OAO 1/7 Impact Thread

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

'96 Sting is actually pretty accurate.

[Placebo Effect 0]

Nothing can beat Halloween Havoc 2000 where Jarrett had 10 different Sting designs run in on his match.

Edited January 8, 2006 by Placebo Effect

[BUTT 0]

He's not hardcore! He doesn't listen to Toby Keith!

[ChrisMWaters 0]

He missed Wolfpack Sting.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

Monty Sting?! Now with "baby talk" action!

[Placebo Effect 0]

Ohh... My... God.

 

Monty Brown shouldn't be doing this.

Edited January 8, 2006 by Placebo Effect

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

So is Sting going to work a limited schedule with PPVs and maybe an Impact or 2, or is he working a full or mostly full schedule?

[NYU 0]

Christian used a Geico joke.

 

The most disappointing part of the whole episode.

[Da Maintenance Man 0]

Ohh... My... God.

 

Monty Brown shouldn't be doing this.

 

'06 Sting has that skin condition...the opposite of what Michael Jackson got.

[Guest El Satanico]

He missed Wolfpack Sting.

It's best that we forget about that.

[Fro 0]

So is Sting going to work a limited schedule with PPVs and maybe an Impact or 2, or is he working a full or mostly full schedule?

 

Full schedule.

[haws bah gawd 0]

Didn't Jarrett mention something about Sting not being seen in over 5 years? Did he already forget Sting's previous run with the company (about 2 years ago), not to mention doing the JOB to him?

Edited January 8, 2006 by Haws bah gawd

[razazteca 0]

That was in WWA?

[haws bah gawd 0]

No, not WWA. Sting had a run in TNA at some point in 2003. He teamed with Jarrett (when he was still a face and doing his 'Dragonslayer' gimmick) to beat Sean Waltman and AJ Styles in a tag match, then made a couple other appearances before getting a non-title win over heel Jarrett on one of the Wednesday PPVs.

[TNABaddboi 0]

Overall I thought this was an entertaining show. I was out, so I missed it when it aired, but I taped it and I watched it this morning. Here are my thoughts:

 

Though the squash formula is beyond boring at this point, putting 3D out there at the top of the show made sense to keep the crowd hot. Bubba cut a good post-match promo, and this tag title match has probably been one of the best built TNA PPV matches since they started the montly shows.

 

The Nats/LAX match was nothing, but it's good to see Konnan getting over as a heel. You can kinda see TNA's character development efforts working with Konnan and AMW joining Jarrett as the only guys generating legitimate heel heat.

 

I was excited about the Truth/Roode pairing because I like both guys, but what they did makes no sense unless they are building to a 2 out of 3 falls match between or a series a la Benoit/Booker. I'd stay away from the series though if I were them, because it'd look like such a copy. I could see them adding a 2/3 falls to the PPV though, since they've only got 6 matches announced so far. This match did immediately make me think of TNA needing a mid-card belt. I'd love to see Truth and Roode have an extended feud over an IC-like belt, because let's face it, neither guy is going anywhere near the main event anytime soon (which is a damn shame in Truth's case).

 

That 6 man was awesome. I wasn't into in the beginning, but by the end, I was on the edge of my seat. It was great to see that Daniels is getting over a face, and you can tell he's enjoying playing to the crowd, since he's been a heel for 90% of his time in TNA. The only downside of this match to me was that they didn't let the victory, which they set up all show to be a big deal, resonate at all. They raised their hands and cut to a backstage segment. People have said that about Impact since it started on FSN, but this match was the first time I really saw it firsthand. Not letting the heels really celebrate or Tenay and West really talk about the victory, it kinda took the edge off the much-needed effort to elevate those three guys. Also, Joe's promo didn't really do much for me. I think he made all the right points, and the clean towel was a great visual, but something about his delivery didn't strike me as bad ass like you'd expect from a silent assasin like Joe. It was almost like he had a cocky heel vibe, which isn't what he's supposed to be.

