OAO Victory Road Thread

[TNABaddboi 0]

Was this PPV worth $30 despite having a cliff-hanger finish, a horrible AMW/XXX match (Skipper was injured, so free pass), a filler under-card, and only one match where the faces actually went over (3LK winning the tag titles) in the more important matches

 

I think the PPV was worth it. My initial impression wasn't that I didn't get my money's worth. The atmosphere alone made this show more fun than most TNA shows (especially the ones with the dead Nashville crowd) and for the most part, the guys all put their working boots on. The finish to the AJ/Petey and Monster's Ball made me mark out like I very rarely do anymore and the X Gauntlet was a lot of fun. I'm a little disappointed that we didn't see any MOTY candidates, but that doesn't make it a bad PPV. I've enjoyed several WWE PPVs (and TNA PPVs) far less than I enjoyed this one. With all that said, however, the ME they're considering for Turning Point does not make me want to go out of my way to order. We'll have to see what they do with the rest of the card.

[Guest LooneyTune]

After reading through more thoughts, it sounded decent, but decent is not what you want for your first big PPV. On paper, there's just too many problems that TNA is still doing. With a 3-Hour PPV they STILL fuck over everything so Jarrett can have 20 minute matches and have dull segments (cough:Piper:cough).

 

It sounds better than most of the SD PPV's this year, and I didn't waste my money on those either.

 

Here's the real question: Was this PPV worth $30 despite having a cliff-hanger finish, a horrible AMW/XXX match (Skipper was injured, so free pass), a filler under-card, and only one match where the faces actually went over (3LK winning the tag titles) in the more important matches.

Being perfectly honest...........I can say that No Mercy was a WAY better show than this was.

That was probably the best SD PPV as a whole, but nothing on it really screamed "Order Now" to me, and just seemed had what looked like a bunch of mediocre matches with a good Angle/Show match (as usual it seems). I would've ordered it if I had to pick between that, Great American Bash, and Judgment Day. (I ordered No Way Out for 1 reason: Eddie beating Brock...what a waste of $35)

[{''({o..o})''} 0]

(I ordered No Way Out for 1 reason: Eddie beating Brock...what a waste of $35)

Previous comments aside, you didn't like that match, or didn't feel it was worth the full $35?

[Guest LooneyTune]

I loved the match...but the first 2 hours of the PPV wasn't too pretty. Eddie/Brock and the Triple-Threat were the only matches I really enjoyed. Everything else was either super-filler, done-to-death, or just plain boring.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

I think that $30 is a bit much for a 3-hour PPV when you were getting 6 hours a week for $30. They should make it around $25

[HandofFate 0]

I really liked the PPV last night. During the last...half year or so, I haven't really paid too much attention to the WWE PPVs. We usually talk during every match and look for Rossisms (things you could ONLY hear come from JR). Last night, I was really into the matches...well, except maybe the minis match. I was kinda embarrassed that they even put that match on. Other than that, I really liked it. My best friend's mom, the one who buys all of the wrestling PPVs, said that she really liked the PPV. It sounded like she is really into getting the next PPV. We both remarked about how good the opening video package REALLY looked good. I have to say, the Monster's Ball match really looked good. It was probably the best BIG MEN match that I have seen in a while. Anyways, I really liked the PPV and am really looking forward to the next one.

[Guest Reservoir_Kitty]

This seems to be the hardest crowd to please around here.

It's mostly because we've been watching TNA for a while, and have shown no ability to actually put on a competent show. The PPV sounds ok, though, and I'll download it to give it my own opinion.

 

EDIT: Anyone know where I can DL this? My usual site is down.

It was a good PPV - not great, but good. Like I said, it actually kept my interest, which hasn't happened in a long time when watching the WWE PPVs. We don't even order the monthly ones anymore, just the "big four". Even those seem completely tedious most of the time, and that's just sad. This one, the four of us had a really good time.

 

It was interesting to see things that you wouldn't see on WWE. I think that's part of the reason I'm liking TNA so much. I love the innovative moves they do. Plus, I totally geeked out when Savage came out at the end. (Not that he did anything Earth-shattering, but it was still cool) I can't remember the last time I marked out watching WWE.

 

I think it's just nice to have an alternative with WWE being so stale and crappy. It's good to see new faces - and some old ones too - and see what they have to offer. It's not up to par, I'm sure, god knows I'm sick of Jarrett being the champ and I've only watched TNA since it came on TV. But, it's entertaining and different, and that's all I can ask for at this point. Hopefully they can improve on their flaws before they crash and burn.

