TNA Impact: Go-home show for Victory Road is a winner
A strong episode of TNA Impact Thursday night was highlighted by a non-title match pitting TNA world champion Rob Van Dam against Samoa Joe and a verbal confrontation between Ric Flair and Jay Lethal. The show was focused and did a fine job of hyping Sunday’s Victory Road pay-per-view, which, on paper, looks very promising.
The first RVD-Joe match in TNA was pretty much what you would expect from these two in that it was hard-hitting and entertaining. I liked the finish, which saw Joe trap RVD in a chokehold, but RVD managed to push off the turnbuckle and flip backward on top of Joe for the pin while Joe still had the hold applied. This was a good win for RVD, and Joe looked strong in defeat. It also planted the seed for a future program between the two.
The Flair-Lethal exchange was really well done. Lethal was cutting a solid promo when Flair interrupted him, got in his face and started ranting and raving, including insulting Lethal’s ill mother. It was a very intense confrontation, as Lethal said little but never backed up – even after a seething Flair demanded several times that he do so. Flair was on fire in this segment, and I also was quite impressed by Lethal’s facial expressions and how he carried himself. He looked like a star.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
I was really surprised that the main event between Jeff Hardy and Mr. Anderson ended with a clean finish, as Hardy scored the pin in a match that only went a little over three minutes. The run-ins from Abyss and RVD that I was expecting didn’t happen until the post-match. …
TNA has done a good job of building up Sunday’s TNA world title match between the four guys mentioned above. You have the question of whether Hardy can trust Anderson; RVD facing long odds of retaining his title; and Abyss being portrayed as a bloodthirsty monster. …
The A.J. Styles-Kazarian match – which ended in a double count-out – was good but I wish it would have gone longer than six minutes. I figured these two would be facing each other on the pay-per-view, but it was announced that Flair booked them in a tag team match against opponents to be announced. …
Brother Devon delivered some strong mic work, which he usually does when he gets the opportunity. I’m interested to see what happens in the three-way match between him, Brother Ray and Jesse Neal at Victory Road. …
I thought it was unnecessary to have Samoa Joe beat up the referee after his match with RVD. I suppose it was an attempt to get Joe over as an anti-hero but it just made him seem like a sore loser to me. …
The six-man tag match that saw Beer Money and Matt Morgan defeat The Motor City Machine Guns and Hernandez was entertaining. I liked that Morgan and Hernandez – who will meet in a steel cage match at Victory Road – never touched, as Morgan played chicken heel. …
It was great to see Daffney back on television, but I’m disappointed that she was squashed by Angelina Love. Obviously Love needed to win since she is challenging for the TNA Knockouts title Sunday, but I don’t understand why the match wasn’t booked to be at least a little more competitive. By the way, is it just me or does Love appear to be getting skinnier by the week? …
It was an interesting booking decision to have X Division champion Douglas Williams lose a non-title ladder match to Jeremy Buck of Generation Me on the show before Williams’ title defense against Brian Kendrick at Victory Road, but it actually made sense. The point was to establish that Williams has a fear of heights, and therefore his title is in jeopardy Sunday because it’s an Ultimate X Match. Hopefully, TNA follows up and Buck gets a title shot against the winner. ...
I’m a bit confused as to what the deal is with Kevin Nash waiting to speak with Eric Bischoff. If the idea is that Nash’s job is in jeopardy because he is being held accountable for the actions of Scott Hall and Sean Waltman, wouldn’t he have already been punished by now? And if Nash is in trouble, why were he and Eric Young allowed to participate in the TNA world tag team title tournament?
Comments
Eck, you didn't comment on my favorite part of the show. Nash calling out Hogan saying he played favorites when he brought in the Nasty Boys! No Orlando Jordan, Nasty Boys, Rob Terry, Hall, and less superman Hogan knocking out the entire TNA roster with one punch has meant 4 back to back weeks of solid TNA. As much as I hate Flair returning to the ring, he is more entertaining on the mic at this point than any PG star on WWE.
