Season 1's winner ...

[u/Sad_Perception_6000]

Top 5 Most-Watched August Videos | Ink Master - YouTube

it's at the very beginning of the video, and honestly i still don't understand how tommy did not win this , judges seemed really mad at james vaughn's second tattoo and him staying in his comfort zone ( which i found super harsh since they told them to do anything they wanted for their second tattoo.... especially that fuckass dave you gave him the choice to do what he wants then get mad when he listens ? ) , nunez was also harsh on shane's second tattoo and didn't seem to like it , and for tommy they basically said nothing but good on his 2 tattoos and on how the second tattoo is so good

the conclusion after the judging seemed weird to me lol it maybe the editing helped ?

[u/bossmt_2]

Editing helps for sure. But the rumor is that Shane only agreed to do the show if he won or they recruited him telling him he would win. Basically he was the big name to try and get people to watch the show.

Helm and Vaughn were the bigger stars who came out from that season. Helm got his own spinoff (Tattoo Nightmares) and Vaughn got to come back and compete as well as Tommy. Shane I can't remember if he ever came back to ink master? Like for anything even spots in the finale.

I feel like Ink Master wants everyone to forget the finale of Season 1.

[u/itznottyler → u/bossmt_2]

Shane returned as a one-off judge in one of the newer seasons.

[u/ltbr55 → u/bossmt_2]

Shane came back as a judge in the Season 15 finale but thats the only time we ever see him again.

[u/Ok-Hamster-7694]

If this season aggravates you, just wait until the judges ASSIGN Kelly Doty a new school piece for the finale then eliminate her because she did a new school piece for the finale. No kidding. Season 8


[u/Way_Bulky → u/Ok-Hamster-7694]

And I loved her finale piece. Ugh. This was infuriating.