Reviewing the 5/26/11 episode of IMPACT Wrestling…
1. There is a reason why piledrivers are not done as frequent as they were in the past. So I am in total agreement with them being banned in The E or anywhere for that matter. I think while still cool looking, the risk outweighs the reward. Even if a wrestler realizes the risks, it is irresponsible of TNA to allow them to be used. What makes it stranger is that Taz talks of a legit injury he suffered from a spiked piledriver that ended his career. With that knowledge, why on earth would TNA allow this? That being said if they are going to the lengths to use piledrivers in a story/feud between Tommy Dreamer and AJ Styles, then after Daniels and AJ used the spiked one on Dreamer in their tag match against Dreamer and Bully Ray, then I fully expect Tommy to come out really selling a neck injury and add a really intense element to this feud. Tommy should be on the verge of retirement, demand an apology and really make Daniels and AJ feel like crap for weeks if they want to get mileage and relevance out of this feud. It should lead to Dreamer attacking them further after a mock retirement speech because of it. Perhaps that might even lead to TNA/The Network to an on-air banning of the move officially before that. If done in that context and that alone, then I can be okay with what they did this week.
2. Beer Money, in a bit of a stretched out segment with Eric Bischoff rambling in his office to them about fulfilling their 30 day title defense, may have to forfeit the belts before the next PPV due to the injury forced on Bobby Roode at the hands of Immortal last week. Unless Bischoff forces Chris Harris to team with James Storm to defend them which seemed to be where I thought Bischoff was leading in his thoughts. That could cause friction between the team if Harris and Storm become too successful as Roode recovers. Although I’m not sure TNA is going that route, that might be the best possible use they could have for Harris if they were to keep him around. Of course having video package reminders of the importance and relevance of America’s Most Wanted would help bring newer TNA fans up to speed on how much AMW meant to TNA in it’s early existence.
3. Sooner rather than later I expect IMPACT WRESTLING to get a TV-MA rating with all of the extreme language, violence and sexual references. And that’s all in the first half hour of the show. In the first half hour we had a spiked piledriver, the terms “dick and asshole” used and ODB talking about sexual positions and how Velvet Sky slept her way to the top calling her a “whore”. Now granted it does make TNA unique compared to the top Televised promotion out there which is PG, it does make me wonder how far they’ll push the envelope. I will say that does make watching the show very intriguing, but maybe not the show you’d want to sit down with a child to watch if you are a parent.
4. The finish of the Jeff Jarrett vs. Matt Morgan match was completely ridiculous. Matt Morgan had Jeff Jarrett pinned after the Carbon Footprint and Karen Jarrett blatantly tripped Earl Hebner with her crutch during the pin attempt. Now unless this was a No DQ match, Jeff should have been disqualified immediately. While the end with Steiner interfering furthered that feud and made Matt look strong, the near fall with Jeff using the crutch to Morgan’s throat would have been a much more clever finish and showed that the Jarretts were sneaky, low down and dirty players as the ref was out of the way and Double J did it quick enough to look convincing and devastating at the same time. Steiner could have just as easily attacked Morgan in a backstage segment and the used finish in all of it’s lack of logic could have been avoided.
5. At some point wouldn’t you think Angelina Love would have some friends in the company that actually would be concerned for her safety, health and well being after allowing her to be controlled by Winter for months now? Now I can buy it if it is revealed that Angelina told her friends she knew what she was doing and allowed Winter to think she was in control while she found out what she was really after. That would make sense. But if not, then after this storyline, which is a stretch in and of itself, you’d have to think you’d have a furious, alone and ostracized Angelina Love who’d have to believe that everyone abandoned her in her time of most need. I mean if Velvet truly believed Winter was controlling her, why would she give up on her best friend? Angelina Love still hypnotized by Winter evidently is trained to go crazy when she sees Winter suffering or bleeding as she viciously attacked Mickie James after she got the win over Winter evidently busting Winter open in the mouth in the process. It looks like Mickie will be defending against Angelina Love soon so it’s doubtful she’ll break free from Winter at least until after a feud with Mickie.
6. As goofy as Eric Young is and the storyline with Gunner in convincing him that he’d lay down for him ala Hulk Hogan vs. Kevin Nash from the infamous “Fingerpoke of Doom” from January 4th 1999 WCW Nitro , I have to admit it was entertaining in how it was done and played out. EY swerved Gunner and got him in a small package to become the official TV Champion. Considering Eric Young at times is involved in a lot of great TV moments, this is an appropriate title for him to hold. It also gives someone for the ultra serious and intense Gunner to play off of. Gunner reminds me of William Forsythe. Specifically the hard ass overnight boss from the 1991 movie Career Opportunities which starred a very young and very hot Jennifer Connelly.
