Exactly what is moving the show to Thursdays going to accomplish? It’s at the same time, and still only an hour, right? Those are the focal points that make it what it is. It’s still going to be crammed matches due to time constraints. I actually think Saturday might have the edge because most people have to work during the weekdays (Thursdays) and might not be able to stay up until midnight on a Thursday.
Hey, your guess is as good as mine.
The NeelDown iMPACT Zone
– Hosts are Mike Tenay & Don West
– From Orlando, Florida
Chris Daniels v. Samoa Joe – X Division Championship
We tune into this one already 8 minutes in progress due to time constraints. The first part was shown on the website I think, but oh well. Daniels already has a semi crimson mask so Joe BITES his head, for good measure. Shark Boy must be making quite an impact on the whole roster. Ha, I get me sometimes. The powerful knee gets two for Joe. High knee and more usual stuff by Joe including an enzigiri. Daniels is finally able to dragon screw the knee but gets slammed down. This Joe domination for nine minutes isn’t exactly what I was expecting for the titanic debut. Joe gets a powerbomb after commercials for two. Daniels escapes the STF and gets a pair of enzigiris and single-arm DDT, then a jawbreaker. Best Flying Elbow Ever gets two. Ha, there I go again. Top rope ranna adds two. Joe misses a senton but gets a powerslam for two. Daniels manages to back suplex him, but it only gets two. STO and then the BME hit, but only for two. They battle up top and Joe grabs him and nails the Island Driver, giving him is second X title. Looked pretty standard *** ish from the parts we saw.
Winner: Samoa Joe
– Middle-aged Sting does a cheesy promo like he used to do. Lockdown actually draws a “viewer discretion advised” warning. Ooh, cage! Blood!!
– Christian interview about the stalking of Denise, which really doesn’t add any more relevance to this filler title match, even though they think it does.
America’s Most Worthless v. Team 3-Dead – Street Fight
This is non-title, so you’d think the Dudleyz would have to go over. AMW get sandwiched and tosses to start. Meanwhile Gail and that other stupid blonde bimbo provide some distraction for AMW to attack. JUICED UP D’VON gets the annual double clothesline getting the hot tag to Bubba which leads a brawl into the crowd. Back to the ring where the Wazzup gets broken up and Storm gets the superkick on JUICED UP D’VON, but gets tossed by Bubba. Trash can shot on Bubba gets two. Death Sentence gets broken up, 3D hits but Petey Williams runs out and takes out Big Slick Johnson. The rest of the Ay-ers attack, and Matt Hyson aka Spike Dudley makes his debut by making the save and getting the Acid Drop. Well, I guess that will get him out of that career slump. Okay, not really. Match looked okay until the screwy finish. **1/2
Winner: No Contest
– So how about [Adult Swim] resurrecting Saved By The Bell, huh?
– Is that a tie die psychedelic Jimi Hendrix Experience shirt Jarrett is wearing? He puts Young in the match with Sting tonight. Well, looks like this one will go just like all of Young’s matches.
Sting v. Erik Young
The petrified Young tries walking to start, but gets held back by D’Amore. Sting no sells some chops and punches and tosses him, then gets a sloppy crossbody. Stinger Slop to the railing misses, giving Young some time to get some stomps in over commercials. Sting comes back with the Scorpian Death Drop though, but only for two!!! Just kidding, that ends it. I know this was marketed as a huge TV debut for Sting in over five years, but why couldn’t it at least be something watchable? 1/4*
Winner: Sting
– Afterwards, Jarrett and Sting’s armies to battle. Sting announces his army will be all the babyfaces who don’t have a spot on the PPV, AJ Styles, Rhino, and Ron Killings. They are all former NWA Champions, which wasn’t mentioned, but I always inform.
End of show.
The NeelDown: What they wanted to accomplish on this Thursday debut was Joe regaining the X title, Sting’s first TV debut in over 5 years, and Sting naming his army, which they did. So, they didn’t do too bad of a job doing that in the short time. Not too bad of a debut on the new day.
