The crowd looked to be a good size too. I do think having so many matches inside the cage really separates the audience from what is going on but they came alive more and more as the night went on. Lethal Lockdown was fun. Ric did bleed more than usual although i have to wonder what blading is like. I imagine it to to hurt but maybe it doesn't? Most people think Ric is mutilating himself but he really isn't that bad. You don't really see any scarring on his head and it makes you wonder just how bad blading is.
TNA Wrestling (US Pace, Un-Tagged Spoilers)
9 of 19
F4Wonline.com TNA Impact report
This old thread will need shifted.
Quote:
“The Big News: The most newsworthy show in quite sometime. For starters, Mick Foley was introduced as the network representative, and announced that had changed the company's name from TNA Wrestling to Impact Wrestling. It was a night of revealed mystery partners, as Chris Harris and Chyna returned to the company. Mr. Anderson gained the elusive title shot when he won a 25-man battle royal in a show that was pretty good compared to the lackluster for few months of the year.
Hulk Hogan was waiting for the network representative backstage with a lead pipe when Eric Bischoff walked off. Bischoff warned him that Hogan wasn't going to win this battle with violence, but with his mind. Hogan listened to him.
Jeff and Karen Jarrett came out and wanted to call a truce with Kurt Angle. Yes, I know they've done this routine before, but this time the payoff was worth it. I mean, if payoff means getting in another 90s superstar. Back when wrestling knew how to actually create superstars. Jeff said he did everything he could to keep Karen out of his matches because he didn't want to see her get hurt. Karen talked about how warm and caring an ex-wife she had been. She said she always looked out for Kurt's best interests, even when she took out a restraining order against him. It was funny when she referred to Jeff as Big Daddy, then Jeff whispered into her ear and she corrected herself. Kurt came out and said that Karen had pushed him over the edge for years. Angle said he didn't even know why he married her, and by the time Jeff realizes it she'll take him for every dime he's worth too. If I was Jeff, I would've wanted that line eschewed from the script, for fear of how past wrestling relationships wind up. Hey, he's gotta protect that house by the lake. Kurt said he would introduce his "business partner" at the end of the show, and Jeff knew who she was.
1. Mickey James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Madison Rayne and Tara in 2:11. Madison Rayne ordered around Tara before the match and screamed at her for not holding the ropes open for her. Mickey James opened with Tara. Wouldn't it make sense for Tara to take it easy on James since she's fighting for Tara's freedom on Sunday? Having written that, after James scored a dropkick on Tara, they shook hands and Tara tagged Rayne in, much to her chagrin. Miss Tessmacher scored the pin on Rayne with a rana. Rayne screamed at Tara some more. 3/4*
Ric Flair was back walking around backstage when Hogan accused him of being the mole for the network representative. Flair yelled back at Hogan that he had been out of action since Lockdown because of a torn rotator cuff. Hogan immediately apologized as Bischoff tried to play peacemaker. Everybody cooled down.
Tara did an interview saying she wanted to be free from Rayne. Then Rayne walked up and said she would beat James for the Knockouts title and make her life a living hell.
The mystery man behind the camera wanted to talk to Tommy Dreamer about why he attacked A.J. Styles last week. Dreamer refused to talk. Then Styles walked out of his trailer and wanted answers. I always hate those tailer setups used for dressing rooms because it makes TNA look second-rate. Maybe they can cut a deal with Will Smith's trailer guy, which takes up about two blocks in New York. Then again, they'll piss off the Orlando neighbors in the process just like Smith has in New York. Anyway, Dreamer said that Styles was too young to understand what he was going through. Styles says he has three kids and thought it had something to do with the EV 2.0 fiasco. Well, I'd be pissed about that too if I was Styles because of how lousy a PPV it made for last year. Dreamer denied it. Styles challenged him to a match at Sacrifice. Dreamer said that Styles didn't know what he wanted. Styles challenged him to a fight then and there. Dreamer started to back off, which Styles called him out on saying the real Tommy Dreamer would never back down. Dreamer said maybe Styles, or anyone else, never really knew the real Tommy Dreamer. Meandering segment.
Sting was in the midst of a photo shoot with the Impact Wrestling title and talked about facing Rob Van Dam. He said he would be in for a test, but it may bring out the best in him. He also said that the network representative would be out shortly.
Beer Money came out following a video package that put them over as the hottest home grown act in the company, which is pretty much the truth. Bobby Roode called out Matt Hardy to find out his mystery tag team partner. How many mystery people do we need on this program? Roode thought he was talking about Jeff Hardy (not mentioning that name). Hardy came to the ring and ran down James Storm for constantly being intoxicated. He really said that. Tune in tomorrow when Shawn Kemp blames Antonio Cromartie for having too many illegitimate children. Storm then blew Hardy off the stage with his promo about disrespecting the TNA locker room, then got in Hardy's face about being the type of man who would walk in a bar, kick his ass, then take his girlfriend home with him to go to bed. For a guy who's been on the big stage for years, Hardy was light years behind these two on the stick. Hardy was about to do Storm's catchphrase when Storm slapped the microphone out of his hands. Storm was about to say it when music played, and Storm did this great facial as Chris Harris walked out. Harris had plenty of clothes on so it was hard to see what type of shape he was in, but facially he looked worse than his Braden Walker days. Storm and Harris had a long staredown. Beer Money came off really Major League again.
2. Sangriento defeated Suicide in 3:38. Sangriento did a satellite head scissors and followed with a corkscrew tope and a missile dropkick. Taz joked Sangriento must've been watching some of his old tapes. Suicide came back with a Shining Wizard and a Final Cut. Sangriento caught a flying kick to the head, a spin kick in the corner and a float over DDT for a near fall. Sangriento missed a sexton off the top but missed. Suicide caught the Suicide Solution for only a two count. Sangriento caught a flying downward spiral, then pinned him with a reverse springboard Diamond Cutter for a three count. Much better match than last week. ***1/4
Immediately, Hogan, Bischoff and Flair came out. Yep, it's classic WCW where the junior heavyweights have a great match and the crusty old guys crap all over it. Flair walked in and kicked Suicide in the balls and out of the ring, and possibly out of the company. Hogan demanded the network representative reveal themselves. Jeff and Karen Jarret walked down during a commercial. Then Mick Foley's music played and he came out to a big pop. Unfortunately, Foley immediately started doing his promo and the response wasn't sustained. Foley said he was the one who brought back Sting on March 3rd to beat Jeff Hardy for the Impact Wrestling title. Bischoff started mouthing off to Foley, who decked him with one punch. Foley warned anyone that if they touched him, they would be fired. Foley did his typical great promo, saying that wrestling matters in the end, though it's easy to forget. Especially on a show like this one which had five minutes of wrestling in the first hour. He announced that the company would never be known as TNA Wrestling again, but would now be known as Impact Wrestling. Crowd seemed indifferent to that, as if it wouldn't really matter what the name of the brand is. Foley arranged a 25-man battle royal for tonight with the winner being the new number one contender for the TNA title. Then Foley introduced Angle's associate, and it was Chyna. She got a good 1990's retro pop and everybody sold it strong in the ring, particularly Karen and Bischoff. But they did everything they could to shoot her from the neck up because she's lost so much muscle mass. It's a far cry from the days of 1995, when, as Dave Meltzer put it, she looked like Sid Vicious' younger brother.
Foley cut a promo saying that Impact Wrestling would be a wrestling company again. He also told Chyna to follow the Jarretts around, then harked back to an interview from 1999 about the weird sexual tension that he always had with her. Foley is great, even in a company that can be so hard to take seriously.
Mr. Anderson did an interview blaming Foley for denying him his one-on-one rematch and vowed to win the battle royal to become the new number one contender.
3. Crimson defeated Samoa Joe in a three-way match that also included Abyss in 2:27. This was a waste on several levels. First, shouldn't this be on a PPV? Second, why job Joe again? Third, Crimson isn't over yet, and the fans seem to be taking Joe's side, even though he's supposed to be the heel here. Abyss now has three lower teeth missing after the errant kick by Van Dam. While it had to feel like hell, it actually helps his monster heel persona a lot. Samoa Joe dominated early before Crimson caught him with a big boot. Crimson took down Abyss with a neck breaker. That led to Joe and Crimson having a face-off, and you thought John Cena and Randy Orton's face-off at the Royal Rumble had no reaction. You could hear crickets chirping in the background, which comes from a combination of Joe spinning his wheels for the past year while Crimson simply isn't over. Abyss intercepted and gave Joe a Black Hole Slam. Then Crimson gave Abyss a spear, and covered Joe, still selling the slam, for the pin.
Afterwards, Joe got up and teased going after Crimson, but Abyss blindsided Crimson instead. Joe didn't intervene and again walked off as Abyss stomped away on Crimson, finishing him off with another Black Hole Slam.
