TNA crosses the line, and not in a good way
I usually enjoy watching Kurt Angle and Jeff Jarrett, and I have a lot of respect for everything they have accomplished in the wrestling business. But I’m pretty disgusted with what I saw from them last night on Impact.
Angle was cutting one of his best and most intense promos ever – and then he took it one step too far. For the second time since his angle began with Jarrett, Angle taunted Jarrett by bringing up his deceased wife, Jill, who lost her battle with breast cancer last year.
With a crazed look in his eye, Angle said: “I know about your three little beautiful children. I know they miss their mother. I know you miss your wife. But I have no remorse for you, Jeff. I feel nothing.” (To view the promo in its entirety, click here).
As much as I hate that Angle said it, I hate it even more that Jarrett signed off on it. I’ve stated many times, including just a couple weeks ago when WWE insinuated on its Web site that Jeff Hardy had overdosed, that I am perfectly fine with wrestling pushing the envelope by incorporating a wrestler’s real life personal issues into a story line.
But I draw the line at dead spouses. TNA always talks about crossing the line, but this is one instance when it would have better to go right up to the line and then turn around.
Beyond the fact that the reference to Jill was tasteless, it was totally unnecessary. Angle was delivering a money promo and he was getting the right kind of heat from the crowd. And then as soon as he mentioned Jarrett’s family, it seemed as if the crowd was booing the company for going there rather than booing a heel character.
All I can say is that I sure hope Jarrett doesn’t allow his three young daughters to watch Impact.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
What is with all the cursing lately? A bleeped word here and there is fine for dramatic effect, but when seemingly half the roster has a potty mouth, it comes off as trying too hard to be “edgy.” Angle, Kevin Nash and Brother Ray all got bleeped during their promos, and, of course, Roxxi’s gimmick is that every other word she says gets bleeped. ODB and Sheik Abdul Bashir used some coarse language, as well, and Jarrett was clearly mouthing a vulgar term at the end of Angle’s promo. …
I was skeptical about Rhino getting such a prominent role in the main story line and facing Angle in a pay-per-view match Sunday at Final Resolution, but his non-title victory over Sting last night served him well. Sometimes I think TNA uses blood when it’s not necessary, but having Rhino’s face become a “crimson mask” last night was a good call. It definitely added to the drama of the match and made Rhino a sympathetic figure. I still don’t think anyone believes Rhino will defeat Angle, but Rhino did gain some credibility. …
There was a slight hint of tension between Angle and Sting after Angle inadvertently cost Sting his match with Rhino. Clearly, Sting’s Mafia days are numbered. …
I have always liked Team 3D a lot better as heels, but they’re really clicking as babyfaces right now. Brother Ray’s mic work is stellar no matter which role he is playing. When it comes to promos and projecting a strong persona, A.J. Styles and Samoa Joe simply can’t compete with Team 3-D. …
One line from Ray that didn’t make sense: “We are bad guys. But we’re not bad guys when it comes to doing the right thing.” Huh? As for Brother Devon’s “Get Juiced” T-shirt, just insert your own joke. …
Someone in TNA needs to start watching WWE 24/7’s Legend of Wrestling. TNA has spoken reverently about Ric Flair several times on Impact (including last night in a promo by Ray), but Flair did not reciprocate on Legends. Flair was running down Kevin Nash and Vince Russo on the show and said: “Now those guys work for TNA. What is TNA?” …
Continuity error: Styles said that he and Joe have been like brothers since they first met. Maybe in real life, but weren’t they enemies on TV not all that long ago? Styles also mentioned that Christopher Daniels was part of their clique. So I guess we should just forget that Joe tried to injure Daniels a few years ago and at one point was proudly carrying around a towel stained with Daniels’ blood. Speaking of Daniels, his name seems to keep being referenced on TV. I suppose that means Curry Man will be saying sayonara soon. …
From a booking perspective, it makes sense for Christy Hemme to pin Awesome Kong in a tag match three days before their encounter at Final Resolution. But seeing Hemme get her hand raised over Kong – even if she needed Styles’ help to do it – just seems wrong. …
I was all for TNA trying to get some publicity by extending an offer to Sarah Palin to appear on the show. With that being said, I don’t know what was worse last night – the Palin imitator or The Beautiful People’s acting. I guess Palin and Tina Fey both turned down TNA. …
ODB’s interview segment with Sharmell two weeks ago made me laugh, but last night’s installment with Roxxi and Taylor Wilde was horrible. You know it’s lame when I can predict ODB’s punch lines as soon as she is fed a line. Plus, the humor reminded me of the jokes my buddies and I used to tell when we were in fifth grade. …
As bad as the Palin and ODB segments were, nothing compares to Lauren’s acting when Abyss was attacked by Beer Money.
Comments
nothing left to say .
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | December 5, 2008 4:12 PM
You totally pre-empted my response. What IS with all the cursing? It's good guys, it's bad guys, it's guys who don't know if they're good or bad. It's like they're trying to ape the Attitude Era, but it's completely contrived rather than motivated.
Another thing, Team 3D said that if they won the tag team titles twenty times, it also means they lost the titles nineteen times. I think that would actually be twenty times. I like TNA, I really do, but all these missteps every week (and last night was probably among the top ten worst wrestling shows I've ever seen) are really pushing my limits.
Posted by: Micah | December 5, 2008 4:16 PM
Kevin, I've posted here a few times and really enjoy your observations and critiques even though I don't always agree with them. That being said, I'm of similiar age to you and grew up watching wrestling in Florida as a child and still miss Gordon Solie and I myself couldn't believe Jarrett's wife was brought up again last night in that context. I"m a big self-admitted mark for TNA but I also felt offended and my first thought was "I hope Jeff's kids don't see this" and my second was that you would be addressing it here in ring posts. TNA does a lot of things really well and have a stellar stable of talent but I wish they would do what made them so great in the beginning rather than try to be WCW.
