I was delighted to hear that TNA has released Matt Bentley, Damaja, Basham, Brother Runt, and Jerry Lynn, while signing Karen Angle to a contract. That seems fair!
Tonight: the Angle awards -- there's a red carpet and everything.
Pacman Jones and Ron Killings in the ring -- Pacman suggests Killings attacked him from behind, but Killings says he doesn't do that -- he wants people to see him coming. Also, he says that he and Pacman should form a tag team -- Killings "did some research" on Pacman, and decided that they are "birds of a feather." (Crowd DOES NOT like that -- they like Killings and HATE Pacman.) Eric Young comes out and wants a Pacman autograph, but Killings sucker punches him -- from behind. HMMM.
Christopher Daniels vs. Jay Lethal: This is for an X Div. title shot -- Daniels was the number one contender, but Cornette decides that since Lethal pinned Daniels at Hard Justice, that they have to fight it out. Lethal wins with the Lethal Combination.
Pacman and Killings want a shot at the tag belts -- Killings points out that it will driveup ratings. Cornette wisely points out that Pacman is forbidden to touch anyone. Killings says "we can work around that."
Angle hands out the awards -- to Dr. Kevin Nash, to Trademarc (who played Karen's "new boyfriend," and who is actually John Cena's cousin -- his rap talents were featured on Cena's album), and to Karen. Cornette comes out and makes three matches -- Angle has to defend all three belts at the next PPV: The X belt against Lethal, the World title against Abyss, and (with a partner) the tag belts against Pacman and Killings.
Abyss vs. Christian Cage: This is a First Blood match, and ALSO a #1 contender match -- Abyss wanted Cage in a First Blood match SO BAD, he put his title shot on the line. Abyss wins after a chair shot on Cage following a chair shot by Samoa Joe (this misplaced anger will, I'm guessing, lead to Joe vs. Cage at the next PPV). Well -- if you've been waiting for the BIG BLOWOFF SINGLES MATCH between Cage and Abyss for the last few months -- um, that was it.
The Angles are immediately out to attack Abyss. Cornette appears on the monitor and tells Kurt that he's taking on the Steiner Brothers next week -- and if they win, they get five minutes in the ring with Karen. Ummm -- since Cornette has made it very clear that there will not be man-on-woman violence on Impact, I assume that he intends for the Steiners to do some sexing up.
And there was that. Not a horrible show (both A-Mart and Dustin Rhodes were absent, after all) but this company is doing what it can to kill my interest.
--K
(edited by Karlos the Jackal on 17.8.07 0401) Last 5 movies seen: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix ***1/2 - The Method ***1/2 - The Lookout ***1/2 - Bunny Lake is Missing ***1/2 - The Pirate (1948) ***
Wait, so Killings suddenly LIKES Pacman now, for no real apparent reason? So when (because there is no IF here) Killings turns on Pacman, are they really going to try and sell it as a SHOCKING SWERVE? I seriously don't understand what the rationale is here.
And furthermore, I realize that Eric Young isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is he really trying to tell viewers that Pacman is some kind of heroic athlete deserving of any kind of fan worship? This is the guy who punched a stripper in public and rolls with an entourage that stabbed a bouncer in his spinal cord and left him paralyzed. Why would ANYONE think this is someone to look up to? Again, I don't understand the rationale here.
Man, they need to rebuild Joe in the worst possible way. Anything short of a Christian sacrifice would not be enough to save Joe at this point. Cage can always recover, but Joe's practically on life support after that abysmal excuse of a title program last month.
And what is up with the main event stipulation next week? Why would the Steiners care if they get Karen Angle for five minutes? And besides that, are the fans supposed to root for the FACES to get five minutes to have their way with a female non-wrestler?
Originally posted by It's FalseWait, so Killings suddenly LIKES Pacman now, for no real apparent reason? So when (because there is no IF here) Killings turns on Pacman, are they really going to try and sell it as a SHOCKING SWERVE? I seriously don't understand what the rationale is here.
And furthermore, I realize that Eric Young isn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but is he really trying to tell viewers that Pacman is some kind of heroic athlete deserving of any kind of fan worship? This is the guy who punched a stripper in public and rolls with an entourage that stabbed a bouncer in his spinal cord and left him paralyzed. Why would ANYONE think this is someone to look up to? Again, I don't understand the rationale here.
Man, they need to rebuild Joe in the worst possible way. Anything short of a Christian sacrifice would not be enough to save Joe at this point. Cage can always recover, but Joe's practically on life support after that abysmal excuse of a title program last month.
And what is up with the main event stipulation next week? Why would the Steiners care if they get Karen Angle for five minutes? And besides that, are the fans supposed to root for the FACES to get five minutes to have their way with a female non-wrestler?
In short, I just don't get it.
(edited by It's False on 17.8.07 0412)
If Christian has been unwilling to get pinned or submit in about a year and a half, I doubt he would be willing to sacrifice himself to Joe. Or even just lose. I smell a three way.
I am with you on next week's main event, the only interaction the Steiners have had recently with Angle was helping him win the tag titles from Team 3D. Why would they even give a shit about 5 minutes with Karen? Unless it was 5 minutes of Big Bad Booty Daddy time. Hopefully they will clarify next week, but I am sure the guy holding every belt in the company isn't going to lose anyway.
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."
Originally posted by kentishIf Christian has been unwilling to get pinned or submit in about a year and a half, I doubt he would be willing to sacrifice himself to Joe.
Well, it's not like he's refusing jobs (that's how he's still being booked), but yeah, I don't see Joe pinning his shoulders to the mat. Either gimmick match, or Joe jobs.
I can't even imagine the balls needed to book that segment with Cornette where all those PPV #1 contenderships were thrown out in a row.