 

The Sting was...eh. It wasn't as terrible as the reports made it out to be, but you could tell it was HEAVILY edited. The crowd being all over Jarrett is going to be a continuing problem for TNA though. If the live audience tells you the guy is boring before he opens his mouth, how can he ever connect with the TV audience. I wouldn't be surprised to see Jarrett start doing all his promos backstage if it keeps up. The reactions to Christian haven't died down at all since he's come in, so they are doing a good job of keeping him strong. I'm sure Sting will get a one-on-one PPV match with Jarrett before Christian, but I think CC will be the one to dethrone Jarrett because that's been the entire build since November. They already scraped the build to Monty taking the belt...they wouldn't throw out another one, would they? Also, they've done a good job keeping Rhino strong. Although he did the job at the PPV, he was well protected. It took 5 guys for Jarrett to put him away, and he got the visual of goring Jarrett down the tunnel. They he got a bit of revenge on Team Canada and he stood up to Abyss after Abyss punked out Christian and 3D. I don't know what they'll do at the PPV between Abyss and Rhino, because coming off losses last month, but could use a win, but they made sure Rhino was strong going in.

 

Anyway, they did a good job setting things up for next week and the PPV. Christian and Rhino vs AMW will be a good main event next week and I'm sure we'll see something between the James Gang and LAX set up for the PPV as well.

[Guest SavageRulz]

Another strong week for Impact with the best impact match ever.

 

The Good:

 

I remember as a kid, my mother covering the broccoli and califlower in cheese so she could get me to eat my vegetables. TNA successfully pulled it off again with their squash matches. The opener with Team 3D really kicked things off with some fast action and was combined with a great promo building the importance of the tag title. The trick was pulled a second time when Konnan's new heel team of Apollo and Homicide were put over by the Naturals. It was a nice bait and switch move which put the team nicely over as the new bad boys on the block without making the Nats have to job out completely.

 

AJ/Daniels/Sabin vs. GenNext Shelley/Strong/Aries was definately the match TNA needs to pull out on a weekly basis. Great action and put over the youngs guns in high fashion. It will be interesting to see where Shannon Moore and Joe will fall into this picture, however I think GenNext will probably drop down a notch and the heels with end up battling Sabin, Dutt and Jerry Lynn.

 

I think the uphevel overtones in TNA is really working. It is interesting that TNA is trying to pull off an Invasion and New Blood angle both at the same time with the former WWE contingent battle the cornerstones in the HW division while it is the cocky heel group battling the face veterans in the X division. Throw into this the shades of gray battle between Larry Z and Raven and you have an entire company protraying a lack of direction that is really as close to reality as you can get. If Sting can pull this all together, it could be the angle of the year.

 

BTW: I am loving Eric Youngs scared of life act, "will it make him mad?" line was priceless.

 

The Other:

 

The Bobby Roode/Ron Killings thing was different but actually worked for me and the crowd really made this one work. This was one time that the chants really played into the angle and made it interesting giving Killings/roode some instant history to provide a PPV match with very little building time.

 

The ending Sting tribute really benefitted from the video editing crew and not near the disaster I foreseen. I didn't really catch the editing the first time thtough but watching the tape, you can tell where they cut off Jarrett and bring in the Surfer Sting and where they clip out Monty's part. It really started off strong as a great way to inform the Spike audience about Sting but the Sting 2006 starring monte brown reeked and you could see the fans turning.

 

If the TNA fans at the arena really do hate Jarrett in a bad way, they need to start setting on their hands or walking out because the TNA video wizards did a good job of making Jarrett look like an over heel.

[Golgo 13 0]

No, not WWA. Sting had a run in TNA at some point in 2003. He teamed with Jarrett (when he was still a face and doing his 'Dragonslayer' gimmick) to beat Sean Waltman and AJ Styles in a tag match, then made a couple other appearances before getting a non-title win over heel Jarrett on one of the Wednesday PPVs.

