By Adit Rao on August 1st, 2008
Yo everyone,
The good news first: Black Reign is gone, Richard Gray is extremely happy. The bad news now: unfortunately so is Misty the rat.TNA is now monster free, no Rellik, no Reign,no Judas Mess-yes. Only the masked rule of Abyss.
After watching Impact last night it’s been intereSting to watch the build to Hard Justice. A PPV that has been weak every year since the company started producing it. They’ve realized that .Maybe that’s why they’ve flooded the card with some serious gimmick matches.
They’ll not be getting my money for the PPV but I will somehow manage to watch it.
It’s definitely been interesting to see the way Russo’s been writing the World Title storyline. The significance of Booker holding the belt is lost on me and is inconsequential but the two guys up for the 6 sides of steel weapons match for the title at Hard Justice are doing a damn good job. Booker has been an excellent heel delivering killer promos each time and Joe’s also been doing the same thing.
The feud has gathered good heat and the way TNA keep teasing the fact that Sting is helping Booker by teasing a heel turn without even being on TV has been entertaining.
They continued that this week with Booker giving Joe a tour of the 6 sided weapon filled cage. Once again both the guys were excellent on the mic and Joe beating Booker made the feud more realistic. It was definitely irritating to see Sharmell at ringside with Kevin Nash holding the cage door shut for Joe to beat Booker.
Sting’s bat falling from the sky and the commentary team accusing him of having turned heel was unexpectedly entertaining.
What was irritating was the way they capped the show with Joe searching for Sting in the rafters in the middle of the Knockouts match between The Beautiful People and Kim/Wilde. Not that the Knockouts match was outstanding. It was just an ordinary match heavily down graded by Velvet Sky who is easily the worst woman wrestler in TNA. Frankly this match didn’t deserve to close the show as the main event. The only entertaining part was after the match when Kong came out and bombed Wilde and a few seconds later other Knockouts piled up while ODB and Kong faced off.
Those who don’t know much about Sting will not realize the significance of the crow sighting by Joe in the rafters. The baseball bat dropping down to Booker and him mouthing ‘Thank You Sting’ made more of an impact.
The other storylines for Hard Justice were built up well. Having Cage and Rhino taking on Money Beer for a shot at the tag champs meant being able to build two matches for Hard Justice.
The match was well wrestled with regular tags exchanging hands. Money Beer are an awesome heel team and TNA have found a real good heel team in them. The match picked up after Storm spat beer into Cage’s face. A double suplex from the heels followed by a tornado DDT by Cage led to Rhino tagging in and building momentum with a try for a belly to belly .
3D’s Ray coming out saw Cage flying into him eventually setting up a finish in which Jackie distracts Cage allowing Roode to belt him with a kendo stick and 3D 3ding Rhino allowing Storm to win and sending Beer Money into the tag title match at Hard Justice.
If that was cool, what was cooler was easily Christian’s challenge to 3D after the match, a match at Hard Justice with a New Jersey Street Fight Stip. An amazing line finished that segment with Cage saying ‘Let’s See Who Finally Finishes who?’
The other well wrestled match was the 6 man tag match between Rave/Rock And Devine vs. Shark Boy, Jay Lethal And Curry Man(!).This match didn’t last more than five minutes but was still entertaining because the X divisioners filled it with fast spots. The in ring Curry Man (!) dance with Christy Hemme was cool. The kicks, elbows, clotheslines all landed fast. The final finish was the best part with Lethal performing a hip toss, cart wheel combo and while Shark Boy and Curry Man take care of the Infection outside, Lethal converts the Devine intervention into a pinfall victory after the Lethal combo.
They did a small segment after that where Lethal asks Val to marry him again. The proposal didn’t go through because it seems Val has ‘lost’ the previous ring. Lethal walks off in a huff and is pissed. That’s what happens when you star in an Ace Young music video.
Dutt didn’t show up, so there was no pop for the ‘Black Tie Brawl and Chain’ Match between Lethal and Dutt at Hard Justice though that should be a good match.
