-- 12/20 TNA Final Resolution PPV Reax

Justin Shook, student (8.0): Best Match: Kurt Angle vs. Desmond Wolfe. Worst Match: Feast or Fired. This was a show with two fantastic matches and far too many throwaway matches. I purchased this last minute, as I wasn't convinced the card justified $35. I'll say I felt good at the end of the show, but only because of the final two matches. Kurt Angle and Desmond Wolfe work so well in the ring together. Both men wrestled their hearts out, and both men looked strong in the end. Kurt Angle may not have much time left in the ring, so I relish every wonderful match I have the privilege to see him in. Taz got it right when he said Desmond has the skill set needed to be the man in the near future. Unbelievable five-star match! A.J. vs. Daniels did not meet my overly-high standards. It wasn't a bad match - the exact opposite, actually - but in my mind, Angle-Wolfe raised the bar to heights that could not be followed. Both men worked hard and it was made clear why A.J. is the champ. The Styles Clash off the middle rope was a unique way to end the PPV. This was a four-star match at its best! The rest of the card felt unimportant, rushed, and thrown together. Overall, a weak start led into a very strong finish. 2009 ends with Styles standing strong, but can he fend off an Olympic gold medalist? I'm already sold on the next PPV because of Angle vs. Styles.

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (8.0): Best: Styles vs. Daniels. Worst: a certain Feast Or Fired result. I'm writing this technically sight unseen as I went off rundowns. I normally don't see TNA PPVs, but had to make some comments this time. While it's time to think of having the Brits drop the titles, it looks like the possibility exists that World Elite may implode with Kevin Nash getting the tag title case. I'm not liking that idea one bit, but at least the British Invasion and The Guns put on a very nice match. I'm still not liking ODB as a heel, but the back-and-forth title chase between Tara and ODB could be fun. Just no more "Trailer Park Throwdowns," okay? I found out later that Bashir's departure was legit, but boy did TNA make a wrong choice with the cases. Rob Terry should be the one on the way out, not Bashir. They're really sending the wrong message there. I just can't see Rob Terry as X Division champ; I can't see him as any champ, ever! It also adds to the vibe that World Elite won't be much more soon. The only reason I can think why Steiner is still on board is because of January 4. He put over Lashley (right move); I can't see him doing anything else constructively in the shape he's in. About the only match that could have taken the PPV down any real notches is the weapons match with Foley and Abyss. The Dr. Stevie storyline is long past its shelf life and Stevie (as wrestler) seems much better than this. ... You couldn't have asked for any better of the two matches that topped the card. I bought the No Way Out 2006 DVD (then a Smackdown-exclusive PPV) on DVD just for the match between Undertaker and Kurt Angle that was fabulous. The rest of that PPV left plenty to be desired, and to this day it's the only Smackdown-exclusive PPV DVD I have. To date, I have yet to purchase any TNA PPV DVDs since I started watching in 2006. For the most part, it's because the main event has to overcome a generally dismal card below it. This one is definitely an exception: two first-rate main events with a very decent undercard set. It seems obvious the high-caliber effort made was for January 4 and Hogan's debut. I just wish I had confidence that this effort won't go unrewarded come January.

We welcome your 0-10 score and comments on this show for a "TNA PPV 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 the PPV, click here.

[ODB art by Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

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