The worst Impact ever?
I sure hope Smackdown is great tonight, because it hasn’t been a good week for wrestling programs up to this point.
First, we had Shane McMahon single-handedly destroy WWE’s top heel and his cohorts on Raw, followed by a lackluster ECW on Tuesday. That brought us to last night, when TNA Impact lowered the bar even further. I don’t remember ever seeing a worse episode of the show (and imagine the ground that covers).
The Main Event Mafia took over the show, with Kurt Angle directing from the back, Booker T. and Kevin Nash doing commentary, Scott Steiner doing the ring announcing and Sharmell handling backstage interviews. There are no words to truly describe how horrible this was, but I’ll give it a shot.
The concept of the show (actually just the first 75 minutes; mercifully, it didn’t last the whole two hours) was a rip-off from something the nWo did in 1996 (the year that Vince Russo is stuck in). It was universally panned back then, so of course TNA would think a rehash of a failed angle was a good idea. If you’re going to copy something, at least copy something that worked. Actually, why copy at all? How about the creative team getting creative and coming up with ...wait for it … an original idea!
That reminds me of a conversation I had with Russo when we both worked for WCW about eight years ago. I asked him about re-doing WWE angles in WCW (such as “blood” pouring from the ceiling onto wrestlers during the New Blood/Millionaires Club angle). He replied that the WWE angles he was ripping off were ones that he came up with when he worked for WWE. “You can’t steal from yourself,” he said. He also used to say things all the time like, “Booker T. is going to be our Rock. Scott Steiner is our Stone Cold. Midajah is our Sable.”
But I digress. Back to last night’s debacle.
The show seemed like it was done to entertain themselves rather than the audience. It came off like it written by a bunch of 12-year-olds who think it’s cool to say naughty words – such as repeatedly referring to women as “bitches” – and making remarks such as “pyro man, blow your load.” This material made Triple H’s fat jokes seem clever by comparison.
Except for one match, the wrestling wasn’t any good either. Of course, I couldn’t even enjoy the one decent match, because it saw Angle defeat LAX clean in a handicap match. Way to bury one of the best teams in wrestling. Who does Angle think he is, Shane McMahon? What made it even worse was that it was announced earlier in the show that Hernandez was going to get a rematch against TNA world champion Sting. What better way to build him up as a legitimate challenger than to have him lose a handicap match?
As bad as the show was, I probably could have tolerated it a little more if not for Booker T.’s commentary. Booker is almost always entertaining, but his nonstop blathering in a voice that was part Wolfman Jack, part Junkyard Dog, was beyond annoying. I was begging him to do the African accent. It was so bad that my wife, who isn’t a wrestling fan but at least will glance at it when it’s on, said she couldn’t take it anymore and left the room. I thought about following her, but I guess I’m a masochist.
The only time the commentary was bearable was when Booker wrestled and Steiner took his spot. Steiner was actually pretty funny. The only other positive of MEM’s takeover was Sharmell doing the interviews. She would be the best in the business at it if she decided to do it on a regular basis.
Other thoughts on last night’s show:
At the end of the show there was a tight shot of Samoa Joe emerging from darkness. With tribal-looking paint on one side of his face and a close-cropped haircut, he looked into the camera and said, “Main Event Mafia, let me introduce you to the real Samoa Joe.” It’s a smart move to give Joe a makeover, because his character was in serious need of one. …
There was more tension between Angle and Sting, as Angle booked Sting to face Team 3-D in a handicap match. During the match, however, Angle interfered on Sting’s behalf. How’s that for logical booking? …
Speaking of logic, Jeff Jarrett and Samoa Joe have both been off television selling serious injuries, yet TNA aired a video of its recent European tour that showed the two of them wrestling. …
Jim Cornette’s character was further marginalized when the MEM just shoved him aside and took over. I don’t know why he’s even on the show anymore. What a waste of talent. …
When they were doing commentary, Nash called himself “Chet Lemon” and Booker referred to himself as “Black Snow.” Lemon was a major league outfielder in the ’70s and ’80s. I have no idea what Black Snow is supposed to mean. Since Nash’s alias was the name of a retired athlete, perhaps Booker’s was a play off of Jack Snow, who played in the NFL in the ’60s and ’70s. What any of this has to do with anything is anyone’s guess....
