TNA Sacrifice results and comments
Results and thoughts on Sunday night’s TNA Sacrifice pay-per-view:
TNA world champion Rob Van Dam defeated A.J. Styles: RVD going over in his first title defense is clearly the right call. TNA would be wise to keep the belt on him for a while. Most reports described the 25-minute match as very good but not great. It will be interesting to see if RVD moves on to another challenger, and if he does, where Styles goes from here. Following up on their angle on Impact two weeks ago, Ric Flair and Jay Lethal got into it during the match. I hope Lethal gets a push out of this.
Sting defeated Jeff Jarrett: After his ambiguous, borderline-babyface promo on TNA Impact two weeks ago, Sting was all heel here. He viciously attacked Jarrett in the back before the match, bloodying him and attempting to destroy his shoulder. Sting then threw Jarrett into the ring and pinned him in 12 seconds after a Scorpion Death Drop. Sting continued the assault after the match, even knocking Jarrett off a stretcher. It appears that Jarrett is going to be off TV for a while selling the shoulder injury. The Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer reported that the match was kept short because it is Sting who actually has a legitimately injured shoulder. I’m very interested to see how TNA follows up on this. Sting still has not explained what may or not be a heel turn.
Jeff Hardy defeated Mr. Anderson: Mr. Anderson has a new name for his followers, and it caught on immediately with the fans, who chanted it during the match. Unfortunately, it cannot be repeated on a family Web site. Here’s a hint: It’s a two-word alliteration that begins with his last name and ends with the word “holes.” Anderson appears to be transforming from a vile heel into a cool heel that people are going to cheer. I think it’s way too soon for that, however. I hope TNA delays the inevitable because there’s a lot more that Anderson can do as a heel (such as working a world title program with RVD), but when it does happen, I think Anderson is going to be the top babyface in the company, surpassing RVD, Hardy, Dinero and everyone else.
Abyss defeated Desmond Wolfe to win Chelsea’s services for 30 days: I don’t think anyone really cares about this story line, although I suppose there is potential for some entertaining segments with Abyss and Chelsea over the next month. Due to the pre-match stipulation (if Wolfe had won, he would have gotten possession of Hulk Hogan’s Hall of Fame ring), the result was pretty obvious.
TNA world tag team champions Kevin Nash and Scott Hall defeated Ink Inc.: Don’t even get me started on this. I suggested last week that The Band should operate under “Freebirds rules” (any two members of the three-man group can defend the titles), and that’s exactly what they’re doing. Unfortunately, Eric Young was the odd man out Sunday night instead of Hall. The big swerve finish was both predictable and an eye-roller. Brother Ray, who earlier backstage had taken offense to a seemingly harmless remark from Team 3D student Jesse Neal, came to the ring, acted as if he was going to nail Nash with a kendo stick, and then hit Neal instead, allowing The Band to get the victory. So now we’re going to get a Team 3D-Ink Inc. feud, which is fine, but I really hope this is going to be one of those deals in which the teacher is showing the student tough love rather than another heel turn for Team 3D. Brother Ray and Brother Devon have gone back and forth way too much as of late. As for The Band, the longer they hold the championship, the more prestige it loses.
TNA Knockouts champion Madison Rayne defeated Tara: I’m glad TNA didn’t attempt as a swerve here. The career of Tara – who reportedly is through with TNA – was on the line, and she put Rayne over clean.
Doug Williams defeated X Division champion Kazarian to win the title: Williams should have never had the title taken from him in the first place – he was stripped of it at last month’s Lockdown pay-per-view because he could not fly out of England due to the volcano – so I’m glad that he got it back.
Global champion Rob Terry defeated Orlando Jordan: The effort is there on the part of both men, but neither guy is over.
The Motor City Machine Guns defeated Team 3D and Beer Money in a match to determine the No. 1 contender to the TNA world tag team title: The hardcore TNA fans have to be pleased with this result. Now TNA just has to follow through and book TMCMG to win the title from The Band.
Comments
TNA would be wise to hold off the face turn for Mr Anderson, it just didnt pan out that well in WWE and as you say Kev, he hasnt scratched the surface of what he can do as a heel. Shame about the cool heel direction. what would the turn count for Team 3D since their involement in the frontline stand at? ridiculous
Posted by: slick mick | May 17, 2010 7:37 PM
Any chance the Sun may bring in some competition with another wrestling blogger that might actually do more than just "stand" TNA. Nothing Kev,no observations,no criticism, no nothing,all TNA gets now is a boxscore for a pay-per-view. Look you have made your viewpoint known, but I've read more insightful MCW reviews than this. Nothing about Sting's separating (angle) Double J's shoulder,little about Lethal Figure fouring Flair, frankly nothing. I don't want to read the TNA apologists lines anymore than I want to here your WWE apologism, but at least you normally give some insight as to your feelings on "why" you thought TNA was horrible/very bad/bad/or not so bad. I'm used to you're WWE favoritism but to totally ignore Sacrifice? DOes TNA letting TARA go really bother you? Can't be,next to nothing in a critical way when WWE let the very talented and Kevin favorite Mickie James get the axe. What gives,do you have some inside? Did TNA dog Mickie? Most of this is just a joke,but seriously, a simple recap,and a minimalist one at that? What gives Kevin,everything ok,normally you would have at least taken the time to rag them for letting Hall wrestle ala Freebird rules instead of Young? I'd hate to think that I'd have to give up the site,but if this is all you are going to give TNA,well,sorry. WWE just doesn't do it for me,no imagination,Buzz Aldrin are you kidding me? Commercials leading up to the show with Mark Henry clubbing an 80 year old in the back,dressed in a 300 lb space suit with a chair? That's funny? Where?The Moon?
