Reviewing the 2/10/11 episode of TNA.
10 Thoughts on TNA Impact
1. Gunner and Murphy ditched their security duds. I guess they are now considered equals with the rest of the depleted Immortal clan. Except in the promo image for their match at Against All Odds they have their security shirts on again. If you want to change their perception as fodder or red shirts or stormtroopers, TNA, then you have to change their look.
2. I wonder if the 2nd generation Dudley Boys will follow in their Father, Devon’s footsteps and become a tag team in TNA wrestling. They interfered in the 6-man tag team table match helping Devon put Bully Ray through a table. Now they’ve even been added to the match at the PPV. So far their body language and acting skills have got to step up, tho.
3. When the losing stipulation is actually something you want to see, then that doesn’t bode well for the face. Especially when it can make an upcoming possible horrible segment better. Unfortunately it makes the outcome of this Sunday’s Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett match too predictable. I think Jarrett will win this one by DQ(or dare I vomit by pin) and Kurt will have to “give away” Karen in March before Angle slamming Jeff on his wedding vow day. I don’t think we are fully vested in what it would mean to Kurt to have sole custody of his kids. Thus that stipulation doesn’t have the impact it would, no pun intended, if we seen Kurt punching walls or breaking down after seeing his kids “forced” to call Double J “Daddy Jeff”. Jeff Jarrett has transitioned from his Double M-A gimmick into a heel power couple with his wife, Karen. Still keeping with his cowardly ways, Jeff avoided Kurt Angle just enough during the Main Event tag team match to still want to see Kurt thrash him at Against All Odds. Since the feud has legs, it won’t end there.
Line(s) of the Night LON:Â On Sarita’s debuting cousin, Rosita
Taz-“She’s a little chilli pepper. Look at her.”
4. Rosita was very impressive in her TNA debut. Picture perfect moonsault which she used to pin Velvet Sky in the 8 Knockout tag team match. The match effectively debuted the newest Knockout as well as moved the Winter/Angelina Love/Sky BFF triangle along. Post match saw Mickie James be accused of being washed up/over the hill by Madison Rayne when Mickie called her out. This might not have been the best match to have right before the PPV as nothing really added to the PPV build up for the Knockouts title match until the in ring confrontation between Mickie and Madison.
5. Samoa Joe and The Pope were both being pushed to the moon by TNA at different points in their TNA careers. Now they are barely afterthoughts with very little TV time on the show. They have a match at the PPV and you’d barely know that. With a 2 hour show it is hardly enough time to effectively get every single star pushed, but perhaps we can reduce the Jarretts’ TV time just a tad to invest in these two stars. Same with RVD vs. Matt Hardy.
6. TNA Return #1: Hernandez. Hernandez had to return as a heel. The face side is just too stacked. He’ll immediately be plugged into a feud with Matt Morgan by the looks of it. Hernandez didn’t say too much, but looked slimmed down some. It’ll be vital for Hernandez’s progress and career for him to be able to cut effective promos and get himself over as a monster heel.
7. TNA Return #2: Suicide(Christopher Daniels). Suicide was involved in a hot storyline with Daniels being questioned by the Motor City Machine Guns and Lethal Consequences when last Daniels was involved with the character. While it’s good to see Daniels back with the company, Suicide the character needs more depth and possibly mic time or he’s no different than a faceless luchador.
8. The show was titled “Don’t Be Roode.” Robert Roode had some breakout moments with interaction with Jeff Jarrett and Kurt Angle. I’ve always thought that while Beer Money is awesome, that both Roode and James Storm have singles star potential. They have unique looks, charisma and the talent to succeed. It might come at the cost of Beer Money, but both of them will be needed as top singles stars the longer TNA is around. Kudos to Robert Roode for his breakout performance here on the mic.
9. Match of the Night:
AJ Styles & Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Hardy & Jeff Jarrett w/Karen Jarrett
The action was kept at a face pace most of the match and the crowd was buzzing and hot for it, especially when Kurt and Jeff Jarrett did finally square off in the ring, albeit so briefly. AJ did not show any signs of ring rust and was as fluid as ever. The finish with the spring board flying forearm to Jarrett was incredible. Great match and set up the cliche show ending brawl with everyone, but was effective in showcasing AJ being back in action and teasing Kurt vs. Jarrett more. Mr. Anderson vs. Matt Morgan was a solid match and showed the two have in ring chemistry, but the match was a back drop to reintroduce Hernandez as the new hired gun for Immortal as he and Jeff Hardy took out both men. Anderson retained and will face Hardy this Sunday.
10. Final Show Thoughts.
If there is no Mafia, anyone want to hedge bets on how long Scott Steiner will be around in TNA this go around? What will they call Steiner, Angle and Crimson if not the Mafia? S.A.C.? Will TNA bring back Ric Flair? If Flair can be as positive of an influence on tours like he is on camera then he would be invaluable. Flair can sell stories, has the necessary chemistry and charisma to interact with anyone and is perfect in the authority role. But if Ric does return, will he be by Fortune’s side or with Immortal? I’d still love to see Ric lead Wolfe, Magnus, Terry and Douglas Williams to battle Fortune. My picks for this Sunday’s Against All Odds PPV will be in the Round Table officially hosted by THE Kelly Floyd, who takes over for Raffi this month<Plug Plug>.
That is all.
M.C. Brown
You can find me on Twitter as
ShocXwavE