During a match when Earl Hebner was the referee, Nash remarked that “Earl did screw Bret.” Very witty. ...
I wouldn't be surprised if this show ends up doing well in the ratings (by TNA standards) just for the train wreck aspect of it. The powers that be will then probably pat themselves on their backs and thumb their noses at their critics. I have a feeling, however, that they won't be as happy when the buy rates for the next pay-per-view come in.
Comments
I think TNA should have copied off Raw and had Jeremy Borash single handedly beat up every member of the MEM.
Posted by: Elevation | January 30, 2009 2:26 PM
I'm embarrassed to say I'm a TNA fan .
I flipped onto this well into the show to see my man Scott Steiner doing the ring announcing ( I can't rag on Scott though ) , some mindless blabbering during the match , "what the heyal, what that heyal" ( I thought WT_).The blabbering turned out to be Booker T .
After changing the channel for a while , I tuned back in only to see an interview with two cowboys and a real bull , or was it the other way around ? What the heyal !
Finally to echo someones comment last week , why does every match have to have a stipulation ? Can't they just wrestle ?
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | January 30, 2009 2:27 PM
I didn't think it was that bad, except for Booker's commentary (wow, that was annoying). Steiner's announcing was hilarious - he's the best at playing(?) a total musclehead with a hair-trigger temper. Nash had a few funny zingers, but unfortunately he had to say them over Booker's constant jabbering, so you may not have heard them all. The best line was when Nash mistook Foley for the lead singer of System Of A Down. Although not everything worked, you have to give TNA credit for throwing a curveball in it's weekly programming - much like the hour long Rhyno-Angle match that used the entire show back in 2007.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I do like attemps at a change of pace, but I just don't think this was a change for the better.
Posted by: Barney | January 30, 2009 2:31 PM
I think the first 75 minutes were great for one reason:
No Don West.
Posted by: James | January 30, 2009 2:35 PM
I don't blame your wife, Kev...it was bad enough being a fan and having to listen to Booker T. Is it really possible that somone in the higher ups, production, or creative, thought that was funny and/or entertaining???
Amongst rumors going around that Booker, who when he entered the company was praised for beijng humble and a good role model, is know acting like a demanding superstar in the locker room, TNA is beginning to replicate the WCW days when the boys called all the shots, i.e., creative control, not wanting to job to anyone...what do you think?
And as much as I like Kaz, and for the time being Daniels....will anyone ever attack Suicide during the 45 seconds it takes him to disconnect himself from the zip line?
Posted by: spike | January 30, 2009 2:36 PM
Worst ever might be a bit of hyperbole, especially in terms of TNA. I actually found it perversely entertaining, which is more than I can say about the NWO takeover of Nitro. Sure it accomplished nothing and presented the Front Line as jobbers again, but that's virtually every episode of Impact. I actually cracked up watching Booker T simultaneously beat up people and commentate. He was even the first person to point out how stupid it is that Petey Williams still looks like a mini Scott Steiner. But who knows, maybe my standards are lower after watching the debacles that were RAW and ECW.
Posted by: Joe Barber | January 30, 2009 2:36 PM
Yes, this was a true train wreck that made zero sense, helped no-one and demonstrated the creative void in TNA.
With decent writing and some actual forethought, it could have been a refreshing change, even if the angle was not totally original (what is in wrestling these days?).
Shame to waste all that good wrestling talent in TNA.
Booker's commentary was the worst part of the train wreck.
I must say though that I may now be interested to see where the train wreck goes next week though.....
A train wreck can only go so far though.
Posted by: AMC | January 30, 2009 3:13 PM
I couldn't agree with you more. Never have I checked the clock on my TV more often than I did last night.
What about Suicide and Scott Steiner? Suicide is half Scott Steiner's size and yet Steiner acted as if he were terrified of him. Suicide's offense was about as threatening as Shane McMahon's punches.
Where were Stone Cold Shark Boy and Rellik (Killer spelled backwards) when we needed them?
