TNA Impact: Kurt Angle returns on focused go-home show
Thursday night’s episode of TNA Impact wasn’t anything special, but it did do a nice job of pushing Sunday’s Genesis pay-per-view.
One of the highlights of the show was the appearance of Kurt Angle, who crashed Jeff Jarrett’s Double-J Double-M-A Challenge, which led to an “MMA exhibition” between the two being signed for Genesis.
I’ve enjoyed all of the Jarrett MMA segments and I thought they were effective in building up anticipation for Angle’s inevitable return. Now that Angle is back, I’m hoping that TNA eases up on the comedic nature of Jarrett’s MMA gimmick and we get an intense feud between two guys who have certainly had their share of issues with each other in real life.
Other thoughts on Thursday’s show:
I liked the post-match angle to the Jarrett-Rob Van Dam match, as Mr. Anderson stopped Jeff Hardy from hitting Matt Morgan in the back with a chair, and then Anderson swung a chair at Hardy, who ducked, and Morgan ended up taking the blow. Last week, it was Morgan who had accidentally taken out Anderson. ...
Speaking of Hardy, his cameo in that post-match angle was his only appearance on the show. I can’t recall the last time a world champion in WWE or TNA was on TV as little as Hardy. ...
I like the idea of doing sit-down interviews such as the one Mike Tenay conducted with Anderson and Morgan, but even though I think they delivered solid performances, the dialogue was really just more of the same stuff we’ve been hearing for weeks now about Anderson’s concussion. ...
The Bully Ray-Brother Devon parking lot brawl angle was well done. After Ray challenged Devon to a fight, Ray ended up bringing a bunch of security guys with him when he met Devon in the parking lot. Surrounded by security, Ray hurled insults at Devon, who couldn’t get past the security guys to get to Ray. Then, with security restraining Devon, Ray kicked him in the gut. Ray is doing an awesome job playing this character. ...
The opening segment, which featured a promo by Eric Bischoff, went on too long. ...
In trying to weaken the babyface champions three days before Genesis, Bischoff booked TNA X Division champion Jay Lethal against Abyss; TNA TV champion Douglas Williams against Rob Terry; and TNA tag team champions The Motor City Machine Guns against A.J. Styles and Kazarian. Seems to me like the Guns got off pretty easy compared to the other two. ...
The Guns-Styles/Kazarian match was about as fun as a 5-minute match can be. Styles taking the pinfall loss furthered the story line of Bischoff losing patience with him. ...
I didn’t care for the spot in the Abyss-Lethal match when Abyss had Lethal pinned and then picked him up after a two-count to deliver more punishment. It was totally unnecessary to make Lethal – the X Division champion – look so weak. ...
“The Pope” D’Angelo Dinero did a really good job on the mic when he was defending himself against Samoa Joe’s accusations. ...
When Jarrett was considering fighting the teen actor from “The Twilight Saga” who was in the audience, my first thought was, “Boo Boo who?” I’m so old. It was funny when Jarrett said that he wouldn’t fight anyone taller than him, and then he asked Boo Boo’s father to stand up. When Jarrett saw how tall the guy was, he said that he couldn’t fight Boo Boo because he would be taller than him someday. ...
Mickie James and Velvet Sky as a tag team? It doesn’t get much better than that, folks. ...
Taz trying to compare Madison Rayne to Marilyn Monroe but instead saying Marilyn Chambers by accident was pretty funny. If you don’t know who Marilyn Chambers is, ask your father (or your grandfather). I’m so old.
Comments
Now that I googled Chambers, I gotta say that line was hilarious.
I too thought JJ refusing to fight that kid cause he'll be taller than him one day was hilarious. He's done a great job playing his part. I'm looking forward to a serious program between him and Angle though...
Posted by: Josh | January 8, 2011 1:55 AM
Sounds like a pretty solid show.
It's very frustrating that here in the UK, TNA currently has no home on our TV screens. The channel it was on has been shut down. This blog is currently my only source of TNA (mainly because I'm a lazy internet user) Keep up the good work Kev!
Posted by: Kenny G | January 8, 2011 4:40 AM
I like the TNA
Posted by: R.Amudhan | January 8, 2011 5:29 AM
I thought this was a decent show. What are the odds RVDs mystery opponent is Matt Hardy?
RESPONSE FROM KE: It wouldn't surprise me.
Posted by: Flair | January 8, 2011 7:57 AM
Kev, how do wrestlers work together in the ring when they've had some serious real-life issues? (i.e. Angle/Jarrett, Edge/Lita/Matt Hardy from years ago in WWE, etc.) It seems to me that it would be difficult not to carry over some of that aggression & frustration into the ring, when they are supposed to be protecting each other's safety at the same time.
RESPONSE FROM KE: They have to be professionals and agree to do business.
Posted by: Beach Bums | January 8, 2011 8:03 AM
I'm old too, sucks. I like the limitation of the world champion. It gives him a special feeling the champ should have as opposed to just another guy on the show.
Posted by: Anonymous | January 8, 2011 2:38 PM
I'd never heard of Boo Boo either, but apparently he occasionally writes a column for TNA's website too.
Posted by: Clint | January 9, 2011 8:58 AM
Kev, do you reckon Styles turning face again? I personally prefer him as a babyface.
RESPONSE FROM KE: It sure looks that way.
Posted by: Orton.1 | January 9, 2011 9:02 AM
I guess TNA has signed Matt Hardy. He was seen backstage at the Genesis PPV. I wonder if he is going to wrestle RVD?
Posted by: The Nature Boy | January 9, 2011 9:39 PM
Hey, Kev. Have you noticed the last couple of weeks during the Jarrett MMA segment that there seems to be this one huge guy with dark hair in the front row, dying to get a piece of Jarrett?
I first noticed him two or three weeks ago during the segment and he was there again this week, practically climbing over the rail to get at Jarrett.
This week, the crowd surrounding him (including two hot chicks I'm convinced are "plants") was pointing at him too, like they wanted to see Jarrett pick him.
Could he be some indie wrestler they're slowly breaking into the scene, or is it just some random big guy, do you think?
Posted by: Chris Monty | January 10, 2011 12:50 PM