In professional wrestling, the TNA Gut Check (formerly known as the Impact Wrestling Gut Check) was a tryout program turned indy wrestling rookies reality series that was produced by the American professional wrestling promotion Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA), as a means of recruiting new talent. The TNA Wrestling Gut Check was featured as a segment on occasional episodes of the company's flagship television program of the same name. The TNA Wrestling Gut Check has also been used as an TNA One Night Only pay-per-view event on February 16, 2015.
Seminars TNA staged its first "Gut Check" on October 16, 2004, in Atlanta, Georgia. The event saw entrants rated on the basis of their performance in five categories: "back bump", "mat techniques", "ring interviews", "running the ropes" and "squat challenge". The female and male events were won by Jaime Dauncey and Jon Bolen respectively, with Dauncey and Bolen rewarded with a $4,000 USD cash prize and a subsequent appearance on TNA programming. In 2005, Dauncey was signed to a developmental deal by TNA.
TNA holds seminars at venues around the United States and Canada, hosted by TNA backstage employees such as D'Lo Brown, Pat Kenney, Brian Hebner and Jeremy Borash. The seminars, which last two hours, cover "promos, drills, simulated matches and in-ring work". The seminars are aimed at "prospective professional wrestlers, announcers, managers, valets and referees". Participation in the seminars costs US$250.
A number of wrestlers have been awarded contracts with TNA after participating in Gut Check Seminars, including Crimson and Jesse Sorensen. From April 2012 onwards, TNA began inviting a small number of participants in the seminars to wrestle a tryout match on Impact Wrestling.
On February 3, 2022, Impact announced the return of the Gut Check, a one-day camp at the Arnold Classic on March 6, which was held by John E. Bravo and Lance Storm. The winner of the Gut Check was awarded an Impact Wrestling contract.
Television segment (April 2012–July 2013) In April 2012, Gut Check began being featured as a regular segment on Impact Wrestling as part of each month's Open Fight Night episode. Contestants wrestled a match against a TNA wrestler, after which their performance was evaluated by three judges. Contestants who received a "yes" from at least two of the judges were awarded a contract with TNA and sent to Ohio Valley Wrestling, TNA's developmental territory, for further training.
On January 9, 2013, it was announced by TNA that the Gut Check segment would be overhauled with two contestants competing against each other instead of one contestant competing against a TNA wrestler.
The original judges for the TNA Gut Check were Ric Flair, the road agent Al Snow and TNA's Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations, Bruce Prichard. On May 31, 2012, Flair, who would leave the company shortly thereafter, was replaced by the color commentator and retired wrestler Taz. On the November 29, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, Al Snow was replaced by D'Lo Brown for the night. On the March 7, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, Taz was replaced by Danny Davis.
TNA Gut Check contestants have featured in a number of angles: After Joey Ryan was refused a contract on the May 31, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, he began a campaign against the decision on Twitter and YouTube that was spearheaded by the results of an online poll showing that 87% of respondents felt that he should have been awarded a contract. Beginning on the June 28 episode of Impact Wrestling, Ryan began appearing in the audience of the Impact Wrestling Zone during Gut Check segments, heckling the judges. On July 21, 2012, at the Pro Wrestling Guerrilla show "Threemendous III", Ryan used the Tazmission - the signature submission hold of Taz - to defeat his opponent, Famous B. At Bound for Glory 2012 on October 14, 2012, Ryan defeated Snow to receive a contract with TNA. On the July 19, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, Sam Shaw was attacked by the Aces & Eights stable while being interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Shaw went on to wrestle Douglas Williams in a tryout match one week later.
Gut Check was cancelled when Bruce Pritchard was fired from TNA. At the same time, TNA launched a new online contest called Online Gut Check with hundreds of wrestlers where the fans voted for the winner. However, due to poor design it was possible for fans to post multiple votes for the same wrestler. The winner was German wrestler Bad Bones. In January 2014, Bad Bones was confirmed to appear in TNA Maximum Impact tour.
