10 Thoughts on… TNA Impact on Pop TV 05.17.2016 (Jeff Hardy vs. 3 Willows, Willow Unmasked, Tyrus vs. EC3, Drew Galloway vs. Bobby Lashley)

10 Thoughts, Reviews, Top Story

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1. The show kicks off with Willow cutting a wacky promo, but soon he is interrupted by Jeff Hardy. What the!?! He wanted to know who this Willow was, and it turned into a match that Jeff won very quickly. He went to unmask Willow but another Golden Willow attacked from behind. A third willow comes out and it’s Matt Hardy. They beat down Jeff.

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2. A new character Allie debuts, as Maria’s “Apprentice”. She has an encounter with Velvet Sky, setting up a match against Sienna where if Velvet lost, she is fired.

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3. Dixie Carter gives a serious promo setting up Drew Galloway vs. Bobby Lashley as a Lumberjack Match. Not a good promo.

4. Velvet Sky vs. Sienna is essentially a squash and I thought that was fitting. Good to see Sky really put over someone new on the way out and Sienna looks like a beast.

5. Mike Bennett comes to the ring with Maria and cuts a long promo. Bennett calls out Earl Hebner because he wants to beat a Hall of Famer. EC3 finally makes the save. Bennett escapes and then Tyrus attacks from behind, he is EC3’s next test. I like the old school storyline of a heel putting obstacles in the way of a face getting to him.

6. Tyrus vs. EC3 was solid. I really think Tyrus would do well as a monster in WWE. The Pope calls the Tongan Death Grip by Tyrus as reminiscent of the MONSTER MENG! YES! EC3 pulled it off, winning Last Mand Standing over Tyrus.

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7. The Helms Dynasty (Trevor Lee & Andrew Everett) vs. Eddie Edwards & DJ Z in an X division tag. Nice action but nothing too notable. Happy to see the X Division represented.

8. Dummy, YEAH! Eli Drake hosts the Facts of Life segment and as usual Drake DELIVERS. He is the best in TNA right now. “I’ve got enough tingle in my loins for this whole room.” He calls out Bram and they chat about the King of the Mountain title.

9. They did a bunch of video packages to build up to the title match main event and overall the effect was strong. The match came off like a big deal.

10. Drew Galloway vs. Bobby Lashley in a Lumberjack Match for the TNA Title. Ended up being a wild brawl that heavily involved the lumberjacks. Jeff and Matt Hardy brawled. Eli Drake attacked with his briefcase. Match broke down entirely. EC3 attacked Bennett. Lashley spears EC3. Claymore Kick by Drew on Lashley. Then Drew somersaults onto the lumberjacks on the floor, lands on his feet on the ramp, and… the match ends? The show ends? Huh?

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A much better show than last week, but the main event was a bit of a mess and ended without a finish at all. Very TNA. Still an enjoyable 2 hours.

Next week is EC3 vs. Matt Hardy, Grado vs. Al Snow (ugh) and Ultimate X.

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs