10 Thoughts on TNA IMPACT WRESTLING 12.29.11 – Gail Kim, Mickie James, Zema Ion, Anthony Nese, Magnus, Kurt Angle, RVD

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Reviewing the 12/29/11 episode of IMPACT WRESTLING…

1. Finally Sting addresses the VP of Knockouts situation and makes a big time marquee match between Gail Kim and Mickie James to main event the show. Sting mocking Madison Rayne was comical, all Knockouts looked stunning, Mickie really was looking fine when she came out in that dress and the match was a very pleasant surprise. Later in the show, the backstage Mickie comments really enhanced the rematch with her assessment of how the previous meeting went. I would have loved to hear from Gail as well especially given that it was the Main Event. They had time.

2. I think the term Widowmaker would be very appropriate as a nickname for Gunner. It’s been enough time since Barry Windham used it. I like the ambulance angle they are building with him. A much better slow build for the character rather than shoving him down our throats. This week Gunner with Ric Flair as his manager DDTed Douglas Williams on the cement floor.

3. Christy Hemme couldn’t look any better unless she was dressed as baby New Year.

4. The odd pairing of ODB and Eric Young is just crazy enough to work as they have some pretty good chemistry and entertaining segments. I think TNA has found a winning male/female combo here.

5. I’m not going to complain about the interference or DQ finishes in the marquee match ups because at the end of the day, the program is a hype vehicle whether if you watch it online or pay cable/satellite. The goal is to whet your appetite to see rematches between Kurt Angle vs. RVD and Gail Kim vs. Mickie James hopefully live or on PPV. That being said, the action that was delivered on this week’s program was solid and that’s all you can ask.

6. Move of the Night:

Anthony Nese’sGerman suplex off the top turnbuckle on Zema Ion

Sweet looking, but also nasty german while Nese hung from the top rope afterwards

7. Lines of the Night:

a. Bully Ray to Abyss

Bully Ray“We got you girls. You can’t get girls on your own. Look at you. Who would want to roll over in the morning and look at that(points at Abyss’s face)?”

lol. Bully has turned into one of the best promo characters out there.

b. Austin Aries on Zema Ion being in a Contract on a Pole match

A-Double“I do know for a fact that Zema Ion actually has some experience with a pole as he was a former exotic dancer. Let’s see if it works in his favor.”

c. Austin Aries and Taz on the X competitors having trouble climbing the pole for the contract

A-Double“Did they grease this pole or anything for this match?”

Taz(in response)“I don’t know nothing about greasing poles…”

d. Taz on ODB

Taz“You got ODB who’s well ya know…a Quasi-Woman.”

e. Mike Tenay“Spear by Eric Young after he disrobes….”

Oh, man. That was good one by Tenay. Taz was speechless. ha ha.

8. Notable Matches of the Night

Match 3
Best of 3 for the final spot in Genesis 4-Way match for X-Division Title

Contract on a Pole

Zema Ion vs. Anthony Nese

No doubt thanks to TNA agent Al Snow’s influence, both men made going for that contract/climbing the pole a priority throughout the match and I paid very close attention to that. Great job by the young men. Nese’s stock is raised and Ion is elevated going into the 4 way match. Great job.

Wild Card Tag Tournament Semi-finals

Samoa Joe and Magnus vs. ODB and Eric Young

Odd adversaries, but they made it work. The match while had it’s comedic moments, worked and elevated Joe and Magnus as they are building up to be the favorites to challenge Red, White and Blueprint, who may turn out to be heels depending on how they handle this. Magnus is a big boy, Joe is a beast so it makes sense to have them face the champs.

Kurt Angle vs. RVD(Rob Van Dam)

Short, but very good while it lasted. Kurt avoided a lot of the kicks which showed he had him scouted and was using his head. They gelled well in the ring and makes it long overdue for a feud between them. The comments from RVD over James Storm’s interference(superkick KOing Angle to DQ Rob) should lead to an angle, no pun intended, as RVD can definitely be better utilized if they can inspire him and give him some meaty match ups to work with. It might be with James Storm, though, unless they can make it a three way with RVD and Angle being involved. RVD vs. Angle is a win for me as a fan every time.

Knockouts Title Match

Tag Team Champion and Knockouts Champion Gail Kim vs. Mickie James

This was a very entertaining, hard fought and intense Ladies match that really hammered home why I love these two Knockouts. The interference sucked, but I know there is another PPV match that should be on the way featuring these two ladies and if it resembles anything like this match, then a clean finish would make it a classic. Definitely want to see more. On a sidetone with Rayne’s interference, perhaps Sting needs to do a better job keeping his eye on Madison as he vowed earlier when he stripped her of her imaginary Knockout Power she thought she inherited from Karen last week.

9.  Final Show Thoughts:

There were four very good match ups this week which should make fans happy. I have no complaints from what was delivered. It did what a show is supposed to do. The other segments kept me entertained and the show flowed well. Anytime there is a Knockouts Main Event, I applaud TNA for doing so since it shows the respect they have for Womens’ Wrestling and that they deserve their due. Mickie and Gail did not disappoint. Bobby Roode was scaled back a little, but had a very good segment with his friend where he preceded to beat him down before Hardy made the save. That kept focus on the title, even if it wasn’t the centerpiece of the show. Great job all around and probably one of the better Impacts of the year and a nice way for TNA to finish out 2011. Hope this is a sign for more to come. The skeptics will continue to have fun with it, but I go into each show with an open mind and I have been enjoying TNA a lot more thanks to the consistency in quality Impacts these past few weeks.

10. IMPACT PLAYERs of the WEEK: 

Gail Kim, Mickie James, Zema Ion, Anthony Nese, Magnus, Kurt Angle, RVD

Gail and Mickie shined, Zema earned his contract, Nese really broke out in the best of three matches, Magnus to his credit, sold well for a woman then looked vicious when he had to which helped and Angle/RVD always delivers even in short order here.

That is all.

M.C. Brown

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