TNA Impact: Not unwatchable, just unlistenable
Thursday night’s episode of TNA Impact was not as good as last week’s entertaining show, but I wouldn’t say that it was bad. I probably would have liked it more, however, if I had watched it with the sound turned down.
Do you think if TNA brass said they were sorry to Don West that he would take his old job back? I never thought Taz was anything more than serviceable as a color commentator in WWE, but he has been downright awful since taking over for West on Impact three weeks ago. He doesn’t seem prepared and his attempts at humor couldn’t make The Joker crack a smile.
I didn’t think anyone could be worse than Mike Adamle, but at least Adamle was perversely entertaining because he was so out of his element. Taz is just grating. Perhaps he’d be better if Dixie Carter screamed at him in his ear during the broadcast the way Vince McMahon supposedly does with his announcers.
I also thought the Motor City Machine Guns doing commentary at various times during the show was annoying. Having Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin cracking jokes while sitting at their own announce table probably sounded like a good idea, but I just didn’t think they were all that funny. It was a lot more entertaining when Jim Ross did it in WWE a decade ago during his short-lived heel turn.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
It was nice again to see guys such as Matt Morgan, Hernandez and Eric Young in prominent roles. The crowd at the Impact Zone really seems to be getting behind Morgan. I hope TNA just goes with it and makes Morgan a full-fledged babyface instead of pulling a swerve and revealing that he and Kurt Angle were just pretending to be at odds with each other in order to fool the clueless babyfaces. ...
I could see it coming when Homicide turned on Hernandez, but that’s OK. The angle was well done, and I would rather have a telegraphed turn that makes sense than a swerve that’s devoid of logic. ...
The verbal confrontation involving Morgan, Angle, Sting and A.J. Styles was good, especially when Sting was cutting Morgan’s promo for him. One thing I noticed, however, was that everyone came off like a main eventer in the segment except for Styles. He can do some phenomenal things in the ring and I would hardly call his personality bland, but he just seems to be lacking main-event level charisma. I think it’s a combination of his boyish looks and his delivery on his promos. ...
It was obvious that Morgan was going to somehow screw Angle in the main event that pitted Angle and Samoa Joe against Styles and Daniels, but when he stood outside the ropes holding up a chair, how did he know that Styles would reverse Angle’s Irish Whip and send Angle crashing into the chair? ...
It seemed way too quick for there to be tension between the Main Event Mafia and the World Elite. I like how it played out, though, with Young standing up to Angle. Young is doing a really nice job as leader of the World Elite. ...
That was classic Scott Steiner when he insulted the “foreigners” and spit on the ground after the World Elite and the MEM had just made peace. ...
TNA seems to be trying to make Cody Deaner it’s version of Santino Marella. There’s just one difference: Marella is funny; Deaner is not. ...
Hector Guerrero was really annoying, esse. You know what I mean, esse? I was really hoping the World Elite was going to destroy him, esse. It’s too bad TNA doesn’t have any feisty leprechauns on its roster, esse. ...
It was good to see Roxxi back on the show. As I have said before, with so many bikini/fitness models on the women’s wrestling scene, it’s women such as Roxxi who stand out from the crowd. ...
Abyss’ new get-up makes him look Michael Myers in the Halloween II remake. By the way, I saw that movie this week. Rob Zombie should have quit while he was ahead. Kind of like Vince Russo after his stint in WWE. ...
Was Dr. Stevie really trying to collect his own bounty? That’s a new one. ...
Opening the show with a match already in the ring was good as far as trying to do something out of the ordinary. ...
I know that D’Angelo Dinero is getting a push right now, but I hate to see a performer as talented as Jay Lethal used as a steppingstone for a new guy. ...
Lauren: “Suicide versus Dinero is the match we have all been waiting for.” Who’s we?
Comments
Eric Young is horrible as the faction leader. If TNA wanted Chris Jericho they should have offered him more money when he as a free agent.
Posted by: Elevation | September 12, 2009 1:20 AM
Tazz is, in my opinion, the best color commentator in the business, and I like his more free-wheeling style since moving over to TNA. It reminds me more of the old Tazz from his early days as a color commentator in the WWE.
Posted by: John | September 12, 2009 1:27 AM
Tazz's biggest problem is that you can just tell he doesn't even care. Tony Schiavone might call gimmick infringement.
Posted by: James C | September 12, 2009 1:31 AM
I was hoping that Taz would keep his heel mentality when he stepped into the booth for Don West. I wanted to hear him rationalize the stuff the MEM and other heels were doing, maybe even continue to escort Samoa Joe to the ring a la Bobby Heenan with his "family". Putting him in there and pretending he has no history in TNA just seems dumb to me.
