Elayna Black has offered high praise for newly signed TNA talent Gabby Forza, describing her as an exceptional addition to the Knockouts locker room while also making clear that she wants a future one-on-one match.
Forza confirmed in August that she had signed with TNA. Her arrival gives the promotion another athlete for its women’s division, and Black already has first-hand experience sharing a ring with her. The two previously competed in a four-way match on Xplosion, but Black said that encounter only increased her interest in meeting Forza in singles competition.
Speaking on the I Love Wrestling Podcast, Black emphasized that her assessment of Forza goes beyond the physical attributes that stand out immediately in the ring. She pointed to Forza’s enthusiasm for professional wrestling, her conduct around colleagues and the ease of working with her as qualities that can matter greatly when a performer enters a new locker room.
“I love Gabby. I think she’s great. I think she’s super, super talented.”
For more background on this topic, read Elayna Black Reflects on Physical Toll of TNA Lockdown Steel Cage Match.
A Familiarity Built Before TNA
Black explained that she had met Forza before the new TNA signing joined the promotion. Forza had taken part in Bayley’s Lodestone seminar, providing an earlier point of contact between the two wrestlers. That experience left Black with a strong impression of Forza both as a person and as a developing professional wrestler.
Seminars and training environments can create important connections across the wrestling industry, particularly for talent seeking opportunities with major promotions. In this case, Black’s comments indicate that Forza’s standing with her was established before they became members of the same roster. That prior familiarity also gives extra weight to Black’s praise of Forza’s work ethic and personality.
Black called Forza “incredible” and highlighted the passion she sees in the newcomer. Rather than limiting her comments to potential or athletic ability, Black framed Forza as someone who genuinely cares about the profession and approaches her work in a collaborative way.
“She’s another person who loves wrestling and she is so just easy to work with,” Black said. “She’s just always so pleasant to be around and genuinely has like a good soul.”
Those comments paint a clear picture of why Black is pleased to see Forza land in TNA. A new signing must ultimately establish herself through matches and performances, but the adjustment to a new environment also involves building trust with opponents and fellow roster members. Black’s remarks suggest Forza has already made a positive impression in those areas.
Black Sees Forza as a Strong Addition
TNA’s Knockouts division has long been a prominent part of the promotion’s identity, and every new arrival creates opportunities for fresh matchups. Black believes Forza has the qualities to contribute in more than one way, praising both her presentation and the toughness she brings as an athlete.
“It’s great to have another woman in the locker room who is just a strong, badass woman who is a great person,” Black said. She later added that Forza is “beautiful” and “a badass,” concluding that she is “a great addition to the TNA locker room.”
Black’s description focuses on a balance that wrestling audiences often look for in a performer: confidence, physical credibility and a distinctive presence. Forza’s signing gives TNA another wrestler with a chance to establish those traits on its programming, while Black’s endorsement offers an early indication of how positively she has been received by at least one current colleague.
There has been no specific singles match between Black and Forza announced. Still, Black did not hide her interest in making one happen. Their four-way outing on Xplosion gave them a shared match experience, but it did not provide the focused setting of a direct one-on-one contest.
“I got to wrestle her at a four-way on Xplosion, but I look forward to having more matches with her,” Black said. “Hopefully we get a one-on-one.”
Why a Singles Match Would Be Different
A multi-person match can offer wrestlers a valuable opportunity to test chemistry, but it is a different challenge from a singles match. In a four-way contest, the pace shifts quickly, ring time is divided among multiple competitors and individual rivalries may only receive brief attention. A one-on-one meeting would allow Black and Forza to build their own rhythm and give viewers a more direct look at how their styles complement or challenge one another.
For Black, the potential match would also be a chance to share the spotlight with a wrestler she clearly respects. Her comments were not presented as a challenge or an attempt to generate animosity. Instead, they came across as an expression of professional admiration and a desire to work with someone she considers talented, reliable and committed to wrestling.
Forza, meanwhile, has an immediate opportunity to make an impact after putting pen to paper with TNA in August. Signing with a promotion is the beginning of a new stage rather than the finish line. Matches against established roster members can be essential for building momentum, defining a character and demonstrating where a newcomer fits into a competitive division.
A match with Black would carry added value because Black has already publicly explained why she sees so much upside in Forza. The respect is clear, but respect in wrestling can still lead to a hard-fought contest when two competitors want to show what they can do. At present, though, Black’s hope for a singles bout remains just that: a hope rather than a confirmed booking.
Positive Early Signs for Forza
The most notable element of Black’s comments is their sincerity. She did not merely congratulate Forza on signing with TNA. She described someone she had encountered before TNA, worked alongside in a match and come to view as a positive presence around the locker room.
That kind of response can be meaningful for any wrestler beginning a new chapter. Talent must earn their place in front of the audience through performances, but the support of peers can help reveal how a performer is viewed behind the scenes. Black’s perspective is that Forza possesses the attitude and ability needed to be a productive member of the roster.
Black also continues to have her own path in TNA, having addressed the aftermath of her TNA Knockouts Championship match at TNA Lockdown during the same conversation. Her comments on Forza, however, show that she is already looking toward possible future in-ring opportunities as well.
For now, the central takeaway is straightforward: Black is enthusiastic about Forza’s signing, believes she is highly talented and wants to wrestle her again under singles-match conditions. Whether TNA turns that interest into an official matchup remains to be seen, but Black has already made the case for why such a contest would be worth watching.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.