James Caldwell, Torch Columnist (4.5)

There was more than usual to like about this show, but I just cannot stand the way in which the "Originals" are being portrayed right now. Principal Foley addressing Sorrow Styles, Too-cool-for-school Joe, cut-up Shelley & Sabin, and Sullen Young as if they were 13 year-olds and not grown men was completely absurd. Completely absurd. How are they ever going to draw money or create any new fan interest when they're treated like kids? Apparently this is how the writing team relates to the Originals - as if they are their children and this is how they would talk to them.

Couple that presentation of the Originals with Eric Young winning the X Division Title in possibly the worst fashion ever conceived and you have a ridiculous first-half of the show featuring the Originals. Apparently the story in TNA is to win by any means necessary and that "truth" is defined in a self-contradictory state of relativism, but Young should have been ashamed of himself for winning the title when ref Shane freaked out on Bashir to set up Young's win. It was one of the saddest scenes I've ever seen in TNA.

Sting gave Jay Lethal enough in the TNA Title match to elevate Lethal slightly, otherwise it was completely forgettable. ... ODB is here one week, there the next week, and her character doesn't add anything to the Originals group. I don't understand her role there. ... Way too many backstage segments. Way too many. It was dizzying at times and really took away from the stories they were trying to tell in the ring.

Shane McKinley, PWTorch.com Contributor (5.5)

Young wins! Young wins! Young wins! Thanks to a crooked ref! Who sadly was bigger than the match and the belt! But who cares, let's celebrate it like it actually means something! Hey there, Jay Lethal? Remember how quickly you lost your match to Bashir? I think it was under two minutes! Well, congratulations, you are awarded with a TNA World Heavyweight title shot! That you have no hope in winning! Indeed, the card was loaded, but run ins were all too commonplace tonight. It's the tactic of putting more emphasis on the "storyline outcome" instead of the actual match itself, and this makes it a tough go for fans. What reason is there to care if the Young Dorks win their battle with MEM? Sooner or later people will start to hate the TNA Originals for being lame. I enjoyed watching what path Christian goes on.

What I don't enjoy is watching TNA throw the TNA originals really pathetic scraps and have them celebrate like they won the Super Bowl. The Young Dorks are not even in the same league as the suave MEM. Christian could join the Young Dorks and thus bring in credibility and coolness, or he could go leave WWE to go fight with Chris Jericho. Sure, you had wrestling action, but it was all convoluted and bloated with MEM/Young Dorks nonsense.

Greg Parks, PWTorch.com Contributor (6.0)

Yes, the Main Event Mafia continues to outshine the TNA Originals, but still, there is some intrigue as to what is going on with the Originals. Mick Foley's promo at the start addressed some of these concerns, and maybe will be seen as the turning point for the Originals.

Great, we got about two months of no Karen Angle talk shows, and now we're going to be subjected to an ODB one? God help us. The Knockouts tag match wasn't as bad as I expected, as they limited Rhaka's in-ring time. I'm still not sure if "Hardcore Knockout" really fits Roxxi. I did like the Shelley and Sabin promo backstage. They seem to be the troublemakers of the Originals group.

Bashir vs. Young was an example of everything wrong with TNA. Young's X Division Title win, which is supposed to give credibility to the Originals, is overshadowed by the referee's feud with Bashir, not letting Young even win the belt cleanly. Unbelievable. Petey Williams invading the MEM locker room was interesting and well-played. The beat-down on him later was a bit confusing...hopefully that's cleared up next week, but it's an interesting way to go with things.

I'm not sure how Jay Lethal got a World Title shot. There was really no rhyme or reason why explained by....well, anyone. I liked the match though, as well as the Machine Guns ruining things and Joe & Styles getting on their case. I don't know how this exactly makes the Originals babyfaces though, a problem that is plaguing this angle.

The main event was another good match given some time to develop, even though there was no clean finish. Something that needs to be addressed is where does the rest of the roster, such as Team 3D and Beer Money Inc, fit with this feud? If Christian HAD to choose sides, why don't they have to? Speaking of Christian, I liked the ending angle too, even though it was a bit too "inside" for my tastes: If he stays, Christian becomes face, goes to the Originals to get revenge on the MEM; if he goes to WWE, it's his final appearance that puts MEM over.

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