[RedJed 0]

Havent posted here for a long time since 1) there hasnt been a whole hell of a lot to talk about in TNA land and 2) the TNA section of this board has gone way down. Hardy anyone even watches the shows and those who do seem to get bombarded by occasional posters just expressing their opinions on how bad TNA sucks, etc. Not to say they arent top notch right now (as they odviously arent) but it gets monotonous to sit through post after post of essentially the same stuff, that nothing TNA can be made remotely positive to 90 percent of anyone posting in this section.

 

For what its worth, I think Impact, since the move from weekly ppvs has been a mixed bag, with nothing either being really offensively bad or great. It's just kind of there and was building things to the ppv solid but not creating a home run. They have decided to go down a road of more of a traditional and predictable approach with angles and character development, which could be alot worse, but of course, alot better. I think there is alot more thought put towards Impact these days, but ultimately there still is the Jarrett factor which always puts a screw loose in exectution. So basically I look at Impact like this - it's a show that if your old WCW or possibly oldschool fan might enjoy somewhat, but they arent doing enough to get new or "disenfranchised" fans to check into it weekly. With this new crop of established names coming in (while alot can argue cant draw anymore) I think its up to debate whether it will help long term but if the word can get out that these guys are in TNA, I think some old fans will look into the show to see their past favorites for a nostalgic value. If TNA can create interesting feuds with these old stars and better yet, finally truly create some new stars and keep going hard with the X division, they might do something here in the next 3-4 months. I kind of look at this latest direction in TNA with having Hall, Nash, DDP, Savage, Piper, etc in as TNA's last real big push to get people talking. I would imagine that they will take a huge risk and have Hogan in here too for a feud with Jarrett too, since like I said, I think this is their last big push to make something happen here. Booking is going to have to be razor sharp though, which is wishful thinking at best.

 

With all of this said, I think Victory Road was actually a really fun show to watch, as it was something different from the norm and offered a really hot crowd, good flow throughout the show, and in general alot was happening that might make wrestling crowds talk. This event felt way WAY different than the weekly ppvs and with the production top notch too, it seperated itself from its old monikor of the weekly ppv "low rent" format. Everyone worked really hard to make it the best show possible, so you can't fault them for that. And the booking finishes were mostly decent too. One can say there was surprising finishes (see Williams v. Styles) and there was a handful of surprises. Other than a few **** to ***** classics, they pretty much gave me the things I wanted from a ppv. Did they hit a home run? No, but I think this was a solid step ahead to things if they keep up any momentum they have here into these weeks TV shows, which, if a decent amount of people got the ppv (which is debatable), and then will watch the shows this week (which they probably will to at least see what they will do with Savage, Hall and Nash), can put TNA in a better spot on FSN.

 

Intro video was top notch, crowd came real hot with the X division gauntlet. The workers all busted ass (maybe sans Red) to make this one better than any of the others one they have done back in the weekly ppv days (again, distancing themselves from those) as this was easily the best gauntlet match TNA has done. I watched the show with a few TNA "newbies" who were impressed by the moves and action in this one, as this is something you just cant see from WWE at all. Probably the best example of showcasing the advantages of pushing the X division hard here in months from TNA. One of the hottest crowds I've ever seen for ANY match ****

 

8 man tag was total filler, but was kept relatively short and at least put over the right person. Who thought Dallas could do a moonsault? **

 

Minis match was horrid but I think only last 3:00 or so. What a lame finish too, but the fans somehow loved it. DUD

 

One could say that it would have been better to eliminate the 8 man and mini's match to give more time to the X title match, and I agree. I think the angle TNA was going for here was to have a little bit of every kind of fan friendly genre on the show, from minis to women to X division to tag team to heavyweight to a few gimmick matches. For an initial "showcase" show to appeal to the masses, I can see why they did this although I dont agree with it.

 

The tag title match was ok, everyone worked hard which is saying alot for a guy like Konnan or James. Obligitory title switch, can see 3LK jobbing these belts to Hall and Nash soon. ** 1/2

 

Segments with Russo and Rhodes with Hudson doing the lame ass comedy was STUPID. Shit like that should never even be tried.

 

Pipers Pit was the part of the show that was the real letdown. Word was that this was supposed to be DDP in Snuka's role, which means an angle might have been set to have Kid Kash do the coconut to DDP, who knows. The way it came off was just uninteresting since WWE rehashed the coconut thing a year and half ago with Snuka, O Haire and Rikishi. Trying to incorporate the X division at all in this and a re-push of Kash just all came across forced to me. I could care less about a Dutt-Kash feud and certainly have no idea why Shane/Kazarian out there other than to set up a six man with Piper, Snuka, Dutt against Kash, Shane, and Kazarian which just sounds dumb.