4. Mr Anderson won a 25-man battle royal to become the new number one contender at 28:11. Matt Morgan threw out Douglas Williams in :08 and Brutus Magnus at :13, not to mention Orlando Jordan at :34 and Anarquia at :41. Eric Young was doing the comedy spot of not getting in the ring until the match had already started. Hernandez eliminated Jesse Neal at 3:16, then threw Shannon Moore on top of him at 3:28 to personally take out Ink Inc. Morgan threw Robbie E over at 3:41 for his fifth elimination. Young actually eliminated Gunner in 4:21. Talk about the prestige of the TV title. Young then started jumping over the top rope back and forth until his eliminated himself at 4:32. Young took Gunner's TV title, and Gunner chased him to the back. Maybe that belt winds up like the WCW TV title. Storm skinned the cat after Hardy tried to throw him over. Jarrett eliminated Kazarian by suplexing him over the top at 10:59, and Kazarian got up holding his knee. Anderson constantly teased getting thrown over. Hardy and Storm dragged each other over the apron, then punched each other to the floor to eliminate each other at 12:00. Storm and Hardy continued to brawl and the referees had to break it up. That allowed Hardy to jump up and eliminate Roode at 12:48, even though Hardy had already been thrown out. Bully Ray eliminated Christopher Daniels at 13:04. Scott Steiner threw out Morgan at 13:14. Morgan did the old William Perry/Big John Studd trick where he shook Steiner's hand, only to have Ray throw Steiner over at 13:19. Devon made a charge for Pope D'Angelo Dinero but missed and was eliminated at 15:53. Dinero started taunting Devon, but Angle clotheslined him over at 16:10. Foley came out for commentary at this point. We were down to six when Styles fought off Jarrett and Ray before Dreamer and Jarrett started dropping elbows on him. Angle had the ankle lock on Ray before Dreamer broke it up. Dreamer selling as a heel is going to take some getting used to. Styles drop kicked Ray and was nearly eliminated, but held on. Then Dreamer took out Styles at 21:33. Dreamer and Ray high-fiver, but Ray then eliminated Dreamer at 21:38. Styles and Dreamer continued to fight on the floor. So it was Ray, Jarrett, Angle and Anderson. Crowd was lackluster for Anderson's comebacks on Ray, which shouldn't happen since Ray is such a great heel. Ray and Anderson were knocked out of the ring through the middle ropes, but not over the top. So Angle and Jarrett were alone in the ring even though Anderson and Ray weren't eliminated. Angle tried to eliminate Jarrett, but Karen at ringside kept from throwing him over. Karen constantly interfered until Jarrett threw Angle over at 21:33. Since he was alone, Jarrett thought he had won. But Chyna came back out and threw Jarrett over the top at 21:37. And it was ruled an elimination even though Chyna was never in the match. And they wonder why no one takes these matches seriously. Ray and Anderson got back in the ring for the finish, which was Anderson going for the Kenton bomb, but Ray got the knees up. Ray threw Anderson over the top, but Anderson stayed on the apron. Anderson, after taking several punches, grabbed a front face lock on Ray and dragged him over the top rope to win at 28:11. Entertaining for what it was. Anderson said he would be to Sting what the U.S. Navy Seals were to Osama bin Laden, which got a surprisingly mild pop. **1/4
Sting said he was happy for Anderson because he was going to shut his mouth when he finally meets him. Van Dam walked in and reminded him that Sting had to beat him first. Anderson, who was wearing a shirt during the battle royal, walked in shirtless. Who produces this show, Ed Wood? Anderson said he doesn't care who wins on Sunday, because he was an equal opportunity asshole. They all but said that Anderson would meet the winner at Slammiversary.
SUMMARY: Let's start with the name change. It's not going to make a difference as long as the current creative team is in place. In fact, nothing in pro wrestling is going to change until a new set of superstars are created, which again starts with taking chances on talent in headline positions, regardless of whether they're ready for it. Some of those given a chance will be flops. Some may be great leaders. But it's a chance this company has to take instead of doing the cosmetic things that seems important for a period, but in reality won't matter much beyond semantics and a new ramp. It's always a positive to have Foley in the mix. With three surprises and a new company name, the Sacrifice PPV came off as an afterthought. China's shelf life will be about as long as a Spice Girls reunion, and that's not going to turn a company around.”
“The Big News: The most newsworthy show in quite sometime. For starters, Mick Foley was introduced as the network representative, and announced that had changed the company's name from TNA Wrestling to Impact Wrestling. It was a night of revealed mystery partners, as Chris Harris and Chyna returned to the company. Mr. Anderson gained the elusive title shot when he won a 25-man battle royal in a show that was pretty good compared to the lackluster for few months of the year.
Hulk Hogan was waiting for the network representative backstage with a lead pipe when Eric Bischoff walked off. Bischoff warned him that Hogan wasn't going to win this battle with violence, but with his mind. Hogan listened to him.
Jeff and Karen Jarrett came out and wanted to call a truce with Kurt Angle. Yes, I know they've done this routine before, but this time the payoff was worth it. I mean, if payoff means getting in another 90s superstar. Back when wrestling knew how to actually create superstars. Jeff said he did everything he could to keep Karen out of his matches because he didn't want to see her get hurt. Karen talked about how warm and caring an ex-wife she had been. She said she always looked out for Kurt's best interests, even when she took out a restraining order against him. It was funny when she referred to Jeff as Big Daddy, then Jeff whispered into her ear and she corrected herself. Kurt came out and said that Karen had pushed him over the edge for years. Angle said he didn't even know why he married her, and by the time Jeff realizes it she'll take him for every dime he's worth too. If I was Jeff, I would've wanted that line eschewed from the script, for fear of how past wrestling relationships wind up. Hey, he's gotta protect that house by the lake. Kurt said he would introduce his "business partner" at the end of the show, and Jeff knew who she was.
1. Mickey James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Madison Rayne and Tara in 2:11. Madison Rayne ordered around Tara before the match and screamed at her for not holding the ropes open for her. Mickey James opened with Tara. Wouldn't it make sense for Tara to take it easy on James since she's fighting for Tara's freedom on Sunday? Having written that, after James scored a dropkick on Tara, they shook hands and Tara tagged Rayne in, much to her chagrin. Miss Tessmacher scored the pin on Rayne with a rana. Rayne screamed at Tara some more. 3/4*
Ric Flair was back walking around backstage when Hogan accused him of being the mole for the network representative. Flair yelled back at Hogan that he had been out of action since Lockdown because of a torn rotator cuff. Hogan immediately apologized as Bischoff tried to play peacemaker. Everybody cooled down.
Tara did an interview saying she wanted to be free from Rayne. Then Rayne walked up and said she would beat James for the Knockouts title and make her life a living hell.
The mystery man behind the camera wanted to talk to Tommy Dreamer about why he attacked A.J. Styles last week. Dreamer refused to talk. Then Styles walked out of his trailer and wanted answers. I always hate those tailer setups used for dressing rooms because it makes TNA look second-rate. Maybe they can cut a deal with Will Smith's trailer guy, which takes up about two blocks in New York. Then again, they'll piss off the Orlando neighbors in the process just like Smith has in New York. Anyway, Dreamer said that Styles was too young to understand what he was going through. Styles says he has three kids and thought it had something to do with the EV 2.0 fiasco. Well, I'd be pissed about that too if I was Styles because of how lousy a PPV it made for last year. Dreamer denied it. Styles challenged him to a match at Sacrifice. Dreamer said that Styles didn't know what he wanted. Styles challenged him to a fight then and there. Dreamer started to back off, which Styles called him out on saying the real Tommy Dreamer would never back down. Dreamer said maybe Styles, or anyone else, never really knew the real Tommy Dreamer. Meandering segment.
Sting was in the midst of a photo shoot with the Impact Wrestling title and talked about facing Rob Van Dam. He said he would be in for a test, but it may bring out the best in him. He also said that the network representative would be out shortly.
Beer Money came out following a video package that put them over as the hottest home grown act in the company, which is pretty much the truth. Bobby Roode called out Matt Hardy to find out his mystery tag team partner. How many mystery people do we need on this program? Roode thought he was talking about Jeff Hardy (not mentioning that name). Hardy came to the ring and ran down James Storm for constantly being intoxicated. He really said that. Tune in tomorrow when Shawn Kemp blames Antonio Cromartie for having too many illegitimate children. Storm then blew Hardy off the stage with his promo about disrespecting the TNA locker room, then got in Hardy's face about being the type of man who would walk in a bar, kick his ass, then take his girlfriend home with him to go to bed. For a guy who's been on the big stage for years, Hardy was light years behind these two on the stick. Hardy was about to do Storm's catchphrase when Storm slapped the microphone out of his hands. Storm was about to say it when music played, and Storm did this great facial as Chris Harris walked out. Harris had plenty of clothes on so it was hard to see what type of shape he was in, but facially he looked worse than his Braden Walker days. Storm and Harris had a long staredown. Beer Money came off really Major League again.
2. Sangriento defeated Suicide in 3:38. Sangriento did a satellite head scissors and followed with a corkscrew tope and a missile dropkick. Taz joked Sangriento must've been watching some of his old tapes. Suicide came back with a Shining Wizard and a Final Cut. Sangriento caught a flying kick to the head, a spin kick in the corner and a float over DDT for a near fall. Sangriento missed a sexton off the top but missed. Suicide caught the Suicide Solution for only a two count. Sangriento caught a flying downward spiral, then pinned him with a reverse springboard Diamond Cutter for a three count. Much better match than last week. ***1/4
Immediately, Hogan, Bischoff and Flair came out. Yep, it's classic WCW where the junior heavyweights have a great match and the crusty old guys crap all over it. Flair walked in and kicked Suicide in the balls and out of the ring, and possibly out of the company. Hogan demanded the network representative reveal themselves. Jeff and Karen Jarret walked down during a commercial. Then Mick Foley's music played and he came out to a big pop. Unfortunately, Foley immediately started doing his promo and the response wasn't sustained. Foley said he was the one who brought back Sting on March 3rd to beat Jeff Hardy for the Impact Wrestling title. Bischoff started mouthing off to Foley, who decked him with one punch. Foley warned anyone that if they touched him, they would be fired. Foley did his typical great promo, saying that wrestling matters in the end, though it's easy to forget. Especially on a show like this one which had five minutes of wrestling in the first hour. He announced that the company would never be known as TNA Wrestling again, but would now be known as Impact Wrestling. Crowd seemed indifferent to that, as if it wouldn't really matter what the name of the brand is. Foley arranged a 25-man battle royal for tonight with the winner being the new number one contender for the TNA title. Then Foley introduced Angle's associate, and it was Chyna. She got a good 1990's retro pop and everybody sold it strong in the ring, particularly Karen and Bischoff. But they did everything they could to shoot her from the neck up because she's lost so much muscle mass. It's a far cry from the days of 1995, when, as Dave Meltzer put it, she looked like Sid Vicious' younger brother.
