Well okay, Samoa Joe and Kevin Nash start the show off looking cool and
important. They were helpfully nebulous and Lauren seemed more serious than she
typically does. Good intro.

Rock 'n' Rave Infection vs. Christian Cage and Rhino:

Cage and Rhino really seem like they’re becoming a permanent team and a good
one. Their styles complement each other nicely. Jimmy Rave looked good in this
match but Lance Rock seemed uncomfortable wrestling. He was fine while dancing,
strutting and preening but none of that confidence was in evidence while being
physically engaged in the wrestling. The finish was nice as Rhino gores then
Cage frog splashes but it worked so well only because Rave did a great job
rolling out of the Gore into perfect position for Cage to splash him. Again,
well done by Rave.

 

Kurt Angle cuts a strong promo and encourages us to pay
attention to his wrestling and his neck.

 

AJ Styles does a great job of putting himself over from Hard
Justice. He balances his intensity, voice and physical motions better than
usual and comes across as super credible. This is the AJ Styles we’ve been
hoping to see heading back into World title contention and main event status.

 

3 promos in between matches? Well, I’d normally complain but
Matt Morgan makes it a hat trick of good promos. Morgan does a good promo,
hitting all the critical elements and again, working to make himself seem more
credible.

 

Matt Morgan vs. Johnny Devine: 

The physical stature
difference is wonderfully apparent here. My wife’s jaw dropped when she saw how
big Morgan is. She also noticed that he doesn’t look ’roided up. She was
impressed. Again, Morgan uses the squash to appear very impressive. The crowd
is responding and the Hellevator made my wife’s jaw drop again.

 

The run-in by Team 3D made more sense than Don West’s
commentary (a shame because West and Tenay have done a great job putting him
over lately). They’ve been working with Devine for months. I might have liked
to see Morgan fight 3D off without Abyss’ help but this really does make more
sense.

 

As usual, the Beautiful People were excellent during Karen’s
Angle.  Karen Angle as Oprah just
doesn’t work, but Kip James as the Diva manager is likely to be really funny.
My hope is that the ‘ass cam’ doesn’t re-appear but there’s definite comic potential.

 

Jay Lethal appropriately chastises Lauren for her stupid
question. He does a nice job of making sense out of the mess of the love
triangle. Excellent intensity. (I wonder who’s helping with promos? Thanks to
whoever it is.)

 

Sheik Abdul Bashir delivers another intense promo although I
never think the word ‘rape’ should be introduced into a wrestling program. It’s
too serious a reality for such casual usage.

 

Jay Lethal vs. Sheik Abdul Bashir:

Solid but too short match that helpfully establishes Bashir
as the kind of heel fans want to see lose but think may win. He may be a great
X Division champ sooner rather than later. I wanted the Dutt/Lethal scenario to
wind down at Hard Justice but it will be nice to see it come full circle and
end up with Val and Sonjay in a relationship. She’d be a great manager for him;
she’s beautiful, she’s stupid and she’s all about peace even though she works
for a wrestling company. Doesn’t a guru need disciples like that?

 

Booker T does a nice job connecting the dots surrounding
him. He maintains his composure even though he doesn’t want to do so. Excellent
promo.

 

The Hard Justice bonus between STING and Nash is great
because it starts with STING mishearing Nash and thinking he’s being asked
about ‘being confused’ while Nash actually told him he’d ‘lit the fuse’. That’s
exactly how real conversations happen! The idea of a wrestler’s clock ticking
makes perfect sense too particularly as Nash has mentioned multiple times he’s
known STING since 1990.

 

(Wouldn’t it be nice if TNA created a Detroit Rock City
stable? Nash, MCMG, Rhino, Steiner and Williams {from just across the border in
Windsor, Ontario} would make a tremendously interesting and fun group.)

 

3D vs. Kevin Nash and Samoa Joe (c):

So, all is well
with Joe and Nash? I don’t want Joe to continue being hyper paranoid but I do
want to know why he’s apparently sane again.

 

Nash has not wrestled this well in quite some time. He’s not
usually this comfortable selling. Finally, the World champion wrestling and
demonstrating on Impact! why he’s been so lauded by the fans.

 

Okay, nice. Joe isn’t quite sane. Very nice to see. The
reversal of the decision is just ludicrous considering how much interference
there is in TNA but it helps forward the angle.

 

Traci Brooks may have my favorite referee outfit ever. May?
Who am I kidding; I love it.

 

Christy Hemme vs. Taylor Wilde(c) in a non-title match:

West
is doing an excellent job putting over Wilde and the division itself. This is
the best I’ve seen Hemme look in a match. Not excellent but she’s solid. Much,
much better than most of the Divas in WWE at least. And she’s what, the 9^th
best female wrestler in TNA? At best? What great depth?