Posted by: MickFowl | May 17, 2010 10:13 PM
The sad thing is that with Tara gone and Wilde and Sarita wrestling only because Angelina and Daffney are out, what used to be TNA strongest point is now a sad shadow of what it was.
Posted by: Frank King | May 17, 2010 10:50 PM
I got the ppv and the only thing that really stood out was Mr Andersons promo, the crowd loves this guy and I dont blame him (I like him better as a heel though)
a few notes
-tag team opener like an impact match
-Doug Williams has become one of my favorite wrestlers he has great charisma and can put on a great match
-Is it just me or does Madison Rayne not look like a champion to anyone else?
-They need to stop using Hall of Fame Rings/Spiders/etc as gimmicks NOBODY CARES (they can keep using chelsea though)
-please release the band!
-Does Jeff Hardy look like he hates TNA to anyone else? He looks sooooo bored
-Did they ruin Stings heel run by making it last 4-5 months without him even talking? This couldve been cool...
-Did anyone see RVD hit the light on the way out? That made me laugh but seriously as much as I love Jay Lethal as Flair ENOUGH WITH THE RUNINS IN PPV MAIN EVENTS!
Posted by: HiMyNameIsMike | May 18, 2010 8:17 AM
The hardcore TNA fans have to be pleased with this result. Now TNA just has to follow through and book TMCMG to win the title from The Band.
Will probably stop watching TNA if this doesn't happen...
Posted by: e. nonee moose | May 18, 2010 10:36 AM
Kev,
I had read another report about the PPV that seemed to reinforce the deep problems within TNA creative.
It said that the crowd at Sacrifice ended up "turning on the product." They did not elaborate.
Did you see any evidence of this? What part(s) of the show did the crowd not like?
Posted by: Chris Monty | May 18, 2010 12:07 PM
I gotta say - I don't get the fascination with Mr. Anderson. He's no better than average in ring, he's got an average look, and he's good on the mike. He's basically a little better version of Jessie James Armstrong.
2 guys I thought stepped up in the PPV were Douglas Williams - showing he's one of the top in-ring guys in the company - and Shannon Moore. Even though it's no great feet physically making a fool of Hall, Moore showed more personality - taunting Hall and looking by far the best performer in the match.
Posted by: Ruzious | May 18, 2010 12:38 PM
I'm certainly not a harcore TNA fan and i haven't seen the pay-per-view (i don't know when, or if, it is being aired here in the U.K), but i am delighted that the guns got the victory. They have a lot of talent and i think they deserve a long title run. They kind of remind me of London and Kendrick back in WWE. If London and Kendrick had a long tag team title run, which was excited and captivating at times, then i don't see why The Guns can't or shouldn't. Agree about The Band. Matt Morgan has come a long way since his excellent match against Kurt Angle...not even on the show.
Posted by: Orton.1 | May 18, 2010 4:06 PM
I'm glad Tara lost cleanly to Madison Rayne. When you are leaving a company unless you are retiring you job to your opponent.
I'm very surprised that the knockouts don't get paid as much as they should because they increase ratings when on air. They are certainly more entertaining to watch than
Hulk Hogan.
Heck I'd rather watch paint dry than watch Hogan on t.v. Nothing against him personally but he's just one of those wrestlers who need to STOP WRESTLING and put over the younger generation.
Posted by: Frank | May 18, 2010 6:30 PM
"He's basically a little better version of Jessie James Armstrong. "
Ruzious did you seriously compare Mr. Anderson to Jesse James Armstrong? Are you kidding me?
It seems like Anderson has made a face turn because he offered and handshake to Hardy after the match which Hardy refused so I was a little confused as to what was going on.
"I think Anderson is going to be the top babyface in the company, surpassing RVD, Hardy, Dinero and everyone else."
I completely agree.
Posted by: MitZi | May 19, 2010 2:56 AM
I'm surprised there are only 10 comments on Sacrifice. I guess not many people order TNA PPV's.
I think Anderson should stay heel. A likable heel is hard to find. Austin, The Rock were amazing. Flair and the horsemen are legendary. Yes we loved to hate them (cliche) but we also just loved them. RVD lost some of his edge, but it's working. Even if they make Anderson a face with heel tendencies it just won't work right now. They are doing it all wrong. Having him shake hands with Hardy? That's asinine. People like him because as he said, he's an A-hole. Keep as such until there's a feud with another heel.
Posted by: Frank King | May 19, 2010 8:11 PM
"Ruzious did you seriously compare Mr. Anderson to Jesse James Armstrong? Are you kidding me?"
Did I stutter - like Matt Morgan in his WWE gimmick? Btw, what in the expletive happened to Matt Morgan? Not even in the top 10?
Posted by: Ruzious | May 21, 2010 7:03 AM