-- 1/21 TNA Impact Reax

Adam J. Grammas of Westchester, Ill. (7.0): Best: Beautiful People post-match beat down. Worst: Nastys in the ring. I hadn't read a thing about wrestling this week, so I did not know the results of the PPV. Why turn Styles heel? Why? He could be a bigger face than ever as the "face" of TNA with all the changes going on. The ONLY thing I can think is it creates more match up opportunities, including Styles-Hardy, once Jeff runs through the X Division. The Pope is one of those wrestlers that it's easy to see how TNA has done worlds more with him than WWE ever did. That's why it's so hard to watch him job to Orlando Jordan. At least they did it by working the leg injury angle. The post-match beat down on Angelina Love was a classic "Horsemen on Lex" style mugging and it looked really good. Give credit to the ladies. ... TNA has Knobs & Sags, who are about 50 pounds heavier than they were 20 years ago. Question: who do you stick them in the ring with to make them look decent? Um, anyone but Kevin Nash. They were excruciatingly bad. When Knobs was going to the corner to make the luke-warm tag, he just looked like an old man. I think A.J. looked better against Angle in the main event than in any of their past matches. Angle sold "Montreal Re-make no. 17" so well that it seemed real at times. And I guess the novelty of Hulk Hogan in TNA has worn off since the audience gave a "thank you" chant to Kurt after he spit on Hulk. Easy E staggering to the ring with a "crimson mask" and just uttering "You're fired!" to Mick was a great visual to end the show. In spite of several complaints here from me, I'm intrigued to see where we're going from here.

Luke Fleeman of Tulare, Calif. (0.0): Best: The show finally ending. Worst: Pretty much everything else. What did I watch? That was a convoluted, random, nonfunctional show if I ever saw one. I was glad to see more wrestling, and I was pleased with the show opening. I liked a few segments, even. But most of that show was utter garbage. The show was slowed down repeatedly by the Jeff Jarrett-Bubba the Love Sponge segments, which were long, pointless, boring, and stupid. Mick Foley's three-week quest for vengeance was so scary that Eric Bischoff was willing to see him alone. I don't know how Eric can fire someone who owns part of the company, supposedly. The Nasty Boys ruined my night. Sags looked mobile and okay, but Knobs was a disgrace. And then they won, and took chair shots to the head! What is wrong with TNA? What happened to World Elite? Why was Sean Waltman smoking on the ramp? Does Hogan/Bischoff like The Band, or not? Is this a tease, or bad booking? Ken Anderson didn't notice Abyss standing behind him for three minutes? These aren't questions raised about booking, but by standard human logic. Most importantly, TNA re-affirmed that they wanted to distance themselves from WWE. And they did that by...re-enacting the Montreal Screwjob. This is what WWE did a few months ago, and originally, and is dealing with still right now. Who thought that was a good idea? It didn't work when they re-enacted it WCW, why do it again?

Terrie Neilson of Las Vegas, Nev. (1.0): Best: Dinero and Anderson promos. Worst: where do I begin? I tried to have an open mind for the January 4 re-mix of TNA with Hogan involved. But this overwhelming sense of dread can't be shaken. There was a reason why the "cast member" edict was handed down. The last few minutes explained why. Just as suddenly Randy Orton turned face in 2004 after winning the title, A.J. Styles turned heel retaining it. Instead of exploring the conflict of the decision to use the belt to retain at the PPV, Styles (forgetting he's married with family again) embraced the heel turn full-force. The first match of the night almost replicated the finish of the Styles-Angle match, except that it was a tag match and that plan was foiled. What the hell is Orlando Jordan doing getting a win over Dinero? He was a poor wrestler in WWE, and not much better in TNA. He wins after a weak leg trip and a quick slam? Excuse me? None of the dumpees should have even come to the dance. They get all this airtime, while a good wrestler like Alissa Flash/Raisha Saeed gets neglected and quietly leaves. Same goes for the Nasty Boys pinning Eric Young. That was absolutely inexcusable, though I saw it coming a mile away when I saw EY on TV. Don't even get me started on the extremely lame attempt to replicate Montreal. Dinero and Mr. Kennedy-Anderson delivered their promos as only they could. Those promos were the only things on the show tonight that didn't feel tainted, tarnished, or tampered with. Fans of TNA, do remember to abide by the First Amendment when in Orlando. I want to hear you loud and clear.

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.

We suggest these recent related articles...

WWE PPV REAX #1: "I wanted the biggest event of the summer to end with an exclamation point; it ended with a semicolon and a question"

WWE PPV REAX #1: Battleground finish generates mixed reactions...

WWE PPV REAX #2: In-Person Battleground Report on overall show, reactions, more