 

Maybe it was the nWo Sting.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

All I caught was the end of the X-Division 6-man (GenNext vs. Daniels/Styles/Sabin), and it was pretty good. Generic 6-man X match, but pretty good nonetheless.

 

Jarrett's "tribute" to Sting was better than I thought it'd be, too. Jarrett was awful, as usual, but Eric Young was getting into old-school Sting, AMW were fucking hilarious (why they didn't turn heel ages ago I don't know) as Crow-Sting and the "crow," and Monty Brown as modern-day Yuppie Sting was mint.

[Guest JMA]

Has the term "Crow Sting" ever been used on TV before? That's always been the IWC nickname for the gimmick, but I've never heard it be used on an actual wrestling show.

 

Also, Jarrett putting over Toby Keith was unintentionally hilarious. It reminded me of the first TNA show on FSN with all the country music commercials--just awful stuff.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Yeah. And since when has Toby Keith been "hardcore, TRUE" country? To paraphrase Otis Driftwood, "You like this song? I thought you were a true blue cowboy, Hoss, but I guess not."

[Epic Reine 0]

I really don't understand why Eric Young doesn't have a bigger role in TNA, he's an excellent performer.

 

Hopefully he'll get a mentor and be reformed like what Joe did with Jay Lethal in ROH.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Possibly because, offense-wise, he isn't that exciting. He was shoved into the X-Division when he's basically just a smaller heavyweight. Though pushing him and Roode as a force in the Tag scene would be ideal (since TNA could use more tag teams that are viable contenders for the gold).

[Cran Da Maniac 0]

Jarrett's "tribute" to Sting was better than I thought it'd be, too. Jarrett was awful, as usual, but Eric Young was getting into old-school Sting, AMW were fucking hilarious (why they didn't turn heel ages ago I don't know) as Crow-Sting and the "crow," and Monty Brown as modern-day Yuppie Sting was mint.

 

 

Must say, even tho it was an awful skit, seeing Crow-Sting point his bat at the Baby-Sting made me chuckle just a little

[dubq 0]

Watching the replay now. I'd forgotten what a huge dork Jerry Lynn sounds like when he talks.

[Hoff 0]

I missed the first 20 minutes, but I caught the rest of the repklay and I think it's been my favorite ep so far. Awesome six-man match and the end segment was tremedous. Christian Cage and Monty Brown are two guys I really think they can build around.

[Silence 0]

Watching the replay now. I'd forgotten what a huge dork Jerry Lynn sounds like when he talks.

 

It was even worse in ECW when he used to do death metal growls.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

I actually liked when he growled. It was always towards the end of his promo's, and since he's widely known as a huge fan of death metal...it fit. Hell, I remember when he was waiting for RVD to hit the ring as "Walk" played at Living Dangerously '98, he was singing along to it. That made me smirk.

[The Ghost of bps21 0]

I finally got a chance to watch this week's show.

 

Alex Shelley is awesome.

 

That's what I've taken away from my hour.

[Conspiracy_Victim 0]

I finally got a chance to watch this week's show.

 

Alex Shelley is awesome.

 

That's what I've taken away from my hour.

 

For some reason I like it when he plays to the "That was gay" chants on his face plant move. They need to develop his character more beyond just a "student of the game" but it might've worked out better if they had given the gimmick to a new guy who would just come in with basic moves (headlocks, armbars, generic finisher). Then every week he adds another move or two or he does some new and different chain wrestling so that in like 6 months he's busting out all kinds of crazy moves along with the basic work to show how he's developed.

 

Oh, and I want to see another Aries Bomb pretty soon. That one he put on Joe for that special was sweet.

[Silence 0]

Oh, and I want to see another Aries Bomb pretty soon. That one he put on Joe for that special was sweet.

 

I like Aries, but the Crucifix Bomb is too much like the Canadian Destroyer in which the opponent does most of the work in pulling off the move. I guess doing it every once in a while wouldn't hurt, though.