Foley cut a promo saying that Impact Wrestling would be a wrestling company again. He also told Chyna to follow the Jarretts around, then harked back to an interview from 1999 about the weird sexual tension that he always had with her. Foley is great, even in a company that can be so hard to take seriously.
Mr. Anderson did an interview blaming Foley for denying him his one-on-one rematch and vowed to win the battle royal to become the new number one contender.
3. Crimson defeated Samoa Joe in a three-way match that also included Abyss in 2:27. This was a waste on several levels. First, shouldn't this be on a PPV? Second, why job Joe again? Third, Crimson isn't over yet, and the fans seem to be taking Joe's side, even though he's supposed to be the heel here. Abyss now has three lower teeth missing after the errant kick by Van Dam. While it had to feel like hell, it actually helps his monster heel persona a lot. Samoa Joe dominated early before Crimson caught him with a big boot. Crimson took down Abyss with a neck breaker. That led to Joe and Crimson having a face-off, and you thought John Cena and Randy Orton's face-off at the Royal Rumble had no reaction. You could hear crickets chirping in the background, which comes from a combination of Joe spinning his wheels for the past year while Crimson simply isn't over. Abyss intercepted and gave Joe a Black Hole Slam. Then Crimson gave Abyss a spear, and covered Joe, still selling the slam, for the pin.
Afterwards, Joe got up and teased going after Crimson, but Abyss blindsided Crimson instead. Joe didn't intervene and again walked off as Abyss stomped away on Crimson, finishing him off with another Black Hole Slam.
4. Mr Anderson won a 25-man battle royal to become the new number one contender at 28:11. Matt Morgan threw out Douglas Williams in :08 and Brutus Magnus at :13, not to mention Orlando Jordan at :34 and Anarquia at :41. Eric Young was doing the comedy spot of not getting in the ring until the match had already started. Hernandez eliminated Jesse Neal at 3:16, then threw Shannon Moore on top of him at 3:28 to personally take out Ink Inc. Morgan threw Robbie E over at 3:41 for his fifth elimination. Young actually eliminated Gunner in 4:21. Talk about the prestige of the TV title. Young then started jumping over the top rope back and forth until his eliminated himself at 4:32. Young took Gunner's TV title, and Gunner chased him to the back. Maybe that belt winds up like the WCW TV title. Storm skinned the cat after Hardy tried to throw him over. Jarrett eliminated Kazarian by suplexing him over the top at 10:59, and Kazarian got up holding his knee. Anderson constantly teased getting thrown over. Hardy and Storm dragged each other over the apron, then punched each other to the floor to eliminate each other at 12:00. Storm and Hardy continued to brawl and the referees had to break it up. That allowed Hardy to jump up and eliminate Roode at 12:48, even though Hardy had already been thrown out. Bully Ray eliminated Christopher Daniels at 13:04. Scott Steiner threw out Morgan at 13:14. Morgan did the old William Perry/Big John Studd trick where he shook Steiner's hand, only to have Ray throw Steiner over at 13:19. Devon made a charge for Pope D'Angelo Dinero but missed and was eliminated at 15:53. Dinero started taunting Devon, but Angle clotheslined him over at 16:10. Foley came out for commentary at this point. We were down to six when Styles fought off Jarrett and Ray before Dreamer and Jarrett started dropping elbows on him. Angle had the ankle lock on Ray before Dreamer broke it up. Dreamer selling as a heel is going to take some getting used to. Styles drop kicked Ray and was nearly eliminated, but held on. Then Dreamer took out Styles at 21:33. Dreamer and Ray high-fiver, but Ray then eliminated Dreamer at 21:38. Styles and Dreamer continued to fight on the floor. So it was Ray, Jarrett, Angle and Anderson. Crowd was lackluster for Anderson's comebacks on Ray, which shouldn't happen since Ray is such a great heel. Ray and Anderson were knocked out of the ring through the middle ropes, but not over the top. So Angle and Jarrett were alone in the ring even though Anderson and Ray weren't eliminated. Angle tried to eliminate Jarrett, but Karen at ringside kept from throwing him over. Karen constantly interfered until Jarrett threw Angle over at 21:33. Since he was alone, Jarrett thought he had won. But Chyna came back out and threw Jarrett over the top at 21:37. And it was ruled an elimination even though Chyna was never in the match. And they wonder why no one takes these matches seriously. Ray and Anderson got back in the ring for the finish, which was Anderson going for the Kenton bomb, but Ray got the knees up. Ray threw Anderson over the top, but Anderson stayed on the apron. Anderson, after taking several punches, grabbed a front face lock on Ray and dragged him over the top rope to win at 28:11. Entertaining for what it was. Anderson said he would be to Sting what the U.S. Navy Seals were to Osama bin Laden, which got a surprisingly mild pop. **1/4
Sting said he was happy for Anderson because he was going to shut his mouth when he finally meets him. Van Dam walked in and reminded him that Sting had to beat him first. Anderson, who was wearing a shirt during the battle royal, walked in shirtless. Who produces this show, Ed Wood? Anderson said he doesn't care who wins on Sunday, because he was an equal opportunity asshole. They all but said that Anderson would meet the winner at Slammiversary.
SUMMARY: Let's start with the name change. It's not going to make a difference as long as the current creative team is in place. In fact, nothing in pro wrestling is going to change until a new set of superstars are created, which again starts with taking chances on talent in headline positions, regardless of whether they're ready for it. Some of those given a chance will be flops. Some may be great leaders. But it's a chance this company has to take instead of doing the cosmetic things that seems important for a period, but in reality won't matter much beyond semantics and a new ramp. It's always a positive to have Foley in the mix. With three surprises and a new company name, the Sacrifice PPV came off as an afterthought. China's shelf life will be about as long as a Spice Girls reunion, and that's not going to turn a company around.”
This old thread will need shifted.
Damn Chyna's looking a lot better than she used to look a few years back, in fine shape but I'm not sure about harris, He probably still has the stigma of his "Braden Walker" wwe run with him, Plenty of people i've saw on forums and twitter call him Braden rather than his real name, The test will be sunday to see him in the ring.
TNA the last couple of months has been really good, a definite improvement on last year plus having Daniels back is nice.
TNA the last couple of months has been really good, a definite improvement on last year plus having Daniels back is nice.
From WrestlingObserver.com
????
Quote:
“TNA Impact - Wrestling Matters week one
Spoilers for Thursday's show
They open the show announcing that neither Hulk Hogan nor Mick Foley are there. They are in meetings in New York where Spike TV informed Hulk Hogan they were in 100 million homes. Hogan was shocked, noting that they're not on in a hotel he stayed at in Chicago, therefore he believed nobody got the station. Plus, when he went through airports, people asked him how come he's not on wrestling anymore and he responded, being in a wheelchair should be a hint.
With Foley gone, that meant Eric Bischoff was in charge. That's exactly how I'd have booked week one of when you promise a change. Brian Kendrick, Red and Generation Me came out and they wanted matches on TV. Bischoff asked them why would they want to get squashed on TV. Imortal laid them out and Fortune made the save
Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher & Tara b Madison Rayne & Sarita & Rosita when Tara pinned Rosita
Abyss b Kazarian to win the X Divsion title
Samoa Joe b Amazing Red in eight seconds. He kept beating on Red until Crimson made the save.
A.J. Styles called out Tommy Dreamer. Styles had a neck brace on from the world's worst piledriver the night before. Dreamer beat him down until Christopher Daniels made the save. Bully Ray came out and also attacked Styles and then Dreamer beat down Styles even more until Styles had to be heped out.
Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett challenged each other to a match at Slammiversary for the No. 1 contender. However Jeff added a stipulation that if he wins, he gets Kurt's gold medals. Karen was in a wheelchair but Velvet Sky came out and rolled her down the ramp.
Matt Hardy & Eric Bischoff b Generation Me.
Velvet Sky over Angelina Love & Winter in a handicap match when she pinned Love. ODB attacked Sky after the match.
Immoral beat down Bobby Roode as revenge for Roode taking out Ric Flair at Lockdown.
Sting did a promo saying his main focus was Hulk Hogan. Mr. Anderson, dressed up as the surfer Sting attacked Sting and left him laying.”
“TNA Impact - Wrestling Matters week one
Spoilers for Thursday's show
They open the show announcing that neither Hulk Hogan nor Mick Foley are there. They are in meetings in New York where Spike TV informed Hulk Hogan they were in 100 million homes. Hogan was shocked, noting that they're not on in a hotel he stayed at in Chicago, therefore he believed nobody got the station. Plus, when he went through airports, people asked him how come he's not on wrestling anymore and he responded, being in a wheelchair should be a hint.
With Foley gone, that meant Eric Bischoff was in charge. That's exactly how I'd have booked week one of when you promise a change. Brian Kendrick, Red and Generation Me came out and they wanted matches on TV. Bischoff asked them why would they want to get squashed on TV. Imortal laid them out and Fortune made the save
Mickie James & Miss Tessmacher & Tara b Madison Rayne & Sarita & Rosita when Tara pinned Rosita
Abyss b Kazarian to win the X Divsion title
Samoa Joe b Amazing Red in eight seconds. He kept beating on Red until Crimson made the save.
