Hi Mr. Eck,

I am a fan of your blog and read it frequently. I totally agree with you about the BFG series. I hope that Matt Morgan wins and gets to fight Kurt Angle at Bound For Glory. I wasn't really interested in the BFG series until I realized TNA could be building to a rematch between Angle and Morgan.

Overall I enjoyed Impact and I'm not surprised Sting won the title. Sting and Kurt Angle are TNA's biggest stars for better or worse and they can capture the most media attention.

Thank you Mr. Eck for a great blog and giving fans like myself the opportunity to express ourselves.

I think TN...er Impact Wrestling has finally turned the creative corner. I have to disagree with you about Sting being World Champion. It is the right move to put the belt on a viable and credible veteran. This allows the company to focus on a true star while building up to new stars and challengers.

Also, Sting/Angle is PPV gold, especially with the new energy and passion Sting has. This is wrestling like I remember from the 1980s and early 90's NWA, UWF and AWA. Glad to see it.

the quicker TNA do an Aries v Angle match the better. Aries, whilst being a heel, shouldnt need to cheat to beat Shannon Moore. Give Aries/Angle the time they gave Wolfe/Angle and then TNA will have match of the year quality matches on their hand. Meanwhile Aries/Shelley hasnt happened in 6 years so I'm all for that too.

Man!!! Bully Ray throws a mean elbow!! The Stinger was down for like 10 minutes after one elbow to the back from Ray... This show is getting sad... They need to drop these crusty old wrestlers and run with the young guys.

Couldn't agree more about Magnus. He really is showing some promise and he's a young guy that could be a major player. Hopefully sooner than later. It'd be nice for TNA to add a legit "homegrown" guy to the top tier.

In regards to Sting, I feel like the "joker" character is now really starting to pick up steam within the Impact Zone. Sting has modified it a bit as the weeks go on and the crowd seems consistently hot for the character. It'll be interesting to see how it goes over during the upcoming road tapings of Impact. I was on the fence at first but now I'm really digging it too.

Also, I don't mind having the belt on Sting as long he continues to find ways to have entertaining matches with guys who can carry him. He's been doing a great job playing to the crowd and playing up the character as of late. It absolutely makes up for his limitations in the ring at 50+ years old.

I'm surprised at myself that I'd actually much rather see the belt on Sting than Anderson. I enjoyed Anderson's face turn and he was an interesting character for a while. But, I got incredibly sick of him every time he opened his mouth to yell about his 'title shot' (which seemed to go on for months) and I just find him more and more boring every week. Joining Immortal might have meant something when they first teased it, but now?? Yawn

So what are the options moving forward? Keep it on Sting, or give it to Kurt Angle. All I can say about that, is... meh. I can just imagine what a mess that match is going to be, since Sting is too old to take any crazy Angle-style bumps. Even if he could, they never let either Angle or Sting simply lose cleanly so there's bound to be some awful storyline twist.

They really need some fresh faces in the title race. But who? I can't think of anyone in the mid-card who has the strength of personality, or charisma on the mic to have a decent run with the title (outside of Samoa Joe who looks like he'll be on a losting streak forever).

I love watching people like AJ Styles, Kazarian, Christopher Daniels, Robert Roode in the ring. The problem is that they're all about as intimidating as bowl of Jell-O.

For that reason, here's a crazy thought, stop talking so much and WRESTLE! Leave the talking to the legends who have the charisma to do it, and let the younger guys perform in the ring, but keep their mouths shut until the have the ability to pull of a decent interview.

Case in point - Abyss. Why oh why do they ever let that guy open his mouth?!

I loved this episode of Impact and (I'm surprised that I'm saying this as I'm always for more focus on the younger TNA-built guys like Styles and Joe) I think it was a great move to put the belt back on Sting. Anderson had no momentum as champ. I blame the wishy-washy booking. Anderson went back and forth too much and nobody ended up caring about his final heel turn. Also, a lot of his main event time was overshadowed by the long Angle-Jarrett feud. Meanwhile, Sting ripped-off a character that's been done before but is doing a suprisingly awesome job with it as a wrestling character. I guess we shouldn't be too surprised: that's exactly what he did with The Crow. Most of the main event story build-up to this point hasn't been great, but some complaints aside (WTF are they doing with Joe?), I feel like TNA has been putting on great wrestling shows for a while now, and has things set up to continue that way at least through BFG.

Also: AUSTIN ARIES! OMFG MORE AUSTIN ARIES!

*ahem* Sorry about that, I got carried away.

The thing about the clowns Kev is that your right, in isolated circumstance the clowns behavior was heelish. In the context of Impact though it was clearly babyface action against a group of heels who use their numbers advantage to win, babyfaces taking it to the heels, something you have been complaining that no one does in wrestling anymore.

