RedJed

Do they post quarter hours?

Good and bad to the rating - its ok (better than Sat average) but bad or unfortunate in that I could have clearly seen where the number probably dropped significantly about half way through the show as it was just literally putting me to sleep. It just seemed like they went back to being "just Impact" after the first segment, almost like I was watching it on FSN- like the great show they did last week just was offset by this filler material feeling show. The match w/ Diamonds in the Rough reeked of glorified squash that I couldnt get into, as well as Canada v. USA I wasnt really feeling. ME was decent enough (but not promoted that well ahead of time in a way as it may have drawn a decent rating under the right circumstances, but didn't come across well enough to save the show.

Re-read the results man, the Shane/Shawn match is in there. Show doesnt sound too bad for a lead-in to the ppv. The HHH/Cena/Edge interaction I am digging and it makes me want to see that match. With HHH getting punked by Edge two weeks in a row, I smell a receipt at the ppv unfortunately. Likely to be a HHH win over Edge so Cena keeps his credibility with a loss. Should be Edge over Cena, leading to a HHH/Edge feud long term.

That's the way to completely kill credibility. It took years to properly build Kane back up as a mega heel after Austin won the title on Raw the night after the King of the Ring where Kane won it. If Van Dam gets the title, he needs to hold it until SummerSlam at the very earliest. Otherwise, it might end up doing him more bad than good. Whatever, he could get royally screwed out of it the day after Raw and still be able to chase for the title later in the year, against Edge again, or someone else. If he would beat Edge clean at the ECW ppv, its all good. If you ask me, he should be the token babyface to get the big title win next year at Mania, if you tease an extremely brief title win mid-2006 and then slowly build to him getting the title back at Mania. Kane didnt have credibility in the first place because he never won the title even close to cleanly. It had nothing to do with Austin beating him the next night.

The problem is you can't do that in only 42 minutes a week, plus having a PPV to build up to every 4 weeks. You can do everything but you have to focus on 16 guys or so and everyone else will have to be kind of just there. YES you can. You just need to prioritize who you need to establish characters for more, etc. A guy like Jarrett doesnt need even half the time he gets because we all know his deal. Great bookers can make 4 hours into something worthwhile.

Why do you think it's obvious Angle's going to the finals? Because he's losing to Rey next week and he'll need to recapture some of his heat? Basically, yeah.

The fans calling for them to return (via the DX signs, etc) is the initial thing, from there its Vince being an ass to HHH, who then reveals that the father of Stephs baby is him, which infuriates Vince more, and via a McMahon beatdown on HHH, then guess who makes the save? You guessed it. Thats all it would really take - that or a double turn in a HHH/Cena rematch or angle, that sees Cena join McMahon and they all beat down HHH, with Michaels making the save.

Agreed. I've been a Dr. Pepper addict for about 18 years or so, and this shit soils the brand name. And I still haven't figured out why it's only available in Diet. Umm because its not - they have it in non-Diet form too, which is very good.

I hope thats the case. Edge/RVD would be a fresh match to book for the ECW ppv, have RVD beat him and then I hate to say it, but have Edge beat him the next night immediately on Raw to regain the belt. You then go to Vengeance in Charlotte two weeks later and book Flair/Edge there for the title (hell, even have Flair win it for all I care). Have Edge feuding with Flair on and off til June while also feuding with Van Dam. It makes sense. Edge is clearly the only Raw main event heel that WORKS right now - HHH is getting ridiculous pops, and Cena is getting these back and forth responses. Plus Edge/RVD could be built also on the crutch that Edge won MITB last year and now is champ, so there is a solid story to be told there in that last years MITB is taking on this years. Meanwhile Michaels and HHH rejoin as DX, could take on Vince, Shane, and/or Cena in a feud via a double turn by Cena and HHH that likely needs to happen sooner than later. This needs to happen on a Raw soon after Backlash, leading to a HIAC grudge match at Vengeance. The seeds are CLEARLY planted for HHH/HBK reunion. Cena is clearly not working week after week in the role they are forcing down everyone's throats, it's going to need a turn, siding with the McMahons, making him some conservative sellout or something. All they now can hope for is a short heel turn by Cena can maybe re-turn him by the end of the summer so they can promote that stupid Marine movie as they want. As for the show last night, was hit or miss but seemingly more hits than misses. The Vince promo, though, just feel completely flat to me. Boring as fuck. Payoff was ok, but how many times did we have to see that on replay later in the night?!! Anyone notice Lillian took a really hard bump to the floor, even hitting herself (I think) on the table? The finish of the main event was well done and totally unexpected to be honest. Edge/HHH would be a feud I would pay $$$ to see with all of the obvious heat between the two in reality, and they should really consider Edge holding the belt through the summer (maybe losing to RVD and Flair but IMMEDIATELY regaining it back from both, showing he actually ISNT a "transitional champ") and then you go with HHH/Edge either at SummerSlam or maybe even beyond that at the next Raw ppv.

