by risking everything else, like each one of their lives 2.) Or if each and every single one does not ( repeat ) want to perish at the hands of the woman known as ” Awesome Kong ” , they should reconsidered ” early retirement ” including Beth Phoenix or Michelle McCool whom thinks no one else can’t beat at their own game proclaiming they deserves to be ” The World Wrestling Entertainment Woman’s Champion “.
Perhaps from this day forward, not only must they risk their own careers, but their lives as well ! So I would suggest that they should start praying for their lives as we speak or else these ladies will be their final moments to ever returning into this very ring during on either Monday or Friday night’s Raw and Smack Down right here in the W.W.E. as being the next big thing future W.W.E. Woman’s Champion and signing a major deal contract with this company as a ” special surprise guest Diva Superstar enforcer ” too.
Chad says
Lynn,
Thanks for your enthusiastic comments on Awesome Kong, I really enjoy and appreciate readers like you, who are passionate about what they say. Now as far as the impact that Kong may or may not have on WWE (If she goes) is questionable. Yes we may see her fighting off a few Divas for a short time, but then Vince will have her fighting men and doing ridiculous skits or something that is unsuitable to her character.
I just don’t think the WWE is ready to take their Divas Division to the next level and have real competition. To Vince the women are something to look at and not something to watch. Thanks again for your comments.