You know, overall I enjoyed it, although there were several things that were definite letdowns.
The Naturals vs. The Diamonds in the Rough: Adequate for what it was...but, you know, if a team is supposed to undergo a transition -- and we're supposed to notice -- make it noticeable. Sticking a "Franchise" logo on the front of the Nats' trunks and giving their hair a sliiiiight trim doesn't do it for me. (Especially when the announcers point out the totally inconsequential haircuts as being indicative of their new attitude.) New Naturals seem to be exactly the same as the old Naturals and I don't care anymore.
Rhino vs. Monty Brown: Total nothing -- no contest after double countout. Ref got creamed by the Pounce and, as soon as he got up, by the Gore. This amused me tremendously. Match would have worked better, for me, if they had cut to Brown & Rhino, still fighting, a time or two later in the PPV. Then it would have at least given the impression of an "epic brawl" rather than two guys fighting 'til they get behind the curtain and then taking the rest of the night off.
LAX vs. Sonjay Dutt & Ron Killings: Wow, I really enjoyed this match -- fast-paced and exciting. First time I've seen Homicide at any length and he looked really good. Hernandez KILLED Dutt by taking him up over his shoulders, Razor's Edge style, and HURLING Dutt almost all the way across the ring. LAX is suddenly a force to be reckoned with after being slapped around by Bullet Bob.
Team Canada Farewell promo: I guess I'm happy that Team Canada got an on-camera send-off, but man, this went on for what felt like an hour. And for what? To cement Eric Young's position as a wacky, comedy-type fan favorite? Fine, but he already was -- why did we need to spend so much time talking about it during a PPV? And for that matter, what can Young DO with that status? Where does he go as a singles guy?
Senshi vs. Frankie Kazarian: Kazarian's back! And he cut his hair! Pretty good match that the audience just could not get into -- I think they were all worn out after screaming their lungs out for Eric Young. Kazarian seemed up to speed, although my brother thought he got noticeably more lethargic as the match went on. Will he stay as a singles guy in the X Division?
Raven vs. Larry Zbyszko: Too long even at 5 minutes or whatever it got. Raven looks like shit, and, again, I can't imagine where he goes from here. Only good part: After the match, Larry Zbyszko kicks "Slick" Johnson in the groin.
Kevin Nash & Alex Shelley vs. Chris Sabin & Jay Lethal: Again, I enjoyed this. Lots of reversals and stuff. Sabin & Lethal worked well together, and Nash was willing to get kicked around pretty good. Shelley got pinned -- some people will complain that it should've been Nash, but they're wrong. It's obvious that we're going to have a Nash/Shelley/Devine vs. Sabin/Lethal/Jerry Lynn match at Hard Justice, so the feud's not over yet! Granted, if they're still headed towards Sabin-beats-Nash, they're really meandering, but nevertheless.
Team 3D vs. The James Gang & Abyss: Super, super chaotic -- which meant it was pretty good for a hardcore match with the same old garbage can lids we've seen a million times. Abyss threw Runt (Spike) from the ring into the crowd, who bodysurfed him around for a while before dumping him over the rail and right onto his head. Uncool! Ending was marred by a non-breaking table. Still, better than I had anticipated.
AJ Styles, Christopher Daniels, & Sirelda vs. America's Most Wanted & Gail Kim: Disappointing. Sirelda is really, really not good -- they need to get her away from S&D 'cause she's dragging them down. I hope they don't break up AMW -- I don't see what they'd do as singles. Maybe now they can pick up their feud with 3D without the titles being in the mix.
Christian Cage vs. Sting vs. Samoa Joe vs. Scott Steiner: Another disappointment. Sting got taken out early when Jeff Jarrett squirted gasoline in his eyes -- Sting retreated into the back. Then he ran in at the very end, and won. I don't know if Sting just didn't feel like working an entire 15 minute match or what, but it seems like a pretty weak way to win. Also, everyone knew that the match wouldn't end until Sting came back, so it felt like killing time for the entire middle section.
