TNA Impact: Abyss’ dark side resurfaces
Somebody better page Dr. Stevie. Abyss is need of some serious couch time again.
During a threeway match between Abyss, Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson to determine the No. 1 contender for the TNA world title on Thursday night’s Impact, Abyss transformed from cuddly monster to raging sadist. After the match ended in a no-decision (all three men were counted out), Abyss brutally attacked Hardy and Anderson, choke-slamming Hardy off the stage and through a platform, and delivering a Black Hole Slam on broken glass to Anderson.
The show ended with Hulk Hogan coming out to confront Abyss, so it looks as if the Abyss-Hogan feud that we all knew would happen at some point is about to commence. Thankfully, we probably won’t be subjected to seeing Abyss come out to Hogan’s “American Made” entrance music anymore.
Abyss was definitely overdue for a heel turn, and I thought the angle was well done. One of the reasons it worked was because all the focus leading up to the match was on whether Anderson would turn on Hardy, so the Abyss turn wasn’t something that you could see coming (although it was somewhat foreshadowed earlier in the show when Abyss turned away Chelsea and said that she wouldn’t want to be around him after she saw what he was going to do).
Hopefully, TNA follows up next week with some type of explanation as to why Abyss snapped.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
I thought this was a good episode. In addition to the Abyss turn, it featured a highly entertaining segment between Jay Lethal and Ric Flair as dueling “Nature Boys.” Lethal is a talented guy and I’m glad to see him getting a push. TNA is doing a nice job of getting Lethal over as a serious contender while at the same time playing up what he has to offer from a comedic standpoint, specifically his dead-on impersonations of Flair and Randy Savage. …
Jeff Jarrett cut a good promo on Sting, and Sting’s non-verbal reactions were just right. It was a little hard to swallow, however, when Jarrett said that Eric Bischoff is one of the people that he is fighting for. So all those weeks that Bischoff made life miserable for Jarrett never happened? …
The show opened with Bischoff announcing that The Band had been stripped of the TNA world tag team title because of Scott Hall’s personal issues. He wished Hall well and said that he hoped to see him back in TNA one day, echoing comments that TNA president Dixie Carter had made on Twitter earlier Thursday. A few things surprised me about this angle. For one, since there are three members of The Band and it already has been established that any combination of them can defend the title, why were they stripped of the belts just because Hall isn’t going to be around? I didn’t think TNA would acknowledge Hall’s real-life issues either. I figured they would come up with a story line reason for Hall’s absence (like they did previously for Sean Waltman). I’m also shocked that they are portraying Hall as a sympathetic figure and would even consider for one second bringing him back. Some people just never learn. Even if Hall gets himself straightened out – which would be great and I wish him well – what exactly does he bring to the table at this stage of his career? …
Tommy Dreamer showed up during the match between Lethal and Desmond Wolfe and sat in the crowd. I have no idea why TNA would sign Dreamer when it already has a bloated roster. …
Where was Rob Van Dam? How can you not have the world champion appear on the first show after a pay-per-view? …
I like the name given to Flair’s new Four Horsemen-type group – Fortune. On a side note, it’s really creepy watching the 61-year-old Flair do a pelvic thrust. …
It was a tough night for Wolfe. He was rejected by Chelsea, pinned by Lethal and referred to by Flair as the Lex Luger of his faction. “You think you’re a big-time player but you’re really nothing,” Flair said when comparing him to Luger. Well, I suppose it could have been worse. Flair could have called him the Steve McMichael of the group. …
Samoa Joe and Hernandez had a fun, hard-hitting match (Joe won due to outside interference from Matt Morgan). It’s too bad it couldn’t have gone longer. …
I was happy to see Ink Inc. defeat Kevin Nash and Eric Young in the tag team title tournament. Nash and Young both have value but The Band is played out. …
Beer Money defeated Team 3D in the other tournament match, and they will face Ink Inc. next week for the right to meet The Motor City Machine Guns in the finals at the Victory Road pay-per-view next month. I like that TMCMG are going straight to the finals since they had already won a match to become No. 1 contenders. …
Lacey Von Erich is still only serviceable at best in the ring, but she has improved. Her match against Angelina Love wasn’t awful. The way Love viciously DDT’d LVE on a chair almost made her come off as a heel. …
There was a very nice near fall during TNA X Division champion Douglas Williams’ non-title win over Max Buck when Buck hit a Blockbuster off the top rope. I liked the post-match angle with Brian Kendrick applying a rear naked choke on Williams to beat him at his own game.
Comments
abyss turn was gold for me, welcome back abyss. My first guess is that abyss feels Hogan betrayed him with Jay Lethal, but that's just my guess. tna is starting to get back on track now with more talent than before and no more worries about stealing the show on monday nights. I think expectations and the whole monday nights thing was really taking its toll on tna, they weren't ready for that yet.
Posted by: Lorenzo | June 18, 2010 11:20 PM
Re wondering about "The Band," I'll go you one better: Since the genesis of the name is that the reunion of old buddies Nash, Hall, and Waltman constituted "getting the band back together," how can Nash continue to use the name after Hall and Waltman have been fired?
