Who should be given a Gut Check contract?

[Blaine Van Der Griend]

Admittedly, I'm not as big a fan of Indie wrestling as most of you, but I have seen my fair share, and after hearing that Alex Silva actually got a contract, I feel like I have to step up and say something.

Silva did not impress me at all last week. I think he has a very generic look, combined with sloppy ring work. But maybe TNA sees something in him that I don't.

Regardless, if I had my way, here are some of the talents I would give contracts to:

Jack Evans - This guy has such a unique style and I've only seen a couple of his matches last year in TNA, but he really opened my eyes.

Low Ki - How could he not have a contract? Granted, I've heard that he isn't the easiest guy to work with, but his talent is limitless.

Jimmy Yang - This is a guy who's impressed me for the last 10 years or so. I think he was the standout in both the Jung Dragons in WCW and the Flying Elvises in TNA, but has never been given a fair chance.

Lufisto - I have heard great things about this woman, but never actually saw her wrestle until she was in Toronto for WrestleReunion a couple weeks ago. She really impressed me and almost to the point where I thought there may indeed be hope for women's wrestling.

Nikita - I may be somewhat biased, since I interviewed this lovely young lady for Slam! Wrestling a year ago. But the guys at Squared Circle undoubtedly know great talent when they see it. I've never actually seen her in the ring, but she has a pretty good gimmick, and she's one of the few female talents in the world with a gimmick, so I think it might work.

The Super Smash Brothers - Another team that I first saw at WrestleReunion, but one that also has a great gimmick and works well as a team. They really seem to just click with everyone they work with.

Sami Callihan - This guy took the beating of his life from Fit Finlay at WrestleReunion and lives to tell about it. He has a unique style and isn't afraid to get hit obviously, so TNA really should consider that.

Mike Bennett - He's still one of the standouts in ROH to me. I think he'll probably remain loyal to the company that made him, but at the end of the day, he needs a solid pay check. Nothing against Ring of Honor, but Bennett needs more exposure to further his own career.

TJ Perkins - I was a fan of his ring work as Puma and up until recently, I didn't even realize he was Puma before. Nevertheless, I actually think dropping the mask was a good idea, because he has a pretty boy/young Ricky Steamboat look going for him and his ring work speaks for itself.

Caprice Coleman - I've been raving about this guy on the Law's facebook page for a while. I think his ring work is good, but nothing spectacular. Although, I'm certain his age has a lot to do with that. He's 34, which might be too old by wrestling standards, but his promos are fantastic! He's an ordained minister, so I guess that helps a little, but if TNA isn't going to consider him as a wrestler, they might want to consider him as an announcer or even a manager for someone like Crimson.

[Gee Hall]

I like your list... a bunch of names in there I'd sign...

SPOILER ALERT, SLAM WRESTLING KNOWS DON'T CLICK THE LINK IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW: slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Wrestling/2012/05/01/19700661.html

[George C]

I agree with almost all of your list.

Alex Silva looked very sloppy and not really worthy of being on the TNA roster.

While I really like the "IDEA" that TNA would make some "CHANGES" to their programming like the Open Fight Night and Gut Check, I am very skeptical about them signing "new talent."

My problem lies with the fact that TNA has more talent on their roster than they can effectively book in matches on IMPACT.

They have run off talented guys like Scott Steiner and Brian Kendrick in the last 6 months.

They have not done much with Pope and Abyss (other than the Joseph Park Esq. gimmick backstage promos.)

So why does TNA need more talent that they can sit on the bench and squander?

TNA needs to put more focus on guys like Austin Aries, AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Magnus and keep Hogan behind the scenes.

[Dylan Harris]

Not to mention they have deals with companies in Japan and Mexico, which they could easily take advantage of and bring in more seasoned and better wrestlers than on the US indies. Just like Nitro did in the 90s with it's heavy infusion of Luchadores. But yeah, Alex Silva sucked. I'll give some quick thoughts on your list, Blaine.

LuFisto is one of my all time favs, such an inspirational story. I wish she would get a contract so bad.

Puma and Low Ki: YES.

Yang: Should, but too many personal problems.

Everyone else: Either not ready or they'd need to cut some people to make room for new guys to be successful.