Posted by: Derek Benschoter | December 5, 2008 4:18 PM
Can't make an actual joke about the get juiced shirt. It's for his smoothie shop next to a gym in melbourne. Nice little place. I've been there twice, once to meet Kurt Angle and Devon, second to meet Cage and Rhino. Just so ya know.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Thanks. As Christian Cage says, I didn't know, now I know.
Posted by: Mr. Bronson | December 5, 2008 6:28 PM
I read in an interview that JJ didn't know Angle was going to say the line about his wife that he did back a month or two ago, (I believe you wrote about the line in one of your blogs) so I wonder if JJ even knew he was going to say what he said last night.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I have a hard time believing Jarrett didn't know it was coming.
Posted by: BHC | December 5, 2008 8:03 PM
I thought Impact was pretty good. In my opinion, Rhino had been having some credibility issues as the top babyface in the Front Line. I didn't expect his victory against Sting and I was pleasantly surprised. I agree with you about the blood - it really helped the match and added some drama.
As soon as I saw that Curry Man was in the Feast or Fired, I got excited. I know he's going to get the fired briefcase. Is he going to tear off the mask in frustration or simply leave & somehow come back as Christopher Daniels?
Posted by: Chris Slater | December 5, 2008 9:14 PM
Jeff Jarrett has always been...that. I agree with you, Kevin, but it needs to be said: This isn't news. It's what he's always been.
I saw Flair's cracks about Hall, Nash, Russo, and TNA...and I have to say, I agree with him. I'm a wrestling fan, always watched both WWF and WCW, but I don't watch TNA. It just isn't a good show.
BTW, Flair ruined that episode of "Legends" by dominating the conversation (and with boring, egotistical stories to boot). I can't even count the number of Great Moments™ that were omitted because he kept droning about lame road stories.
Posted by: Stephen | December 5, 2008 9:48 PM
You probably have 10 comments mentioning this already but "Sarah Palin" was played by Shannon Spruill, AKA Shark Girl AKA Daffney.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: That was Shannon? Honestly, I had no idea, and I actually know her.
Posted by: RH | December 5, 2008 9:55 PM
Kevin, I usually enjoy watching TNA a change from WWE, but Thursday show was bad. I agree with you concerning the Rhino angle no pun intended. Seeing Hemme with arm raised over Kong was bad. I wonder what they promised Kong so she'd job like that to Hemme. Also, the gore on Sting was weak. All in all the jobbing was bad through out the show. ODB segment " bag it " it was awful. And when it comes to bad taste Angle takes the cake. Again, no pun intended. After watcning that " I would not buy TNA's PPV. Cheers !
Posted by: Ski in HDG | December 6, 2008 1:44 PM
More importantly than all that, how in the hell was Lauren following the Beautiful People and Beer Money at the exact same time all night? Does she have a twin, or am I thinking of another show...
Posted by: Kyle | December 6, 2008 5:59 PM
I quite enjoyed this weeks Impact.
The 'Palin' segment was lame, but we always knew that would be the case.
The 'ODB's Angle' segment was also awful.
I was pleasantly surprised by the Christy Hemme/AJ Styles duo.
It seemed to work well and we may well see them together in the future (unless they have Kong totally squash Christy as a feud killer).
Brother Ray as the new mouthpiece of 'Front Line' is a good move.
He says the odd silly thing, but he's far more natural a speaker than Joe or AJ, and he does carry more weight (boom boom) with both fans and workers alike.
It was also great to see Jimmy Rave and Sonjay Dutt getting some airtime.
Both guys can really work and it's refreshing to see the X Division guys again as recently they've taken a backseat to the bigger guys.
BTW Does anyone know how far away 'Kaz' is? I hope he returns with his normal gimmick because he'd certainly add a lot to 'Front Line'.
Oh, and the Abyss segment was both atrocious and way too long.
The quicker they align Morgan with 'Front Line', the better.
Posted by: John | December 6, 2008 10:04 PM
I only started watching TNA a few months ago so I can't comment on how it was in the beginning but I did see Angle's so called "shoot" 3 months back about Jarretts wife and I thought it was not right then. I missed this weeks show, but from what I've heard - I'm totally disgusted. I lost my sister to cancer and I can't believe Jeff would agree to Angle talking about his wife this soon. I'm not a big fan of Angle in the first place.
Posted by: Connie | December 7, 2008 2:35 AM
I'm generally sympathetic to TNA as WWE underdogs, but this show was just plain bad and mostly unwatchable.
I've never seen Jarrett as a particularly sympathetic character so his actions do not surprise me. I've always seen smashing guitars over peoples head as very low class.
BRother Ray on the mike is almost always a highlight. He needs some math lessons though.
TNA should dump the horrible announcers and cliched writers and get some fresh talent going here to really put a fresh face on things. KEvin, you might be missing your calling!
Posted by: AMC | December 7, 2008 12:39 PM
I can't belive that nobody ,not even you Eck, mentioned Booker T.and Samoa Joe in the lamest "street fight" ever.Can you tell me what was the point of a street fight is if you aren't at least going to take it to the floor! It's a shame that a pretty well worked match got overshadowed by A) The fans expecting more and B) an absoutley horrible 2 hrs. of wrestling.TNA needs some real help!!
Posted by: Andre the Midget | December 8, 2008 3:55 PM
I never really liked Kurt Angle, but I don't really watch TNA. It's too gimmicky.
Posted by: Steve Stoner | February 20, 2009 3:55 PM