Petey Williams vs. Consequences Creed was another good match. Hermie Sad-Ler graced the commentary which was a good thing because that way Don West talks less. Petey gets in Creed’s face at the start. Creed takes control with a crossbody and a slingshot cover. Petey pushes Creed off the apron to the outside and does the amazing slingshot hurricanrana which has Hermie Sad-ler excited.
Rest of the match sees him in control until Creed slightly gains the advantage with an attempted fireman’s carry (A great MMA move according to Don West, not Hermie Sad-Ler).Rhaka khan distracts the ref but Williams knocks into her. Creed goes for a top rope leg drop and misses which allows Petey to go for the destroyer but Creed turns that into an inside cradle and picks up the win for a shot at Petey and the X title at Hard Justice.
Speaking of Hard Justice AJ styles got his ass beat by Kurt Angle .I don’t know what AJ has got to do with Sting and his promo about telling the others that Sting was a good man was useless. The cool part was Sting’s music hitting but Angle showing up and hitting three Angle Slams on AJ which was awesome.
This set up a challenge made by AJ in the back. At Hard Justice Kurt Angle vs. AJ Styles in a Last Man Standing match is on.
Last Word: The backstage stuff sucked as usual but the in ring stuff was very good. The Booker/Joe/Sting storyline was extremely well written with the bat dropping in the cage. Kurt Angle Olympic slamming AJ thrice was awesome. The tag team match between Money Beer and Cage/Rhino was extremely well done. Matt Morgan kicking Tomko makes no sense of a feud right now as we know Tomko’s left TNA. Speaking of leaving KAZ saying he’s also left TNA on Karen’s Angle was sloppy like a cheap talk show pop which was exactly what it was in the first place. The adventures of the ‘Prince Justice Brotherhood’ were funny. Overall the Hard Justice build was decent.
Tags: 6 Sides Of Steel, Abyss, AJ Styles, Angle, Booker T, Christian, Hard Justice, Jay Lethal, Joe, KAZ, Nash, Rhino, Sonjay Dutt, Sting, Team 3D, TNA, TNA Creative, TNA IMPACT, Tomko, World Heavyweight Championship
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August 1st, 2008 at 12:19 pm
Just no mention of why you missed last week? Tsk, tsk.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:29 pm
TNA is killing themselves. Are you crazy… Impact is horrible right now and there are no signs of any change.
Rob Dib
http://www.prowrestling-gear.com
August 1st, 2008 at 4:51 pm
i am going to watch hard justice just for lethal/dutt, AJ/kurt (should be phenomenal, no pun intended) and the main event (lets just hope this 1 will actually END) btw, joe could win, and BFG will be main evented by him and heel sting.
WTF (the W being a where) were you last week? i was getting worried some1 will replace you…
this week’s “iMPACT Poll”: WHAT DO YOU THINK TNA SHOULD DO TO GET BACK IN THE RIGHT TRACK FOLLOWING HARD JUSTICE? (fire russo is obvious, no need to say it, but rather if you were in russo’s place)
i would have focused more on wrestling and advance storylines with wrestling, rather than BS (BackStage) promos. most likely post-match collisions that dont take more that 5 mins top, which will leave time for more wrestling. have some non-wrestling stuff in the RING to break all the wrestling, and put the spotlight on the X-div, since this is what WWE doesnt and never will have, seeing they are starting to push their women’s division. the reason they wont have that is vince hates spot-wrestling.
August 1st, 2008 at 4:53 pm
besides, how could you survive without me 2 whole weeks? didn’t you feel a need to read what i have to say?
