Hello everyone my name is George “TMI” Champlin and I am here to give you the rundown report of iMpact that made it’s debut last night on Spike TV. Normally I would give you a MELTDOWN of the week but I am so hyped about TNA that I want to get right to it.
The show opened with that dark brooding voice telling the world how you were going to be introduced to wrestlers that may not know but that was going to change. They had pumped of AJ Styles as the high flyer of the organization which was the proper thing to do. Then they aired a very well produced video melody of the wrestlers that TNA has. You can tell that Spike demands for production values are higher than what FSN demanded but TNA has stepped and delivered that production level. Ok off to the show!
AJ Styles vs. Roderick Strong: Ok first thing I noticed other than the cosmetic changes to the set is that the names of the wrestlers and the time limit is not at the top of the screen anymore, I really liked that scroll but I cant win them all. Anyhow Tenay pushes the X-Division which they should because this is what will separate TNA from the WWE. Strong was already in the ring which brought back flashbacks of jobbers of the WWF waiting their fate back in the eighties. Typical AJ match with both men going full bore the whole match. AJ hit his outside the ring dive which got the crowd on their feet and then Christopher Daniels came out which distracted AJ enough for Strong to get a few shots in. AJ finally hit a Pele kick and then his famous reverse DDT and the Styles Clash for the win.
I GIVE THIS MATCH 3 RINGPOSTS OUT OF SIX NOT BECAUSE OF THE WRESTLING BUT BECAUSE OF THE SHORT AMOUNT OF WRESTLING THAT WAS SHOWN. AJ AND STROG COULD HAVE A LONGER MATCH AND REALLY SHOWED THE NEW TNA FANS WHAT TNA IS ALL ABOUT.
We got a real nice video package of Monty Brown and his career in football to show that he was a true athlete and Zbysko and Tenay both hyped Monty Brown. Then we come back from a commercial break and Shane Douglas is interviewing Monty Brown who is singing and saying how he cannot be stopped. We then cut to Raven hitting unknown people with trash cans for no explanation to the new viewers. Really a bag segment in my opinion because you felt like who, what, when, where, and why?
Monty Brown vs. Lex Lovett: OK all of the old reader will remember how much I do not like Monty brown and squash matches. The only thing that makes it worse is when they are combined as always with Monty Brown. Monty hits the Pounce at the one minute mark for the pin.
I GIVE THIS MATCH 2 RINGPOSTS OUT OF SIX BECAUSE IF YOU WANT MONTY TO BE A TOP PLAYER IN TNA HE NEEDS TO WRESTLE MORE THAN A MINUTE AGAINST SOMONE THAT THEY DON’T EVEN INTRODUCE. THIS IS WHY WE NEED THE SCROLL AT THE TOP.
After the commercial they ran a nice X Division video package highlighting the main players in the division including Soma Joe.
Petey Williams vs. Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin: A great X Division match that featured all three of the wrestlers doing what they do best. Alex Shelly had a different look from the last time that I saw him and it was nice that the announcers said that Shelly was a ground worker compared to others who were high flyers. This combination is what makes the X Division the highlight of TNA. Both wrestlers hit some nice spots with Sabin hitting Shelley with the Cradle Shock for the win. Petey attacked Sabin and gave him the Canadian Destroyer and left him lay in the ring.
I GIVE THIS BOUT 5 RINGPOSTS OUT OF SIX FOR TOP NOTCH WRESTLING AND ALL NEW TNA VIEWERS GOT TO SEE ONE OF THE MOST BRUTAL LOOKING FINISHING MANUEVERS IN WRESTLING TODAY CALLED THE CANADIAN DESTROYER.
We went backstage and saw Douglas interviewing Zbysko about a surprise when Tito Ortiz walked into the picture. Both Ortiz and Zbysko went into the office and closed the door. Good segment since TNA followed a marathon of UFC so if anyone hung around they would of seen a name they know. Maybe this should have been earlier in the show but you only have an hour. Then we got a video package about the Three Live Kru and some commentary on them and how next week they would be facing Team Canada.
Jeff Hardy vs. Rhino: Ok this was a match to show the new viewers a face that they have known for quite some time in the WWE. However, having his first match against Rhino to me was stupid because Rhino is a slow moving blob that should of wrestled Abyss then Hardy. It was a typical Hardy match with all of the same moves. My biggest complaint I have always had with Jeff Hardy and Konnan is that their matches follow the same script and tends to get old fast. Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Rhino and then Abyss attacked Hardy and then as Rhino and Abyss were fighting over a chair the lights went out and when they came on there was Sabu pointing to the ceiling in his usual pose. Hardy threw Abyss out on the floor and hit him with a dive which then Sabu hit Abyss with one of his patent leaps ringside.
I GIVE THIS MATCH 3 RINGPOSTS OUT OF SIX FOR SOME NICE ACTION AND THEY DID DO A NICE BUILD UP FOR THE MONSTER’S BALL MATCH AT BOUND FOR GLORY EVEN IF THE IDEA OF LOCKING WRESTLERS IN A DARK ROOM WITH NO FOOD OR WATER 24 HOURS BEFORE A MATCH IS STUPID.
They now showed what appeared to be a home video of Jeff Jarrett’s win of the NWA belt with the help of AMW. This is where I did not like the show. I understand the reasons for putting the belt on Double J but I hate matches that turn into clusterf***s which this one did. Jeff came to the ring with AMW and announced how he built TNA and how his plan came together and he had one more person to thank. So out came Scott D’Amore and they talked about how great a plan it was and who now owes who a favor. Then the 3Live Kru comes out and runs into the ring. Then Team Canada comes out and everyone if fighting all over the place. Then Team 3D (the Dudleys) comes out and clears the ring with their normal finishing moves. After the ring is cleared Kevin Nash comes out and tells Jarrett that he will win the belt at Bound For Glory and Team 3D challenges AMW next week on iMPACT.
I GIVE THIS MATCH FOUR RINGPOSTS OUT OF SIX. THE ONLY REASON FOR SUCH A HIGH SCORE WAS THAT THEY HAD ALL THE STAR POWER OUT AT THE END EVEN IF IT WAS HARD TO FOLLOW. MOST WRESTLING FANS WOULD OF KNOWN ALL BUT THREE OF THE WRESTLERS THAT WERE OUT THERE.
Well folks that is about it for the return of TNA to TV. Overall I feel it was a great debut but could have been better. Maybe once the Ultimate Fighter 2 is over and the ratings are good they will move TNA to Monday night and give them two hours and bring back the Monday night wars. If you have any questions for me just shoot a email to gripperm@gmail.com
