Diamonds in the Rough
From Freepedia
The Diamonds in the Rough are a professional wrestling stable in Total Nonstop Action Wrestling, led by the eponymous Simon Diamond and consisting primarily of lower- to mid-card wrestlers. Their name is derived from the expression "a diamond in the rough" (meaning a valuable find in an unexpected location), as the members of the stable are wrestlers who Diamond regards as having unlocked potential. Though Simon Diamond constantly claims that he will lead the Diamonds to success, they have a undeniably poor win / loss ratio.
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History
The Diamonds were formed at TNA Slammiversary on June 19 when Simon Diamond returned to TNA after a several month absence, introducing Trytan as his "insurance policy". Diamond and Trytan then defeated Apolo and Sonny Siaki in a tag match. The Diamonds next appeared on the July 1 episode of TNA iMPACT!, where Diamond boasted that, as he had recruited a seven foot (213 cm) "wrecking machine", he had "all of the answers". Diamond and Trytan lost to America's Most Wanted after they were outmaneuvered by the veteran tag team. On July 15 they defeated Apolo and Siaki in a Slammiversary rematch.
Trytan left TNA in July 2005 after he he could not agree on a new contract with TNA, and at TNA No Surrender on July 17, Diamond introduced his new protégé, David Young. Citing Young's ability to "bench press 400 lb" (181 kg), Diamond insisted that Young's two year losing streak was due to a lack of direction and leadership, which Diamond would provide. Diamond and Young then faced Apolo and Sonny Siaki in a near-rematch from Slammiversary, with Young losing to Apolo following a TKO.
In the main event of the August 5 episode of iMPACT!, Diamond and Young faced NWA World Heavyweight Champion Raven and Sabu. Young was pinned after receiving a Raven Effect DDT from Raven and a splash from Sabu, while Diamond watched from outside the ring, disgruntled at Young's inability to kick out. The Diamonds faced America's Most Wanted once more on August 12, and defeated them after Team Canada interfered.
At the outset of TNA Sacrifice on August 10, Diamond came to the ring and talked about the career of Elix Skipper, claiming that he had been "a star" as one-third of Triple X, but that he had been "a lost soul" since XXX disbanded. Diamond then promised to make Skipper "a star again". Diamond, Young and Skipper then faced Chris Sabin, Sonjay Dutt and Shark Boy in a six man tag match. The Diamonds lost after Skipper was rolled-up by Sabin, and Diamond berated his team as a result.
Diamond teamed with Mikey Batts on the August 19 episode of iMPACT!, facing Shocker and Chris Sabin in the first round of the Chris Candido Cup. During the match, commentators Mike Tenay and Don West speculated that Batts was "auditioning" for membership in the Diamonds in the Rough. Diamond and Batts lost the match after Sabin pinned Batts, and he did not join the Diamonds.
On the August 26 episode of iMPACT!, Diamond and Young defeated the regular tag team of Mikey Batts and Jerrelle Clark, with Young pinning Clark following a spinebuster. Later in the program, Diamond accompanied Skipper to ringside, and watched in disappointment as his protégé lost to Apolo. On the September 9 episode of iMPACT!, Skipper defeated Sonjay Dutt following interference from Young.
At TNA Unbreakable on September 11, the Diamonds lost to the 3Live Kru in a six man tag team match. The stable was inactive throughout the remainder of September and early October as Diamond toured India to promote the debut of iMPACT! on ESPN Star Sports, but reconvened on October 23 at TNA Bound For Glory, where they defeated Siaki, Apolo and Shark Boy.