 

Taylor Wilde continues to grow and impress. She has
a great variety of moves and uses her lack of size well.   wow, the elevating kicks into
Hemme’s Matrix duck was just great. The German suplex bridged into a win? Wow.
I wanna see William Regal break that one back out. This is a great way to
showcase Hemme and Wilde.

 

Wow. Awesome Kong really is just that, awesome. She tosses
Brooks with an almost unbelievably casual air.  Gail Kim is still fabulous and has been so good for so long
that she really does look like she can give Kong a match. That being said, she gave Kong a ridiculous chair shot. That just isn't necessary. Ish.

 

I like the way this segment played out because Kim/Kong is a
match that would sell and makes sense while giving Wilde a chance to have
another challenger come at her.

 

Consequences Creed Rough Cut-

 

It’s great that no one makes pretense that his ‘real’ name
is Consequences. He looks like he’s being groomed to be an X

 

LAX still has Hector Guerrero as their spokesman. Just not
good. Hernandez is good enough that he doesn’t need the help. Super Mex has
World champ potential. Really, I think he’d be a fine transitional champ. If
there’s an unanticipated injury or it’s determined that TNA needs to promote
interest with a swerve or upset or even if there’s a tour in Mexico or the
Southwest that needs a boost in attendance.

 

James Storm vs. Hernandez:

Here’s a solid but non-descript match. Both guys are quite
good in their own particular ways but this match had the formulaic double
interference by both Roode and Jackie. That doesn’t help anything but it worked
well enough.

 

Wasn’t there a gold medal challenge (in format at least)
just a few months ago? Okay, whatever. I’m fine with embracing Angle’s
wrestling background and the Olympic tie-in is probably gonna help. Whatever
happened to that vaunted TNA originality?

Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles: 

Never mind. This is a very solidly wrestled contest thus
far. The scoring makes perfect sense and both guys do a great job with the
physical and emotional elements. Of course, now there’s a ref bump. In an
amateur style match. Ish. Never mind, #2. As a set up for STING to ‘interfere’
along with Jeff Jarrett, it all works well. Again, I’m not a fan of ref bumps,
guitar shots (that did not look worked at all), black outs or refs that wake up
as soon as they need to for a finish but this worked really well. Jarrett and
STING are both wild cards and fans buy this zany interference when it comes
from them. TNA has also done an interesting job of planting doubt as to which
side either guy will be on. That’s simply not common. It’s good stuff though. For AJ Styles to get back to back victories over Kurt Angle and win his gold medal, TNA must be (appropriately) hitching their wagon to AJ's star. Very good choice.  

 

 TP

 

Unfortunately, TNA is trying to copy WWE's attempts at using stories to produce interest in wrestling as opposed to using wrestling to produce interest in the stories. As JR might say, 'Keep the horse in front of the cart.' Please.

My
primary hope for Freddie Prinze's arrival in WWE is that he can help convince the
McMahons that their fans want to be entertained but not insulted. The car
accidents and McMahon near-death experiences are insulting and can't ever add
more than they detract from the product. Prinze may help convince the McMahons
that even in sports entertainment, plausibility and credibility are important.

 

TP

An additional title might provide inducement for non-TNA
wrestlers who might consider jumping. There are so few top spots in TNA that it
would be difficult to entice a free agent to come to TNA without a specific
guarantee of a World title run. It would be much easier for guys like Bryan
Danielson or Rob Van Dam to join TNA if they were promised a run with this
secondary title. TNA still needs this kind of big acquisition. (More on that
soon.)

 

This new title would really enhance house shows. People who
attend TNA house shows do so knowing nothing important will happen. Maybe
that’s okay when you have the celebrity/IT factor of WWE but it will continue
to hamper TNA house business if fans maintain the sense that they’re not going
to see anything special. Having this secondary title change hands occasionally
will up the ante for house shows. As TNA continues its expansion efforts, that
will be a critical element. House shows not only bring ticket and merchandise
sales but help encourage the development of new fans. What does the wrestling
business need more than that?

 

A secondary heavyweight championship title would further
distinguish the X Division from the Heavyweight Division. The last several
months have really helped the X Division (re)establish its identity nicely.  Guys like Eric Young and Kaz don’t need
to be wrestling in X Division matches, they need to be working with
heavyweights almost exclusively. Re-casting them as contending for the
secondary heavyweight belt will cement the X Division as a distinct entity,
important unto itself.

 

Part 3 soon. 

TP

My proposal is this: TNA needs a new secondary title.

