Tha iMPACT! Investigation

As nice as it would have been to have the Front Line (and indeed, the younger TNA stars) bring down the Main Event Mafia, TNA has done a good job of building toward Angle vs. Sting, with MEM potentially imploding from within.

Plus, Showtime Eric Young got an opportunity in the main event last night, so at least one of the younger stars is getting a rub. Sting and Angle each had to pick someone from the roster, and the two guys they chose had a match. Sting chose Showtime. And Angle chose . . . Rocco . . . one of his body guards. Ugh.

Actually, the match was pretty good. Rocco must be a worker – he sold Showtime’s barrage of punches well, and got in some decent-looking offense. But make no mistake about it, Showtime carried the match.

It's nice to see someone as talented as Eric Young get a shot in the main event, and to be part of -- even in a small way -- the Sting-Angle feud. Showtime cut a hell of a promo backstage with Sting, saying he just needed a chance to prove he can hang with the ‘big boys’ – just like Ric Flair gave Sting that chance some 20 years ago.

Overall, it’s safe to say Showtime deserves a larger role in the company. It's not that he has a bad spot - he has a very good one, all things considered. But there's definitely a next step that he's ready (and been ready) to take. He’s one of Jeff Jarrett’s favourites, and he’s super-over in the “iMPACT!” Zone. Come on TNA, make it happen.

Quick Hits on the rest of the show . . .

I missed most of the first half-hour of the show – sorry, O-sters, but The Office is must-see TV. For those interested: Michael Scott (aka Steve Carell) decided that he’d take Willy Wonka’s idea of the ‘golden ticket’ and apply it to Dunder Mifflin. Let’s just say hilarity ensued.

Why are there so many authority figures on “iMPACT!”? Do they really need Cornette, Jarrett, and Foley calling the shots? Here’s the solution: Cornette returns as manger, perhaps managing his pet project Matt Morgan. Foley can replace West at the announce table – a spot at which he excelled on “SmackDown.” And Jarrett can stay on as “founder,” putting himself over every week, which he loves to do. (Remember last week when he beat the shit out of Kurt Angle, all around the “iMPACT!” Zone? What purpose did that serve?)

The Beautiful People have really perfected the bitchy, mean girl routine. It’s actually quite entertaining. I imagine every female fan who watches TNA (yes, all 12 of them), really hate Velvet Sky and Angelina Love.

Sheik Abdul Bashir and Rhino are still around? I guess so, as they had a match last night. But the attention during the match was on Don West, who was late to arrive to his announce position. To be honest, West’s heel gimmick makes him slightly less annoying. At one point, he actually reminded me of Bobby “The Brain” Heenan. (I can’t believe I wrote that.) It was when Lauren cost Abyss the pinfall against Matt Morgan. West said that if he was Abyss, he would be pissed that a ‘broad,’ (or some similar term) cost him the match – and I could totally picture The Brain saying that.

But we all know where this West-Tenay feud is going, right? You know Russo will book that match.

LAX and Lethal Consequences vs. Steiner, Booker and MCMG was a nice little match. The heels worked over Creed for most of the match, before Hernandez powered his way through a comeback, finishing Sabin off with the Border Toss. I’m diggin’ Hernandez’s moustache. He looks like Daniel Day Lewis from Gangs of New York.

Texts from Christopher Casur at random points during the show:
1. “Foley’s winded from cutting a promo . . . this is awesome.”
2. “Ah, JB! That motorboating son of a bitch, that old sailor!”
3. In reference to Rocco: “Wow, what a fatty . . . I didn’t know Fronte was in TNA.”

Here’s the final card (and some quick predictions) for Sunday’s Destination X PPV:

TNA World Heavyweight Championship: "The Icon" Sting vs. Kurt Angle
Special Referee: Jeff Jarrett
Special Enforcer: Mick Foley

Prediction: Kurt Angle wins with help from Mick Foley’s heel turn, which will lead to Sting vs. Mick Foley at Lockdown. (There’s already a poster for the match on inDemand’s website.) No, the prediction doesn’t make sense after MEM took out Foley last night, but TNA doesn’t make sense. So the prediction does make sense, if you follow me.

"ULTIMATE X" Match For X-Division Championship: Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin vs. Black Machismo vs. Consequences Creed vs. Suicide

Prediction: Suicide. Because, for some reason, they’re trying to get this lame gimmick over.

Off The Wagon Challenge for the TNA World Tag Team Championship: Beer Money, Inc vs. Team 3D

Prediction: Beer Money. The safe pick is Team 3D – because they aren’t really going to be fired. But I think this Off the Wagon gimmick has legs, so they could have Bubba and Devon spend a few months in Japan defending the IWGP tag belts (or at least say that's what they're doing as a way to give them some time off), and then have them come back and beat Beer Money in a re-match. You’re welcome, TNA.

Knockouts Championship Match: Awesome Kong vs. Sojo Bolt

Prediction: Awesome Kong. Kong should hold onto the belt for months until they finally find Gail Kim’s successor as top Knockout babyface.

Samoa Joe vs. "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner

Prediction: Samoa Joe. The Nation of Violence needs a strong start.

TNA Legends Championship: A.J. Styles vs. Booker T

Prediction: I’ll say Booker because my other predictions are face-heavy. Plus, they can extend this feud another month.

Beautiful People and Madison Rayne vs. Roxxi, Taylor Wilde and The Governor

Prediction: Beautiful People and Madison Rayne. Their asses are over.

Match of 10 000 Tacks: Abyss vs. Matt Morgan

As of early Friday morning, this match isn’t officially listed on tnawrestling.com, but Abyss said he was going to make Morgan his bitch on Sunday, so it could happen. If it does . . .

Prediction: Abyss. He’s gotta win his own specialty match.

The Finals Of One Night with ODB

Prediction: My money’s on Shark Boy.

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