TNABaddboi

His appearance wasn't promoted in advance. It available as a spoiler on the net, but TNA played it for a surprise, so you can't use the buyrates, which no one knows anyway, of that show as indication of any of his drawing power. The live reaction to Hardy though was incredible. And I'd wager that he'll do more for bringing in new viewers than any singular signing that TNA has made since Raven, considering his rabid fanbase.

I agree 100%. Signing Hardy is the kind of think that can marks as excited about TNA as the smarks were when they signed Daniels, for instance. TNA needs starpower and Hardy is the kind of guy that can give it to them in spades without destroying the overall product, ala Hogan, Nash and/or Savage. I think this could prove to be a smart signing for TNA as long as they don't break the bank on him.

Wuzup everyone….once again, it is the one and only TNABaddboi and I’m here to get you hyped for this week’s double dose of TNA! Last week, I debuted a new feature in From Even Further Outside, THE MAILBAG, but unfortunately, it is empty this week (sad ain’t it?), so we’ll skip right to the THE RECAP: LAST WEEK IN TNA Wow! My trip to the Asylum was so much fun, that’s all I can say. This week was TNA’s “big” show and while it was universally panned, I have to admit that I kind of liked it. Of course, I know that is only because of the live experience, but hey, what can I say? With that stated, let's break it down: Ron “The Truth” Killings finally got his shot at our lord and savior, the end all and be all, King of the Mountain World Heavyweight Champion Jeff Jarrett. Going in, I was expecting Jarrett/Raven levels of run ins, but thankfully, to my great surprise, TNA resisted the urge to have 3LK, the Elite Guard, D’Lo Brown and/or Monty Brown spoil the action. Of course, they made up for it by teasing the good ol’ Dusty Finish (complete with Dusty Promo!), before delivering a NON-FINISH, for which the company was crucified for by the IWC. My two cents on it are this: I’m somewhere in the middle. I didn’t love the ending (especially after driving 4 hours each way to see the event), but I didn’t hate it either. I got what TNA was trying to do. Most of the angst comes from people who view this show as TNA’s Wrestlemania and you don’t do that finish at your crown jewel event. It’s just a wrestling no-no. IMHO, however, TNA never promoted this show as bigger than the rest. They didn’t last year and they didn’t this year. Hell, last year, they delivered the goods the week before and after the anniversary show (Styles title win, first ever cage match). And I don’t blame them for that, because unlike WWE’s big show, they don’t have four more weeks to rebuild after blowing everything off in one night. TNA has to get you come back the next week, and the week after that, so in theory, one show cannot be bigger than the others. TNA has always just kind of said join us as we celebrate our anniversary. As for the match itself, Killings and Jarrett work well together, so the match itself was no surprise, and the crowd was certainly into it, which is always a plus. I will admit that I monetarily marked out for the pin, before Russo reared his ugly head. I automatically knew where we were headed from there. My biggest beef with this match is that apparently I missed the memo where guitar shots equal death. We’ve seen people kick out of death-defying moves and steel chair shots, but a shot from a wooden guitar is enough to put someone down for the 1-2-3. In fact, its apparently such a horrible offense that it warrants an automatic DQ, whereas chairshots in plain view of the referee can be shrugged due to the magnitude of the match. Gimme a break TNA! Russo was to decide the winner on Impact, but TNA responded to net pressure for giving away a pay show result on free TV by pushing the decision back to the next PPV, further pissing off net fans with a bait and switch. I get that TNA was trying to use cliffhangers to increase interest, but I fear that they might have pissed off paying customers, which will do wonders for the buyrates. OR NOT! Anyway, morale of the story: Announce a winner to all title matches before you leave the air. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that this all leads to the belt being held up (which should never happen again, TNA! Not unless injury makes it necessary) and decided in a Guitar on a Pole match, which would suck royally. With the number one contender to the X Title on the shelf, fighting champion AJ Styles issued an open challenge and TNA promised a huge surprise. And for the first time since Raven’s debut, a TNA surprise delivered. The crowd reaction that entire match was bone-chilling. I tried my best to help the AJ chants, but the Hardy chants were deafening. Styles and Hardy worked a safe match that was made 100 times better by the crowd, ala Rock/Hogan at WM18. And of course, Styles brought the BEST DROPKICK IN THE BUSINESS with him while I marked like a school girl. The X-Division Dream Match (sez Tenay) ended with another Non-Finish as Kash and Dallas ran in. Hardy and Styles teamed up to fight them off before they finished jawing with each other. On Impact, Styles and D’Lo Brown finally teamed up, but since Kash has a “broken leg,” Abyss replaced him as Dallas’ partner. It was very good TV main event and it was great seeing what Abyss can do when he’s not on his steady SQUASH diet. Post-match, Kash attacked AJ and leveled him with the MoneyMaker, and noticeably, his crutch and limp (broken foot, remember?) were all gone, leading me to believe his injury was just an angle to introduce Hardy. I thought it might be all along because I figured TNA wouldn’t do Jarrett/Killings AND Styles/Kash on the same night, because both could be draws. Kash’s amazing recovery powers sealed it for me. Overall, it was a good week for the X-Division as Styles defended the belt in a high-profile match while continuing his hot feud with Kid Kash. The Raven/Sabu feud fell flat this week as Raven’s heavily hyped “tribute” to the Sheik was a huge bust. Raven just hung up a scarecrow with a picture of the Sheik, which didn’t really seem to bother Sabu too much at all. The real story is that Raven was sick and not at the show, so TNA had to scrap their elaborate plan and do this last-minute, but the end result is that one 2 minute throw segment completely