Well, I happened to catch this last night, and I must say that I enjoyed the show.
Compared to the Saturday night Impact!, this one seemed to have much better time management. I can only think of one match (Ultimate X) that had an adbreak during the match. It was nice to see the SHOW being the emphasis, not the commercials.
As for the actual in-ring content, I cannot complain. The matches all were fast-paced and action-packed (although the timing at the end of the 3D/Canada match seemed a bit...off). I enjoyed seeing Samoa Joe just stop short of his opponents' offense.
I wish every Impact! could be this good, because I'm sure TNA could put on quality shows like this consistently. (Dang commercial breaks.)
The intelligent discussion has come to a close. Now get back to work.
I tuned out before the main event, but I was very impressed with what I saw. The Ultimate X match was great. I really think that Spike would get very good ratings if they just gave TNA Thursday 9-11 every week.
"He is the most overrated piece of crap in the league. He bitched and whined after he got his ass beaten in New England last year, so the NFL changed the rules. Then he got his ass beaten in New England again. Every year he's the top MVP candidate. Every year he's supposed to be the best. Every year he's going to carry the Colts to the Super Bowl. And every single year he goes to New England and gets his ass beaten. And his brother's a whiny little bitch." -A friend of mine, on Peyton Manning
I saw the Jeff hardy 6 man and the AJ styles 6 man. I must say that it was the best wrestling I had seen in forever! I was however not that impressed by samoa joe and thought they overdid the accidental shots to Christopher Daniels. Some real innovative moves. A lot better than when I saw it the first few months it was on.
I've not watched much TNA before, so I figured I'd try the special. I watched it, and thoroughly enjoyed the first 3/4 of the show. The X-Division six man and Ultimate X matches were both great, and having seen very limited stuff from the X-Division in the past, I was very impressed.
But then, Jeff Jarrett came out for his match, and I went back to my Episode III DVD. I just can't get into Jarrett, and I dunno why.
I've been listening to my gut since I was fourteen. And I've come to the conclusion that, frankly, my guts have shit for brains.
Originally posted by TL_HopperBut then, Jeff Jarrett came out for his match, and I went back to my Episode III DVD. I just can't get into Jarrett, and I dunno why.
Because he's not convincing as a main-event heel. At all. And...well, he's boring. Plain and simple.
Personally, the highlight of the night for me was whenever Samoa Joe got tagged in during that six-man. The stuff between him and Daniels was good, and the crowd was on fire for the exchanges between him and Styles. While I liked the three-way, those are two singles matches that I really really want to see. That being said, I can't remember the last time I was watching WWE programming and thought to myself "man, that'd be an awesome singles match."
Also, Samoa Joe is just the shit, plain and simple. So much fun to watch, and some of his shots look so stiff it makes me giggle. Oh, and was I the only one disappointed that after the six-man he didn't just completely destroy the other five guys in the ring? I was really itching to see that.
The rest of what I saw wasn't too bad. The opening match wasn't awful, but didn't exactly set my world on fire. I was also disappointed because I've always been a fan of Simon Diamond and Elix Skipper, and from what I caught of David Young in the past he had an entertaining style to his work...I felt like they were just used as glorified jobbers. It also doesn't help that they jobbed to a team including Jeff Hardy and Sabu, neither of whom I've found entertaining in years (although Sabu did have that fun little match with Rhyno at ECW One Night Stand).
I kept watching, but sort of lost interest after the first hour. I missed most of Ultimate X, and completely skipped the main event. There's some things that work really well for TNA, but there's other things that bug me as I'm sure they do the casual viewer. Stuff like the production values, too many workers who really can't be distinguished (either in terms of look or work) from other workers, Don West and Mike Tenay (who for some reason got on my nerves after awhile), guys like Abyss who I like but still looks like a poor man's Kane, the bewildering crowd popularity of Lance Hoyt, and others.
Speaking of the crowd, there's this really weird feeling I get from them. They're enthusiastic (which is good), but I can't help but feel like they're just TRYING to get certain people over (and the company with their ECW-ish "TNA" chants) rather than just being into it. For whatever reason, it doesn't come across to me as genuine. Don't ask me why...probably just me.