Posted by: Aaron Goldstein | January 30, 2009 3:26 PM
Kevin,
I'm so glad you got a chance to point out how bad last night's iMPACT was. As a matter of fact, I too share much of your opinions on several aspects of the show:
It seemed to me as if Kevin Nash couldn't tolerate Booker T's commentary, as he only really talked while Scott Steiner was next to him. Their banter was pretty funny. I spent all night trying to figure out the Chet Lemon/Black Snow thing...still don't quite get the purpose for it tho.
I also remarked to someone how this takeover was the same thing the NWO did back in the day...
I did think it was funny when Booker T (I think it was him) commented on how Petey Williams still looks like Steiner even though the latter beat the former to a bloody pulp.
I could go on, but it just seems to me that the MEM has lost their purpose in TNA altogether. It baffles me at how Vince Russo can stay on the payroll, when you can give Jim Cornette or Paul Heyman way more money and at get your money's worth in quality matches, ratings, and ppv buyrates. At this rate, I'd prefer to see Pacman Jones back in the ring for the next ppv rather than put up with this mess on a weekly basis.
Posted by: Ashley | January 30, 2009 3:49 PM
You are a better man than I am. I couldn't make it all the way through. Booker T was terrible on commentary. Scott Steiner was so much easier to understand on commentary than he was doing the in ring announcing. I think he would be much better off talking calmly like he did on the commentary.
I am not sure what the pay off for this angle is going to be. I assume we will be looking at Sting vs Angle at some point, but what good is that going to do for the young guys they are supposedly trying to push. I wish TNA could put together an entire story line from start to finish and actually think it through. I think they actually have the talent to compete with WWE but they don't use it correctly.
Posted by: Nate Craver | January 30, 2009 4:07 PM
Worse Impact ever? OMG yeah! I thought I was watching a rerun of NWO/WCW Nitro. Vince Russo had to have been behind this. I thought a wrestling show was to be built around the world champion. Sting hardly gets any air time much less because of his knees he can't wrestle in long matches and can't do most of his moves. The Knockouts match was terrible as most of the moves looked like they were botched. Seeing Mick Foley come to the ring so slow after the Frontline did gives me thought that he should hang up his boots sooner rather than later. The whole show was just horrible. I hope next week will be much better.
Posted by: Dave | January 30, 2009 4:19 PM
Man Booker's commentary was hard to listen to...the guy never shut up and he made Kevin Nash hard to hear and constantly interupted him. I mean Nash has good comedic value and it was ruined by Booker. Truly I wanted to stick an ice pick in my ear, instead I turned it off after 40 minutes
Posted by: Micheal Deff | January 30, 2009 4:38 PM
This week's "Bizarro World" edition of Impact was such a train wreck that it was actually entertaining to me! One thing that was fascinating to me was to listen to how the heels announce as if they were faces -- its all about perspective. Since the announcers/reporters/etc. are always face-ish, we get used to them yelling at the heels things like "what business does (so and so) have coming to the ring right now?". I got a kick out of Booker saying roughly the same thing about Young and Creed when they ran down for a save at one point.
I actually liked Booker's play-by-play. He was better than Tenay in my opinion, but then again a trained monkey would be better than Tenay. Maybe I only liked it because the bar has been set so low! But I digress.
I also LOVED Steiner's ring announcing! I could listen to that all day. Steiner + mic = unintentional comedy gold! proof: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9iExw-TjTk
Love your blog. Keep up the great work!! :)
Posted by: Steve | January 30, 2009 4:55 PM
OMG, that Vince Russo quote explains so much for me! I don't recognize it most of the time when storyline are rehashes of WCW because I was, well, really young when all that was happening and watched WWE anyways. Having said that, when the show started, I thought it might kind'ave be a good idea if it gave the Frontline a chance to man up and "take the show back." Having said THAT, I was annoyed probably ten minutes in. What is it about booking faces and heels appropriately that is so hard for TNA to comprehend? And I've gotta disagree on one point - Steiner is never entertaining or funny - he mostly sounds like a schlub with an IQ well under 100 and the worst stereotype of professional wrestling ever. Sharmell was pretty entertaining, though, I'll give her that. You know how you said earlier this week that Stone Cold had never been booked as strongly as Shane O'Mac? Well, if you take Angle's booking over the last six months - I say, Stone Cold was never booked as strongly as that ... bury, bury, bury seems to be the name of the game. And where was MCMG? They would have made the show at least palatable. Sorry that post went all over the place - at this point, I'm just so frustrated about the waste of good talent.
