By Curtis Shanks, PWTorch Specialist

Welcome to the TNA Impact edition of Under the Microscope. This is not a detailed recap of the show, but a review for those of you that saw the show but didn't actually "watch" it. We're here to point out all those little tidbits you may have missed, make some random observations, or use a little research to dig deeper into what was on the show.

After last week's show, we know that the TV viewer said goodbye to Don West, the officials are now allowed to say goodbye to ring-side valets, and A.J. Styles tried to say goodbye to pro wrestling. But what else is there to notice? Let's see what we can spot. Cue the opening pyro.

Curry vs. Joe VI

Samoa Joe faces Suicide in X Division action to start the show, as Daniels sits in on commentary. Daniels is the number one contender for Joe's title, and mentions "it won't be the first time I've ever stepped inside the ring with the title on the line against him." The first time the two squared off for the title was actually a three way involving A.J. Styles at Unbreakable in 2005. The match was a classic - one of those matches you show your non-wrestling friends when they question your devotion to the circus that is pro wrestling.

Daniels would face Joe one-on-one for the title at the January PPV in 2006, with triple threats once again booked for the February and March PPV's that year. April 2006 once again saw Joe vs. Daniels one-on-one for the title, this time on an episode of Impact. Daniels seemed confident about his experience in the ring with Joe, but so far only has one win in his five title matches against Joe.

I'd like to speak to a manager please

Daniels, along with D'Angelo Dinero, ends up interfering in our opening match leading to a brawl involving all four men. The match is thrown out, as Dave Penzer announces that referee Earl Hebner has made a tag match with the four for later in the show. That's right, referee Earl Hebner. The referees have gotten a lot more power on the shows lately, but we found out this week that it also includes booking matches.

With Jeff Jarrett still on "vacation," Jim Cornette mysteriously absent, and Mick Foley wrestling more than running the show, there has been a lack of an authority figure lately on the shows. TNA used to have an overabundance of authority figures, but now we're stuck with nobody to book matches for the show other than refs. An on-air authority figure is a much needed aspect on a wrestling show, as someone has to be the voice of reason and make sense of why certain matches take place. How about Don West returning to TV with booking power? That would be a welcome addition in my opinion.

Did you know?

This week's Impact gave us a graphic touting the fact that Impact set a single month viewership record in August...for U.K. viewers. Could there be a correlation between the British Invasion getting more TV time, a bigger push, and a set of tag titles? It's a fun little fact that allows TNA to show how global their product has become, but please don't let it turn into the DYK graphics we see on Raw every Monday. Did you know that last week's Impact was watched by more ambidextrous males aged 54-71 with two-plus years of college who are Libras than any other show on Lifetime, ESPN Deportes, MTV2, or C-SPAN 3?

Who's got seniority?

Matt Morgan's got some guts, as he is standing up to Kurt Angle in a locker room segment this week. Angle wants to put Morgan with Booker and Steiner, stating that Morgan doesn't have enough experience. Morgan talks about his seven years in the business, while Angle one-ups Morgan touting his decade in pro wrestling.

Morgan's debut in the wrestling world came via Tough Enough II in early 2002. He did not win the competition, but was later signed to a developmental deal by WWE and had his debut match in OVW in October of that year. Angle has quite a history of amateur wrestling, but did not make the jump to pro wrestling until signing a deal with WWE in late 1998. Angle was sent to developmental, making in onto TV by March of the following year.

Teacher's pet

In a match that should have been built up and perhaps saved for the undercard of a future PPV, Rhino faces off against Jesse Neal this week. The teacher squashes the student, as Jesse Neal has still not learned from his mistakes. During the match, the announcers talk about the trainer / student relationship. Taz mentions that he's been in Rhino's shoes before, but also in Neal's, as he irked his trainer on plenty of instances as well. Taz's trainer is never mentioned, but we've seen him briefly in TNA before.

Taz was trained by Johnny Rodz, a WWE Hall of Famer. Team 3D can also list Johnny Rodz as a teacher, as we saw in a storyline on Impact in early 2007. LAX, who was feuding with 3D at the time, aired a video of them harassing and assaulting Rodz at his wrestling school. The two teams faced each other at Destination X that year, with Rodz accompanying 3D to the ring.

No more Mr. Nice Guy

Rhino has been pushing Jesse Neal around the last couple weeks, and continues his assault this week after the finish of the match. It was hard to tell who was going to be the heel in the feud - the student who didn't listen, or the teacher with no patience. Or it could've been more Russo booking with no clear face or heel. But we found out this week before the match even started. As Rhino is introduced for the match, he makes his way to the ring from the right side entrance tunnel - the side reserved for heel wrestlers.

