Torch Feedback TNA Impact Reax #2: "Best part of the night was Kip James being the stripper and everybody booing."
Jun 6, 2008 - 2:50:02 PM
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Brian Kay of Cleveland, Ohio (8.5): Best: X-Division KOTM; Worst: Lethal's Bachelor Party/Angle Family Drama (tie). While I love PWTorch.com, sometimes I think you're on WWE payroll. While I have purchased a few TNA PPVs, I had yet to see a KOTM match until last night. Reading your comments over the years and last night, I expected to be completely confused by the rules. Instead, it was a much simpler concept than you guys make it out to be. Very entertaining, too. My only concern is that by having the X-Division guys go at it on Impact, the heavyweight battle on PPV might not live up to expectations. Great match, and Kaz's strategy of beating on Rave while in the penalty box made perfect sense. The main event was great, too, as any time I see Styles pull out the Pele Kick, I'm happy. Nice to see Daffney get a pay day as well. I could do without the Angle family stuff, though, as well as the Lethal/Val wedding junk; weddings should be permanently banned from pro wrestling. That being said, the Angle-Styles feud as well as the inevitable Lethal-Dutt feud will be worth sitting through that stuff. Also, while it's been done before, I am intrigued as to how the Nash/Joe situation will go. I could see Nash sticking with Joe completely; Nash helping Joe win the match and then turning on him; or even Nash going for the money and being bought off by Robert Roode, with Roode getting the surprise win. Either way would be logical with how the situation has been set up. Much more entertaining than seeing Vince brag while opening his wallet in a pathetic attempt to increase ratings.
Adam J. Grammas of Westchester, Ill. (8.0): Best: Main event. Worst: Nothing. For the first time in awhile, I was able to watch the whole show on Thursday night, so I can comment. A very good show leading into the PPV, with a lot of good storylines going on. A.J.'s promo to kick off the show was excellent. Joe's promos, both during the workout and later with Nash were also good, although not as intense as A.J.'s. I hope the Beautiful People aren't going to be moved fully onto Kim without Roxxi getting the clean victory over them like she deserves. I know people will complain about the bachelor party segments, but they weren't too long or over the top. Lethal is hilarious with his references to people like Lanny. It's too bad they couldn't get people with more of a connection with Macho for Sunday (although Animal was a long time rival). There will probably be complaints about the Sting segment mentioning Flair, but I thought it was classy, a sort of tribute. (Hell, WWF magazine in 1984 did a story on the Parade of Champions which had nothing to do with them.) I'm all for Kaz getting a main event push, but since he won a shot at Kurt when he was champ, I would've loved to see someone else (Sabin?) win the KOTM X Division match. Daphne better be getting something good for those brutal bumps she took. I'm glad they acknowledged who she was instead of pretending she was someone else (like when WWF "didn't know much" about "Widowmaker" Barry Windham). But I thought it odd J.B. only mentioned WCW and not he previous stint in TNA. Abyss moves like Mankind and sounds like Kane. Only in wrestling would you see a rocker, a male stripper, and a good ol' boy teaming up - or doing anything else - together. I hope the Big-n-Little Pump storyline goes the way of Petey being tired of being led around and is the next break out babyface. Angle was hilarious when he accused Mike Tenay of possibly sleeping with Karen. It was nice to see A.J. get the clean pin on Tomko. It won't hurt Tomko and it makes sense since Tomko is seen as being "below" Kurt, so a loss to him would not look good on A.J. A.J. right now is hotter than Joe has been, probably because more people can identify with him.
Shane McKinley of Danville, California (7.0) Best Match: Kip James a.k.a. Mr. Stripper. Worst Match: King Of The Mountain "Preview." I took some notes on this show, and here are the results. Usual Time in Show when TNA gets stupid: 1:30. Average Time for a camera shot (in match): Four seconds. Times PPV was mentioned: 37. Times other matches were mentioned while there was a match taking place: 20. Times other storylines were mentioned while match was taking place: 11. Times actual storyline were mentioned (that were related to the match): 20. Times Actual Match was called: 18. Times Stupid Things Were Said Or Portrayed: 25. TNA might shave some time off of the "Bachelor Party" Skit to mention "late breaking" news. Somebody fire the editor of this show. I know Impact is only two hours, but you got to slow down. Impact looks at times to be shot by a novice in the Audio/Visual Club. I swear, Cornette appeared like a ghost and there were some really awful "commerical breaks" timing. Was the plan for Eric Young for the past month to shove a camera in his face awfully close and have him mumble lines like, "Wow, three TVs in a room, there's three TVs in a room"? I'm supposed to like him more for his "skits" than his in-ring ability? Uh, no. If fans bought the last PPV and felt cheated by Kurt Angle not wrestling, wouldn't it make sense to at least mention something about "medical clearance to wrestle"? I'm going ahead and say that Kaz will lose yet again next week. While the match itself was a spotfest, it made the King of The Mountain match look weak. Why would fans buy to see the same match again in three days? Poor Kaz. Poor viewers for watching the same Kong squash match again that makes even squash matches lame. It's the same thing week after week. Please stop with the Angle drama. Please stop using previous audience camera shots and planting signs like "TNA gives wrestling fans reason to live" and "TNA keeps the wrestling legacy alive." Please stop giving Steiner time on the mic. He's the only wrestler I know that makes himself and his opponent (or his buddy's opponent) look stupid and weak. Just have him flex or gurgle out classic heel lines, whatever. Liked how the announcers talked about the psychology of wrestlers and actually talked about what happened in the past month. That's a step in the right direction. Maybe Matt Morgan can wear a t-shirt to the ring that says, "I'm a babyface who does other people's signature moves and I really want you to like me." Best part of the night was Kip James being the stripper and everybody booing. That was pretty funny. Double LAX dive outside was cool. The buildup to this PPV was spotty and lacked focus. Personally, I won't buy the PPV since I don't know the status of Angle's neck, and the King of the Mountain match (especially with the inclusion of "Guest Enforcer" Nash) doesn't grab my attention. The other matches received poor buildup. Jake "The Snake" Roberts showing up is interesting. I don't get why they usually hype up their PPVs seemingly only for new fans while neglecting people who actually follow their product.
We welcome your 1-10 score and comments on this show for a "Impact Reax" feature in the Torch Feedback section of PWTorch.com. Just to add a twist to this feature, include not just your hometown, but also your occupation (mechanic, lawyer, stay-at-home-dad, college student, etc.) so readers get a flavor for what everyone does as "day jobs." To contribute your thoughts on Impact, click here.
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