Ivelisse Velez: A Breath Fresh (And Hot) Air

[ABMorales787]

She's a spicy latina who showed of all things, an MMA background. In wrestling. That's a new one if I'm not mistaken. Not to mention she knows her Huricanrana's. Despite TNA changing her name 3 times in one broadcast (It's Velez. Not Felez or Valez) the crowd connected with her in an instant.

We know the Knockouts have reached new levels of dull lately. Every signed Knockout is a former Knockout's Champion. We've seen all of them feud. But here comes this new chick, with this rather different style and country. Can she breathe new life? If she sticks to chokeholds and Huricanranas, yes. Then again, TNA dropped the ball with Sarita. So I shouldn't hold my breath. But they should capitalize. A running pole has her with over 450 votes to her opponent Lei'd Tapa's 72+. Ouch.

Catch the lightning in the hand and capitalize, TNA. Give us something new for the Knockouts. Even if it's just for a few months.
​

 

[Remix]

Yeah, I love me some Ivelisse Velez. She was good on Tough Enough, awesome in FCW (to the point that I preferred her to Paige), but apparently she pissed people off backstage and got fired because of that. WWE's loss is TNA's gain here. Let's see what she's capable of, because her match was nothing special. She can talk:



She can wrestle:



Yeah, that's the only FCW singles match I can find. She mostly teamed with Paige or in Triple Threats during her time there. She can play a character and stick to that character in the ring. And as demonstrated on the show, she can get over. Picking her up is a no brainer and I'll be disappointed (though perhaps not surprised) if TNA passes on her.

 

[shattered dreams]

I'd hire them both. I am not sure where Killjoy is coming from because there isn't anything particularly unique about her or her country. She is someone different though and apparently much more attractive than I ever had a clue from watching tough enough. That should be enough to get her in. I spent half my time enjoying her ring attire and the other half marveling at the size of her opponent. If I was looking for something unique, her opponent was it. The division is sorely lacking a true heel and "not as awesome" kong lite could be an option with the right packaging and training. I would like to see killjoy's chick wrestle Gail Kim though. Just don't compare her to Sarita if you want people to buy into your hype.

 

[Papa Pillman]

She's a spicy latina who showed of all things, an MMA background. In wrestling. That's a new one if I'm not mistaken.

Eve Torres is arguable. She does have the Gracie Jui-jitsu training.

As for Ms. Velez...

Yes she's hot(despite a chin that protrudes strangely far on a profile view), and I have to give her props as far as the match she worked on Impact. She was against an opponent who was not only much larger but also seems quite limited, and she made the best of it.

While there isn't alot of room to work too many knockouts into the show, Ivelisse, along with Taeler Hendrix, will make for a very different crop of fresh blood versus the cookie-cutter knockout formula.

BTW, the pic you chose to use to introduce this thread. Goddamn. That flag has never looked better. Viva Puerto Rico.

 

[klunderbunker]

Shocking: five days after Ronda Rousey debuts in the UFC, we get an MMA themed female wrestler.

That wasn't sarcasm either. It's a smart move, especially in TNA where there's a much greater respect for women's wrestling and ties to MMA already. Ivelisse would be a great hire as she's fresh blood for a division desperate for it at this point as well as very good looking. It's a natural fit and she certainly did well in her match on Thursday.

As for Tapa, eh sure why not. We haven't had a good female monster in TNA in years.

 

[SpecialFNK]

I'm so glad Ivelisse won the match. last time 2 gut Check people faced each other, the loser wasn't even an option to be signed. this other girl that lost to me doesn't have a place in TNA. she was too big. no need for Kong 2.0.
even if/when Ivelisse gets a contract, she's likely to go to OVW along with that other girl Hendrix.
I hope to see more of Ivelisse. love the fire crotch tattoo. you can see it in pictures, but you couldn't tell with what she was wearing in TNA. I haven't really looked, but would like to know more about this tattoo. literally looks like red flames coming out from her crotch.

