Reviewing the 1/27/11 episode of TNA.
10 Thoughts on TNA Impact
1. I’ve never seen someone flip over the top rope right into a shimmy salsa dance until Sarita did it on this episode. Hilarious.
Line(s) of the Night LON:Â Taz on the Beautiful People’s ring entrance.
Taz-“There’s a raccoon running rampant somewhere.”
2. Winter’s tantrum when Angelina tagged with Velvet was the first sign of potential jealous rage. I could actually picture Winter sticking her head through the curtain with an angry jealous look on her face during the BP’s entrance. Winter and Velvet Sky end up brawling in the ring which leads to the banshee, Winter, snapping and Angelina having to make the save for her BFF.
3. With a lot of stars, it becomes difficult to get everyone TV time, let alone promo time. TNA utilized old school WWF superstars insert vignettes during the wrestlers’ entrance to help sell the 3 way as well as get their characters over. Good to see this back in use on a wrestling program again.
4. TNA put together an excellent video package chronicling Ken Anderson’s journey to the TNA World Heavyweight Title and the Dixie Carter vs. Hulk Hogan feud. TNA may have an uphill climb with a lot of wrestling fans, but if they continue the string of excellent video production, they are going to not only inform the fans of what’s going on, but possibly win over some of those fans with these very well produced packages.
5. It wasn’t long ago that Mr. Ken GREEN BAY PACKER Anderson was involved in a brutal feud with PITTSBURGH STEELER Pennsylvania’s own Kurt Angle.
6. It really had to hurt Matt Cold Blood Hardy to have his first week in TNA span the course of a month. No doubt Hardy is working his tail off in the gym to get back into playing shape again, but he was exposed this past month and has no one to blame but himself. If there was any inkling he was going to be signed by TNA, he should have got into the best condition he could to debut for his new employer. By contrast, Kurt Angle was in tremendous shape in his return match after a three month lay off.
7. Crimson, while his time in the match was short showed good fire and intensity in his first main event bout tag teaming with Kurt Angle against Immortal.
LON: After Jeff Jarrett pinned Kurt Angle to win the lopsided handicap match
Mike Tenay-“Aw, what a bunch of bullshit(bleeped).”
Taz-“Well, maybe the person that Kurt was talking to got stuck in traffic or something.”
8. Give it to TNA to end the lackluster show with a bang. I’ll admit I did read the spoiler weeks ago, but this played out much better than on paper. With Kurt, Crimson, Steiner and possibly Morgan on the team, the Mafia looks like a very formidable foe for Immortal. Steiner was livid and intense in his return as was Flair’s response which with the coat throwing tantrum on the ramp was quite funny. I’m sure the TNA talent got a taste of the real thing overseas.
9. Match of the Night:
X-Division 3-way Qualifying Match
Amazing Red vs. Max Buck w/ Jeremy Buck vs. Chris Sabin
Fast paced and full of flashy moves and hard hitting action. The action didn’t let up as Kazarian also was a guest commentator to further hone his mic skills. Jeremy Buck’s interference finally helped his brother win this one to take spot #1 in the upcoming Against All Odds 3-Way #1 contender’s match for the X-Division title. Red performed well and it was great to see him back in X-Division action. Sabin was solid as usual.
10. Final Show Thoughts
The stage is set for a big Impact next week and TNA needs it. The show ended strong, but the filler and meat of the show seemed stagnant at times. TNA needs to step it up next week and come out firing with a huge show. Some stories progressed like the Winter/Beautiful People story and the Immortal vs. Mafia “They”, but I’m still not feeling The Pope’s turn. Anderson vs. The Hardys felt like it could have been better, too. Eric Young and the real TNA belt returned, but Anderson hasn’t retrieved it yet. Perhaps after his rematch with Jeff Hardy next week. We can only hope.
That is all.
M.C. Brown
You can find me on Twitter as
ShocXwavE