took the air out of completely hot feud. And with no mention of it at all on Impact, who knows what the next step is. Hopefully TNA can regain some momentum with this one as it was a well-told story before Wednesday night. America’s Most Wanted’s random challenger generator brought them Team Japan this week on PPV and they defeated them in a nifty little tag match. Post match, the Naturals attacked and continued to show us their dastardlyness by putting make-up on the champs (is that red? how dare they!) The Naturals then cost AMW a non-title match on Impact, leading to a grudge match on PPV. This feud has potential and has played out by the books so far, so I won’t complain. And of course, Team Canada defeated the champs in a non-title match has got to put them in line for a title shot, right? RIGHT? Of course it does. So Team Canada is now well on the way to single-handedly saving the tag team division. Actually, to be fair, I have to give credit where credit is due. A few shot months ago, the tag team titles were worthless after AJ Styles beat the champions by himself (I know he’s Phenomenal and all, but C’MON) and then vacated the titles. After a tournament to crown new champs put a little shine back on the belts, TNA ruined them again by playing hot potato with make-shift teams. R.I.P TNA Tag Division. July 2002-April 2003. Then, a funny thing happened. Actually, a couple of funny things happened. Kid Kash and Dallas gelled into a nice little team. AMW reformed and regain the belts as the Naturals boarded the train from Xplosion-ville. And ~Team Canada got bored with the X Cups and decided to broaden their horizons. TNA is now once again the home of the best tag division in wrestling that will only be better once the belts are north of the border. Bravo TNA! In another smart move, TNA has started a feud between two men they desperately want to move up the card, D’Lo “JellyNeck” Brown and Monty Green. Ok, I kind of like Monty’s character, but he needs some in-ring work, and until he gets it, I will call him Monty Green. Besides, we can’t have a feud between two guys named Brown, now can we? How would we ever tell them apart? Anyway, ever since the Deadly Draw, paranoid hunter Monty Brown has had the world title in his sights, because he is after all, the Alpha Male. In fact, he cut a hilarious promo before that match in which he joined Scott Hudson “at the bottom of the food chain” (while crouching), before coming back to the “the top of the food chain” (upright) to discuss how all the “Omega Males” in the ring that night would feel the POUNCE…Period. Like I said, Monty's got loads of charisma. He’s just not very fluid in the ring yet. To help get him over, TNA called on old reliable, D’Lo Brown. If there’s anybody on the TNA roster, not named AJ Styles, of course, who can make Monty look like a star, it’s D’Lo. Hell, he made Sonny F’N Siaki look like the Rock figuratively and not just literally. Anyway, the story goes that D’Lo returned to TNA to chase the World Title because he was inspired by his friend AJ Styles X-Title win. Apparently, he spoke too loudly on Monty’s hunting ground because Monty jumped him backstage and the feud was on. Monty attacked D’Lo on Impact just to remind him that he would have to feel the Pounce to get to the World Title. Basic premise for a feud here and I like it. Notice how no one is pregnant or dead here, boys! Way to differentiate yourselves, TNA! This feud should be good since Monty can bring it on the mic and D’Lo can bring it in the ring. I’m sure Monty will go over in the end to cement himself as a main eventer, but the feud should rock until then. Erik Watts and Goldy still hate each other and TNA isn’t big enough for the 2 of them. TNA didn’t really tell us that too much this week, but I remember from last week. This is TNA’s “casual fan attraction” feud and it has played out well, but I still feel like Abyss is just wasted here. I’d like to see him in the World Title picture. But anyway, it should be over soon, but unfortunately Abyss is probably going to have to job to Erik F’N Watts to get rid of Goldy once and fall. Tragic, ain’t it? Trinity extended the feud with will never die by defeating Desire in a very enjoyable stretcher match, with help from the newest member of the NYC, Big Vito. After losing the Ultimate Humilation match, Glen Gilberti is an angry little leprechaun while Swinger is vaguely homosexual. Speaking of losing, David Young gave the NYC advice on how to lose the stupid get up while Gilberti gave him advice on how to end his pathetic losing streak. So Young attack the cute little Mexican minis and demanded referee Mike Posey count his victory. D-Ray 3000 found the ring in enough time to try to make the save, but he ATE a spinebuster for his efforts. Posey had seen enough and delivered an AJ Styles-esque dropkick to Young and the minis and D-Ray all pinned him as the referee counted a quick three. Very funny stuff here. Of course, D-Ray is made to look like a chump in having to be saved by THE REFEREE, but that was the whole point, and I definitely appreciated the irony. Now…onto the preview: THIS WEEK ON TNA This is the first show of year three for TNA and in many fans eyes, TNA’s owes them a huge apology for the second anniversary show. This is like the show after Jarrett/Raven, which bps accurately called the Reconstruction. While I don’t think Wednesday’s finish did as much damage as that one, TNA did leave a sour taste in many fans mouth last week. This week, we get to see TNA’s best Ruben Studdard imitation as they say I’m sorry. We’ll see how everything turns out. These are the matches listed in the official preview: X-Division Title: AJ Styles © vs Kid Kash w/ Dallas World Title Contender’s Match:”The Alpha Male” Monty Brown vs D’Lo Brown Contract vs Money Match: Erik Watts vs Abyss w/ Goldylocks Non-Title Grudge Match: America’s Most Wanted vs. The Naturals Sabu and Sonjay Dutt vs Team Canada w/ Scott D’Amore Double or Nothing Ultimate Humiliation Match: Sonny Siaki and “Irish” Pat Kenney vs The New York Connection w/ Trinity Good line-up this week, IMO. You have the X-Title match that has been building for a month as the draw and some good solid match-ups on the undercard that either continue established feuds or start new ones. What I like about TNA right now is that everyone (except the X guys) is doing