TNA Impact Hits & Misses 7/26
By Teddy Panagiotopoulos, PWTorch specialist

IMPACT HITS

- OPENING SEGMENT: I thought Impact opened strong with Sting wanting to confront the Aces & Eights group of renegades. While at the risk of overexposure, A&E have taken control of Impact over the last few weeks with gang-related assaults on Hulk Hogan, Sting, Kurt Angle, Gut Check participant Sam Shaw, TNA World Champion Austin Aries, and even Bobby Roode. These type of attacks spreading throughout the roster show A&E want to make everybody their latest victim and no one is apparently safe. I liked how Austin Aries and Kurt Angle joined the discussion after Sting called out A&E, but I believe it is too early to have a group of TNA stars band together to take down A&E, especially when no one on the opposition has been revealed yet.

When Roode joined the proceedings, I thought for a moment he and the rest of the guys, despite Roode having issues with Aries, Sting, and Angle, would let bygones be bygones and join together against the threat of A&E. Not necessarily to turn Roode face, but since Roode also suffered a beat down from the masked men of mystery, it was logical that he would also want revenge. However, Roode, in his traditional suit and cocky demeanor, continued to display his heel tendencies by trying to convince everyone that James Storm is the leader of A&E. Whether Roode's accusations hold any merit or not, it provided a teaser for further speculation that would take place later on in the show.

- CHAVO GUERRERO DEBUTS: Before discussing Chavo Guerrero's debut on Impact Wrestling, I must say I am thrilled to see Chavo in TNA. The latter portion of Chavo's career in the WWE was a joke. After losing the ECW Championship to Kane in seven seconds at WrestleMania XXIV, his WWE career went downhill fast. Chavo losing to Hornswoggle on a weekly basis and being used in comedy segments was a waste of his talents and I am happy to believe his talents will be used correctly in Impact Wrestling.

I like how TNA tried to make Chavo a big deal. Yes, most current wrestling fans are more familiar with the aforementioned Hornswoggle non-sense that he was associated with over the last few years, but Chavo is an accomplished wrestler who can put on tremendous wrestling matches. And, I also like the comment with Chavo stating his family has won championships all over the world, and he wants to do the same in TNA. While I want to see him compete in the X Division against the likes of Kenny King and Kid Kash, I also want to see how he would fare against Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles, Christopher Daniels, Kazarian, and against fellow former WWE stars in Angle, Mr. Anderson, Jeff Hardy, Rob Van Dam, etc. The opportunities are endless for Chavo and I'm interested to see whethe TNA uses him to his full potential.

It appears Chavo's first feud will be against Kid Kash, which sounds wonderful and will ease Chavo into things. However, I am not sure about the route they took with Kash insulting his family, but I guess a storyline must start somewhere. Hopefully Gunner will be relegated to Kash's insurance policy and the same to be said for Hernandez backing up Chavo because Chavo does not need to be stuck in a tag team with Hernandez right out the gate. A friendship or some kind of allegiance is fine, but permanent tag team partners would be the wrong first step for Guerrero in TNA.

- BFG SERIES MATCHES: In terms of match quality and result, I am favoring Bully Ray vs. Kurt Angle over A.J. Styles vs. James Storm. Don't get me wrong, Storm vs. Styles was a great match but it ended in a non-finish with another attack by A&E. Yes, it played into whether Storm was in cahoots with the group since they did not attack him, but the mission could surely have been accomplished after one of them had won the match.

On the other hand, Ray vs. Angle was a satisfying main event. I thought the simple backstage interview with Ray before the match was nicely done. He mentioned how he respected Kurt Angle, but he was going to take seven points from him in the main event. He also touched upon the A&E faction and how focusing on them would not get him any points in the BFG Series. Also during the match, I loved the line from Taz after Angle successfully delivered three German suplexes, saying he knows what it's like to hit those moves on Ray although "he was four bills when I did it!" Overall, both matches were well done but as stated, I enjoyed the main event more.

- CLOSING SEGMENT: The brawl involving A&E and the stable of Sting, Angle, Aries, and A.J. was fine, as it showed there is finally some competition for the A&E group. I thought Storm delaying his appearance continued to tease his association and even more so when the group left the ring without fighting Storm. Then, with Angle and Storm bickering back and forth, Mike Tenay set up this week's Impact with the announcement of Storm vs. Angle in a BFG Series Match. But, one question, who did Tenay receive word from? Especially when Sting, the interim GM, was in the middle of the ring when the announcement was made. It was just another example of convenience and how pro wrestling is scripted.