RESPONSE FROM KE: Have I been complaining about that? My biggest beef with this segment was that Gunner came off as a fearless babyface. It made me want to root for him.

I guess some people like what's going on...and that's fine. To me, the title match was not unlike the fingerpoke of doom.
I'm done with TNA. They are stultifying young talent, they are making creative decisions that do not carry credible and legitimate stories, and I am done attempting to support them.
There is a lot of talent there. But from Anderson being diminished character-wise for no explicable reason and twice in the last six months being handed the championship only to job it back to the old champion in short order---(once to Hardy, now to Sting)---to the Joker thing---(for those who watch TNA because they don't "like" WWE---Sting is talented and he plays the character well--but he stole a movie character and there is no engaging or cohesive plot in which that character exists--AND he has been around at the top for TOO LONG. That sounds like John Cena to me---the same problem---the man is talented, but this is stale and ultimately indicative of selling out wrestling's future for the here and now)----
I cannot in good conscience as a wrestling fan continue to support TNA, and god knows I've tried. This is poor quality, poor creatve decisions, and the last thing that I want to see is Kurt Angle and Sting again. Good luck to those hoping that Matt Morgan will be an eventual winner in this. I am sorry to say that I think you'll be dissapointed.

On last hurrah for the Stinger! Hoo-rah!

GET THAT BELT ON MORGAN!.... I have a feeling that when TNA finally put it on some new blood, they'll go for Gunner or Crimson.

I liked it. Dumbsmark mentions that Sting stole a movie character (the Joker or the Crow?). Remember when he opened up the Crow gimmick in the 90's it built up a years worth of the best ratings ever for wrestling. Sting is a true talent, arguably better than Hogan as he gets older.

Very good show this week. I agree that Sting should have the belt back, will drop it to Angle, and then Angle will probably put someone over a BFG. Of course, it wouldn't surprise me if Sting drops it before the match with Angle and someone else wrestles him.

The homegrown TNA talent are coming into their own. Hopefully Roode gets thte title at BFG. Only drawback on the show was lack of Knockout action.

Now that Sting's regained the belt, will he regain his sanity?

To quote Roddy Piper, "Just when you think you have all of the answers, I change the question." TNA has adopted that as their moniker and not for the better.

The clown thing was kind like the movie The Town also my guess is Kurt Angle wins the title and see Crimson or Matt Morgan at BFG of course don't count Mr. Anderson and it becomes triple threat match .

I don't agree with the posters who support Anderson. He WAS interesting for awhile, but his antics grew old after a bit. And he is not really World Champion material.

Sting and Angle are championship material. Maybe Matt Morgan will be. I don't see Gunner EVER being world champ and I don't even think he belongs on tv. What should happen down the road is TNA putting the belt on Robert Roode.

@DumbSmark,

You mentioned Sting stealing a movie character with this whole Joker bit, but you forgot that the character he's played for the past 13-14 years was also based on a movie character. The Crow.

So, he's basically just going from painted-face movie character to painted-face movie character. He's going to be Beetlejuice next, just you watch. ;)

Hey Kevin,

Was it just me or did Kurt Angle look sickly this week during his promo? He just looked sickly skinny, and his eyes appeared to be back in his head. Just an observation that I wanted to see if you shared with me.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I didn't notice that.

Velvet Sky vs. Mickie James... you should record it, Kevin!

The Joker Sting is a much better choice than his original plan of a white face with a Z on his forehead and using gimmicked broomsticks instead of baseball bats. Angle was even working on getting into the Voldermort character (see Erik's comment) and there were talks of bringing Vampiro back as a Death Eater. Heck, Kev, they were gonna get your girl Daffney back to be Bellatrix Lestrange. It all fell apart when Mick Foley refused to play the Dumbledore role and got released. Oh well, no Magic Wand on a Pole match afterall.

RESPONSE FROM KE: I have no idea what you just said.

@ Erik I noticed that too! Kurt did not look very good at all....very gaunt and too thin