Contestants
April 2012–November 2012 Contestants Tryouts dates Opponents Decisions dates Bruce Prichard Al Snow Tazz Decisions References Alex Silva April 26, 2012 Robbie E May 3, 2012 Yes Yes (Ric Flair1), Yes Joey Ryan May 24, 2012 Austin Aries May 31, 2012 No Yes No Taeler Hendrix June 21, 2012 Tara June 28, 2012 Yes No Yes Sam Shaw July 26, 2012 Douglas Williams July 26, 2012 Yes No Yes Kris Lewie August 23, 2012 Gunner August 30, 2012 No N/A2 No Evan Markopoulos September 20, 2012 Douglas Williams September 27, 2012 No No Yes Christian York November 1, 2012 Zema Ion November 8, 2012 Yes Yes3 Yes Wes Brisco November 22, 2012 Garett Bischoff4 November 29, 2012 Yes (D'Lo Brown5), Yes No 1Flair served as the third judge for the inaugural Gut Check before being replaced by Taz. 2As Lewie had already received two "no" votes, Snow was not required to cast his vote. 3As York had already received two "yes" votes, Snow was not required to cast his vote. However, commentator Mike Tenay described York as having received a unanimous "yes" vote. 4Brisco was the only contestant to win their tryout match 5Brown substituted for Snow.
January 2013–July 2013 Contestants #1 Contestants #2 Tryouts dates Decisions dates Judge's pick Bruce Prichard Al Snow Danny Davis Decisions References Jay Bradley Brian Cage January 10, 2013 January 17, 2013 Jay Bradley Yes Yes (Tazz1), No Ivelisse Vélez Lei'D Tapa February 28, 2013 March 7, 2013 Lei'D Tapa No Yes Yes Adam Pearce Magno March 28, 2013 April 11, 2013 Magno No N/A2 No Adam Ohriner Ryan Howe June 20, 2013 July 4, 2013 Ryan Howe No No Yes 1Tazz served as the third judge for the revamped Gut Check before being replaced by Davis. 2As Magno had already received two "no" votes, Snow was not required to cast his vote.
One Night Only
TNA Gut Check
TNA held a series of matches featuring ten Gut Check participants competing in singles matches and tag matches against ten members of the active roster: if they would win, they would move on to compete in the main event match where the winner of that match earns an appearance on the next live Impact Wrestling. It took place on February 16, 2015, from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida; it was a part of TNA One Night Only's pay-per view events.
No.MatchesStipulations1Martin Stone defeated Jessie GodderzSingles match; if Martin Stone wins, he qualifies for the final match later that night2MVP defeated Jon DavisSingles match; if Jon Davis won, he qualifies for the final match later that night3The Revolution (James Storm and Manik) defeated The Von Erichs (Marshall Von Erich and Ross Von Erich) Tag Team match; if The Von Erichs won, they qualify for the final match later that night4Shaun Ricker defeated Crazzy SteveSingles match; if Shaun Ricker won, he qualifies for the final match later that night5Davey Richards defeated Tony KozinaSingles match; if Tony Kozina won, he qualifies for the final match later that night6Crimson defeated Samuel Shaw Singles match; if Crimson won, he qualifies for the final match later that night7Tevita Fifita defeated Ethan Carter III by disqualification Singles match; if Tevita Fifita won, he qualifies for the final match later that night8Drew Galloway defeated Pepper ParksSingles match; if Pepper Parks won, he qualifies for the final match later that night9Dalton Castle defeated DJZSingles match; if Dalton Castle won, he qualifies for the final match later that night10Tevita Fifita defeated Shaun Ricker, Martin Stone, Dalton Castle and CrimsonFive-way elimination match
Revival On February 3, 2022, Impact announced the return of the Gut Check, a one-day camp at the Arnold Classic on March 6, which was held by John E. Bravo and Lance Storm. The winner of the Gut Check was awarded an Impact Wrestling contract.
On March 7, 2022, Impact Wrestling announced two Gut Check winners, Jason Hotch and Jack Price, and they were awarded Impact Wrestling contracts. On September 26, 2023, Impact announced the return of the Gut Check during their UK Invasion Tour on October 25 and 29, where the winners would receive a developmental contract. On October 29, it was confirmed that Harley Hudson won the Gut Check. It was later also confirmed that Mike D has also won the Gut Check.
Winners +Year WonContestant Winners 2004Jaime Dauncey2004Jon Bolen2012Alex Silva2012Taeler Hendrix2012Sam Shaw2012Christian York2012Wes Brisco2013Jay Bradley2013Lei'D Tapa2015Tevita Fifita2020Shogun2022Jason Hotch2022Jack Price2023Harley Hudson2023Mike D
See also WWE LFG WWE Tough Enough
References
External links TNA Gut Check website