Quick hits on TNA Global Impact 2
• If you are a wrestling fan and not necessarily a sports entertainment fan, I hope you caught Thursday night’s Global Impact 2, which aired after TNA Impact. Three matches from last January’s New Japan/TNA show at the Tokyo Dome were shown, featuring Kurt Angle, Kevin Nash, Team 3D and The Motor City Machine Guns. There were no backstage comedy sketches or in-ring promos. As with the first Global Impact, which aired last year, TNA really came off looking like a major league company due to the atmosphere and the size of the crowd (40,000).
• The pre- and post-match press conferences made the event seem more like a legitimate sport than a worked exhibition, which made for a nice change of pace.
• The show-stealer was the IWGP junior tag team title match that saw The Motor City Machine Guns defeat No Limit to win the championship. Alex Shelley, who wrestled a good portion of the match bleeding heavily from his nose, and Chris Sabin were definitely in their element performing in front of a crowd that holds strong workers in high esteem. The Guns’ finisher – a Sliced Bread No. 2/powerbomb combination – looked great.
• Shelley might be the most underrated guy in the business. In addition to his in-ring ability, he also is strong on the stick, as he again proved on this show.
• After Shelley took a nasty-looking bump on the back of his head and neck but was able to continue wrestling, Don West, who called the action with Mike Tenay, said that “it just goes to show that it’s not as painful as it looks.” That’s the wrong thing to say, especially because I’m sure it did hurt. It would have been better if West had just put over how resilient Shelley is.
• In an eight-man tag, Angle and Nash teamed with Masahiro Chono and Riki Choshu. Acknowledging that Chono was at one time a member of the nWo along with Nash was a nice touch.
• Angle, Nash, Chono and Choshu defeated a team that included a familiar face to American wrestling fans in Giant Bernard, formerly known as A-Train and Albert in WWE. It looked as if he has gained a few pounds since his WWE days. He did finally shaved his back, though.
• The hardcore match for the IWPG tag team titles that saw Team 3D win the belts from Togi Makabe and Toru Yano was OK, but it really paled in comparison to the MCMG-No Limit match.
Comments
Kevin, do you have any idea if Spike will replay this show. Don't watch TNA much but I do keep up with it by your blogs and other sites. Definately would love to see this show though.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I haven't seen anything about a replay.
Posted by: RDB | October 10, 2009 1:23 AM
This show just reinforced how crazy it is that the MCMG are not wrestling every week and that Team 3D are still being pushed as the top team. I really don't understand how Sabin/Shelley are not one of the top teams in TNA.
The press conferences were an awesome touch, especially Shelley doing his post-match with a still bloody face. So much better than all the crazy vignettes on Impact every week.
Posted by: David H | October 10, 2009 9:01 AM
Damn, wish I caught this. It's a shame MCMGs are used so poorly by TNA. Going to WWE wouldn't likely help, the way they like to bury ex-TNA talent (Christian, Gail Kim). Any chance they'll replay this sometime?
Posted by: Michael in Virginia | October 10, 2009 12:34 PM
Pretty good show but nowhere near as Good as The first Global Impact which had a 4 star Angle-Nagata match. New Japan really wasted Angle in an 7 minute 8 man match imo. The Guns Vs Team No Limit was a terrific match that really did showcase The Guns better than TNA has in well forever. Shelley is one of the most charismatic young stars in either promotion and is a great in ring work and Sabin is quite a talent too.
Posted by: graves9 | October 10, 2009 4:12 PM
Another great outing overseas. I do think TNA could bring back more of the true wrestling fans by going away from the comedy acts. I am glad they seem to be pursuing this as of right now.
Posted by: Flair | October 12, 2009 9:08 AM
I'm glade they got around to airing this, it was a nice change of pace. Nash and Chono doing the NWO hand gesture was pretty cool
Posted by: jt | October 12, 2009 10:31 AM
Spike has stopped showing replays of Impact for some reason as of last week.
Posted by: Mike From Dundalk | October 12, 2009 3:02 PM