[Dylan Harris]

Here's a couple of my picks and guys to check out if ya don't know them:

Jimmy Jacobs: Good to Great wrestler and excellent, excellent promo skills. Extremely versatile in playing different characters too. I love him. Kinda small though.

Chuck Taylor: A uniquely talented performer, but also more of a comedy guy. Hear he's got maturity issues too, Perfect guy to feud with Aries in the X-Division.

Hallowicked: Give him a serious gimmick and let him wrestle. Super underrated pure in-ring talent, but I doubt his CHIKARA gimmick would work nationally.

There are a few others i'd like to see personally, but again, not unless TNA's ready to get rid of some guys already there, those I commented on above on the original, and my guys, I feel could make an immediate impact and be legit title contenders (In different given divisions) upon signing.

[Blaine Van Der Griend]

I would definitely go to bat for Jack Evans though. The guy is also super talented and it's really hard to get into an unknown talent. I had never heard of the guy before his TNA match, and he impressed the hell out of me. Plus he has the kind of name you could work with in terms of character development. When I think of that name, I automatically think: gumshoe detective. Like they could do a whole bunch of vignettes (they won't cause it's TNA), where it's like one of those Leslie Neilson type sketches of an off screen narrator describing the thoughts of the detective. I think it could work.

As for your list, Chuck Taylor I agree with, because he really stood out from the rest of the indie workers at the WrestleReunion show (first indie show I attended, unless you count ROH). But he needs a name change real bad. His name doesn't scream 'wrestler!' If anything, it screams 'jobber!' But that's a minor problem.

Never heard of Hallowicked, but he sounds awesome.

For me, Jimmy Jacobs kind of reminds me of like a Steve Corino/Stevie Richards/Al Snow/Sean Waltman, who are all great workers, but they're also great low-mid card talent. That's where the problem comes into play for me. I don't see Jacobs as a marketable and believable main eventer. He also needs a name change, but that's the least of his worries. He's a smaller guy like you said, which is going to work against him. And for a smaller guy, I can't see him using the sympathy card like a Rey Mysterio or an AJ Styles, where the fans will get behind him as the underdog. If anything, I can see him as a manager for someone like Abyss.

[Dylan Harris]

Seriously Blaine, apply for a TNA job right now, your gimmick ideas are awesome.

Jack's style just reminds me of Amazing Red's too much. Well Teddy Hart moreso, but for TNA lets just go with Red. He is marketable, and a talented guy, but you saw what they did with Red. The environment in TNA isn't suitable for him to excel in, unless they get rid of people/hire people that know how to book high flying juniors. Evans has had various backstage problems as well in his career, enough to worry about.

I agree with you that they need some name changes, but that should be no prob.

I wouldn't mind Jacobs as a manager, but it'd be a shame to not let him use his in-ring talent. Like I said, he's a great heel or face that i'd book as someone who can feud up and down the card, even though realistically the size would probably keep him from legit main event status. The utility role is necessary in a company, and I could see Jimmy Jacobs to TNA in a role (booking wise, not gimmick wise) like Jericho was to WWE in '03.

[Blaine Van Der Griend]

I'd say TJ Perkins is more likely to be the underdog babyface. He kind of reminds me of a young Ricky Steamboat. Like if they were to bring him in for the gut check thing, they could have Roode get all cocky and take the microphone from Al Snow, saying he'll take this challenge for a non-title match, just as like a warm-up for his match at the next ppv. So TJ gets some offence in, but Roode pretty much dominates the match, until the babyface he's facing at whatever ppv comes and distracts him and then Perkins gets the fluke win. This way, you can build to a title rematch between Roode and Perkins, where Perkins loses, but still looks strong, and then you have him win the X-title and carry that division.

But that's getting off topic. As far as me applying to TNA...lol... thanks for the support I guess. They need all the help they can get, and to be honest, I have actually checked that out, but as I understand it, they only bring in interns and you have to be enrolled in college or university and I've already graduated. But one day..when TNA is the best wrestling program on television...you'll know who to thank lol

[stevekasan]

Mike Bennett would fit in tremendously in TNA given a Gut Check contract. Good adversary for either Austin Aries or D-Von for the TV Title.
Bennett with the TV title makes the most sense