First time in a long time I can say that Smackdown looks like complete filler material and on paper comes across really dull sounding. Sounds like it's all a lead-in to next week. I wouldnt be surprised to see MNM v. Kendrick/London for the titles next week either. So Angle/Rey and Finely/Benoit next week? I suppose that will be their "ppv calibur" Smackdown to compete with the Raw ppv, as they do sometimes. If they pull JBL v. Rey or Angle (likely Rey since Angle is already in KOTR and it seems obvious they will likely put him in the finals) at Judgment Day, they are making a mistake, but I understand it since the heel depth is so low right now. But instead of putting the US champ in a title match at a ppv, why not just turn someone such as, I dunno, Benoit?

The answer isnt lowering their prices of their ppvs OR cutting down the number of them. What they need to strive for more than anything is to just continously trying to amp up the creative end. It can be done to get solid monthly ppv buyrates with a quality product promoting those ppvs - yes, even an hour. Using the "just an hour" excuse is BS as they've proven they can push out solid Impacts here and there, they just need to do so consistently and even more importantly with angles, characters, and whatnot that people CARE enough about to order the ppvs. Otherwise another angle that may work but probably wouldnt, would be to return to doing weekly Weds night ppvs. I tell ya, the creative had some really great hot spots in there, and even up til the end, I think the weekly ppv concept worked for me, but from a business standpoint probably not. But having a weekly two hour $9.95 show, then a Thurs Impact building/contuing to that next week, and THEN leading to perhaps a 3 hour "mega ppv event" every so often (lets say 5-6 times a year) on either Weds or a Sun night might fly, but that 3 hour show would have to be dropped in price, probably to $20. Perhaps from that loss of doing a 3 hour for $20, the weekly ppvs @ $9.95 might help the bottom line. But it would be a big risk, esp if those Weds weekly ppvs were live as that would add much more production costs.

Considering TUF didnt get a blowaway rating (1.3), the number is impressive, in that they held all but .2 of that overall audience in total, and those particulars on the male demo they are looking for show an upsurge. We'll see what happens long term though.

Gotta agree with the chica - you need to nut up a little bit and not overanalyze everything. That will turn her off more than anything you are or aren't doing. She probably wanted to meet you with her friends around because she didnt feel comfortable just hanging out alone with you, so either figure out if she will want to just hang out, you and her, make your move, or just don't bother anymore.

Had it on a meatball sub and it wasnt bad, but the bread was already so dry before toasting it that it wasnt the greatest. Could have (and maybe is) alot better than my first try. Recently was down south on a mini vacation and stopped at a few Del Tacos. Never had been to them before, but was pretty impressed. In particular, their fish tacos were damn good. Also fell into what I think is a great concept - fast food italian. At a place called Fazolis - anyone ever been to em? Had a cheap sampler plate of fettucine alfredo, spaghetti, and lasagna plus a salad and drink for something like $6. Plus they have the best garlic breadsticks I've ever had, and served unlimited via them bringing a basket around the restaurant as you eat, fresh out of the oven. Why there isnt more of these around the country baffles me.

