Original subtitles

This season on Ink Master.

This is pushing your artistic skills, your tattoo ability, and your mental and physical self

to the limit.

Get ready to fight.

24 artists will compete to earn a spot on teams coached by returning Ink

Masters.

Fail to impress one of the coaches, and you'll be going home.

The Masters will scout for the strongest artists.

Who are you going for?

Everybody.

I was the most inexperienced artist on my season, and I won.

I didn't come here to lose.

I came back here to win again.

I got to uphold my title.

I'm going to take these two guys out.

You're lining, you're shaking.

Yeah.

Is that normal for you?

Anthony is going to be the zen master.

You know what you're doing.

And the DJ is going to be tough to beat.

He's ready to build the team.

I'm gonna.

This is top notch.

I would get a different shirt before he has people to pick you.

Would you say glasses?

You could see the future with those things.

Your future's horrible.

In the end, three teams of six artists will be left standing.

With guidance, I can make you better than what you are now.

I'm here for you.

I'm here to make you $100,000.

If you're on my team, this is just the beginning, man.

There's no stopping what's going to happen.

But only one artist will earn a $100,000 prize and the title.

of Ink Master.

You folks

better be ready.

Welcome.

Thank you.

When Coney Island's first sideshow opened in 1880, people from around the world flooded to

see the first tattooed lady and lined up for 50-cent tattoos, making it a place for tattoo

artists to hone their craft.

Each of you came from around the country to prove that you are the best.

But only one of you will win $100,000, a feature in Ink Magazine, and the title of Ink Master.

Woo!

Yeah!

Let's go!

If you want to make it to the end, you won't be able to do it alone, because you will be competing

in teams.

Well, that's rough.

The only thing I didn't want to do was have to work with other people.

I'm just so afraid of someone else's faults bringing my own work down.

Nobody knows what it takes to win this competition better than a master.

And for the first time ever, three Ink Master winners are back to coach teams.

Wow.

Oh, check it out.

Oh.

Nice.

Yes.

Damn.

Steve, you do have what it takes to be Ink Master.

I am slightly cocky, which you have to be to be an Ink Master.

I didn't come here to lose.

I came back here to win again.

Anthony, you do have a bet.

I was the most inexperienced artist on my season.

I've proven I'm more than a threat to these guys.

Old Town Inc.

Winning season nine, there's this expectation of me.

I got to uphold my title.

I'm going to take these two guys out.

Welcome back.

Glad to be back.

What are your plans to coach each of your teams?

Art?

is the blood that runs through me.

I don't want my team to feel like a team.

I want to build a strong, positive family that is very passionate like I am.

And I'd love to leave a little piece of me with my team.

I want Team DJ all the way.

The creativity that guy holds can unlock and bring me to my best.

This competition is full of adversity, which is what I was brought up from.

Help is something I've never had.

I'm here to help all of you be the best you that you can be.

Anthony did overcome the most.

He hasn't been tattooing that long, and the guy won.

Team Anthony is my goal.

That's where I want to be.

This competition's really hard, so I'm going to help you not stress out so you don't make

the mental mistakes that'll send you home.

I'm here to make one of you the next Ink Master.

Steve Teffy's a household name where I'm coming from.

We're both from Connecticut.

As a master black and gray artist, he won this competition.

If he could do it, I could do it.

Your first shot to make a team is happening right now.

You will have six hours to tattoo any style, any subject matter.

Your canvases are completely open and have been randomly assigned.

Your tattoo must speak for itself, because these tattoos will be judged blind.

Oh, very nice.

Level playing field.

There are 24 of you here, but only six spots available on each team.

That means six of you will be eliminated.

This is my chance to show everybody back home.

I can bring it.

I could not go home the first day.

It's up to you to prove that you deserve a spot on a team.

Fail to impress one of the coaches, and you'll be going home.

For the masters, be very careful which of these competitors are really pieces that are an

additive to your team or vampires.

This is pushing your artistic skills, your tattoo ability, and your mental and physical self

to the limit.

Get ready to fight.

It's going to get tough.

Head inside.

Get set up.

These artists today are going to get to do anything they want to prove that they have what

it takes to get on a team, which most of the time, innate master means they're going to up

a lot.

Six hours or whatever you want.

I know, man.