A career ending dropkick

The Guns are hard up for cash due to their lack of TV time lately, so they decide to take Dr. Stevie up on his bounty for Abyss this week. Stevie has been very concise with his statements that it's not about pinning Abyss and winning a match - it's about ending Abyss' career. A win doesn't get you squat, but an injury equals cash. But it looks as though Stevie needs to reiterate this a little more in the coming weeks.

There were no weapons in this week's match. No tables, no chairs, no ladders, no weapons on a pole...just normal in-ring moves. That's why I was a bit confused towards the end of the match. After a crossbody and a drop kick, the Guns attempted a pin on Abyss, but only got a two count. Why go for the pin? Unless the Guns though that a loss would hurt Abyss' feelings and caused him to retire, they should have continued the beat down and tried for their ultimate goal - getting the $50k bounty.

Like father, like daughter

Hamada makes her TNA debut this week, and shows some wrestling skills in a no-DQ match vs. Daffney. We get a brief background on (Ayako) Hamada, as the announcers talk about her father and sister. As mentioned, her father is Gran Hamada, a notable name in Mexico and Japan. He has won titles in both countries, including two that technically fall under the WWF umbrella.

WWF had a working agreement with the UWF in Japan in the early 90's. Gran Hamada held two of the titles created due to the partnership, the WWF International Tag Team titles and the WWF Light Heavyweight title. Many of you may recognize the LHW tile name, although WWE doesn't recognize any of the reigns during the joint partnership. Their title history starts in 1997, with the crowning of Taka Michinoku as champion.

Her sister is not mentioned by name, probably due to the inability to pronounce it. Xochitl (sorry spellcheck) Hamada has wrestled mainly for the AAA and CMLL promotions in Mexico, with occasional appearances in Japan.

I do tarot readings as well

The Microscope is usually about delivering facts, statistics and observations, but I'm going to make a prediction this week. I'm calling it right here - Taylor Wilde and Sarita will win their first round match in the KO tournament. Looking at the brackets (More brackets! Boosh!), Taylor and Sarita will face off against Daffney and Alissa Flash in the first round. The winner of that match will move on to face Kong and Saeed, who were victorious this week. Flash and Saeed are of course the same person, so there's no way they could both be in the ring at the same time.

Of course, this is TNA, and they could surprise. Daniels may be donning a headdress in the coming weeks to add to his list of characters. As previously mentioned by The Guns, he does have an unmistakable ass. He does have a little bit of work to do in the chest region however.

Looking at the brackets, we see 15 names listed as the tournament includes almost the entire KO division. I say almost because there are two names currently under contract who are not participating. Rhaka Khan is not listed, but she has not been seen on TV for quite some time. The other name not participating in the tournament is the current champ (kind of), ODB. Cody Deaner could be listed as an omission as well, but his participation in the tournament would just devalue the division even further.

A second first impression

TNA is excited to put Bobby Lashley in the ring, as they are hyping his wrestling debut with the company at a round of upcoming house shows. They also hype his PPV debut, as it is announced he will face Rhino next month. But Lashley has already had his first official match with the company. The July 30 Impact saw a main event of Foley and Lashley vs. Nash and Angle for the Legends and TNA titles. Lashley was attacked backstage, forcing Foley to wrestle alone. Lashley returned just in time to cost the heels the match and allow Foley to get the pin. He didn't do much, but Lashley was officially in the match and is now 1-0 in his TNA career.

Numbers crunch - Put me in coach!

The rise of Matt Morgan from Jim Cornette's bodyguard to main eventer has been played out well the past couple of years on Impact. While he is nowhere near being considered as a top draw or the backbone of the company, it is still a case of a company trying to elevate a new name into the mix. After his surprise win over A.J. Styles two weeks ago, TNA has been hyping the fact that Morgan had gained his first world title shot and first main event. But how many of today's roster members can boast either of those two distinctions?

In TNA, 53.7 percent of their current male wrestling talents have received at least one major world title shot at some point in their careers. It's no surprise that more WWE roster members have had a shot at world title gold before. With three current world titles, 66.1 percent of WWE's roster can say they've had a shot. It is worth noting, however, than a handful in WWE only received a title shot because of 20-man battle royals in 2006 and 2007 to crown new champs after vacancies by Edge and Batista due to injury.

Looking at monthly PPV's throughout TNA, WCW and WWE history, TNA does have a higher percentage of wrestlers with main event experience. Just over half, 51.2 percent, can say they've headlined a PPV during their career. That number is much lower in WWE, as only 39 percent of their current male roster members have headlined a PPV.

Curtis Shanks is a self-described wrestling nerd. Who else understands what Matt Striker is talking about all the time. Feedback is welcome, as comments, suggestions and questions can be sent to Curtis at curtisshanks.torch@gmail.com or in the comments section below.

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