something, a hallmark of a Russo booked show. Whether I like what they’re doing or not, 90% of the guys on the show have a purpose. Now if they’d just apply that principle to the X-Division, I’d be a very happy guy. Anyway, onto the break down: AJ Styles finally defends the X-Division Title against Kid Kash and it should be the main event this week. I fully expect this match to get the Styles/Kazarian treatment and go on last with at least 15 minutes to work and I for one won’t complain. Without knowing how legit Kash’s injury was, I expect this match to be excellent and the heat should be great here as well. I’m looking for Styles to retain in some sort of fashion that allows the feud to continue as I don’t think TNA is ready to blow this one off just yet. I also wouldn’t be surprised if Jeff Hardy was lurking around to even up the odds, to give Kash something to do with his time after Styles moves on to Daniels. D’Lo Brown versus Monty Brown will be an intriguing match. TNA is just kind of throwing Monty in the fire here. This is certainly his highest profile match of this run with the company, and the highest profile match of his career aside from his World Title match loss to the Truth a few years ago that TNA wants us to forget. Either D’Lo is going to make Monty look really good, like AMW did in the tag match last week, or Monty is going to be exposed as not being ready for prime time. I'm thinking this one ends in a double countout or some other cheap ending, as they're not going to want to end Monty's "undefeated" streak (he's about as undefeated as Goldberg was) and they don't want to job D'Lo either, I don't think. If we do get a real finish here, it will be very telling as to who gets the 10 pounds of gold from Russo. Erik Watts versus Abyss won’t be pretty, but at least the crowd will be into it. I am just glad this feud is headed to a conclusion. I’m looking for Goldy to “accidentally” cost Abyss the match, leading the big man to find someone else to be manipulated by (Kash, Jarrett, Goldy, ???). Watts gets his job and money back and Goldy shrivels up and dies. Ok, that was harsh. I know, I know. She actually just goes away for awhile to allow me to remember when I didn’t hate her so. AMW versus the Naturals should be a solid match. My live experience at the Asylum proved that my ears did not deceive me and that the Naturals just are NOT over in any sense of the word, no matter how much dastardlyness they show us, so I get the feeling TNA is going to cut that feud short and move Team Canada up to face AMW. That said, the Naturals will win here, underhandedly of course, to set up their title match, where they will get steamrolled. Speaking of ~Team Canada, after an impressive showing on Impact against the champs, they will continue their ascension up the tag ranks this weeks by taking on Sabu and Sonjay Dutt. Sabu and Dutt won their only other tag match together a few weeks ago on Impact against the Naturals, who are the current #1 contender’s to the belts. Get what TNA is going for here? So do I. I have to admit that I really like this match-up. It makes it seem like the tag division is more than AMW and tells 2 stories at once. Anyway, the match will be good as long as Sabu is waiting for the hot tag. I’m sure Raven gets involved here to give Team Canada another win and more credibility to get up for their title run. And finally, last and certainly least, is the Double or Nothing Ultimate Humilation match between Sonny Siaki and “Irish” Pat Kenney and The New York Connection. This is the longest run feud in the company at this point, working on five months! Maybe TNA management has hearing problems, because from what I have seen, it has played to silence. While Gilberti and Swinger have been enjoyable as buffoons, I’m guessing they’ll win here because that joke is gonna wear thin sooner rather than later. In non-match stuff, we’ll finally find out who the World Champ is this week is as well. Hooray! Like I said earlier, I think Russo is going to hold up the belt and have it decided in a Guitar on a Pole match, which I said earlier would will suck royally. Also, we find out if TNA has signed Jeff Hardy. Of course, I’m sure they’ve worked something out with him or else they’re incredibility stupid. I don’t think they’d be dumb enough to make an angle out of not being able to sign a “hot free agent,” if they hadn’t signed said ‘free agent,’ because that would make them look more bush league than the midget jacking off in the trash can. Oh yeah. Dennis Rodman may appear. The less I say about that, the better. RANDOM TNA NEWS: Before I go, let me quickly discuss some news in the TNA world. According to Meltzer, the early Impact numbers were wrong. He now says the first show drew a 0.16 and the second show drew a 0.32. The first number being lower is a little disappointing, but TNA had next to negative promotion. I’m sure that doubling was due to word of mouth and word of mouth alone. Minsa, played by the former Gorgeous George, is done with TNA after just 2 weeks. Apparently she was something of a prima donna and TNA decided she wasn’t worth the headache. Jonny Fairplay will return to TNA television this week, in an undefined role. Rumor has it he will be paired with former Redshirt Security member Ryan Wilson under a mask. We will just have to wait and see. Dennis Rodman will be appearing on Impact this week in a one-off deal to spike interest in the show. It will be interesting to see what TNA does with him and if it gets mentioned on SportsCenter, ala the Brian Urlacher or Tennessee Titans incidents. In the first sign of cross-promotion with FSN, TNA has signed FSN NASCAR analyst Jeff Hammond to the Impact broadcasting team. I am no NASCAR fan, so I don’t really know the guy too well and I am willing to give him a chance. I am not a fan of 3 man announce teams though (TNA’s announcing improve 10x after Ferrara left), so I hope they end up letting Hammond do Impact with Tenay, while West does the PPVs. Or better yet, let Hammond and Hudson do Impact and Tenay and West do the PPVs. At any rate, this ought to get TNA some mentions during NASCAR coverage on FSN, which will help awareness since they don’t get any commercials on the stations. That's it and that's all. Lemme know what you guys think. Agree, disagree? I don't care, just FEEDBACK ME!!!! E-mail me at: [email protected].