It's like there's so much options.

I'm excited.

Today I'm looking for fundamentals.

I'm looking for somebody that can run great lines, do smooth shading, pack solid color, do

smooth black and gray, get in, get out, simple.

Hi, I'm Katie.

Awesome, I'm Leah.

How you doing?

Yeah, man, Josh.

Nice to meet you.

I do black and gray.

I get to do whatever I want.

So I'm kind of on the verge of doing something like this, just something super epic.

Just probably going to win, like, the first place.

You know what I'm saying?

That's awesome.

Even though I've only been tattooing for two and a half years, I've created something that's

a Daniel Silva style.

With my tattoo abilities, I'm a shoo-in on a team.

I'm just freaking out.

Juan, he's here.

Josh, there's so many artists here that are so good.

I haven't been able to tattoo because of the hurricane in Puerto Rico.

My island is basically destroyed.

For me, it's super important to winning Masters.

I want to be an inspiring symbol for the people of Puerto Rico.

I'm representing my country, and I'm doing it for them.

I really, really enjoy making things glow.

Good.

I like it.

People feel it, and they're like, nice .

Come on.

OK, artists, you have six hours to tattoo, and your time begins now.

All right, baby.

Let's do it, man.

Come on.

Stand over here.

Yep.

Looks pretty good.

Yeah, I think that's good.

Ready?

Yep.

In this industry, a lot of people, even though there are competitions, they tend to kind of

shy away from me.

So when they see me come in being competitive, they're like, oh, this dude's just an asshole.

It's like, no, man, if there's a prize to win, I'm going to win it.

I'm going to come in here as public enemy number one with a hell of a bullseye on my back.

A lot of people are going to look at me and go, oh, boy.

I've won every award you can, and one of the last ones left on my list is to win the title

Ink Master.

I want to be on DJ's team.

I'd love to work with him.

I walked in this room, and I already recognized people.

Flying critique is a huge, huge advantage to me, because I know I can smoke this tattoo, and

they're never going to know that it was done by a weird homeschool kid, only been tattooing

three and a half years.

This is my chance to do a cool tattoo and really impress him.

Time flies, bro.

Especially, like, when you get into something.

It's like, you just get engulfed by that.

My name's Rollie T-Rex.

And I'm tattooing a T-Rex.

I'm just going to go ahead and stamp that bitch right now.

Today, I'm purposely not picking what I do best.

That's just going to give me a little edge on the competition, because I chose something that

I'm not 100% comfortable with.

it.

I'm going big.

It could have been like a three-hour tattoo, but I wanted to make sure everything was super

nice.

I could either take it a little bit risky, or I can go safe.

I'm going to stick with what I know, traditional, neo-traditional style tattooing.

Not excited about six of us going home.

That's a lot.

I feel like our chances are real good.

I'm hoping I get Team Anthony.

This guy is a super well-rounded artist.

If I get stuck on Steve's team, I'm not going to make it to the end.

This guy doesn't understand what kind of artist that I am.

I'm so much better than he is.

Three hours.

Three hours remaining, guys.

Sword swallowing snake with some tats on it.

It doesn't matter whose team I'm on.

I'll be the same player for each team.

I just hope that I make it on one of them.

I'm a traditional tattooer.

I've been doing it for 24 years.

I've been tattooing longer than half these kids have been alive.

I think I might just keep her hair and beard black to save on time.

It's smart from the get go.

Being a Jewish tattooer is not too common.

The rabbis have interpreted that thou shalt not tattoo.

I disagree with that.

So I hope to open up a conversation by being a visibly Jewish tattoo artist.

Part of my strategy is to treat each tattoo as if it's $100,000.

So I'm making sure you get $100,000 worth of tattooing.

Keep working.

Don't worry about me.

I'm creeping.

You are who I'm most worried about in this competition.

I'm freaking out.

Josh Payne is a legend.

I have never pepper-shaded a face before.

Hey, it looks sweet.

Thank you.

For me, art school began in second grade.

I just became a full-time tattoo apprentice right out of high school.

I'm not here to lose.

I'm going to be here till the end.

I'm very secure in the work that I put out, so I don't have anything to prove to anyone, really.

I'm going to do cool tattoos that are tough, try to stay true to my style.

