Instant Reaction - TNA Impact 3/8
By Benjamin Tucker, PWTorch TV specialist

Overall Score - 5.0

Impact seemed to regress a bit this week, with less-than compelling matches, stories, and segments that just didn't work. One good example was Sting going all-out crazy again in his segment with Eric Young. Sure, it was cute, but should a character in a main event role be acting cute like that with an over-the-top character? The subsequent Tag Title match was also a miss, with multiple botched spots, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a kick out of the proposal.

The opening segment leading up to this wasn't the best either. Nor was anything on the show relating to Garett Bischoff. To put it simply, the guy's not ready for TV. It's the equivalent of giving John Cena a WWE Title feud back in 2002, when he could barely wrestle. In fact, his brief flurry of offense at the end of the main event tag match was by far the weakest part of what was otherwise a nice match. The characters in the story are doing their best to put Garett over, but the fact of the matter is that he's not connecting with the audience at all, no matter how many major faces they pair with him.

The Aries-Ion match was booked well, though, and it seems that they're pushing for an Aries face turn. In general, I would avoid turning him so soon, but considering how popular he's been, why not go for it? In speaking of popular... Robert Roode is not. He can also not win a match on TV, apparently. I get making a heel look vulnerable, but this is ridiculous. I could beat Roode at this point! Seriously, give the guy some shred of credibility.

In regards to the addition of Mr. Anderson to the Fortune feud, I'm fine with it. At the same time, I hate that Anderson is still using his same old schtick, but I'm hopeful it's going to become revamped soon. Revamped like Abyss! The Parks brother story is actually pretty interesting - I'm just hoping it doesn't get messed up. And, that's TNA Impact Wrestling in a nutshell for you this week. Some good and some bad made this a pretty average show. Here's to a show more like last week next week!

Any questions or comments? Follow me on Twitter at BTuckertorch, or e-mail me at btuckertorch@aol.com.

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