Those complaints aside, still a lot better than your average Smackdown.
Originally posted by gugsI really think that Spike would get very good ratings if they just gave TNA Thursday 9-11 every week.
I don't see why not. What else does Spike usually have in that time slot?
I totally agree on the crowd thing. I actually found it pretty distracting at times during the show. It's like the crowd is trying to force its way into being a part of the show, rather than just letting the show bring them in. Other than that, I thought it was a pretty good show. It showcased what TNA can do well (X-division, tag teams), and downplayed what they need to work on (promos). The only real issue for me is Jarrett is the champ again. I mean, I only remember to watch TNA programing like one in four times, but even I'm tired of seeing him on top.
Just to floow up on that last comment, I don't have tons of bucks for WWE and TNA ppv's every month. But I would pay cash money for a ppv headlined by Joe v Styles. Some of Joe's work in ROH was outstanding. I don't think he is World Champion material... yet. But man, I feel those chops in my living room.
Originally posted by Deputy MarshallI was also disappointed because I've always been a fan of Simon Diamond and Elix Skipper, and from what I caught of David Young in the past he had an entertaining style to his work...I felt like they were just used as glorified jobbers. It also doesn't help that they jobbed to a team including Jeff Hardy and Sabu, neither of whom I've found entertaining in years
The reason Diamonds in the Rough seemed like glorified jobbers is because they are jobbers, I don't think they've won a match yet, which I also am disappointed in. I"m not sure about Young yet, but Elix is great and Simon is very good if used correctly, usually as a tag team wrestler.
Just curious if you've been watching TNA, I didn't like Hardy that much in WWE and didn't like Sabu when I first started watching TNA but both of them (as well as Raven who a lot of people also think is done) have had a good run of ppv matches for most of this year. Usually hardcore matches between themselves, Abyss, and Rhino.
It seems everyone on this thread so far turned it off for the Jarrett match, maybe that will have an effect on the last quarter hour of the ratings, I don't know. Personally I watched it, and it was a good match too. Maybe not on par with the six man or Ultimate X, but just as good as something you'd see on Monday or Friday nights. I also don't have a problem with jarrett winning the title so oh well.
One of the things I like about TNA is the day after Bound for Glory they had already announced matches for the next ppv Genesis. Now Genesis is 9 days away and they already seem be setting up matches for the following ppv, Raven/Rhino, Jarrett/Monty and Daniels/Joe (although that last one could be a Genesis match since neither one has a match yet)
Lastly, next Saturday Samoa Joe takes on Austin Aries, they won't get enough time to really go all out but they're previous match in ROH is possibly my favorite match this year, so I'm really looking forward to that.
Originally posted by Deputy MarshallSpeaking of the crowd, there's this really weird feeling I get from them. They're enthusiastic (which is good), but I can't help but feel like they're just TRYING to get certain people over (and the company with their ECW-ish "TNA" chants) rather than just being into it. For whatever reason, it doesn't come across to me as genuine. Don't ask me why...probably just me.
I don't see it as the crowd trying to get certain people over because they cheer for everybody. At first I thought it was cool that in major X Division matches they'd cheer for both competitors because they respect each guy so much. But I'm starting to realize that they give everyone the same treatment, so nobody seems to be really over as a heel. (The only wrestler who gets nothing from the fans but boos is Jarrett, and I'm not sure that necessarily means he's the most over heel in the company.)
The only thing that really bugs me about the crowd, though, is when they decide to chant requests to the wrestlers. Sometimes the wrestlers go along with it, like Monty Brown's three pounces on the prime-time special. But the Impact Zone crowd overuses it, which means 90% of the time their requests go unanswered.
I got no problem with some people, like Monty, appeasing the fans, because he's a face (or atleast it seems he's headed that way), but certainly the heels should do the opposite of the what they are told. I've noticed the same thing with the fans too. Christopher Daniels, in my opinion, is the best heel on television, but no matter how hard he tries the crowd won't boo him. It's nice that the fans respect his amazing ring work and all but as fans it's possible to boo a heel and still respect their ability, the best example being Kurt Angle where the fans know he's awesome but also know he's a heel so they chant that he sucks.
