Some thoughts on last night’s TNA Impact:

This was the best episode of the program since it expanded to two hours six weeks ago. Not having Kurt and Karen Angle in every other segment and the absence of a plethora of bad skits made all the difference. …

While I wasn’t in favor of giving a push to Scott Hall and Kevin Nash and I believe the novelty will wear off quickly, I do think TNA is booking them wisely at this point. My fear was that TNA was going to have Nash or Hall, at this advanced stage in their careers, challenging Kurt Angle in a singles match for the TNA world title, which would be a disaster. Using The Outsiders in a six-man tag-team match at the next pay-per-view, however, will help to conceal their physical limitations in the ring, as well as give a rub to guys such as Samoa Joe, A.J. Styles and Tomko. Now if Hall and Nash end up turning on Joe and we find out that they were working with Angle all along, I think my head will explode. …

The crowd at the Impact Zone in Orlando is becoming a parody of itself. It’s one thing to chant “You still got it” at Sting after he delivers a standout performance on a pay-per-view, but chanting it for Hall? For what, just saying, “Hey, yo?” Talk about lowering the bar. …

Booker T. and Sharmell’s debut on Impact was well done, with the “official” contract signing being interrupted by Christian Cage. I do have mixed feelings on Booker being in TNA, however. On one hand, it’s a no-brainer for TNA to bring in someone of Booker’s caliber when he became available. But, on the other hand, he only adds to the perception that TNA is the new WCW – and that’s not a compliment. It’s also kind of odd that hardcore TNA fans claim to dislike WWE, yet the crowd in Orlando marks out big when former WWE stars such as Booker, Angle and Christian make the jump. …

The title match between Angle and Kaz was decent, but not quite as good as I thought it would be. By the way, I find it interesting that fans on various Web sites have been critical of TNA’s decision to have Kaz defeat Christian at the Genesis pay-per-view last Sunday to earn the title shot. If Kaz had lost, I’m sure there would have been complaints that TNA has a glass ceiling and Kaz is being held back. I have been saying that Kaz has breakout potential, so I like the fact that he pulled the upset against Christian, especially because it wasn’t portrayed as a fluke. Sure, Kaz’s ascent could have been more gradual, but there’s nothing wrong with a little unpredictability as long as it makes sense. …

The feud between Team 3-D and the Motor City Machine Guns is succeeding in generating heel heat for the former and giving a rub to the latter. Brother Ray has tremendous natural heel charisma and he cuts great promos, although his backstage promo would have been better without the silly humor. It was obvious that Havok, who was being held hostage by Team 3-D, was going to end up being the X-Division traitor. Vince Russo’s swerves are beyond predictable by now. Also, I don’t see the logic in having three heels take out six babyfaces. …

I’m enjoying the angle with Robert Roode, Ms. Brooks and Roode’s female fan. I like the fact that Brooks attacked the fan rather than vice versa. We all know the fan was a plant, but I never liked angles where fans came out of the audience to attack wrestlers. …

TNA is doing a nice job in building interest for a match between Awesome Kong and Gail Kim. …

With “monsters” such as Abyss, Black Reign and the soon-to-be-returning Judas Mesias, does TNA really need another one in Rellik? Well, better to have Rellik on the roster than Johnny The Bull, I suppose. Mike Tenay and Don West pointed out that Rellik is killer spelled backward. All I can say is that name is diputs spelled backward. ...

Speaking of bad names, Lance Hoyt and Jimmy Rave are now known as the Rock and Rave Infection. This, no doubt, comes from the same mind that brought us "PerfectShawn" Stasiak, Sgt. A-Wall and Kwee-Wee.