 

Trinity v. Jacky was actualy ok for a women's match, and I can see rematch soon. ** 1/2

 

Hardcore 3 way was done just about right, not exposing anyone. Brown got really over here, so mission accomplished. *** 1/4

 

X division match was really good and only could have been better with more time. Finish was a surprise for sure. *** 3/4

 

The last team standing match was just a mess. I guess its hard to hold a match together when you have a guy that has no idea what he's doing. This is something that cant be blamed on the booking since they were given time and shit just happened. I expect the cage match to make up for this * 1/2

 

Main event was alright by me, although the concept of selling some of the high spots didnt happen, which bugged me. Hardy looked to be working harder than I've seen him work in a while, and actually Jarrett tended to be the one blowing more spots to be honest. The finish was uber predictable though which is a bad way to end a main event match on a show like this. ***

 

The post-match somewhat made up for this with Styles holding his own against the heels and then Savage coming out to end the show, which is, sans all of the internet marks, somewhat big news to the wrestling marks since Savage hasnt been around a wrestling ring for almost 5 years. It left the show at the end with a feeling of something potentially exciting down the road, and gets people to check out future TNA ppvs and more importantly, this week's Impact and BDSSP events.

 

I always thought that (and I know I am in the minority) it would be worth a shot to TNA to sign up Savage for a bit just to see what he could do. He's one of the last big name that has been absent from wrestling for years that can maybe pop interest. He always was able to cut some decent promos, even near the end there, and can either be really green at this stage in the game or in good shape and possibly be back to some some of level he has performed at before. Never say never on Savage, I say, until we see what TNA does with him and how he works in the ring.

[Blade2kxx 0]

Here's something...

 

With Savage and possibly Hogan in TNA... how much do you think it would take for them to do a Final Encounter match together?

 

For that matter... would it draw?

 

Anyway, back to Victory Road... saw it with a pair of TNA n00bs, one who is obsessed with Hardy and the other who was just along for the ride.

 

We all enjoyed the show, and I'll have to say that the ME held up alot better than I thought. Styles kicking Outsider ass was nice while it lasted, and since I hadn't been on any sites that day, Savage showing up was a complete shock (we all saw the leather jacket and thought Sting)

 

Overall, Thumbs Up, and hopefully we'll see a new champ at Turning Point... PERIOD~!

[TNABaddboi 0]

hopefully we'll see a new champ at Turning Point... PERIOD~!

'

 

You'll probably have to wait until Final Resolution for that one, Blade. But I do really look forward to Jarrett taking The Pounce.

[AnonymousBroccoli 0]

I watched the show yesterday afternoon, and wrote up a sloppy little review.

 

http://forums.gamespot.com/gamespot/journa...&topic=17398943

 

Yes, I have a journal at a video game website.

[Downhome 0]

I haven't kept up with TNA for a while now, but I thought I'd dive back in this week. I downloaded this past weeks Impact and Victory Road, and I enjoyed both. I am not going to review anything, I just wanted to say that I enjoyed what I saw, and I'll start to get into TNA more and more in the future.

 

If you have heard me in the WWE folder lately, I'm getting pretty sick of what I see for the most part. I still watch WWE, I always will, but it's got to the point where I don't give a damn about what I see on their programs. So maybe that's why I enjoyed TNA so much, it just feels different. I got the same little ruse from TNA that I got when I was watching the Monday Night Wars. Sure not everything was worth being aired, but it just has a certain feeling to me.

 

I even got pumped up when I saw Spanky come out on Impact and when Jackie came out on the PPV. Then just seeing Dusty, Nash, Hall, Jarrett, Savage, and all the other WWE/WCW guys out there was pretty cool to me. Add to all of that the fact that TNA has action and younger talent that you just wont ever see in WWE, very nice production values, very interesting fan reactions, the new six-sided ring, and it makes for something that I'm willing to give a shot.

 

I know that most who have watched TNA from the start are saying that the PPV was lacking, but for someone like me, it was a breath of fresh air, something that I've really needed lately seeing how WWE has been so horrible to me here lately.

 

Two thumbs up from me so far.

[Styles 0]

Watched my tape today. My friend had to blurt out that Savage showed up at the end, so the big suprise was spoiled for me going in.

 

This was very much like most of TNA's 2 hour PPVs. Some exciting action, some filler, some suprises but overall a flat feeling.

 

The gauntlet match was excellent as was Styles/Petey. The finish with the leaping Canadian Destroyer looked beautiful. I would love to see a rematch, and with more time too.

