Post by Dragonfly on Jan 15, 2013 19:12:36 GMT -5
Note: This is as much about the Impact Zone itself as it is about the show. It's also a bit rambling. So... you've been warned.
My wife and I arrived at the Universal City Walk at about 5:30 Sunday night. According to the incredibly outdated message on their hotline, we had to wait by the Blue Man Group Theater until a security guard came by to get us. There were two lines - one for the people who bought the travel packages and/or paid to get into the park, and the people who just wanted to see the show. We were in the latter line. As we looked around, we noticed that we two of the more conservatively dressed people there. This is absolutely hilarious considering that I was in a skirt and knee-high socks and my wife was wearing a "Delorean hits the TARDIS" shirt she bought off of Woot. We surrounded by a few Jeff Hardys, a Sting, a Sting that actually looked like musician King Diamond, an Alex Rodriguez, and a guy that could best be described as "angry Billy Gunn." The security guard appeared about 6:15 to escort us to Soundstage 21. The "we paid money" line got to go first. We were bringing up the rear.
The guard led all of us to the "waiting area" outside of the studio. The wall is adorned with plaques commemorating everything that was filmed in that complex. Shows and commercials worth mentioning - Family Double Dare, Eureka's Castle, Welcome Freshmen, the National Lottery of Ireland - surrounds the main entrance. The farther away from the entrance, the less prestigious the production. We were standing in the "so bad, it's laughable section" - Michael Winslow Live!, Magic 4 Morons, and Ernest Borgnine's one-man film about J. Edger Hoover. Oh... and some program called WCW Worldwide. We waited there for about thirty minutes before the line started to move. Despite the rumors to the contrary, all of us "standbys" got into the show.
The first thing we noticed about the Impact Zone was the size. That place is SMALL. It is one of the smallest venues we have ever been in, which is amazing when one considers that we have seen shows held in a library and at a log cabin. We were in the bleachers towards the back of the Impact Zone, near where the old heel entrance used to be. The physical entrance to the building was to our right, followed by a full set of bleachers. When you see live crowd shots during Impact, you are seeing the people sitting in those bleachers. To the left of our bleacher cluster was the Aces & 8s "entrance," the spanish broadcast team, and most of the camera equipment. There were a few fans in the front, but they were few and far between.
The show started at 7:53 with Jeremy Borash welcoming the live crowd to the Impact Zone. He ran down a few rules (namely "don't film anything"), told everyone to be as loud as possible and warned us that they "like to blow stuff up." He introduced So Cal Val, Christie Hemme, and all five announcers before disappearing backstage. The loudest pyro that I've heard in person went off shortly thereafter.
Match #1: Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan vs. Hernandez and Chavo - The wife and I had no idea that Morgan was hurt. We thought the constant tags were a heel tactic. Hernandez's screw up was apparent to the live crowd, who immediately started chanting "botch."
Match #2: Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson - People always seem to ask why Anderson gets a reaction from the Impact Zone even though he's as stale as week old bread. The answer is simple: His entrance is fantastic live. I can't really stand the guy anymore, and even I was cheering for him. A good portion of the crowd kept glancing at the Aces & 8s entrance, waiting for one of them to come out.
Match #3: Christian York vs. Kenny King - I last saw Christian York at a charity show in 2008 - York and Joey Matthews versus Babyface Fire (Shiima Xion/Zema Ion and Jason Gory). He was as boring as sin then. He was great now. He also sold Kenny King's attack well.
Match #4: Christian York vs. RVD - Good match. The crowd was into it.
Match #5: Devon vs. Joseph Park - The live crowd loved Joseph Park... and Devon, for some reason. About halfway through the match, the "we want Abyss" chants started.
Match #6: Gail Kim vs. Everyone - Kind of "there." I will say this: Miss Techmacher is a better wrestler than I initially gave her credit for. She isn't Beth Phoenix or anything, but she isn't awful. Velvet Sky, on the other hand... she was awful. And exactly what was she wearing? She looked like a cyberpunk hooker.
Match #7: James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels - The live crowd didn't seem too into this match, which is a shame. Oh... And James storm should really start coming out to the second verse of his theme. It's a thousand times less awful.
The Bully Ray/Brooke Thing - Filler. The crowd seemed to react to Bully's use of his "old" catchphrases though.
Match #8: Sting vs. Doc - I honestly don't remember much about this match, which really says a lot. Still, it's nice that I can finally say that I saw Sting wrestle live.
Main Event - Jeff Hardy is a freaking lunatic. All of those "Hardy" spots look more insane live than they do on TV. I finally get why the mutants at the Impact Zone love him so much. The other highlight of the match was Aries and Roode's failed attempts to work together, culminating in a 450 splash attempt. ("You! Do this thing! [450 splash hand motion]) I hope the camera caught those moments. It made an already great match even better.
Random Thoughts:
- The MVP of show was the camera crew. Seriously. I don't know how they do it, but they are able to make that place not look like a badly lit high school gym.
- Jeremy Borash is shorter in person - really short.
- If you decide to go to the Impact Zone, make sure you go for the steel chairs in the front. The bleachers are awful to sit on.
- I know I mentioned it before, but it bares repeating: The Impact Zone loves Devon. I have no idea why.