A.J. Styles called out Tommy Dreamer. Styles had a neck brace on from the world's worst piledriver the night before. Dreamer beat him down until Christopher Daniels made the save. Bully Ray came out and also attacked Styles and then Dreamer beat down Styles even more until Styles had to be heped out.
Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett challenged each other to a match at Slammiversary for the No. 1 contender. However Jeff added a stipulation that if he wins, he gets Kurt's gold medals. Karen was in a wheelchair but Velvet Sky came out and rolled her down the ramp.
Matt Hardy & Eric Bischoff b Generation Me.
Velvet Sky over Angelina Love & Winter in a handicap match when she pinned Love. ODB attacked Sky after the match.
Immoral beat down Bobby Roode as revenge for Roode taking out Ric Flair at Lockdown.
Sting did a promo saying his main focus was Hulk Hogan. Mr. Anderson, dressed up as the surfer Sting attacked Sting and left him laying.”
????
That's why I never get people complaining about TNA spoilers, it doesn't make any sense anyway so why does it matter?
Originally Posted by JCR:
“That's why I never get people complaining about TNA spoilers, it doesn't make any sense anyway so why does it matter?”
“That's why I never get people complaining about TNA spoilers, it doesn't make any sense anyway so why does it matter?”
Yeah, true.
From PWInsider.net
New look
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Quote:
“TNA INSTITUTING NEW CHAMPIONSHIP
By Mike Johnson on 2011-05-17 11:13:34
At last night's taping, TNA started a tournament for the first-ever Xplosion championship with the idea that the champion would be able to challenge any champion on Impact. In the opening match of the tournament, Pope Dinero defeated Suicide.”
“TNA INSTITUTING NEW CHAMPIONSHIP
By Mike Johnson on 2011-05-17 11:13:34
At last night's taping, TNA started a tournament for the first-ever Xplosion championship with the idea that the champion would be able to challenge any champion on Impact. In the opening match of the tournament, Pope Dinero defeated Suicide.”
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TNA spoilers
Quote:
“* Sting's music and video hits but it's really Mr. Anderson out as old school Sting. He says this is the Scorpion Sitdown. Since he can't wrestle due to age he'll sit down and talk. The crowd boos. He brings out his first guest, Disco Inferno. Disco dances out. Sting says you were there, you saw it all. Disco says you really are ass hole huh Sting asks him what he did to his injured foot? Disco says for comedy he did on Dancing with the Stars. Loud boring chant starts. Sting says he can get boring and just sits there. Disco tells him to get going. Sting says he was there for guys like Firebreaker Chip and Glacier. Since he was there he wants to hear from Disco's lips what it was like. Disco wondered why he was there and he figures he wants the real story on Sting. Disco starts to talk about Sting but Anderson keeps interrupting woos. Disco says if he brought him here he needs to listen. Back then the belt didn't make the wrestler, the wrestler made the belt. When Sting came around he commanded respect. When he was there he'd help everybody get better and Anderson should kiss Sting's feet for making the business what it is. Anderson interrupts, does a stinger splash to no one. Disco asks why he calls himself a ass hole when he's just a jerk. Anderson says excuse me. Disco asks if he stuttered. He gets up dances, has the mic drop down, says jerk into it and stands there. Anderson takes the mic and bashes it in Disco's face. Disco is bloody. Anderson delivers more blows. The real Sting comes out and chases Anderson off through the crowd.
* Street fight, Tommy Dreamer & Bully Ray vs. Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles. Styles has a neck brace on. Winners via spike piledriver to Dreamer, AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels. Good brawl.
* Velvet Sky is out. She asks if some of the Kknockouts are insane in the membrane with the accusations against her. From Winter saying she's jealous to Karen Jarrett saying she's Angle's mistress to ODB's problem with her. She says she heard she's in the building. ODB comes out and confronts Velvet. ODB says she got a call she was fired 6 months into her multi-year deal. She was told it's because she doesn't have the right look. Velvet said her problem with management has nothing to do with her. Velvet has been working her butt off day after day getting her butt kicked, trying to be the best. ODB tells her to shut her pie hole. ODB says she's pathetic and an embarrassment to the knockouts and women in general. That's why Angelina left her. Velvet starts to cry. ODB mocks her. Velvet goes to leave but ODB attacks her. She is beating and choking Velvet. Security breaks it up but ODB breaks through and attacks Velvet again. Security grabs ODB and Velvet runs off.
* Eric Young goes into the bathroom to find Gunner. Young goes into a stall that Gunner goes to hit him. Young says hang on. He might have accidentally taken Gunner's belt. He's sorry. He wants to make it up to him and lay down in the ring for Gunner. Gunner says if he doesn't lay down he'll put him down.
* For the Olympic gold medals, Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett has been signed for Slammiversary.
* Matt Morgan vs. Jeff Jarrett w/Karen. Karen's ankle is wrapped and she's using a crutch. Before the match Hebner forces Karen to sit further away from the ring. Winner after interference by Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett. Karen distracted the referee and Steiner delivered a flatliner to Morgan.
* Eric Bischoff is out. He says he loves each and every one of us. He said last week he sat down and had a pow wow with Mick Foley and some network reps. He convinced the reps that Foley is not qualified to be the leader of Impact Wrestling and only one man can do that. That man is the one, the only, Hulk Hogan. Hogan joins Bischoff in the ring. Hogan said all it took was a good old fashioned sit down. He says they realized his genius is second to none. He's back in the saddle and clear saying from now on. He says what Bischoff did last week by taking apart the X Division was great. Mick Foley comes out. Hogan says he's not invited. Foley chants start. Foley says he doesn't need to be, he's a network executive. He says all Hogan accomplished was making the network mad. When Hogan left, Foley showed them how the X Division helped put TNA on the map. So not only does it stay, it will go to new heights. Bischoff says that may be well and good, The Network has nothing to do with the pay-per-view. Foley says the Network is where you promote the PPV so if you think you can have a PPV without the network. Hogan says he still has the pull and why not have his X Division Champion against Foley? The X-rated Abyss vs Foley? Brian Kendrick, Generation Me and Amazing Red come out. Kendrick starts spouting philosophical stuff and saying that they're there for good. Hogan says he better shut-up and leave. Kendrick calls Hogan a cripple. He says he wants to take Foley's place and face Abyss. Hogan asks if he's serious. Hogan agrees and says Kendrick's blood is on Foley's hands.
* TNA Knockout Women's Champion Mickie James vs. Winter w/Angelina Love in a non-title match. Winner via Last Kiss Goodnight, Mickie James. After the match, Angelina Love came out and attacked Mickie James.
* For the TNA X Division Championship, Abyss vs. Brian Kendrick. Winner via Black Hole Slam, Abyss.
* They re-taped the segment with Velvet Sky and ODB to make it shorter and more to the point.
* For the TNA TV Title, Eric Young vs. Gunner. Winner via small package and new champion, Eric Young. Young laid down but it was a trick and he swerved Gunner.
* Rob Van Dam vs. Kurt Angle. Winner via Angle Slam, Kurt Angle.
Xplosion:
* Robbie E w/Cookie vs. Crimson. Winner via Sky High, Crimson.”
“* Sting's music and video hits but it's really Mr. Anderson out as old school Sting. He says this is the Scorpion Sitdown. Since he can't wrestle due to age he'll sit down and talk. The crowd boos. He brings out his first guest, Disco Inferno. Disco dances out. Sting says you were there, you saw it all. Disco says you really are ass hole huh Sting asks him what he did to his injured foot? Disco says for comedy he did on Dancing with the Stars. Loud boring chant starts. Sting says he can get boring and just sits there. Disco tells him to get going. Sting says he was there for guys like Firebreaker Chip and Glacier. Since he was there he wants to hear from Disco's lips what it was like. Disco wondered why he was there and he figures he wants the real story on Sting. Disco starts to talk about Sting but Anderson keeps interrupting woos. Disco says if he brought him here he needs to listen. Back then the belt didn't make the wrestler, the wrestler made the belt. When Sting came around he commanded respect. When he was there he'd help everybody get better and Anderson should kiss Sting's feet for making the business what it is. Anderson interrupts, does a stinger splash to no one. Disco asks why he calls himself a ass hole when he's just a jerk. Anderson says excuse me. Disco asks if he stuttered. He gets up dances, has the mic drop down, says jerk into it and stands there. Anderson takes the mic and bashes it in Disco's face. Disco is bloody. Anderson delivers more blows. The real Sting comes out and chases Anderson off through the crowd.
* Street fight, Tommy Dreamer & Bully Ray vs. Christopher Daniels & AJ Styles. Styles has a neck brace on. Winners via spike piledriver to Dreamer, AJ Styles & Christopher Daniels. Good brawl.
* Velvet Sky is out. She asks if some of the Kknockouts are insane in the membrane with the accusations against her. From Winter saying she's jealous to Karen Jarrett saying she's Angle's mistress to ODB's problem with her. She says she heard she's in the building. ODB comes out and confronts Velvet. ODB says she got a call she was fired 6 months into her multi-year deal. She was told it's because she doesn't have the right look. Velvet said her problem with management has nothing to do with her. Velvet has been working her butt off day after day getting her butt kicked, trying to be the best. ODB tells her to shut her pie hole. ODB says she's pathetic and an embarrassment to the knockouts and women in general. That's why Angelina left her. Velvet starts to cry. ODB mocks her. Velvet goes to leave but ODB attacks her. She is beating and choking Velvet. Security breaks it up but ODB breaks through and attacks Velvet again. Security grabs ODB and Velvet runs off.