 

The main event was pretty good too. Jarrett and Hardy got about as much as they possibly could...well...for Jarrett and Hardy. Some innovative use of the ladder, and Scott Hall was actually into it and seemed to be taking his role seriously. Nash on the other hand...eh. The ending was horribly predictable but actually somewhat dramatic in execution with Hardy holding on for life.

 

Savage appearance at the end did nothing for me(then again I already knew he'd be there), and now that he's gone already it appears to be just as meaningless as the time his former girlfriend appeared at the end of a show (and then disappeared after).

 

Monster's Ball was a decent match with some good bumps. Brown is gonna be huge if they keep it up. Pounce! What? Pounce! Huh? Pounce! Period. I agree all 3 shielding their eyes when they came out from the light was a nic touch. Thumbtack bump by Abyss looked painful. What is Raven gonna do now? Is his starpower gone? I'd put him over Jarrett and give him a last shot at a main event, but we know that won't happen.

 

Piper segment was what it was. I would have rather seen him interview Savage. At least Piper was coherent and seemed energised.

 

I didn't think the last team standing was a complete disaster, but it was obvious some spots were messed up (knowing Elix had a concussion it's understandable)-that last Catatnic on the chair must have really hurt. I look forward to seeing them redeem themselves in the cage again.

 

The rest was just bad to mediocre. The 8 man and the mini match was unecessary and I could have done without the woman's match but it at least served it's purpose. Was I the only one that wanted to see Jazz, Gail Kim and Nidia all jump Trinity and do a nWo style WWE women's b-team ambush? Um...I guess so.

 

Tag title match was the right length, and decent.

 

The "voting" thing was stupid, and I've actually grown to like Russo as a level headed face, rather than a lunatic, and have grown really tired of Dusty so count that a negative.

 

Overall it was a decent show for TNA. They had a hot crowd all night that was into things which is good, the production and lighting was great and the new video packages give a very professional feel. They're on the right track. Now they just need to build to something big, cut the filler, and give their best workers more time to do what they do best. Its like they have all the potential but they need an editor to give them direction and focus on their strengths while hiding their weaknesses. Is Paul Heyman avaliable?

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Have to say, with what I've seen already I'm impressed. The production values are MUCH better than usual.

 

EDIT: Is it just me or does Kazarian remind anyone else of Henning with his look?

[TheBigSwigg 0]

1 hour and not much to talk about. Somewhat disappointing, but I've got two hours to go.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Is it just me or does Kazarian remind anyone else of Henning with his look?

 

I can see it. I think it's cuz he had the long tights and the hair pulled back.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Here's SK's review, for those who are interested in his thought's on the show...

 

The SmarK Rant for TNA Victory Road 2004

 

- Live from Orlando, FL

 

- Your hosts are Mike Tenay & Don West

 

- The video package that opens the show is a bit of a pretentious wankfest. And a total ripoff of the WWE style of production. I mean, even the graphics hyping the matches, with the wrestlers moving into a freezeframe, is exactly the same. The six-sided ring is a neat look, however.

 

