Tha iMPACT! Investigation

Mick Foley vs. Sting at Lockdown. Legend vs. Icon. Anyone intrigued yet?

As I wrote in last week’s article, Foley can still cut a promo with the best of them. He’s doing a really good job of making it seem like he’s received a few too many chair shots to the head; hence, the title of last night’s episode: Foley’s “still crazy after all these years.”

And Foley was certainly the focus of last night’s show. He’s going to be the face of TNA over the next three weeks (at least); after all, he is challenging for the TNA world championship.

There’s no doubt Foley has a few high spots and dangerous risks left to offer. In a sit-down interview with Mike Tenay last night, Foley promised to drop an elbow on Sting from “high heights” of the cage. Whether or not he and Sting can put together a solid match overall -- that’s not dependent on this one spot -- is another matter entirely.

I have my doubts. And I know Foley is having these doubts too.

I’ve been re-reading Hardcore Diaries over the past few days. Diaries is Foley’s (sort of) third autobiography, concentrating mostly on the build toward his tag team match at One Night Stand in June 2006: Mick Foley and Edge vs. Terry Funk and Tommy Dreamer. Leading up to the match, he was worried about a bunch of factors: how much WWE creative would restrict his vision for the program, his weight and conditioning, and his injury history, particularly his perpetually aching knees and back.

He doesn’t have to worry about the creative aspect this time around. This program with Sting has been booked well up to this point, and I suspect it’s in large part due to the creative freedom he’s been given with his promos. (Actually, Vince Russo and Mick Foley have a history of working well together.)

With that said, there’s probably even more pressure on him this time around. After all, the main event of One Night Stand was John Cena vs. Rob Van Dam for the WWE Championship – Foley wasn’t headlining that show. Even more important, his limitations were somewhat protected in a tag match. Foley could depend on one the industry’s best (Edge) to do much of the work. This time around, he’s on his own, working with one-on-one with the 50 year-old Stinger.

And you’ve got to believe his concerns about his body are even greater now. He’s 3 years older, and his body is even more broken down.

I hope he shows he’s still “got it.” But the odds are working against him.

Quick Hits on the rest of the show:

- No Office tangent paragraph this week – because, well, there was no Office episode this week. NBC ran the 2-hour ER series finale instead. Fuck you, NBC. Anyways, they’re making up for it with two new episodes of The Office next Thursday. Here’s the preview: Michael hires his dream team, and Michael Scott Paper Co. officially opens for business. Sounds good to me. Plus, next week is also the airing of the pilot episode of Parks and Recreation. Booyah.

Wait . . . I’m pretty sure that counts as an Office tangent paragraph.

- In the opening segment, Jeff Jarrett chose A.J. Styles to captain the team that will oppose the Main Event Mafia in Lethal Lockdown. But Styles said he’s not qualified for the position, and that Jarrett -- the founder of TNA who gave him and other “independent wrestlers” a chance -- should captain the team. Is this another example of the old guys stealing the spotlight from the younger guys?

Perhaps. But it depends on what happens at Lockdown. A.J. promised that he, Samoa Joe and Christopher Daniels will not let Jarrett down. If A.J. and the others fulfill that promise by playing major roles in their team’s victory at the PPV, then TNA is headed in the right direction. It’s time to put an end to the Main Event Mafia dominating their opponents at every PPV.

That’s not to say MEM should be put to rest – they’re a major, and integral, part of the company.

- It’s nice to see that TNA reads my stuff. I’ve been advocating Daniels’ inclusion in the Front Line (or “The Originals” as Styles is now calling them) for months. You’re welcome, TNA. (note: Daniels didn't appear on the show, but will be returning shortly)

- Later in the opening segment, Steiner tried to recruit Jarrett to join the Mafia. This could be an interesting storyline, and based on the spoilers, it will continue (at least) up to the PPV. And really, it does make more sense for Jarrett to be in MEM – he’s been a WCW and TNA main eventer for going on 9 years. In addition, by joining MEM, because of the power he yields, Jarrett would bring even more heat to the group.

But there’s an obvious continuation flaw here. Steiner was recruiting Jarrett based on Jarrett’s now deceased wife telling Steiner to help Jarrett take care of her kids. I fail to see how Jarrett would consider his kids taken care of, if he joins a group that includes a man (Kurt Angle) who not too long ago, threatened those very same kids.

Which leads me to another question: why has Jarrett’s personal life become involved in all of his recent storylines?

Meh – turn your brains off and it could turn out to be an interesting storyline.

- I’m still confused as to why there are so many authority figures on this show. Jarrett booked Steiner vs. Styles; Foley booked Samoa Joe vs. Sting; and Cornette booked Team 3D vs. Mafia security. Odd, oh so very odd.

- More confusion: no mention of Cody Deaner and ODB for two weeks in a row? Come on.

- But onto some good stuff: once again, TNA did a good job of putting over the tag team title match between Beer Money and Team 3D at Lockdown. Another Rough Cut showed that Brother Ray and Devon are willing to put it all on the line to beat Roode and Storm at the PPV.

And the TNA tag champs once again put over Team 3D, this time on commentary; then, Beer Money protected Team 3D from a post-match beatdown by the Rocco and Sal. They’re on a mission to prove they’re the very best, and they want Team 3D to be healthy, so that’s there’s no excuses. Good stuff.

- Don West appears to have slipped into a more subtle heel commentator role. And I’ve got to admit, I kinda like it. But I’m a little disappointed that we’re not going to see West vs. Tenay in a TNA ring. That match screams “BUYS!”

- Abyss cowering and crying in fear of Stevie Richards? From monster to pussy - that’s progress.

- There was something good involved with Dr. Stevie last night, though: Daffney has officially dropped the Governor gimmick. I dug the screaming gimmick she did with David Flair and Crowbar in WCW. Let’s hope she gets the chance to bring a darker side to the Knockouts division.

- Speaking of the Knockouts, the Beautiful People are one of the bright spots of “iMPACT!” every week. They’re just really good at acting bitchy – and they’re really hot, so that helps too. I wonder, though, if Ed Leslie is calling ‘gimmick theft’ right about now.

Share |