* Eric Young goes into the bathroom to find Gunner. Young goes into a stall that Gunner goes to hit him. Young says hang on. He might have accidentally taken Gunner's belt. He's sorry. He wants to make it up to him and lay down in the ring for Gunner. Gunner says if he doesn't lay down he'll put him down.
* For the Olympic gold medals, Kurt Angle vs. Jeff Jarrett has been signed for Slammiversary.
* Matt Morgan vs. Jeff Jarrett w/Karen. Karen's ankle is wrapped and she's using a crutch. Before the match Hebner forces Karen to sit further away from the ring. Winner after interference by Scott Steiner, Jeff Jarrett. Karen distracted the referee and Steiner delivered a flatliner to Morgan.
* Eric Bischoff is out. He says he loves each and every one of us. He said last week he sat down and had a pow wow with Mick Foley and some network reps. He convinced the reps that Foley is not qualified to be the leader of Impact Wrestling and only one man can do that. That man is the one, the only, Hulk Hogan. Hogan joins Bischoff in the ring. Hogan said all it took was a good old fashioned sit down. He says they realized his genius is second to none. He's back in the saddle and clear saying from now on. He says what Bischoff did last week by taking apart the X Division was great. Mick Foley comes out. Hogan says he's not invited. Foley chants start. Foley says he doesn't need to be, he's a network executive. He says all Hogan accomplished was making the network mad. When Hogan left, Foley showed them how the X Division helped put TNA on the map. So not only does it stay, it will go to new heights. Bischoff says that may be well and good, The Network has nothing to do with the pay-per-view. Foley says the Network is where you promote the PPV so if you think you can have a PPV without the network. Hogan says he still has the pull and why not have his X Division Champion against Foley? The X-rated Abyss vs Foley? Brian Kendrick, Generation Me and Amazing Red come out. Kendrick starts spouting philosophical stuff and saying that they're there for good. Hogan says he better shut-up and leave. Kendrick calls Hogan a cripple. He says he wants to take Foley's place and face Abyss. Hogan asks if he's serious. Hogan agrees and says Kendrick's blood is on Foley's hands.
* TNA Knockout Women's Champion Mickie James vs. Winter w/Angelina Love in a non-title match. Winner via Last Kiss Goodnight, Mickie James. After the match, Angelina Love came out and attacked Mickie James.
* For the TNA X Division Championship, Abyss vs. Brian Kendrick. Winner via Black Hole Slam, Abyss.
* They re-taped the segment with Velvet Sky and ODB to make it shorter and more to the point.
* For the TNA TV Title, Eric Young vs. Gunner. Winner via small package and new champion, Eric Young. Young laid down but it was a trick and he swerved Gunner.
* Rob Van Dam vs. Kurt Angle. Winner via Angle Slam, Kurt Angle.
Xplosion:
* Robbie E w/Cookie vs. Crimson. Winner via Sky High, Crimson.”
I've just read about the "new" championship and i'm quite intruiged. It could work,but only if the holder of it is then forced to give it up if they successfully challenge for one of the other titles.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I've just read about the "new" championship and i'm quite intruiged. It could work,but only if the holder of it is then forced to give it up if they successfully challenge for one of the other titles.”
“I've just read about the "new" championship and i'm quite intruiged. It could work,but only if the holder of it is then forced to give it up if they successfully challenge for one of the other titles.”
The titles mean nothing in wrestling, especially TNA. Just look at the TV title mentioned in the spoilers. Another belt that is worthless isn't going to mean anything. It will probably get dropped in a few weeks.
Originally Posted by DejaVoodoo:
“The titles mean nothing in wrestling, especially TNA. Just look at the TV title mentioned in the spoilers. Another belt that is worthless isn't going to mean anything. It will probably get dropped in a few weeks.”
“The titles mean nothing in wrestling, especially TNA. Just look at the TV title mentioned in the spoilers. Another belt that is worthless isn't going to mean anything. It will probably get dropped in a few weeks.”
I'd disagree with that - Kaz held the X Division belt for 5 months and defended it regularly which gives it a degree of credibility.
I know i'm far too old school for my own good when it comes to titles, but i don't care
The "new" title does seem like a glorified money in the bank type deal though, but, as i said, it could work.
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“I'd disagree with that - Kaz held the X Division belt for 5 months and defended it regularly which gives it a degree of credibility.
I know i'm far too old school for my own good when it comes to titles, but i don't care
The "new" title does seem like a glorified money in the bank type deal though, but, as i said, it could work.”
“I'd disagree with that - Kaz held the X Division belt for 5 months and defended it regularly which gives it a degree of credibility.
I know i'm far too old school for my own good when it comes to titles, but i don't care
The "new" title does seem like a glorified money in the bank type deal though, but, as i said, it could work.”
Kaz means nothing. Hence the X division title means nothing. Having the belt on a geek, makes the belt worthless.
The new Xplosion thing is another fad that will be dropped, just like the rankings.
Originally Posted by ags_rule:
“They're clearly building up to the all X-Division PPV in July, excellent!
”
“They're clearly building up to the all X-Division PPV in July, excellent!
”
Great, but the X division is in a horrible state. Abyss is the champ. The PPV should have some good matches at least, but that division has been dumped on so much that most people won't care about an all X Division PPV.
From Wrestling Observer Newsletter
Quote:
“Desmond Wolfe has returned in his new role as the commissioner of Xplosion, which is their “B” show that airs in some foreign markets. That’s pretty much telling us he’s not going to be able to wrestle for a while. They are also adding an Xplosion championship which will be the company’s version of a Money in the Bank in that the Xplosion champion can challenge for any championship when he wants to. Since the wording is any championship, and Russo, you’d think it’s a lock that he’s going to have Orlando Jordan win the title and then go for the Knockouts title, just like having Abyss win the X title. They taped the first tournament match on 5/16, with Pope beating Suicide.”
“Desmond Wolfe has returned in his new role as the commissioner of Xplosion, which is their “B” show that airs in some foreign markets. That’s pretty much telling us he’s not going to be able to wrestle for a while. They are also adding an Xplosion championship which will be the company’s version of a Money in the Bank in that the Xplosion champion can challenge for any championship when he wants to. Since the wording is any championship, and Russo, you’d think it’s a lock that he’s going to have Orlando Jordan win the title and then go for the Knockouts title, just like having Abyss win the X title. They taped the first tournament match on 5/16, with Pope beating Suicide.”
Originally Posted by DejaVoodoo:
“Great, but the X division is in a horrible state. Abyss is the champ. The PPV should have some good matches at least, but that division has been dumped on so much that most people won't care about an all X Division PPV.”
“Great, but the X division is in a horrible state. Abyss is the champ. The PPV should have some good matches at least, but that division has been dumped on so much that most people won't care about an all X Division PPV.”
Lol, I thought it would be obvious to anyone that the only reason they put the belt on Abyss is part of the X-Division PPV angle. They put it on a member of Immortal to hold the belt 'hostage', so to speak, and then the pay-off comes at the X-Division PPV when it gets returned to it's rightful owners.
It's a common story angle, I'm shocked you didn't pick up on the logic behind it!
Originally Posted by ags_rule:
“Lol, I thought it would be obvious to anyone that the only reason they put the belt on Abyss is part of the X-Division PPV angle. They put it on a member of Immortal to hold the belt 'hostage', so to speak, and then the pay-off comes at the X-Division PPV when it gets returned to it's rightful owners.
It's a common story angle, I'm shocked you didn't pick up on the logic behind it!”
“Lol, I thought it would be obvious to anyone that the only reason they put the belt on Abyss is part of the X-Division PPV angle. They put it on a member of Immortal to hold the belt 'hostage', so to speak, and then the pay-off comes at the X-Division PPV when it gets returned to it's rightful owners.
It's a common story angle, I'm shocked you didn't pick up on the logic behind it!”
The logic is very clear but many of the internet fans are hating the fact the Abyss is X Division Champ, Samoa Joe squashed Red in 10 seconds and Gen Me jobbed to Bischoff.
Its the same fans who have moaned for ages about the X Division being forgotton yet when they get a big storyline they hate it because they get booked badly for one show.
I don't know how you can book a show around the X Division thesedays, mostly because it's near non-existent. Styles is beyond XD now as is Joe (who is way past his prime). Sabin is injured, Red is a glorifed jobbed and Williams hasn't been pushed in months.
This leaves Kazarian, Daniels, Kendrick, Shelley, Generation Me, Robbie E (terrible wrestler) and Shannon Moore. All of whom haven't been pushed strongly anyway.
This leaves Kazarian, Daniels, Kendrick, Shelley, Generation Me, Robbie E (terrible wrestler) and Shannon Moore. All of whom haven't been pushed strongly anyway.
Originally Posted by ags_rule:
“Lol, I thought it would be obvious to anyone that the only reason they put the belt on Abyss is part of the X-Division PPV angle. They put it on a member of Immortal to hold the belt 'hostage', so to speak, and then the pay-off comes at the X-Division PPV when it gets returned to it's rightful owners.
It's a common story angle, I'm shocked you didn't pick up on the logic behind it!”
“Lol, I thought it would be obvious to anyone that the only reason they put the belt on Abyss is part of the X-Division PPV angle. They put it on a member of Immortal to hold the belt 'hostage', so to speak, and then the pay-off comes at the X-Division PPV when it gets returned to it's rightful owners.
It's a common story angle, I'm shocked you didn't pick up on the logic behind it!”
That would only work if the belt meant anything and if the x division guys weren't buried every week.
Originally Posted by DejaVoodoo:
“That would only work if the belt meant anything and if the x division guys weren't buried every week.”