 

[LayCold]

The TNA should sign the two of them, the TNA needs new knockouts and the two were good.
As for Ivelisse, I loved her, she is awesome on the ring, she get a good look, a MMA background, really not bad on the mic, I think she is perfect to be someone in TNA

 

[Skairipa Matrix]

I'd love to see her get signed and will be shocked if she doesn't get the contract via Gutcheck. She could really do well in the Knockouts division too choking out everybody in route to becoming Knockout Champion.

Lets just hope she isn't sent to OVW after next week and not seen for months like every other Gutcheck contestant besides York & Ryan. Speaking of that though isn't time for Silva, Sam Shaw & Taeler Hendrix to come back?

 

[Mr. Artistic guy]

No offence to the girl, but other than the fact that she clearly knew her way around the ring and can pull of a mean Hurricanrana, I didn't notice too much of her that was special. That doesn't mean she wouldn't be a good addition to the roster, any new blood is welcomed at the moment, but I didn't see anything that really stood out. Maybe that's a good thing.

I spent more time looking at her opponent, who, to be fair to me, you couldn't really miss. I don't remember ever seeing a female that's looked like her in the wrestling biz. I obviously know of Awesome Kong, and remember Rhaka Khan who was close to 6-foot. But I checked and this girl is billed at 6" 2. Not only that but she is clearly more fleshed out than Rhaka Khan was. She was clearly green, so noticeably at times that she clearly didn't know where to move to next, but she actually performed whatever moves she did quite well and could sell pretty good also judging by her performance in the final submission hold. What with monsters not needing big complicated move-sets, I think she could go down to OVW and be ready for the main show within a year. I agree with most people here, sign both of 'em, I know one of them has to win, but slip the other one into OVW behind our backs and have them randomly come to TNA again down the line. Different people who can play different roles in the division, why not?

 

[Radical Canadian Goose]

meh she's nothing special. She looks nothing special. Let's all hop aboard because Killjoy said to. Fuck that shit. She has decent talent/looks. will she make it it? doubt it

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I started watching TNA this week at the point where Tama (Tapa?) was telling her story. The relation to Barbarian caught my interest. From there I watched the match and felt it wasn't all that interesting beyond the fact that it was one person I've never seen before and someone I wondered what happened to after Tough Enough. I also was frustrated that the person who had a legitimately emotional moment and cried on tape in the prior segment was playing the part of a heel. WTF?

Velez is fine. Her greatest strengths are her MMA background, her affiliation with SCSA's Tough Enough, and her body looked spectacular in that red outfit. Otherwise her face is kind of either the "I look too much like my father" face or the "I have been taken testosterone" face.

They'll definitely sign her. She probably spend some time valeting/managing Hernandez because pro wrestling is still stuck with the idea that all people of Hispanic heritage belong together and she will get her run as Knockout champ. Same old, same old but that's women's wrestling today.

 

[Olan]

I have been a fan of Ivelisse since I saw her on TOUGH ENOUGH. IMO she has the look, the ability and the attitude to be a star. IMO she would be a great adittion to the KO division. The KO division needs some new blood and I think she would be a great addition. Given how this is her second tryout I hope that is an indication TNA is signing her.

 

[andrewp488]

Laycold why refer to it as the tna when clearly its tna the word the doesn't belong there but yeah velez would be a great addition to the roster she is fit sexy and can wrestle to boot so let's hope for more of her

 

[The Eighties]

Ivelisse was the pick of the female contestants on Tough Enough and did well in FCW, I also recall her having a good match with Natalya on the rebooted NXT just before she got released.

She has a good look and the MMA background is a good marketing tool as a submission specialist is rare in women's wrestling. I also thought she got a solid enough match out of Tapa who is clearly very green, I'm sure TNA will sign her.

As for Tapa, I'd sign her as well because of her look and size, plus she has the heritage and the division could do with a monster heel. Polish her for the next 6 months and she'll be a good addition to the Knockout's as well.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think people are blowing her ability more than a bit out of proportion. She did a good job in her match but I can't say I saw anything particularly special about her. However, that doesn't mean I'm against signing her.

