1/29 TNA Impact TV Reax

Alex Roberts in the U.K. (3.5): The first hour of this week's Impact was the most entertained I have been by a TNA show in a long time. Yes it was a complete train wreck with horrible in-ring action, but TNA managed to tap into the so good its bad mentality and not only was I entertained I laughed, a lot. Scott Steiner as ring announcer was particularly brilliant, although Cornette provided strong competition to Teddy Long for most ineffective authority figure in professional wrestling. Then of course Mick Foley returned and ruined the entire thing. Not only did he put the intolerable Don West and Mike Tenay back on announcing duties, he also booked TNA's weekly obligatory non-sense gimmick match. And only in TNA can a hardcore match be booked to finish in a DQ. Also only in TNA is it possible for a video game character come to life be deemed a good idea. Despite his lackluster hype videos and awful name, Brutus Magnus has a massive potential upside for TNA if they use him right. I am interested to see how they screw his push up next week. The Angle-LAX main event was an okay match that did a good job of building Hernandez up a little ahead of his second (at a later date) title shot although as always its one step forward, two steps back with TNA. Rather than giving Hernandez some credibility and a win over Angle they had Angle beat an established tag team by himself, something I can never support. Of course, I fully expect his second title shot to be lost in the midst of the inevitable Sting-Angle feud because God forbid this Main Event Mafia angle actually get anyone under the age of 40 over. The Samoa Joe ending was what it was. Is the MEM supposed to be scared because he's got a stupid face tattoo now? They've kept him off TV for weeks to bring him back with that? Incredible and not in a good way. Amazingly after an hour that left me feeling vaguely positive things about TNA, Impact still went off the air with me feeling irritated and frustrated.

1/22 TNA Impact TV Reax

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (5.0): Best: Angle vs. Styles; Rough Cut. Worst: Dutt vs. Bashir vs. Sabin vs. Shelley (though it wasn't terrible). Kurt Angle, you may be right. This is the end of TNA. The tale of the tape looks pretty brutal. The opening match wasn't terrible, but Shelley's first defense of his X Division title was treated with very little fanfare and care. Sojourner Bolt is making the most of the time given her. She continues to come across very well on the mic and in the ring. There were the nice video packages telling the respective stories that look to be going to Against All Odds. Of those stories, none are really appealing. Morgan finally goes heel, as if he wasn't there already, and Beer Money get a burial. Who's left of The Frontline who isn't selling a beating? Where were Lethal and Creed, who had been hanging around the Frontline early on? Eric Young wouldn't risk a DQ to help Petey Williams, or come out when Kurt Angle beat down Styles? The one fan with the "Pork" sign held it up when A.J. posed in ring before the match with Angle. What that fan should be pointing it are the bookers, who for most of tonight kept me from enjoying this show.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "TNA TV 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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