- Opening match, X Gauntlet: We start with Kazarian (who has lost his first name since I last watched) and Sonjay Dutt. Never seen Dutt before. Kazarian powers Dutt down and tosses him, but Dutt hangs on and comes in with a rana. Tornado DDT follows and they fight on the ropes, but Kazarian hangs on. Puma is next in, but walks into a rana from Dutt right away. He comes back with a falcon arrow and Dutt gets double-teamed on the ropes, but fights out. Next up is LA Park, of course wielding a chair. He makes use of it and stops to pose, because really what's life without it? Kazarian attacks him as Jarelle Clarke is next and moonsaults Dutt. Not much there, and Miyamoto is next, dressed as Great Muta. Steal from the best, I guess. He drops the power elbow on Park as Clarke does a 630 splash and Michael Shane is next. Puma is finally tossed, as is Clarke. Then Miyamoto, as Kazarian & Shane clean house. Hector Garza is next and helps Park out to break up Shane & Kazarian, but Dutt flies in with a springboard armdrag on Park. Nice. Nosawa in next, and he dropkicks the shin of Garza, only to get kicked down by Park to end a nice sequence. Everyone fights in the corners and Mikey Bats is next, getting a stunner on Kazarian on the way in. Shane hits him with an exploder, however, and it's back to everyone slugging it out. Alex Shelley is next, and he tosses Dutt and kicks him out. Park gets backdropped out next, which the crowd hates since he's on the few guys in there with star power. Matt Sydal comes in next and does a standing moonsault on Shelley, who is apparently hurt on the floor. More fighting in the corners, and Sonny Siaki is up next. He hits people with various slams and tosses Nosawa. How is Siaki an X-division guy? Garza tosses Bats as Shark Boy has appeared from somewhere. I think my copy skipped forward a couple of minutes or something. Psicosis is next and goes after Garza, but gets nowhere. D-Ray is next, and teams with Shark Boy, but they both get sent to the apron by Shane & Kaz, and then clotheslined out by Siaki. Amazing Red is next as Alex Shelley goes up and gets tossed. Spanky, who thankfully adds more star power, is next and goes after Kazarian and Shane, but gets sent to the apron. He springs back in and gets superkicked by Shane. And finally, Chris Sabin is #20, as he joins with Spanky to double-team Siaki. They dropkick him out. Spanky goes for a victory roll on Shane, and then dumps him from that position. Spanky and Red put Kazarian on top, and then everyone left piles up in a crazy pyramid superplex spot. That was awesome. Psicosis dumps Jason Cross, and then slugs it out with Red and gets kicked off the apron. Red and Kazarian then fight on the apron and Red gets kicked off. So we're down to Spanky…or not, who gets tossed doing Sliced Bread #2. That leaves Sabin, Kazarian and Garza. Kazarian goes up, but Sabin pops and throws him across the ring with a crazy release german, hitting Garza with his body on the way down! Garza crotches Sabin and dropkicks him out, however, leaving Garza v. Kazarian. They slug it out and Kazarian sweeps him down and drops a leg for two. Garza comes back with a moonsault for two. Kazarian slingshots in with a DDT for two. Garza tries another moonsault and misses, but counters a rollup for the pin at 24:41. Good spots, but the match didn’t really tell much of a story and Garza doesn't really do anything for me. ***1/4

 

- Kid Kash, Dallas & The Naturals v. Erik Watts, Pat Kenney, Johnny B. Badd & Ron Killings. Kash starts with Kenney and they trade armdrags, as Tenay relates the story of his "Empire Saint" nickname, which still sucks. Badd comes in, looking like an aging drag queen out of makeup, and hammers on Douglas in the corner, then brings in Watts. The Naturals double-team Watts, who cheerfully no-sells as Dallas comes in. Watts chokeslams him, gets sideslammed. Kash comes in and walks into a bicycle kick, and Kenney works Kash over, but Kash fires back with forearms in the corner. Back to Dallas, who boots Kenney down and goes up, but misses a moonsault. Killings gets what appears to be a hot tag, and everyone is brawling. They all fight to the floor, leaving Chase Stevens on the top and Badd taking him down with a rana. Killings Pedigrees Stevens for the pin at 4:37. Not much of a match. 1/2* Badd in particular looked like a total anachronism out there.

 

- Piratita Morgan v. Mascaritas Sagrada. Morgan slugs him down, but gets armdragged down. A dropkick puts Morgan on the floor, and Sagrada follows with a mini-quebrada. Sagrada comes in from the top with a rollup for two. The crowd starts s**tting all over the match as Morgan gets a samoan drop, leading to a comedy spot where they check on Sagrada and he fakes out Morgan and the ref. Rollup ends it at 2:56. I don't rate midget matches.

 

- Grampa Hall makes a surprise appearance, looking bloated and generally every minute of his age and getting a huge face pop despite aligning himself with the top heel. He cuts a pointless promo and presumably goes to the back and passes out.

 

- NWA World tag titles: Bobby Roode & Eric Young v. BG James & Konnan. Konnan and James still doing their tired pre-match schticks is kind of sad. James starts with Roode and they slug it out, which Roode loses. James misses a crossbody on Young and misses, however, sending him to the floor. Back in, Young (looking like a deranged Adam Sessler) pounds on James and gets a backbreaker for two. Young & Roode double-team James with a slam into a Roode legdrop for two. James comes back and they collide, allowing Roode to draw Konnan in and thus do some cheating. Young goes to a facelock, and it's a false tag as Young drops an elbow off the top for two. Now Scott D'Amore distracts the ref, but the heels collide and James makes the hot tag to Konnan. He tosses the Canadians around, not going down for any of the moves, and gets the s**tTY HALF-CRAB OF DOOM on Young, but now it's BONZO GONZO. Roode hits James with a spinebuster and sets up for his lariat, but Konnan trips him up and James sets up for a pumphandle. Ron Killings brawls with D'Amore, allowing Roode to get his lariat, but Konnan hits him with the carpet muncher to win the titles at 6:54. This felt rushed and thrown together. *

 

- Piper's Pit time, with Jimmy Snuka. Oh, this has trainwreck written all over it. Piper spends an inordinate amount of time trying to convince Snuka to hit him with a coconut, and THANKFULLY Kid Kash interrupts. Turns into a big mess with the Naturals and Sonjay Dutt getting involved, and I move on.

