So I watched a full episode of Impact this week...

[hollywood]

I decided I'd sit through an entire episode of Impact for once. Now matter how badly I wanted to grab that remote and switch to just about anything else--and trust me I wanted to several times (though not as many as I expected)--I wouldn't do it. So, after my first full viewing of a TNA Impact episode, here's my thoughts for the 3 or 4 who care...

THE HIGH POINTS

THE X-DIVISION
Despite some pretty wacky booking and stupid gimmicks, these guys continue to put on some great matches. I still say that cloning wrestlers after others is a bad idea. To me, it just says that Lethal and Williams aren't good enough to get over on their own merits. Still, the tag match and the later match with Curry Man and Jimmy Rave were good (even though Christy was there...God she sucks).

THE KNOCKOUTS
Much like the X-Division, these ladies just continue to shine, even though TNA seems determined to drop the ball on yet another goldmine. The buildup for Kong and ODB is very nice, and I still like the Beautiful People/Roxxi feud.

Although, I did say it was only a matter of time before TNA screwed up this gem. And now they're well on their way by throwing Kip James into the mix. (Seriously, why in the hell does this man still have a job?)

THE LOW POINTS

KURT ANGLE VS KEVIN NASH
Jesus Christ, this match sucked. But then, it's Kevin Nash. Even asking for something that's moderately below average is a tall order. The guy sucked in the ring even when he was "good." And the whole thing ended with typical TNA interference shenanigans. After all, we gotta protect our guys, right?

It also didn't help that I had to listen to Samoa Joe verbally plaster his lips all over Big Kev's ass throughout the match.

KAREN'S ANGLE
For the love of God... Do they do this every week!?? Holy shit... Fire Karen. Never put her on camera again. Never do that with Abyss again. And that's pretty much all that needs be said.

WE ALL LOVE JARRETT
This was just painful. Jeff, I'm sorry as hell for what happened to your wife, I really am. But you are NOT a main eventer. You never were. And you never will be. And the fact that you had to create your own promotion to do that just proves me right. I could also argue that using your wife's death to put yourself over is a bit tacky, but I'll just leave that debate for another thread.

STING'S HEEL PROMO
He praises the heels, the fans cheer. He berates the faces, the fans cheer. Either Sting just can't be a heel, or the Impact Zone fans are idiots. Probably a little bit of both.

Oh, and just ending the show with Jeff's music was dumb.

OVERALL
Are Team 3-D Booker's lackeys now? Is Booker T from Jamaica now? And why the hell does Saeed look like she's wearing a bad Halloween mask underneath her shaul? I pretty much understood everything else, though.

At least they don't seem like a rushed clusterf*** anymore. I'm not going to say it all makes sense (fun fact: it doesn't), but at least it's not all jumbled together on top of each other. I still say they're biggest Achilles' heel is their booking. The wrestling's good when it has a chance to be (and doesn't involve guys like Nash), but the creative side just leaves a lot to be desired.

I may watch again next week, but once Burn Notice resumes with new episodes I'm going back to that. Sorry, but Bruce Campbell > TNA. Always.

[Hiroshi Hase]

I disagree on Jarrett as I thought he did just fine as a main eventer in WCW, but of course to each his own.

I didn't see the rest of the show, but it seemed decent up until Angle/Nash then I just kinda zoned out.

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

Aug 28, 2008 22:16:57 GMT -5 hollywood said:

I decided I'd sit through an entire episode of Impact for once. Now matter how badly I wanted to grab that remote and switch to just about anything else--and trust me I wanted to several times (though not as many as I expected)--I wouldn't do it. So, after my first full viewing of a TNA Impact episode, here's my thoughts for the 3 or 4 who care...

THE HIGH POINTS

THE X-DIVISION
Despite some pretty wacky booking and stupid gimmicks, these guys continue to put on some great matches. I still say that cloning wrestlers after others is a bad idea. To me, it just says that Lethal and Williams aren't good enough to get over on their own merits. Still, the tag match and the later match with Curry Man and Jimmy Rave were good (even though Christy was there...God she sucks).

THE KNOCKOUTS
Much like the X-Division, these ladies just continue to shine, even though TNA seems determined to drop the ball on yet another goldmine. The buildup for Kong and ODB is very nice, and I still like the Beautiful People/Roxxi feud.