IMPACT MISSES

- GUT CHECK: Sam Shaw put up a valiant effort against Douglas Williams. I actually thought he did a fine job against Williams, even with the distraction from Joey Ryan in the audience. But, the Miss is not for the match itself, but rather for the judge's decision later on in the night. This is the fourth Gut Check decision and out of the four, three of them have won themselves a contract with Impact Wrestling. Yet, the one who did not win a contract is the only one who is currently involved in a storyline or occasionally appears on television. Yeah, that makes a lot of sense, doesn't it?

I understand TNA has their hands tied as it related to Alex Silva with the whole Ric Flair situation, but at least a follow-up on how he is faring in TNA Developmental would be nice. The same can be said for Taeler Hendrix, who should be on TV now since the Knockouts division needs some new blood with both Angelina Love and Velvet Sky having exited TNA, and the disappearance of Sarita, Rosita, and Winter. And, I can't nag on Shaw just yet because he just won the contract, but the once-promising Gut Check concept has not lived up to its potential thus far.

- KNOCKOUTS TAG MATCH: Again, nothing wrong with the match as Gail Kim, Madison Rayne, Tara, and Mickie James know how to wrestle, but the match result was what earned this a Miss. If Earl Hebner and Madison Rayne are "involved" with one another, then Hebner should not officiate any of Rayne's matches. I believe that is called "a conflict of interest?" Obviously, the ending with Mickie clearly getting her shoulder up in time yet still counted down was meant to progress the love interest storyline between Hebner and Rayne, but does it also continue the storyline of Mickie becoming frustrated and turning heel? I thought James was going to turn heel after Velvet was given the chance to appear in a Montgomery Gentry music video, but it was halted then and it may not happen now with the division so thin on babyfaces.

***

POST-IMPACT THOUGHTS: Overall, I thought Impact was good. Now, I'll move on to focusing on the BFG Series Standings.

BFG SERIES BREAKDOWN: Following Impact and this past weekend's Live Events, these are the updated standings:

(1) Samoa Joe - 47 points [5-3-0] ... 8 matches
(2) James Storm - 45 points [4-1-2] ... 7 matches
(3) Kurt Angle - 41 points [5-4-0] ... 9 matches
(4) Mr. Anderson - 40 points [5-4-1] ... 10 matches
(5t) Rob Van Dam - 28 points [4-3-0] ... 7 matches
(5t) Jeff Hardy - 28 points [4-4-0] ... 8 matches
(7) Daniels - 26 points [4-3-0] ... 7 matches
(8) Magnus - 21 points [3-6-0] ... 9 matches
(9) A.J. Styles - 16 points [2-3-1] ... 6 matches
(10t) The Pope - 7 points [1-5-0] ... 6 matches
(10t) Bully Ray - 7 points [1-4-0] ... 5 matches
(12) Robbie E. - 5 points [1-8-0] ... 9 matches

At first glance, you notice the top four point-getters are all within seven points of each other, which means one victory by Storm, Angle, or Anderson could give them the top spot over Samoa Joe. Then, there's the "meat of the order" with RVD, Jeff Hardy, Daniels, and Magnus one-to-two victories away from taking a spot in the Top 4. But, the most important factor in the BFG Series, and this one is very crucial as the Series heads into the final weeks, is the number of matches each wrestler has competed in.

For example, Anderson currently has 40 points, but he has wrestled ten matches, while Bully Ray has a measly seven points, but has only competed in five matches thus far in the Series. So, while it is conceivable Bully Ray could lose the rest of his matches and remain with seven points, it is also possible he can win his last seven matches, even a few of them by submission, and can easily secure himself a Top 4 spot. Plus, though it hasn't happened yet, I am sure someone will lose by DQ and have ten points removed from his point total. That will definitely shake things up in the Standings, especially if it happens to someone near the top of the pack. And, as it has happened to James Storm, a draw does not help much in terms of points. Yes, Storm secured four points because of those draws, but he would have the lead right now if those draws were pinfall or submission victories.

Also, with a month to go in the Series, it may be at a disadvantage to have competed in the most matches already. As mentioned before, Anderson only has two more matches left, while Ray has seven matches left, counting the Hardcore Justice PPV. Kurt Angle is also in a similar position because he has wrestled nine times in the Series, while guys like A.J. Styles and The Pope have only competed in six thus far. With a good portion of the Series remaining, there is never a more critical time to keep winning. None of the wrestlers, especially those who have competed in the most matches at this time, want to complete their portion of matches with several weeks to go in the Series because then they are handcuffed in the standings.

As it relates to the BFG Series as a whole, in my opinion, those who are the Top 4 now will not all remain the Top 4 when the Series is over.

[Torch art credit Grant Gould (c) PWTorch.com]

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