 

- Trinity v. Jacqueline. Wow, big shock. I guess she was the only WWE castoff without a no-compete clause. Jacqueline gets rid of Gilberti and Swinger and then hits them with a plancha outside. Back in, Trinity kicks her down and slugs away, then rolls through a crossbody for two. She boots her into a powerslam and a high kick gets two. Jackie slugs back and gets a release german for two. Swinger interferes and necksnaps her, allowing Trinity to finish with a moonsault at 1:51. Whatever. 1/2*

 

- Abyss v. Raven v. Monty Brown. Abyss attacks Raven on the floor and crotches him on the railing to start, while Brown sets up a table and then gets whipped into the post by Abyss. Brown appears to be channeling Ahmed Johnson and Bob Sapp, as I guess every promotion needs a scary black dude. Abyss and Raven fight up into the crowd, and Abyss heads into the ring with a backbreaker for two on Brown. Raven and Brown try to double-team him, but Abyss fights them off and splashes Brown in the corner. Raven heads out and grabs a chair, but Abyss boots it away from him, so Raven clotheslines Brown instead and sets up the chair. DROP TOEHOLD OF DOOM on Abyss gets two. Another one on Brown backfires, as Brown just stops running and then slugs down the other two. Abyss gets dumped, and Brown boots Raven down and suplexes him, then gets a blockbuster slam. Ref bump as Raven collides with the ref and disappears, then Brown powerslams Abyss. He collides with Raven, however, and walks into the Abyss slam, but of course there's no ref. Abyss grabs a bag of thumbtacks and puts Brown on the top rope, then goes for a superplex. Gee, wonder what'll happen? And yes, Brown counters and sends Abyss onto his own thumbtacks, like a big shiny bag of pointy irony. It's only cool when Foley does it, guys. With the first ref apparently legally dead, a new ref comes out and counts two for Raven. Raven brings a table in now and fights off both guys, then punches Abyss through a table, but Brown spears Raven through his own table for the pin at 9:25. Total mess. *1/2

 

- X title: Petey Williams v. AJ Styles. They trade suplex attempts to start and get nowhere, but Williams gets a rollup for two. They trade rollup counters for a few near-falls and it's a stalemate. They trade chops and AJ takes him down and they criss-cross into a Styles dropkick. Petey bails, so AJ follows with a quebrada attempt. It misses, but he lands on his feet and kicks Williams into the railing, then hits him with a tope con hilo. Back in, Williams takes AJ into the ropes, allowing D'Amore to get a cheapshot, and Williams hangs him in the Tree of Woe. He sings the national anthem while stepping on his nuts, which gets you right there. They slug it out and AJ pops up as Williams tries another singing crotch stomp, but Styles flips him out of the corner to counter. Williams goes to the apron and AJ backflip kicks him off the apron, and back in they slug it out until AJ gets a suplex to take over. Williams tosses him, but Styles comes right back in with a springboard forearm for two. Williams comes back with a Canadian legsweep, but they reverse each other's finishers until AJ tosses him into the turnbuckles. Styles Clash attempt is reversed into a pinfall reversal sequence, but now D'Amore distracts the ref again. Williams tries to use the dreaded HOCKEY STICK, but the ref gets that, so he uses the belt instead and gets two. AJ counters the piledriver attempt and puts Williams on top, but D'Amore gets involved again, allowing Williams to come off with the Canadian Destroyer (HOLY F**K, what was that? I mean, DAMN!) to finish at 9:47. Kind of disappointing. ***

 

- America's Most Wanted v. Christopher Daniels & Elix Skipper. This is last man standing rules. Everyone brawls outside to start, and back in the ring Storm backdrops Daniels out. He hits Skipper with an inverted suplex and AMW get a Hart Attack on him, then Storm superkicks Daniels. Storm goes up as they set up for the Death Sentence, but Skipper breaks it up and gets clobbered by Storm as a result. Storm pins Daniels, but he answers the count at 8. So it gets a bit more organized now, as Storm powerbombs Daniels and Harris comes in with a clothesline, but Daniels gets a sideslam and Skipper kicks Harris down for two. Skipper slams Daniels on Harris, and Daniels works the back over to set up a Rockerplex on Harris that gets two. Harris comes back with a lariat on Daniels and brings Storm in, and he cleans house, powerslamming Skipper for two. Daniels dropkicks the knee, however, setting up a double-team powerbomb that gets the pin for XXX. Storm answers the bell, however. Daniels hits him in the knee with a chair, however, and he can't answer the bell this time. So it's 2-on-1 now. Daniels misses his moonsault on Harris and gets speared for two. Storm gets rid of Skipper and legdrops Daniels off the middle rope for the pin, and Daniels can't answer the bell, either, so it's Storm v. Skipper. Skipper appears to be knocked silly, and has trouble getting into the ring. Storm brings him in and they really botch a powerbomb spot, which gets two for Storm. Skipper looks really scary out of it. Harris tries a suplex, but his back gives out, and Skipper tries the Play of the Day, and he's just gone and can't even do his big move. They should just stop the match, because he needs help. Skipper grabs a chair, but Harris gets his Catatonic on the chair for the pin. Skipper accidentally kicks out, but the ref ignores him and tells him to stay down anyway, and it's over at 11:31. Really ugly thanks to Skipper's apparent concussion. Hopefully he's okay. **

