TNA Impact ends 2009 with a bang
I can’t remember the last time I had a New Year’s Eve this enjoyable without waking up with a hangover the next day.
Thursday’s four-hour New Year’s Eve edition of TNA Impact was really good. It featured an eight-woman tournament to determine the No. 1 contender for Tara’s TNA Knockouts title, as well as three main event-level matches from recent TNA pay-per-views.
If you like wrestling more than “sports entertainment,” then this show definitely was for you. I initially thought four hours may be too long for a wrestling show, but the action was so good that the show never dragged. Frankly, it was nice to see the wrestlers not have to rush through their matches.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
The Kurt Angle-Desmond Wolfe and the A.J. Styles-Daniels-Samoa Joe matches from November’s Turning Point pay-per-view were as good as advertised. I thought Angle vs. Wolfe was the better of the two because it told a good story and came off like a shootfight. As for the three-way, Styles, Daniels and Joe came up with some really innovative spots. And as ambitious as some of the spots were, the three competitors pulled them off with impeccable timing. …
Unless my hearing deceived me, it sounded as if the fans were chanting “Screw Hulk Hogan” during the three-way match. I’m surprised TNA didn’t edit that out. …
The Styles-Sting match from Bound for Glory was fine, but it was nowhere near the level of Angle-Wolfe and the three-way. TNA announced that the three matches were selected by fan voting. I didn’t think Styles-Sting was even the best match at BFG; that honor went to the Angle-Matt Morgan contest. …
ODB won the Knockouts tournament, but I thought Hamada and Roxxi also came out looking like stars. There wasn’t a bad match among the seven tournament bouts. Even Velvet Sky, the least-skilled worker in the event, looked decent in her match against Roxxi. …
ODB is doing a good job as a heel, but she’s so entertaining that it’s hard for her to get heat. The crowd was chanting her name even as she was taunting them. …
Brutus Magnus and Doug Williams were amusing on commentary during the women’s tag team match. It almost seemed as if TNA was building to a British Invasion vs. Taylor Wilde and Sarita inter-gender match. …
Taz has an annoying habit of saying “Oh my God” whenever there is a high-impact move. That definitely got annoying after four hours. …
During an interview early in the show, Tara said that she would reveal later which three pay-per-view matches would be shown. Christy Hemme asked if Tara could give us a hint, but Tara wouldn’t give in. The problem is that the three matches had already been announced at the beginning of the show. Where is the quality control?
Comments
Anyone know if this show will be repeated in full on Saturday night?
Posted by: Loco | January 2, 2010 7:36 AM
I watched a lot of impact kev i could not disagree with you more I thought the Sting match was bad the match just seemed a step slow and did not give off a lot of energy to me i think Sting at his age is to slow to be in the ring with A J which makes me glad that he is in retirement if thats the best they can both do in a main event that is set up as a semi retirement match at a PPV their #1 or 2 then it is time for him to go. I liked the rest of the action on the show but don't like that they are turning ODB heel she is so funny and thats why her character is loved.
Posted by: frank from dundalk | January 2, 2010 9:29 AM
I have always liked watching Roxxi and Hamada was very impressive. I kinda figured ODB would have won because of her storyline with Tara. Wish TNA pulled a swerve and let someone else win.
You think Taz is coming off more like Joey Styles with his "Oh My God" .
I loved it win the crowd was saying screw Hulk Hogan. I was saying it right along with them because I can't stand Hogan.
Posted by: Dave | January 2, 2010 10:06 AM
This is how wrestling is supposed to be. I wish "sports entertainment" would go away, but will probably get worse with Hogan coming to TNA. WWE isn't turning back on "sports entertainment" anytime soon.
The Sting/Styles match was ok, but the others were off the charts. I too was surprised the "Screw Hulk Hogan" chants weren't edited.
The Knockouts delivered as usual. I was surprised Alyssa Flash wasn't in the tournament. I think her and Hamada are definite future stars there, and Flash could have furthered a feud with Brooks. I like teh ODB heel turn; they need another heel in the Knockout division since the Beautiful People have lost a lot of their heat with Angelina gone. I think ODB and Flash should be heels going forward.
Posted by: Flair | January 2, 2010 10:06 AM
The show did nothing to build up Jan 4th.
Why did TNA think it was a good idea to go head to head with Raw when the previous two Thursdays were Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve?
Posted by: Elevation | January 2, 2010 3:18 PM
One glaring ommision from this "New Years KNOCKOUTS Eve" was Alissa Flash!
I was most disappointed to see she did not wrestle while two "unknowns" wrestled in the tag team match.
RESPONSE FROM KE: Flash was out with a foot injury.
Posted by: Duane | January 2, 2010 3:38 PM
Yea, to bad Roxxi just got back and that match with Hamada, she broke her leg in two spots. You can see it at the end where Hamada reverses her Voodo Drop, she gets her leg caught. After the match you can see where Roxxi is grabbing her leg.
Posted by: Christopher Adonis | January 3, 2010 1:58 AM
There were non Knockout matches involved??? We in Australia only got the knockout tournament no other matches at all, interesting sidenote, the channel that broadcasts both WWE and TNA has now removed the tuesday repeat. Impact is now on only on a saturday/sunday night compared to Raw which is on Wed afternoon Thur morning Sat Afternoon.
Posted by: Angelique | January 3, 2010 6:10 AM
I thought the Knockout focus TNA impact show was very entertaining. I really enjoyed the action. If TNA wanted to spin a show off for an hour a week, I think the Knockouts can definitely put on a great show on their own. Hamada really stood out to me. With Angelina Love rumored to be returning tonight, I think the Knockouts are on their way back to be an outstanding division.
Posted by: Gary | January 4, 2010 4:02 PM
I told you so, Kevin. This TNA Impact was really good. It is too bad most "sports entertainment" fans refuse to even acknowledge it. How could Taz not say "OMG" after hearing that forever by Joey Styles in his ECW days?
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | January 4, 2010 8:01 PM
The Roxxi-Hamada match was the best of the night, seeing as i had already seen the PPV matches on the Sundays they were filmed. It personally reminded me why i actually watch the Knockouts matches instead of fastforwarding through them like i did for Diva matches.
As for Flash, i was outraged that she wasnt in until you filled me in about the foot injury. Thank you Kevin
Posted by: Ace | January 5, 2010 4:12 PM