If you like what I do, then you like what I do.

And if you don't, then don't.

Looking awesome, man.

Hell yeah.

We just got a little bit left.

This tattoo is incredibly important.

It's me.

Just me.

No style restrictions, anything like that.

I'm a stay-at-home dad during the day.

And I have to tattoo at night, daycare all day, and then working all night.

I want to win because my family depends on me.

It's my goal.

3, 2, 1.

That's it.

Machines down.

Time is up.

No more ink.

Check it out.

That is perfect.

All right, we're done.

Come check it out.

Gets on fire, huh?

Whoo!

I'm super inexperienced, but I'm seeing these older guys making rookie moves.

Ooh, you ready to see this?

Frank, that bird is gimby.

The only thing that's going to be flying is his ass out the door.

All right, guys, hopefully you did enough to earn a spot on one of the teams.

So let's pack it up, because we're headed back to the Ink Master shop for a blind critique.

I think the rat.

Say the rat?

That's a wolf, bro.

It needs to go back to the drawing board.

And that's where you come into play.

Oh.

I would be gunning for this person.

I'm gunning for this.

It's a top notch.

I don't know what gun you got, but it better be bigger than mine.

This is it.

Oh, this is me.

I think that's my spot right there, baby.

I want to be Team Anthony.

Yeah, me too.

Yeah, I'm too, yeah.

Can't believe it.

All right, guys, this is the blind critique.

Oh, let's go.

The artist could tattoo any subject in any style.

Let's see how they did.

That's me.

I like the tattoo.

It looks clean.

Just instantly, the first thing I think of is she's a little cross-eyed.

Other than that, I see a lot of promise in this technical application.

We might be playing tug of war for this one, guys.

Absolutely.

I'll take it.

Next tattoo.

The little teacup, very cute.

The rest of the tattoo is an absolute disaster.

I was going to give her to Anthony.

Or him.

Her.

Let's see who's laughing in the end.

Whoa, buddy.

It looks almost like a severed head floating on a rocky cliff or something.

And that black's really beat.

That sucks.

Areas of gray shading look really, really smooth and deliberate.

This person would be a tremendous asset on your team.

I like that.

Next tattoo.

Botanical, water, a boat, arrows.

It's confusing.

But it does have some strong outlines.

Design-wise, easy fix.

Next up.

I love the flow and the composition and the way that it fits the arm.

I would be gunning for this person.

If this is my buddy Josh, he's a beast.

There's a lot of clean application in this tattoo.

I personally am not a fan of the blue and white polka dot frosting that's sprinkled in on

this thing.

I'm not going to look like that in five years.

I do these mandalas all the time, man.

Them dots are absolutely going to be there in five years.

The lines that are coming up.

Negatives.

Tell me what's negative that also casts a shadow.

Come on, bro.

Next.

If this was a design on a t-shirt, raise your hand who would buy this t-shirt.

It's not a good design.

You might have somebody who stands out in the crowd, and I like somebody who stands out.

All right, next tattoo.

Definitely shows a lot of clean application, very solid line work.

But design-wise, this thing is a total miss.

There's way too much going on.

The belly of this thing looks like a rope.

Jacked, jacked, jacked.

He's been tattooing for 25 years, right?

I know, right?

Like, if they knew who they were saying that about.

Y'all right.

Next tattoo.

This is a person who obviously knows how to draw, put together a nice composition.

This person would really work well with any of your styles.

I'm gunning for this.

This is top notch.

I don't know what gun you got, but it better be bigger than mine, dude, because I'm gunning

too.

Thank you, DJ.

Next tattoo.

Her nose is nuts.

Those points coming up looks like that nose belongs on the cap.

Next tattoo.

Oh, here we go.

Definitely some anatomy issues going on.

The face isn't bad.

The face is bad.

There's tricks, but how straight is the outline?

How solid is the color?

That's the bigger question.

All right, next tattoo.

I don't like it.

It's supposed to be a bird of freedom.

It doesn't look free.

So when you pick through all this stuff, you're the black and gray master, bro.

All right, next up.

Uh-oh.

I'm not a fan.

We've seen all these tattoos with so much stuff going on.

And now here's something that's just simple, pretty clean.

I'll mold this person into something real for sure.

What does that mean?