 

- NWA World title: Jeff Jarrett v. Jeff Hardy. Hardy's new nickname is "The Charismatic Enigma". Is Dennis Miller doing the wrestler names now or something? Hardy is painted green tonight, because I guess that's what all the cool addicts are doing. This is of course a ladder match. Jarrett attacks him to start, but gets whipped into some ladders by Hardy and slammed on one. Hardy sets up one upside-down, and squishes Jarrett inside it. Well, that's innovative if nothing else. Hardy makes the first climb, but Jarrett slugs him off it. They fight weakly outside, where Jarrett drops him on a ladder and suplexes him on it. They head back into the ring and the crowd is so uninspired by Hardy that they start cheering for JEFF JARRETT. Yes, Jeff Hardy is so bad that he's making Jarrett draw heat. Jarrett spears Hardy off the apron with a ladder and they brawl outside, as Jarrett wins that battle and makes the climb back in the ring. Hardy dropkicks him off the ladder and follows with a swanton onto a ladder, but now Scott Hall waddles out and takes Hardy off the ladder with a Razor's Edge. Man, would Jeff Hardy and Scott Hall have some drinking stories to tell. It'd probably make for a more entertaining 30 minutes than this match. They fight to the top and Hardy jumps off the top onto a pair of ladders, in a ridiculously contrived spot where the ladder obviously missed Jarrett by a foot. Hardy climbs and Jarrett follows, and both go crashing down again. Hall interferes again and attacks Hardy, but to no avail. Hardy heads back in and climbs, but Jarrett dumps him on Hall. Everyone brawls on the floor, and Hardy hits the heels with a dive over the top. Hardy gets yet another ladder as the camera focuses dramatically on the "Danger: Do Not Stand or Sit" sticker to build tension. Luckily, they don't do either, as they fight up it and it falls over in the aisle. Back in, more ladders, and they climb their own ladders, but Hardy goes low and tries a powerbomb off the ladder. However, he F**Ks up the move and they both fall off and look bad doing so. Then they try the same thing to the floor, and again Hardy screws it up and nearly kills Jarrett. Back in, he climbs again, but it's more Hall, so Hardy gives him a Twist of Fate (which Hall can't even go down for) and climbs again. Jarrett knocks him off with a chair and climbs again, but now Kevin Nash (fashionably late as usual) strolls out. The tracksuit looks particularly badass. Nash, SHOCKINGLY, turns on Hardy and joins his longtime friend, as Jarrett retains the title at 18:33. So was that supposed to be a surprise twist or something? This was like a slow-motion Xerox copy of something from 1999. ** Nash & Hall throw out an open challenge to the locker room, totally burying the entire promotion in the process by basically saying they're the only ones who have ever drawn money, and AJ Styles answers. 3 Live Kru also run out and things go badly as it turns into Massacre at the Retirement Home for WWE Rejects. And finally, Randy Savage makes his one and only TNA appearance for all of 15 seconds as the big surprise before quitting the next day.

 

The Inside Pulse:

 

I gave up on this promotion for good reason last year, as JJJ just doesn't seem to grasp that he's not a top draw in wrestling and people don't want him as the top star of a promotion. When I left, AMW was getting out of a feud with XXX, and here they are fighting again a year later. This is a desperately wannabe second-rate promotion signing up senior citizens and castoffs like a drunken cheerleader who will put out for anyone from the football team down to the waterboy, and it's really quite sad to see. It didn't work for the XWF, or the various promotions from Australia, or the Heroes of Wrestling, and god knows Roddy Piper and Kevin Nash won't help TNA, either. They have no identity, no strong champion the fans can identify with, and no hope of catching the sputtering giant if signing up legendary flake Randy Savage and expecting him to show up is there idea of a sound business strategy.