 

This title would allow them to do lots of helpful things.
Hopefully some of you will tell me what additional possibilities there are but
here’s a start. Any new title would automatically increase the intrigue of
title defenses and changes (and all the attendant possibilities that come with
championships). Every championship enhance the resumés of talent. Titles are
the most important props in wrestling. Fans are conditioned to value titles and
use them as measuring sticks for wrestlers. Since so few of the TNA second
level guys have much experience as singles champs, having a new title can both
polish individual pedigrees and develop the experience of many as champions and
in championship matches.  

It makes
great sense for Kofi Kingston and Paul Burchill to be Intercontinental champ
and challenger for instance. It will always be helpful for Kingston to say that
he is a former Intercontinental champion. The same would be true for Burchill
if he won the belt. Since the World title is the element of such focus right
now, the secondary belt is wisely being used to build credibility for rising
talent. TNA needs to do the same thing. 

 

This new belt would provide a helpful, viable second tier for singles
wrestlers. There are guys like Rhino, Tomko, Matt Morgan and, for months on
end, James Storm and Robert Roode who are clearly not World title contenders
right now but can’t credibly compete in the X Division. Right now, there are too many guys that simply have to spin their wheels because there’s no clear goal for them. This second title would minimize that problem.

 

Even if accidently, adding a new belt will also help make
TNA seem more like a major player. With only one heavyweight belt, the
promotion still seems minor league. Having enough depth to maintain a secondary
title division will make TNA feel more substantial than the company has been up
to this point. Steps like this are necessary for TNA to be seen as a major company.

More soon.

TP 

Eric Young, Johnny Devine, Consequences Creed and Jimmy
Rave in a 4 Way X Division Match:

 

A nice recovery win for Consequences Creed but everyone
looked good in the match. The TNA staple of fast action with everyone hitting
finishers works especially well in X division matches like this one.

 

Abyss is being booked nicely as well. He looks heroic and
the fans are clearly behind him.

 

Brother Ray consistently disses Angle without Kurt ever
knowing it. That will make for a great transition whenever one or the other
turns. Ray will get a great rub from that program whenever it happens.

 

Nice Kaz video. Great use of matches to create some sense of
history and increased credibility. When he turns it will make much more sense
than it usually does.

 

Karen looks really shiny. In a good way.  Killer Kowalski and Bret Hart. Who
knew? I hope that next week Karen says something like, so in 6 months of
wrestling in WWE you were undefeated? A great way to raise eyebrows. Wow, what
a nice use of video packaging and the history of TNA. I’m looking forward to
seeing the next segment. Karen was reasonably unobtrusive.

 

Matt Morgan vs. Corey Chavis:

 

They are pushing Matt Morgan in a big giant way. And it’s
working. This is the first time I’ve ever heard the ‘Morgan’ chant. The Mile
High Club?!? That’s great. Don West comes through finally. Good t-shirt
material. ‘You’re About to Join the Mile High Club’ I really want to see TNA
put him in a feud with Kip James. Kip is athletic enough and built enough that
he looks like credible opposition. Morgan can also dominate without needing to
give up much offense. Then maybe they can bring back Andrew “Test” Martin to be
fodder for the Morgan mill. He’d be a good short-term partner to help Morgan
get to the next level. Now yes, that’s only because he’s so big and has
recently appeared in TNA, but it would still help.

 

Maybe Abyss would be next (perhaps Rhino) and that would
help push Morgan into main event conversations.

 

The MCMG really are hilarious. Some great great lines here.
Murder should never be fodder for wrestling humor.

 

Speaking of humor, I can’t believe how often I laugh at
Shark Boy. Super Eric annoys me to no end (just like Black Reign) due to the
absurdity of not knowing about their dual identities. Stupid is one thing; a
failure to be self-aware is unnecessary.

 

Will they please stop using Beer Money Inc.? Beer Money
works great. The Inc. is just dumb. TNA is finally listening. Intros then
commercial then match. Getting rid of the match breaks helps so much.

 

Beer Money vs. Motor City Machine Guns in a Strap Match:

 

Very fun match with great utilization of the straps. The
outcome of the match worked well too. Even though I’m not a fan of the TNA
tactic of always forcing heels to cheat, it made perfect sense in the context
of this match. This will also make more sense for the title rematch against
LAX. (I also noticed that Salinas needed to hook her leg around the post as she
leaned forward from the apron. She’s so top heavy she probably was worried that
gravity would give her the worst Implant Buster ever.)

 

I don’t particularly care which NFL players show up to watch
Impact but it will definitely help casual fans.