It's the best face of the day.

You know what I love about it?

I've never seen it in this competition before.

I'm OK with this person on my team.

You can be really pissed if it's on mine.

I would get a different shirt before you ask people to pick you, you know what I mean?

Would you say glasses?

You can see the future with those things.

Oh, yeah.

Your future's horrible.

Next tattoo.

This person has a much craftier hand because that turquoise piece and the jewels that are

going around it are all nicely done.

Oh, I know.

That ain't even the bottom six.

Let's take a look at the next tattoo.

It looks really flat.

I think it needs to go back to the drawing board and start all over.

And that's where you come into play.

Oh.

Oh, my god, dude.

Here we go.

I think the rat looks like.

You say the rat?

That's a wolf, bro.

I'll own that.

It's a better rat than a wolf, for sure.

The jaw is totally crooked in the shape of the cranium.

It's like the teeth are knocked over to the side a little bit.

If this was going to be on my team, would this person have a shot at $100,000?

And I would have to say no.

I feel like I got ripped a little bit hard on that.

Next up.

Look at the straight lines that are supposed to be in the glade.

It's a little wonky on the bottom.

And it's just bland.

you.

All right, that's it.

24 tattoos.

You guys got your favorites?

I think we're all going for the same people here.

I better bring the gloves.

I think I'm sitting real well.

Them knowing you men, you got a huge advantage, dude.

The difference is you guys are young tattooers.

I've busted my ass for 15 years to get to where I am.

All of us have worked our ass off.

I'm bummed.

I like tough .

I want it to look like a tattoo.

I wasn't trying to do a realistic skull.

A million excuses for do your style, your design.

That's what it was.

Today, you had to tattoo whatever you thought would earn you a spot on one of the teams.

Based only on your tattoos, each of you has been ranked by the judges and coaches.

If you made it into the top nine, you'll get to choose which team you want to be on.

For this round, only three spots are available per team.

Let's see the number one ranked tattoo of the day.

Congratulations, Matt.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I've been tattooing for about four years now.

But before that, I did a lot of book cover illustration, magazine illustration.

And that enabled me to get to this point.

All right, coaches, why should this artist pick you?

With such little experience, I can relate.

And I'm excited about what else you can bring to the table.

Right on.

I'm here for you.

I'm here to make you $100,000.

I mean, the money's cool, but getting that notoriety and that title is, to me, like, that's

what your work is for.

OK, Matt, which team do you pick?

I'm going to go with DJ.

Go ahead and stand behind your coach.

My dog.

Second ranked tattoo of the day.

Yeah, baby.

Josh, which team do you pick?

As much as I got to go with DJ, I got to take a teammate, too.

And Matt kills him, so I got to go with Team DJ.

Mr.

Payne.

Welcome aboard.

Let's take a look at the third ranked tattoo of the day.

Congratulations, Deanna.

All right, coaches, who wants to make a play for Deanna?

This feeds into my style of work.

If we're on the same team, you're definitely competing for the finale.

Just in one tattoo with that much versatility and this much versatility, it'll be an unstoppable

team.

I'd hate to see you get lost in the shuffle.

You can stand alone.

You don't need to worry about anybody but yourself.

But this is a team challenge.

Why stand alone?

You don't want to be shadowed.

I'm ready to take all three.

I'm just being honest.

Deanna, which team do you choose?

I want to work with the solid teammates, so I'm going to go for a DJ.

Wow.

Yes.

Head on over.

That means that team DJ for this round is completely full.

Let's take a look at the fourth ranked tattoo of the day.

Yes.

Congratulations, Juan.

Thank you.

Which team do you select?

The style I'm really enjoying the most lately is the black and gray mixed with color.

I think Anthony can help me better with that.

So I choose Team Anthony.

Thank you, brother.

What's up, bro?

Let's have a look at the number five ranked tattoo of the day.

Jason, congratulations, man.

Thanks, man.

Thanks.

Which team do you select?

I was a big Team Anthony fan, so I'm going to have to go with Team Anthony.

Welcome, brother.

Let's have a look at the sixth ranked tattoo.

Congratulations, Katie.

Thanks.

Do you do a lot of portraiture in your tattoos?

I do.

Might as well just come over here.

Give these guys a run for their money, because that's what we're going to do.

