10 Thoughts on… TNA Impact on Pop TV 03.08.2016 (Beer Money vs. The Wolves, Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Lashley, Gail Kim vs. Jade)

10 Thoughts, Top Story

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This was the last episode taped in the UK before they return live to Universal next week.

1. The opening segment saw Dixie Carter cut a promo on the retirement of Kurt Angle. Both were either crying or on the verge of crying. The night that Kurt Angle debuted in TNA ranks as one of my favorite all time moments as a wrestling fan, and especially since 2001 (when WCW folded).

2. Lashley came out to cut a promo on Kurt about their final match tonight. I couldn’t help but be reminded why Lashley has never caught on – he has negative charisma on the mic. It is almost as if he is trying to talk as monotone as possible. He might be the worst promo of anyone in a main event slot in the last 10 years.

3. Eric Young defended the King of the Mountain title in an actual King of the Mountain Match. The rules are still a convoluted mess, and the match had some good highspots but it never seemed like Young was going to lose.

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4. Mike Bennett came out with Maria to call out Dixie Carter. Instead Drew Galloway came out for his second promo of the show. He is very good, I wonder if he will ever get another shot in WWE. Pretty solid segment mostly carried by Maria and Drew where the crowd was chanting “Little Bitch” at her. Stay Classy TNA fans.

5. They have been showing clips of Kurt’s TNA career throughout the show. He was really bulked up for the first few years. There were some good moments here but I wonder how many of them we will remember in 10 years.

6. Gail Kim vs. Jade – I wonder if this is the first matchup of two Asian women on American wrestling TV? This was a really good match. TNA’s Knockouts aren’t too bad when the Beautiful People aren’t in the ring or on the mic.

7. In a week that saw the New Day vs. Y2AJ in a really strong WWE Tag Team Title Match, TNA matched or possibly raised the stakes with a great match for the titles. The Wolves defended the titles against Beer Money, with Beer Money winning the gold.

8. Kurt Angle and Mike Bennett had a confrontation backstage before Angle’s final TNA match. It was the best Bennett has been in TNA showing intensity in calling out Angle. I have to wonder why they are setting up future matches for Angle given he has “retired”.

9. I think by this point Eli Drake is my favorite in TNA. His promos crack me up.

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10. Kurt Angle vs. Bobby Lashley. This was a bit of a surprise finish with Lashley winning clean with a spear. After all this time I still don’t think Lashley ever got it – either on the mic or in the ring.
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TNA has announced two big matches for next week with EC3 vs. Matt Hardy for the TNA Title and Eric Young vs. Jeff Hardy.

Jonathan Widro is the owner and founder of Inside Pulse. Over a decade ago he burst onto the scene with a pro-WCW reporting style that earned him the nickname WCWidro. Check him out on Twitter for mostly inane non sequiturs