SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
HITS
In Memory of Pac
I’m glad that TNA took time to honor the memory of Pac on this episode. Mustafa Ali had an extensive history with Ben Satterley in WWE, primarily on 205 Live, and announcer Tom Hannifin and Matt Rehwoldt knew Satterley in WWE, as well.
Zoey Hartwell getting DQ’ed against Indi Hartwell
In my opinion, they went to this match too early and I’m usually not a fan of DQ endings to matches but, if this is a vehicle to get to a Triple Threat match at Bound for Glory for the Knockouts Title, I’m in favor of it on this occasion. A Xia Brookside-Indi Hartwell match, by itself, isn’t compelling enough for me, at this point, although I suppose that you could say that is an indictment on booking.
Avery Styles-Frankie Kazarian training video
It was a good idea to establish that a relationship is being created between Styles and Kazarian. The entire 20-wrestler “Call your Shot” Gauntlet match has been built around these two so one of them will almost certainly win the match.
MISSES
BDE facing Mr. Elegance in an X-Division Title qualifying match
I guess that technically Mr. Elegance has a good win-loss record on TNA proper, but he is still treated as a comedy act and what has BDE done to earn an X-Division Title qualifying match other than get beat-up by the Righteous weekly? I’d like more consistency in explanation as to why some of these wrestlers are getting this opportunity.
ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW…
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Jason Hotch being condescending to John Skylar
Why is Jason Hotch acting like a bit of a jerk in this situation? I get that the John Skylar-Mila Moore random love angle is dumb, but if they decided to roll with it, why have Jason Hotch, who has been treated as a credible underdog face, throw cold water on it? Hotch comes across as unlikable for being mean and Skylar comes across as a gullible doofus.
The Hometown Man meets the Dude Wipes Mascot and involving AJ Francis
It’s never a good thing to come across as TEMU WWE and that is what this segment was. To involve AJ Francis in this feud is malpractice for his character, at this point. Then involving Moose in a match with Francis later in the night only to have the main focus be around an inflated box of wipes in a pair of underwear? This was embarrassing to watch.
Having The Great Hands lose to Order 4 and Agent Zero’s random turn
I feel as though any momentum that Hotch or Skylar had or could have had has been stunted in a very negative way. I understand that Ali is the more important piece to the overall puzzle, but this is a tag match and both Hotch and Skylar desperately need wins to maintain credibility. Also, Agent Zero turning on Ali had zero build to it (pun intended). Much like the Skylar-Moore love angle it seems like it was done just to justify the four-way match for the International Title at Bound for Glory.
Nic Nemeth stealing jackets and Leon Slater stealing titles
I’m glad that Slater beat Joe Alonso in about 30-seconds, as he should have, but the post-match angle with Nic Nemeth stealing Slater’s jacket and Leon Slater stealing Nemeth’s titles is just so stupid it hurts the build to what should be treated as a very serious angle for an important TNA World Title match. We have about 30 authority figures and mystery board members on this show. Shouldn’t, at least, one of them demand that stolen property be returned? Particularly, company property like Championship belts?
Ricky Sosa losing to Cedric Alexander
Shouldn’t Sosa be stacking up wins on his way to, hopefully, beating Eddie Edwards at Bound for Glory? I understand that interference was involved, but it still isn’t a good look for Sosa to be taking so many losses even if/when he eventually beats Edwards.
The Syx “mission statement”
So the Syx reason for attacking everyone is because “everything is rotten around here?” Then why join the company? Also, I get it that Matt Hardy “cannot die”. It wasn’t really a great mission statement and felt rather one-dimensional.