So: Victory Road started slow, picked up quite a bit in the middle, and ended on a low note. Very little definite angle development. No blowaway matches, but several quite good ones. No run-ins, except for Jarrett in the main event, which was inevitable and very much in-character and at least they got it out of the way early. Almost all clean finishes, which is quite nice.
That's all I got.
--K
(edited by Karlos the Jackal on 17.7.06 0257) Last 5 movies seen: Tsotsi - Rivers and Tides: Andy Goldsworthy Working With Time - Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you... TNA's main event is proceeding precisely on the path I thought it would once the King of the Mountain match was announced a couple of months back. The big question now is who to job to Joe in Detroit in October, and for me, the answer's definitely Jarrett. While a nostalgia run with the title for Sting would be nice, that's exactly what it would be - a nostaglia run. And because of that, it would detract tremendously from the markout moment of Joe winning the title. Besides, you and I and the whole world wants to see the little bitch Jarrett killed dead. If that means we have to go through a plodding Jarrett-style title match with Sting next month complete with run-in screwjob ending, then so be it.
I'm curious to see what they'll do with the oddly-named chick now that AMW's pursuit of the tag titles is clearly over. She's done her job as the neutralizer; what does TNA have in store for her next? I keep looking at the James Gang and the rumors of Waltman coming back - would TNA, with the D-X reunion in full swing in WWE, dare to do a D-X reunion of their own and position the oddly-named chick as the new Chyna?
No complaints about this show - even though I got a couple of matches wrong, it was booked properly for the most part, the effort was there in all of the matches, and it's easy to see where things are headed over the next couple of months. I continue to pray that Spike TV decides to give IMPACT! a second hour, because they could really use it in terms of putting better matches on TV and showcasing more of the lower members of the rosters to build up to Bound for Glory. I've heard some people bash Joe as nothing special because all they've seen of him is his IMPACT! squashes, and TNA desperately needs to do something to correct that impression.
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.
Originally posted by Texas KellyThe big question now is who to job to Joe in Detroit in October, and for me, the answer's definitely Jarrett.
I see Sting winning his "cancer" battle against JJ and facing a tweener Joe for the belt. That would be the smart route. JJ defeating Sting reduces the latter's potential final title angle as a lost cause, and I can't believe he'd come back to TNA and work this kind of program only to lose this extended angle.
Originally posted by Texas KellyI keep looking at the James Gang and the rumors of Waltman coming back - would TNA, with the D-X reunion in full swing in WWE, dare to do a D-X reunion of their own and position the oddly-named chick as the new Chyna?
Sirelda turns on AJ/Daniels, joins James Gang, helps them win belts. Bang, he's the new Chyna.
"To be the man, you gotta beat demands." -- The Lovely Mrs. Tracker
Ladies and gentlemen, the following public service message is brought to you by your friends from D-Generation X, who would like to remind each and every one of you that if you're not down with that, we've got two words for you...
Originally posted by Matt TrackerI see Sting winning his "cancer" battle against JJ and facing a tweener Joe for the belt. That would be the smart route. JJ defeating Sting reduces the latter's potential final title angle as a lost cause, and I can't believe he'd come back to TNA and work this kind of program only to lose this extended angle.
That'd work if it weren't for Christian. If you go with Sting/Joe, that leaves Christian with absolutely nothing to do, as they've already been through Christian v. Jarrett and a number of other guys. They're building to a Christian heel turn, and it only really works against one guy, the guy that has been positioned as a hero figure to him, and that's Sting. With Joe/Jarrett, you not only have Christian/Sting to go up against each other, you have the perfect storyline for it as well, with Christian being the one to cost Sting the title next month (which will lessen the "lost cause" factor of Sting losing to Jarrett a lot, because that will show it was never about Jarrett & Sting - it was always about Christian & Sting).
smark/net attack Advisory System Status is: Elevated (Holds; June 18, 2006) While the switch from Cena to RVD should alleviate some complaints, the inevitability of the belt's return to Cena (note where Summerslam is this year) and the poor initial showing by the new ECW are enough to keep the indicator where it is for now. The pieces are in place, though, especially on RAW, for improvements to be made to the IWC's psyche in the near future.