My wife and I arrived at the Universal City Walk at about 5:30 Sunday night. According to the incredibly outdated message on their hotline, we had to wait by the Blue Man Group Theater until a security guard came by to get us. There were two lines - one for the people who bought the travel packages and/or paid to get into the park, and the people who just wanted to see the show. We were in the latter line. As we looked around, we noticed that we two of the more conservatively dressed people there. This is absolutely hilarious considering that I was in a skirt and knee-high socks and my wife was wearing a "Delorean hits the TARDIS" shirt she bought off of Woot. We surrounded by a few Jeff Hardys, a Sting, a Sting that actually looked like musician King Diamond, an Alex Rodriguez, and a guy that could best be described as "angry Billy Gunn." The security guard appeared about 6:15 to escort us to Soundstage 21. The "we paid money" line got to go first. We were bringing up the rear.
The guard led all of us to the "waiting area" outside of the studio. The wall is adorned with plaques commemorating everything that was filmed in that complex. Shows and commercials worth mentioning - Family Double Dare, Eureka's Castle, Welcome Freshmen, the National Lottery of Ireland - surrounds the main entrance. The farther away from the entrance, the less prestigious the production. We were standing in the "so bad, it's laughable section" - Michael Winslow Live!, Magic 4 Morons, and Ernest Borgnine's one-man film about J. Edger Hoover. Oh... and some program called WCW Worldwide. We waited there for about thirty minutes before the line started to move. Despite the rumors to the contrary, all of us "standbys" got into the show.
The first thing we noticed about the Impact Zone was the size. That place is SMALL. It is one of the smallest venues we have ever been in, which is amazing when one considers that we have seen shows held in a library and at a log cabin. We were in the bleachers towards the back of the Impact Zone, near where the old heel entrance used to be. The physical entrance to the building was to our right, followed by a full set of bleachers. When you see live crowd shots during Impact, you are seeing the people sitting in those bleachers. To the left of our bleacher cluster was the Aces & 8s "entrance," the spanish broadcast team, and most of the camera equipment. There were a few fans in the front, but they were few and far between.
The show started at 7:53 with Jeremy Borash welcoming the live crowd to the Impact Zone. He ran down a few rules (namely "don't film anything"), told everyone to be as loud as possible and warned us that they "like to blow stuff up." He introduced So Cal Val, Christie Hemme, and all five announcers before disappearing backstage. The loudest pyro that I've heard in person went off shortly thereafter.
Match #1: Matt Morgan and Joey Ryan vs. Hernandez and Chavo - The wife and I had no idea that Morgan was hurt. We thought the constant tags were a heel tactic. Hernandez's screw up was apparent to the live crowd, who immediately started chanting "botch."
Match #2: Samoa Joe vs. Mr. Anderson - People always seem to ask why Anderson gets a reaction from the Impact Zone even though he's as stale as week old bread. The answer is simple: His entrance is fantastic live. I can't really stand the guy anymore, and even I was cheering for him. A good portion of the crowd kept glancing at the Aces & 8s entrance, waiting for one of them to come out.
Match #3: Christian York vs. Kenny King - I last saw Christian York at a charity show in 2008 - York and Joey Matthews versus Babyface Fire (Shiima Xion/Zema Ion and Jason Gory). He was as boring as sin then. He was great now. He also sold Kenny King's attack well.
Match #4: Christian York vs. RVD - Good match. The crowd was into it.
Match #5: Devon vs. Joseph Park - The live crowd loved Joseph Park... and Devon, for some reason. About halfway through the match, the "we want Abyss" chants started.
Match #6: Gail Kim vs. Everyone - Kind of "there." I will say this: Miss Techmacher is a better wrestler than I initially gave her credit for. She isn't Beth Phoenix or anything, but she isn't awful. Velvet Sky, on the other hand... she was awful. And exactly what was she wearing? She looked like a cyberpunk hooker.
Match #7: James Storm vs. Christopher Daniels - The live crowd didn't seem too into this match, which is a shame. Oh... And James storm should really start coming out to the second verse of his theme. It's a thousand times less awful.
The Bully Ray/Brooke Thing - Filler. The crowd seemed to react to Bully's use of his "old" catchphrases though.
Match #8: Sting vs. Doc - I honestly don't remember much about this match, which really says a lot. Still, it's nice that I can finally say that I saw Sting wrestle live.
Main Event - Jeff Hardy is a freaking lunatic. All of those "Hardy" spots look more insane live than they do on TV. I finally get why the mutants at the Impact Zone love him so much. The other highlight of the match was Aries and Roode's failed attempts to work together, culminating in a 450 splash attempt. ("You! Do this thing! [450 splash hand motion]) I hope the camera caught those moments. It made an already great match even better.
Random Thoughts:
- The MVP of show was the camera crew. Seriously. I don't know how they do it, but they are able to make that place not look like a badly lit high school gym.
- Jeremy Borash is shorter in person - really short.
- If you decide to go to the Impact Zone, make sure you go for the steel chairs in the front. The bleachers are awful to sit on.
- I know I mentioned it before, but it bares repeating: The Impact Zone loves Devon. I have no idea why.
