When the story broke of Gail Kim leaving TNA Wrestling, the status of Awesome Kong was also brought into question seeing as her contract expires in October. A couple of months ago, one wouldn’t even second guess if TNA would do whatever it took to keep Gail in the company, apparently not. But are they foolish enough to do the same with Awesome Kong? More than any other women, Gail Kim and Awesome Kong should have been considered as the glue of the Division because the truth is, it’s their feud that got huge acclaim, something that has yet to be reproduced.

The fact is, many women were brought into the company at the same time when the Women’s title was sanctioned. Now Angelina Love, Velvet Sky and ODB are all in question. Evidently, TNA didn’t make much of the Women’s Division enough at the time to sign these girls for more than 1 year. A regret I’m sure with someone like Awesome Kong. With the Knockouts having the most consistent ratings, TNA is stepping on thin ice when they negotiate new deals. Salinas just quit the company, apparently she wanted more money, no major loss, however it says something about what TNA is willing to pay their female talent.

Here’s full details from Rajah.com…

– In addition to Awesome Kong’s, three more TNA Knockouts’ contracts are set to expire next month – Angelina Love, Velvet Sky and ODB. All of the girls TNA signed to contracts last October were signed to one-year deals following their respective tryouts in a battle royal match at the Bound For Glory pay-per-view. We have yet to hear anything on their contracts being renewed, but you’d think TNA would want to considering that they’re integral parts of the popular Knockouts division.

All three ladies have been on WWE’s radar before, but things didn’t work out for all them for one reason or another. It should be interesting to see if WWE comes into play and gives them a second look like in the case of Gail Kim after showing what they can do on a national stage over the past year. The three have proven themselves to be consistent ratings draws for TNA Impact.

Angelina Love was previously under a developmental contract to WWE, but was let go in May 2007. She was close to being called up to the main roster a few times, but could never break through for one reason or another. In January 2006, she tore her ACL the week before her scheduled call-up as the manager of John Bradshaw Layfield.

Velvet Sky has worked with WWE a few times in the past. She wrestled Victoria in a match on Heat in July 2005 when she was a relative unknown. She also did guest spots during a JBL championship celebration in February 2005 and on an episode of WWE Heat in January 2006 with The Heart Throbs. She auditioned for the Diva Search contest last year, but was unable to make the final cut.

WWE had ODB under their nose in Ohio Valley Wrestling in 2006/2007, and despite being the most over female in the promotion at the time, were never interested in signing her to a developmental contract. She also tried out for the inaugural season of Tough Enough and made the top 25, but missed the final cut for the show.

– The TNA website has removed Salinas‘ profile from the roster section, which should confirm Internet reports of her departure from the company. TNA almost never releases “future endeavors” messages on departing talent, so this is their way of signaling a performer’s departure from the company.