I do do portraits, by the way.

What do you think your weakness is?

Realism is my weakness.

I do 90% realism.

I'm here to make you a winner.

I'm going to go with Team Steve.

Go ahead and stand behind your coach.

The seventh-ranked tattoo of the day is?

All right, Daniel, congratulations, man.

Thank you.

I really like that you put your signature on stuff.

But it's also going to teach you to be a little more flexible, because you're going to have

to be.

Well, it sounds like you want to stand apart from the pack.

And that's something I pride myself on, too.

I choose Team Anthony.

Right on, man.

Go ahead and stand behind your coach.

Team DJ is full up.

Team Anthony, full up.

That means that the number eight and number nine ranked tattoos of the day automatically go

to Team Steve.

Here's the eighth ranked tattoo.

Congratulations, Garrett.

Didn't honestly expect to be in the top nine.

You did not expect it?

No, I've only been tattooing three and a half years, so to be, like, put a lot inside all

these guys feels pretty awesome.

Happy to have you, man.

Thanks.

All right, guys, the last artist is about to earn their spot on Team Steve, the ninth-ranked

tattoo of the day.

Yes.

Roly, congratulations, man.

Thank you so much.

The guys that didn't get me lost out for sure.

The rest of you have one last chance to impress the coaches and earn a spot on the team.

Masters, for this elimination tattoo, each of you will pick a style.

The artists must tattoo one of those three styles.

Steve, what do you pick?

I'm going with Japanese because it's one of the hardest things to do in this competition.

I want to see your chops right off the rip.

And if you're going to fight, you're going to fight now.

Anthony, what's your style?

Illustrated women's faces.

Give you a chance to draw, finesse some nice, beautiful shading, let it breathe a little bit,

and bring it home.

DJ, what style do you pick?

I'm going to go straight to the point, traditional, just so we can see basic fundamentals.

All right, guys, that means you can choose any one of these three styles.

Tomorrow, you will have six hours to tattoo.

This is your last chance to make it on a team, because six of you will be going home.

Good luck.

Steve's ready to build the team.

Yeah, he is.

It's just who can execute under pressure.

That team's going to selfish stuff.

I have no doubt in my mind.

You can't whisper right now.

You've got to scream.

It's hard to stay here with an unfinished tattoo.

Everything's on the line right now.

I got torn to shreds on my first critique, but there's no way it's going to happen twice.

Hi.

I'm your canvas.

It looks tight.

A lot of people are afraid to tattoo the stomach.

I tattoo this area all the time.

If you can sit, this would be .

but it's a huge risk on my part.

I can do it.

OK, sweet.

OK, artists, this is your last chance to impress the coaches and make it onto a team.

Six of you will be headed home.

You have six hours to tattoo in one of the three styles chosen by the coaches, Japanese, illustrative

women's faces, or American traditional.

And your time starts now.

Good luck, y'all.

Ready.

Ready?

I'm ready.

This tattoo, we have 15 artists tattooing.

Went with the illustrative woman's face?

Yeah.

Six of them will not make it on a team.

This is their last chance.

Do it like you want to wear it.

Yep.

Curious to see how many people went with traditional.

A lot.

Yeah?

Right now, my team's looking real good.

I got all the top competitors.

I just want this big group of creative people, and that's how we're going to make it to the

end.

This thing's rad.

Oh, thank you.

Ask the other coaches.

They'll tell you that I'm going to beat them.

Any critiques or anything you think?

You might want it to not look angry, you know?

I hear you.

Japanese style tattooing is not easy.

I picked it to show everybody that I could do it all.

They call me fame.

It stands for all my enemies.

Just glance over your lines.

Make sure those little ones connect.

Yep.

Well, my stomach, as always, is turning in circles.

And I've never really second guessed myself as much as I have now.

So I need to get out of my head.

This is who can execute under pressure.

That's what it all is.

I'm kind of nervous, because DJ's not speaking a word to me.

And that's the team I want to be on.

We're going to build a lot of strength.

That team's going to self-destruct.

I have no doubt in my mind.

Overall, I think I got a really strong team.

I think they're a little underdogs, because they're not as well known by name.

But I look at their art, and people are going to know who they are very shortly.

People are going to come at you.

People are going to talk .

Just relax.