My "bush league" comment was in reference to this big deal TNA is making as to whether or not they'll be able to sign him. If they did that and they he only showed up once or twice a year, then average joe fan will go, "Oh, I guess they couldn't sign him" and it will make them look like the minors, because unless you a net freak, you just don't hear about WWE not being able to sign guys. They make the big deal when they sign guys. I was just talking about from a casual fan prospective, that's all.

Thanks Laz. I do remember that match with Skipper, a street fight I believe, being entertaining, but I think the garbage stips helped alot. I also remember him and Skipper teaming up against Diamond & Swinger (I think, not sure though) in the match where Skipper turned heel and Truth hung Brown. That match was decent as well, but again, the tag stips helped conceal Brown's weaknesses. I think the fact that his recent matches have been missable is that he's been on the SQUASH diet for a while to be put over as a monster. I think the longest match he's had since he's come back was with BG James, and that is clearly not the right opponent to have a breakthrough match against. He's not terrible, he just could use some work to look more polished. And his finisher sucks the meat missle. Yeah....like I said, I find him entertaining. I just haven't seen him have that solid match to look like a big time player, like say the Truth. I'm not talking about a ***** affair, but just a well worked big match such Truth/Jarrett I. I think maybe we'll see that this week. D'Lo could be the right opponent to bring that out of him. And he should definitely ditch the Pounce for the Alpha Bomb, IMO.