The really sad thing about the PPV is that they learned nothing from the 3D/Angle/Joe PPV, where it's foolish to put on a PPV when EVERYONE knows who's going to win the big matches (and often how). Observe:
-Lethal clearly has to win to get the X title back in the division. (This is the only question mark on how; cheap roll-up? interference from one of Angle's opponents or Joe?)
-Everyone can tell that Pacman is going to get turned on, so Angle has to keep that belt. (Only problem with this is there's no way Pacman will be face in peril, so Truth can't pull a Horsemen turn.)
-Hmmmm... Abyss still hasn't been confronted by Mitchell's son yet. I wonder when he'll appear?
Of course, if I'm wrong on any of these, I can just blame a Russo swerve.
On a more positive note, I loved how after Abyss drilled Christian with the chair, he stood over Christian waiting and hoping for blood, and then celebrated when he saw it. Too many first bloods have the ruling be almost anti-climactic (they're still wrestling around when the ref spies it).
Boy, the TNA product has really gone down, down, down ...
The only, and I mean only bright spot of that show was when pissed-off Samoa Joe interupted Christian Cage's interview & was out for blood (literally, I guess).
So how much longer is Joe locked into a TNA contract? Anyone know?
Supposedly Joe's contract is up at the end of the year, but that's not certain.
The one thing I will say is that if they can avoid pulling the trigger on when Matt Morgan turns on Cornette, and instead have him work in that role for a while, he could end up in a position for a big match. I could see Angle antagonizing Cornette for the next few months until finally he puts Morgan in the ring with him. Of course instead next week Morgan will probably attack Cornette and we'll find out it was the evil psychological work of Dr. Nash.
Boy, they have truly pissed away Samoa Joe. Everyone remember when seeing Joe and Angle in the ring together was like seeing Tyson vs. Ali in their prime, or Rock vs. Austin? Remember how I said they should build up to Angle/Joe instead of hotshotting it?
I hate to say I told you so, but...
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Geez, they really didn't give the Damaja or Doug Basham much of a chance, now did they?
Sorry to see Brother Runt go, though. What are the odds of seeing Matt Bentley in WWE sometime soon?
I've seen 14 movies so far this year: Because I Said So - (2*); Borat - (5*); Children Of Men - (4*); Die Hard 4 - (5*); Evan Almighty - (3.5*); Fantastic Four 2 - (4.5*); Hairspray - (5*); Harry Potter 5 - (4*); Knocked Up - (4*); The Last Mimsy - (4*); Mr. Brooks - (4*); Shrek The Third - (3*); Spiderman 3 - (3.5*); Transformers - (2*)
Here's TNA booking for you: Triple X reunites and loses twice to the Macho Man running gag. Jay Lethal (a solid name, by the way) doesn't need this gimmick, and we've already seen that they will push him to the moon. Remember his early title shot against Jarrett? Meanwhile Triple X is beaten by TWO guys when the smart thing to do is turn Dutt against Lethal for a series of matches that can go for months because, unlike Storm/Harris, these guys are good as singles.
I like the idea of Angle utterly stealing the mid-80s Flair gimmick, but Cornette shouldn't make his "shut up and wrestle" speech in a company he allegedly runs. Angle wrestling three times in a PPV? That would suggest he's much healthier now and hearkens back to his classic KOTR performances. But it's also Jarrett-level overkill. TNA has a giant roster, and we won't see them unless this show goes four hours.
The Pacman story is sinking fast because TNA is writing into a corner. Killings/Jones is hardly Taylor/Bigelow, and it's being lapped by Hogan/Rodman vs. Malone/Leno. Almost every moment he spoke looked edited. The worst part is that Jones is TINY. And THIS is the angle for which they dust off Killings?
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Originally posted by OliverGeez, they really didn't give the Damaja or Doug Basham much of a chance, now did they?
Sorry to see Brother Runt go, though. What are the odds of seeing Matt Bentley in WWE sometime soon?
He's a great bump machine, but I don't know if they have any interest in him apart from the Spike Dudley character.
I should have been a bit clearer on that one: I was wondering what the odds are of Matt Bentley joining WWE are; Brother Runt is a completely different person.
I've seen 14 movies so far this year: Because I Said So - (2*); Borat - (5*); Children Of Men - (4*); Die Hard 4 - (5*); Evan Almighty - (3.5*); Fantastic Four 2 - (4.5*); Hairspray - (5*); Harry Potter 5 - (4*); Knocked Up - (4*); The Last Mimsy - (4*); Mr. Brooks - (4*); Shrek The Third - (3*); Spiderman 3 - (3.5*); Transformers - (2*)
Originally posted by OliverGeez, they really didn't give the Damaja or Doug Basham much of a chance, now did they?
Sorry to see Brother Runt go, though. What are the odds of seeing Matt Bentley in WWE sometime soon?
He's a great bump machine, but I don't know if they have any interest in him apart from the Spike Dudley character.
I should have been a bit clearer on that one: I was wondering what the odds are of Matt Bentley joining WWE are; Brother Runt is a completely different person.
Ah, I misread it. I knew Brother Runt's real name was Matt, which was part of the problem.
Originally posted by OliverGeez, they really didn't give the Damaja or Doug Basham much of a chance, now did they?
They seem to have thought that people would recognize them right off, and care. They were wrong.
The only way it could have worked is to have Damaja come in and cut a promo about how WWE made him pretend to be Doug's brother, and turn it into a feud. At least that way they could have had some connection to the WWE days.
Victoria came in as a wrestler. I witnessed her training, myself. She started out as outside the ring eye-candy, and following her first appearance as "Victoria" (During the RTC "Save the Hoes" bit)