Wanted: Legit Tag Teams

The final "iMPACT!" before Sacrifice lacked, big time. Two of the three matches on the show were tag team matches used to promote singles matches at the upcoming pay-per-view, and the one singles match was a triple threat match involving the teams who are in a match for the tag team titles this Sunday.

Okay, now if that didn't confuse you, then read on...

Had TNA done something like this about a year and a half ago, I would have marked out like you wouldn't believe. TNA's tag team scene used to be off the chart - so much so that it even prompted an article on Tha O Show making the statement that tag team wrestling was making a comeback. Now, however, the idea of a tag-team centered "iMPACT!" is about as welcome as a one-night stand with a girl with herpes.

The first match on "iMPACT!" last night was the triple threat match. I have a lot of problems with the storyline surrounding it as a whole. First of all, Scott Steiner and Tomko are not a legit tag team. Why did they suddenly get paired up and get thrown into this feud between LAX and 3D? If it was in order to spice things up, it's not working so well. With the way Steiner has been working lately, he should be in the main event picture anyway.

Voodoo Kin Mafia...this angle needs to stop. TNA is wasting tag teams by having this storyline continue. Albeit, Serotonin got no push, so not many people viewed them as legit in the first place, and the Heart Breakers screwed up in that match so badly that they shouldn't even be getting work with TNA, but still, VKM are a legitimate tag team. Neither of them will ever headline Bound For Glory, but theycan work a decent tag team match and would make respectable champions. So why not get them involved in the title picture?

Staying on the topic of VKM, the next match of the night was supposed to feature them, but because of a "jumping" by the finally-debuting Bashams, were replaced by Jay Lethal and Sonjay Dutt. Okay, I admit, the thought of this match made me mark out a little: Black Machismo and "Big Hindi Cool" against Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley.

I like that Shelley is getting some air time in an X Division angle, even if he's not in the title match this Sunday. Also, I like how the end of the match had a legit ending that set the stage for the triple threat match. For those who missed it, Sonjay Dutt hit a cutter on Chris Sabin. Lethal then went to go for his elbow, but Dutt got in his way. Sabin and Shelley then proceeded to beat the life out of Dutt, before finally pinning him. I don't know if this signals a heel turn for Dutt, but it certainly was a good way to build up the match at Sacrifice.

Styles, Storm, and Daniels VS. Joe, Harris, and Rhino was the main event. This match was supposed to build up some of the midcard matches, which was kind of pointless. The main event on the "iMPACT!" before a pay-per-view should be used to build the main event match at the upcoming pay-per-view.

Nevertheless, it was a solid match. A vignette earlier on in the night would seem to imply that Christopher Daniels will be starting a feud with Sting after Sacrifice. Storm won the match in a series of events thatis classic heel/babyface. Jackie Moore runs in, throws the beer bottle to Storm. Harris intercepts it, but is stopped by the referee when he attempts to use it. Storm
capitalizes by rolling up. These two are a pair of great workers, it's a shame that they're stuck in another lame gimmick match on Sunday.

After the match, Kurt Angle and Sting came out of the entranceway, brawling, with Christian Cage closely behind, watch. Classic heel champ antics. I don't know where TNA's sudden great writing has come from, but I'm glad it's happened. TNA needed a boost in the arm bad. And with only one stipulation match at Sacrifice, this may turn out to be the best pay-per-view TNA has done all year!

Oh, and of course, I have to end my article by saying it. Tenay and West - you suck!

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