The Knockout Division is in desperate need of fresh blood. Generally speaking, aside from Velvet Sky, the KO Division is probably the dullest it's been in its history. Ivelisse Velez does, at least, bring something different with her MMA background to the KO Division. Yeah she's hot but that's not really why I think TNA could use her. Wrestling is full of women who look great in skin tight and/or skimpy outfits and while having another won't hurt, being hot isn't exactly unique. Between Mickie James, Gail Kim, Velvet Sky, Brooke Hogan, Tara & Miss Tessmacher; there's plenty of *********ory fantasy to go around, but there's nothing fresh about them really. I'm not saying that Ivelisse Velez is going to be a miracle worker for the KO Division or anything, especially if the girl has no real personality to speak of.

I expect she'll get the nod but, at the same time, it's hard to get excited since they'll probably send her to OVW and we won't see her again for a long time.

 

[Dagger Dias]

Ivelisse would be a great addition to the Knockouts roster. I liked her a lot on Tough Enough and was sad to see her leave WWE before she could have reached Raw or Smackdown. She's better than nearly every diva that WWE has, although that isn't saying much at the moment. TNA would be better for her anyhow, we all know how badly WWE treats its divas division. Natalya VS Ivelisse could have been an incredible feud, although it was doubtful that it ever would have happened even if Ivelisse made it to the main roster.

If she joined the Knockouts she could bring more to the division. With every girl on the roster being a former champion the division needs something new. Ivelisse is easily a candidate for a future champion. I'd like to see her feuding with girls like Mickie, Madison, Tara, Tessmacher, and also Velvet. TNA has the better female division out of the two major federations at the moment so I do hope she joins. It would be good for both her and for TNA so I fully support it if it happens. It would be worth waiting for even if she would be stuck in OVW for a while.

 

[The_Don]

I wish the best of luck to Ivelisse. I hope she gains success on TNA. She's very good in the ring and she has battled hard from wrestling in Puerto Rico to getting try outs in the big leagues. I like her ring work, her athleticism and her mic work, even though she can improve a bit on the mic. I trust that TNA will use her well!

 

[Lowdown]

Ivelisse was solid in the ring in her TNA debut, don't really know about Tapa; Awesome Kong she isn't. But both these women could be a boost to a fledgling KO division that's been a constant carousel of matches with the same stars. Don't get me wrong, I like seeing Velvet, Tara, and Mickie, but what's going on with the development of Taelor Hendrix? And I forget the tall amazon broad that's 6'9". But I feel any woman that has some marginal talent like Ivelisse could be beneficial to the company, at least a little bit.

 

[tvcolosi]

Sign em both.. they have too many girls on the main roster that cannot work at all. On a side note, I couldn't tell for sure watching the match, is Ivaleis just that really tiny, or was Lea'd or whatever 7 feet tall? She looked HUGE!

 

[SpecialFNK]

well, so much for Ivelisse. she was eliminated.
despite the fact that she won the F'n match!

this Lady has no business being in TNA. she doesn't fit with the other Knockouts. that's exactly what TNA does not need.

Ivelisse fit so well. she was hot, which is like priority number 1. plus she had a unique wrestling style with MMA.

Ivelisse should have moved on, AND gotten a contract.

this pissed me off.

 

[Stewmaga]

The TNA should sign the two of them, the TNA needs new knockouts and the two were good.
As for Ivelisse, I loved her, she is awesome on the ring, she get a good look, a MMA background, really not bad on the mic, I think she is perfect to be someone in TNA

Completely agree...they both looked decent Ivy maybe a slight bit more but still.

 

[Superstar77]

Big mistake on TNA's part not giving Ivelisse the contract. She was more impressive and actually won the match. I don't get it.

This is one time when they really should have signed an ex-WWE talent. It's their loss.