“That would only work if the belt meant anything and if the x division guys weren't buried every week.”
The only reason the X-Division guys have been getting buried the past while is all part of this angle.
See that's why people who read show spoilers but don't watch the full product might as well not comment at all, because you don't get the full picture. Someone like yourself, who doesn't actually watch TNA (which makes me wonder why you have so much to say about it), reads a spoiler that says Bischoff beats Generation Me, then goes on the internet saying "lol TNA what a joke, even Bischoff is beating the X-Division guys!". This is completely overlooking the fact that this is all to build heat for the inevitable PPV.
This whole angle is pure ECW One Night Stand 2005.
Originally Posted by jamespondo:
“I don't know how you can book a show around the X Division thesedays, mostly because it's near non-existent. Styles is beyond XD now as is Joe (who is way past his prime). Sabin is injured, Red is a glorifed jobbed and Williams hasn't been pushed in months.
This leaves Kazarian, Daniels, Kendrick, Shelley, Generation Me, Robbie E (terrible wrestler) and Shannon Moore. All of whom haven't been pushed strongly anyway.”
“I don't know how you can book a show around the X Division thesedays, mostly because it's near non-existent. Styles is beyond XD now as is Joe (who is way past his prime). Sabin is injured, Red is a glorifed jobbed and Williams hasn't been pushed in months.
This leaves Kazarian, Daniels, Kendrick, Shelley, Generation Me, Robbie E (terrible wrestler) and Shannon Moore. All of whom haven't been pushed strongly anyway.”
I guess that highlights the problem in a sense - if the PPV is going to be the start of the re-launch of the X-Division then people need to get behind it and give it a chance.
If people just look at it and think "Meh - X Division doesn't mean much nowadays" then it'll never work
Originally Posted by ags_rule:
“The only reason the X-Division guys have been getting buried the past while is all part of this angle.
See that's why people who read show spoilers but don't watch the full product might as well not comment at all, because you don't get the full picture. Someone like yourself, who doesn't actually watch TNA (which makes me wonder why you have so much to say about it), reads a spoiler that says Bischoff beats Generation Me, then goes on the internet saying "lol TNA what a joke, even Bischoff is beating the X-Division guys!". This is completely overlooking the fact that this is all to build heat for the inevitable PPV.
This whole angle is pure ECW One Night Stand 2005.”
“The only reason the X-Division guys have been getting buried the past while is all part of this angle.
See that's why people who read show spoilers but don't watch the full product might as well not comment at all, because you don't get the full picture. Someone like yourself, who doesn't actually watch TNA (which makes me wonder why you have so much to say about it), reads a spoiler that says Bischoff beats Generation Me, then goes on the internet saying "lol TNA what a joke, even Bischoff is beating the X-Division guys!". This is completely overlooking the fact that this is all to build heat for the inevitable PPV.
This whole angle is pure ECW One Night Stand 2005.”
You mean like the MEM angle, where the heels beat everyone up and the babyfaces never got their comeback.
I do watch Impact. This weeks burial of the X division continues to damage them so much that even if they get their win back at the end of the feud, people will still think they're geeks. Pointless storyline where no X division guy gets elevated.
Burying a group that's already badly damaged isn't going to encourage people to buy a PPV. People simply won't care.
Impact Review
Quote:
“The Big News: Meet the new Impact. Not quite the same as the old Impact, but close enough.
Impact Wrestling debuted with a whole new paint job (new opening, blue lights over the arena, Impact Wrestling logo, no mention of TNA).
The new "wrestling matters" era of Impact Wrestling starting with....a 15-minute interview segment ending with a pull apart brawl. In other words, pretty much the same opening segment on Impact over the past four years. Eric Bischoff brought out Immortal and took credit for the new look, and said Mick Foley's influence over the new product was overrated. Bischoff said that Hulk Hogan was in New York with Foley with negotiations over something. Nice to see that Hogan living up to that promise of being the Vince McMahon of TNA by not even appearing on the supposed relaunch of their own brand. Brian Kendrick, Amazing Red, and Generation Me came out. Kendrick claimed Bischoff was a leech who slithered his way to power, and it's left the X Division wrestlers out in the cold. Wasn't Kendrick paying attention to how WCW handled Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero. Bischoff said he was going to single handily wipe out the X Division tonight with Kazarian facing Abyss for the X Division title, Amazing Red (who Bischoff called Mildly Moderate Red) going against Samoa Joe, and Generation Me would face Matt Hardy and Bischoff, who said he was going to kick some vanilla midget ass. When Kendrick asked what was his match, Bischoff slapped him. That started a brawl where the heels pretty much kick the baby faces asses until Fortune came out, sans A.J. Styles (selling the injury from Sacrifice). Finally, the X Division wrestlers recovered and Red and Kendrick did some spectacular dives on Abyss, and they continued to brawl with the faces once again have the man advantage over the heels. Ric Flair said he was going to confront Bobby Roode tonight.
Tara, Mickey James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Rosita, Sarita and Madison Rayne in 4:20. Hernandez and Anarquia came out for commentary, but Anarquia did all the talking. Madison Rayne ran away from Tara most of the match. Tara gave Rosita a Spider's Web until Sarita made the save. For a moment, Rayne was left in the ring alone with Tara. So Rayne threw Rosita to Tara and ran. Tara pinned Rosita after Brain Damage. *
2. Abyss defeated Kazarian in 5:03 to win the TNA X Division title. Before he went out for his match, Bischoff told Abyss to destroy Kazarian, and asked him what would Sun Tzu do? He was referring to the book "The Art of War," I guess trying to make Abyss into more of an intellectual monster. Mike Tenay played it up like it could be the final X Division championship match we ever see. Kazarian struck with a missile dropkick, which sparked an "X Division" chant. Kazarian snapped off a huracanrana off the second rope and a springboard leg drop for a two count. Kazarian got a victory roll for another near fall, but missed a charge in the corner and Abyss got shock treatment, then attempted the old Vader Bomb but missed. Abyss started selling his right knee, and referee Jackson James told Kazarian to back off. Kazarian ran toward Abyss, but Abyss used his right leg to kick Kazarian, telling that Abyss outsmarted him. Abyss then got the pin with a Black Hole Slam, and mentioned afterwards that the Art of War says that subduing your enemy can best be done without fighting. The last time I hear that line used was Charlie Sheen in "Wall Street." That leads me to wonder if fans who ever attended a live Impact taping would ever revolt like the people who attended Sheen's opening night fiasco of his comedy tour. Well, they get in for free, so I guess the point is moot.
There was a figure with a Sting logo from early 1990s WCW walking around. Then Sting did an interview dressed in Black and Red, leading Tenay and Taz to wonder who the guy with the old school Sting gear was.
Gunner was mad at Eric Young for stealing his TNA TV title and vowed to find him.
3. Samoa Joe defeated Amazing Red in :48. Squash with Joe getting the win with a Muscle Buster. Joe continued to beat up Red afterwards until Crimson ran in and they brawled. Crimson hit an exploder suplex to send Joe out of the ring. DUD
Styles came to the ring in a neck brace and called out Tommy Dreamer. Styles essentially offered Dreamer an olive branch, saying that he knew that the only reason why Dreamer pile drove him through a table at Sacrifice was because Hulk Hogan and Immortal controlled his contract in TNA. Either he does what Immortal says, or he's out of a gig. Styles said if he was in Dreamer's shoes, he would have done the same thing, so his grudge wasn't with Dreamer. In what may have been the first great heel interview of his career, Dreamer asked Styles if that meant that Styles was saying he was better than him. Or that he couldn't beat Styles if he wasn't hurt, or without outside interference. Dreamer said tonight marked a landmark occasion, because on Sunday he hurt Styles because Immortal wanted him to. Tonight, he was going to hurt Styles because he wanted to, and then leveled Styles with a microphone. Dreamer admitted to selling out because the fans wouldn't help him in the end, even after he gave everything to the business. Dreamer continued to put the boots to Styles until Christopher Daniels ran in. At first, Dreamer backed off, then ran toward Daniels. But Daniels punched him away until Bully Ray ran in with a chain, and cracked Styles in the neck from behind. Dreamer wound up pile driving Styles again. Good segment with plenty of heat.
Kurt Angle came out and gave credit for Chyna for doing him a big favor by taking out Karen Jarrett. When Angle brought up the match, crowd started chanting "That was awesome." Angle thanked Chyna and said he was indebted to her. Some boos over her absence. Angle challenged Jeff Jarrett to a match at Slammiversary, with the winner being the number one contender for the TNA heavyweight title. Jarrett came out and said that every time he had faced Angle, he had won. He couldn't understand why Angle would want another match. So Jarrett said he would take the match only if Angle agreed to put up his Olympic gold medals in return. Angle agreed. Then Jarrett's music played, and Karen rose through the stage like Kurt's entrance in a wheelchair. She said that she would be in Jeff's corner at Slammiversary, and that Kurt could never take her out. As she was talking, Velvet Sky came up behind her, grabbed the wheelchair and rolled her down the ramp, where Karen collided with Jeff. There had to be some heavy editing done, because Sky was doing everything she could to keep Karen from flying down the ramp. Then in the next shot, she went plowing into Jeff at full speed, like she was Dale Earnhardt Jr. on an ordinary Sunday.
Jeremy and Max Buck admitted they still had some heat with each other, but would put that aside tonight in order to beat Bischoff and Hardy.
Bischoff was in the back and got a phone call from Hogan. Apparently, the negotiations in New York were going well, because Bischoff just laughed about what happens when you put Hogan in a negotiating room with network executives against Foley. Bischoff then told him he was going back in the ring tonight.