Although, I did say it was only a matter of time before TNA screwed up this gem. And now they're well on their way by throwing Kip James into the mix. (Seriously, why in the hell does this man still have a job?)

THE LOW POINTS

KURT ANGLE VS KEVIN NASH
Jesus Christ, this match sucked. But then, it's Kevin Nash. Even asking for something that's moderately below average is a tall order. The guy sucked in the ring even when he was "good." And the whole thing ended with typical TNA interference shenanigans. After all, we gotta protect our guys, right?

It also didn't help that I had to listen to Samoa Joe verbally plaster his lips all over Big Kev's ass throughout the match.

KAREN'S ANGLE
For the love of God... Do they do this every week!?? Holy crap... Fire Karen. Never put her on camera again. Never do that with Abyss again. And that's pretty much all that needs be said.

WE ALL LOVE JARRETT
This was just painful. Jeff, I'm sorry as hell for what happened to your wife, I really am. But you are NOT a main eventer. You never were. And you never will be. And the fact that you had to create your own promotion to do that just proves me right. I could also argue that using your wife's death to put yourself over is a bit tacky, but I'll just leave that debate for another thread.

STING'S HEEL PROMO
He praises the heels, the fans cheer. He berates the faces, the fans cheer. Either Sting just can't be a heel, or the Impact Zone fans are idiots. Probably a little bit of both.

Oh, and just ending the show with Jeff's music was dumb.

OVERALL
Are Team 3-D Booker's lackeys now? Is Booker T from Jamaica now? And why the hell does Saeed look like she's wearing a bad Halloween mask underneath her shaul? I pretty much understood everything else, though.

At least they don't seem like a rushed clustersmurf anymore. I'm not going to say it all makes sense (fun fact: it doesn't), but at least it's not all jumbled together on top of each other. I still say they're biggest Achilles' heel is their booking. The wrestling's good when it has a chance to be (and doesn't involve guys like Nash), but the creative side just leaves a lot to be desired.

I may watch again next week, but once Burn Notice resumes with new episodes I'm going back to that. Sorry, but Bruce Campbell > TNA. Always.

I also watched tonight, and I'd say this is a fair analysis. I thought your High Points were in fact good, and your low points were in fact bad.

The only real concern I have is that it does seem like TNA is pulling the trigger on an "Old Guys vs New Guys" feud, and I have no idea who will be faces and who will be heels. Honestly I agreed with a lot of what Sting said, and I also agreed with a lot of what AJ said. I won't be able to get too into a feud if I like both sides!!

[comahan]

I loved the Sting promo. Got his point across in a passionate way that made sense, sets up the basis of a feud, furthers the current story, and did it all in what I thought was a great promo. What makes a good story is when both sides have a legitimate reason to do what they do, and both sides have reason here.

The fans are going to pick who they want to boo and cheer anyway. The point is, the fans were into it, one way or another, they were into it. Hall and Nash were cheered as Heels over most of WCW while Hogan was booed to death. But the fans were into it and it worked wonders. John Cena is the ultimate babyface, and has been booed mercifully.. but the fans are always into what hes doing and wwe has had their best years financially with him at the helm. As long as theres a major reaction, one way or the other, it cant be bad imo. The fans choose the faces and heels, not the booking.

It would have been bad if the fans sat there and did nothing.

You'll disagree, which im fine with, and tell me why im wrong while slipping in a ton of insults at the company, but oh well.

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

Aug 28, 2008 22:45:30 GMT -5 comahan said:

The fans choose the faces and heels, not the booking.

That's actually a really cool idea... have two sides present a different spin on a subject, and let the fans decide which side they prefer. If anything, it will divide the fans as well since some will back the veterans and some will back the new blood. Again I like both sides at this point, so unfortunately I can't pick who I like better. But maybe as time goes on, I will begin to find myself partial to one side.

[dpg]

So I watched a full episode of Impact this week...

Well done champ, would you like a sticker?

[MysteryPartner]

Jarrett is awesome to me, too bad the crowd didn't think so though. If they are trying to bring Jarrett back as a face, so far they are failing. As far as I could tell, when they played his music the crowd was completely silent.

[Voldemar H. "Brak" Guerta]

OP seems to be a bit of a Negative Nancy here...

