It’s been years, but let’s be honest: nothing quite hit like the chaotic energy of Ink Master Season Nine.
Spike TV (remember that?) decided to pivot from individual ego-clashes to a "Shop Wars" format. It wasn't just about one guy or girl claiming the title; it was about the reputation of entire studios. The stakes felt massive. You had the OGs returning, the "newbie" alliance forming, and enough drama to fill a dozen sketchbooks.
If you ask any tattoo nerd about this season, you’ll likely hear the same thing: it was DJ Tambe's world, and everyone else was just living in it. But the road to that finale was anything but predictable.
The Shop Wars Concept: Genius or Just Messy?
The premise was basically a tag-team wrestling match but with needles and permanent skin decisions. For the first time, 18 shops from across America competed for a cool $200,000 and the inaugural title of "Master Shop."
It changed the strategy. Instead of just out-tattooing the person next to you, you had to hope your partner didn't choke. We saw some legendary veterans return, like Cleen Rock One (because apparently, you can't have Ink Master without him) and Christian Buckingham.
But here’s what most people forget: the show started with nine new shops and slowly dripped in the "veteran" shops as the weeks went on. It was a brutal way to structure it. The newbies had to survive several rounds of elimination just to get the privilege of being stomped on by industry icons. It created an immediate us-vs-them mentality.
The Rise and Dominance of Old Town Ink
When DJ Tambe and Bubba Irwin walked through those doors representing Old Town Ink, the energy shifted. Bubba had been on the show before (Season 4) and, frankly, hadn't done great. People were skeptical. Was he just riding DJ’s coattails?
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Honestly, early on, it kinda looked that way. DJ is a technical wizard—the kind of guy who can pull a perfect line while sleeping. But as the season progressed, Bubba really stepped up. Their synergy became their superpower. While other shops were screaming at each other during the 35-hour master canvases, DJ and Bubba were locked in.
Their "Pearl Harbor" scene in Episode 5 is still cited by fans as one of the most technical pieces ever tattooed on reality TV. It wasn't just a tattoo; it was a composition lesson. When they eventually won the whole thing, it felt inevitable, but the journey was still a masterclass in collaboration.
Why the "Newbie Alliance" Failed
One of the most entertaining—and frustrating—parts of Ink Master Season Nine was the alliance between the newer shops.
Tired of getting bullied by the returning veterans, shops like Allegory Arts and Artistic Skin Designs tried to band together to give the vets the hardest canvases. It was a classic "strength in numbers" move.
- The Problem: You can't politick your way out of a bad tattoo.
- The Result: The veterans were veterans for a reason. They could handle the "sh***y" canvases.
Watching Aaron Is and Cleen Rock One (Golden Skull Tattoo) laugh off the sabotages was peak entertainment. The alliance basically crumbled because, at the end of the day, the judges (Oliver Peck and Chris Núñez) only cared about what was on the skin. You could be the nicest person in the house, but if your linework looked like a wet noodle, you were gone.
The Tragedy of Unkindness Art
If there is one "what if" from this season, it’s Erin Chance.
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Representing Unkindness Art alongside Doom Kitten, Erin was arguably the most talented artist in the building not named DJ Tambe. Her illustrative style was breathtaking. She did a deer-girl piece and a "Demon Girl" that were legitimately some of the best tattoos in the history of the franchise.
But the Shop Wars format was her undoing. While she was a powerhouse, Doom Kitten struggled to keep up with the technical demands of the competition. It’s a common fan debate: if Erin had been in a solo season, would she have won? Most people say yes. Her elimination was a heartbreaker for anyone who values pure artistry over reality TV drama.
The Finale: A Battle of Back Pieces
The live finale came down to three shops:
- Old Town Ink (DJ & Bubba)
- Black Cobra Tattoos (Matt O'Baugh & Katie McGowan)
- Basilica Tattoo (Christian Buckingham & Noelin Wheeler)
They had to produce two massive tattoos—one 6-hour live piece and a 35-hour back piece.
Katie McGowan (from Black Cobra) pulled off a mandala during the live portion that was so clean it looked like a sticker. It actually won the fan vote. But the back pieces were where the "Master Shop" title was truly decided.
Old Town Ink produced a black-and-grey realistic portrait and a Japanese-inspired dragon. The dragon had some anatomical issues—Núñez was his usual picky self about that—but the application was so flawless that they couldn't deny it. They beat out Black Cobra’s massive black-and-grey goddess piece and Basilica's darker, macabre imagery.
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Real Insights for Tattoo Fans
Looking back at Ink Master Season Nine, the season serves as a time capsule for where tattooing was in 2017.
It was the transition point where "reality TV drama" started to take a backseat to "impossible technical feats." If you're a fan of the show or a prospective artist, there are a few things you can actually learn from rewatching this specific run.
First, versatility is everything. Shops like Think Before You Ink (Made Rich and DTat) struggled because they were too boxed into one style. Second, partnership matters. DJ and Bubba won because they checked their egos at the door and worked as a single unit.
If you’re looking to dive back into the series, Season 9 is arguably the most "watchable" because the talent floor was so high. You weren't just watching amateurs struggle; you were watching some of the best in the world try to out-flex each other.
How to Apply These Lessons Today:
If you're an artist or even just a collector, take note of the "legibility" debate that dominated this season. A tattoo can be beautiful, but if it doesn't "read" from across the room (a huge Nunez talking point), it’s not a successful tattoo.
For those looking to get their own large-scale work, the 35-hour masterpieces from this season show exactly why you shouldn't rush the process. Quality takes time, and even the "masters" have to labor over the details to get that 24-carat finish.
Check out the portfolios of the winners today; both DJ Tambe and Bubba Irwin have continued to dominate the industry, proving that their win wasn't just a fluke of TV editing but a reflection of genuine, world-class skill.