August 1st, 2008 at 5:01 pm
I actually liked Curry Man asking the hott people if they wanted to see how spicy he was!!! I thought the Booker and Joe story has progressed enough to deem itself worthy. Sting being heel his second time around is awesome. Fake Sting doesn’t count. Knockout match was decent. Tag match was incredible with BMI and Christian’s War. Curry man trying to be down with the latin ebonics was just uncomfortable all the way around. Dutt and Lethal poor build-up but will be an entertaining match none-the-less. I just can’t wait to see a decent chain match done on TNA. I am still a fan of TNA, but not as much anymore due to VR screwing with VR. I hope that makes sense. Angle and AJ will be the show stealer. Taylor will face someone for the K.O. title. Petey will make Creed feel the consequences for beating him yesterday. Rhaka Khan is like Curry man trying to do ebonics (very uncomfortable). Super Eric is about as lame as Hurricane. PBOJ almost needs to be PB&J. That way I could laugh. Shark boy needs to do the aquaman thing and talk telepathic. His stone cold voice is irritating. I would rather him speak like Flipper. That way his gimmick would make more sense. Stupid TNA and all their ideas that suck or make no sense. They need to have Daquiri as the X champ. That way people will have at least one heel champ on TNA television that can play the role. Petey reminds me of the kid who always thought he was a bully, but can’t back up what he says. Sorry Lil pump but your full of hot air in TNA anyway! I will however say he is a great athlete and deserves to be the champ regardless. Team 3D remind me of when ECW was so great that they made crazy matches and the writer which was Paul went with it due to the money he saw. I think VR sees the money in their bizarre matches as well. Glad that VKM didn’t or they wouldn’t be in TNA! Glass table match, as much as I hate table matches this is going to be hopefully bloody! I want masses of the red flowing from all four in this grotesque battle to make me feel like I was not wasting my money or time watching this spectacle take place. I have pre-ordered my DVD board game as well purchased TNA impact for the WII. I know the WII isn’t HD and all, but there are some great games on the console. I just hope that TNA doesn’t go WCW style with this month’s PPV booking!
Have a great day or night whichever you prefer!
August 1st, 2008 at 6:53 pm
whatever michael said (except for shark boy 24:7, i think its a great gimmick and shark boy immitates stone cold dead-on IMO. shell yeah is great, along with the bass lines. and the clam juice is also nice.)
August 1st, 2008 at 9:01 pm
What i found interesting is that Kurt Angle said in an interview (up on the main site) recently that he pitched an idea to go to the X-Division for a while. That would put that division on the map…
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:03 am
Sorry, guys. But I just couldn’t watch this week’s after the whole steel cage tour. Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t want my announcers sounding like complete fucking idiots. Don West wants to be Jerry Lawler so bad, I wouldn’t be suprised if he walks around his house with a crown on his head. Mike Tenay, with his horrible “Damn you, Sting!” yell just pissed me off to no end.
Michael, if you’re waiting to see anything decent from TNA, keep on waiting with the rest of us. Gregory Helms said it right, he did the superhero gimmick better than anyone. All Super Eric is is yet another poor copy of an old WWF gimmick. (Blue Blazer/Owen, anyone?) It’s PJB, not PBOJ. I’ll admit, I didn’t like the whole Stone Cold Shark Boy gimmick at first, but it’s grown on me.
Can somebody please tell me why Kurt has gone over on AJ for the last 10 Impacts, yet their PPV head to head record is 1-1? Can AJ get one final word in, or is that too much to ask from the man who, as Richard put, is the cancer of professional wrestling?
I’m just glad that, once again, SmackDown! saved us from yet another week of horrible wrestling. I can’t wait for Chris’ blog so I can praise SD!
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:07 am
Are you actually serious about Impact! being decent this week ? Dude it sucked!
August 2nd, 2008 at 3:52 am
Thanks Big D I will laugh at it now cause it looks to be Peanut Jelly Butter! I still think Flipper Boy would be better than Stone Cold Fish Boy! The wrestling on the show wasn’t bad, it is the stupid promos that make the show weak. Sometimes the show has strong promos and weak wrestling. My friend gave me that insight after I decided that CZW puts on a better quality show than that of anything on television as of now!
August 2nd, 2008 at 9:58 am
Impact overall was pretty good. Much, much, much better than RAW and ECW combined. I have yet to watch Smackdown, so I won’t speak on if it was better than Smackdown this week.
Beer Money vs LAX for the titles should be good. Cage/Rhino vs 3D should be good too.
Finally Petey is in a feud and a feud that has potential to be a very good feud. Creed/Petey match was good. Both guys can work. I liked Creed picking up the win and setting them up for Hard Justice. Should be a good match and I hope that feud doesn’t end at Hard Justice.