I personally thought it was a solid show this week, although the complete omission of any furthering to the LAX-Beer Money feud was a bit odd. I thought the Nash Vs. Angle match was better than I expected it to be. Nash seems to be in the best shape he's been in since his last WWE run when he still main-evented. He was a dick in the past, but it seems he's been humbled so a healthy, agile Nash that won't be holding anyone back sounds like a pretty good thing to me. I'll agree that "Karen's Angle" is pretty bad; luckily it doesn't run very long, but it probably should become a web show the second they stop using it to further angles (Kaz, Sonjay-Lethal, Abyss, etc.).

Also, your insulting of Jarrett came off as just plain ignorance. You may not like him (hell, I don't even like him), but to say he isn't and never was a "main-eventer" is just silly talk. He main-evented in WCW numerous times, and for years he was the main event in TNA. Also, I thought Sting's heel promo was fantastic. You just can't judge any promos by fan reaction in TNA because in Orlando the crowd is comprised of possibly to most toxic conglomeration of wrestling fans ever assembled. There is no rhyme or reason why the Impact Zone C.H.U.D.'s react the way they do, they are an enigma wrapped in an anomaly. Sting's promo was fantastic, and I'm really interested in seeing where they go with this "Old Guard trying to take back the spotlight from the New Guys" angle, as it has a lot of potential if handled right.

[Professor Chaos]

The high points for me were Hemme and Velvet. They looked hotter than ever. Think the only reason I watch this show is to see them.

[NOwave]

It amazes me how some people bitch and moan about the product. That just seems to be the thing to do on internet wrestling chat boards.

Here's the truth: Everybody associated with TNA is trying their best to put on a good show. They know not everyone will like it. But that doesn't mean they are not trying, contrary to what some people here seem to think. Kip James is trying his best , given the material he's presented with by the writers/bookers.

"Why does this man still have a job?" what a stupid remark-it's as if the person who said it thinks they know more about TNA wrestling than the people who do it fulltime and have been for years. Kip James still has a job (and has lasted for 15 years in wrestling) because he works hard at what he does, and his employers appreciate that effort and believe it makes money for them. My guess is the person who made that comment has never earned a dime in the wrestling business.

I don't like everything TNA (or WWE) does, but I like enough to continue to follow the show. If I didn't like it, I'd turn it off. But I'm not going to pretend that I know more about wrestling than Dutch Mantell, Dusty Rhodes, Jeff Jarrett, Vince McMahon or even Vince Russo(although much of his stuff makes me crazy)

[hollywood]

Aug 28, 2008 22:45:30 GMT -5 comahan said:

You'll disagree, which im fine with, and tell me why im wrong while slipping in a ton of insults at the company, but oh well.

Much as I'd like to, I guess my heart's not in it anymore. They suck less than they used to. Let's just leave it at that.

Aug 29, 2008 3:20:42 GMT -5 dpg said:

So I watched a full episode of Impact this week...

Well done champ, would you like a sticker?

I remember when my first grade teacher used to give me those. My favorite was the scratch-n-sniff one that smelled like grapes.

Aug 29, 2008 3:46:11 GMT -5 Voldemar H. "Brak" Guerta said:

Also, your insulting of Jarrett came off as just plain ignorance. You may not like him (hell, I don't even like him), but to say he isn't and never was a "main-eventer" is just silly talk. He main-evented in WCW numerous times, and for years he was the main event in TNA.

I will continue to insult him as much as I damn well please. I don't care how many times TNA trumps him as some sort of legend in the business, he's not. He main evented in WCW because his buddy Russo was in charge, and the company folded soon after. Hardly evidence that he had any right to be there.

Aug 29, 2008 8:09:25 GMT -5 NOwave said:

"Why does this man still have a job?" what a stupid remark-it's as if the person who said it thinks they know more about TNA wrestling than the people who do it fulltime and have been for years. Kip James still has a job (and has lasted for 15 years in wrestling) because he works hard at what he does, and his employers appreciate that effort and believe it makes money for them. My guess is the person who made that comment has never earned a dime in the wrestling business.

Actually, I have worked in the business. So, I guess...check and mate, right?

As for Kip, the only time he was ever worth a damn was alongside the Road Dogg in WWF. And really, the Road Dogg was the whole reason that team was over in the first place. The only thing Kip or Billy Gunn or whatever the hell he wants to call himself did of worth was say "We got two words for ya!"