 

Was the X-Division stuff good? Yeah. Did it mean a thing? No. Was this an improvement over the $10 PPVs? Your call.

 

Thumbs down.

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Here are my thoughts on the second hour so far.....

 

Everything feels rushed. I don't know if it's because of the announcing or the wrestling, but every match so far lacks importance because it feels rushed.

 

The tag title match was bad. just plain bad.

 

Jackie made Trinity look bad.

 

Kid Kash should not have been in the coconut angle.

 

The Monster's Ball wasn't bad, but it also felt rushed.

 

TNA REALLY needs to stop using Techno music. It's hard to take anything seriously when it's put to techno.

[Guest MikeSC]

Jackie made Trinity look bad.

This reminds me of the old comment:

"Do these jeans make me look fat?"

"No, you being fat makes you look fat".

 

Jackie isn't why Desire looked like shit in the ring. Desire being shit in the ring is why Desire looked like the shit in the ring.

-=Mike

...TNA should go ahead and cut Hardy now. He is so unbelievably horrendous...

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Jackie made Trinity look bad.

This reminds me of the old comment:

"Do these jeans make me look fat?"

"No, you being fat makes you look fat".

 

Jackie isn't why Desire looked like shit in the ring. Desire being shit in the ring is why Desire looked like the shit in the ring.

-=Mike

...TNA should go ahead and cut Hardy now. He is so unbelievably horrendous...

Yes, Trinity looks like shit in the ring. But the fact that Jackie doesn't makes Trinity look worse. Therefore, Jackie made Trinity look bad.

[Guest MikeSC]

Jackie made Trinity look bad.

This reminds me of the old comment:

"Do these jeans make me look fat?"

"No, you being fat makes you look fat".

 

Jackie isn't why Desire looked like shit in the ring. Desire being shit in the ring is why Desire looked like the shit in the ring.

-=Mike

...TNA should go ahead and cut Hardy now. He is so unbelievably horrendous...

Yes, Trinity looks like shit in the ring. But the fact that Jackie doesn't makes Trinity look worse. Therefore, Jackie made Trinity look bad.

Out of curiosity, at what point did Jackie not totally suck in the ring? She's always been the drizzling shits.

-=Mike

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Jackie made Trinity look bad.

This reminds me of the old comment:

"Do these jeans make me look fat?"

"No, you being fat makes you look fat".

 

Jackie isn't why Desire looked like shit in the ring. Desire being shit in the ring is why Desire looked like the shit in the ring.

-=Mike

...TNA should go ahead and cut Hardy now. He is so unbelievably horrendous...

Yes, Trinity looks like shit in the ring. But the fact that Jackie doesn't makes Trinity look worse. Therefore, Jackie made Trinity look bad.

Out of curiosity, at what point did Jackie not totally suck in the ring? She's always been the drizzling shits.

-=Mike

I don't know, I just know that she made Trinity look horrible.

[Guest MikeSC]

Having not seen the show, I'd imagine that the match being shitty was the epitome of a joint effort.

-=Mike

[TheBigSwigg 0]

Having not watched the show your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

[Guest MikeSC]

Having not watched the show your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

May be invalid --- but you welcoming it is hardly a concern.

 

I have not commented on the match's quality (please note that, shitbrick).

 

I commented on your comment that Desire looked like shit in the ring when she ALWAYS looks like shit in the ring. Which is true.

 

You tried to say Jackie made her look bad and I simply mentioned that Jackie, also, is shit in the ring. Which also, is true.

 

If the match sucked (which I have not claimed it did, I'm going with YOUR descriptions, twink) --- you can't blame Jackie for it. She's as inept as Desire.

-=Mike

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

I have not watched the match, but I will go out on a limb and say it sucked.

[Guest MikeSC]

I have not watched the match, but I will go out on a limb and say it sucked.

Your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

 

Or something.

-=Mike

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

I have not watched the match, but I will go out on a limb and say it sucked.

Your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

 

Or something.

-=Mike

That's never stopped either of us before.

[Guest MikeSC]

I have not watched the match, but I will go out on a limb and say it sucked.

Your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

 

Or something.

-=Mike

That's never stopped either of us before.

True. If being unwelcome was a deterrant, I'd never post here.

-=Mike

[Guest whitemilesdavis]

I have not watched the match, but I will go out on a limb and say it sucked.

Your opinion is invalid and unwelcome.

 

Or something.

-=Mike

That's never stopped either of us before.

True. If being unwelcome was a deterrant, I'd never post here.

-=Mike

Or invalid for that matter.