You know why you're here.

You're here.

for your reputation and to win money.

My strategy to make sure I get the artists I want is to pinpoint the strong artists and start

coaching them already.

A badass design, man.

Thank you.

Thankfully, Steve wants Japanese.

I do Japanese.

I want Steve as my coach.

So I'm doing it right, I think.

Right, yes.

You are doing it right.

I'm sacrificing so much to be here.

I have a three-year-old daughter.

I have a seven-year-old daughter and my wife.

It's really not easy when you have little girls that need to see their daddy every day.

They believe in my work, so to go home on the first day would be pretty embarrassing to me.

Make sure it touches the line.

Be very cognizant of that.

They blow this thing up, that's going to stick out like sore thumb.

Steve is surprisingly the biggest teacher right now.

I'm ready to be on a team.

I draw constantly.

I'm tattooing constantly.

I take care of my family.

If I don't tattoo well, then, like, no one eats.

This is all we have, and I do it well.

Four hours remaining.

You have four hours remaining.

That is the way to do it.

Big, chunky, heavy.

That's the way it's supposed to look like.

Thanks, Steve.

At this point, I just want a spot.

in this competition.

If old ass Steve want to put me on his team, I go on Steve's team.

I started tattooing super late, 401K, stable job.

I threw all of that away so I can tattoo.

It saved my life.

Who are you going for?

Everybody.

Everybody?

I'm really going to isolate who's doing the techniques that I'm looking for that will benefit

my team.

And I will coach those artists in particular.

Did I just notice when you're lining, you're shaking?

Yep.

Is that normal for you?

No, not at all.

So just try and just try and see.

I haven't been nervous while I've been tattooing in a long time, and I am feeling it right

now.

I'm finishing up law school at the moment, and I tattooed full time the whole way through.

So I can defend my case.

I'm going to fight for my life.

Just focus on your main features, eyes, nose, lips, a little bit of cheekbone action.

And I was thinking about doing them like in a really light gray.

Yeah, do that, because you can always make it darker.

Yeah.

Team Anthony is wanting illustrated women's faces.

It's like destiny, because illustrated women's faces is what I do.

I have to get that spot.

We grew up with nothing.

I mean, nobody was going to give it to you.

I'm motivated.

I hustle.

If I want something, I'm going to get it.

It feels a lot of heart, man, but just pace yourself.

at the same time.

You know what I mean?

Thank you, sir.

You look a lot more comfortable today, man.

That's good.

Thank you, sir.

It's more important than ever to secure a spot on this team.

I'm the best at what I do because I care the most about the tattoos that I create.

I know what I have to do, and I'm going to get it done today.

Two hours.

Two hours to go, guys.

This back line, a little too high up.

Cut it down about there.

Yeah, for sure.

A little too hunchy?

Yeah, come off to this.

Too high.

Right about there.

I got another shot to show these guys what they missed out on.

I'm going back down to the basics of tattooing.

I didn't go to art school.

I was self-taught.

I have a lot of artists in my family.

I have what it takes to win this whole competition.

Slow burn?

He's very receptive.

But he ain't listening.

He's telling you want to hear him and doing his own .

What do you guys think about a zombie tattoo?

He bit it off again.

He's trying to do all of what we asked for in one tattoo.

I have to impress these coaches because right now I'm on the bottom when I should be on the

top.

I probably have over 100 awards.

Best color, best portraits, best cover-ups.

It's time to prove that I deserve to be here.

She starts with a couple flicks before a line.

It might be a nervous tick she has to work out.

I'm taking risks on this tattoo because it is basically a white tattoo.

I love doing flowers in nature.

I lived in Hawaii for a long time, and I was the flower queen of Maui.

I just went with my gut on this one.

I got this big-ass tattoo.

Hopefully, I beat the clock.

I know I can show a beautiful face.

I came to win this 100 grand and put my mom in the house, because we don't really have anywhere

right now.

There's a lot of pressure on me on top of being here.

30 minutes remaining, guys.

Steve's ready to build the team.

Yeah, he is.

I think if I was going to go into battle, Steve would be a good coach.

Yesterday, DJ stacked his team crazy.

He's going to be tough to beat.

Anthony is definitely going to be the zen master and try to vibe with his crew.