So yea, once again, he sucks. Period.

[Welfare Willis]

Aug 28, 2008 22:16:57 GMT -5 hollywood said:

I decided I'd sit through an entire episode of Impact for once. Now matter how badly I wanted to grab that remote and switch to just about anything else--and trust me I wanted to several times (though not as many as I expected)--I wouldn't do it. So, after my first full viewing of a TNA Impact episode, here's my thoughts for the 3 or 4 who care...


WE ALL LOVE JARRETT
This was just painful. Jeff, I'm sorry as hell for what happened to your wife, I really am. But you are NOT a main eventer. You never were. And you never will be. And the fact that you had to create your own promotion to do that just proves me right. I could also argue that using your wife's death to put yourself over is a bit tacky, but I'll just leave that debate for another thread.

STING'S HEEL PROMO
He praises the heels, the fans cheer. He berates the faces, the fans cheer. Either Sting just can't be a heel, or the Impact Zone fans are idiots. Probably a little bit of both.

Oh, and just ending the show with Jeff's music was dumb.

THANK YOU.

I'm a hundred percent behind you on these points. Is it that hard to understand that at this point in Sting's career he is going to always be cheered? This isn't Hulk Hogan and NWO angle here Vince.

As for Jarrett I won't make an agruement that he was a main eventer or not, but TNA kinda handling Jarrett like they handle Sting just really isn't cutting it for me.

[NOwave]

No, I guess not check and mate.

I worked in the business also, and have worked with the Jarretts outside the wrestling business. They are not stupid. Jeff and his dad built TNA out of nowhere to be a profitable, multi-million dollar business that has nationwide network TV exposure on a weekly basis. They know ten times more about the business than you and I combined ever will.


What I really don't understand about some people is why they feel the urge to insult the business and the people in it. I love the business-I've followed and/or participated in pro wrestling for almost 40 years. I see no reason to randomly trash it. You don't like it, that's fine. Turn it off.

Better yet, critique it rationally. Saying "He sucks," or "I don't know why he has a job" is meaningless. What is it you don't like? Is the guy/girl weak on the mic?(Gail Kim) Is he a fat ass? (Sorry, Joe) Are his moves in the ring weak? (Nash) What positives does the guy have? Is he big and well built? (If nothing else, Kip James has always been ripped when I've seen him) Does he have a great catchphrase?(Gimme a hell yeah) What?

[ThatDamnPotato]

What I found disrespectful is the way you think hes using his wife to further his career.

In what godly shape or form makes you think that.

And as for the "He only got over in WCW because his buddy Russo was booking him back then"

Well the same argument goes for HHH.

Would he be pushed as much as he is if he wasnt Mcmahons son in-law?

[hollywood]

Aug 29, 2008 9:31:17 GMT -5 NOwave said:

No, I guess not check and mate.

I worked in the business also, and have worked with the Jarretts outside the wrestling business. They are not stupid. Jeff and his dad built TNA out of nowhere to be a profitable, multi-million dollar business that has nationwide network TV exposure on a weekly basis. They know ten times more about the business than you and I combined ever will.


What I really don't understand about some people is why they feel the urge to insult the business and the people in it. I love the business-I've followed and/or participated in pro wrestling for almost 40 years. I see no reason to randomly trash it. You don't like it, that's fine. Turn it off.

Better yet, critique it rationally. Saying "He sucks," or "I don't know why he has a job" is meaningless. What is it you don't like? Is the guy/girl weak on the mic?(Gail Kim) Is he a fat ass? (Sorry, Joe) Are his moves in the ring weak? (Nash) What positives does the guy have? Is he big and well built? (If nothing else, Kip James has always been ripped when I've seen him) Does he have a great catchphrase?(Gimme a hell yeah) What?

Okay, then. Let's start with Kip/Billy Gunn/Mr. Ass/"The One."

The fact he's had so many names is evidence of his shortcomings. The guy never manages to get over, yet companies just continue to give him second chances. He's never been much on the mic, and, at least on the mainstream level, he's an average worker at best. Hell, if an indy promotion advertised him for a show, I doubt they'd sell any more tickets than usual. The guy's just never amounted to much of anything except "that guy who tag teamed with Road Dogg in DX." And even that's really not saying much.