Jeff was on the phone with Bischoff, who arranged a match with Sky against Angelina Love and Winter. Karen was mad that Jeff wouldn't wheel her out of the room.
4. Matt Hardy and Eric Bischoff defeated Generation Me in 6:07. Totally stupid match. The Bucks hit several top rope arm moves on Hardy before Hardy turned the tables with two Side Effects on Jeremy Buck. Max Buck tagged in and gave Hardy a head scissors while Jeremy hit him with a dropkick, followed by a dropkick by Max. Hardy hit a Spine Line. Hardy teased making a hot tag to Bischoff. They're heels! Jeremy intercepted him a frog splash. Jeremy tried a 450, but Matt got the knees up. Matt then clamped on the Icepick on Max until he passed out. Matt then dragged Max up, and allowed Bischoff to throw some horrid looking kicks and allowed Bischoff to pin Max. *3/4
Winter told a sedated Love that tonight was the night that Sky would never bother her again. She then kissed her on the lips.
5. Velvet Sky defeated Angelina Love and Winter in a handicap match in 4:30. With more wrestling time on this show, there mainly a benefit. This match was an exception. It was most handicap matches you've ever seen. Sky briefly hand the advantage after she clotheslined both Love and Winter. Aside from that, it was mostly chokeholds and hair pulling. Winter gave Sky a catatonic into a backbreaker, and tagged in Love. But Sky gave Love a small package for the pin. 1/2*
Sky barely had time to celebrate when ODB, now with new tattoos everywhere and light brown hair, jumped her. ODB screamed that she was back, now as a heel. That didn't keep fans from chanting "ODB" at her.
Tessmacher was doing a modeling session, but was upset that the photographer didn't even have a camera. Turned out the photographer was Eric Young, wearing Gunner's TV title. Young started posing for her like he wanted her to do. Then Gunner walked in demanding his TV title back. Young talked like they had engaged in an all-time classic last week that took both men to the limit, when it was really a Battle Royal where both men were eliminated early. Finally, Gunner decked him and took the belt back. Young talked about how that was a good idea since he was already the TNA Champion, and they needed to keep both belts separate.
Flair said he hadn't been able to sleep since he tapped out to Roode in the Lethal Lockdown match in Cincinnati. Roode said Flair taught him to take advantage of each opportunity, and Lockdown was an example of that. Flair said if the shoe was on the other foot, he would've taken you out of wrestling for the rest of his career. Roode said what happened at Lockdown was business and wanted to move forward, because Flair has had his time. Flair said they've been telling him that for 25 years, and being the man and staying the man are two different things. Flair challenged him to a fight then and there. At first, Roode refused, but Flair slapped him. Roode then put him in the same Fujiwara arm bar that forced Flair to tap out. Ray, Abyss, Gunner and Hardy ran in to jump Roode, with Ray whipping Roode with a chain. The back story told earlier by Tenay was that James Storm suffered a concussion during the show opening brawl. With Styles and Kazarian injured, no one was left to save Roode. Hardy then took a chair and slammed it against Roode's elbow. Another good segment. Of all the attributes that make Flair a legend, perhaps the one that should be most cherished is his ability to still get younger wrestlers over, which he's been doing since making Ricky Steamboat. Even in a different paradigm, he did it here, to a lesser extent.
Sting came out and put over Rob Van Dam, which got what sounded like some piped in chants. He mentioned that less than a minute after he defeated Van Dam, that Mr. Anderson was in his face. Then Sting's music played, and Anderson came out dressed in Sting's 1990 gold and blue gear. He hit Sting with a baseball bat and gave him a Scorpion Death Drop, then screamed in his face. Instead of coming across like a third-rate Steve Austin, Anderson was a total heel here because the crowd was stone cold silent.
SUMMARY: A mixed bag of a show for a reset. There were less backstage skits and less foolishness overall. But new sets, new logos and new names isn't going to make things easier for a company any more than it did for WCW in 1999. In fact, that's what this show reminded me of, when Kevin Nash was booking and WCW was falling apart at the seems. In dire need of new superstars, the company resorted to burying the cruiser weights (before turning Rey Mysterio heel, among others), and failing to make any new stars aside from Goldberg (who eventually turned heel himself that year). Here, they did the exact same thing with the X Division. I know we're supposed to wait for an X Division comeback. But the pattern of TNA's past has been for the heels to build the heat, and the babyfaces never get the comeback because the creative team just forgets about it and moves on to their next hotshot angle. In the end, more wrestling was a nice change, but it was hardly an overwhelming difference from previous weeks.”
“The Big News: Meet the new Impact. Not quite the same as the old Impact, but close enough.
Impact Wrestling debuted with a whole new paint job (new opening, blue lights over the arena, Impact Wrestling logo, no mention of TNA).
The new "wrestling matters" era of Impact Wrestling starting with....a 15-minute interview segment ending with a pull apart brawl. In other words, pretty much the same opening segment on Impact over the past four years. Eric Bischoff brought out Immortal and took credit for the new look, and said Mick Foley's influence over the new product was overrated. Bischoff said that Hulk Hogan was in New York with Foley with negotiations over something. Nice to see that Hogan living up to that promise of being the Vince McMahon of TNA by not even appearing on the supposed relaunch of their own brand. Brian Kendrick, Amazing Red, and Generation Me came out. Kendrick claimed Bischoff was a leech who slithered his way to power, and it's left the X Division wrestlers out in the cold. Wasn't Kendrick paying attention to how WCW handled Rey Mysterio and Eddy Guerrero. Bischoff said he was going to single handily wipe out the X Division tonight with Kazarian facing Abyss for the X Division title, Amazing Red (who Bischoff called Mildly Moderate Red) going against Samoa Joe, and Generation Me would face Matt Hardy and Bischoff, who said he was going to kick some vanilla midget ass. When Kendrick asked what was his match, Bischoff slapped him. That started a brawl where the heels pretty much kick the baby faces asses until Fortune came out, sans A.J. Styles (selling the injury from Sacrifice). Finally, the X Division wrestlers recovered and Red and Kendrick did some spectacular dives on Abyss, and they continued to brawl with the faces once again have the man advantage over the heels. Ric Flair said he was going to confront Bobby Roode tonight.
Tara, Mickey James and Miss Tessmacher defeated Rosita, Sarita and Madison Rayne in 4:20. Hernandez and Anarquia came out for commentary, but Anarquia did all the talking. Madison Rayne ran away from Tara most of the match. Tara gave Rosita a Spider's Web until Sarita made the save. For a moment, Rayne was left in the ring alone with Tara. So Rayne threw Rosita to Tara and ran. Tara pinned Rosita after Brain Damage. *
2. Abyss defeated Kazarian in 5:03 to win the TNA X Division title. Before he went out for his match, Bischoff told Abyss to destroy Kazarian, and asked him what would Sun Tzu do? He was referring to the book "The Art of War," I guess trying to make Abyss into more of an intellectual monster. Mike Tenay played it up like it could be the final X Division championship match we ever see. Kazarian struck with a missile dropkick, which sparked an "X Division" chant. Kazarian snapped off a huracanrana off the second rope and a springboard leg drop for a two count. Kazarian got a victory roll for another near fall, but missed a charge in the corner and Abyss got shock treatment, then attempted the old Vader Bomb but missed. Abyss started selling his right knee, and referee Jackson James told Kazarian to back off. Kazarian ran toward Abyss, but Abyss used his right leg to kick Kazarian, telling that Abyss outsmarted him. Abyss then got the pin with a Black Hole Slam, and mentioned afterwards that the Art of War says that subduing your enemy can best be done without fighting. The last time I hear that line used was Charlie Sheen in "Wall Street." That leads me to wonder if fans who ever attended a live Impact taping would ever revolt like the people who attended Sheen's opening night fiasco of his comedy tour. Well, they get in for free, so I guess the point is moot.
There was a figure with a Sting logo from early 1990s WCW walking around. Then Sting did an interview dressed in Black and Red, leading Tenay and Taz to wonder who the guy with the old school Sting gear was.
Gunner was mad at Eric Young for stealing his TNA TV title and vowed to find him.
3. Samoa Joe defeated Amazing Red in :48. Squash with Joe getting the win with a Muscle Buster. Joe continued to beat up Red afterwards until Crimson ran in and they brawled. Crimson hit an exploder suplex to send Joe out of the ring. DUD
Styles came to the ring in a neck brace and called out Tommy Dreamer. Styles essentially offered Dreamer an olive branch, saying that he knew that the only reason why Dreamer pile drove him through a table at Sacrifice was because Hulk Hogan and Immortal controlled his contract in TNA. Either he does what Immortal says, or he's out of a gig. Styles said if he was in Dreamer's shoes, he would have done the same thing, so his grudge wasn't with Dreamer. In what may have been the first great heel interview of his career, Dreamer asked Styles if that meant that Styles was saying he was better than him. Or that he couldn't beat Styles if he wasn't hurt, or without outside interference. Dreamer said tonight marked a landmark occasion, because on Sunday he hurt Styles because Immortal wanted him to. Tonight, he was going to hurt Styles because he wanted to, and then leveled Styles with a microphone. Dreamer admitted to selling out because the fans wouldn't help him in the end, even after he gave everything to the business. Dreamer continued to put the boots to Styles until Christopher Daniels ran in. At first, Dreamer backed off, then ran toward Daniels. But Daniels punched him away until Bully Ray ran in with a chain, and cracked Styles in the neck from behind. Dreamer wound up pile driving Styles again. Good segment with plenty of heat.