The 6 man tag match I really didn’t get why they had Lethal instead of Super Eric. That way it would have been the entire PBJ. But, I guess they needed Lethal, so they could set up the whole missing ring story. Not sure where they wanna go with this, but I hope the Dutt/Lethal match at Hard Justice is better than their match at Victory Road.
Knockouts match closing the show was kinda dumb though. Not that they are capable of putting on a main event, but like Adit says Velvet Sky sucks. They could’ve flipped the Beer Money/Cage & Rhino match with the knockouts match and it would’ve had more “Impact!” I think. Although I’m really starting to like Angelina, she’s by far, not the prettiest knockout, but something about her makes her so damn sexy.
Not sure where they wanna go with Morgan. I can’t see him feuding with anyone except Tomko, but supposedly Tomko is gone from TNA. Unless they wanna heel turn Abyss, I dunno. I guess Morgan will keep squashing jobbers.
Also not sure where they’re going with Kaz leaving. Could this be a Kaz heel turn? Kaz as a heel could work.
One more show before HJ and they have to polish up some of the storylines. Booker/Joe is coming along fine. Dutt/Lethal needs to have a better build up. I would like to see Kong vs Taylor again, cept Kong get her title back or put the strap on Angelina.
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Adit, I feel for ya man. I couldn’t even watch Impact this week. It was that bad. But, while Russo has the vote of confidence to run the storylines, the show will be lackluster.
August 3rd, 2008 at 8:43 am
Big D- I was traveling,that’s why I didn’t write the blog last week.I too don’t like the way they’ve booked the AJ/Angle feud.I said earlier that it’s a big feud that should be done well.They can only save it if the guys put on a good match on PPV.I guess they’re trying to show Angle as having the upper hand that’s why he keeps going over AJ on Impact.
Rob Dib:I did visit prowrestling-gear.com,hope you’re happy.
Guy-My answer to your question is that they need to do the basics right after Hard Justice,Good storylines,Great wrestling and Absolutely no Backstage stuff.
Also,I did catch your comments on the other blogs so I did read what you said,just didn’t have the time to reply.
Michael- I envy you,TNA impact for the Wii should be awesome.I plan to review the video game for WNW once it’s out.Did you catch the way TNA promoted the game by having video game entrances on screen while the wrestlers were coming out of the tunnel?That was pretty cool.
Fudge - That’s still an idea from what I’ve heard,they won’t roll with it.
Mustafa - I am serious!
Beavis - It would have been better had they closed the show with Beer Money vs. Cage/Rhino.KAZ heel turn = interesting.
Luke - Santino would reply to that with something like this :”So is it true that you have the feelings for me?”…LoL
Do you think that even the Joe vs Booker storyline is that bad?
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
O_O wow that kinda took care of everything…. lol. (you do know i was kidding in “besides, how could you survive without me 2 whole weeks? didn’t you feel a need to read what i have to say?” part, right?)
August 3rd, 2008 at 3:45 pm
O_O wow that kinda took care of everything…. lol. (you do know i was kidding in “besides, how could you survive without me 2 whole weeks? didn’t you feel a need to read what i have to say?” part, right?)
”So is it true that you have the feelings for me?” XDDDDDD ROFL
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I’ll admit the VG entrances were probably the only good part of Impact. At least the part I could stand to watch, anyway. I’m kinda curious as to what Curry Man’s entrance is gonna look like.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Also, can you believe that TNA is charging $75 for a ringside seat at their house shows? That’s ridiculous for it being booked and run the way it is.
