Chris Newth, PWTorch.com Contributor (8.0)

As a company, TNA deserves substantial credit for taking more risks lately. While WWE is relying on perfunctory writing and a formula that has proven itself over time, the Hogan/Bischoff influence on TNA emerges more and more with each passing week. Last night’s episode, for the most part, had a different tone - and with it, more of a major league feel to it. As a whole, TNA should be commended for its bravery in making such radical changes to the show; it reveals an implicit statement about how they were limited and stuck before but are willing to strip weak elements from the company, including some of their signature concepts (like the six-sided ring).

This week’s episode had many high points. First of all, Eric Bischoff and Hulk Hogan are casting themselves perfectly. They could have been used to either pander to retro fans using older characters like Mick Foley or they could have been used to elevate new stars like Abyss. They are doing both. Perfect. Incorporating emotion is another way TNA is excelling, particularly with Kurt Angle’s current program. On a related note, Impact seems to feature multiple main events rather than a single storyline that eclipses the rest, and that could work to their benefit. Angle-Anderson, Styles-Pope, and the old school NWO players from yesteryear all work on the same level - none is elevated above the others in importance. And so long as they are all compelling and engaging in their own right, I see no problem with that.

One more quick point: TNA is one step ahead of WWE in one story element rarely seen in wrestling today: symbolism. Yes, titles are absolutely symbols, and both companies must revolve around them. However, TNA is using other smaller items as symbols for characters who are not involved in title programs. Specifically the scene where Hogan passes the proverbial torch to Abyss with his Hall of Fame ring. That token was hyped as the most important thing in Hogan’s life, and it symbolizes the entirety of his career - everything the guy ever worked for. For him to give that to Abyss is an incredibly telling gesture. It means that he truly has faith that Abyss will become one of TNA’s most prominent wrestlers in time.

TNA is doing a laudable job so far transitioning themselves for head-to-head competition with WWE. If I could give them one piece of advice though, it would be this: you can be extremely edgy without becoming ostentatious, and they need to be wary of that.

Greg Parks, Torch Columnist (6.0)

I feel like the shopkeeper who sold Homer Simpson the Krusty Doll (and frogurt) in the third Treehouse of Horror installment: Everything good came with something bad on this show. The Pope started the show and TNA capitalized on his Against All Odds performance; that's good. The dick jokes; that's bad. Daffney seemingly pushed as a serious threat? That's good. Orlando Jordan beating Samoa Joe? That's bad. Kaz is back? That's good. Brian Kendrick doesn't seem to care? That's bad.

The story told in the Jarrett vs. Abyss match? That's good. Bischoff's random assortment of heels attacking them after the match; That's bad. Beer Money getting a win? That's good. Rob Terry as a possible face? That's bad. Hulk Hogan's promo on Abyss, the first one since he arrived in TNA where it REALLY felt like Hulk Hogan? That's good. The fact that he did it to put over Abyss? That's bad. Kurt Angle and Anderson's promo exchange? That's good. Daniels once again jobbing out in short order? That's bad. The main event segment? Well....it doesn't fit into either category. Props to TNA for letting this play out, but too often, it feels like they're not advancing anything from show-to-show.

Daniel Wilkenfeld, PWTorch.com Contributor (4.5)

This show would have been a really killer hour and a half, but it just collapsed completely at the end. I don't know what to make of Kurt's segment — whether it's sincere or posturing affects how I would view it but is not something I'll ever know — but it was certainly very heavy. Following that up with the not quite as heavy Nash promo was a screw up, as it created half an hour in a row of negative vibes. Unless it's a Spielberg epic, that's really just bad writing (in screenwriting they tell you to work happy things in among the sad — too many down things in a row wraps around and just become absurd).

More problematically, for the second week in a row we ended with Hall & Pac not really doing anything, and Hogan just being sort of around. I'm all for slow-burns, but this is more like a no-burn — nothing is happening, and it's doing it in the main event. It's a shame, cause there was some pretty good stuff in the first three quarters, highlighted perhaps by The Pope's following up on his star-making Against All Odds by more than keeping up with Flair in a mic battle, but the end was just a downer and an anticlimactic thud.

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