Reviewing the 8/24/11 episode of IMPACT WRESTLING…
1. Ric Flair was scaled back down this week. Thank you. Not sure what he was smoking off camera last week. When Ric Flair got excited this week, it was very believable and intense dropping some censored words on the Stinger and making for a lot better segment and exchange than what was delivered last week among the insanity and drunken like babble. What I want to know is when is Flair going to fight Sting? Are they going to announce it for No Surrender? Sting basically said he will be facing Hulk Hogan at BFG, looking past Ric Flair much to his chagrin as Hulk was worried in the ring. But for that to happen Sting has to beat Flair. Why not announce it for No Surrender already? It still has a big enough value to be PPV caliber.
2. If the opening segment once Immortal showed up lasted any longer it would have been even more ridiculous. With Kurt Angle cutting of Bully Ray and threatening them and especially Jeff Jarrett(who why he and Karen would even risk being in the ring with Kurt I have no idea) not to interfere with his match with Crimson, perhaps the story was being established that Kurt was not affiliated with Immortal, hopefully more than just not a member that doesn’t want his buddies interfering. Kurt by no means should be buddies with any of them. In fact Kurt really shouldn’t be hanging with their leader Hogan and especially not Immortal given their history. They seem to be keeping Kurt on his own, especially by what happened near the end of the show as well. That is a good thing even if how he decides to gang up on people with makes no sense.
3. If not trained to expect some ridiculousness in wrestling, I’d be really confused on what TNA is doing with ODB and Jackie. They can’t interfere or attack babyfaces in fear of raising the ire of Eric Bischoff but they can do that to heels? Isn’t Bischoff a heel? Why would he care if they are making an Impact either way? It looks like the duo officially aligned themselves with Velvet Sky this week helping her secure the victory in the Six Knockout Tag match. At least ODB’s mannerisms towards Velvet’s entrance were entertaining.
4. So Robbie E. dumped Cookie for Rob Terry? Robbie petitioned big Rob for a chance to be his bouncer(bodyguard). Terry said he’d think about it. Not sure how long they are going to keep beating the dead horse that is Rob Terry. Right now, I’d trade those two in a heartbeat just to have Cookie back(who just left the promotion this week). Cookie aka Becky Bayless wanted to wrestle. Why didn’t they let her?
5. Certainly no offense to mentally challenged individuals but that is exactly what Mr. Anderson looked like when he attacked Immortal. The whole segment was not entertaining at all. I’ve seen plenty of superstar “returns” but this was among the worst. In fact it started pretty bad right off the bat as Gunner attacked Anderson as he came into the ring not selling anything.
6. Â Move of the Night:
Samoa Joe’s leg breaker on Crimson. Joe to end the show, draped a board over Crimson’s already hurt leg on some steel steps of a trailer then preceded to jump on it from a higher step, presumably as Joe said, “breaking” Crimson’s leg. I watched it a couple of times. Looked dangerous and visually vicious. Good job there by the camera crew and editing showing this from behind. Joe attacked the camera man to end the show. Way to go, Joe!
7. Line of the Night:
a. Ric Flair to Sting
Ric Flair– “Brother I was crazy when you were still sucking your mother’s tit<bleeped>.”
8. Notable Matches of the Night
Non-Title Match
World Champion Kurt Angle vs. Crimson
About as best you are going to get from a Crimson match at this point. The only way a young wrestler is going to get better is to be tested by the best in the business right now. The match had it’s moments. The match had no finish as Samoa Joe interfered yet again to attack Crimson. Kurt Angle allowed Joe to finish attacking Crimson after the match. Crimson bounced back to run off Joe, but at the end of the show, Joe got his revenge(see move of the night). I do wonder if Kurt wants to eliminate all the young talent coming in, why not join Joe in the attack on Crimson and eliminate him once and for all? Joe isn’t a member of Jarrett’s Immortal, so it would be no harm to his pride in helping him. Unless Kurt wants to take out guys by himself, maybe it is pride. If Kurt helped Hogan with Sting, why not help here? Unless Kurt only will accept help on beating up veterans. I’m trying, people. I really am. Of course what it really was for, is storyline I’m sure of Joe vs. Crimson II while Kurt faces the winner of the #1 Contender at No Surrender, but that does leave a question mark logic wise of Kurt’s true agenda and TNA yet again racks my brain with inconsistent logic here.
RVDÂ vs. The Pope
Very short match up, but entertaining for what it was including the sky high monkey flip Pope took from RVD. The match actually ended when RVD made Pope tap to the surfboard. I think that is a first time I’ve ever seen a match end with that move. RVD gained 10 points in the tournament with a submission win. Samoa Joe attacked Pope after his match with RVD. Devon made the save with a knee brace on as it was announced earlier Devon is out of the tournament ala Matt Morgan with an injury, this one caused by Joe. Joe backed off through the crowd saying it was just business and following through on his promise to hurt all the competitors and make a sham of the tournament. Nice handling of Joe this week.
9. Final Show Thoughts:
Angelina Love and Winter got into it with the Mexican America ladies backstage when the Mamacitas attacked Angelina for her shove after they bullied her after the tag loss in the ring. Winter did her usual crazy overprotective bit as only she can. Choking Rosita with the rope from the blinds until Mexican America made the save. Christopher Daniels and A.J. Styles agreed to one more match. Daniels almost in tears in the ring explained to AJ how he needs the match to find out if he still belongs in TNA and wrestling. This should be the Daniels projected heel turn. As AJ proclaimed he is headed to No Surrender to compete in the 4-way, he made the match for next week to please his friend. There is a stacked card next week with AJ vs. Daniels, Mickie vs. Winter for the Knockout title and decisions on Knock Out Law as well as the final four will be announced for No Surrender’s #1 Contender’s match to end the Bound For Glory tournament. Eric Young’s ridiculous search for Scott Baio ended in a horrible fashion as he pinned Baio on a golf course. Jesse Sorensen and Kid Kash’s feud heated up and Mickie vowed revenge on Winter and Angelina next week. Bully Ray picked up 7 points in his win, Immortal vs. Fortune 6 man tag. When Anderson attacked Abyss stood on the ramp and did nothing before walking off when Bully Ray in retreat looked at him as Anderson bloodied Gunner and tabled Steiner. Not much in terms of a quality show but did leave the door open for some interesting developments moving forward and a couple entertaining matches for next week. No A Double Austin Aries this week since his return. He was missed.
10. IMPACT PLAYERs of the WEEK:Â
Samoa Joe, RVD, Ric Flair, Crimson, Kurt Angle, Sting
Joe’s show this week, RVD picked up a 10 pt. win, Flair was gold this week bouncing back, Crimson stepped it up a tad on mic and ring, Kurt and Sting held their own in the segments they were in.
That is all.
M.C. Brown
You can find me on Twitter as
ShocXwavE
