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.[2]
A number of wrestlers have been awarded contracts with TNA after participating in Gut Check Seminars, including Crimson and Jesse Sorensen.[5] From April 2012 onwards, TNA began inviting a small number of participants in the seminars to wrestle a tryout match on Impact Wrestling.[3]
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.[7] The winner of the Gut Check was awarded an Impact Wrestling contract.[7]
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.[3]
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.[8]
The original judges for the TNA Gut Check were Ric Flair, the road agentAl Snow and TNA's Senior Vice President of Programming and Talent Relations, Bruce Prichard.[9] On May 31, 2012, Flair, who would leave the company shortly thereafter, was replaced by the color commentator and retired wrestler Taz.[10] On the November 29, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, Al Snow was replaced by D'Lo Brown for the night.[11] On the March 7, 2013, episode of Impact Wrestling, Taz was replaced by Danny Davis.[12]
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.[13] 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.[14][15][16] 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.[17] At Bound for Glory 2012 on October 14, 2012, Ryan defeated Snow to receive a contract with TNA.[18]
On the July 19, 2012, episode of Impact Wrestling, Sam Shaw was attacked by the Aces & Eightsstable while being interviewed by Jeremy Borash. Shaw went on to wrestle Douglas Williams in a tryout match one week later.[19]
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.[7] The winner of the Gut Check was awarded an Impact Wrestling contract.[7]
On March 7, 2022, Impact Wrestling announced two Gut Check winners, Jason Hotch and Jack Price, and they were awarded Impact Wrestling contracts.[1] 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.[35] On October 29, it was confirmed that Harley Hudson won the Gut Check.[36] It was later also confirmed that Mike D has also won the Gut Check.[37]
^IMPACT Wrestling Staff (November 3, 2023). "Turning Point 2023 Full Results". Impact Wrestling. Archived from the original on November 4, 2023. Retrieved November 4, 2023.
