Is Gail Kim WWE bound?
Gail Kim, who had been the top female babyface in TNA until recently, appears to no longer be with the company. Her bio was removed from TNA’s Web site yesterday, and pwinsider.com reported late last night that she and TNA have parted ways.
An industry source told me that Kim had recently been in contract renegotiations with TNA, and that WWE was definitely interested in bringing her back if she was unable to reach an agreement on a new deal.
I have always thought that WWE made a big mistake when they released Kim in 2004. In TNA, she and Awesome Kong have been the top two female performers since the company created a women’s division last fall. The women’s division has been a ratings draw and is considered by many in the wrestling community – including me – to be one area in which TNA is clearly superior to WWE.
Signing Kim would make sense for WWE, which seems to be focusing more on wrestling and less on bikini contests and pillow fights when it comes to its women’s division. If WWE were to add Kim to a roster that already includes Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Natalya, Katie Lea Burchill and Victoria (who, unfortunately, isn’t pushed), its women’s division, on paper, would arguably be just as strong as TNA’s.
As perhaps a sign that TNA was preparing to lose Kim, the company recently began pushing newly crowned women’s champion Taylor Wilde as its top babyface.
Comments
I hope she does show up in WWE, especially as a heel on RAW and in a feud with Mickie James, over who was more responsible for the recent boom in women's wrestling. In reality, it is Kim, but WWE would book it as Mickie.
Posted by: Martin | August 21, 2008 8:09 AM
TNA does this some. They take a profile off then use that as an angle. They might be doing this as an an injury angle. They did this to Kaz. They did a promo on Karen's Angle and said he is retiring, took his profile and pics off and now repackaging him and have him wrestle under a mask. He might be named Suicide. Everybody knows that CurryMan is Christopher Daniels. He lost a Loser must retire match and now look at him. I understand that Gail has 2 years left on her contract so she isn't going anywhere soon. The girl in the audience that plays her sister is actually Earl Hebner's daughter. Doesn't make sense that they bring in someone to play Gail's sister only to have Gail leave. Gail will be back!
Posted by: Dave | August 21, 2008 12:25 PM
It would make sense for the WWE to grab up as many Female Wrestlers as they can from TNA.... TNA's female division has been doing real good as of late and with the WWE now having 2 woman's titles they need as many to compete as they can... Awesome Kong would also be a great addition...
Posted by: Tim | August 21, 2008 12:36 PM
The rumors are true. Earlier I commented that the rumors were a work to a storyline. But Gail's contract is about to run out. WWE made her a huge offer to come back and from what i just read she will be back once her TNA contract expires. TNA management and Gail have left the door open if she wants to come back. Kevin I apologize for the earlier comment. I didn't intend to mislead anyone.
Posted by: Dave | August 21, 2008 1:21 PM
I don't get that comment that she's got a couple years left on her contract..?
It was widely reported that she had a three year deal with TNA, and everyone knows she debuted in September 2005.
Posted by: TestSubjekt | August 21, 2008 7:28 PM
I certainly hope so! She's one of my favorite div - uh, female wrestlers!
Although I hope the WWE doesn't have her win a championship in her first match again.
Posted by: Marko50 | August 21, 2008 8:08 PM
Gail Kim would be a great addition to the women's division in WWE. WWE has been stepping up a lot in the past couple months regarding their women's division. The question is which brand does Gail go to?
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Seems like Raw, with Beth Phoenix, Mickie James and Katie Lea Burchill would provide the better matchups. If Gail goes to Smackdown and jobs to Michelle McCool I might never watch wrestling ever again.
Posted by: Aaron | August 21, 2008 8:10 PM
Then why if Gail Kim is gone and her bio and photos removed from TNA website is she still listed as participating in the next two TNA PPV's? Also on Impact last night she is first shown taping up her hands, and then later when she is interviewed and mentions going home if she looses are her hands not taped? Also Gail has commented since joining TNA what a family it is and how happy she is. Why go back to a promotion that treated her so poorly? Is it a work? ... stay tuned!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: It's not a work. Why is she still listed for the PPVs? It's an oversight that may or may not be corrected. The taped/not taped hands? It's a continuity error (which are not uncommon). What about TNA being a family and WWE treating her poorly? It's a business, and WWE reportedly offered a significant pay increase. All things being equal, she may have preferred to stay in TNA, but they weren't equal.
Posted by: john | August 22, 2008 6:14 AM
Kevin, to further what you said to John, isn't it also possible that the significant pay increase goes hand in hand with seeing what the WWE is doing to improve their women's division? Not only will Gail be receiving more money (good for her!), but she will also get to be part of the transformation of the WWE Women's Division. I am definitely excited to see what she can do with Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Katie Lea Burchill, Melina (when she returns), and even the improving Kelly Kelly. Now we just need to somehow get Victoria and Natalya over to Raw, and send the imitation Brittney Spears and Layla over to Smackdown. I don't mind if Michelle McCool beats Jillian and Layla.
Posted by: Mina | August 22, 2008 12:32 PM
Gail was booked to look like a force for most her initial WWE run.
If you remember, she won the Women's title her first night, and she won way, way more than she lost. She wasn't exactly Beth Phoenix, who has been pinned less than 10 times (probably closer to 5) since her first appearance two years ago, but Gail was pretty dominant in the women's division and was taken seriously.
She'll be fine, I think.
Posted by: chris | August 22, 2008 1:09 PM
One less opponent for Traci Brooks .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | August 22, 2008 7:06 PM
In terms of womens wrestling No1 broke more barriers 4 wwe than LITA she compltly broke the mold of bikini blond in the ring (ala trish stratus) pity her career ended the way it did and trish's on such a high
Posted by: Yaz | August 23, 2008 6:49 PM