I'm really looking forward this week's show too. I think this is a strong a line-up as TNA has had in awhile, especially considering that the World Title is not on the line (hell, it's not on anybody at this point!) ^The reason for said excitement.

Ok....that might be true. I will readily admit that my WCW knowledge is second hand. I just wasn't interested enough to watch. Anyway, I know he was heel during his initial run and that he was losing dark matches, kinda like Monty, who was pinned by The Truth at the first Impact taping.

It wasn't just dark matches either. He lost TV matches before his push started too. Goldberg was a heel who wondered aimlessly through the later part of 97 before WCW decided he was an unbeatable monster. I actually believe, and correct me if I'm wrong, that he came out on the losing end of a feud with Mongo McMichael of all people. Yeah, the more I think about, Tenay is the voice of TNA. It's just like how I hate WWE shows without Jim Ross, because he was the voice for so long. So point well taken.

C'mon! SOMEBODY. SAY. SOMETHING. ANYTHING! This thing took a long time you know!!!! *end of whining about lack of feedback*

Good points all around. You're right. The more I think about it, the best place for a 1 hour primetime TNA show would Monday's at 8. I'd like them to get a second hour though, in my most ideal situation.

I agree 100% that wrestlers should not be bookers. I don't think JJ is a horrible booker, as he has his moments. He is just falling victim to the tendency to trust yourself more than anyone else, and so he keeps pushing himself. If JJ was just a booker and not a wrestler, I don't think too many people would complain about his booking style. And yes, the burial of the Truth was mind-booglingly stupid.

I think may people would argue that the Styles/Lynn feud drew at least half of TNA's initial audience, but you're right in that you really can't make that claim about the AMW/XXX feud because it was never billed as the show. I think JJ's initial title chase and victory was well done and did deliver the payoff the fans wanted, though.