Posted by: Stephen | June 18, 2010 11:28 PM
Lethal and Flair were great. That was the funniest thing I've seen in wrestling in a while. Purely awesome segment there.
Lethal and Desmond Wolfe also had a very good match. Lethal looked really crisp in the ring, even more than usual. That could have gone much longer.
Douglas Williams vs. Max Buck was very good as well. WIlliams is a great wrestler and I would like to see him and Alex Shelley mat wrestle for a decent amount of time some day. Two technical geniuses there. I would also like to see Douglas and Kurt Angle wrestle...
I agree, this was a good show.
Posted by: Another Wrestling Mark | June 19, 2010 12:39 AM
I think its obvious. Sting got to Abyss. Now Abyss knows the truth about Hogan and Bischoff (whatever that may be). So now what I believe will happen is is that we will have a WCW vs. nWo program all over again.
Sting, Abyss, Lethal, Hardy, Foley, Van Dam and others on one side (with Jarrett joining late)
Vs.
Hogan, Bischoff, Nash, Morgan, Wolfe, Flair, Anderson, Joe, 3D and others on the other.
Angle will probably try and play the "cool tough guy" that doesn’t need anyone. What do you think Kev?
Posted by: Mike | June 19, 2010 12:46 AM
Lethal/Flair was Awesome! Well said about Lethal and Dreamer.
Who are the MCMG? Didn't they win that #1 contenders match months ago and there has been title defenses since? Quality storytelling as always, Vince. Not even a mic spot in the meantime! That's why Cornette rips his butthole and he's absolutely right to.
Way too many guys, not enough TV time. They put out the best matches on cable TV with some awesome promos cut by the wrestlers, but lack of common sense in the direction all this moves keeps it from being a popular(or followable) product.
Even though it's still the best wrestling show you can watch on TV.
Posted by: al | June 19, 2010 1:00 AM
My favorite moment of the show was when Flair said that he was going to bring back the Four Horsemen. The crowd popped loudly. However, when he said that they're going to be called Fortune, there was silence. What were the fans thinking, the original members would show?
These group of guys have been working together for months, it's nice to see them become an official group. Styles competing for the TNA title, Beer Money for the tag team, and Kaz for the x division all under Flair can be a really neat thing.
Posted by: Phillip Reynolds | June 19, 2010 2:20 AM
"Well, I suppose it could have been worse. Flair could have called him the Steve McMichael of the group. …"
...or, worse yet, the Paul Roma of the group.
Posted by: Phil | June 19, 2010 2:38 AM
The Lethal-Flair segment went on for too long.
Why would the team stripped of the tag titles be allowed to enter the tournament in an attempt to regain them again?
Posted by: Jerry | June 19, 2010 5:51 AM
"Well, I suppose it could have been worse. Flair could have called him the Steve McMichael of the group"
Could've been worse than even that...the Paul Roma of the group.
Posted by: Xelpzat | June 19, 2010 9:02 AM
Did you catch Abyss doing the Tommy Dreamer pose (the one with his arms outstretched) after giving Anderson the Shock Treatment? I wouldn't be surprised if he somehow winds up a part of Tommy Dreamer's faction.
Oh, and I was surprised to see that Anderson took the Black Hole Slam onto the broken glass. I guess it wouldn't ne an episode of Impact without someone bleeding.
Posted by: BV | June 19, 2010 9:46 AM
I bet the whole hogan abyss thing plays into the sting storyline. Like after hogan and abyss have some sort of gimmick match, we all realize hogan and bischoff are bad. Sting proves to have been right, maybe setting up hogan vs sting or sting vs abyss. Or jarret and sting vs hogan and abyss.
Posted by: mike | June 19, 2010 9:51 AM
"Hopefully, TNA follows up next week with some type of explanation as to why Abyss snapped."
Yeah and hopefully you hit the lottery, and I will find a horse named Bob that can count to 5 and spit out nickels."
Posted by: Abdullah the Cabana Boy | June 19, 2010 9:57 AM
How long before the Knockout Divison is truly gone? Basically all we see are Sky, Rayne, Lacey, and Love each week. Hopefully Daffney doesn't get canned? The Knockouts used to be major players each week on the show and are now an afterthought?
I am not sure what value Dreamer brings either. If they could get Paul E to sit in the stands, now that would have an Impact!
Posted by: Flair | June 19, 2010 10:19 AM
Are they saying the flair group is Fortune or Fourtune?? Since they are still using the 4 finger symbol.
Also wouldn't Kendrick be great in that group and Flair should say he is like Brian Pillman.
RESPONSE FROM KE: When Flair said the name I figured it would be Fourtune, but on TNA's website it had the conventional spelling.
Posted by: Brandon | June 19, 2010 11:28 AM
I like how you mention "bloated" and Tommy Dreamer" in the same sentence. Seems to fit quite well.
