TNA Impact: Past, present and future together in main event
TNA continued its effort to get Matt Morgan and Hernandez over as top-tier guys on Thursday’s episode of Impact, as they were placed on opposite sides of a six-man tag match in the main event.
Morgan teamed with Main Event Mafia members Scott Steiner and Booker T. to face Hernandez, Sting and A.J. Styles. The eclectic mix of big-name veterans (Steiner, Booker, Sting), a star in his prime (Styles) and potential future world champions (Morgan, Hernandez) made for an entertaining match.
The more Morgan and Hernandez interact with the established guys, the more fans will accept them as money players. Both of them came across as big deals on this show. Morgan continued his ongoing issue with TNA world champion Kurt Angle and the MEM, while Hernandez forcefully turned down an invitation to join The World Elite. In both instances, Morgan and Hernandez looked strong by standing up to heel factions despite being outnumbered.
Right now, I think Morgan is the more compelling character of the two. While Hernandez is clearly a babyface, Morgan is in tweener mode. It will be interesting to see which side of the fence he ends up on. Although Morgan told me in a recent interview that he’ a natural heel, I’m not convinced that it wouldn’t be better for him in the long run to be a babyface.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
TNA president Dixie Carter’s first appearance on Impact was a little anti-climactic. I had assumed (I know, don’t say it) that she was going to be in the Impact Zone in front of the people instead of sitting on a couch backstage. However, I do think it was a good call for her to be on the show to make the announcement about TNA’s new three-year deal with Spike, and, more importantly, to put over the signing of Bobby Lashley as a big deal. ...
Hamada made a strong first impression in her TNA debut, as the crowd was chanting “This is awesome!” during her wild no-disqualification match against Daffney. The highlight was Hamada doing a moonsault off the top rope onto Daffney, who was lying on a table outside the ring. With the signing of Tara (formerly Victoria), Hamada and Sarita in recent months, as well as the debut of “newcomer” Alissa Flash, TNA’s women’s division seems to have finally recovered from losing Gail Kim last year. ...
With that being said, however, what TNA is doing with the women’s title – having ODB and Cody Deaner wrestle each other to resolve the dispute over who is the rightful champion – is ridiculous. The backstage skit with ODB, Deaner and Mick Foley was embarrassingly lame. ...
I already miss Don West. I really don’t see what Taz adds to the broadcast. He’s not funny, nor is he particularly smooth. And, apparently, he didn’t watch Impact all that much before joining the company, because he asked Mike Tenay why Raisha Saeed wore a veil. ...
It was kind of shocking to see just how much Morgan towered over Hernandez. ....
With its emphasis on politics and prejudice, Sheik Abdul Bashir’s promo might rub some the wrong way, but I thought it was very well done. My only problem with it is that it was supposed to be a heel promo, but most of what he said was the truth. The response of Hernandez, a babyface, was to spout the narrow-minded “America – love it or leave it” line. ...
So, one of the most talented tag teams in the business – The Motor City Machine Guns – are no match for Abyss. The Guns even had Dr. Stevie interfering for them, too. What a joke. By the way, the Guns were back to being heels again this week. Judging by the way Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin are booked, I would swear that the TNA creative team is intentionally trying to bury them. ...
Dr. Steve told Shelley and Sabin that pins didn’t matter in their bounty match against Abyss, so why were they trying to pin him? ...
Awesome Kong was upset with Saeed after their victory over Traci Brooks and Sharmell in the women’s tag team title tournament, but I didn't really understand Kong’s motivation. She seemed miffed that Saeed scored the winning pin instead of her, but it didn’t come across that Saeed was trying to steal her thunder. Ever since Alissa Flash showed up, I figured it was just a matter of time before Kong and Saeed had a falling out and Saeed disappeared. ...
In the next round of the tournament, Kong and Saeed will face the winner of the match between Taylor Wilde/Sarita and Daffney/Flash. I really want to see Saeed and Flash work together. ...
I don’t have a problem with promos starting off the show most weeks, but it was a nice change of pace to kick things off with a match (Samoa Joe versus Suicide). ...
The tag match in which Daniels and Suicide defeated Joe and D’Angelo Dinero was decent. ...
Rhino appears to be doing a heel turn, which I think is a good move for him. Whenever he beats up Jesse Neal, however, Rhino is a babyface in my book. ...