If he isnt under contract, they should have signed him to a guaranteed appearance or else he'd forfeit a ridiculous amount of money, almost force a deposit so to speak. They gotta be more careful with their talent in situations like this, its obvious. Thought they learned their lesson but I guess not! I know we are all sick of it, but this would open up a chance for a final blowoff of Daniels/Styles/Joe - get Styles the fuck off Wargames (his involvement there is pointless and makes no sense) and put him and Daniels in this. And give Daniels the fuckin title back (via pinning Styles) and MOVE THE FUCK ON. Problem is that they dont have any additional TV taping to pull this move, and actually they now only have one Impact left to try to make a change if they have to. I suppose they could just add in soundbites and/or backstage segments on the next Impact too.

Damn that was one of the best noteworthy and just damn good solid wrestling quality Impacts in quite some time. The Joe/Daniels experiment worked and I give them credit for taking a chance and trying something unique. They may want to do that more often as it's akin to starting a show in the middle of a hot angle, which Nitro/Raw did many times back in the day. Definate upgrade and change from the Sat formula which was good to see since it needed to happen. Now will just be curious about next week as on paper it just looks like its back to the same ole same ole. I do agree about trying to end with a cliffhanger and it should happen on every show.

I actually like the idea of Sabu in the X division, call me crazy but I do. It's a good thing that they arent just limiting the division to CWs - example being Joe himself. It wont and shouldnt be considered a secondary title as long as the division continues to be unique with strong workers who take risks. Thats basically the underlined gist of the X division. Or as they say "no limits" And actually Joe DIDNT lose the belt last ppv - that was the wonder of it. They protected him so he could move to the world title division smoothly. Now they are going to (or should) have him job the belt out whenever since having him getting screwed again in another three way match w/ whomever is most definately lazy booking. Problem is that jobbing him out in his first loss against an X division guy is not smart booking when you are trying to get the guy moved up to the world title. But maybe to the bookers having the title taken away from him twice instead of once is fuel to the fire to move him up? in whatever case, it just devalues Daniels more than anything if you ask me. And there is nothing elevated by having Joe with the belt again. We already know he kicks ass and dominated that division, the point was made months ago. Time to move on! Instead I wouldnt be at all shocked to see a final Daniels/Styles/Joe match AGAIN at the X Cup ppv- which I agree with since the Ultimate X blowoff was pure shit (in fact they may want to just have an Ultimate X rematch completely), but disagree with since we've seen well enough of that feud clearly. To take this a step further on the lazy booking comment, WTF are they doing or not doing with Styles? The guy NEEDS a real major feud with anyone instead of just being thrown in that War Games match. Just comes off wrong to me to have him in there. And yet Monte Brown sits at home apparently "not able to find something for him." Brown/Styles wouldnt be great but at least its SOMETHING.

--There is a full page ad in today's New York Post for the Impact debut tomorrow night. The deal is to have a hot open. The first 4:00 of the Samoa Joe vs. Christopher Daniels match is on the TNA web site and the match will be picked up at that point. Daniels will already be bleeding. The idea is the expected big UFC Male 18-34 will see the blood as soon as they tune in. (OBSERVER) I still dont agree with it but at least there is some logic to why they are doing what they are doing w/ Joe v. Daniels in editing off the first four minutes. I just still can't get over why they are putting the belt back on him.

Wow, very illogical and ridiculous manuever there on TNA's part. There is no way to justify this as a good idea other than trying to gauge reaction to their website. They'd be much better off having an exclusive segment backstage after the match or something on their website instead.

Tried that Berries and Cream Dr Pepper when I was in Chicago and UGH, I've never had a soda come so close to tasting like vomit or something close to it. Definately must avoid it.

One other thing, maybe I just havent kept up with the news, but are they going to sign Colt Cabana or what? He's been on WWE TV now for two weeks straight.

How? Just having spoilers posted at their website doesnt mean they are turning the suspension into a work.

Show sounds pretty good - predictable Orton injury angle but it is what it is. He sure did the jobs on the way out to Rey and Angle though, so at least they used him to put over who deserves to be put over on the way out.

Nigel McGuinness and Doug Williams will be on tour with NOAH so no dice. Was that the reason why they dropped the Team UK idea altogether then? Again, this goes back to TNA needing to get shit down early - they should have signed them to the deal well before an agreement to work another date took place.

Was supposed to go to both ROH shows but I could not find the fucking arena for the life of me. There was construction all over the place, making it even harder than usual I would imagine.