Ash by Elegance talks TNA debut

[Chris]

At TNA Wrestling's Hard to Kill pay-per-view, the former Dana Brooke reemerged with a new name and character.

Now going by the name Ash by Elegance, Brooke (Ashley Sebera) made her TNA debut at Hard to Kill last weekend. She was shown in the crowd during the Knockouts title match between Trinity and Jordynne Grace. It was Brooke's first pro wrestling appearance since being released by WWE in September 2023.

Brooke reacted to her TNA debut while appearing as a guest on Tuesday's Busted Open Radio. Brooke said it was an amazing feeling to appear at Hard to Kill.

It honestly was such an amazing feeling. Being in Vegas, being at TNA Wrestling, Hard to Kill, walking out into an amazing, amazing arena with watching the Knockouts division title match with Jordynne and Trinity, it was such a great, great feeling to make my presence be known at such an amazing, amazing event.

Brooke was then asked about her new gimmick and what "Ash by Elegance" means:

So Ash by Elegance is a different side of me, but I try and live my life every single day as being super elegant. Elegant is a word -- but I feel like it has a variety and many multiple meanings of it. It’s classiness, it’s elegance, it’s beautiful, it just means so much that I’m definitely going to bring that element into the ring and show everyone what class and elegance truly means.

When asked if she's now officially part of TNA Wrestling, Brooke said that viewers should keep their eyes out and not miss an episode of Impact going forward.

Brooke was with WWE from 2013 to 2023. Before her release, she had recently joined the NXT roster. Brooke was released during a round of roster cuts that were made after Endeavor's acquisition of WWE became official.

Brooke told Busted Open Radio that she thinks TNA is a perfect fit and is everything that she was looking for. It's where she can explore freedom and opportunity.

Grace defeated Trinity to win the Knockouts Championship at Hard to Kill.

Hard to Kill was the start of a new era for TNA Wrestling. The promotion's name change back to TNA officially went into effect that night. In addition to Brooke debuting, Nic Nemeth (the former Dolph Ziggler) arrived in TNA at Hard to Kill.

https://www.f4wonline.com/news/impact-wrestling/ash-by-elegance-tna-wrestling-debut-was-such-an-amazing-feeling

 

[Sky]

I sure hope this gimmick goes well. I see people calling it a Toni Storm ripoff because... reasons? Does Toni Storm have the trademark on that haircut?

 

[Death By Looch]

She obviously has not, but let's be honest, first impression-wise it shouldn't surprise anyone that people would immediately call it a ripoff. We'll have to see, what's actually behind it. I would be happy to be proven wrong, but personally I don't think it's gonna be much of a banger... especially if they go down the character path I kinda expect them to go down with it.

 

[Apoho Creed]

I sure hope this gimmick goes well. I see people calling it a Toni Storm ripoff because... reasons? Does Toni Storm have the trademark on that haircut?

I think it's more so the possible personality she might be displaying but she's no where the worker or talent either way so I see this failing miserably I feel.

 

[Kenoh]

I sure hope this gimmick goes well. I see people calling it a Toni Storm ripoff because... reasons? Does Toni Storm have the trademark on that haircut?

Because it is clearly inspired by an idea similar to that of Toni and therefore a knock off, though Toni's gimmick really isn't anything new either. The other thing is if a wrestler in WWE or AEW does or has a gimmick and then someone else has something similar then it is a knock off. Even though let's face it every gimmick in Wrestling has been done.

 

[Sky]

Honestly Toni Storm wasn't the thing that came to mind in the live thread, it was the fact that her name sounds like a perfume. I already came up with the "Rick Martel-esque comically large perfume sprayer as a signature foreign object" thing, and I hope that actually happens

 

[Kenoh]

I would be all for that.

 

[Apoho Creed]

I guess Liz Claiborne wasn't there for the taking

 

[Rosie]

I can see that with the fancy outfits, the hair, and the stuck up nature of the character, there's those comparisons with her gimmick and Toni's, but we're day one into it. It'll be all about what she can do to develop this character. I know it likely won't have the whole "Golden Age cinema" comparisons, so that alone makes it different. God knows that most gimmicks have been done. There's almost always archetypes gimmicks start at and evolve from. I hope Ash can do well in TNA. She never really stood out in WWE where she improved in the ring, but wasn't able to get that special connection with the fans with a character or matches. TNA's a good spot for her, a chance to give herself a bit more spotlight and a chance to work with some amazing wrestlers and producers to develop herself as a performer.

 

[Sky]

God knows that most gimmicks have been done. There's almost always archetypes gimmicks start at and evolve from

And yet TNA's the only company that gets shit on for "ripping things off". I wonder why

 

[Hoss]

I think it's more so the possible personality she might be displaying but she's no where the worker or talent either way so I see this failing miserably I feel.

Tell us how you really feel brother.

And yet TNA's the only company that gets shit on for "ripping things off". I wonder why

No way you think this is true.

 

[Apoho Creed]

Tell us how you really feel brother.



No way you think this is true.

I never really liked her in WWE even though she looked to be improving a little bit during her last run with WWE. I gotta be honest I have a bigger investment and interest in talents like Dani Luna, Jody Threat, and Gisele Shaw and where their Careers take them in the Knockouts Division rather than her.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

If I understand the gimmick right, it's similar to what Lacey Evans was originally supposed to be, correct?

 

[King Kota]

im all for seeing Dana Brookes aka Ashley succeed im just not sure on this gimmick as stated above by people.

 

[Chris]

If I understand the gimmick right, it's similar to what Lacey Evans was originally supposed to be, correct?

I don't think so. There also hasn't been much explanation yet either so we're all kinda speculating. I don't see how it's like Toni either the Ash gimmick seems fashion based, Toni's is movies