Kip James had the funniest line of the night at the top of the show when he saw Sting and Styles pulling up in the parking lot in a sleek sports car. His exchange with Lauren went like this:
Kip: I used to have one of those cars.
Lauren: When?
Kip (matter of factly): When I was over.
Comments
Kevin , I will say it ( and you know I would ) ..... "you know what happens when you assume..... ? "
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | August 28, 2009 9:55 PM
As I read the commentary I was thinking about how I will leave it up to TAFKAJIH to handle the 'assume' line. Then I scroll down and see he didnt disappoint... :)
No argument that the talent in the woman's divisions has increased tremendously, but I dont feel that Gail Kim's departure created that huge of a gap. Rather ODB, the Beautiful People, and Roxxie all stepped up their game to the benefit of TNA.
Awesome Kong, like Andre, is in a class by herself on her presence alone.
Perhaps a Raisha Saeed/ Sheik Bashir wedding is in the offing? Hmmmmm... the possibilities...
Posted by: Bring back the WWWF | August 29, 2009 8:22 AM
Good synopsis Kev. TNA is much better when they go with the old NWA/WCW concept talked about by Jim Cornette in his book (more "real type wrestling" with limited entertainment) since they have superior wrestling talent.
I think they are missing the boat with Robert Roode. They need to get him involved in the main event angles.
Taz has to go. He is horrible. I am kind of surprised they don't let Nash take over. They should consider it in the future. He talks well, and can still somewhat play his character behind the mic to put the matches over.
The Knockout Division is so loaded with talent it isn't even funny. They should try and get an hour slot for their own show somewhere.
We are clamoring for another Steiner interview too.
Posted by: Flair | August 29, 2009 9:50 AM
No comment on the 2nd most humorus segment of the night? By that I mean Alex Shelley's turn as cameraman backstage with Lauren. Those guys crack me up.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Honestly, I didn't think it was all that funny.
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | August 29, 2009 1:08 PM
TNA on monday nights would be awesome...Monday's is wrestling night...I think they would do better numbers than on thursday even going head to head
Posted by: delon | August 29, 2009 2:37 PM
Kevin - gotta agree with a comment posted by "Flair" . "We ( at least he and I ) are clamoring for another Steiner interview ." Bring it on home to us Kev !
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | August 29, 2009 2:40 PM
I'm glad Lauren had her hair fixed,that haircut she used to have made her look like the Alien monster.
I like So Cal Val better anyways.
Posted by: Anonymous | August 29, 2009 3:56 PM
i thought don west was way better than Taz. the thing is they pretty much knew what they were getting with him.. west is far more entertaining.
Posted by: ultimate_krang | August 30, 2009 6:20 AM
Kevin, couldn't agree more with your comment on the Hamada/Daffney match. Coming on the heels of the Flash/Sarita match from a few weeks earlier, The Knockouts are definitely carrying the promotion right now. But what are they thinking pairing Hamada with jobber Sojo Bolt ? Hamada should tag with Taylor Wilde or Sarita IMO. Daffney also deserves more TV space. TNA should bring back Roxxi and have those two become a team.
Posted by: Neal Baker | August 30, 2009 2:49 PM
I think it is quite a sad state of affairs that the crowd were booing and chanting 'USA' in response to some of the things Bashir was saying, it doesn't reflect well on them. For his part perhaps Bashir could have done with being a bit more condescending though (he was still impressive none the less). He should take a look at CM Punk who has mastered the ability to deliver what is essentially a truthful, babyface promo in a heel manner. Bashir managed to get the heat but from my perspective (from the other side of the Atlantic) it made the crowd heels and him the face.
Posted by: Big Dave | September 1, 2009 8:09 AM
Kev do you think WWE would be interested in the guns?
RESPONSE FROM KE: Hard to say. I would think so if they want to rejuvenate the tag team division, but they may see them as too vanilla (not that I would agree with them).
Posted by: Legacy.1 | September 2, 2009 4:10 PM
West is more entertaining than Taz. The benefit with Taz though is that he and Tenay talk less. The big problem with Tenay and West was that they didn't give you time to digest what they were saying. I would have let the Taz/Joe angle run its course for a while longer.
West had hit his stride with his heel turn, so removing him now is a bit of a surprise.
The Machine Guns should feud with the World Elite. That's what I thought was building after the wild brawl from a few weeks back.
Someone sign Nigel McGuinness for the British Invasion.
Posted by: Another Wrestling Mark | September 2, 2009 7:06 PM