Posted by: Micah | January 30, 2009 5:10 PM
Kev, let me just tell you I couldnt agree with you anymore on how bad Impact was last night. At one point in the show it was so bad that I actually turned the channel and watched one of the greatest movies ever Rudy. Anyway back to the lackluster of Impact. Booker T was by far the most annoying thing on the show. Seriously pick one damn voice already enough is enough. And your absolutley right the wrestling wasnt that much better either. Did you catch during the Matt Morgan interview that he said how Abyss was at his home licking his wounds then behold a half hour later hes running down the ramp against Steiner. I dont think TNA has any clue on how to use Morgan. If you wanted to give the frontline any credibility why not make hime one of the young stars to lead the way?
Posted by: Matt | January 30, 2009 5:13 PM
""Midajah is our Sable.”"
Who? I gave up on WCW in 1999, but I have never heard of this talent before now. I assume that she did not become WCW's Sable.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: Midajah was one Steiner's "main freak." She was actually a very nice woman, but no, she did not become the next Sable.
Posted by: Christopher | January 30, 2009 5:14 PM
lol, why do you even bother? You are a serious TNA hater. This was not the worst Impact ever. You're 100% right about Angle beating LAX, and the illogical booking of the Sting/Team 3D match. But the worst Impact ever?? Come on...the "comedy" the MEM was doing was MUCH better than the corny, played-out foolishness DX does now. You clearly have a WWE bias. And that's okay, just admit it rather trying to appear to be objective.
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: I knew someone would make the lame "you just hate TNA" argument. And of course it is someone who doesn't even have the testicular fortitude to attach their name to their comment. If you define "bias" as thinking WWE is better than TNA, then, OK, I'm biased. If the day ever comes when I think TNA is better than WWE, I know I'll hear from people accusing me of being a WWE hater.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 30, 2009 5:25 PM
After reading the spoilers, I have to say this: Don't get your hopes up for Smackdown. I'm sure not going to. If the matches play out like I expect given the participants, this will be by far the worst week for wrestling that I can remember. The single thing that was good about it was the Jeff Hardy-Edge match on Sunday, complete with Matt Hardy heel turn. Other than that, there has been nothing even above average (given the stage) all week.
I'm really hoping for a substantial Matt-Jeff-Edge angle tonight to play out backstage, because the matches (main event in particular) look really lame.
Posted by: James | January 30, 2009 5:29 PM
While I was a part of the TNA-bashing, I feel bad now, so here's one thing that made me laugh. As the camera goes to commercial after Kurt Angle makes Jeremy Borash sell t-shirts in the crowds (hilarious...) Jim Cornette says, "Way to handle it, JB." I chuckled ... even guffawed.
Posted by: Micah | January 30, 2009 7:22 PM
TNA is a joke.
Worst major wrestling promotion in history. Absolutely abysmal and the Main Event Mafia is so stale it's incredible. Russo must go!
Posted by: Jorge | January 30, 2009 7:57 PM
The sting/3d booking was not so illogical. Angle did that to hopefully let them beat each other up for the ppv. Then partway through the match, he decided it'd be best to make the frontline look like losers. Eh, who am I kidding, still doesn't make sense.
Posted by: Mr. Bronson | January 30, 2009 8:00 PM
"Who does Angle think he is, Shane McMahon?" I laughed so hard XD
Posted by: Sam Fletcher | January 30, 2009 9:33 PM
My buddy just turned me onto your page. Guess i will be coming here from now on. Thanks. keep up the good work!
Posted by: Ryan | January 30, 2009 10:19 PM
I'm sorry, but TNA Impact has improved a lot, compared to last year and this was one of "the best" impacts ever with 6 matches and more time dedicated to in ring action than usual.It must be remembered that recently there was a real bad show with just around 18 minutes of action. This is surely better than that and gives some hope that the company might have a positive future. It does'nt really matter if the booking was not great or extra ordinary or anything, but it is not "that bad" as people claim it is...atleast not that bad as it used to be an year ago. I stopped watching Impact at the end of 2007 but have lately started watching it again and these days, I'm feeling much more comfortable with it than before. Several of my friends have also started watching it again after stopping at around the same time...and they all feel the same. They seem to have learned from their mistakes. It may just be my opinion, but it has surely improved. Last week's show was definitely better and more worth watching than the weirdity in Shane McMahon beating down Orton.