Kurt Angle came out and gave credit for Chyna for doing him a big favor by taking out Karen Jarrett. When Angle brought up the match, crowd started chanting "That was awesome." Angle thanked Chyna and said he was indebted to her. Some boos over her absence. Angle challenged Jeff Jarrett to a match at Slammiversary, with the winner being the number one contender for the TNA heavyweight title. Jarrett came out and said that every time he had faced Angle, he had won. He couldn't understand why Angle would want another match. So Jarrett said he would take the match only if Angle agreed to put up his Olympic gold medals in return. Angle agreed. Then Jarrett's music played, and Karen rose through the stage like Kurt's entrance in a wheelchair. She said that she would be in Jeff's corner at Slammiversary, and that Kurt could never take her out. As she was talking, Velvet Sky came up behind her, grabbed the wheelchair and rolled her down the ramp, where Karen collided with Jeff. There had to be some heavy editing done, because Sky was doing everything she could to keep Karen from flying down the ramp. Then in the next shot, she went plowing into Jeff at full speed, like she was Dale Earnhardt Jr. on an ordinary Sunday.
Jeremy and Max Buck admitted they still had some heat with each other, but would put that aside tonight in order to beat Bischoff and Hardy.
Bischoff was in the back and got a phone call from Hogan. Apparently, the negotiations in New York were going well, because Bischoff just laughed about what happens when you put Hogan in a negotiating room with network executives against Foley. Bischoff then told him he was going back in the ring tonight.
Jeff was on the phone with Bischoff, who arranged a match with Sky against Angelina Love and Winter. Karen was mad that Jeff wouldn't wheel her out of the room.
4. Matt Hardy and Eric Bischoff defeated Generation Me in 6:07. Totally stupid match. The Bucks hit several top rope arm moves on Hardy before Hardy turned the tables with two Side Effects on Jeremy Buck. Max Buck tagged in and gave Hardy a head scissors while Jeremy hit him with a dropkick, followed by a dropkick by Max. Hardy hit a Spine Line. Hardy teased making a hot tag to Bischoff. They're heels! Jeremy intercepted him a frog splash. Jeremy tried a 450, but Matt got the knees up. Matt then clamped on the Icepick on Max until he passed out. Matt then dragged Max up, and allowed Bischoff to throw some horrid looking kicks and allowed Bischoff to pin Max. *3/4
Winter told a sedated Love that tonight was the night that Sky would never bother her again. She then kissed her on the lips.
5. Velvet Sky defeated Angelina Love and Winter in a handicap match in 4:30. With more wrestling time on this show, there mainly a benefit. This match was an exception. It was most handicap matches you've ever seen. Sky briefly hand the advantage after she clotheslined both Love and Winter. Aside from that, it was mostly chokeholds and hair pulling. Winter gave Sky a catatonic into a backbreaker, and tagged in Love. But Sky gave Love a small package for the pin. 1/2*
Sky barely had time to celebrate when ODB, now with new tattoos everywhere and light brown hair, jumped her. ODB screamed that she was back, now as a heel. That didn't keep fans from chanting "ODB" at her.
Tessmacher was doing a modeling session, but was upset that the photographer didn't even have a camera. Turned out the photographer was Eric Young, wearing Gunner's TV title. Young started posing for her like he wanted her to do. Then Gunner walked in demanding his TV title back. Young talked like they had engaged in an all-time classic last week that took both men to the limit, when it was really a Battle Royal where both men were eliminated early. Finally, Gunner decked him and took the belt back. Young talked about how that was a good idea since he was already the TNA Champion, and they needed to keep both belts separate.
Flair said he hadn't been able to sleep since he tapped out to Roode in the Lethal Lockdown match in Cincinnati. Roode said Flair taught him to take advantage of each opportunity, and Lockdown was an example of that. Flair said if the shoe was on the other foot, he would've taken you out of wrestling for the rest of his career. Roode said what happened at Lockdown was business and wanted to move forward, because Flair has had his time. Flair said they've been telling him that for 25 years, and being the man and staying the man are two different things. Flair challenged him to a fight then and there. At first, Roode refused, but Flair slapped him. Roode then put him in the same Fujiwara arm bar that forced Flair to tap out. Ray, Abyss, Gunner and Hardy ran in to jump Roode, with Ray whipping Roode with a chain. The back story told earlier by Tenay was that James Storm suffered a concussion during the show opening brawl. With Styles and Kazarian injured, no one was left to save Roode. Hardy then took a chair and slammed it against Roode's elbow. Another good segment. Of all the attributes that make Flair a legend, perhaps the one that should be most cherished is his ability to still get younger wrestlers over, which he's been doing since making Ricky Steamboat. Even in a different paradigm, he did it here, to a lesser extent.
Sting came out and put over Rob Van Dam, which got what sounded like some piped in chants. He mentioned that less than a minute after he defeated Van Dam, that Mr. Anderson was in his face. Then Sting's music played, and Anderson came out dressed in Sting's 1990 gold and blue gear. He hit Sting with a baseball bat and gave him a Scorpion Death Drop, then screamed in his face. Instead of coming across like a third-rate Steve Austin, Anderson was a total heel here because the crowd was stone cold silent.
SUMMARY: A mixed bag of a show for a reset. There were less backstage skits and less foolishness overall. But new sets, new logos and new names isn't going to make things easier for a company any more than it did for WCW in 1999. In fact, that's what this show reminded me of, when Kevin Nash was booking and WCW was falling apart at the seems. In dire need of new superstars, the company resorted to burying the cruiser weights (before turning Rey Mysterio heel, among others), and failing to make any new stars aside from Goldberg (who eventually turned heel himself that year). Here, they did the exact same thing with the X Division. I know we're supposed to wait for an X Division comeback. But the pattern of TNA's past has been for the heels to build the heat, and the babyfaces never get the comeback because the creative team just forgets about it and moves on to their next hotshot angle. In the end, more wrestling was a nice change, but it was hardly an overwhelming difference from previous weeks.”
I think its laughable how all these supposed experts were expecting the show to feature an hour of wrestling or something like that.
Originally Posted by Georged123:
“I think its laughable how all these supposed experts were expecting the show to feature an hour of wrestling or something like that.”
“I think its laughable how all these supposed experts were expecting the show to feature an hour of wrestling or something like that.”
Well yeah - i think the "wrestling matters" theme is more to do with the WWE's move away from wrestling towards becoming an "entertainment" company.
I would hope though that maybe they'll have more wrestling at the PPV's though and even, fingers crossed, more clean finishes.
Originally Posted by Georged123:
“I think its laughable how all these supposed experts were expecting the show to feature an hour of wrestling or something like that.”
“I think its laughable how all these supposed experts were expecting the show to feature an hour of wrestling or something like that.”
Originally Posted by JasonWatkins:
“Well yeah - i think the "wrestling matters" theme is more to do with the WWE's move away from wrestling towards becoming an "entertainment" company.
I would hope though that maybe they'll have more wrestling at the PPV's though and even, fingers crossed, more clean finishes.”
“Well yeah - i think the "wrestling matters" theme is more to do with the WWE's move away from wrestling towards becoming an "entertainment" company.
I would hope though that maybe they'll have more wrestling at the PPV's though and even, fingers crossed, more clean finishes.”
A little bit from column A and a little bit from column B.
No one really thought anything would change, as it's the same company, talent and booker. All that's changed is the some banners and lighting.
According to Kurt Angle Russo does write the shows but things are regularly changed by other people.
Is there a problem with the creative team with Impact? "The problem is... nobody's wrong and nobody's right. Vince Russo writes the shows. Now, when he writes the shows, he has a vision. Now, this vision might be 4 to 8 months, even 12 months long. When he has this vision, he goes in to the meeting, Everybody breaks it down, chops it up, takes this off, puts this on, add this, takes this away….now you have a convoluted show. So you had a guy with a vision that had the show nailed down the way he wanted it, and everything becomes convoluted. What we need to do as a company, and I've talked to people about this, is we need three guys to come together, write the show, keep it that way, don't change anything, make a few altercations, but don't make the show cloudy.
"Vince had the show and I'll read it, and I understand everything that he's doing. And then when we do it, I'm like 'Wait a minute, that wasn't written. That wasn't written. That wasn't written. This has changed. This is the same, but that changed.'
"[referring to Chyna's debut] I'll give you an example. We just had a TV on Tuesday. We did a promo and I was supposed to introduce my partner, and instead they decided to do it with Hulk Hogan to make it a bigger deal and Mick Foley. What happened was we didn't have the reaction of Jeff and Karen. They weren't in the ring. So they had to go back out and do it again."
Is there a problem with the creative team with Impact? "The problem is... nobody's wrong and nobody's right. Vince Russo writes the shows. Now, when he writes the shows, he has a vision. Now, this vision might be 4 to 8 months, even 12 months long. When he has this vision, he goes in to the meeting, Everybody breaks it down, chops it up, takes this off, puts this on, add this, takes this away….now you have a convoluted show. So you had a guy with a vision that had the show nailed down the way he wanted it, and everything becomes convoluted. What we need to do as a company, and I've talked to people about this, is we need three guys to come together, write the show, keep it that way, don't change anything, make a few altercations, but don't make the show cloudy.
"Vince had the show and I'll read it, and I understand everything that he's doing. And then when we do it, I'm like 'Wait a minute, that wasn't written. That wasn't written. That wasn't written. This has changed. This is the same, but that changed.'
"[referring to Chyna's debut] I'll give you an example. We just had a TV on Tuesday. We did a promo and I was supposed to introduce my partner, and instead they decided to do it with Hulk Hogan to make it a bigger deal and Mick Foley. What happened was we didn't have the reaction of Jeff and Karen. They weren't in the ring. So they had to go back out and do it again."
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