Same bat time, same bat channel for Impact
Sting continues to be the biggest star on TNA Impact right now whether he is actually on the show or not. The title of last night’s episode was “Now You See Him, Now You Don’t.” Except for a video package on Sting – which was pretty well done – we didn’t see him. But we did see his trademark black bat again.
In the closing segment, Booker T. and Samoa Joe were having a verbal confrontation when suddenly the lights went out. When they came back on, Joe was knocked out on the mat and Booker was holding a black bat – which obviously means that we are supposed to assume that he is aligned with Sting.
Last week, it was Sharmell who had the black bat. And for the past two episodes, Kurt Angle and Team 3-D have been proclaiming that Sting has come over to the dark side.
Meanwhile, A.J. Styles keeps saying that he is sticking by Sting. For Styles’ sake, I hope Sting doesn’t turn on him, because the last thing Styles needs is to be booked as a naïve, dim-witted babyface.
On the other hand, I would love to see a heel turn for Sting. He has wrestled almost exclusively as a babyface for the past 20-plus years, so a turn would freshen up his character. I wouldn’t bet on it happening, though. I’m not convinced that Steve Borden wants to play a heel. His heart sure wasn’t in it in 1999 when he turned in WCW.
Of course, the biggest problem with this whole story line, as I said last week, is that it just seems like a rehash of a famous WCW story line from 1996. Here’s an idea: Maybe Angle, Team 3-D, Booker, Sting, Kevin Nash, Scott Steiner (when he returns from injury) and Jeff Jarrett (when he returns from hiatus) can join forces to battle the young TNA stars. They could call it The Millionaires Club vs. The New Blood. OK, so that one’s been done in WCW, too, but at least it’s from this decade.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
The six-man tables match in which Angle and Team 3-D defeated Styles, Christian Cage and Rhino was fun to watch. However, to reiterate a point that is made often, TNA needs to be careful about doing so many gimmick matches – especially on network TV – because it lessens their impact. ..
I liked Karen Angle’s interview segment with Kaz. It was good from a story line standpoint, and also because Kaz needs this type of up-close-and-personal treatment if he is going to get to the next level. His in-ring ability is not in question, but his promos are holding him back as far as really connecting with the crowd. …
One guy who does seem to be connecting with the fans is Matt Morgan. The crowd was definitely behind him last night. Like I said last week, booking him to go over in quick squash matches is a smart move. …
The Beer Money-Motor City Machine Guns match was laid out perfectly. TMCMG dominated the match before Robert Roode and James Storm scored a tainted victory. The beat-down after the match kept the heel heat on Roode and Storm and gave LAX a reason to come out and confront Beer Money. I also thought it was a good sign that TMCMG got a chance to cut a promo before the match, and it was a decent one (thanks to Alex Shelley). Hopefully, he and Chris Sabin are finally out of the doghouse. …
Taylor Wilde’s two quick pinfall victories (and a third win by DQ) over Velvet Sky were a great way to get the new TNA women’s champion over. By the way, you have to love ODB gnawing on a turkey leg when she came out to make the save. …
I’m happy to see that Shawn Daivari, now known as Sheik Abdul Bashir, is sticking around in TNA. He can work and talk. …
It was good to see that TNA at least tried to inject some logic into one of its story lines. When Sonjay Dutt underhandedly made it seem like Jay Lethal attacked him with a chair last week, SoCal Val bought it. The problem is that she could have easily watched a replay and seen that Dutt was lying. So, when Dutt asked her last night if she watched it again, she said, “You know I hate violence.” Well, that explains it. But it does raise another question: If she doesn’t like violence, why is she involved in pro wrestling? …
I love Curry Man, but not enough to prevent me from going to the bathroom, making a sandwich or changing the channel when the Prince Justice Brotherhood is on.
Comments
"...the last thing Styles needs is to be booked as a naïve, dim-witted babyface."
Damnit Kevin! I just snarfed coffee all over my computer screen at work. Thanks for nothing!
Posted by: Lee | July 25, 2008 8:59 AM
I wasn't into the Booker T/Samoa Joe segment at all because the addition of Tables, Ladders, & Chairs into the program along with a steel cage made seemed absolutely stupid to me. They're going to be locked in the cage, that should be enough to make an impact on the feud throwing in the weapons is overkill for it. Booker T ran off with the belt, so the cage is there as the enforcer that allows Booker to not be able to escape off with Joe's belt again. Why throw in weapons? Pointless.
Sting should be perfectly fine if they bring him in as a heel. But it does seem more like it's leaning towards babyface. Maybe a babyface return, then a heel turn? Not sure but it'd work I think.
The tables match while entertaining also seemed pointless and would've been better off being a PPV match rather than a TV match. It doesn't seem like any of the 6 guys in this entire ordeal are gonna get much out of this. AJ/Angle is practically dead since Karen has her own deal now and Cage/Rhino vs. Team 3D is just uninteresting.