SOK, they taped this show at the same time as last week's IMPACT! so the results were in the last TNA Spoilers thread, so I think that's why nobody posted the full results here, so here they are for anyone else who missed them:
- Jeff Hardy, Lance Hoyt, and Sabu defeated Diamonds in the Rough (Simon Diamond, Elix Skipper, and David Young - Monty Brown defeated Brian Gamble - AJ Styles, Austin Aries and Sonjay Dutt defeated Samoa Joe, Christopher Daniels and Alex Shelley - Team 3D defeated Team Canada (Bobby Roode and Eric Young) - Petey Williams defeated Matt Bentley and Chris Sabin in an Ultimate X Match - Jeff Jarrett defeated Rhino to win the NWA World Title
Things of note: - Alex Shelley was pinned in the six man tag, so Samoa Joe has still not been pinned - Samoa Joe and Daniels argued during their match likely leading to a future feud - Petey Williams win makes him the number one contender for the X Division title and AJ's opponent at Genesis
(edited by Quezzy on 4.11.05 1225) Lance's Response:
Originally posted by Jim SmithThe only thing that really bugs me about the crowd, though, is when they decide to chant requests to the wrestlers. Sometimes the wrestlers go along with it, like Monty Brown's three pounces on the prime-time special.
This reminds me of something I wanted to ask. Does anyone actually like Monty Brown's finisher? To me, it looks like he kind of runs at the guy and flails his arms around. People say the FU is bad... that move is head and shoulders beyond this one. And it kills me because Brown is an otherwise entertaining wrestler.
Originally posted by sentonBOMBThis reminds me of something I wanted to ask. Does anyone actually like Monty Brown's finisher? To me, it looks like he kind of runs at the guy and flails his arms around. People say the FU is bad... that move is head and shoulders beyond this one. And it kills me because Brown is an otherwise entertaining wrestler.
If he hits the move on everyone the way he nailed Hoyt during the Bound for Glory PPV, then yes, I think it's a fantastic move. I laughed out loud at the energy devoted to selling it. Credible? Maybe not. Entertaining? Man, that one was. Hoyt flailed like Monty was shot out of a cannon. It adds to the FUN of pro wrestling.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
sentonBOMB: This reminds me of something I wanted to ask. Does anyone actually like Monty Brown's finisher? To me, it looks like he kind of runs at the guy and flails his arms around. People say the FU is bad... that move is head and shoulders beyond this one. And it kills me because Brown is an otherwise entertaining wrestler.
Matt Tracker: If he hits the move on everyone the way he nailed Hoyt during the Bound for Glory PPV, then yes, I think it's a fantastic move. I laughed out loud at the energy devoted to selling it. Credible? Maybe not. Entertaining? Man, that one was. Hoyt flailed like Monty was shot out of a cannon. It adds to the FUN of pro wrestling.
In principle, and based on his "real life" persona, the move makes perfect sense - He's a former football player and the idea is that he's hitting a WR running across the middle full force and then crowing about it.
The problem with the move (and with my favorite move - The Petey Williams Canadian Destroyer)...most people wrestling in the promotion have two versions of selling - NO and OVER*. Just take the move and lay there dead. It's not the late night Western
* kinda like the way Rock-E used to sell Austin's stunner
nitpicking the Brown match - he hit the jobber 3 times with the Pounce, Period. I'm all for punishment, but PIN the guy first and then show off...it kinda made it look like it took 3 times to finish the chump
FLEA
Demonstrations are a drag. Besides, we're much too high
Originally posted by QuezzyJeff Jarrett defeated Rhino to win the NWA World Title
I'm glad I missed it, especially with that final outcome. Is poor Jeffy gonna amount to less of a man if he lets someone else hold the title for more than a month? Geez, even Triple H will let go of the title for a good number of months before boring us with another title reign!!!
