This episode was taped several weeks ago. There was no acknowledgment of the Benoit situation added to it, which is probably for the best, all things considered; no sense borrowing trouble.
We kick off with Angle vs. Rhino vs. Christian Cage, in a No DQ, "there must be a winer" match. The winner wins the TNA World Championship, as well as advancing to the "Match of Champions" at the next PPV.
The first ten minutes of the show are taken up by a promo video for this match, entrances, and the big-time ring intros by Jeremy Borash. Samoa Joe, having already advanced to the MoC match, comes out as well.
Joe shakes Rhino's hand; walks over to Cage, who steps out of the ring and walks off; and finally extends his hand to Angle. Angle, apparently not remembering that he Angle Slammed Joe the last time they were shaking hands, puts his hand out, only to get slapped by Joe. Joe tosses Angle out of the ring and drags him backstage.
The remaining 45 minutes (Angle makes his way back to the ring during the commercial) are all this one single match. Everyone hits finishers at various times for 2-counts. Abyss comes down and drags Cage out behind the building, where Cage is finally rescued by Tomko and AJ Styles.
When poor Cage gets back to the ring, he's almost immediately attacked by Chris Harris (whom Cage called out last week). This brings Styles and Tomko to ringside, followed closely by Abyss, again. Sting shows up to help out Abyss(!). Sting drives Styles up the ramp; Abyss hauls Tomko off through the crowd; and Harris and Cage disappear, somewhere.
This leaves Rhino and Angle alone in the ring for the last 5 minutes or so of the match. It's pretty good, now that the rn-ins are fini -- oh, wait, here's James Storm -- he spits beer in Rhino's face. Rhino, distracted, gets caught by another Angle Slam and that's enough for Angle to get the pin and advance to the MoC.
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Pretty good, I guess -- if overpopulated -- but my ability to get into it is at a low ebb.
I have misgivings about professional wrestling -- I am often frustrated by the feeling that it's an industry built on the bodies of young men that it chews up, spits out, and replaces when convenient. The events of the past week -- causal connection to wrestling or not -- have only intensified these feelings.
If you had asked me five years ago who my favorite wrestlers were, four of the people I would have named have died since then. One of the other people I would have named is Kurt Angle, who is now the current TNA champion. Many people thought, a year ago, that he would not still be alive today, and he worries me as well. Due to my work schedule, I always get the 8:00 replay of TNA PPVs, and I have to admit that I always feel relieved when the replay starts playing: it means that no one died during the show.
I tell myself that TNA -- with a lighter taping and travel schedule -- is a healthier place for guys to work. What percentage of that is true and what percentage is just selfish justification on my part, I dunno.
--K
(edited by Karlos the Jackal on 29.6.07 0312) Last 5 movies seen: Mulan *** - Best Foot Forward ***1/2 - Ball of Fire **** - Longford *** - Beowulf & Grendel ***
This match would have been slightly more suspenseful if it were a non title match, although not much because we all know Joe and Angle can't stay away from each other.
I like the idea of the show being about one match, but it just wasn't executed right. I guess they got themselves a six man tag match ready to go out of it.
Does anyone know when this episode of Impact was actually taped? The reason I ask is that Angle used the rolling german suplexes, and it came across as creepy. But maybe the match was taped before the events of Monday/Tuesday.
TNA tapes two, sometimes three, shows at a time and this was the second show of their last tapings so it happened two weeks ago, one week before the Benoit stuff.
I liked that the show was one match simpy because TNA's biggest problem is jamming too many people into one show. I've got no problem with the ton of interference in the middle of the match either, I thought it was well done but I hated the James Storm interference in the end. Kurt Angle should not need help beating Rhino and Rhino doesn't need to be protected, Angle should've won cleanly.
It will be interesting to see AJ/Daniels wrestle again next week. I heard Daniels was going back to the tag division but it was rumored to be with Triple X and not AJ. It will be interesting to see if this is a one time thing or if Daniels will be joining the Christian Coalition. Even though there is no chance of it happening I'd much rather to see Joe/Angle vs. Daniels/AJ at the PPV instead of Joe/Angle vs. Team 3D.
(edited by Quezzy on 29.6.07 0825) Lance's Response:
Joe/Angle vs Team 3d would make for a great 20-25 minute tornado style tv match as a build up match to the PPV.
So, I agree they really should face Styles/Daniels at the PPV. If they built up the contrast between those two teams it would really make for an interesting match. The WWE doesn't do that kind of main event anymore and although these aren't actual longterm teams tag-team wrestling like this really needs a place again.
Thread rated: 4.05
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