Mike, I'm just playing devil's advocate here, but by the same token, does Jarrett get credit for the storylines that have worked, such as his feud with Raven, Styles/Lynn and AMW/XXX feud? IMHO, if you're going to blame him for the ones that don't work, and I agree with what you've listed, you have to give him credit when something is done right. He can't only be head booker half the time.

I agree. It was fun little match other than Red the Amazing Spot Blower. Hell, I marked for all of Sabin's spots and Skipper has charisma, which is something alot of X guys are missing, but they should either try to feature different talents in the weekly spotfests or give them some meaning. Again, I agree. I think Jarrett brought back the guitar because he thinks that how casual fans remember him, but it's way past overkill at this point, especially since Jarrett had done a good job tweaking his character throughout TNA's existence. It's like once they got TV, Jarrett set his clock by to 1999. And I too hope they get real TV and drop the weekly PPVs, without trying to be a blind TNA mark.

Good recap, Swigg! Keep it up....and go read FROM EVEN FURTHER OUTSIDE! *End cheap plug*

Mike, there a shitload of reasons that are always tossed around about what caused WCW's demise, but going head to head with the WWF was one of them. Starting Nitro is generally lauded as one of the smartest decisions Bischoff ever made and a direct catalyst to their charge to the top of the business, however brief it ended up being. I haven't heard to many people make the case that going head-to-head did them in, since they generally spent 2 plus years waxing the floor with WWE (not suggesting that TNA would do this right away, of course). I'd just like to know what that argument is based on.

I wonder what Jarrett is doing out in LA. Let the speculation begin.... Otherwise, it's good that they have DVDs in the pipeline for AMW and Raven, and I can't wait for the Styles DVD, but as I have been saying, it is an absolutely MUST for TNA to get them into stores for them to have any kind of effect on product awareness. I think Monty could be a good person for them to invest in as he could begin a big "homegrown" star, ala Styles. It's important that they protect him and don't push him too fast, too soon though, IMO. And he has to improve in the ring, but I think that will come as he gets off of his steady diet of SQUASH. I think Vito was a good hire, as well. He will make a solid edition to the roster and would be a good person to help the NYC get some sort of semblance of over. I liked his work in ECW, though I didn't see much of his WCW stuff. I liked that they debuted him in a key spot without making it seem like a huge deal, as that would have made them look minor league.

WCW isn't dead from going head to head with RAW. WCW benefited greatly going head-to-head and probably would have never had their brief run onto had they not fired that first salvo with Nitro in 1995 with Luger.

I do think at some point, maybe at the end of the summer, they should make a move on the PPVs. As long as that move is not to do the weekly shows, plus for Sunday PPVs, I’m all for it. That would be way too much and would further damage the Wed. PPV buyrates because people would just watch Impact and wait until the big PPVs to order. IMO, they should wait until Impact gets a better, 2 hour slot, and then ax the weekly PPVs for the Sunday ones. This would be a good idea, since 95% of the world doesn’t not know they, or they shiny new TV show, exist. So, the first show was .16 and the second was .32? .16 was a little low for the first show, but its not like it got a heavy advertising blitz. It’s good to see the audience expanded though. The shows do look major league. After attending last week’s PPV live and seeing just how small the building is in actuality, I’m amazed at how big they make it look on TV. Kudos to TNA in that department. That’s ridiculous. If they’re going to bring the guy in every week, the least they could do is get his paperwork straight. This is good because Sabu is over and his feud with Raven was going great until last week’s stumble. Eh….don’t care either way. I’m actually torn on this one. Monday’s have long been “wrestling” night, and thus they would get the channel flippers. Hell, I hated WCW back in the day, but I always flipped to it during RAWs commercials. On the other hand, if whatever network put them in that slot expected them to compete ratings-wise right away, they’d be off in a month. It would take a network that they know will be willing to grow the audience, ala TNT and Nitro, but they don’t have the common owner advantage. And at the rate Smackdown is going, it might be better to target that show, though Thursday have never been as big a “wrestling” night. Hell, I’ve been a fan since 1990 and half the time, I forget SD! is even on until at least 8:15, but my TV is always turned into Spike TV/TNN/USA at 9 pm on Mondays and has been for 10 years at least. If they are going to keep the 1 hour format, Monday's at 8 or 11 would best. And I think 11 would be better because fans, who haven't gotten their wrestling fill, could flip at the conclusion of Raw. I don’t know what they’re going to do with Fairplay. They might have to just cut there losses if they continually can’ t come up with anything. I agree. They had to push the regular crew as stars and bring in the occasional name (ala Jeff Hardy). If they bring in all these “big names” and push the new talent to the backburner, they’ll be screwed once all the names are gone over contract disputes and creative control issues. I am a fan of both feuds and hopefully, the 3LK feud with be Team Canada’s first feud as Tag Champs. Who cares? They are just job fodder for AMW anyway If they don’t offer him one, that will be the lowest move TNA has ever pulled. This feud could be interesting too. I think D’Lo can drag some decent matches out of Monty, or at least he has a better chance to than any other main eventer not named AJ Styles.