Originally posted by QuezzyChristopher Daniels, in my opinion, is the best heel on television, but no matter how hard he tries the crowd won't boo him.
Kinda contradictory, no?
It's like saying John Cena is the best face on TV only he can't get anyone over the age of 12 to cheer for him.
WCW Archive WCW Magazine Archive: Last Updated 18th August - Ongoing WCW Magazine archive. Includes cover scans, contents, release dates and more. WCW Promotional Ads Archive: Last Updated 18th August - Now featuring over 100 promotional ads, including everything from PPV's to the WCW Hotline. WCW VHS Archive: Last Updated 22nd July - Currently serving mainly as an image gallery for almost all WCW VHS releases, but work has begun on adding full listing and details for all the releases.
Originally posted by sentonBOMBThis reminds me of something I wanted to ask. Does anyone actually like Monty Brown's finisher?
If it were anyone else, I'd think it sucks, but it works for Brown. The typical wrestler has a finisher that's a devastating move, but a guy like Monty is supposed to be a devastating wrestler so his finisher can be a typical move. (See also: Hogan's big boot.) If he were 215 pounds it'd be the silliest finisher ever, but since he's built like a Mack truck the fans buy that he can lay a guy out just by running into him. Plus it fits with his much-hyped football background--if anybody can take a guy down with a shoulderblock, it oughta be (as Tenay says) "a veteran of two Super Bowls~!!"
On top of that, he's given it a cool name, one that fits his "king of the jungle" schtick and that he uses to great effect in his promos. So at this point "The POOOOOOUUUUUNCE-uh! Period!" could be a wristlock and fans would mark out for it.
Originally posted by QuezzyThe reason Diamonds in the Rough seemed like glorified jobbers is because they are jobbers, I don't think they've won a match yet, which I also am disappointed in.
They actually did win a match. They won a 6 man tag at Bound For Glory, but it was against basically a jobber team in Siaki, Apolo, and Sharkboy. Young and Diamond also beat AMW not long ago, but it was kinda screwy.
I really dig the Diamonds so I hope they can elevate them sometime in the future. I think Skipper should've held the X division title already and Young/Diamond would make a great heel tag team.
Originally posted by FLEA nitpicking the Brown match - he hit the jobber 3 times with the Pounce, Period. I'm all for punishment, but PIN the guy first and then show off...it kinda made it look like it took 3 times to finish the chump
I thought the way Gamble sold the Pounce, getting progressively "more dead" each time, it didn't hurt Monty.
Originally posted by Oliver I'm glad I missed it, especially with that final outcome. Is poor Jeffy gonna amount to less of a man if he lets someone else hold the title for more than a month? Geez, even Triple H will let go of the title for a good number of months before boring us with another title reign!!!
If I've read correctly, Spike wanted Jarrett for champ at least for a while. Assuming that is true, I think this is more of an issue with how TNA handled not having Nash at Bound for Glory. To make up for him not being there, they wanted to give the fans something extra and Rhino got the nod. Then to reset back to what their new TV partner wanted, the title reverted.
What gets me is that if they hadn't given Rhino the belt, rather just get him to the match, be so worn out that Jarrett is able to best him, and then just put him in a title chase program to replace Nash (assuming he was in the plans for longer than just the one PPV), I don't think there would have been near the backlash against Jarrett. I'm not a huge Jarrett fan, but I think he's pretty good in his role and works equally well with just about anybody he's in there with. Is he overexposed? I'd agree to some extent, but at risk of making an unfair comparison, Flair dominated the NWA title for years as well. JJ's not as entertaining as Flair, but given their roster, he's one guy that can fill that role.
TNA either has or is building several contenders for the belt in Styles, Rhino & Monty and once Spike and TNA are comfortable with their relationship, I think JJ's going to move into the background a bit.
Also, did anybody catch the ad for Genesis that aired just before Ultimate X where they mentioned that Jarrett would be in the main event 6-man and that he was the world champion? Doh! :-)
I thought it was OK. The Heros of World Class was much better. I still can't get over what Jimmy Garvin looks like. A skinhead with a Ned Flanders mustache.