Top 25 Ranking of 2011 – #7: Velvet Sky
Tag Team Top 10 of 2011 – #7: The Bella Twins

Top 25 Ranking of 2011 – #7:
Velvet Sky
Ranked #12 in 2010

—This year, Velvet Sky ranks #7 on Lethalwow.com’s Annual Top 25 Ranking. Velvet Sky moves up 5 spots from her 2010 Rank.

Velvet Sky began 2011 continuing her rivalry agaisnt Sarita, and dealing with Winter‘s influence on her tag-team partner Angelina Love…

On the December 23, 2010 edition of Impact Wrestling, Velvet Sky was attacked by Sarita, and left unable to compete in the finals of a Knockouts Tag Team Championship Tournament. Winter replaced Velvet Sky, which saw Angelina Love and Winter become Knockouts Tag-Team Champions. This intensified the bad blood between Velvet Sky and Sarita, and caused tension between her and Angelina Love. Her feud with Sarita peaked on March 3, 2011, on Impact Wrestling, where Velvet Sky defeated Sarita, in a match where her career was on the line—a huge victory for Velvet.

Soon, the tension between Velvet Sky, Angelina Love and Winter escalated. On March 13, 2011, at TNA’s Victory Road Pay-Per-View, Velvet Sky inadvertently cost Angelina Love and Winter their Knockouts Tag-Team Championship, in a match against Sarita and Rosita. Velvet Sky found herself on the loosing end of matches against Love and Winter; however, she was able to overcome the odds on numerous occasions… On the May 5, 2011 edition of TNA Impact, in the main event, Kurt Angle and Velvet Sky defeated Jeff Jarrett, Angelina Love and Winter in a 2-on-3 Handicap Match. Velvet Sky pinned Winter in the match. Two weeks later, on the May 19, 2011 edition of Impact, Velvet Sky defeated Angelina Love and Winter in a 2-on-1 Handicap Tag Match.

That was only the tip of the iceberg for the resident underdog of the Knockouts Division. Soon, Velvet Sky found herself in a feud against Jacqueline and ODB. Velvet Sky was able to overcome the odds once against in the feud… On the July 7, 2011 episode of TNA Impact, Velvet Sky defeated Jacqueline & O.D.B. in a 2-on-1 Handicap Tag Match.

On the September 15 edition of Impact Wrestling, Velvet Sky defeated Angelina Love to qualify as a competitor in a four-way for the TNA Women’s Knockout Championship at Bound for Glory. October 16, 2011 at TNA Bound for Glory, Velvet Sky pinned Winter to become Knockouts Champion. Velvet Sky lost the Knockouts Championship 4 weeks later, on November 13, 2011 at Turning Point, against the returning Gail Kim.

Seeing Velvet Sky win the Knockouts Championship—after four year in TNA, was definitely a heart-felt moment. Velvet Sky is among the female wrestlers that are highly criticized on the internet, and it was great seeing her get her moment despite the naysayers. Velvet’s run as a singles competitor—after being majorly recognized for being part of “The Beautiful People,” was booked well. It will be interesting to see where things go in 2012 for Velvet Sky.

—This year, The Bella Twins rank #7 on Lethalwow’com’s Tag Team Top 10.

2011 began with an angle that saw The Bella Twins competing for the affection of Daniel Bryan. It turned out that Daniel Bryan was dating Gail Kim, which led to a short lived feud between the twins and Kim. The Bella Twins went on the feud with WWE Divas Champion Eve Torres, who had Gail Kim in her corner in her feud against the twins. On April 11, 2011, Brie Bella defeated Eve Torries to become WWE Divas Champion. The Bellas went on to have 70 day reign, where Brie lost the Championship on the June 20, 2011 edition of Raw to Kelly Kelly. Brie went on the challenge Kelly Kelly for the Divas Championship at Money in the Bank 2011, but were unable to regain the Championship.

Even in singles matches, it was always a team effort throughout 2011 for the Twins, who often switch places in their matches. Perhaps the most memorable Bella moment in 2011 was getting in the face of Kharma as the made her exit from the WWE due to pregnancy (Kharma explains her emotional breakdown). Kharma, vowed that she would be back in a year to destroy the Bellas. Will this come to fruition in 2012?—Many are looking forward to seeing this come true.