Happy Independence Day, O-sters! TNA made sure to go out with a bang last night, hyping the buildup to Victory Road, along with World X Cup action and one of the best tag team names I've heard in a long time.Of course, there are some things that are always constant in TNA. Like the neverending Kurt Angle romance saga. I've lost count of how many times I've said that I'm over this story. Quite frankly, it was the only bad thing about the show this week.
Kurt went on three blind dates, they all sucked, he came back pissed off and called out Team 3D. Earlier in the night, AJ had called out Team 3D. The aftermath of this was Team 3D and Kurt Angle being set in a match against AJ Styles, Christian Cage and Rhino at Victory Road, in which the fans choose the stipulation-either a tables match, falls count anywhere, or Full Metal Mayhem.
I don't understand why TNA is pitching two storylines in which are supposedly an integral part of it. What I understand less is why the heels are so accepting of it. More on that later.
Roxxi Leveaux squared off last night against Moose in another Bimbo Brawl. Another good showing by the women, in my opinion. Maybe a little light on the selling, but it's a hardcore match, selling comes and goes in order to help the flow of the match. I'm not sure if they're trying to build Moose as a monster heel, but I'm interested to see where they go from here.
TNA's World X Cup feature two matches last night. In the first, Team International's Alex Kozlov faced Team Mexico's Ray Bucanero. I don't know how down I am with Team International being the mega heels in this match; I'd almost prefer to have the wrestlers come in neutral and let the fans cheer for whomever. That way, it's more about the wrestling and less about markish cheering.
In the other World X Cup match, Curry Man of Team TNA lost to Team Japan's Milano, who walked to the ring holding a leash and collar that was in some way mechanically designed to make it look like there was an invisible dog at the end of the leash. Milano won following a low blow and a roll-up.
I suppose I should clarify my earlier point about faces and heels. It seems like Team TNA is the only team being billed as faces, which smacks of TNA using this World X Cup to put themselves over. Albeit, that is the ultimate purpose, but the fact that they have this international spotlight is what gets them over, not them parading around as big bad TNA with the guys everybody likes.
Taylor faced Raisha Saeed last night in a match that would secure a third chance for Taylor to face Awesome Kong next week for not only the money, but the Knockout's Championship. Taylor won, but I'm not that excited about this match. With how many women you already have on that roster, there had to be a better way to bring Taylor in. At the very least, don't make the first two matches between Kong and Taylor total squashes.
Booker T is the motherfucking man. He may no longer be the king, but he's got a posh dressing room, he's talking with a fancy sounding accent, and he is once again the entertaining heel that everybody loved back when he was King Bookah.
Getting back to my point earlier about heels being so accepting of fan interaction, why haven't Storm and Roode yet complained about the fact that fans will be whipping them at Victory Road? It seems very un-heelish to just accept that fans will be at ringside.
On the plus side, they have the best tag team name I've heard in quite some time. Beer Money! That is gold, and now, as much as I want to see Robert Roode in the main event, I'm hoping that Beer Money and LAX have a good, long feud. Last night, however, Beer Money squared off against Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash as punishment by Jim Cornette.
The match ultimately ended up being a vehicle to further the Joe/Nash rift, which I'm fine with. However, after the match, Sting's music hit and he was seen in the rafters. That, I'm not fine with. You have Samoa Joe and Booker T, two great athletes and two great workers who will no doubt put on a great match. You have Kevin Nash, who will provide a little extra element with everyone wondering if he will be involved in the match. Why do you need Sting involved? You don't.
Overall, I'm quite happy with the direction TNA is going. Less focus on the comedy and the gimmicks that don't make sense, and more focus on wrestling and intriguing storylines. That always has been, and always will be the recipe for success in pro wrestling.
4 comments: on "Tha "iMPACT!" Dispatch"
I think team Mexico is working as faces in the X cup as well, their just not getting as much of a pop yet cuz noone knows who they are for the most part.
Raisha Saeed is incredible. She needs to have more matches, I think shes one of the best female workers out there. Her ring work is just incredibly solid.
I wonder whether Robert Roode or James storm are gona go face when they inevitably split as a team.
Someone needs to put those two TNA announcers on a tour bus and send it to the desert.
When Beer Money whipped Don West I thought maybe he'd turn it into something decent, but no, he Westified it.
Helluva show, first TNA show I've watched in a few weeks and I'm glad that's the show I had time to watch.
I loved the explanation to keep Curryman Daniels as a member of Team TNA even though Curry Man is his Japanese gimmick and billed as a Japanese worker working with TNA. "Due to his contractual obligations" was the excuse...that's golden.
Beer Money is the shit. I love the team concept, I love both workers and I'm quite fond of what Ms. Jackie has done. As far as LAX goes I couldn't care less, Hernandez is good, Shelly Martinez is smoking hot but other than that I just tune out.
The Joe/Nash segment was pretty good, and I'm wondering if Nash will get another run with the title from this, or if he'll go back to the hospital.
With Sting's return last night I just wonder if this will start to the build of his retirment angle?
I liked the show for the most part. I too am hoping Storm/Roode stay together as a team, and hopefully take the belts from LAX, to extend the feud.
With Team International being the heels, it's kinda hard for them NOT to be heels. Daivari has been a heel everywhere he's been, Doug Williams as played the heel a lot in the UK (while Jody is the ultimate baby face), Dux is Canadian, and Team Canada is always the heel in wrestling, and lastly, Kozlov is Russian, not really much more to say after that.
For an older cat, Rey Bucanero still got it, while as AT looked a bit tipsy compared to when I usually see him. Also, AT won with a Low Blow and Armani Shoe Exchange, not a roll up.
I wish AJ/Cage were in another match though, sorta fills like a filler.
Hey guys I made a petition to get Dan "The Mouth" Lovranski removed from the airwaves, hopefully you guys can pass it along and help us get rid of this cancer. United we are strong ** replace \ with forward slash ** www.petitiononline.com\Mouth\petition.html
Post a Comment