I don't think I mentioned Joe or Gail, and I have no beef with them anyway. So let's move on to Nash...

The man's charismatic enough on the mic. People respond to him, so he's a valuable talker. In the ring, he sucks ass. And it's not like I'm the first person to say it. Hell, I'm sure even Nash himself would admit wasn't in the league of Bret Hart when he was in WWF in his younger days.

The bottom line is, I don't see Nash as being all that valuable to TNA. Guys like Booker T, Christian, Kurt Angle, and even Sting actually add something to the shows. If Nash vanished next week, I'm pretty sure ratings, buy rates, tickets sales, merchandise sales wouldn't affected in the least. But even Nash offers a little, which is more than I can say for Kip James.

I forget who used it as a sig, but the most appropriate picture and caption I ever saw showed both Kip and BG James with the phrase "F---ING QUIT. SERIOUSLY."

EDIT: And, just for the record, I think the notion that people aren't allowed to have opinions about certain wrestlers or companies simply because they "haven't worked in the business" is bullcrap.

EDIT EDIT: And no one's answered my questions about Team 3-D, Booker T, and Sayeed?

[Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone]

I actually commend you for your opinions Hollywood. Even though you generally don't like TNA, at least you watch the shows and base your opinions on what you saw.

There are so many folks around here who rip on TNA and don't even watch it. Or they will ridicule TNA for stuff that they haven't done in a very long time, such as giving the championship to every WWE castoff who comes in. They haven't done that in ages, yet people who don't even watch TNA act like it happens all the time. The last WWE guy to win the title was Kurt Angle, and honestly I think he deserves it anyway since he is in fact a top guy in TNA. The last time I can remember them hotshotting the title to a former WWE guy who wasn't at the level was Rhino, and that had to have been like 2 years ago.

[hollywood]

Aug 29, 2008 9:53:57 GMT -5 ThatDamnPotato said:

What I found disrespectful is the way you think hes using his wife to further his career.

In what godly shape or form makes you think that.

The video was meant to put Jarrett over. That was it's entire purpose. And that's fine.

It also discussed his wife's death. In a video meant to put Jarrett over. Hence, why I suggested that. But only suggested it. I don't plan on arguing over it.

And as for the "He only got over in WCW because his buddy Russo was booking him back then"

Well the same argument goes for HHH.

Would he be pushed as much as he is if he wasnt Mcmahons son in-law?

I am the absolute LAST person to look to expecting any defense for HHH. However, just because the Mr. Levesque-McMahon does it, doesn't justify Jarrett doing it.

[comahan]

Aug 29, 2008 11:10:27 GMT -5 Lenny: Smooth like Keith Stone said:

I actually commend you for your opinions Hollywood. Even though you generally don't like TNA, at least you watch the shows and base your opinions on what you saw.

There are so many folks around here who rip on TNA and don't even watch it. Or they will ridicule TNA for stuff that they haven't done in a very long time, such as giving the championship to every WWE castoff who comes in. They haven't done that in ages, yet people who don't even watch TNA act like it happens all the time. The last WWE guy to win the title was Kurt Angle, and honestly I think he deserves it anyway since he is in fact a top guy in TNA. The last time I can remember them hotshotting the title to a former WWE guy who wasn't at the level was Rhino, and that had to have been like 2 years ago.

That was BFG 05, so 3 years ago

[GaTechGrad]

The only problem I had with the show was that the Impact Zone seemed dead through the night, even during the good matches. Hopefully, by TNA touring the country they are "testing the waters" for taking Impact around the country also.

[big nasty]

i watched about the first 25 minutes. kongs match was poor, and ODB's run in was terrible. ive thrown more realistic punches when messing around with my 7 year old nephew. and we've heard her "im badder than kong.." promo a hundred smurfing times.

the jarret handjob..i mean video package.. was laughable, as well. he is not a returning mega star, he is not on the level of hogan, austin, or even sting, as that promo would seem to want us to think.

and are AJ and angle STILL feuding? and over gold medals now? it almost seems like two people who have forgotten what they got mad at eachother about in the first place, yet now just cant let it go.

the x division tag match seemed poorly choreographed and sloppy at times, as well.

i try with TNA, maybe its just not for me.