Definitely got some contrasting vibes.

It should be interesting.

Four, three, two, one.

That's it.

Machines down.

Time is up.

No more ink.

What do you think?

Awesome.

That's beautiful.

Yeah?

Yeah.

So if you want to take that and kind of check it out.

I technically did two tattoos, and I might have shot myself in the foot because there's way

more for the judges to critique.

I'm nervous.

Today was your last chance to show the coaches that you deserve to be on one of their teams.

There are three spots remaining on each team.

And based on your work, nine of you will earn a spot on a team, and six of you will be packing

your machines.

Let's see how you did.

Frank, let's start with you.

Big improvement, man.

I like the deep set eye.

I like the kind of upper pouty lip.

It gives her character.

Her face is pretty.

I think with the right coaching, you can make some moves, man.

Awesome.

Mike.

As beautiful as this tattoo is, it's probably the most inconsistent tattoo in the entire room.

Oh, I don't know.

Any of your lines here, there's a lot of variance.

If you follow the nose from her forehead, down her nose, down her lips, down her chin, there's

areas where it gets thicker, there's areas where it gets thinner.

I love the tattoo, but line work is going to send you home if you don't pick it up.

Rachel.

This outline is challenged in a lot of places.

Did anyone see this tattoo in person?

We're all looking at the picture.

That's all.

You came up and said it was solid to my face.

So you're a liar or you're an ass kisser?

Both.

Perfect.

Liar ain't ass kisser.

Nailed it.

Anybody in this room says that that line work right there is solid and good, they should leave

for you.

I thought I was taking a cool risk doing it on the stomach.

It's a cool risk, but it's a risk you have to win.

Tim.

The crook in the finger, there's one less knuckle joint than it should have.

But I like how strong and vivid this tattoo is.

I love the color play.

Solid tattoo, dude.

Coco.

This tattoo has a heavily unfinished look.

The black in the hair needs a little more.

The outline is not 100% finished.

I'm just mad myself for even making it that big.

It's hard to stay here with an unfinished tattoo.

Lil D.

Today, you definitely tried to do something a lot cleaner.

A lot of the style that you use here, it just seems like it needs to get amplified.

You can't whisper right now.

You got to scream.

Slow burn.

Another eagle that's got some crazy wonkiness to it.

This guy's definitely got two different feet.

It's not bulletproof solid.

Gary.

Why did you choose this style?

And what style are we talking about?

It's a little bit of all three to try to show some versatility.

I'll give you credit for the balls.

You went for it.

It's where the inconsistencies lie.

There's certain lines that don't touch.

They're going to slap you on the hand every time if you keep doing this stuff.

Jeremy.

Overall, you do a really nice tattoo.

But doing this much, it's like cramming an entire back piece into a bicep.

On the right team, get your energy under control.

Big competitor, man.

Thank you.

Lindsay.

You definitely captured the traditional style.

Black is very solid.

This is by far not the worst eagle we've seen.

I'll take it.

Rachel.

It's a very clean, very sticker-like tattoo.

I'm not going to be a fan of all that white.

I love white.

You should love yellow, because yellow is what it turns into.

You're opening the door that you might have to do this walk right out.

Sparks.

These tattoos are in a tricky spot, but your outline is very clean, very solid.

That's why I chose it.

For everybody else in the room that did an eagle, this is what an eagle beak looks like.

Caca, mother .

Fame.

The line quality is very strong.

You're shading solid.

Looking at how smooth the black and gray looks, it's very nice.

Kristen.

The critique I have for you, he's coloring this thing wall to wall.

These things need skin breaks.

If you would have went very soft black and gray, you'd have a winner.

Amanda.

You have a lot of really, really clean technical application.

The green on the rope, really bright, really solid.

I dig this one.

I'm going for you.

All right, now it's time to finalize the teams.

Coaches, today the power's in your hands.

Each of you has three spots remaining on your team.

You can pick whatever artist you want, but if more than one of you wants the same artist,

that artist gets to decide which team they want to be on.

All right, coaches, which of these artists do you want on your team?

Lindsey.

Step up, Lindsey.

Steve and DJ, do either of you want to challenge that?

I got some picks in mind, so I don't want to clutter that up.

I think her mind is made up.

Whatever I say, she'll probably argue me down.

