Former TNA booker Scott D'Amore recently discussed forming the TNA Knockouts division with WWE's Zeb Colter (Dutch Mantel), the origins of Petey Williams' devastating finishing move the Canadian Destroyer, trust in the professional wrestling industry and much more.
Scott D'Amore on developing the TNA Knockouts division with Dutch Mantel (WWE's Zeb Colter):
"We had a terrific group of girls who formed the Knockout Division. I really enjoyed working hand-in-hand with Dutch Mantel on the creative an producing side and anhelping structure and created that division from scratch.
That was an amazing experience. I wasn't in TNA from Day 1 so I didn't get to experience that. I was there when we launched on Fox. I was the director of Creative when we went on Spike. That was awesome. Creative there to me was me and Dutch taking something that some people laughed at, which was saying we were going to present Women's Wrestling in a serious tone... and it was going to be well-received.
97 percent of the credit goes to the girls and then probably 2.8 percent goes to it Dutch, and I'll take the other .2 percent. I had a blast doing it. I enjoyed it. I worked my butt off trying to work for those girls & make sure we presented quality matches because some of them weren't overly experienced so we really had to work. Learn everyone's strengths & work really hard to hide their weaknesses. I think that me & Dutch & the whole group there did a fantastic job at doing that there for a couple of years when we first launched."
CB's Analysis: When D'Amore says "97 percent of the credit goes to the girls," I would say that he is 100 percent right. The original TNA Knockouts division was amazing to watch, especially thanks to Gail Kim and Awesome Kong.
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Scott D'Amore on the origins of the Canadian Destroyer:
"Personally, I did not 'invent' the Canadian Destroyer. From my understanding of things, it was basically created because Chris Sabin, who's another one of our graduates, used to take like a Frankenstein-er but backwards. The guy would actually jump off the rope backwards & basically backflip moonsault into taking a hurricanrana. So, then the thought process was, from there, they came up with it on a road trip. It was a move that basically anybody could do to Chris Sabin because he liked taking that backflip bump. When we got Petey Williams to TV, the guys were talking about different things as far as how to get Petey stand out. If i deserve any credit for creating the Canadian Destroyer because I wanted people to look at Petey & have people give a "holy sh*' reaction, have him do the flip piledriver."
CB's Analysis: The Canadian Destroyer remains as one of my Top 3 favorite finishing moves EVER in the history of pro wrestling, along with the Stone Cold Stunner and the Diamond Cutter. Take a look for yourself at Petey Williams landing the devastating move on the aforementioned Chris Sabin:
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Scott D'Amore on trust in professional wrestling today:
“That’s basically what our business is built on. You give somebody your body and they give you theirs and when you do it right, you put on a fantastic athletic demonstration and entertain the Hell out of people.
It’s amazing when you think about the unbelievable athletic feats that wrestlers pull off on a nightly basis. A lot of trust to have to go out there & perform. It’s amazing the wrestlers don’t get hurt. It’s a testament to the business. The guys right now are such phenomenal athletes. I think there are guys out there performing in the top level now are as good as an athlete as there’s ever been in wrestling. Much better than in some years past. I think as good as other athletes in different sports. Great caliber athletes right now.”
CB's Analysis: I agree that trust is EVERYTHING in wrestling when it comes to the performers in that ring.
(credit: TNA Insider)
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