I'm a very big fan of James Storm/Robert Roode combo. The MCMG promo did nothing for me and I didn't care about it. The super hero interview was funny though but it's still dumb since the Super Eric/Eric Young thing is dumb.
Kaz's interview was good. Matt Morgan will eventually need somebody to go against, don't know who exactly but somebody strong. Daivari should be something to watch if they given him time and not just that one vignette.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: On AJ/Angle, I think the reason they are doing six-mans is because Angle is nursing neck and knee injuries and this protects him (somewhat).
Posted by: Stephon | July 25, 2008 9:09 AM
Eck- I think you put more thought into TNA's booking then their creative department actually does.
Posted by: Elevation | July 25, 2008 12:26 PM
Like Daivari's new look. Fun way to book an "evil foreigner" without going for the stock camel, turban and pointed shoes look. He's rich, he's privileged, he's better than you etc.
I like Morgan's booking as well. If he takes his enthusiasm down just a notch, and taps into the badass part of his character more, I think then he'll be a superstar.
Posted by: GMan | July 25, 2008 12:46 PM
In addition to the over-reliance on gimmick matches, TNA also has what I like to call WCW syndrome. Fans don't get into big matches like they should because they spend so much time looking towards the back waiting for the inevitable run-in interference.
I was thinking the same thing, the Sting angle is so Nitro circa 1996. The difference here is that the WCW angle was built on some logic. Here a possible Sting turn is being manufactured out of thin air, nothing about his actions of stopping an out of control Samoa Joe indicated he was turning. I don't see him turning in the end either, but the entire angle makes little sense. Well it would make some sense if it was just the heels proclaiming he's turned, because that's what heels do. But for the faces, not to mention the announcers, to be constantly wondering about his allegiances doesn't fly in the face of the facts at hand.
The Angle/AJ Styles feud needs some kind of blow-off soon because it's losing steam and Kurt needs to really take time off to recover from his injuries. I would say ditto for the Dutt/Lethal feud, but it had little steam to begin with.
I'm intrigued by where the Kaz storyline could be headed. I'm not sure he needs a full blown turn to get to the next level, but he does need a pretty dramatic character makeover, not to mention improved work on the stick.
Posted by: Joe Barber | July 25, 2008 12:55 PM
How can you not like Alex Shelley on the stick? If you ever get a chance, find some of the ROH promos he's done. He's one of the best talkers out of the so called "New" generation.
Posted by: Jack H | July 25, 2008 2:30 PM
Kevin,
You're totally right about Morgan. This was the first Impact in which there was real chanting for him. There are lots of ways to capitalize on this momentum; hopefully TNA will go there. (He's a great example of why TNA needs a secondary heavyweight title. I know championship dilution is a problem but fans are conditioned to care about titles. He'd be a great contender for a secondary belt.)
You didn't spend much time on it but the Knockout division also continues to be extremely well booked. Excellent stuff with a strong roster of contenders and possibilities.
Finally, there really is some intrigue regarding future developments. Particularly at a time in which WWE is suggesting numerous angles with open storyline potential, it's important that TNA keep pusing fans to question what's going to happen next.
Keep up the great work!
TP
Posted by: Franklin Oliver | July 25, 2008 4:29 PM
Once you see what WWE has booked for the Summerslam main event, you'll be running to TNA. That is all.
Posted by: RH | July 25, 2008 6:37 PM
Now that Smackdown has aired, all I gotta say is.. I told you so. P.S. Kevin, tell me there's a swerve coming...HHH vs Khali for the main event at SS...really?! Ok I get that Edge has the Undertaker. Kennedy has Umaga. I get that Cena has Batista. But seriously, perfect time to elevate MVP, Jeff, or Matt, or at least go with MVP. Wow.
Posted by: RH | July 26, 2008 2:03 AM
I guess it's just me but I find Matt Morgans character about as exciting as the weather channel. Yeah yeah, you're big and yeah yeah you can move in the ring but the man cannot sell a move to save his life and he has absolutely no charisma. Then to top it off his in ring stuff is such a copy from other big men. I mean, he comes into the ring and does the hand-in-the-air like Big Show and then his offense is so much like Undertaker (legdrop when the opponents head is hanging outside the mat) that you just want to dig up your old Undie DVDs.
I think TNA should focus on Joe, Styles, Kaz and even Christian rather than Morgan
Posted by: Jon G.S. | July 26, 2008 5:31 AM
RH, do you really think HHH vs Khali will be the main event at Summerslam when they have a Hell in a Cell between the centre-of-attention Edge and the returning-from-banishment Undertaker? Come on, it does not take a genius to figure out which match will headline and end Summerslam and which match will be the undercard.
Posted by: Din | July 26, 2008 7:47 AM