So.

All right, Lindsey, congratulations.

You are on Team Anthony.

Awesome.

DJ, who do you want?

I'm going to go for Amanda.

Amanda, please step forward.

Steve and Anthony, do either of you challenge that decision?

I will.

You'll be an asset to any team.

And the last thing I would hate to see with these very opinionated, sometimes obnoxious people.

I need someone subdued on my team.

It starts with a drawing, and that's what we want.

I'm challenging this one, too.

You're a versatile artist.

We'd love to have you on our team.

What's it going to be?

I'm confident in my art style, so I'm going to go with Team Anthony.

He's a snake charmer.

I want to be on this team now.

His voice is calming as .

Steve, who do you choose?

Mike.

You're an awesome artist.

Love the style.

I don't want to see you get lost on the shuffle.

With guidance, I can make you better than what you are now.

I'll challenge it, too, man.

You're super strong.

The world is ours, man.

That's not the first name they called.

I didn't hear Mike on either team.

Ball's in your court, brother.

Anthony was my strategy from the beginning.

Team Anthony is my choice.

That means that Team Anthony is completely full.

I'm going to join your team, too, you silky mother .

Coaches, who do you pick?

Jeremy.

Jeremy.

I think I'll go with Steve.

We did seem to click throughout the tattoo.

Who are you guys going to pick next?

Fame.

Fame.

We're from the same area with a little bit of coaching.

He's another one that can go all the way to the end.

To make it through this competition is about versatility.

With all these versatile artists on this team, you can make it to the end.

Let's keep it loyal.

That's Connecticut.

Team Steve.

All right, guys, there are 10 artists remaining, but only four spots left.

Let's do it.

Frank.

Steve, do you challenge?

I only have one spot left.

Sorry, I just don't have the spot, man.

Frank, congratulations.

You are on team DJ.

All right, Steve, who do you choose?

Sparks.

DJ, you challenge that?

Yeah, I'm going to challenge that.

DJ.

Ooh.

I want somebody that cares about it still.

Hell yeah.

Steve, any thoughts?

None.

Good, good.

No thoughts from Steve.

Coaches, who do you choose?

Lil D.

I'm not going to challenge.

Lil D, congratulations.

You are on Team DJ.

There is one spot remaining on Team Steve.

I'm not trying to go out without a fight.

I've been tattooing 22 years, and I think I'll be a great asset to be on your team, man.

I've been tattooing 15 years.

I'm versatile, and could put down a good, solid tattoo.

I got a skill set, and I want to be a part of the team.

Take you guys to the end.

Steve, who's it going to be?

Big old Gary.

I like that he fought for it.

Yes.

That means

The rest of you do not have what it takes to be Ink Master.

I know I have way more tricks in my bag.

Not having the opportunity to show those tricks is like a swift kick in the nuts.

I am the dark horse.

And these people just it up and let me go.

Anybody that has the guts to come in here, get critiqued, they have what it takes to go out

there and be a great tattoo artist.

Keep doing what you do.

Never stop.

All the pressure was just too much for me.

You live or you learn.

Please head out.

OK, artists, congratulations on making a team.

Yeah, boys.

Coaches, not only are you here to coach a team, you'll also battle it out in a master's face

-off at the finale for $100,000.

The more artists from your team to get into the finale, the greater advantage you will have.

Because for each artist you coach to the end, you will earn the power to call a shot in the

master face-off.

is just beginning.

Good luck.

Yeah.

It's go time, babies.

Let's do this.

This season on Ink Master, Return of the Masters.

A lot of people are counting on you guys.

Coaches will lead their teams to war.

No pressure.

You just ain't there standing there.

Come on, help out.

Bro, everybody slow down for a second.

That attitude is .

We're not going to get anywhere doing that, bro.

We won't.

I don't draw like you.

I don't work like you.

There's your only mother that doesn't listen.

One by one, they'll be eliminated.

This thing is terrible.

No way.

I mean, coach, did you look at this on paper?

Until only the best artists remain.

You guys are poor losers, bro.

You don't know me.

You are a monster.

You're lying out your ass.

Earning a $100,000 prize.

Slip up one time.

I don't care how good you are.

Pack your .

Welcome to Ink Master.

And the title.

of Ink Master.