Posted by: Sri | January 30, 2009 11:09 PM
Kevin - which is worse? The current state of TNA or the dying days of WCW? I'd have to go with TNA. I wish another company would step up and give WWE some serious competition.
Posted by: Ryan | January 30, 2009 11:18 PM
I'll agree that that the matches weren't that great. I didn't like seeing Kurt Angle beat the top team in TNA by himself. I also think if they had just let Scott Steiner & Abyss have a straight-up hardcore brawl, it would have been great. Instead, Steiner wasn't allowed to use weapons & it killed a little bit of the heat - I mean, come on, Abyss won a hardcore match by DQ?
However, I will 100% disagree with you on one thing - I thought Booker T's commentary was hilarious.
When Team 3D said the greatest team of all time was here tonight, Booker replied, "What the hell? Is Harlem Heat here?"
I would like to point out that Booker called several moves correctly (Don West incorrectly called a headscissors a hurricanrana in his first match back) and also gave interesting background information on Sting's early career with the Blade Runners & Ultimate Warrior.
Posted by: Chris Slater | January 30, 2009 11:53 PM
not the best impact but still pretty good... i dont get when people always talk about used angels and storylines in wrestling... almost EVERYTHING has been used at least in some way in wrestling...
nwo was like 10 years back why not repeat an angle for one show if it is entertaiming...
Posted by: tna | January 31, 2009 12:48 AM
The only thing I liked about Booker was when he went in the ring and started beating up the frontline and would take breaks in between to talk about it as the announcer... and also I guess Matt Morgan is a Big Dude
Posted by: Evan | January 31, 2009 12:53 AM
Hey Kev sounds like TNA went to a new low this week Smackdown was alright, won't spoil it for ya but seriously wants the point of the Great Khali he is pretty useless right now mainly talking about his performance at the royal rumble he was better as a heel
Posted by: Zane | January 31, 2009 1:09 AM
An 'original idea', Kevin?
There are no original ideas in wrestling anymore.
Every single storyline is a re-hash, in one way or another.
Whilst this storyline looks poor on paper (Impact isn't shown until later tonight here), i can't help but feel it wouldn't have received the same criticism had it been WWE re-hashing it.
Posted by: John | January 31, 2009 5:04 AM
Hmmm. I also got into Impact late. I'll have to thank my wife for watching the first part of Hell's Kitchen. Once I turned, I couldn't believe my ears - but I guess Booker T's commentating has been covered. But James had it right - after 75 min I couldn't complain about the regular announce team - even Don West didn't bother me. Until James mentioned it, I didn't even realize that West hadn't annoyed me. Thanks, Booker! Don't do it again.
Posted by: Marko50 | January 31, 2009 5:59 AM
I think it is past time for Spike Television to drop this weekly attempt at something entertaining. TNA Wrestling live is like night and day from this tripe. If you have never seen a live TNA event do yourselves a favor and attend a performance when it is near you and you will cheer them on, but on television it is time for a BIG change, and that change is NOW!
Posted by: John | January 31, 2009 6:37 AM
After seeing the UT/Henry, Show/Festus, HHH/Kozlov/Khali all in a row, that tears it. This week in weekly wrestling shows scored a big fat 0 for 4.
Posted by: Everett W. | January 31, 2009 7:58 AM
I know what we're all thinking... we need another Scott Steiner interview on Ring Posts.
Posted by: Sean the Cynic | January 31, 2009 11:03 AM
Kevin, I have been reading your posts since you first started writing them for the sun, and I look forward to seeing if you've written a new one everyday. With that being said, I think it's time you just stop posting on TNA all together. It's quite apparent you have a negative bias against the company, and after reading this post it is obvious of your contention for anything they do. Every opportunity you get to bash Russo and anything TNA wise, you never miss a beat. I am in no way saying this past weeks show is oscar worthy, but damn it gets old reading your slander of TNA. Were you fired years ago from WCW? Where does all this hatred come from? Are you actually hoping someone from TNA reads these posts and thinks 'damn we need to hire this guy to fix our creative team.' The funny thing is, I actually agree with you. TNA could be doing so much more. I'm just tired of the overboard way in which you go to make it known how bad you think it is.
