Reviewing the 2/16/12 episode of IMPACT WRESTLING…
1. TNA gave a scary look at Jesse Sorensen’s very real injury at the PPV, and with class wished him well and a speedy recovery. You can definitely see it was on the mind of the wrestlers on this week’s show as a couple of the outside diving spots, the wrestlers almost parted to the side to take it differently.
2. I guess 15 years was long enough in TNA’s eyes to redo the WWE Summerslam 1997 finish where Bret “Hitman” Hart(Bobby Roode) spit on Shawn Michaels(Sting) in order to goad Michaels(Sting) into the accidental shot on his opponent, Undertaker(Jeff Hardy).
3. The Brandon Jacobs segment played out very nicely, but TNA has to learn to not put a microphone in front of the celebrity if he’s going to stumble or fumble, no pun intended, over his words. Let them do the segment, let it play out and maybe tease something for next week.The little backstage segment ran a bit too long and awkward and because of that made it seem contrived announcing something for next week already when we don’t know what Bully’s response is yet.
4. I liked how Madison Rayne outsmarted the other knockouts, yes, screwing over Velvet Sky who has been looking better and stronger as of late, but really, who does TNA expect the fans to cheer for in this feud, Gail Kim or Madison? Would it be wise to attempt a Mickie James turn first on ODB and then eventually challenging a face Gail Kim for the Knockouts title in a few months? It could work and get more mileage and great matches out of the two best women wrestlers in the company.
5. Kurt Angle returned to cost Jeff Hardy his match up with Bobby Roode. I think this is an excellent move to get Jeff out of the title picture for a bit as well as give Kurt a credible opponent to have great matches with. If they weren’t going to utilize Rob Van Dam in this capacity before he left, then having Kurt feud with Jeff is the next best thing.
6. Move of the Night:
Jeff Hardy’s– Poetry in Motion off the outside steps onto Bobby Roode leaning against the guardrail.
Last time Jeff viciously crashed and burned. This time he nails it and it was a great moment in the match up.
7. Lines of the Night:
a. During the Knockouts #1 Contenders Battle Royal
Taz – “ODB’s built like a small man…”
Mike Tenay – “…I’ve never seen a man built like ODB”
8. Match of the Night
World Heavyweight Title Match
NO DQ NO TIME LIMIT
CHAMPION Bobby Roode vs. Jeff Hardy
Great match to start the show, which after the set up by Sting with Bobby Roode was given a lot of time to play the story out and brawl throughout the Impact Zone. Kurt Angle made the surprise appearance to take out Jeff by throwing him into the steps and this was the way to get both men to their next feuds. Entertaining match and end to this feud…for now.
9. Final Show Thoughts:
Samoa Joe and Magnus gave an interview on winning the titles with an announcement of a Crimson/Matt Morgan rematch next week, which might give an official place for Crimson to turn on Morgan. I think finally Immortal came across as a little more high class and less of a bunch of scrubs by keeping the faction to simply Eric Bischoff, Gunner, Ric Flair and the returning vivacious Chelsea. So glad to see her return. She is smoking. The segment was a gloating segment but played out very nice. Eric Young’s comedy bit was that he forgot Valentine’s Day and serenaded ODB with an ODE to ODB which was actually pretty funny, so funny I think ODB couldn’t even keep a straight face during it. Good stuff. The X-Division tag match was a nice way to show the oneups-manship between Zema Ion and Austin Aries with Zema stealing the win from a shocked Aries. Looks like even though currently they are both heels this could be entertaining. To close the show Bobby Roode kicks Sting in the nuts and bloodies him after his announcement of the Lockdown Main Event of Bobby Roode and Cowboy James Storm who defeated Bully Ray before the Jacobs segment. Sooner or later Storm is going to have Roode’s number and justice might be coming to Lockdown.
10. IMPACT PLAYERs of the WEEK:
Bobby Roode, Jeff Hardy, Cowboy James Storm, Brandon Jacobs, Kurt Angle
Roode looked strong in viciousness and in keeping his title, Jeff was screwed again this time by Kurt, but had a strong showing, Cowboy became #1 contender and Jacobs gave TNA some Super Bowl rub.
That is all.
M.C. Brown
You can find me on Twitter as
ShocXwavE