Posted by: HollywoodHeLLegs | July 10, 2010 3:19 AM
Kevin, I'd be interested in getting your thoughts on what this article says concerning Dreamer joining TNA creative. If he's booking, and if that's the reason the show has gotten better, I've gotta give the man major props:
Posted by: Rob Brown | July 10, 2010 9:27 AM
Kev did you really like the ending to RVD & Joe as sloppy as it was Joe put his finisher in so deep that the ref made him adjust it so RVD can escape and then the roll over pin was sloppy 2.
RESPONSE FROM KE: I thought it was fine.
Posted by: frank from dudalk | July 10, 2010 9:52 AM
You got more wrestling action in this show than any combined two or three episodes of RAW. During the RVD/Joe match Taz mentioned that this was on free TV. If you want to sell PPV's, telling us that you can get PPV action for free is not the best sales approach. As for the Nash angle, I guess that is unfinished but you really have to suspend reality when Hogan, the power behind the show says, "I can't help you now." The one thing that I had hoped they would have followed up on this week was the Sarita heel turn even if it were just for a minute or two. That girl is a real talent. I'm not sure how she'll be as a heel but, heel or face, she needs more air time. Then again, it's TNA which can also be be called TN-F (Total Non Follow Up). As for the Angelina/Rayne angle I would have Rayne keep the belt because it seems so obvious that Angelina will prevail. But, they messed that up with the retirement stipulation. That was definitely unneeded and stifles any additional creativity. Is it me, or has Madison Rayne improved with her character?
Posted by: Johnny Valentine was great | July 10, 2010 10:24 AM
I think the same about the Angelina Love - Daffney match. After seeing her twice in a row on Xplosion! having two very good matches (against Taylor Wilde and Sarita), this match was disappointing. I mean, it finished almost before it started (two minutes or so) I couldn't believe it when I saw it. On the other hand, it's awesome to see and hear the crowd when Daffney is on the ring, isn't it?
By the way, Madison Rayne is getting tiresome with her excuse of "I put my championship on the line, what are you risking?" I tell you what are you risking: You are the champion, you have to defend it. That's all. Plain and simple. You can't ask for carrers if you fight against a legitimate #1 contender.
Posted by: Tassadar | July 10, 2010 10:25 AM
The RVD - Samoa Joe match was the best match I've seen in years. Way better than anything I've seen on raw.
Posted by: eliot | July 10, 2010 11:34 AM
I think you can make a strong argument that it was the best non-PPV wrestling show of the year in TNA or WWE.
It was not perfect. I agree with you that Daffney should not have been buried in her match. But, overall, I would say that TNA got it right this time.
Posted by: LarryB | July 10, 2010 11:40 AM
Yep, Angelina Love's body seems to challenge what's humanly possible. With such a micro-waist, her shirt size sure hasn't seemed to change ;-)
Posted by: Phillip Reynolds | July 10, 2010 2:14 PM
Damn, the sky is falling. I actually skipped TNA this week. What such force could make this happen? LEBRON JAMES!
I wasn't planning to watch, I don't even like Lebron, but when I found out he was joining up with Wade and Bosh, I couldn't take my eyes off ESPN, I had to watch the reaction. It's like the Miami Heat are becoming the NBA's version of NWO. Now I love Lebron, Bosh, and Wade. I'm pretty stoked about it and basketball matters again.
LOL at Angelina Love getting skinnier.
Posted by: Lorenzo | July 11, 2010 12:45 AM
I understand the fear of heights thing, but damn...three rungs up the ladder. If that's scared of heights than I am too.
Posted by: Michael | July 11, 2010 2:45 AM
Kev,I have thought that TNA is just a better Wrestling product for over a year,this weeks show proved it..well written and wrestled.Loved the RVD-Joe match,as well as AJ-Kaz and the main event> I wish that Dixie was on trying to make sense of the Sting thing..then leaving a cliff-hanger..but cant have everything. The BEST part of the show to me was Nash..it kind of makes Sting look right in what he is saying.Cant wait for the PPV..should be good. As always,thanks Kev and God Bless. Phil 4:13
Posted by: David Baugus | July 11, 2010 12:03 PM
What are your thoughts about the rumors of Kevin Sullivan possibly joining the booking team? If so, I wouldn't be surprised to see a "new" Dungeon of Doom to feud with Hogan and his boys. Also, if he joins TNA, I wouldn't be surprised to see a 3rd run from the Varsity Club.
Posted by: paul | July 12, 2010 5:26 AM