I'm at work and won't be able to watch until I get home, but I figured I'd go ahead and get the discussion rolling. Here's today's line-up, for those of you who haven't seen the other thread: I can't wait to see this show. From the line-up, it sounds like it was the best show since the debut. I'm especially excited to see what AMW/Team Canada can come up with and I'll admit, I mark for D'Lo. It'll be interesting to see how they address the World Title situation after all the heat they took for Wednesday. I'll definitely be watching as soon as I get home.

I forgot to mention how bad his finisher is. He should just go back to the Alpha Bomb. But that shoulder block is the worst finisher since Hogan's Leg Drop of Doom.

This is true. But if you would have asked me six months before that match that Gilberti would have been a world title challenger, it would have called you an idiot. It's not impossible, but it's gonna take a hell of a lot of work.

You are so right here. Kenney's credibility has been shot since he dropped the 'Simon Diamond' name and I just don't see how TNA can reverse that.

I was the same way. I really liked this week's show, though. The ME was the best one since week 1 and the AMW match was a lot of fun on both shows. The difference to me is that the work was more crisp in the first show's opening spotfest because Red wasn't as off as he was this week.

If they don't put the belt on The Truth, this whole thing will have been a big waste a time. The right thing for TNA to do would be to have Russo come, say he said he wouldn't overturn a referee's decision and award Truth the belt. Make a rematch or whatever, but giving the belt back to JJ would be a huge waste of time, IMO. I think they should Hardy save Styles from a Kash and Dallas beatdown to set up a tag match, and then say he's going to face Dallas on Impact or something. This should be the ME and get at least 15 minutes. The match should be awesome, and the heat will be off the charts. I'm looking for Styles to retain in a way that doesn't end the feud, because TNA knows they're onto something here. This match should be good. The Naturals will probably win here in screwy fashion to position themselves as the #1 Contender's to the tag belts. I'll admit that I'm intrigued by this match. I don't think it'll be a ***** classic, but I do think that D'Lo can carry Monty to one of his better TNA outings, at least on par with the AMW match from a few weeks ago. Hopefully, they don't let me down. Who wins here depends on who they give the belt to, IMO. If JJ is champ, D'Lo wins, if Truth is champ, Monty wins with.........THE POUNCE. PERIOD. This match should be good as well. Sabu and Dutt looked good as a team a few weeks ago on Impact and Team Canada is about to single-handedly save TNA's tag division, so this should be interesting. Team Canada will most likely win here to continue up the ranks, and Raven will probably be a factor in the decision if he's feeling better. Eh....I will admit that Gilberti and Swinger have been hilarious in the costumes, but this feud must die NOW. With that said, the NYC will cheat to win here to get out of the costumes and drag the feud on further. Damnit. This has been building a while and should have good heat. The match might suck, but this is the "casual" fan storyline. Watts should go over here after Goldy accidentally costs Abyss the match, so that he leaves here and returns to the ME scene and she leaves my TV screen. Overall, a solid line-up this week by TNA. We have some matches we know will be good (Styles/Kash, AMW/Naturals) along with some fresh pairings (Sabu/Dutt, D'Lo/Monty). It's not a super show, but it should be a good night of action. I'll definitely be ordering this week.