August 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 pm
actually, TNA house shows are known to be a huge success every time, probably because Russo doesn’t book them…
August 4th, 2008 at 3:55 am
Thanks for the envy but I don’t deserve it. I do however deserve this next PPV not to suck total monkey nuts like VR. Adit I am still pissed at you for telling me to check it out man. I am kidding man I already ordered it a week in advance! I did like the entrances for the wrestlers from the game on IMPACT! That told WWE that they are not the only kids on the block with a game now. However Fire Pro had great games for the GBA and other consoles I hope that IMPACT! shows up and kicks in doors. I also hope that Sting is not in the main event come BFG. I would rather a Joe vs. JJ storyline to come about from Hard Justice. Instead of Sting being the bad guy let it be JJ. I would mark out, and then have a Sting vs. JJ at the next PPV. Have a mini feud with Sting and JJ that would be awesome. Then have JJ vs. Joe with altercations between Nash and Sting. Then let them have a match at BFG. Let it be the dark match! have the final match between AJ and Angle at BFG as well. Then bring back the “Fallen Angel.” Have him tag with AJ and let them start in the tag division with a bunch of great tag teams as it is right now. Bring Kaz back around January to feud with Big Air Pump! Also have Davari as champ and feuding with Sonjay or Lethal. That would be entertaining. I hope that VR uses some of these ideas and runs with them. This would make for some interesting stories. I would actually take TNA more seriously if they used at least one of these ideas. I try not to be a smark, but sometimes everyone just has to call BullShit from time to time!
Everyone have a great time this week! I will check in from time to time!
August 4th, 2008 at 6:59 am
agree with michael, that’ll be great. the thing about daivari is, his gimmick is supposed to be anti-american, but… he makes good points in his promos.
August 4th, 2008 at 8:10 am
Guy, I thought the same thing about Daivari. Am I a heel now too?
August 4th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Guy-Yes,I know you were kidding.I found it HILARIOUS.XDDDDDD ROFL.
Big D:I don’t know if Curry Man will be added to the game,I know they have Christopher Daniels on the game,But I think they will add Curry Man.Also $75 = rip off.
Michael- I think you just booked Impact for the next 3 months!
August 4th, 2008 at 12:05 pm
Daivari is pretty much TNA’s version of Muhammad Hassan. Hopefullt they don’t give him a short run, bury him, then release him like WWE did with Hassan.
August 4th, 2008 at 7:24 pm
Adit, that was pretty damn hilarious!!!
August 4th, 2008 at 8:01 pm
Big D:It would be cool if they gave Daivari/Abdul Bashir a good run for the X title.Him against someone like Dutt/Devine/Creed or Kaz would be a good program.
Luke: Lol,works better if you imagine the accent!!
August 6th, 2008 at 6:14 pm
Ok I guess I will finish this blog like normal since I have been posting here. I just finished up watching some old school ECW. Back when ECW stood for Eastern Championship Wrestling. Summer Sizzler 93′. It was awesome actually seeing Joey Styles and Mr. Heyman together once again. Even though it was in 1993. Tom Gordon was doing interviews which was hilarious. Sandman was on there. Superfly as well. JT Smith was on the card. A buck naked match which was by all accounts lame, and the camera angles sucked. I think everyone should at least see what kind of whacked out mastermind Paul Heyman was before Extreme took effect. Now onto more prestigious news. Flair left the WWE. It would be fitting to see Flair vs. Sting for both their farewell matches and careers. I would pay money for this bout. Flair retires from WWE, but still comes back to battle the Icon Sting! JJ would have a rocketship of a company for about a half year. Build up Flair by not having him fight or talk just show him training for a fight against Sting. Do the same for Sting. I know this is far fetched and probably won’t ever happen, but wouldn’t it be great to see a great bout between two of the world’s greatest athletes at one time go one on one for the last time? I know I am not a fan of Sting or Flair for that matter, but I have to admit they can still go. Having said that moving on to more cautious material. I have read and heard rumours of Carlito in the past wanting to jump to TNA. Everyone knows he is unhappy with his place in WWE right now. If he was to jump to TNA I don’t believe he would have a huge impact there. He would have to deal with AJ, Angle, Joe, Christian, Booker, Storm, and several others who can out wrestle him any given day. I know he is a great wrestler in PR, but in USA he is kinda weak! I like how he throws in a move we haven’t seen from him before, but we know he has those moves in his arsenal. Now that is out of the way lets all just watch Impact tommorrow night and see what develops from there. I hope nothing gay or stupid takes place.
Have a great day or night whichever you prefer!
August 6th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
i think a flair-sting blowoff match should be quick, heavily promoted feud of a month of 2 top, that should simply draw as much as possible and should no be ruined by storylines (unless it’s only a “prove who’s better” that ends in a draw)
August 15th, 2008 at 7:41 pm
goodbye adit. good luck. thank you for the blogs