Posted by: James Mont | January 31, 2009 12:57 PM
Sean - Perfect !!!
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | January 31, 2009 1:07 PM
A little more...
No doubt Booker's voice got annoying quick, but I did get a laugh out of him going to the ring to assist in the beatdown while still delivering commentary. And, as others have noted, at least he knows the moves he's talking about.
Sometimes the dumb, silly stuff once in a while is enough for a few chuckles. They went overboard with a lot of it, though.
One thing I'd like to see them do is get rid of Suicide's entrance. Do we really need even the possibility of another Owen Hart accident?
Of course, we could get into the idiocy of creating a new character in a video game that they then bring to the show, but I digress.
Posted by: James | January 31, 2009 1:10 PM
Shane looked like he was throwing BABY PUNCHES when he cleared the ring. Another poor job. At least Vince really took a kick to the head.
As for TNA, parts were entertaining and parts were pathetic. mostly, pathetic. I think if I had paid to be there and see it, I would have wanted my money back. WOOOO
Posted by: Ric in Baltimore | January 31, 2009 1:25 PM
TNA lost its way years ago I could probably book better matches when 4 years ago they were using young talent they were great to me ever since theve become WCW2k iuts horrible I have the first Bound for Glory PPV and that was a great PPV probably the best 1 they did but since bringing in Booker,Angle and using Sting & Nash full time it has gone all down hill and it probably will never get better if they were smart they will get back to basics and show case or atleast make viable its Tag team oand X division. Scott steiner is great on the mic they should just let him ring anounce every night and they really need to drop the wrestling referre angle it didn't work for Danny davis so its not gonna work for this guy its almost as annoying as bookers commentary
Posted by: frank | January 31, 2009 5:20 PM
I don't know what you guys are talking about...Nash and Steiner were hilarious, and Booker's voice got bad towards the end but he was hilarious too...Angle was great in the back and in the ring....I'm guessing most of you are from the over 40 crowd....The Booker/Ref match was hilarious with Steiner on commentary....The storyline with Team 3D vs. Sting was obviously because Angle has an underlying grudge against Sting stemming from the last couple weeks...
but I did not like Angle going over LAX even though LAX looked good in defeat. Homicide and Hernandez really need to win their next few matches to redeem themselves.
Posted by: Hollywood Deven | January 31, 2009 8:50 PM
The Tna "creative" team is nothing more than a bunch of ingrates who get paid for copying Old Stuff that WWE did ........Tna will never ( i strech never ) even be a blimps "headlight" compared to WWE
OH.. and Kev good job putting that Jerk in his place on the comment above....
Posted by: joey | January 31, 2009 9:08 PM
Did you notice that an article on WWE.com and a sign in the crowd said "Why Matt, Why?" Same as your blog about Matt turning heel.
Not a lot of importance, just wondering if you noticed.
Posted by: Richard | January 31, 2009 11:46 PM
Utter coblers. Your a bunch of pansy-assed tossers that take this all too seriously.
Impact! was fantastic. Some of the funniest stuff Ive seen in ages.
Nice to see, for a change, some people who arent bloody following a script play-by-play.
Got to love Book's version of the old Tazz debate on WWE SvR games, where Tazz would wrestle AND commentate at the same time. Book did it perfectly.
This should be done more often, and its refelcted in the ratings. Normality has caused people to switch off. This direction kept people watching.
Posted by: Mark | February 1, 2009 1:55 PM
James Mont THANK YOU!!!
Posted by: nunya | February 2, 2009 11:54 AM
Um Kev, Booker T was mocking Don West, DUH!
RESPONSE FROM KEVIN ECK: The real Don West isn't entertaining, so why would someone mocking him be any better?I'm not even sure thats what he was doing anyway. West doesn't do play by play, he doesn't know wrestling history and he doesn't know the names of moves.
Posted by: Anonymous | February 2, 2009 11:58 AM
"Utter coblers. Your a bunch of pansy-assed tossers that take this all too seriously."
Awesome. That's going to be my new insult to people from now on.
Posted by: Chris Slater | February 2, 2009 5:18 PM