7. Good to see The Pope return to IMPACT WRESTLING as XPlosion was referenced and highlights shown from his brewing feud with Brother Devon. Pope was shown to be messing with Devon’s family at ringside. If after this feud, Brother Devon brings back his preacher gimmick from his brief WWE singles run, I can see him and Pope making a run as a tag team. It might give them both some meaningful things to do and keep them relevant on TV.
8. Line of the Night:
a. To Disco Inferno on the Scorpion Sitdown segment mocking Sting
Ken Anderson(dressed as old school Sting)-“You were there, man. You…you…not only did you see the bad Vanilla Ice flat top, and the crappy clown makeup and the Liberace outfits…You saw it all man. You were there.”
9. Match of the Night:
Kurt Angle vs. Rob Van Dam
TNA did a great job hyping this match and treating it like the big deal it was. Indeed this was a dream match for TNA and wrestling fans. Early on RVD was busted open in the mouth almost as a receipt to RVD when Rob knocked out Abyss’ teeth on Impact. The Jarretts even though storyline were responsible for making this match, were a bit distracting on commentary and it took away from some of my enjoyment of this match. The match up stands alone as a Main Event of any program and could headline any PPV in my opinion. Though, I realize the thought by TNA that it was a necessity to have the Jarretts out there to promote the Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett match at Slammiversary. I’ll take them on commentary vs. them interfering in the match any day of the week. Kurt won clean with the Angle Slam after avoiding the Five Star Frog Splash. Obviously at a PPV, the Angle Slam doubtfully would be enough to get the job done against RVD, but unfortunately they aren’t going to let this match go on as long as I’d like it to. I enjoyed the match immensely and definitely one of the best matches on IMPACT WRESTLING in a while if not one of the best they’ve had on the program all year. Hopefully the next encounter between the two takes place on a PPV with more time. I’d love to see these two tear the house down. With enough time, I have no doubt they would, too.
10. Final Show Thoughts:
I missed seeing the Samoa Joe vs. Crimson feud progess this week as it’s been one of the more intriguing feuds of late. Neither one showed up on IMPACT WRESTLING this week. Ken Anderson dressed up as old school WCW Sting again this week to host a Sting sit-down segment where he brought out Disco Inferno from WCW. As Disco sassed him and stood up to him, Mr. Anderson bloodied him with his mic until the real Sting made the save. Kazarian got some measure of revenge attacking Abyss before his X-Division Title defense against Brian Kendrick. Unfortunately, it was not enough as Abyss defeated Kendrick to retain the title so possibly Abyss may hold the title all the way up to the Destination X PPV in July. Mick Foley promoted and announced the PPV with his Network influence in a segment with Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff, who thankfully were kept to a minimum this week. Usually the show is much better off when they are used sparingly. Overall, the show was better than last week, obviously due to the main event, but I don’t think TNA has hit the gear they really need to in order to really show us wrestling matters. Sure, they delivered a hell of a main event for free, but the focus has to be on wrestling. Of course this show has to promote PPV matches. It’s why it’s here, but on some level they have to reach a good balance. Gone should be the days of super long mic rattling segments. If things are going to be cut, then TNA needs to get these segments, specifically ones with Hogan, Bischoff and the Jarretts down to a minimum so we aren’t suffering through their ramblings. If used right, obviously they have value, but the focus has to be on building up stars. It’s good to see the X-Division getting a rub from this and Kendrick, even in a losing effort seemed to be elevated. Now, if only they can do the same for Amazing Red and Gen Me. Red either in a team with a talker or a manager or Gen Me with a valet, I didn’t mind the Tara pairing, might do wonders for their careers. They all have tremendous moves to showcase if given the chance. Finally, it was nice to see TNA acknowledge Macho Man’s passing with the graphic before the show. Randy will truly be missed. I often felt TNA missed the boat on not having their own Hall of Fame years earlier inducting Macho Man in as one of their first inductees. And by Hall of Fame I don’t mean HOF of just TNA. WWE does it for wrestling history. TNA can do the same inducting such legends like Bob Backlund, Bruno Sammartino or Randy Savage, who for reasons I don’t have to reveal here, have not been inducted in WWE’s version yet, should still be honored. TNA could have done a good thing starting it while Randy was still alive to give him an acceptance speech. They can still do a good thing honoring his memory now as their first inductee in a wrestling hall of fame sponsored by the promotion.
IMPACT PLAYERS of the WEEK:
RVD & Kurt Angle
Awesome match and they delivered with the time given. Good move by IMPACT WRESTLING choosing these two as flag bearers for their “Wrestling Matters” campaign.
That is all.
M.C. Brown
You can find me on Twitter as
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