 

Taylor Wilde (c) vs. Velvet Sky in a Knockout title
match:

 

As I indicated in an outside blog, I’m extremely impressed
with how the Knockout division has been booked for the past few months. Don
West shows up again, reminding fans that Taylor Wilde is happy to be seeing
someone in the ring that’s not Awesome Kong. Great character development for
Velvet Sky. I feel badly for her credibility because it will be harder for fans
to take her seriously but she definitely made it work.  Taylor also played her role really
well. She looks like a really strong wrestler and a nicely developing hero
character. I also love that the crowd began chanting ‘ODB!’ Good stuff.

 

Abdul Bashir? Totally hating on the US? Wow, what a great
starting point. He’s gonna be a seriously good heel. What heat he’ll get. I
can’t wait to see him against AJ Styles or a face turned Kurt Angle maybe in a
few months. Actually, that may end up being the best way to turn Kurt. He can
demonstrate that although he’s an obsessed jerk, that’s only about people. His
country is actually the most important thing of all.

 

So Cal Val is clearly an idiot. This is now two straight
weeks that they’ve described Jay Lethal as an animal. Not so cool. I love that
Sonjay asked her about seeing the replay. ‘You know I hate violence.’ Wow,
whatta girl. Maybe she should date Eric Young.  And JB tries to smarten her up too. Finally, Jay cops the
ring.

 

Head drama, not head trauma? Iron Mike Tenay cracking the
jokes tonight.

 

It’s a great trend to see commercials before the match
again. With ½ hour left I’m curious to see if this could possibly be the last
match of the evening. I wonder if they really will go with 5 guys through
tables.

 

Team 3D and Kurt Angle vs. Rhino, AJ Styles and Christian
Cage in a 5 tables match:

 

Brother Devon leaves first. That makes sense. It’s a
pleasant surprise though as these matches almost always develop into a heel
advantage early on. Nice to go against type. Angle hits everyone with chairs
and they go to commercial. That makes perfect sense. Good choices today!

 

Is this Don West’s best work ever? Wow. He makes lots of
good points relative to STING. I’m so impressed.

Goodness, Christian Cage takes bumps that no other multiple
time former World champ (not named Foley or Styles division) ever takes. The
heel advantage in this match works helpfully as does the misdirection of Johnny
Devine’s entry into the match.

 

It’s nice to watch AJ Styles continue to be the 2^nd most
important face on the show. He’s sooooo over right now and TNA could do worse
than give him another (his first mainstream) World title run.  Joe and Booker don’t really need to
have the title to draw. Obviously Kurt doesn’t either. Perhaps AJ wins his feud
with Kurt in September and then goes after Booker or Joe (whoever the heel
champ is, and I think it could go both ways credibly).

 

Wow, I totally forgot about the title signing. Silly me. I
guess it’s just that the whole signing thing seems so overdone. I mean, six
months ago, it took three or four weeks for Joe to sign a contract to stay with
the company. Actually, that might be good fodder to be added as rationale for Joe’s
heel turn.

 

A couple good lines between Joe and Booker and fortunately,
Joe (finally!) seems to be on Booker’s level verbally. That’s really been
missing.

 

Of course no one expects STING to have turned but it does
intrigue me how they’ll explain it all away. Better intrigue than I
anticipated. Good stuff tonight. I’m curious to see if Angelina Love becomes
Taylor Wilde’s next opponent. That would be very nice by the way and would open
the door helpfully for ODB to become a champion (definitely what fans want),
perhaps Roxxi would win the belt (fans would get behind and she’d instantly be
raised a level) or maybe even a Gail Kim second run (I’d prefer to see her and
Angelina in non-title matches because TNA’s done such a good job prepping their
feud, the title may not be necessary to get it over big).

 

AJ, Christian and Rhino definitely need a big win but I
think that’ll have to wait until the PPV and perhaps something there will milk
these intertwined feuds even longer.

 

There’s not much clear about the X Division right now but
that may actually present a great opportunity to lift a couple guys. Johnny
Devine and Consequences Creed seem the most natural guys to push right now and
I’d probably choose Creed since it’s his first chance to show what he can do
near the top. Since Petey’s mentor is still out, this would actually be a great
time to give someone else the belt then put it back on him when Steiner can
back him up again.

 

I’d like to see Beer Money (not Inc.!) win another match
next week. Maybe they can beat R&R Infection just to solidify their claim
for another title shot against LAX. Speaking of which, I’d love to see them
actually wrestle next week. If one of them is hurt, the other can definitely
have a singles match.

 

Anyway, this was a really strong show that encouraged me to
watch next week’s Impact even if the PPV hype wasn’t exceptional. Primarily, I
suppose, that’s because this episode seemed committed to a logical pose that
isn’t particularly common. Nothing tonight made me cringe and most of it was
pleasing. Maybe this is an important transition episode. I’d like to think so
but that might a pipe dream.

 

 TP