By Chris Reed, Torch Specialist

-- 5/28 TNA IMPACT HITS & MISSES

(For an alternate Hits & Misses perspective, read Hubert O'Hearn's TNA Impact H&M column)

IMPACT HITS

Amazing Red vs. Suicide: Yum yum gimme some. Have I mentioned lately that I'm a fan of reinvigorating the X-Division? This match showed what potential this group has. True, it went too short for my taste, and I wasn't fond of giving Red a title match for no reason (more on that later), but I absolutely loved the action between these two. Plus, opening up Impact with the hot action between these two just made the viewer want to stay tuned and see what other action might show up later. Well played.

Sting Shakes Up The Mafia: Someone is listening (to a degree) to some of the complaints that the fans have had with the Main Event Mafia lately, and Sting hit each one of them out of the park. Sting canned the chubbies and hosed the women all in one night. Now we all know we haven't seen the last of Sharmell and Jenna, unfortunately, but at least Sting getting them out of the Mafia could mean we'll see less of them. Plus, Sting in charge of MEM opens up all sorts of new possibilities within this faction. This segment also proved (again) that when Sting has a mic in his hand and some fire in his gut, he can still light it up with the best of them.

Victoria Debuts: TNA's Knockouts Division has been sorely missing a white-hot face ever since Gail Kim left for WWE payouts. They tried to make it happen with Taylor Wilde, and that fell flat. Victoria will fit that bill nicely. Victoria also brings some much-needed experience to the Knockouts division, and the fact that she is immediately stuck in the middle of the title picture is a smart move by TNA.

Jeff Jarrett vs. Eric Young: I'm not listing this as a Hit for the content of the match so much. In fact, the match itself was more than halfway decent. But the heel turn by Eric Young was a much-needed change in his character. I'm curious to see just what type of heel Young comes out to be, and his rationality behind his actions made sense. Young has been overlooked for years in TNA, and maybe a change in character will make him fresh again. Now Young just needs to actually win a match or two instead of being a doormat so that he has some legitimacy to him.

IMPACT MISSES

Doug Williams vs. Cody Deaner: I've said it before, I'll say it again -- useless gimmick matches need to get off of TNA as soon as possible. I have no problem with highlighting Doug Williams in a singles match. I could even get by with him wrestling Cody Deaner, even though Deaner doesn't look like he belongs in a ring at all. But the ladder match gimmick was absolutely not needed in this match. Sure, the match concept of defending a case that Williams never even won in the first place is fine, but this match was slow, plodding, and poorly executed. Gimmick matches should be saved for PPVs, or at least hyped somewhat in advance for a special occasion.

Abyss, Dr. Stevie, and Raven: I, for one, have never been a big fan of Raven. This week didn't do anything to change that opinion. All Raven is good for is a few cheap gimmick matches to get across just how violent he is. Old story. And I still can't stand the wimpy Abyss that TNA is feeding us each week. No one is ever going to remember the badass Abyss if and when that character is ever brought back.

Meaningless Title Shots: Even though I loved the actual match between Amazing Red and Suicide, there was no reason at all to have the X-Division title on the line. Red hasn't been shown on TV enough, and his only singles match victory since returning to TNA was on the PPV pre-show. Sure, he was champion in the past, but that was years ago. He needs to earn his shot again. And then later in the night, we were tortured with the Sojo Bolt vs. Angelina Love title match. Yes, Bolt earned a title shot from her ladder match a few weeks back (which wasn't even mentioned by the Mike Tenay or Don West during the match), but Bolt still looks stiff in the ring, and lost in about three minutes. So much for that shot at the title. Title defenses should be featured as semi-main events or even top of the card matches, and if the challenger loses, it should be in a match that lasts longer than five minutes.

Chris Reed is a new PWTorch Specialist covering TNA Impact with a weekly Hits & Misses column along with Hubert O'Hearn.

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