@ Alex N
No, I didn't forget that Sting's last character was based on the Crow---(it's very creepy in a way that he keeps using the schtick of dead actors who died while playing the roles)---but with the exception of the hanging around in the rafters at the beginning of WCW Crow run, Sting didn't lift heavily from Brandon Lee's performance except in superficial appearance.
This recent debacle is a direct lift. He has copied Ledger's mannerisms, and with this episode, there were even the clown-masked Joker henchmen.
I realize that some people like it---I'm just saying for me that for me, I'd rather see original creativity using Borden's talent, rather than stealing someone else's creativity. It borders on plagiarism.
Also, overall, TNA is doing damage with their whole direction now. Notice the comment above that references that "Anderson used to be entertaining, and then his act got old." How wonderful that a worker who puts himself on the line is the one who takes the hit for backstage creative. People's careers are being screwed by TNA creative. Using Anderson as an example---his character didn't get old--he's been written to play a completely different character. Gone is his one man against the world schtick--gone are his humor and his once-great one-liners and insults. Gone is writing and booking to allow him to access his natural talents. Gone is his being legitimized through being booked and written as legitimate to the title. Rather, he AND the title have been both de-legitimized in the last couple of months. Whether you like the wrestler or not, it's a horrible idea to twice within the span of a few months have him win the world title, only to very quickly drop it back to the former champ both times. And to have Gunner beat he and Sting--and to have Anderson job to Young..and...
I can't support TNA anymore. There are no cohesive stories, and older veterans are given preferential treatment over young and developing stars. This goes to the point that it is not very often that the older stars truly help a younger one to get over. Angle helped Anderson last year in a great feud, but hasn't helped anyone since. Sting is always a center of attention and no one really gets over on him even if they happen to win. When was the last time Sting lost in a clean finish? Hogan and Bischoff insist on sticking their faces on the screen and continuing the stale "Immortal" gimmick. In what we can only assume is backstage politics, some guys are given pushes who are not seasoned enough yet, like Crimson and Gunner. They ARE put over as younger guys, but in such ridiculous ways that it makes no more sense than any other storyline. If you're Ken Anderson or Samoa Joe or A.J. Styles, you get second-class treatment. If you're Gunner or Crimson, they push you even though it makes no sense and fans have no context for it.
Sting regaining the title against a watered-down Anderson, as I stated, is a fingerpoke moment for me. I can't support TNA anymore. I'm going to watch what happens during and after MITB over at WWE, and hope for the best. If that also fails, I'm done with the big two companies for a while. You have to vote with your time and wallet, and you have to vote for good wrestling.

kevin james C comment is A reference to harry potter.......i feel very ashamed for knowing that lol........its bad enough i am A wrestling nerd lol......

RESPONSE FROM KE: Fortunately for me, my kids are too young for HP.

If I was A.J. Styles, Samoa Joe, Daniels and Matt Morgan I would walk out on TNA and tell Vinny Russo where he can stick the TNA title.

Sting is a legend and deserves to wear the belt until he retires. Matt Morgan is just huge and has like 2 or 3 moves. I don't know what all the hype is about. Stinger and Angle are the only true stars TNA has. Sting is a great human being and I wish him nothing but the best. They all take their "character" from somewhere. Noone is original so stop hating on Sting.

I wasn't expecting to need to type this. I was certain at least one other person would see the writing on the wall that seems so clear to me.

I'm expecting Sting to drop the belt to Hogan.

They've been building this Sting v Hogan storyline for weeks, and since it doesn't look like he's going to redeem Hogan and bring him back over to the light, they must be building to a confrontation.

Don't misunderstand me: I do not want this to happen. But it's the kind of idiotic, swerve booking that Vince Russo has ruined companies with. I'm not expecting a Fingerpoke of Doom, but I will not be surprised at all if, at some point in the next year, the TNA World Champion is Hulk Hogan.

And then TNA will die. And they will deserve it.

Wow; someone that actually isn't a WWE worshiper that tells the good and bad things. Good job!!!

Some say angle looks bad but he's losing weight for the olympics. He doesn't look bad to me; just a lot lighter.

Sting is ok. Doesn't bother me.

Aries and Magnus are just studs. I would eventually have Morgan win the title and have Magnus, Morgan and Gunner and Anderson war with eachother for the title. Great story lines.

First off, I don't think that TNA can ever go wrong by having Sting as world champion. The guy can still wrestle, he's awsome on the mic, and he's one of the biggest names to ever step foot in a wrestling ring. I don't care how old he is and I'm sick of hearing the experts talk about it. The man is 52 years old and he moves around like he's 32, so as long as he keeps doing what he's doing, give him the belt! The only thing that I can see that TNA does wrong is that they give the title to only the veterans for a while, and then they give it to only the young guys for a while, and then they change back the other way. They should mix it up and have the younger talent and the veterans wrestle for the title all the time, and if a young guy wins, that's fine, but if an older guy wins, that's fine too. This way the younger talent can build a name for themselves and the big name stars that everyone loves, like Sting, can draw in big crowds and the company will continue to grow because the fans get the best of both worlds as they get to see new stars develope for the company's future, while also getting to see the guys they have cheered on for years finish out their carees on top. Where can TNA go wrong with that as long as the guys that are winning can still wrestle and still be fun to watch?