Posted by: Bri on LI | June 19, 2010 12:03 PM
Regarding the dueling Nature Boys, I thought it was the dumbest thing I've ever seen. Talk about PG Rating, this belonged on the Cartoon Network. Also, Flair told Wolfe that if he lost, he was done, then he stood side by side with Wolfe after the match. I thought he was going to fire him and, without Flair and without Chelsea, he would become a "Lone Wolfe" and terrorize the TNA roster. But, again, no follow-up or, follow-through.
Posted by: Magnificent Mark | June 19, 2010 1:06 PM
Kevin, do you think Jay will defeat Flair and then be offered a spot in Fortune because he beat "The Man" ? It would be an interesting angle for sure.
Posted by: Bill | June 19, 2010 2:41 PM
If Abyss has indeed reverted into a heel it would be interesting to see if it is Sting who is behind his turn. It would demonstrate that TNA is serious about a heel run for Sting.
You might also remember it was Sting who led Abyss to his face turn several years back.
Posted by: Aaron Goldstein | June 19, 2010 3:04 PM
Do you have to take a shot at Ric Flair every time you write something about him? I'm surprised you were able to refrain from the tired criticism of him returning to the ring since his WrestleMania retirement match, this time against Lethal at Victory Road. Know this, that match will be the ONLY reason I order that pay per view. Flair is the highlight of Impact! every time he is on the show because, as he said, they're "allowing me to be Ric Flair".
Posted by: Matt | June 19, 2010 3:26 PM
Would have calling him the Paul Roma of the group been worse than the Mongo McMichael of the group?
Posted by: michealdeff | June 19, 2010 7:14 PM
Jay Lethal was AWESOME in his confrontation with Flair! Flair's facial expressions were off the charts to me as well.
You're a great writer Eck, I was hoping to read your thoughts on it....
Posted by: Ryen Roi | June 20, 2010 3:56 AM
Possibly one of the best Impacts in a while... Because there was no Scott Hall, no RVD. Instead, we had Doug Williams, Wolfe, Jay Leathal, Anderson & Hardy, Beer Money and most of all - the real blue chip stock - Samoa Joe and Hernandez.
That is the kind of Impact that the fans want. And its been about 6 months in the making. All it was missing was Kurt.
Well done TNA. I have a little more faith than I did last week!
Posted by: Castrogiovani | June 20, 2010 5:07 AM
Hey Kev,
Are Dr. Stevie and Raven still in TNA? They're on the roster page I believe, but are not used at all.
RESPONSE FROM KE: As far as I know they are still with the company.
Posted by: Erik | June 20, 2010 10:09 AM
Hope James Mitchell returns with the dark Abyss. But I have a feeling Tommy Dreamer is behind the Abyss turn.
Posted by: Anonymous | June 20, 2010 10:56 AM
I am glad to see Abyss back in a heel role, although I disagree that the angle was well-done. If it was well-done, I don't think we would need further explanation on the turn. I think Abyss should have shown more disappointment during the match that he was being double-teamed (since he wears a mask, that would have required more body language). The beatdown outside of the ring by Anderson should have been longer and more brutal to really push Abyss over the edge.
The dumping of Anderson over the broken glass was totally unecessary. It looked too contrived, when it called for Abyss to be doing spontaneous violence.
Lethal has become a highlight of the show.
I would like to see Samoa Joe vs Hernandez in a PPV match which would allow for an uninterrupted 20-25 minute slobber-knocker.
You noticed Jarrett's positive comments on Bischoff, I noticed it, I suspect many people raised their eyebrows at that...but, Russo assumes the average viewer is so stupid he doesn't remember what happened last month, last week, last show or last segment.
Despite Russo, Impact is delivering a pretty good show.
As for Scott Hall, what he brings to the table is creativity. Even Bischoff, who spent most of his autobiography giving himself sole credit for WCW's success, did admit that Hall helped come up with some of the best story angles during the glory days.
Posted by: LarryB | June 20, 2010 12:20 PM
The dueling "That's my line" back and forth between Flair and Lethal was a highlight. LVE's ring attire made her look huge, and not in a good way! If Angelina turns heel who are the faces that she is going to battle? No Tara or ODB, or Roxxi. Sarita has talent to die for but she is hooked up in a tag team that has no storyline. Hogan and Bischoff have a quality women's division but they have nuetered it. BTW, what does So Cal Val do nowadays, other than getting the chair that she sits in get pulled out from under her?
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | June 20, 2010 2:13 PM
If TNA is going to use the "four fingers" hand symbol, then they have to get rid of one guy from the group. Personally, I like the idea of a 5 man stable, but you can't do that and raise four ingers.
Posted by: Jack Windham | June 20, 2010 10:20 PM
BTW, what does So Cal Val do nowadays, other than getting the chair that she sits in get pulled out from under her?
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | June 20, 2010 2:13 PM
She hosts some of the YouTube programming and she's the ring girl. She will be the ring announcer for TNA Xplosion.
Does anyone think that Fortune isn't so great by itself? Flair's Fortune Five or something would be a bit better (play on Fortune 500, obviously).
Posted by: Anonymous | June 20, 2010 10:29 PM