Posted by: Jonathan | September 12, 2009 3:26 AM
I agree that Taz is a horrible announcer. But to be honest the only thing I remember about Impact was Velvet Sky and her lovely outfit.
Posted by: jason | September 12, 2009 3:52 AM
Well Kevin, this is one area I guess we'll always disagree...as bad as Taz may seem...Don West has always been ANNOYING! Then they tried the whole Bobby Heenenish thing...made it even worse. Personally, I wouldn't mind seeing Tenay gone as well.
So, who could be the TNA commentary dream team? Shame they can't snag Striker...he and Cornette could be interesting.
BTW, there's a list waiting to happen...best commentating groups ever. My money's on Jim Ross and Michael Hayes from the old UWF days.
Posted by: Michael | September 12, 2009 3:54 AM
I'm assuming that this episode was taped before Angelina Love's visa problem. I thought Roxxi's voodoo drop on Angelina would result in a win and an "injury" to Love so she could clear up her issues. If the visa problem wasn't known then the finish made sense, if it was known then the finish means what, a bye or walkover because Velvet doesn't have a partner now? Velvet can't be teamed with someone of lesser "visual quality." Then again, everyone on the roster is of lesser visual quality than her.
I was expecting, no, hoping for the beatdown of Hector, too. All in all it was a decent show.
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | September 12, 2009 11:43 AM
"I probably would have liked it more, however, if I had watched it with the sound turned down."
I usually find that to be the case. That way you can actually focus on what's going on rather than others telling you what you are supposed to be seeing.
Taz has been really bad though. HE and Angle's real life issues may be hurting TNA ratings badly at this point. They better beware.
Posted by: Anonymous | September 12, 2009 1:33 PM
Ilove jeff hardy and my family does too.I think wwe is empty without him and our much prayers will be going out for him,I wish him the best and he is much missed since he left.I have lost interest in friday night smackdown since then.We love you jeff. Mellissa and family
Posted by: mellissa shue | September 12, 2009 2:35 PM
I gotta disagree on the MCMG announcing, I thought it was hilarious. Best line: "Good thing we brought these tissues because after their (the Beautiful People's) entrance we usually need one." And I bet Pope and Suicide will have one or two great matches before their feud is over, even if it seems kind of thrown together just to give each something to do.
Posted by: J Newbs | September 12, 2009 5:03 PM
One more thought. I agree that starting in the middle of a match can be a good way to mix it up, but why do it with such an unusual match? It took me a couple minutes to figure out the rules and the announcers didn't exactly explain what was going on. Is this some match type TNA does often? I've only watched regularly for a few months and seen some PPV DVDs.
Posted by: J Newbs | September 12, 2009 6:36 PM
It's too bad Alissa Flash and Daffney didn't win their match with Sarita and Taylor Wilde. I would like to have seen Alissa Flash in the same ring as Raesha.
Remember when Mick Foley played Cactus Jack, Dude Love and Mankind on the same show? Melissa Anderson could do the same as Raesha, Alissa Flash and, of course, Cheerleader Melissa.
Speaking of Cheerleader Melissa, my older brother saw her at an independent show in Montreal over the Labor Day weekend and got to talk with her both before and after the show. He found her to be very personable.
Posted by: Aaron Goldstein | September 12, 2009 8:53 PM
"Hector Guerrero was really annoying, esse. You know what I mean, esse? I was really hoping the World Elite was going to destroy him, esse. It’s too bad TNA doesn’t have any feisty leprechauns on its roster, esse."
HAHAHA! I was thinking the same thing.
"Was Dr. Stevie really trying to collect his own bounty? That’s a new one. ..."
Again here. I thought Dixie said they were going to stop insulting the fans' intelligence.
Posted by: Andy | September 12, 2009 10:56 PM
Replace Taz w/ Tony Schiavone !
Posted by: the artist formerly known as jack in hebron | September 13, 2009 8:16 AM
It's funny that Taz has been ripping WWE (and more specifically Vince) so much for the way they over produce the announce teams. Now that Taz doesn't have the 'voices' in his ear it's evident that they were needed in the first place. I'm sure it is a nightmare for the likes of J.R and The King but clearly those voices help out the guys who aren't quite so talented.
In summary: Turns out Vince knows how to run a wrestling show...who knew?
Posted by: Big Dave | September 14, 2009 6:03 AM
Vince Russo is killing this company doing that NWO WCW crap killed a once top wrestling co and here he goes and doing that same storyline in TNA just say i told you so when TNA goes to its knees
thyve already fired jim cornette a writer who took tna to were it is now your watching russos work in action
Posted by: CONCERND TNA FAN | September 21, 2009 10:43 AM